Category: Relationship

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Silent Night

Yesterday was a busy day – I’m sure it was for you too. We left our sticks and bricks house, loaded up our older camp trailer and headed to Mesa to drop it off and make arrangements for picking up our new toy hauler this morning.

We were blessed with each mile we traveled and spent the night at our oldest daughter’s and son-in-love. Their house is festive – the tree, the decorations, my old nativity and the outdoor inflatables. Yes, there’s Christmas all around and my heart is full.

As I sit here this morning, I have time to reflect. I’m remembering our Christmases in Idaho. We always had lots of snow. Out in our yard were three blue spruce trees and their boughs would be flocked with white, much like a Currier and Ives card. Each year the trees would grow, and we would purchase more strings of lights.

With the additional lights came a need to find additional outlets to handle the electricity. Not quite the Clark Griswold electricity demand but after the first two years it was more than the outlet on the front porch could handle.

Our living room southern exposure was all glass. I would sit on the sofa, in front of the wood burning stove, watch the flames, hear the crackling of the logs, see the lighted trees, sip my coffee and know my world was at peace. My soul embraced the silence!

That’s where my heart went this morning. After the hustle and bustle of the last weeks, I am wrapping myself in the peaceful silence and letting my heart worship the Lord for all His goodness, His love and His sacrifice.

Maybe you woke up this morning with your mind spinning and there doesn’t seem to be much peace. So much to do and so little time – still need to complete a dozen projects, a few more presents to buy, cards need to get in the mail, cookies and candies to make, family dinners, parties with friends, traveling to relatives and then of course, there are all the chores that come from daily life – what to do – what to do?!

Take time this morning, before you hurry off, to have one more cup of coffee, tea, hot chocolate, whatever it is you drink in the morning and tell the Lord all about your list of things to do. Let Him help you prioritize and then before you head out take time to thank Him for coming to earth and know this, He did it just for you.

“People might plan what they want to say, but it is the Lord who gives them the right words. 2 People think that whatever they do is right, but the Lord judges their reason for doing it. 3 Turn to the Lord for help in everything you do, and you will be successful.” Proverbs 16:1-3 ERV

When we trust our plans to the Lord, He takes the stress and replaces it with joy. He came that we might have life to the full and overflowing. Give Him your plans and let Him direct your steps.

Take time to sit with Him and enjoy the “silent night”.

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The Extra Guest

This morning we leave the house that has been our home for the past seven and a half years. It’s so exciting!

I’m remembering times when friends and acquaintances have just dropped in to say hello and have stayed to share an evening meal or a cup of coffee and a cinnamon roll. Those are some of my favorite memories. We’ve always had an open door and been able to set an extra place at the table.

The last few weeks have been busy with purging and packing, details and delays but there’s still been time to welcome an extra guest.

Today we will pull out of the drive, wave good-bye to friends and neighbors. I have an idea of what my day will have in store but what about your day? Where are you going? Doing anything special? I always find that even the mundane is more fun when you have someone along to share it with.

We are never alone even in the dullest moments. We have a promise that God is with us. I think it’s important that we realize that Almighty God, who created the universe, is also God, our heavenly Father. He is always present. He never leaves us. He makes life worth living. He makes it exciting and fulfilling!

May I encourage you to make room for His presence in your daily routine? Make Him the extra guest at every meal, the unseen advisor for every decision, the one you go to for comfort and consolation.

“ and while they were there, 7 she gave birth to her first-born son. She dressed him in baby clothes and laid him on a bed of hay, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2:6-7 CEV

At His birth there was no room, He was just another baby, the citizens of Bethlehem didn’t realize that Immanuel was born in their city and so there was no room.

God loves being with His people. It’s only fitting that one of His names should mean God with us. That is His goal – relationship with us. He wants to walk and talk with us, friend to friend, Father to child.

No matter what we’re doing today, let’s take Him along. Moving to a new city, shopping, decorating, or lunch with a friend bring the extra guest. Having some down time, the two of you can sit quietly together after all He is Immanuel!

