Category: God’s Love

Posted on

Bah Humbug

Christmas can be hard.

Some are going through heartache, adjusting to separation, being isolated from friends and family. Some have experienced the death of the one they love the most. The traditions of years past have lost their meaning or are too hurtful to face alone.

They don’t want to put up the tree and the lights. They don’t want to sing carols and they certainly don’t want to build a snowman.

They do, however, need someone to be close. They need someone else to be strong for them. They need someone to lean on and a shoulder to cry on. This is the real message of Christmas.

Here are the words Jesus spoke about Himself when he began preaching in the Temple, this is the reason He came.

“Someone handed Him the book of the early preacher Isaiah. He opened it and found the place where it was written, 18 ‘The Spirit of the Lord is on Me. He has put His hand on Me to preach the Good News to poor people. He has sent Me to heal those with a sad heart. He has sent Me to tell those who are being held that they can go free. He has sent Me to make the blind to see and to free those who are held because of trouble. 19 He sent Me to tell of the time when men can receive favor with the Lord.'” Luke 4:17-19 NLV

The message of the angels that first Christmas was “I bring Good News of Great Joy.”

Jesus is our good news – He’s the healer of the broken hearted, He comforts us in our time of sorrow, He gives us joy unspeakable, peace that passes our understanding and He rebuilds what was left wasted and destroyed.

Look around today. I’m sure there will be folks we can laugh and celebrate with but let’s also look for those who may need us. They need us to help them through a rough time.

“Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2 NLT

Be on the look out for those who need our help, our strength and be a wonderful example of God’s love!

Let’s help replace Bah Humbug with Good Tidings of Great Joy!

Posted on

Lost in Transit

The beginning of the month we ordered some small steps for Dave’s truck. He’s been patiently waiting. We ordered them in plenty of time for him to install them before we leave on our next camping trip.

They’re still not here!

I’ve been tracking them this whole time but there has been no movement since December 4. I’m so glad it wasn’t a present for one of the grandkids, we can manage without the steps but they would make things better.

They are lost in transit. The delivery date has long since past.

There have been times in life that I feel I have been lost in transit. Times I wish I would have waited on the Lord’s direction a little bit longer. Times I wish I wouldn’t have taken a certain job or moved to a particular place.

Lost in transit. But then I remembered the story of Joseph, who had the coat of many colors.

His life was a series of events which could have labeled him lost in transit. As a young man the Lord gave him a dream that his brothers and father would bow down to him. He would be in a place of authority but the transition was a rough one.

First his brothers sold him as a slave; then he was wrongfully accused of sexual molestation and sent to prison. Once in prison he helped another prisoner and was promised that the pharaoh would learn of his assistance but that promise was forgotten until years later.

Finally Joseph made it to the Pharoah’s palace and promoted. It had been thirteen years. Joseph was lost to his father and his brothers for thirteen years. But in all that time Joseph never became bitter. He didn’t let resentment toward anyone sideline him from doing what was right.

There was a severe famine and his brothers came to Joseph to buy food for their families. They bowed before Joseph, just like he saw in his dream. The amazing thing is Joseph’s reaction.

“Joseph said to his brothers, ‘Come near to me.’ So they came near. He said, ‘I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 But do not be troubled or angry with yourselves because you sold me here. For God sent me before you to save your life. 6 For the land has been without food these two years. And there are five more years without plowing or gathering. 7 God sent me before you to make sure that your people will keep living on the earth. Now many of you will be saved. 8 So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and ruler of all his house, and of all the land of Egypt. 9 Hurry and go to my father. Say to him, ‘Your son Joseph says to you, “God has made me ruler of all Egypt. Come to me, and do not wait. 10 You will live in the land of Goshen, you and your children and grandchildren, your flocks and cattle, and all you have. And you will be near me. 11 There I will take care of you, so that you and your family will not be in need. For there are still five years coming without food. By then you would have nothing.'” Genesis 45:4-11 NLV

There’s an important lesson to be learned here. Joseph may have been abandoned by his family but never by His God. The world didn’t know where Joseph was but God always did and was with him every step of the way.

We may feel that our life and our dreams have been lost, lost in transit but let’s not despair. God knows where we are and He is here with us. Once we recognize God’s presence we can go from desperation to joy.

