Author: terriplace89

Shadows are a familiar part of life and can be useful.  Ancient cultures used a sundial to tell time.  It was the shadow that the sundial produced that denoted the time.  Even today, we roughly judge the time of day by the length of the shadows we see.  In Florida, the premium parking spots are the shaded ones.  Floridians are always seeking shadows in which to park.   Figuratively, shadows are used in literature to convey a variety of ideas.  Physical shadows are artistic elements in photography and artwork.  Stage-lighting designers are keenly aware of the importance of shadows.  A well-placed shadow can add dramatic effect.  An ill-placed one can obscure an actor’s face. 

When I think of shadows, I remember my shadow on the sidewalk when I was a little girl.  I waved my arms and jumped around to see if I could do something that my shadow could not.  (I had just seen the Peter Pan movie.)  But my shadow did everything that I did without fail.  So I proved to myself that my shadow was attached.  Yet, for a short time, I would still challenge my shadow – just in case.   

As I got older and started watching scary movies, shadows became a source of fright.  Somehow the innocuous shadows of daytime would become ominous threats at night.  In the dim light of nighttime, a quick glance at the shadow of a coat hanging on the hall tree might look like Frankenstein and scare me.  Even as an adult who knows that monsters are not real and never watches scary movies, I can still get startled on occasion by an unfamiliar shadow at night. 

A shadow is defined by my friend Merriam Webster as, “the dark figure cast upon a surface by a body intercepting the rays from a source of light.”  I like that definition because it accurately describes how objects react to sunlight.  They don’t block the light, they intercept it.  Have you ever sat under a shade tree in the heat of summer?  It’s cool and comfortable because the tree intercepts the sun’s heat as well as the light – hence the shadow that you’re sitting in.  Inanimate objects may reflect the light, but living things absorb it.  Either way, it is intercepted. 

As adults, it’s not usually the physical shadows that intimidate us, but the figurative ones.  Perhaps, when you read the title of this post, you thought of Psalm 23:4, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”  The emphasis of the Hebrew word for shadow in this verse is darkness.  Sometimes people focus more on that darkness than on the next part of the verse that says, “I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me.”  Because of that, people get stuck in the dark figure that a shadow casts. In fact, another definition that MW attributes to ‘shadow’ is: “a source of gloom or unhappiness.”  If we are stuck in the shadow of death, we will definitely be gloomy and unhappy!  Consider this… logically, if we are stuck in the shadow of death, it must mean that someone or something has intercepted the light before it reached us.  Doesn’t that sound just like the world?  All the schemes of the world are designed to keep the light of God from reaching us. 

So how can we escape that darkness if we’re stuck in it?  By taking a step. It’s just that simple.  A shadow is a fixed area corresponding to whatever is making the shadow.   When we step outside that area, we will no longer be bound by the darkness it has produced; and we are free to walk in the light.  The shadow is then beneath us, not above us.  And one way that we can take that step is by claiming the rest of Psalm 23:4; “I will fear no evil: for Thou (God) art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” 

Several times in the Old Testament, it also talks about us being under the shadow of God’s wings.  The word for shadow here denotes shade, defense, and protection.  Being under God’s wings is a figure of speech symbolized by how a mother hen or duck hides her babies under her wings.  I actually witnessed this happen.  We were on vacation and had just finished dinner at a nice restaurant, which had a pond out front.  We stopped to look at the pond just as a mama duck waddled up onto the bank and called her ducklings in for the night.  We watched a dozen baby ducks crawl underneath her and disappear.  Once they were all tucked in; they were hidden, warm and protected from harm.  That’s how God takes care of us.  He covers us with His strength and surrounds us with His defense and protection.  The only way a predator could get at those baby ducks was by fighting the mother.  The only way our predator can get to us is by fighting God Almighty!  And that is a battle that our predator absolutely will NOT win! 

God is light and in Him is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5).  God’s light is so bright that even His shadow is light!  So if we abide in God’s shadow, no darkness can overcome us because light dispels darkness.  Even the tiny light of a match’s flame pierces the darkest night.  God is our protector.  He is our refuge and our fortress.  We need never be stuck in the shadow of death because God has called us and placed us under the glorious shadow of His wings.

I love these verses:  Psalm 91:1-5

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 

Note to my readers:  We can always count on the shadow of God’s faithful protection.  Thanks for reading! 

My mom regularly cautioned me to, “Watch what you say.”  Those words came to my mind the other day when I was talking to our financial advisor.  I told him that I was looking for a part-time job.  And I began to tell him all the things that I couldn’t do.  He stopped me and said, “Forget about all that, there are plenty of jobs out there that you can do.  Just decide what you want to do and go for it.  Companies are crying for workers nowadays.” 

I was embarrassed because I usually don’t talk like that, and I didn’t realize that I was being so negative while I was saying it.  The experience kind of woke me up.  Sometimes, we may just spout words without really thinking about what we are saying, but that can get us in the soup.  It is important that we pay attention to the things that we say. 