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No Christmas?

This year there are no Christmas decorations in our home. In fact, there is very little of anything in our home right now!

You see, tomorrow we move on to a new adventure! The house and most of the furnishings have been sold. The keepsakes have taken up residence in the homes of our children and grandchildren. What we have are many, many years of wonderful memories.

The Lord really put it on our hearts this summer to sell the house and move into a RV fulltime. Tomorrow is the day we start that adventure. Dave and I are excited – following the Lord does that – it brings you a sense of excitement and anticipation!

As I sit here looking around at where the Christmas tree has always been, where my Nativity sets have topped the furniture and the counter tops, my heart is flooded with the sights and sounds of Christmases past. The laughter, the music, the presence of family and friends.

I envision my Christmas tree. It is probably like yours; decorated with ornaments that have been collected over the years. Angel ornaments are my favorite. Each year as I hang different “angels” on the tree I remember fondly the friends that have given them to me. And as they are hung in a special place I pray for that dear friend or family member.

I was thinking this morning, if each ornament were a picture my tree would be filled with images of the ones I hold dear all year long. You know the Father has done that, He has filled His home with our pictures. He’s actually got them in the palm of His hand.

“But the Lord says, ‘Can a woman forget her baby? Can she forget the child who came from her body? Even if she can forget her children, I cannot forget you. 16 I drew a picture of you on my hand. You are always before my eyes…” Isaiah 49:15-16 ERV

He not only holds us in His heart but He also holds us in the palm of His hand!

Take time to cherish the memories and the love that we share, especially at Christmas, and if you feel prompted, buy an ornament to give to someone you hold dear. It will be a memory in the making.

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A Time for Change

Christmas time has always brought change – it certainly did for Mary, Joseph and the shepherds. The change of a star in the heavens brought the wisemen half way across the known world.

It brought change for Anna and Simeon, two elderly people, who had been serving in the Temple and were able to see their long-awaited Messiah. Change came to Elizabeth, Mary’s cousin, who was the mother of John the baptizer. She knew her son would preach the good news that the Messiah had come.

“Joseph registered with Mary because she was engaged to marry him. (She was now pregnant.) 6 While Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem, the time came for her to have the baby. 7 She gave birth to her first son. She wrapped him up well and laid him in a box where cattle are fed. She put him there because the guest room was full.” Luke 2:5-7 ERV

The time came and there was change.

We are also changed by Christmas. Yes, those of us who recognize Christ as our Savior celebrate His birth and His love. We desire to be more loving, more giving, more kind at Christmas.

We decorate differently. We sing special songs, watch theme movies, bake special cookies. All of these are things that change at Christmas. There’s a Christmas song that I heard many years ago and still enjoy, “One Night A Year”.

“One night a year we believe in peace on earth
One night a year we praise our Saviour’s birth
I wish every night the whole year through could be like Christmas Eve
When love’s pure light is shining everywhere, one night a year”

I like to think that we can live with Christmas in our hearts all year long. Jesus said He came for a very specific reason.

“‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me. He has chosen me to tell good news to the poor. He sent me to tell prisoners that they are free and to tell the blind that they can see again. He sent me to free those who have been treated badly 19 and to announce that the time has come for the Lord to show his kindness.” Luke 4:18-19 ERV

The time has come for us to share the love that Jesus has for us with others. Christmas is a time for change!

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Copy/Paste Christmas Style

This morning I opened a tab and input the words “copy paste Christmas image” and what popped up was a catalog of images that were available to copy and paste of all things Christmas.

But that wasn’t quite what I was looking for. You know the concept was God’s idea.

“26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” Genesis 1:25-27 KJV

God created us to be like Him – to be His representative, His counterpart on the earth. But when Adam sinned our nature was changed. God had to work to restore what He had intended for man to be. Enter Jesus.

