What task should I do next?

During the Christmas season this question can come up more times than usual. Our lives can be brimming with the “tasks” of Christmas. Shopping for gifts and food, cleaning and decorating our homes, donating to special ministries and charities, sending Christmas cards, baking special holiday treats, contacting friends and family members we haven’t seen or talked to in awhile, etc., etc.

Every so often, we are reminded about the reason for the season, the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ – our living Savior. For a little while we can stop all the above and put our thoughts back into perspective and perhaps even cut back on some of the “tasks” we have set before us. 

Too many tasks can cause us to work too hard for that perfect Christmas. The perfect Christmas already happened ! This is the season to celebrate the greatest gift that has already been and still “is” being given – freely given - our saving relationship with Jesus, the Son of God. We don’t need to work for it, all we have to do is believe…….

“What shall we do , that we may work the works of God?”, the disciples asked. Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” (John 6: 28-29)

Jesus fulfilled His Holy “task” on earth for all of us – on the cross -

……..it is finished – HALLELUJAH !

Ooops ! I made a mistake !

I really don’t like to make a mistake. I like things to go smoothly and without problems – but that is not a realistic expectation.

Some mistakes seem bigger than others. Perhaps the size of a mistake is relative to how much is involved, or how many people are involved. Then there is the question of whether whatever happened was really a mistake after all ! Have you ever looked back in time and realized that what you originally thought was a mistake may have been a “blessing in disguise” ?

So then, who ultimately decides if something was a mistake? Yes, mathematical errors are easy to detect, because there seems to be clear cut rules. But what about our lives ? Are there clear cut rules, and if there are, who could possibly have all the answers to make an accurate judgment call ?

Sooner or later, we have to understand that being “right” or “wrong” helps us to know if a mistake was made. Without knowing what is right or wrong, or subjectively deciding what we think should be right or wrong - leads us into social chaos.

The “Bible” was written for all of us to have an accurate guide as to what is right or wrong. God outlined the “rules” to follow and gave us “real live” examples of people who lived before us who made “mistakes”.  The good news is that  mistakes can be forgiven. God sent Jesus Christ to forgive all past, present, and future mistakes.

It is because of Jesus that we can be ”forgiven” ………..

and not “mistaken” !

I’m not really a “shopper”.

That does surprise some of the ladies I know. And this being the infamous “Black Friday”, I find it more enjoyable to steer clear of the shopping areas around town. Sure, I do hear that there are some bargains out there to be had, but personally, the stress level involved doesn’t seem worth it.

Recently, I did hear about the person who “died”  being trampled by the stampede of shoppers. So in order to somehow avoid this “frenzy” from happening, some of the stores are starting the “Black Friday” at midnight the night before………………

Thanksgiving Day seems to get shorter every year in order to jump-start the purchasing of Christmas gifts. Christmas decorations were going up before Thanksgiving, instead of the traditional days afterwards. We don’t seem to get to enjoy the actual holiday, because of the “selling” of the next one in line.

There are those of us who have decided to not enter into this madness of society, and to slow down and enjoy the holidays as “Holy-Days” – as they were intended.

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Col. 3: 1-2)

Ward off the “frenzy” with “faith” in the living Christ who shows us what really matters – and have peace this Christmas season.

My health is being threatened.

All through our lives we deal with circumstances that threaten our welfare. One of these is poor health. There are many variables to consider when pursuing the best possible treatments and causes.

Unfortunately, we are not always given the correct remedy, or advice from those in the medical field. Many times we are given routine prescriptions to try and ward off symptoms, but then are still left with wondering what is causing the sickness in the first place. Too often the symptoms reappear at a later date, and we go through the cycle all over again.

This is the second time in my life I am battling a parasite infection. The first time around (ten years ago ) I was to told that the extreme joint pain and fatigue I was experiencing was due to rheumetoid arthritis and to just take daily aspirin.

I decided not to accept that diagnosis and put my problem to prayer to the “Great Physician” – our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  It was “He” who led me to discover the cause and solution to my sickness. The cause was a parasite infection and the solution was the herbal cleanse and rebuild treatment that addressed the removal of the parasites from my body. My joint pain disappeared, and the other bonus was that my asthmatic allergies disappeared as well.

“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray……..and the prayer of faith will save the sick and the Lord will raise him up.” (James 5: 13-17)

It’s Veteran’s Day today.

On my street, our house is the only one displaying the American Flag. Why? I have also noticed that this was the case on other patriotic holidays – but yet on holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, etc. folks show their appreciation and decorate their homes……..

Why are we apt to participate in some events and not others? Have we gotten complacent in our lives here in America, that we don’t have the time or motivation to show our appreciation for the heroes who have kept our nation free? Is this a reflection of today’s culture?

Looking outside ourselves and realizing that those who gave their lives to “serve” others, and to serve our nation deserve our unending gratitude.

