Category: General Writing

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! 

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines pessimism as: “an inclination to emphasize adverse aspects, conditions, and possibilities or to expect the worst possible outcome”.  My friend, ‘Merriam’ also says that pessimism is a doctrine; “the doctrine that reality is essentially evil”, and “the doctrine that evil overbalances happiness in life”.  Although I find those doctrines rather appalling, they show me that some people have such an inclination to expect the worst, that it can become their way of life.  However, I understand the process because I was taught that practicing error long enough eventually becomes doctrine. 

Perhaps you know someone who always sees the glass half-empty.  Someone who takes a negative view of every situation, who can put a cynical spin even on good news.  These folks are pessimistic and generally unhappy.  Why?  The short answer is that they choose to be so.  But we know that there is usually more to the story than short answers. 

It is likely that these people may have suffered hardships and disappointments in their lives, maybe multiple times.  Their experiences have fostered an attitude of pessimism.  It has become easier for them to expect bad things rather than hope for good things and be disappointed.  This kind of thinking often starts with an attitude of self-preservation.  People feel that they can’t endure any more disappointments, so they build a wall of pessimism around themselves. But unfortunately, that reaps pessimistic results, so they are discouraged and the cycle repeats. 

Another cause may be wrong teaching.  Someone’s parents or a trusted teacher might have a pessimistic attitude and that influences them.  Even some churches teach that adverse happenings in one’s life are necessary for building humility.  These ideas can permeate people’s thinking and lead them down a negative path. 

Now, let’s look at optimism.  The MW dictionary defines optimism as: “an inclination to put the most favorable construction upon actions and events or to anticipate the best possible outcome” and “a doctrine that this world is the best possible world”.  Interestingly, optimism is also a doctrine, which means that people can practice it long enough that it becomes their way of life, their doctrine. 

Do you know anyone who is optimistic?  Are you optimistic?  Do you see the glass half-full?  Do you have a positive attitude toward life despite its disappointments?  Do you expect a favorable outcome in adverse situations?  Why?  Again, the short answer – because you choose to do so. 

Optimistic people experience hardships and disappointments just like pessimistic people but choose a different path to deal with them.  They refute the negatives rather than accept them.  They expect a positive outcome in spite of discouragement.  Their positive expectations produce positive results.  And for the most part, they are happy people. 

Pessimism and optimism are direct opposites.  They oppose each other.  Their effects are at opposite ends of the spectrum.  Even their definitions contrast one another. 

The world is full of opposites – light and dark, good and bad, up and down, yes and no, day and night, the list goes on.  I should note that in practice, some of these opposites may mingle.  For example, an optimistic person may be pessimistic in a particular situation.  A ‘yes’ answer may carry a ‘no’ stipulation in it.  Even day and night meet at dusk.  

Sometimes opposites fluctuate.  We can be up one day and down the next.  We can feel good, or we can feel bad.  These are not constants.  But there are two opposites in life that never mingle and are always constant – the one true God and the devil.  God is all light, and the devil is all darkness – they never mix – ever!  Light always dispels darkness – always!  Even a lit match in a dark room can be easily seen.  Think of how tiny fireflies’ lights are.  Yet those tiny specks of light dazzle us on warm summer nights.

We Christians live such an interesting dynamic in this day and time.  The devil is called the god of this world because he essentially stole that authority from Adam.  We are in this world, but we are not of this world and therefore we are not subject to the devil’s rules.  Pessimism is one of his rules.  We don’t need to be subject to it, but we may be bothered by it.  We may find ourselves with pessimistic thoughts from time to time.  But the marvelous thing is that we can choose to change those thoughts. With a knowledge of God and His Word, we have the ability to put new and unique thoughts in our minds.  Thoughts that are contrary to worldly rules and can override them.  Thoughts of what God says.

Now the devil may have the authority to run the place, but God still owns the earth, so there is still inherent goodness in the world. (I Corinthians 10:26). Nature, love, laughter, and music are some examples.  Therefore, optimism is present, even for those who don’t know God.  People can be optimistic and receive the benefits of their optimism, but the world dissuades it.  Have you ever heard the term Pollyanna? It comes from a 1913 novel of the same name by Eleanor H. Porter.  The world’s depiction of Pollyanna is “someone who is blindly optimistic about every situation, sometimes to the point of foolishness. The term is typically used in a negative way, to describe someone who cannot think about the more serious ramifications of various situations.”  That viewpoint appears to be designed to discourage people from being optimistic.   Personally, I don’t know how anyone can be optimistic without being able to cling to the positives of God’s Word, but I guess some are. 