“You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.” Psalm 16:11 NLT

When we are in God’s presence we are never lost in transit; we’re just in a process of transition.

Posted on

Committed to the Cause

My children enjoy running; this is something I have never said about myself. Yesterday our son-in-law ran his first full marathon. Amazing!

What’s even more admirable is he ran a race that had been cancelled. It takes months to train for a marathon. Little conditioning runs, followed by rest days build to longer days of training until training runs exceed the twenty-mile length. He had trained for this and he was committed to the cause.

Our youngest daughter just had her first half-marathon cancelled but she is also still training and will run her race regardless.

Commitment.

“You know that many runners enter a race, and only one of them wins the prize. So run to win! 25 Athletes work hard to win a crown that cannot last, but we do it for a crown that will last forever. ” I Corinthians 9:24-25 CEV

Because their races have been cancelled the only prize they won or will win is the prize of achievement, of knowing they worked hard and didn’t give up. They have competed against their own physical pain and exhaustion and won.

What an example! An example for daily life.

When Jesus came to earth he came with one purpose; He came to restore the relationship between God, the Father, and mankind. He came on a mission of love. I’m sure He must have felt like giving up and quitting multiple times but He kept the goal forefront in His heart.

He was asked once what was the most important law to live by and His answer was quick and simple. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind and love your neighbor as yourself.

He told the disciples that they were to keep one commandment when He was gone; love one another and then the world would know that they were His disciples. What kept Jesus on track the whole time He was here was His goal to love the world and to give His life for them, and for us.

Never did He do an unloving thing. Even when He chased the merchants out of the Temple it was done in love; love for the Father, love for the people who were being cheated.

“Very few people will die to save the life of someone else, even if it is for a good person. Someone might be willing to die for an especially good person. 8 But Christ died for us while we were still sinners, and by this God showed how much he loves us.” Romans 5:7-8 ERV

His final act of love on this earth occurred on the cross. He gave his life for us and His final words, like the words of a runner, were “it is finished”. He had crossed love’s finish line and been true to His purpose.

“I mean that while we were God’s enemies, he made friends with us through his Son’s death. And the fact that we are now God’s friends makes it even more certain that he will save us through his Son’s life. 11 And not only will we be saved, but we also rejoice right now in what God has done for us through our Lord Jesus Christ. It is because of Jesus that we are now God’s friends.” Romans 5:10-11 ERV

Because of His love, because He finished the course, we receive the prize. We are the victors. We win love’s greatest gift, eternal life!

We’ve been given the same instruction that the disciples received. Love one another! Let’s be committed to the cause – let’s run our race with the love of God in our hearts.

We win because love never quits!

Posted on

Love Was Born

Most of my days are very ordinary, just like yours. Take yesterday for instance, it started with picking up our grocery order that I had placed the day before. Had to run in to Home Depot and grab a couple things Dave needed to complete his home project.

Back to the house where I put the groceries away, started laundry, and reconciled the bank statement before I headed out again to an appointment at the bank and a couple of other errands before heading home. All this was done following the proper safety guidelines and handing out candy canes at each stop.

I had been listening to a Christmas CD as I went from place to place. When I left the last location and started the car toward home a song came through the sound system speakers, “Love Was Born on Christmas Day” *. My heart had been touched by the apprehension of the people I had met at my different stops and this song brought me to tears.

All those folks were wearing their masks, but obviously bothered by the close proximity of their surroundings. There was no Christmas music playing through the intercom systems, no smiles to be seen, no real Christmas joy. Their faces would brighten as I said Merry Christmas, thanked them for their assistance and handed them a candy cane but for the most part the Christmas spirit was missing.

** “This is the story, the power and the glory
Three wise men knelt to pray
A guiding star had led the way
And there he lay born on Christmas day

Joy did he bring, the king
Let every song rejoice
And every heart did sing, hear it ring
The sound of heaven’s voice
The angels proclaimed his holy name
King of kings”

**partial lyrics of Born on Christmas Day

This is the story – the power and the glory, Christ was born on Christmas day. As the words of this chorus repeated my eyes filled with tears. The world, my small world, was missing the joy and the love that He came to bring. I felt God’s heart ache. I wanted to give them all a hug and tell them things would get better. I wanted them to know that they could give all their fears and disappointments to the Lord. Jesus came so we could have a relationship with the Father.