“When anyone is in Christ, it is a whole new world. The old things are gone; suddenly, everything is new! 18 All this is from God. Through Christ, God made peace between himself and us. And God gave us the work of bringing people into peace with him. 19 I mean that God was in Christ, making peace between the world and himself. In Christ, God did not hold people guilty for their sins. And he gave us this message of peace to tell people. 20 So we have been sent to speak for Christ. It is like God is calling to people through us. We speak for Christ when we beg you to be at peace with God. 21 Christ had no sin, but God made him become sin[b] so that in Christ we could be right with God.” II Corinthians 5:17-21 ERV

Jesus restored us to the position that we had before Adam sinned. In Christ we are a NEW CREATION – a new creature – like the one that God created in the Garden of Eden. Jesus restored us to our original likeness.

He copies and pastes the origin blueprint that God used for man into our hearts when we receive the gift of salvation.

“But God is rich in mercy, and he loved us very much. 5 We were spiritually dead because of all we had done against him. But he gave us new life together with Christ. (You have been saved by God’s grace.)” Ephesians 2:4-5 ERV

In Christ we have been made new.

It’s not something we work to earn but something we receive freely by grace. Just as Adam was God’s idea and he did nothing to deserve or even request his creation so is our salvation and our restoration to a living and loving relationship with the Father God.

“Adam disobeyed God and caused many others to be sinners. But Jesus obeyed him and will make many people acceptable to God.” Romans 5:19 CEV

Copy/paste Christmas style! The gift of new life in Christ, the gift of being restored to the Father’s likeness.

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The Last Two Minutes

We ended our day watching a Hallmark Movie and as we were heading to bed last night I said, “The kiss always comes in the last two minutes”. Dave laughed and said it sounded like a good title for a blog.

Happy endings, the perfect way to end each day and they are a part of God’s plan.

“Love never gives up on people. It never stops trusting, never loses hope, and never quits. 8 Love will never end.” I Corinthians 13:7-8 ERV

God has promised us that His love will never end!

Life isn’t a Hallmark Movie, it’s so much more than that. The challenges that we face, the victories we celebrate, the mundane, the heartaches, the overwhelming joy, the hope, the peace…His love endures forever.

“I will sing forever about the Lord’s love. I will sing about his faithfulness forever and ever!
2 I will say, ‘Your faithful love will last forever. Your loyalty is like the sky—there is no end to it!'” Psalm 89:1-2 ERV

Jesus told the story of a young man who wanted to be out from under his father’s control. He wanted to live life on his own terms. The young man collected his inheritance and went off on his own. He was impetuous. He was foolish and I’m sure he was taken advantage of. Life led him down a path of loss.

At his lowest point, he decided to go home and ask to be a servant on his father’s estate. As he was coming up the road, his father saw him. What the young man didn’t know is that his father had been watching and waiting for his return. The father ran to his son to welcome him back.

Now, wait for it…

“I will leave and go to my father. I will say to him: Father, I have sinned against God and have done wrong to you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. But let me be like one of your hired workers.’ 20 So he left and went to his father. While the son was still a long way off, his father saw him coming and felt sorry for him. So he ran to him and hugged and kissed him.” Luke 15:18-20 ERV

There it is – the kiss! The forgiveness, the reconciliation, the connection, the love!

The Father’s love never fails. His love is unconditional, His mercy lasts forever and His grace is amazing.

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Hurry! Bring the best clothes and put them on him. Also, put a ring on his finger and good sandals on his feet. 23 And bring our best calf and kill it so that we can celebrate with plenty to eat. 24 My son was dead, but now he is alive again! He was lost, but now he is found!’ So they began to have a party.” Luke 15:22-24 ERV

Sometimes we get “lost” in life. All we need to do is come back to the Father and He welcomes us with open arms. He celebrates our return.

May I encourage you to take “the last two minutes” of each day to thank the Father for his never-ending love. And if you wait for it, I know you’ll sense His loving kiss.

