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The Night’s Watch

Dave and I watch a couple of YouTube channels where the people are fulltime sailing families. They have different size sailing vessels, different ages of their children and sail in different waters but some things are the same.

They all need to provision before long crossings, the care they give their vessels and their Navionics, guidance systems, are all similar. The other thing, that is crucial, are the night watches.

Someone needs to be at the helm making sure they stay on course. They watch the weather for unexpected storms and the keep watch on the radar for ships that may be approaching. If the pass too closely it could cause problems for both vessels and it could mean there is danger of piracy.

Night watch is an important part of their safety.

The same holds true for us as Christians. The night watch is an important part of our safety.

Last night I felt I was on night-watch. Awake at 12:30, 2:30 and then finally up at 4:30. Each time I found myself praying over different situations and people I know.

“On my bed I remember You. I think of You through the hours of the night. 7 For You have been my help. And I sing for joy in the shadow of Your wings. 8 My soul holds on to You. Your right hand holds me up.” Psalm 63:6-8 NLV

Through the hours of the night – at times when things can seem their worst, the one standing watch can sing for joy, in the shadow of His wings.

Isn’t that what Paul and Silas did after having been beaten? It was in the darkness of night that the Apostle Paul received an encouraging word from the Lord while in a storm at sea. The disciples were adrift in a storm when Jesus came walking on the water and said, “Peace, be still”.

And of course, there were the shepherds watching their flocks by night.

“In the same country there were shepherds in the fields. They were watching their flocks of sheep at night. 9 The angel of the Lord came to them. The shining-greatness of the Lord shone around them. They were very much afraid. 10 The angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. See! I bring you good news of great joy which is for all people.'” Luke 2:8-10 NLV

“Don’t be afraid – I have good news”!

Do you feel like your alone on a night watch? Everyone else is able to rest but you’re awake and agitated. Storms are upsetting your boat, things are getting too close for comfort.

Follow King David’s example: remember the Lord, think about His help, and sing for joy! Your night watch will bring you peace.

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A Day to Remember

What do you think of when you see the date, December 7th, on the calendar? How many still remember “the day that will live in infamy”?

I took this picture, years ago, at our home in northern Idaho. It was a reminder of those who fought and died for our freedom. Those who died in a war to secure the shores of our nation and also the One who died to bring us spiritual freedom.

Will the generations to come remember the sacrifice of those who died at Pearl Harbor?

The bigger question is will they remember the One who came as a babe, lived a sinless life and died, becoming the spotless sacrifice for our sins?

We are a people who tend to forget.

“While he was thinking about this, an angel of the Lord came to him in a dream. The angel said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. She is to become a mother by the Holy Spirit. 21 A Son will be born to her. You will give Him the name Jesus because He will save His people from the punishment of their sins.’” Matthew 1:20-21 NLV

A day to remember. Do you remember the day? when Jesus saved you from your sins?

“ I was near Damascus. All at once, about noon, I saw a bright light from heaven shining around me. 7 I fell to the ground. A voice said to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you work so hard against Me?’ 8 I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, the One you are working against.’” Acts 22:6-8 NLV

Now, my salvation story isn’t as dramatic as the Apostle Paul’s, but I remember. I was a little girl in church on a Sunday evening. I really don’t remember what the preacher said however I knew I wanted Jesus to come live in my heart. I walked forward at the end of the service and Mrs. Turner talked with me about the importance of what I was doing and then she prayed with me to receive Christ.

“Remember this! Jesus Christ, Who was born from the early family of David, was raised from the dead! This is the Good News I preach.” II Timothy 2:8 NLV

A day to remember.

There are so many memories attached to the Christmas season. Songs of joy, celebrations with family and friends, family traditions and activities from Christmases past come flooding in.

May I encourage us all to take time to reflect (remember) the day that Christmas became more about the Person instead of the presents.

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Home for Christmas

The last few nights Dave and I have been reminiscing about our Idaho home. It was more of a farmhouse, small and cozy.