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15: 13)

Our soldiers have given the ultimate sacrifice, and continue to do so. Let’s not forget them or take them for granted. They are extraordinary.

God Bless them, and God Bless America !

I’m glad Halloween is over !

Every year I am faced with a dilemma – do I totally ignore it, or do I participate in it with an element of goodness.

A number of years ago, I learned about the origins of Halloween and the meanings of the “traditional” activities that go along with it. Unfortunately, they are all based on “evil”. There just doesn’t seem to be anything “good” about this so-called “holiday”.  Somehow, celebrating evil just doesn’t seem right.

Well, what about carving pumpkins with happy faces and trick or treating with happy costumes ? Why not try to make this “holiday” good? Can that be so bad?

As Christians we are called to live “holy” lives. “Test all things; hold fast what is good, abstain from every form of evil.” (1 Thes. 5: 21-22)

Over the years, my husband and I have abstained more and more from the activities of Halloween and now find it very easy to “pass-over”  to that which is “good” – thanksgiving to the Lord, and the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas !!

Someone who has friends must be friendly………(Prov. 18: 24)

What is a true friend? The Bible lists the attributes of friendship as being loyal, willing to sacrifice, likemindedness.

Sometimes people who we consider to be our friends are “masquerading” – they appear to be true friends at first, but at some point let us down. Perhaps they were the kind of person who based their friendship on what they could “get”, instead of what they could “give”. When  they found out they were’nt going to get anything from you, they moved on to someone else.

There is one “true” friend who will  never leave you nor forsake you. That friend is Jesus Christ. He came to “give” Himself, so that we can be His friend forever. He shows no partiality, no hypocrisy – we all can be His friend. He loves us unconditionally.

All we have to do is believe that He died for our sins, rose from the dead and accept His lordship over our lives. There is no “masquerading” – the entire story is out in the open for all of us.

“Give” yourself to “Him” – and you won’t have to “get”…….

Our return flight kept being delayed in half hour increments. Finally, we all were allowed to board the replacement airplane. Apparently, the plane that was originally scheduled to be used had some sort of mechanical failure. While we all boarded and found our seats, I found myself being thankful that this newer aircraft had been provided for us.

An hour into our flight, I began looking around for the screens that should be providing entertainment. There were none on the seatbacks in front of us, and no screens folding down above us either. I double checked the movie schedules in the airline catalog in the seat pocket, and thought to myself, “we are supposed to have a choice of movies, so where’s the screens?” As time dragged on, I realized – NO MOVIE !

I couldn’t believe it – this was a four and a half hour flight, and no movie ?? With mixed feelings of indignation, panic and boredom, my thoughts traveled back to how thankful I had been when we first boarded the aircraft. After all, shouldn’t the fact that we were riding in a safer plane be more important than gratifying my craving for an entertaining movie to pass the time?

Looking out the window, surveying the blue sky and puffy cloud formations, a song came to my mind:

“Behold He comes – riding on the clouds – shining like the sun – at the trumpet’s call – lift your voice – it’s the year of jubilee – out of Zion’s Hill salvation comes”

My pity party turned into the pleasure of praising the Lord -

- a much better way to spend the time !

It was time to retrieve our one year old grandaughter from her bed. Our three year old grandson went up the stairs ahead of me to help out. As I approached her room, I heard our grandson exclaim, “she made a big mess!”  I wasn’t too concerned at that point. I figured she probably just threw all her toys out of her crib. But upon arriving on the scene, I quickly realized it was a whole lot more than toys all around her crib. She had thrown up, let’s say – spewed, all over herself, the crib, the carpet, her blankey – and it was tangled up in her hair…………..

Well, since it was a hot summer afternoon, I decided that it might be best to just take her outside in the back yard and hose her off. I also took the pad from her crib and took that outside to hose off too.

One thing led to another, and the three of us had a wonderful time hosing off the pad, and each other for the next couple of hours. We ended up using the pad for a clean place to stand and sit while running the water over us.  I thought to myself that what had seemed a depressing, messy situation had eventually led to something very good.

Many times in the Bible we see how God brings good out of bad circumstances. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (Rom. 8:28)

“He” can take any mess………….and clean it up !

Our microwave is over 25 years old !

We bought it in the mid 80’s. (Not brand new, but used) It also went through our house burning down in the 90’s. During that event it suffered water, heat and smoke damage. We cleaned it up and it ran fine. We’ve been using it everyday, many times a day all these years, and it is still running fine ! It’s big, simple, and let’s face it – a working “wonder”. It seems to never “wear out”  !

In the Bible, we learn that God’s provisions for the children of Israel never wore out during their wilderness experience.

 ”And I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn out on your feet…” (Deut. 29:5)

Whatever wilderness experience you may be going through, God’s promise to provide for His people has never changed. His “working wonders” go beyond clothing, shoes, and microwaves……….

……..to the promised land of eternity with Him – forever !