Month: December 2018

Now we look inside and what  we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new.  2 Corinthians 5:17 the Message 

What is it about a new year that makes us innately want to start over or begin again?  We want that fresh start, so we set unrealistic goals, and in doing so, we set ourselves up for imminent failure and disappointment.

Morning television news programs seem to have made it their mission to improve the lives of their audience by constantly suggesting new ways to live life to the fullest.  One morning lately, they suggested ways to maximize your morning.  The ways began with “List six things you want to accomplish today”.  It went on to suggest that we should then rank these six things in order of importance, and as we accomplish them, they should be checked off the list.  Making a list takes effort each day, and who has time to check it off?

I decided that the first thing on my list of six things to accomplish would be to make my own list of ways to maximize my morning, my day, my week, my month, and my year.  I’m probably falling into the same trap of failure that I promised I wouldn’t do; but nothing ventured, nothing gained!

The first thing on my list is be positive.  I can’t listen to those cynics who weigh us down with negative thoughts; instead, I will remember that  with God all things are possible.

The second thing on my list is to find a purpose for each day.  This purpose should involve doing something for someone every day, whether it be in thought, word, prayer or deed.  Ask the question, “What can I do for you today?”

The third thing on my list is to be enthusiastic, empathetic and energetic.  No one needs another person being fatalistic, tired, and judgmental all the time.

The fourth thing on my list is trusting God in all things.  It is my mission to trust that when bad things happen, God is still in control.

The fifth thing on my list is to love unconditionally.  It’s easy to play the blame game, but that’s not what God expects.

The last thing on my list is to start each day in prayer and bible study.  God has set the example that we should follow, and it should be a mission each day to challenge ourselves to meet His criteria.

Good Luck with all the new resolutions for the new year.  I wish you a very Happy New Year filled with joy, peace and love!

How many Kings stepped down from their throne; How many Lords have abandoned their home; how many greats have become the least for me? Yes, and how many fathers gave up their sons for me? Only one did that for me.  All for me, all for you.    How Many Kings  by Downhere

The recent hurricane, Michael, came through my hometown of Donalsonville with terrific force, and left devastation in his wake.  The meteorologists designated this small town as “ground zero”.  There was no electricity for over a week, little help for the victims, and limited places which provided shelter and showers.

Lineman and workers came from all over this state and others to a small town that was ill equipped to handle them in the best of circumstances yet alone this one. The power company set up a command center right outside of town to provide food, water, and shelter for the linemen and volunteers.  These workers spent day after day sleeping when they could, working until they were physically exhausted, and they did it all for a town in desperate need.  They left their own families to help others they didn’t even know.

This reminds me of Bethlehem and the Savior’s birth.  God sent his only son into a devastated world to be born and die to help those He didn’t even know.  Jesus came into a world that didn’t know that He’d come to save them and take their sins away.

When He was born, He brought hope to us of everlasting life.  God came down in the form of a baby because we can never climb up to Him on our own.  We get to heaven because of Jesus.

He showed us self sacrificing love.  A baby who grew into a man who suffered and died to save us and take away our sins.  A sinless man who died for the sins of the whole world.

He replaced darkness with light.  You never know how dark it can be at night until you have no light.

If there’s no way to thank the army of volunteers and dedicated servants who came to a small town to save it, there certainly is no way we can ever embrace the love that was there when God sent Jesus to save us.  All we can do is say thank you.  The best way to do that is to accept God’s love and to spread His light throughout a needy world.

As we light candles this Christmas Eve, remember how fortunate we are to have the light of the world in our lives. Let His light shine!  He did it all for me, all for you!

Merry Christmas!

jesus coming into a devastated world

For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord.  Luke 2:11

Recently, I attended the musical comedy, Elf.   The venue was beautifully decorated with lights, trees, and tinsel, yet amidst all the outward signs of the Christmas spirit, there was a void in the mood needed to fill your heart and excite your spirit.  What’s Christmas without the music of the season, people laughing, children’s joy, celebratory faces, and the presence of God?  It’s dull at best and depressing at its worst.

I loved the movie, Elf.   It was wonderful as it was, but then the writers, directors, and the powers that be in theater, decided to rewrite the script which everyone knew and loved to make it more “modern day” friendly.  I mean, Santa using an iPad, the sleigh devoid of reindeer?! The process took away all the spirit and fun of the production for me, which ironically was the theme of the show -our Christmas spirit.

I wonder if we have also taken the Biblical Christmas story and inserted our “modern day” reasoning into it as well. It’s perfect as it is and beautiful, so why do people try to rewrite it to suit themselves? There are those who doubt the virgin birth and the resurrection and are trying to rewrite the Bible. We are losing the battle in this secular society that insists on changing everything to make it acceptable to all.  We can’t explain all the wonders of the Christmas story, but we can take God’s word on faith and celebrate it!  Emmanuel, God with us makes it a celebration and is reason in itself for spirit.