We had four large blue spruce trees in the side yard, a big circular driveway, a cute front porch and one small bathroom but it was home. We got so much snow that Dave and our son would need to go up and shovel it off the roof.

We could be inside warming by the wood stove and look out at the colored lights shining on the snow covered branches. It definitely reminded us of a Currier and Ives Christmas card.

It was home!

Home is many things to many people. Some live in large and spacious mansions while others reside in small cottages. Our son lives on a boat and there are others like us who live in tiny homes. But one thing is the same, the comfort of home.

I remember the first time the song “I’ll be Home for Christmas” took on real meaning to my family. My brother had left for his tour of duty in Viet Nam in the summer of 1969. Mom continued with her Christmas baking just like normal and sent a couple of boxes of baked goods to him and his buddies.

It was hard not having him home that year, hard not knowing how he was or where he was. He was always in our prayers.

Maybe that’s where you are this year. There might be an ache in your heart because a dear loved one will be missing from your Christmas celebration. Do you know that our heavenly Father knows how that feels?

His Son came to earth for thirty-three years. They had never been apart before that. On the night before Jesus was crucified He was thinking of home.

“Do not let your heart be troubled. You have put your trust in God, put your trust in Me also. 2 There are many rooms in My Father’s house. If it were not so, I would have told you. I am going away to make a place for you. 3 After I go and make a place for you, I will come back and take you with Me. Then you may be where I am.” John 14:1-3 NLV

Thinking of home but also making provision for all of us to join Him someday. Home for Christmas!

Our Father also has a heart for the wayward. He waits lovingly, patiently, for us to come home when we have strayed.

” While he was yet a long way off, his father saw him. The father was full of loving-pity for him. He ran and threw his arms around him and kissed him.,,Let us eat and be glad. 24 For my son was dead and now he is alive again. He was lost and now he is found. Let us eat and have a good time.’ Luke 15:20-24 NLV

No Christmas celebration is complete if someone is missing. Step into the Father’s open arms and come home for Christmas.

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I’ve Got Joy

For the past hour, as I was waking up, the lyrics of a song we sang Sunday morning have been on a continuous loop in my heart.

“I’ve got joy in the morning

Joy in the evening

You keep me dancing

In every season

No matter what comes my way

I’ve got joy”

Joy – it’s greater than happiness. Happiness is conditional. If everything is going well – all the bills are paid, the kids are fed, I feel strong and invigorated, the boss likes my work, my favorite sports team won – then I’m happy. But that’s not joy.

No, joy is different. Joy isn’t dependent upon circumstances.

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” James 1:2-5 NJKV

Joy in trouble and trials? You can’t be serious. Oh, but I am. This verse was written during a time when Christians were being arrested and severely persecuted. Some were facing death because of their faith and James tells them to consider it joy.

The first thing that comes to my mind, after reading that, is this:

“And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. 24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.” Acts 16:23-26 NKJV

Paul and Silas had just been beaten and they had joy. I don’t imagine they were happy about the beating they took or that they were in prison but at midnight, in their darkest hour, they had joy. In fact, they were overflowing with joy and could pray and sing.

Now I don’t know, if they had been sitting their complaining about their situation and bemoaning the fact that they had been beaten for preaching, if there would have been an earthquake that would have broken their bonds. But I do know that they counted it joy when they were in a difficult circumstance.

Their joy came from knowing they had done the will of God and they also knew they had His promise to never leave them or abandon them. We have that same promise.

King David said in Psalm 139 that even if he went to hell God would still be with him. When we come to that realization, that God has chosen to be ever-present in our lives, we will know true and abiding joy.

“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11 NKJV

“Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.'” Luke 2:9-11 NKJV

The Lord has given us a wonderful gift – the gift of joy!

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A Gift of Words

How many words do you think you speak each day? Now, how many words do you think you hear? More importantly, how many words do you think make a significant difference in your life?

There are conversations, dialogue in the movies, weather forecasts, news reports, songs on the radio – words of encouragement, words that are distressing. Words filled with faith and words that create fear.