We all make mistakes and unintentionally say the wrong thing.  Unfortunately, that is going to happen because we are not perfect.  I am particularly guilty of saying things in jest that are not funny.  It’s like sarcasm, but I don’t mean to be sarcastic because that can be perceived as cruel mocking.  I think I’m trying to be humorous by being ironic, but I actually come across as being moronic instead.  I find myself often saying, “I’m sorry.  I was trying to be funny.”  I’m always forgiven, but I always wish I had not said what I did.   

Without thinking, we can occasionally say thoughtless words that can hurt someone; or careless words that can discourage them; or even cruel words that can break their hearts.  I certainly don’t want to be the source of causing any of those things, and I know that you don’t want to be either. 

There was a popular saying a few years back, “Engage brain before opening mouth.”  That is good advice, but we don’t always remember to do it.  So how can we get sharper?

Another old adage is, “garbage in – garbage out.”  The first step in watching our words is to put the proper thoughts in our minds.   If we fill our minds with negative ideas, we will give out negative words.  But if we fill our minds with positives, our words will be positive.  We know that God is light, and His Word is light.  If our minds are full of God’s Word, we will give out light.  And our words will edify, exhort, and comfort people because they are light.  We are always safe speaking God’s words because His words are not only light, but also truth.  However, speaking God’s words does not mean that scripture verses are the only words we ever speak.  It would be pretty hard to get to know someone by just reciting scriptures to them!  It means that the foundation of the words we speak is rooted in our understanding of the scriptures.  Then our words will be positive, and full of light and truth. 

The next step is to slow down.  It is often our words spoken in haste that get us in trouble because we haven’t taken the time to sufficiently engage our brains before speaking.  Maybe we are so anxious to be heard that we just blurt out something.  Or maybe we simply misunderstand the context of the conversation.  In any case, when we jump in hastily without forethought, we can misspeak. 

Another step is to listen, which goes hand in hand with slowing down.  A good listener is genuinely interested in what others are saying.  A good conversationist is usually also a good listener for that reason.  Have you ever been riveted by someone recounting an incident?  You were listening.  But sometimes in conversations our minds wander, or we are anxious for our turn to talk.  That is not being a good listener.     

The last step is to “mean what we say and say what we mean.”  Doing this involves all the previous steps.  In order for us to mean what we say, we cannot speak flippantly or hastily.  And to say what we mean requires thoughtful listening and formulating our responses accordingly.  Both require a sturdy base of positive thoughts in our minds.  Of course, God’s Word is the best source for those positives!  And we should also remember that God helps us in every situation, even with the words we speak. 

I will slip a word of caution in here, though – don’t allow the fear of saying the wrong thing stop you from talking.  The Bible calls the tongue an unruly evil that no man can tame (James 3:8).  So, it is certain that we will say the wrong thing from time to time.  When that happens, we apologize and ask forgiveness if we’ve hurt someone.  Then we move on and try to do better the next time by practicing the steps above.  We also cannot forget that the greatest learning often comes from correcting the mistakes we’ve made. 

Being mindful of what we say is a good habit to develop.  And the simplest way to accomplish that is by filling our minds with so much of God’s wonderful matchless Word that there is no ground left for the negatives of the world to take root (an ongoing endeavor).  And when our minds are full of God’s Word, we can’t help but be full of His love as well.  Then, when His love has filled our hearts and minds, we will act accordingly in what we do, and in what we say.  God is able to direct our steps in our actions and in our words.  We can still be bold while watching what we say!!

Note to my readers:  Happy talking!! Thanks for reading!

The world surely seems crazy right now.  Division, unrest, and fear abound in every corner.  So much conflicting information floods our minds every day, that we may often feel overwhelmed or confused.  I have seen friendships ruined and family relations strained over differences of opinion on things as trivial as which news outlet’s information is correct.  To me that means that people are paying too much homage to those news outlets.  I’m not saying we can’t watch the news; I’m just saying we can’t make it our source for truth.   As the old hymn says, “This world is not my home.”   We can’t afford to get caught up in all the worldly schemes. 

To that end, I wrote a poem.  I think it might bless you, especially if all the worldly falderal is bothering you lately.  It’s called, “Not Inside or Out”.

I looked at the world
And all I could see
Was turmoil and chaos
Surrounding me

Bad news filled my ears 
Day out and day in
It seemed like a battle 
That no one could win

So I retreated inside
To my own little space
Certainly there I could find
Relief from this race

But inside or out 
No peace to be had
Something was missing
That I needed bad

It wasn’t until 
The Bible’s pages I turned
That I found the help
For which I had yearned

For only God’s words
Are the truth in this life
And only God’s love
Can put an end to all strife

If this world is your friend
Disappointment will reign
If you trust in yourself
Your strength will soon wane 

But when in God you trust
And His Word you believe
You’ll have His power 
To surely succeed

So don’t be afraid
Of that worldly view
For God’s Word provides
A loving haven for you

Under God’s wings
You can safely rest 
For God is your Father
And You are His best

The world’s design is to tear us down, which is the total opposite of God’s design.  God wants His children to be victorious in every situation.  God loves His children and knows each hair on their heads.  To the world, we faceless tools to be used.  God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.  The devil, who is running the show these days, is darkness and there is no light in him – not one speck.  God is always on our side, ready and willing to make bare his arm on our behalf.  The battle is not ours, but God’s.  (2 Chronicles 20:15)  So let’s keep the worldly trappings in their proper perspective and triumph over all the ploys of our adversary. 