“But when the time was right, God sent his Son, and a woman gave birth to him. His Son obeyed the Law, 5 so he could set us free from the Law, and we could become God’s children. 6 Now that we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts. And his Spirit tells us that God is our Father.” Galatians 4:4-6 CEV

If each of us touches one person with the love of Jesus this Christmas season it will be life-changing. I pray that we give the most wonderful gift of all, God’s love, to those around us.

* (The underlined song title is an active link to the song on YouTube. I know you will enjoy it.)

Posted on

Did You Hear That?

That was my question this morning. Reaching for my coffee, suddenly the quiet of my office was disturbed with a strange noise. For a moment I sat and waited, would it happen again? Nothing…

The Lord and I were talking, some of you call it praying, when there it was again. Since it’s pitch black outside I got up to investigate. It was coming from the back patio. Thankfully, Dave wired the patio with a multitude of lights. I flipped the switch and the enter backyard lit up.

Nothing…but there is a breeze and a power cord that had been on the bar stool must have slipped because now it is on the concrete slab. Mystery solved. Prayer time continued.

In my heart I began singing the Christmas song “Do You Hear What I Hear?”. Said the night wind to the little lamb, Do you hear what I hear? But it’s the final verse of the song that really resonates with me.

Said the king to the people everywhere,
Listen to what I say!
Pray for peace, people, everywhere,
Listen to what I say!
The Child, the Child sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light,
He will bring us goodness and light.

The message of the song is about the Child who brings light. Our world has many dark and threatening places; some are imagined and some are very real. However, wherever light shines darkness is dispelled.

When I was a child living in northern New Mexico I saw lumanarias for the first time. They lined the path leading to a mission. We were attending the Christmas Eve service there with our neighbors. All other outside lights had been extinguished, just the lumanarias lit our way.

Once inside the mission we sang carols and the priest told the story of Christ’s birth. There was a candlelabra at the front, it gave the only light to the interior. As he finished the story we began to sing one more carol, “Silent Night, Holy Night”.

Someone began to extinguish the candles at the front and someone else took one of the candles and went to the people who had received smaller candles. Each person used their candle to light the one next to them. When the carol was finished, what had been a dark and instinctive mission interior was glowing with light.

“Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, 29 ‘Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. 30 I have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared for all people. 32 He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!'” Luke 2:28-32 NLT

Simeon, the priest, took the baby Jesus into his arms and declared that this child would reveal God to the nations. Jesus came to be THE light of the world. He shines brightly with God’s love and forgiveness, lighting the way that leads to the Father. No more darkness in our lives. He will light our way.

He will bring us goodness and light!

Posted on

Where’s Jesus?

This year I scaled back on my Christmas decorating but this little nativity is front and center. It has such meaning to me. I’ve shared this story before but it’s worth repeating.

In our area we have beautiful, brightly colored pottery which is made in Mexico and it is known as talavera.

For years I have purchased pieces to use in my decorating; cups, bowls, plates, canisters, etc. Each piece brings an atmosphere of gaiety and joy to the room. Several years ago, I was shopping in Tubac, an artisan community near us, when I saw the talavera nativity sets. I knew I had to have one. 

Most of my decorating at Christmas is done with nativity sets and angels. I studied each figure in the set; their smiling faces, their clothing, the shape of the stall and then I realized there was no baby Jesus! Where did He go? What happened to Him? 

The shop that we were in had many different size nativity sets and they were all missing the Christ child. And then I saw the handwritten sign…If you buy a nativity, ask for Jesus. 

Ask for Jesus!

Wasn’t that the Father’s intent from the beginning? He wanted us to recognize that our lives were not complete without Jesus. 

Ask for Jesus?

When I asked the shop owner why there were no baby Jesus figures he told me this. We never have any problem with theft in this shop except for the baby Jesus. We keep Him in the back until a nativity is sold and then bring Him out and add Him with the rest of the pieces. 

Who would steal the baby Jesus?

That is completely counter to the reason He came. When Jesus was born the angels filled the heavens with the announcement. The shepherds were told to go find Him. The wise men saw and followed His star. Everyone was welcome to come see Jesus!