During the performance, I began to look around at the faces of children  who were expecting a magical night, and it made me imagine that night long ago when the Savior was born and the Christmas spirit began.  It reminded me that there are so many people in our world who are hungry for the Christmas Spirit.  We come to Christmas with great expectations, but many times our spirit doesn’t match our expectations. It’s up to us to open our hearts and our minds to the spirit that comes when we truly celebrate the reason for the season, the birth of our Savior.

Christmas is in our hearts and it’s there for sharing with others.  If we do nothing to share and celebrate it, others will have license to rewrite it to suit a new generation.  I love the story just as it is – a child of God born in a manger to a carpenter and his Mary.  It holds majesty and glory for me.  I love the old saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”

Inheritance is defined as something as a quality, characteristic, or other immaterial possession received from predecessors.

A couple of years ago, it became necessary for me to have my gall bladder surgically removed.  The diagnosis was, “Your gall bladder is a mess, and it has to come out.”  I met with my surgeon, a great guy, who appreciated the humorous side of all this.  He sat down to discuss the surgery, and began the conversation by asking, “So, who gave this to you?”  When I laughed, he said, “I mean from whom did you inherit this messy thing?”  When I said that my Mama had hers removed, he said, “Well, there you go.  She’s the benefactor.”

Turns out, gall bladders, like many things in this life, are inherited.  Inheritance is so much more than monetary gain, material things, and physical things.  It can also include things in our spiritual life.

The town of Bethlehem is mentioned 35 times in the Old Testament, yet who knew at that time that it would be the birthplace of Jesus and the beginning of our inheritance as Christians.  Bethlehem was chosen many years before the birth.

Jesus was born in Bethlehem to fulfill the prophecy stated by the prophet Micah.  He was born as a baby, and in 33 short years gave us the greatest inheritance the world has ever known – Christianity.  The baby born in a manger came to tell us that God knows us, that our sins are forgiven, that prayers are answered, and that heaven is assured.  What an inheritance!

My messy gall bladder is history now.  At my post surgery appointment, my surgeon and I joked about the bad eating and lifestyle choices that contribute to the inheritance of a bad gall bladder.  We agreed that some changes needed to be made.  As I prepared to leave, he said, “Diane, remember your inheritance; go, and please sin no more.”

I think of that often and wonder if Jesus as the baby in a manger and the man on the cross would say the same thing to us this Christmas.  Celebrate the birth of your Savior, the  inheritance which is yours, the place in heaven reserved for you, the wonderful heritage of your faith; then, go and sin no more.

Merry Christmas!

We have an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.  This inheritance is kept in heaven for you.   1 Peter 1:4

Love the Lord with all your heart, and with all your mind, and with all your soul and with all your strength.   Mark  12:30 

Essential is defined as “absolutely something with which we cannot do without.” Necessary is defined as “something that is important but not essential.”

In the early 1980’s, our family and friends of our family spent a weekend at at a mountain lake cottage in late winter.  During the night an unexpected snowstorm hit, and we awoke the next morning to blankets of snow and ice.  Normally, I would consider this fun and exciting, but we had limited food, water, warm clothes, electricity,  and chocolate!  There was little chance of getting down the mountain in one piece, so we settled in to ride it out.

I began to quietly survey the food situation and the speed with which 4 kids and 4 adults were consuming it, and I quickly deduced that our essentials would be depleted long before the snow melted.  In an effort to save us all, I  began to “squirrel away” food.  In my mind, this was essential.  I would have made it work, too,  if our Black Lab hadn’t begun to find the food and eat it.  The dog outed my plan of survival for all, and the other 7 started a mutiny based on the incorrect thinking that I was only thinking of myself.

It was at this time when we decided to brave the roads, pack up, and head down the mountain in our respective cars.  Our friends slipped and slid, but made it down.  We, on the other hand, slipped and slid so close to the edge of the mountain that Randy made all the women, children, and dogs exit the car. We walked down and left him to maneuver down the mountain.

As all of us were waiting and watching, along with a ranger, at the bottom of the mountain, we saw a most amazing thing.  Randy was backing the car ever so slowly, but successfully,  down the mountain.   As we were watching in awe, the ranger asked, “Who is this guy, and is God his co pilot?”  My friend quickly replied, “I hope so because God is the only one who would ride with him!”

It was later when everyone was safe and reunited that I realized that I had confused essential with necessary.   Life and being together was essential while food was only necessary.  The love of God is essential, while material things are not.  In this Christmas season, it is good to take time away to ponder on what is essential and what is just necessary.