Ephesians 6:16

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

With God, we are more than conquerors!  But we should not forget that being conquerors means that there was something that needed to be conquered. 

Note to my readers:  God’s Word gives us a sound mind so that we can overcome the craziness!  Thanks for reading!

I have a friend who is a great example of giving.  One time while attending a church event together, on our walk from the car to the meeting, she asked four different people if she could assist them in some way.  Meanwhile, I was thinking things like, “did I remember my pen?” and “I hope I get a good seat.”  It was an eye opening experience for me, for sure.  My friend had developed an attitude of giving that permeated her actions.  I want to be like that.  But how do we develop a strong attitude of giving?

The first step in doing that is having our needs met. We cannot give anything if we have nothing to give.  God promises to meet our needs in Philippians 4:19.  And when our needs are met, we are free to give.  When we trust that God is the source of our supply, we can be unincumbered in our giving.  Like I’ve heard it said, “You can’t out-give God.”  God supplies our needs not only to bless us, but also to enable us to give! 

To be clear, there may be times when our needs are great, and it is necessary for us to focus on ourselves.  There is nothing wrong with that.  It is not selfish to take care of ourselves when we need to, and it doesn’t change our attitude of giving. In fact at these times, we may find it difficult to accept help from others because we still want to be the givers.  But just as we must be meek to receive from God, we also must be meek and allow others to give and get blessed.

The next step in developing an attitude of giving is to recognize what we have to give.  Of course, the greatest thing that we can give is God’s Word.  For God’s Word provides people with all the information that they need to be saved and made whole.  And being saved opens the doors to all the resources of a loving Heavenly Father.  However, there are many other important things that we can give as well.  Things like – our kindness, our wisdom, our time, our energy, our hospitality, our pluralities.  Sometimes, we may limit our thinking by the idea that giving is just giving presents.  While giving presents is a wonderful thing, the attitude of giving is so much more.  It is putting others before ourselves, (which isn’t hard to do when we know that our needs are met).  And it’s being willing to give even if it’s not convenient at the time.  It could be offering a shoulder to cry on.  It could be lending a helping hand.  It could be speaking comforting words.  It could be as simple as a smile or touch on the arm.  But no matter what we give, the greatest way to give is with love. 

Love tenderizes, love energizes, love is the basis of all true giving.  God set the example in John 3:16, where it says God so loved – that He gave…  God gave His only begotten son because He loved.  And it was the greatest act of giving that the world has ever seen because it was the greatest demonstration of love ever exhibited.

Have you ever been blown-away by someone’s thoughtfulness?  That’s a sure sign that love was involved.  Recently, some friends got together and gave me a precious gift.  It was definitely an act of love.  And you know what the best part is?  They got blessed as much as I did.  That is by Godly design.  There is joy in giving.

God set up the law of giving and receiving. When we give, we receive.  It’s just that simple.  It works for saint and sinner alike.  Have you ever known someone who spews negatives all the time?  They generally receive the same.  But when we give out of love, it allows God to open the floodgates of His blessings upon us.  We are never poorer for giving.  Yet, we don’t give to receive, we give because it pleases God.  With Him, the return on our ‘investment’ is unequaled because He loves us that much!

The last step in developing an attitude of giving is – start giving.  Look around, the world today is an unhappy place.  But we can begin to change that by giving freely from our love-filled hearts, all the remarkable things that God has given to us.  Love changes things and love is giving.

Note to my readers:  Let’s give to our heart’s content and see what God will do!  Thanks for reading! 

I had a Bible teacher who told us that it is important that we always remain coachable.  I’ve endeavored to be so, but never really thought of what that meant.

Merriam Webster says that the verb ‘coach’ means:  “to train intensively (as by instruction and demonstration)”.  So logically, to be coachable means that we must be willing to receive that kind of training.

We often think of coaching in the context of sports.  All sports teams have coaches.  From the professionals down to the peewee teams, coaching is a vital part of the competition.  Even if you are not a sports fan, you probably know of some famous coaches like John Madden, Vince Lombardi, and Woody Hayes (for you OSU fans) to name a few. 

Good coaches are able to successfully motivate their players to perform their best by pushing them beyond their comfort levels during training while reassuring them that they can do it.  Good coaches know how to balance the pressure and the reward. They operate good principles.  They are able to maintain order and momentum without stifling potential.  Good coaches are respected and generally appreciated. 

In sports this process is very recognizable, but what about in other fields?  For example:

Good teachers are like coaches.  They do more than merely convey information.  They train their students by making sure that the information is understood, and by welcoming open and honest debate.  Good teachers instruct their students on how to apply knowledge and think for themselves.  They demonstrate by example and build enthusiasm for learning in their students.  Good teachers are often remembered as role models.