Jesus came to forgive the sins of all men, even the ones who would steal the baby Jesus.  Jesus wasn’t born in a palace where only a few of the elite would be allowed to enter. He wasn’t born in a monastery where only the religious and the holy would be. No, He was born in a barn; anyone – man, woman, child, elite or poor, educated or unlearned was welcomed at the manger. 

“‘Today your Savior was born in David’s town. He is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This is how you will know him: You will find a baby wrapped in pieces of cloth and lying in a feeding box.’ 13 Then a huge army of angels from heaven joined the first angel, and they were all praising God, saying,

14 ‘Praise God in heaven, and on earth let there be peace to the people who please him.’

15 The angels left the shepherds and went back to heaven. The shepherds said to each other, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this great event the Lord has told us about.’

16 So they went running and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the feeding box.” Luke 2:11-16 ERV 

I want to encourage you to put Jesus on display. Don’t hid Him, let the world see that He lives in you. Love the way He did; reach out to everyone the Father brings your way. The sign on our lives should be Jesus is free to all who ask.

Posted on

The Candy Cane

Have a cup of coffee with me this morning as I share “The Legend of the Candy Cane”. Every year I share the story in one fashion or another. Since so many of you are new readers this year I thought I should share it again.

Over thirty years ago I was given a little lapel pin at Christmas. It looked like a cute little candy cane. However, when I held it upside down it was in the shape of a “J”. It was attached to a little card which told the story of how it came to be.

“I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep, and they know me. 15 Just as the Father knows me, I know the Father, and I give up my life for my sheep. ” John 10:14-15 CEV

A few years later I was in a bookstore and found a wonderfully illustrated children’s book, “The Legend of the Candy Cane”. I bought it and it sits on our coffee table each year and I have read the story to our children and grandchildren. It’s a cute story of a confectioner who moves to a small town and sets up his shop. The winter is harsh and the town folks are feeling isolated and alone. The candy maker, with the help of a little girl from town, set out to do something to lift the spirits of their neighbors. They make candy canes. The confectioner tells the little girl the story behind his new candy as they work.

The story gave me an idea of how to share the message of Jesus with all I meet throughout the Christmas season. I have printed little cards, like the one picture above and attach each card to a candy cane with a red ribbon. I always have a supply of them in my purse or coat pocket and when I’m out and about I hand out candy canes to store clerks, waitresses, postal workers, anyone I have dealings with.

Handing out Candy Canes with this little message is a great way to share Jesus at Christmas. I even have a basket of them on the counter in our home to share with neighbors and friends who drop in.

Who doesn’t like candy at Christmas? The candy cane has been associated with Christmas for as long as I can remember. The story of the candy cane is one of Jesus and His saving grace. Find a way to have fun and share the love of Jesus with folks.

“His teachings are worth more than pure gold. They are sweeter than the best honey dripping from the honeycomb.May my words and thoughts please you. Lord, you are my Rock—the one who rescues me.” Psalm 19: 10 & 14 ERV

The story of Christmas is not only the greatest story ever told but it’s the sweetest!

(You can find a link to the book on my website page “I Like These”.)

Posted on

Love, Love, Love

Love, love, love – all you need is love!

If you are as old as I am you will probably hear the Beatles singing those words in your head. All you need is love…

That’s what Christmas is all about. It’s a time of showing love, a special time of year to recognize the most wonderful gift of love that mankind has ever known. The birth of a child, the birth of our Savior. God’s unconditional love in human form.

Jesus shows us the Father’s unconditional love in action.

God doesn’t quit loving us when we fail. These are the people Jesus loved; the woman who committed adultery, the tax collector who cheated hundreds, Peter who denied Him three times, the demon possessed, the outcasts and the half-breeds, even the criminals on the cross and the soldiers who crucified him. He loved them all!

The night before Jesus was crucified we find Him in the Garden of Gethsamane praying. He was praying for Himself, for His followers and for us. Yes, we were on His heart before we were even born.

“I am not praying just for these followers. I am also praying for everyone else who will have faith because of what my followers will say about me…23 I am one with them, and you are one with me, so that they may become completely one. Then this world’s people will know that you sent me. They will know that you love my followers as much as you love me. 24 Father, I want everyone you have given me to be with me, wherever I am. Then they will see the glory that you have given me, because you loved me before the world was created. 25 Good Father, the people of this world don’t know you. But I know you, and my followers know that you sent me. 26 I told them what you are like, and I will tell them even more. Then the love that you have for me will become part of them, and I will be one with them.” John 17:20-26 CEV

Jesus prayed that the world would know that the Father loves us as much as He loves Jesus. Think about that.

