I’m pretty sure that winter was created so that spring would be more appreciated. As a child I don’t really remember winter causing much problem. Although I know it was cold, I don’t remember suffering in any way because of the cold. Standing outside waiting for the school bus or playing in the snow: neither of these things bring memories of hardship. I do remember the year that it was snowing so hard the school bus driver didn’t see me standing on the porch. Did we even have snow days back then? Oh beloved, are you feeling the chill of …
Bloom!
The jonquils are blooming here and there in our area. The up and down temperatures are causing a stir in nature. It’s amazing to me that these lovely flowers will bloom even in the snow and not die. Oh beloved, bloom! Bloom where you are planted. Bloom out of season. Bloom when all in the natural wants to stunt your life. It’s not about having things right and perfect that you are able to bloom. It’s because your roots are grounded in Christ. This is not the season to cut off the blooms and discard your beauty. It’s time to …
Hope, Peace, Joy and Love
During this time of year, Christians focus on the birth of Jesus. He was the Son of God born to become the sacrifice for the sins of the world. Because He died on the cross and was resurrected conquering sin and death, Jesus is our only hope, peace, joy and unconditional love that we can experience both in this life and the next. It is only through Him that these life conditions are met. He is our Hope of eternal life because of His sacrifice. Titus 1:2 “…in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time …
Birthrights
Recently the word Birthright came up in church. It was part of a prophetic message, but the word has stuck with me I think about myself and my parents. My mother’s brothers and sisters all had many of the same features. It was almost uncanny how they favored. My dad had blue eyes like his father and I have blue eyes like him. Now my dad’s father had fiery red hair, but only one out of all the family got that birthright. One redhead in the entire bunch. That’s a little surprising. Oh beloved, you may have a birthright …
Love — Protects, Trusts, Hopes, Perseveres
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. I Corinthians 13:6-7 If asked to define love, many of us would use words like joy, delight, and acceptance. Some might describe butterflies in the stomach, floating on air, or extreme happiness. But when Paul wrote to the Corinthians, he talked more about what love does than about how it feels. And he also used an extreme qualifier: always. He tells us that love protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres. And he added that love always does these things. In …
Perfection
Some people strive for perfection. In their job, relationships. They think if they just do this or work harder in that area, it will be perfect. The problem is not the efforts you put into something or someone, it’s the intention or purpose of the efforts. The reality is, outside of God’s grace, we all fall short. Without God in your life, every relationship, every job, it’s a struggle to maintain, to be the best. I’m not saying not to work on those relationships, or fulfill that life long dream/career. I am confident in saying that with God at your …
By Love
Scripture: John 13:35 – “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (ESV) Message: “That girl taught me more about love in three days than I had ever known.” – A church camp volunteer That’s the legacy that Lila Kate left upon this big beautiful world that is tainted with the nastiness of sin. The young boy who made this comment was a church camp volunteer who the McAlisters were apparently a host family for one summer. During his short stay, he experienced in a big way that of which we all crave. Love. He …
A Necessary Repentance
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17) The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30) I recently had a “Lauryn Hill kind of day”, where I needed to hear words that I feel but sometimes hard to comprehend. Have you ever been there? Well, I listened to one of her songs from an album that is decades old; a song that I have repeated over and over again before and the following words ignited something within me that I knew eventually …
A Work of Beauty
It is amazing how a skilled sculptor can take a lump of lifeless ugly clay and form it into something of stunning beauty. Having tried this myself, taking clay into my hands, kneading it like bread dough, throwing it onto a wheel and forming it into a beautiful work of art or even an object of usefulness, this particular skill most certainly eludes me. I have no talent when it comes to this form of art. My sister, on the other hand, shapes the clay with her hands, imagines what it will become and gently shapes and molds the …
Love Notes
Our refrigerator is covered with messages, photos and magnetic notes. Oh and there are some pieces of artwork as well. I love those reminders. Each one holds a special place in our hearts. Notes that vow that we are the best at something, anything, warm our hearts. Grandchildren who pledge undying devotion, share their grades, show their artistic abilities. There’s even a note from a daughter and her family on there. Oh beloved, are you keeping the good notes close at hand? When the world is tumbling you like you’re in a rock tumbler, are you able to remember that …
The Spirit God Gave Us
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7 A Spirit of Fear Surely all of us, at one time or another, feel fear or have felt fear. Fear has become a natural emotion. In this world, we feel afraid because we are living by worldly standards and we all know who rules this world. He makes us to forget that fear is NOT within the spirit our God gave us. A Spirit of Power The same power that brought Jesus back from the dead …
The Ultimate Encourager
Encourage~ to inspire with courage, spirit or hope; to spur on, give support; to help When I look at the definition of encourage, all I see is Jesus. He is the ultimate Encourager; He never stops spurring us on or dampens His encouragement for His children. As believers and followers of Him, He has sent us a “helper” too, His Holy Spirit. “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever.” John 14: 16 (ESV) With this “Helper” inside of us, we, too, are able to be a source of encouragement for …