Good bosses can also be like coaches.  Good bosses realize that contented employees are more likely to be loyal and produce quality work.  They know that their employees are valuable assets, so they motivate them without alienating them.  Good bosses promote teamwork without being taskmasters.  They respect their employees, and their employees respect them.

Good parents are always coaching.   Their lives are spent in communicating information, refuting misinformation, encouraging good behavior, reproving bad behavior, and correcting error.  They are patient and consistent.  Good parents train their children to be the best that they can be in whatever they do.  They love their children and celebrate with them in their successes. 

Those are just a few examples of people who coach us.  There is profit in listening to good coaching because we all need training in this life.  We need instruction because we don’t know everything (even if we think we do!).  We need encouragement, especially in the tough times.  We need guidance if we’re heading down the wrong path.  And we need to experience the satisfaction of success so that we can keep going day after day.

To be coachable means that we are willing to listen, willing to accept instruction (even if it’s not what we want to hear), and willing to change if needed.  Being coachable involves meekness, cooperation, being honest with ourselves, and having open lines of communication.  Being coachable is NOT being a wimp or a dishrag.  (Try calling an NFL player a wimp sometime!).  And it does not mean that we do everything that we are told without question.  We are still responsible for our own integrity.  We are coachable when we are not arrogant or self-absorbed.

The greatest coach ever is God.  He coaches us through His Word.  Think of all the scriptures that you know – do they not impart truth?  Do they not show you the right way to go?  Do they not correct you when you’ve gone astray and encourage you to get back on track?  When you believe them, do they not enable you with success?  Of course, they do all of these things and more!

The Bible is full of instruction for every facet of life, and it is the right instruction!  There is motivation in the Bible, the kind that brings us to a positive outcome.  There is also exhortation, edification, and comfort, the things that are necessary to encourage us.  And there are promises that provide us with an abundant life.  God’s Word is full of wisdom so we can not only know the score, but we can also know what to do about it. 

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is quick (alive), and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

This is a description the Word that coaches us.  We must receive this Word with meekness, hold on to It with conviction and release It with boldness.  It contains all that we need to know about life and godliness.  It declares God’s Will for our lives.  And, It reveals the opponent’s game plan.  (What team wouldn’t like to have that information!)

In sports, a coach’s success is measured by the number of victories his team achieves.  God’s team’s victories are innumerable!  And not only innumerable, but also miraculous.  And not only miraculous, but also eternal!  God’s record of success is beyond compare! 

Being coachable allows us to receive all the wonderful things that God has in store for us.  It allows God to encourage us to a more worthy endeavor.  And it allows Him to direct our steps toward the ultimate victory – heaven – with steppingstones of success all along the way!

A big key to being coachable is having meekness, and meekness implies humbleness.  When we are humble, we are not ashamed to admit that we need help.  We are not afraid to ask God for His aid. And when we receive His answers, we are strengthened so that we can help others also.  Like so many things of God, it is a wonderful cycle! 

Note to my readers:  Stay coachable.  And don’t forget that meekness is a fruit of the spirit –  (Just sayin’). Thanks for reading! 

Recently, we had a freeze in Florida.  Although we covered our plants, several leaves of our pineapple plant got frost-bitten.  When I checked online to see what I should do about it, the information I read said to cut off the damaged leaves.  So I did.  In the meantime, my husband read something online that said do not cut off the leaves.  This happened because we read two different opinions about the same subject.

That got me thinking…

My friend Merriam Webster defines ‘opinion’ as:

1. A view, judgment, or appraisal formed in the mind about a particular matter
2. Belief stronger than impression and less strong than positive knowledge
3. A generally held view
4. A formal expression of judgment or advice by an expert
5. The formal expression (as by a judge, court, or referee) of the legal reasons and principles upon which a legal decision is based

As you can see from all the definitions above, opinions are subjective.  Consequently, there can be multiple, varying opinions on the same topic.  And because opinions are subjective, agreeing with those opinions is also subjective.  There is no absolute one-right opinion.  Adherence to any opinion is a personal choice.

You may also notice that the definitions seem to progress in order of increasing levels of perceived validity.  An opinion starts with an impression.  It becomes a generally held view when many people share the same opinion.  Eventually it can become formal expert advice when it is not only shared by many, but also accepted by the majority.  Each level seems to give an opinion more credibility. 

We are always forming opinions.  It is a natural process of the mind.    For instance, I try a new dish.  Whether I eat it again or not is based on my opinion of its taste.  Take that a step further, my tastebuds are probably different than yours.  So we could have varied, even contrasting opinions about the same dish.  Neither is right nor wrong – just different.  This applies to just about everything!  Think about it – what we eat, what we wear, how we do things, where we live, our entertainment, our careers, colors, styles, and what we think about life in general – all are products of our opinions.  And the sum of our opinions makes us uniquely who we are.  We are not supposed to all be the same!  I revel in being an individual.  I don’t want to just mindlessly follow the crowd.  I am considered opinionated.