The Word we have been given at Christmas comes as a gift.

“The Word (Christ) was in the beginning. The Word was with God. The Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 He made all things. Nothing was made without Him making it. 4 Life began by Him. His Life was the Light for men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness. The darkness has never been able to put out the Light.” John 1:1-5 NLV

Christ is the Word that arrived and brought light to our souls. The prophet Isaiah said that His name was Wonderful, Counselor, Prince of Peace, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Immanuel or God with Us.

When the angel came to Mary and told her she had been chosen by God to birth the Messiah this was her response:

“Then Mary said, ‘I am willing to be used of the Lord. Let it happen to me as you have said.’ Then the angel went away from her.” Luke 1:38 NLV

Mary accepted the “Word” that came from God and then became the vessel that God used to bring the “Word” into the world. Not only did God’s word transform Mary’s life, that Word changed the world.

Words are important! God’s words are important but so are ours.

Words are filled with power – power to create or power to destroy. The writer of Proverbs penned it this way:

“A man’s stomach will be filled with the fruit of his mouth. He will be filled with what his lips speak. 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs 18:20-21 NLV

When we put our trust in God’s words, it will change our conversation. Mary believed God’s word and the impossible became possible. The lame man who had been let down through the roof of the house believed God’s word and he “took up his bed and walked”.

Jesus said the Word of God is a firm foundation in time of storm. When we build our lives on God’s word, we will stand steadfast, not moved by fear.

Thank you Father that Your Word became flesh and changed our lives. May our words reflect our hope, faith and trust in You!

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24/7/365

I have to tell you; I love finding God in every day occurrences.

I can find Him in the grocery store, in traffic, at a noisy NASCAR race, in the still quiet of the morning. I can find Him while holding David’s hand in prayer, in conversation with friends, in spontaneous outbursts from my grandchildren. I can even find God in a Hallmark movie or in the commercials that come in between shows on television.

That’s where I found the Lord speak to me yesterday. I had one of those sentimental movies playing on television while I sat knitting a Christmas stocking. I wasn’t really paying much attention to the movie, it was the commercial that gained my attention.

I don’t remember what item was being prompted but the dialogue said something like this, “it’s the gift that keeps on giving all year through”. I looked up and said out loud, “that’s God love! It’s the 24/7, 365 gift. That’ll preach.”

I told Dave, “I have tomorrow’s blog title”. 24/7/365

Today I will share with you some of those 24/7/365 verses that mean so much to me.

“The Lord came to us from far away, saying, “I have loved you with a love that lasts forever. So I have helped you come to Me with loving-kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3 NLV

“When the rain-bow is in the cloud, I will look upon it to remember the agreement that will last forever between God and every living thing of all flesh that is on the earth.” 17 God said to Noah, “This is the special thing to see because of the agreement I have made between Me and all flesh upon the earth.” Genesis 9:16-17 NLV

“Go into His gates giving thanks and into His holy place with praise. Give thanks to Him. Honor His name. 5 For the Lord is good. His loving-kindness lasts forever. And He is faithful to all people and to all their children-to-come.” Psalm 100:4-5 NLV

“For to us a Child will be born. To us a Son will be given. And the rule of the nations will be on His shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful, Teacher, Powerful God, Father Who Lives Forever, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 NLV

“Trust in the Lord forever. For the Lord God is a Rock that lasts forever.” Isaiah 26:4 NLV

“Those whom the Lord has paid for and set free will return. They will come to Zion with singing. Joy that lasts forever will crown their heads. They will be glad and full of joy. Sorrow and sad voices will be gone.” Isaiah 35:10 NLV

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. Whoever puts his trust in God’s Son will not be lost but will have life that lasts forever.” John 3:16 NLV

“We give honor and thanks to the King Who lives forever. He is the One Who never dies and Who is never seen. He is the One Who knows all things. He is the only God. Let it be so.” I Timothy 1:7 NLV

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” Revelation 22:13 NLT

There you have it. Love, promises, strength, joy, loving-kindness or mercy, Father, King and life – all of these gifts are from our Eternal Father and all of these gifts are eternal – 24/7/365. God’s gifts to us!