 

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The Gift of Trust

Up earlier than usual this morning. Couldn’t sleep, lots on my mind. Made my way to the sofa to read and pray…for family, friends, our nation, personal circumstances and things that had to be prayed through by the Holy Spirit.

As I read, the word “trust” repeatedly came from the pages and from my heart. Really, that’s what Christmas is all about – trusting that the gift of His Son would bring us all the salvation that the Father had planned. Trusting in His goodness and love; his mercy and grace.

Trusting that the Father is always faithful!

“ Then the Lord came down to him in a cloud, stood there with Moses, and spoke his own name. 6 That is, the Lord passed in front of Moses and said, “Yahweh, the Lord, is a kind and merciful God. He is slow to become angry. He is full of great love. He can be trusted.” Exodus 34:5-6 ERV

“So remember that the Lord your God is the only God, and you can trust him! He keeps his agreement. He shows his love and kindness to all people who love him and obey his commands. He continues to show his love and kindness through a thousand generations,” Deuteronomy 7:9 ERV

The Father knows we have a tendency to forget things and He never wants us to forget His love and faithfulness so He repeatedly reminds of it through His word.

“God’s way is perfect. The Lord’s promise always proves to be true. He protects those who trust in him. 32 There is no God except the Lord. There is no Rock except our God.” II Samuel 20:31-32 ERV

What a precious gift we have been given! We have the Father’s promise and He is completely worthy of trust – there is no God except our Lord.

“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 10:22b-23 ERV

This morning I needed to be reminded to trust! I found myself wavering, on the verge of worry and that’s when I heard in my heart “I trust You”. May you need to hear those same words today – “I trust You”. The Lord is faithful; His word never fails, He always keeps His promises.

A few days back I told you about my favorite Christmas CD, The Gift, by Kenny Rogers. I want to share just a few lyrics from one of the songs on that album.

“God said, Mary pure and holy
With this baby, I trust you
She said, surely I’m not worthy
And it scares me, but I trust you.

Underneith a shining star
In a manger stall
Mary held the gift of love
God gave to us all.

Precious baby pure and holy
I’m not worthy, but I trust you

Precious baby pure and holy
Will you save me, I trust you
Son of Mary, I trust you…*

Receive this wonderful gift that the Father has given us – open your heart and say “Son of Mary, Son of God, I trust you”!

*I Trust You written by Skip Ewing and Don Schlitz

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Christmas Wrapping

Today I’ll start wrapping some presents. It’s a task I put off because it’s really not my thing. I have friends who do an amazing job. Their gifts are so beautiful that you almost hate to open them, almost.

I’ve had the wrapping paper in the closet for weeks but I couldn’t find the gift tags. I was determined not to run out to the store just for that so I was going to make some however, the other day, while going through my file cabinet, I found them. Thank you.

I got to thinking about some of the Christmas gifts I have received over the years. The simple gifts that came from the kids when they were little. The gift tag was written in crayon and the gift bows were yarn or string. Dave had a way of making Christmas gifts special – he loved to do leather work and for several years I received hand tooled and hand stamped leather coasters. He would place them on my gift as a “To/From” but really, they were and still are the gifts I cherish most.

There’s one other gift that means the world to me. Understated and wrapped in the most unique way. Looking at it from the outside there was no hint as to the real value. Priceless in fact! But the gift tag was beyond expression – flamboyant, glitzy, a real eye catcher.

“ That night, some shepherds were out in the fields near Bethlehem watching their sheep. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord was shining around them. The shepherds were very afraid. 10 The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid. I have some very good news for you—news that will make everyone happy. 11 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.” Luke 2:8-12 ERV

The gift tag filled the sky with wonder! The To: and From: were written boldly by the hand of the Father.

“ Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him would not be lost but have eternal life.” John 3:16 ERV

To: Everyone From: God

The gift: small and non-descript. A baby boy wrapped in cloth laying in a feeding trough on a mattress of hay.