Our opinions may not agree with someone else’s.  They might even provoke opposing opinions from someone, but that is okay.  There is nothing wrong with disagreeing with someone’s opinion, it just means that we have a different point of view.  We could say that the more we disagree, the less we have in common; and it is difficult to build a relationship with someone with whom we have nothing in common.  Still, a difference of opinion does not need to be adversarial.  However, friendships are built among those who do share many of the same or similar opinions because we have much in common.  We are drawn to those whose opinions agree with ours.

Our opinions are most often shaped by our experiences but can be also a result of something we were taught.  Although, in that case, it is generally our experience regarding what we were taught that solidifies our opinion.  This is why we see such a vast variety of opinions in the world.  We’ve all had a multiplicity of experiences that left distinct impressions on us, which in turn influence our perceptions going forward.  That is why people can go through the same experience at the same time and come out with diverse opinions.

Our opinions are also subject to change.  This is evident as we age – certainly our opinions now are not the same as the ones we held as children!  Since we are always learning new things, our opinions evolve with that growth.  We’ve all experienced this.  Have you ever changed a product you use because someone recommended a different one?  Have you ever changed the way you do something because someone showed you an easier way to do it?  You changed your opinion.

Opinions do have a dark side that is revealed when anyone decides that their opinion is the only right one.  We’ve seen this in persons of authority who endeavor to assert their opinions as the only rule.  We’ve seen it in individuals who try to force their opinions on others in an effort to promote themselves.  We’ve seen the effects of it in our own lives if we’ve ever taken someone’s negative opinion of us too personally.  We must not forget that opinions are SUBJECTIVE. 

Merriam Webster says that the essential definition of ‘subjective’ is: “relating to the way a person experiences things in his or her own mind”.  It also says that it’s “based on feelings or opinions rather than facts”.  Hence, it is important to keep opinions in their proper place.  It is often said, “Everyone is entitled to their own opinion”, but my husband always adds, “But I don’t have to agree with them!” 

All of this discussion about opinions is to say that opinions are fine, even necessary, but they are not a source of truth.  And according to MW, they aren’t necessarily even a source of facts.  But sometimes we believe them none-the-less.  Opinions are used to sell products, to solicit support for causes, to persuade alliances, and in the worst-case-scenario, to blind people’s minds. 

There are no constants in this world except the ones that God set up.  The sun comes up in the morning and sets in the evening every day.  Nobody’s opinion can change that!  (But people still try – lol)  We cannot allow the opinions that are running rampant in today’s society to cloud our judgement or stunt our growth.  Remember, there is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9).  We don’t need to be afraid of opinions, we just need to think for ourselves and hold on to what is right.

When I said earlier that there is no absolute one-right opinion, that is true because God’s Word is not an opinion.  God’s Word is truth, which is always right!  It is an absolute constant that cannot be changed.  Of course, many people have opinions about God’s Word, but none of those affect the truth or the power of God.  We must cling to the truth that we know and use that as our only rule of faith and practice.  We cannot allow any opposing opinions to sway us from that truth.  We must weigh not only the opinions of others, but also our own opinions against that standard. 

The world is overflowing with people’s opinions.  Not all of them are bad, but not all are good either.  Guard the opinion making process in your mind by utilizing the truth of God’s Word as your guide.  God doesn’t mind that our opinions differ on worldly things, but He directs us to be like-minded on His Word.  When our opinions are in alignment and harmony with God’s Word, we will live a life that is more than abundant!  

Note to my readers:  In God’s opinion, you are wonderful!  And I share His opinion.  Thanks for reading! 

P.S.  There will be no blog next Friday, but I will resume on March 4th. 

February often gets a bad rap.  The reason being that it seems like winter is at its worst in February.  Living up north, it usually starts getting COLD by November.  But throughout November and December, the holidays claim our attention, so we are not so focused on the weather.  Then in January, we are recovering from the holidays, so the weather again may take a backseat.  But come February, we are over it all.  Cabin fever sets in, and the cold and snow are no longer appreciated.  Add to this, the ground hog telling us that there will be 6 more weeks of winter and we just want to explode!

Down south, winter is not as severe, but considering that southerners are acclimatized to summer’s heat, the dreary rainy cold of winter is equally unappreciated.  And by February, we also are over it all!

So no matter where we live, the doldrums of winter seem to hit in February, just like the doldrums of summer hit in August.  Hence February’s bad rap. 

But let’s think about winter a little bit.  Of course, up north, winter brings ice and snow, which can make travel of any kind treacherous.  However, I have seen beautiful snowfalls with snowflakes as big as saucers falling silently and gently to the ground.  I’ve seen pure white snow conceal all the somber grays and browns of nature’s winter-hibernation.  And I’ve seen the morning sun on an icy coating on all the trees that shimmered like a million diamonds.  So, even though snow and ice can hinder our mobility, there is great beauty in winter’s handiwork. 