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Take A Break

Yesterday Dave picked me up at work and we headed to town. After all, how busy can it be? It’s just December 1st.

Well, it was busy. We stopped long enough at our favorite Mexican food restaurant to enjoy our dinner and visited with our waitress. It was a nice repose before we headed to the grocery store.

Oh my!

Only a few things on our list but some were necessities so it was a stop we couldn’t skip. Busy, busy, busy.

Home. Put things away and then it was time to sit down and enjoy the quiet. You realize that you don’t have to go anywhere to get caught up in the hustle and the bustle of keeping up with life. It can happen anywhere, especially this time of the year.

The holidays can be so hectic – planning for friends and family to visit; making those favorite treats, decorating, parties, finding the perfect gift – all good things – all things that come from a heart of love but all things that can stress you out and fill your days with things that can test the temper.

A good way to keep your day on track is to start it with a short prayer, thanking God for “The reason for the season, Jesus” and then having an afternoon coffee break to focus once again on things above. Bedtime is one more opportunity to be thankful for the wonderful people in your life and for His love.

A sure-fire way to keep your life on track.

“And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” Colossians 3:14-17 KJV

I’m praying that each of you have a day filled with blessings.

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Christmas Cards

I know it’s only December 1st but have you received any Christmas cards yet?

I have a few friends that address their cards and write their Christmas letters on Thanksgiving weekend. Then, like clockwork, they are in the mail and delivered by December 1. In fact, I have already received one – it arrived, hand-delivered, on Thanksgiving Day.

Are you like me? I love getting these Christmas greetings from friends and loved one far and near. Reading their newsy letters brings them close once again.

As I sat here this morning wondering what I should share, I prayed a simple prayer and asked “Lord, what do you want to say this morning?”. Here’s the answer – it’s from God’s heart to you – ‘nuf said.

“The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” Jeremiah 31:3 KJV

“From far away, the Lord will appear to his people. The Lord says, “I love you people with a love that continues forever. That is why I have continued showing you kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3 ERV

Years ago, I read this verse about this time of year and it really impacted my heart. I felt like it was God’s message for the Season. His matchless love – His unconditional love – His love that never fails is the reason we have Christmas.

The Father reached out to us with His most extravagant gift, Jesus, His Son.

Maybe, just maybe, you’ll print this verse and attach it to your mantle or at least copy it and put it in your phone so you can look at it several times each day. This message of everlasting love and God’s lovingkindness, His “hesed” is a message from His heart to ours!

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Back Sliding Isn’t Fun

Yesterday I told you that one of our Christmas tree cuttings had an added adventure that we weren’t expecting. Now, let me tell you the rest of the story. This image is a picture I took from the top of that mountain.

We went up to cut our Christmas tree. We backed off on a side road to turn around and slid 100 yds down the mountainside. Two hours later, after much work, we were finally back on the main road and heading home. We would gain a foot and then lose 6″. It seemed almost impossible to get any forward momentum. Inch by inch we gained ground, but we had to make sure we had good traction and that meant cutting pine boughs to put under the wheels – we needed a firm foundation.

Backsliding created some real stress and anxious moments.

I’ve had those same type of experiences emotionally as well. A failure or hurt can be daunting. Friends leave, loved ones don’t understand and so we can get stuck in our failure and live in self-pity or even become suicidal. Maybe you’ve had a “tremendous” sin in your life that has held you back from serving God. Leaving you with the thought that God couldn’t possibly love or forgive me after what I have done but He can. He does and He already has.