The gift: extraordinary!! The Son of God in human form, left heaven, came to earth to be the Savior of all who believe.

From: The Father’s Heart. To: All Who Believe.

The gift has been wrapped; the tag has been written. Receive the gift that completely changes our lives!

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Are We Seeking?

Would you have made a good wise man? That’s the question I found I was asking myself this morning.

Examine their characteristics; they were studious, (they studied the skies looking for a sign), they were diligent, (they didn’t give up looking just because they didn’t see it right away), they were persistent, (they traveled a great distance and time to find the Christ child), they were consistent, (they weren’t distracted from their search) and they were dedicated (they committed to the task and didn’t stop until they reached their goal). And then they were reverent, they worshiped the Christ child and not the nation’s king.

“After Jesus was born, some wise men from the east came to Jerusalem. 2 They asked people, “Where is the child who has been born to be the king of the Jews? We saw the star that shows he was born. We saw it rise in the sky in the east and have come to worship him.”…The wise men came to the house where the child was with his mother Mary. They bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened the boxes of gifts they had brought for him. They gave him treasures of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Matthew 2:1,2,11 ERV

It’s believed that the wise men’s journey took about two years. They found a child and not a babe. They traveled at their own expense and then they brought gifts, lavish gifts, to the child. It cost them something – if they had been wrong in their search, it would have cost them more than their finances, it would have cost them their reputation.

So, I asked myself, what am I seeking?

Jesus told Martha, and us, that only “one thing” was needful – that was to hear His word.

“Jesus and his followers were traveling, he went into a town, and a woman named Martha let him stay at her house. 39 She had a sister named Mary. Mary was sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to him teach. 40 But her sister Martha was busy doing all the work that had to be done. Martha went in and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are getting worried and upset about too many things. 42 Only one thing is important. Mary has made the right choice, and it will never be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42 ERV

Lord, my desire is to be wise – to seek but one thing, You!

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Scattered

Many of you know that we spent the summer in the mountains. For two weeks we were in an “evacuation ready” status. The grass and the trees were dry, we’d had no rain and the conditions were right for lightning strikes.

One thing we were told to watch for were smoke plumes. If we saw smoke in an area where we hadn’t seen it before we were to notify our managers who would in turn relay the information to the Forest Service.

We were always on alert.

Oftentimes we experience the same conditions in our everyday life. We are emotionally dry, adverse circumstances come and we begin to smolder. The smoke plume is evidence that we may begin to burn. This isn’t a good sign but it’s something the Father knows how to correct. We alert Him to the danger we are experiencing.

“God, get up and scatter your enemies! May all your enemies run from you. 2 May your enemies be scattered like smoke blown away by the wind. May your enemies be destroyed
like wax melting in a fire. 3 But let good people be happy. Let them gather before God and enjoy themselves together.” Psalm 68:1-3 ERV

God scatters His enemies like smoke blown by the wind, scattered like the seeds of a dandelion, scattered like dust across the prairie. The Lord scatters our enemies, putting out the fire of contention and destruction and brings us to a place of joy.

One of the names the prophet Isaiah used when foretelling the coming of Christ was “Powerful God”, Mighty God.

“This will happen when the special child is born. God will give us a son who will be responsible for leading the people. His name will be “Wonderful Counselor, Powerful God, Father Who Lives Forever, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 ERV

Our powerful and mighty God is victorious in battle, able to defeat His enemies and also those who seek to do us harm. He has given us victory, He has scattered our enemies.

“ Loving God means obeying his commands. And God’s commands are not too hard for us, 4 because everyone who is a child of God has the power to win against the world. 5 It is our faith that has won the victory against the world. So who wins against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.” I John 1:3-5 ERV

Our faith in Jesus and who He is and what He has done for us is what brings us to a place of victory. Our Mighty God, our loving Father stands with us against our enemies, (physical, emotional and spiritual). As we stand with Him, we can boldly proclaim “Let God arise and His enemies be scattered!

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