Winter also brings short days.  It can be very frustrating to drive to work in the dark and home from work in the dark when your workday ends at 4 pm!  Something about it getting dark so early can keep us indoors, inactive, and dismayed.   But – have you ever seen the moon and the stars on a winter’s night?  The air is crystal clear, the sky is as black as coal, the moon is vividly distinct, and the stars sparkle with almost blinding brilliance.  It is a sight to behold! 

Also winter is cold, usually freezing cold.  It can be so cold that it seems like we can’t be warm outdoors in any amount of clothing.  There were times that I felt like my bones were cold, even though I was tightly bundled in my long-johns, clothes, extra sweater, coat, hat, gloves, scarf, wool socks, and boots.  But how wonderful it felt to come indoors and have a hot cup of tea.  Somehow those were the best cups of tea ever!   Did you ever notice that there are no bugs when it’s freezing?  If any manage to make it inside, they are slow moving and easy to get rid of.  Without the cold, ponds would not freeze for ice-skating, and hills wouldn’t become snowy slopes for sledding. 

Those are just a few of my observations of winter.  I’m sure you could add many more.  Winter evokes feelings from just about everyone.  Some people hate it and some love it.  Most of us are somewhere in between.  But think about it… winter comes every year regardless of our feelings about it.  We can’t stop winter by not liking it, nor can we start it by liking it.  Even if we don’t care one way or the other, winter happens! 

As I mentioned above, winter has both positive and negative faces.  If you are a skier or ice-skater, winter might be the highlight of your year.  If you are a truck driver, probably not so much.  For those reasons, we cannot classify winter as all bad, nor can we say it is all good.  It’s a matter of perspective and we cannot assert our own perspective as the only right one.

All of that being said, it seems that winter offers some good analogies for life…

Winter comes every year whether we like it or not.  The best way to handle winter is to focus on the positives and not on the negatives.  Life happens whether we like it or not.  The best way to handle life is to focus on the positives of God’s Word and not the negatives of the world. 

God’s love surrounds us like wearing an enormous coat with quadruple+ layers of down filling that covers us from head to toe.  It might still be cold outside, but we are safe and warm.  If we focus on the world, we might as well be thrown in a snowbank in our underwear. 

God’s promises are as exciting as doing a triple axel in figure skating.  The empty promises of the world are like skating on thin ice.

God’s light shines like the morning sun on ice covered trees.  Its radiance illuminates our eyes like fireworks.  The world’s idea of light is like striking a match in a blizzard.

God’s words are as pure as an untouched blanket of fresh fallen snow.  The rhetoric of the world is like the yellow snow that your mother warned you about.

God’s peace is like snowflakes descending quietly through the sky.  The world’s peace is like skidding out of control on an icy road.

I could keep going, but I think you get the idea. 

When we with patience look toward the Lord’s return, we understand that everything now in this life is temporal.  Remembering that helps us get through life, even in February!

Note to my readers:  Spring will be here before we know it – smile!  Thanks for reading!

A few months ago I wrote about words and the importance of what we say and how we say it.  I’ve been thinking about words again and what they can do for us. 

Like great works of art, great words can move us.  The first time that I went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, I cried.  Seeing the actual paintings that I had seen only in books beforehand was an exciting experience for me.  It gave me a whole new perspective on the art that I had always admired. 

The first time that I read “Charlotte’s Web”, I cried.  I was only 9 years old, but it stirred me, which is pretty incredible considering that I was touched by the death of a spider!   This was my first experience with the art of words. 

Then, I heard the Bible taught so that I could understand it, and I cried.  Understanding the words that beforetime were merely print on a page, changed my life.  And although I appreciate many forms of art, God’s matchless Word surpasses them all!

The Bible is the greatest of all works of art.  It was ‘painted’ with words that holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the spirit of God.  (2 Peter 1:21)  These words are truth, and they are the words of life.  A painting may move us, and a book may inspire us, but neither can save us.  Only God’s Word can do that!  And for that reason, the Bible is the most valuable thing that we have in our lives. 

The Bible is composed of words.  Words that God wants us to know.  Words that have a great impact on our lives.  Words that teach us about God.  One of those words is “love”.   It is that word in its various forms that I would like to explore this week. 

The word love is commonplace these days.  People ‘love’ everything from shoes to pizza.  I myself am guilty of indiscriminate use of the word, but in my mind, I qualify it in the context.  For example, I say, “I love my house”.  That means thankfulness to me.  I am very thankful for my house. It’s my dream house.   Also, I say things like, “I love movies”.  That means enjoyment to me.  But somehow saying, “I enjoy movies”, doesn’t seem to be a strong enough statement.  However, neither of these are statements of real love – that’s just the word I use.  But when I say, “I love my family and my friends”, I mean that I love them and actually it also includes enjoying them and being thankful for them.  But this love involves affection, commitment, compassion, and selfless giving.  And it is patterned after the true love that the Bible teaches. 

There are three Greek words used in the Bible that are translated “love”.  But the one I want to consider is “agape”, which is “the love of God”.  Even though it is a Greek word, it is familiar to many Christians.  The verb form, “agapao” is used in John 3:16, which gives us some insight into its character.  “Agape” appears in the New Testament 117 times, and “agapao”, 142 times.  These numbers alone indicate that God has much to say about His love.