If the Father only loves us as much as He loved Peter, who denied knowing him, that would be something. He was forgiving, compassionate, non-condemning. But He loves us as much as He loves Jesus! Grab hold of that and don’t ever let it go. God, the Father, loves us as much as He loves Jesus and He thinks the best of us!

Now truly this is the gift of Christmas – God so loved the world that He gave! My prayer is that we come to understand how much He loves us and then we show that love to the world. This is the Apostle Paul’s prayer for us:

“I pray that Christ will live in your hearts because of your faith. I pray that your life will be strong in love and be built on love. 18 And I pray that you and all God’s holy people will have the power to understand the greatness of Christ’s love—how wide, how long, how high, and how deep that love is. 19 Christ’s love is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that you will be able to know that love. Then you can be filled with everything God has for you.20 With God’s power working in us, he can do much, much more than anything we can ask or think of.” Ephesians 3:17-20 ERV

Thank you Lord for flooding my life with Your love!

Posted on

Not About Me

Every morning for the last nine plus years I have traded emails with a friend who lives in the Northwest. We share our morning “coffee”. She tells me all about her previous day and I tell her about mine.

There are days when one or the other of us start our email by saying “I need this to be all about me”. That’s what friends do!

We listen, without condemning. We don’t have to make things better or give advice sometimes we just need to listen. Many times at the end of one of those pour-your-heart-out exchanges we will say “thank you, I knew you would know what I should do” because once we’ve talked through things, although it’s in an email, and unburdened ourselves we know what to do.

Self-centeredness is never good for a relationship. True friendship, true love is selfless.

“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

God loved so much He sent His Son. When Jesus came to earth it wasn’t about Him it was about rescuing us.

“A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest.” John 10:10 CEV

When the angels filled the heavens two thousand years ago proclaiming the birth of Jesus, they gave “Glory to God in the Highest”. The message wasn’t about them – they were only the messengers.

We also have the opportunity to be messengers of God’s goodness and love. It’s not about me, it’s about what Jesus has done in our lives.

“You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.” II Corinthians 4:5-7 NLT

We have a great treasure bottled up within us. It’s the light of Jesus, our Lord and Saviour. It’s not about me, it’s about His light shinging through me. I just want to be the vessel that brings His light to the world.

Posted on

A Good Day

The last couple of days I have had pictures from Christmases past show up on my memory page. I’m not surprised by how many of them have been from Christmas tree cutting adventures.

The second Christmas after Dave and I were married we went Christmas tree cutting with some of the members from our Sunday School class. I was seven and a half months pregnant. Our financial resources were slim but we had a full tank of gas in the truck and a tree permit only cost $3. Flagstaff was only a two and a half hour drive up the interstate. We were good to go and once we went we were hooked.

Amazing!

Forty-seven Decembers later it’s still one of my favorite things to do. We have cut our own tree about half, if not more, of those years.

What makes it a favorite thing? Well, the family is all together searching for the same thing, the perfect tree. There is an excitement to the search and it’s beautiful. The photograph I used for this morning’s post was taken on our tree cutting adventure in 2010 from a mountain just a few miles from our home in Montana.

God’s handiwork is breath-taking.

“It is wonderful to be grateful  and to sing your praises, Lord Most High! 2 It is wonderful each morning to tell about your love and at night to announce how faithful you are. 3 I enjoy praising your name to the music of harps, 4 because everything you do makes me happy, and I sing joyful songs. 5 You do great things, Lord.” Psalm 92:1-5 CEV

The verses above describe my heart as I sit here each morning sharing my thoughts with you. “It is wonderful each morning to tell about your love”. It is truly wonderful! I have learned and am still learning how to see my heavenly Father’s love in each day and through each circumstance. (Not all circumstances are caused by Him but He is always with me and taking me through each one.)

Each time I look at the image I used this morning I am amazed by God’s greatness to create such a scene of beauty and then I am overwhelmed when I realize that the God who created this marvelous view loves me beyond measure and has chosen to be my Father.

He loves you too!

With that realization, how can we do anything less than have a good day?

Privacy Policy Proudly powered by WordPress