“So we, too, should run the race that is before us and never quit. We should remove from our lives anything that would slow us down and the sin that so often makes us fall. 2 We must never stop looking to Jesus. He is the leader of our faith, and he is the one who makes our faith complete. He suffered death on a cross. But he accepted the shame of the cross as if it were nothing because of the joy he could see waiting for him. And now he is sitting at the right side of God’s throne. 3 Think about Jesus. He patiently endured the angry insults that sinful people were shouting at him. Think about him so that you won’t get discouraged and stop trying.” Hebrews 12:1-3

To go on with God we need a couple things; one, to be looking in the right direction – looking forward and looking up and then two, we need good traction – something solid beneath our feet.

“Jesus Christ did the things God wanted him to do. And because of that, we are made holy through the sacrifice of Christ’s body. Christ made that sacrifice one time—enough for all time. Jesus Christ did the things God wanted him to do. And because of that, we are made holy through the sacrifice of Christ’s body. Christ made that sacrifice one time—enough for all time…19. And so, brothers and sisters, we are completely free to enter the Most Holy Place. We can do this without fear because of the blood sacrifice of Jesus. 20 We enter through a new way that Jesus opened for us. It is a living way that leads through the curtain—Christ’s body. 21 And we have a great priest who rules the house of God. 22 Sprinkled with the blood of Christ, our hearts have been made free from a guilty conscience, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. So come near to God with a sincere heart, full of confidence because of our faith in Christ. 23 We must hold on to the hope we have, never hesitating to tell people about it. We can trust God to do what he promised.” Hebrews 10:10-14,19-23

The solid foundation Christ has given us is His sacrifice that offers us forgiveness and a right relationship with God (that’s our traction), it gets us out of the ditch of self-pity and off the slippery slope of unworthiness. The blood of Christ can and has cleansed us from a guilty conscience and put us on the right road with God.

When we’re wrapped up in guilt, and we all go there from time to time, we’re looking the wrong direction. The victory comes in looking at Jesus – looking forward, not back. Looking back, we magnify our failures and sin; looking forward we magnify Jesus and what He did for us on the cross.

Get on track and run the race looking to Jesus and don’t get “stuck” in your past.

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Lessons from the Forest

I told you yesterday that I have special memories of the times we spent together in the forest hunting for and finding our Christmas tree. This was something David and I started our second year of marriage and it continued until December of 2013.

What I didn’t tell you was that those times on the cold mountain tops looking for the “right” tree were also times for me to learn lessons from the Lord.

I remember all our times when the kids were little, and we went out to the forest to cut our own Christmas trees. Even when it was just Dave and I in Montana, we would drive up to the hill behind our house looking for just the right tree.

Trees grown in the wild are never the perfect shape like the ones we find on the tree lot or at the Christmas tree farm, but the fun is the adventure we have while searching.

Only once we got more adventure than we had planned for, and it was very exciting and a bit scary. Stuck in the snow, sliding backwards down the trail, unable to stop and finally settling for any tree that was close to the road’s edge as we were getting off the mountain. But, I digress – that’s not the point of my story.

Each tree had its own beauty and charm. Each tree had grown from a small seed that fell from the pinecone years before we had come. Each tree was a testament to God’s re-creative power, and each tree took us to nature, God’s beauty, and reminded us of His love.

Some of the trees were tall and stately while others were small, scrawny and hadn’t come into their own glory. Some had branches that were weighed down with the heavy snow and others, while covered with snow lifted their branches to the heavens.

Not once did I hear a word of jealousy or remorse. No discord was found; each tree grew at its own rate and shared its own beauty with the world.

In thinking about those trees, their imperfections, their beauty, I was reminded that we are like those trees. We all have our own little quirks and characteristics, but we are all a creation of beauty designed by the Master Creator, our Heavenly Father.

“ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10 NKJV

or as it says in another translation

 “I mean that you have been saved by grace because you believed. You did not save yourselves; it was a gift from God. 9 You are not saved by the things you have done, so there is nothing to boast about. 10 God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us new people so that we would spend our lives doing the good things he had already planned for us to do.” Ephesians 2:8-10 ERV

So, now at Christmas let’s all be like those trees. We are God’s workmanship, created by Him to do good.

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