God’s love is unconditional.  His love is eternal.  His love is beyond our comprehension.  God gives His love freely to us.  He withholds no good thing from us.  God’s love is the foundation for everything that He has made us to be, for everything that we have been given, and for everything that the future holds for us.  God’s love heals us, delivers us, protects us, and guides us. 

Remembering that God loves us, changes things.  Try looking in the mirror and saying, “God loves me!”  You might have to repeat those words a few times before they sink in, but when they do, you will see your burdens lifted and a new spring in your step.  Words did that for you. 

I make little notes for myself to remind me of things.  One such note is something I heard in a Bible teaching.  It says, “Do you see yourself as someone that God deeply loves?”  I must admit that is a difficult question for me sometimes.  But regardless of my reservations, I am someone that God deeply loves – AND SO ARE YOU!  Many times we are called “beloved” in the Bible.  That is the way God looks at us.  We must hold on to those loving words, and cling to God’s declaration of love for us.

But God’s love isn’t just something we receive; it is also something that we are supposed to give.  We are instructed in the Bible (by words) to love one another.  Of course, we know that love is more than just saying the words; but think about what hearing those words means to us.  If no one ever told us that they loved us, it would be hard to believe that they did.  And the opposite is also true.  If someone told us that they loved us, but never acted like it, we would doubt their love as well.  Look at God’s example.   He tells us (in words) that He loves us over and over again.  And He demonstrates His love countless times in remarkable ways.  God says what He means and means what He says!  His words are perfect and pure.

Here are some great words to remember:

1 Corinthians 13:13

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. 

“Charity” in this verse both times is the Greek word “agape”.   Faith and hope are great, but the greatest is God’s love.  Allow these words to permeate your thinking every day and see what they will do for you! 

Note to my readers:  Words are the lifeline between us.  Thanks for reading!

Writers are often encouraged to write about what they know.  So here is something that I know…

Last week I was sick.  So sick that I couldn’t even write my blog.  I spent a week in bed, being just about as miserable as I have ever been.   Being sick is never a good thing.  It’s hard on the ones who are sick, and it’s hard on the people who are trying to take care of them.  Being sick prevents us from doing the things that we need to do as well as the things that we want to do.  Being sick interferes with our lives.  It stomps on our plans, it ruins our days, it is a burden.   All of this I know quite well from my recent experience.  But I also learned some things – or perhaps re-learned some things…

The present-day state of the world has complicated many factors in our lives, not the least of which is our health.  If someone gets sick now-a-days, often panic ensues.  And because of society’s constant rhetoric, the most negative conclusions might be drawn.  The climate of fear that is so prevalent today can permeate people’s minds with such thoughts of uncertainty, that they end up expecting the worst.    However, God is the healer of all manner of sickness regardless of the label that we put on it.  It is only in our finite minds that we qualify sicknesses by our perception of their curability.  To Almighty God, there is no difference.  It doesn’t matter to Him if we are a little sick or a lot sick, the principles of healing still apply, and we can get better.  We must not lose sight of this truth because many times, it is our saving grace. 

As Christians well acquainted with the power of prayer and of the promises of God, we must not allow doubt to creep in and rob us of God’s healing.  But it isn’t always easy to stay positive when we are hurting.  When I am sick, I can find myself thinking more about how bad I feel than remembering the goodness of God.  Even on healthy days, we battle to keep our minds stayed on God.  Add to that the distraction of being sick, and our thoughts can easily drift into a less than positive attitude. 

But that is where the family of God comes in.  When our family hears that we are sick, a marvelous thing happens.  They begin to pray.  Their care for us is roused and they begin to believe with us for healing.   I may be in the throngs of feeling sorry for myself and wondering if I’m ever going to get better, but knowing that someone is praying for me, brings me comfort.  I may fail miserably at helping myself, but the family is there to pick up the slack.  And this shouldn’t surprise us because the Bible says that God set us in the body of Christ as it has pleased Him.  God is well aware of our limitations.  He knows that being sick can not only ravage our bodies but can also discourage us and make us afraid.  So He put us in a family that can be strong for us when we need it.  A family whose care for us flourishes when we are at our weakest. 

Having recently been on the receiving end of that kind of prayer, I know that I want to be on the giving end more and more.   I want to give back to the family who so generously gave to me.  I want to be the one who says, “Here am I, Lord.  Send me.”  When we are sick, our thoughts are of necessity mostly on ourselves.  I want my thoughts to be on helping others.  I want to be the first in line to rejoice with someone at their victory. 

To conclude, I know that being sick stinks!  I know that God is able and willing to heal us no matter what our ailment.  I know that I’m thankful to be in the family of God surrounded by wonderfully caring individuals who pray and believe.  I know that feeling good after being sick is one of the best feelings in the world.  And I know that I love you.

Note to my readers:  You are very important to me.   I am thankful to have you in my life.  Thanks for reading! 

Time is the strangest thing.  It can move at a snail’s pace or at the speed of light.  Something that happened last month can feel like it occurred eons ago.  And memories of our childhood may seem like only yesterday.  I know that God set up the law of time and that it is an unchangeable constant, but our perception of time is another story. 

For instance…  When I’m making dinner, and in a hurry, why does the pasta water take forever to boil?  But when I want to have a leisurely cup of tea, the water boils instantly.  What about the time it takes for me to run back into the house for something I forgot before we leave?  It’s only a moment for me, but it’s an hour delay for my husband.  And the years, what of them?  How could it be 2022? I’m still catching up 2020, let alone 2021! I often say that for any given month, it starts on the 1^st and the next day is the 30^th.  What happens to all the days in between?  I have no idea.  They just seem to disappear.

Time can be our enemy or our friend depending on how we look at it.

Especially for women, time is often viewed like an unwanted houseguest.  Time translates into aging, and aging into wrinkles.  How often do we look in the mirror and only see those wrinkles?  Why can’t we view them as gauges of the wisdom that we’ve gained over the years? We are older yes, but we’re also wiser!  We may have wrinkles on our faces, and our bodies may not be as firm as they used to be.  We may have aches and pains that we didn’t have before.  But we can still celebrate our longevity!  We can appreciate the passage of time for all the opportunities it has afforded us to grow and flourish.  Have you ever said, “I wish I knew then what I know now”?  Time afforded you the opportunity to know what you know now. 

I think of my career.  I worked for 19 years at my last job from which I retired.  I liked my job, and I was good at it.  I made good friends.  I learned A LOT!  I had many wonderful experiences – and some very difficult ones.  Do you know why all those things were possible?  TIME.  I sought to do my job to the best of my ability.  I labored to master the skills required of me.  But no matter how hard I worked, and no matter how meticulously I performed, I could not have accomplished everything I did without the passage of time. 

I’m proud of my career.  I didn’t make any life-changing advances for mankind, but I did all my jobs with honesty and integrity, and for that I was respected.  Time gave me experience and that experience gave me worth.  Anyone can do a good job for one day.  But someone who does a good job for an extended period of time is a valuable asset.  So, I guess I can say that “time was on my side”.

Think about this…  I love, love, love my children and grandchildren.  Did you ever consider that time is a factor for having children?  Beyond the obligatory 9 months of pregnancy, time was necessary for me to become old enough to have children.  Then there was time involved for my children to become old enough to have their children.  Without that time, there would be no children or grandchildren.

And the passage of time influences our relationships with our children and grandchildren.  I loved having babies that I could hold and cuddle.  But in time, those babies grew-up and my relationship with them changed.  It’s pretty hard to hold and cuddle my teenage grandchildren. And I’m not sure that I want any of them to sit on my lap. Even the youngest ones are too big to pick up now!   But their being older gives me a chance to have wonderful conversations with them and to have fun playing games with them.  As for my children – they are adults now with lives of their own.  How wonderful it is to communicate with them as fellow adults!  TIME made these things available. 

But time does have a dark side.  When we are hurting, time seems to stand still.  When our heart is broken or we’re in pain, a moment seems like a day and a day seems like a year.  In those situations, time appears to be our enemy.  But I was taught that, “time heals all wounds”.  Often, the passage of time is what’s needed to facilitate our recovery. 

I had a torn rotator cuff several years ago.  It was a painful and debilitating condition.   And the residual pain from the corrective surgery was intense.  Recovery took TIME.  Enduring the pain was difficult, but I reminded myself that it would pass in time.  And indeed, it did.  I couldn’t make the time go faster, but I could patiently pursue a positive outcome.  And at the times of discouragement or set-backs, I could regroup by reminding myself that someday I’d look back on this time as a distant memory. 

When we are faced with hardships, we can remember that time can change things.  “Time marches on” and because of that, change is inevitable.  Of course, I’m not saying that time itself is the healer, but time is often necessary for the healing process. 

As I mentioned at the beginning, God set up the law of time.  That law makes it impossible to go backward in time, and we can only move forward as time allows.  Therefore, it behooves us to make the best of our time right now.  We can’t relive the past, but we can learn from it.   We can’t jump into the future, but we can prepare for it.    

Why not make TIME our friend?  Consider the past as a constructive contribution to who we are in the present.  Do away with ideas like regret or guilt.  The past cannot be changed, so those ideas are merely a waste of time.  Make peace with the mistakes of the past.  (We all have them!)  Hold on to the learning that you gained from them.  Keep the past in the past.

Consider the future to be “as bright as the promises of God”.   Regardless of what is going on in our lives right now, the future is going to happen because “time waits for no man”.  And for Christians, our future is guaranteed.  As my teacher used to say, “We’re going to heaven and all hell can’t stop us from going!”

Time may elude us or weigh us down.  It might seem like there is never enough of it, or like we’re stuck in endless tedium.  We may wish we could have a do-over or yearn for future events.  But that’s all in our perception.  Time is a constant.  When we strip away all the trappings, we have only this very moment in time to live.  Let’s do our best to make this moment count! 

Note to my readers:  Thank you for sharing your time with me.  Thanks for reading!