Not only is the Bible light and truth, but it is full of edification, exhortation, and comfort.  God is aware that we are surrounded by negative worldly influences.  He knows that we must battle those influences in our minds every day.  So, He calls out to us with words of loving support.  He builds us up.  He strengthens us with encouragement.  He has equipped us with everything we need to win the battle. 

As we face all the opposites in the world around us, let’s do our best to choose the positive ones.  Let’s seek the goodness of God and refuse to be intimidated by the world’s opposition.  in fact, let’s be the opposite of the world. Let’s be totally light and shine in the darkness for all to see.

Note to my readers:  Ignore the world and stay optimistic!  Thanks for reading! 

P.S.  I call the Merriam-Webster dictionary, “my friend” because we visit almost every day!  We have a close working relationship!  😊

Writers yearn to say something profound.  And I am no exception.  As a Christian, I yearn to say something inspiring.  As a wife, I yearn to say something endearing.  As a mother and grandmother, I yearn to say something enlightening.  And as a friend, I yearn to say something trustworthy. 

As I writer, I yearn to convey all those things in all my writings.  Of course, not everything I write is going to do that.  But the joy of writing is the anticipation that one of my words might reach someone’s heart and bless them.

I often think of life like writing.  I yearn to do something outstanding in my life.  And just like each post I write offers an opportunity to say something profound, each day offers an opportunity to do something outstanding.  We all know that not everything we do in our lives will be outstanding, but we still have the joy of anticipating that we might do an outstanding thing today. 

In comparing life to writing, I often think of New Year’s Day like a ‘backspace’ key.  Before you stop reading because that sounds like a ridiculous statement, please hear me out. 

Picture yourself typing on your computer’s keyboard.  The blinking cursor is your current location.  If you review what precedes your cursor and you don’t want to keep it, your backspace key erases it.  It is a handy tool to use in editing one’s writing.  For any number of reasons, we may want to erase our prior typing and start over with fresh new words. 

In life, the backspace key can erase bad memories of things like blunders or heartaches. We know that we can’t change the past, but we can keep it from hurting us now by managing our thoughts.   And the new year is a good opportunity to accomplish that.  The old year is past, and our cursor is blinking on a brand-new year.  We can use New Year’s Day as a backspace key to erase the previous things that are weighing us down in our minds and start over with fresh new thoughts.  Of course, any day can serve as a backspace key, but the day that ushers in a new year seems to give us a little extra impetus to want to put the past in the past.  And in-so-doing, we can have renewed excitement for the future. 

There is a corresponding action when using the backspace key, which is replacing what was erased.  This is done in mainly two ways.  First, by simply joining the words prior to the erasure to those after.  This not only removes the words in between, but also the space that they were occupying.   Think of how difficult it would be to read this blog if every time I used the backspace key, I left a blank space.   I t  co  uld  be           nea    rly    imp     oss        ible   t   o  r  ead  .    Our minds aren’t designed to work with voids.  We must remove the empty spaces or fill them.   Our thoughts must be whole.   Therefore, the second option is to replace the erased words with new ones.  This is basically filling the space with new thoughts.  It is a correction rather than a deletion. 

In our minds, some thoughts need to be deleted, and some thoughts need to be corrected.  For instance, the memory of that scary movie I watched in Junior High, needed to be deleted and no space left for its return.  But the fear I had of a boogie man in my closet, needed to be corrected with right teaching.  This is an ongoing process because we are always thinking.  As adults, we don’t have the same fears that we had as children, but fears can linger none-the-less.  We can use the New Year’s Day backspace key to facilitate deliverance from those fears.  We can kick out those fears and leave no room for them to come back, or we can correct those fears by right believing. 

The backspace key works for fears, memories, bad habits, and anything that is bringing us down.  Some people live a lifetime under the shadow of a mistake, or behind the closed doors of fear.  At any point we can utilize the process of correction or deletion and rewrite our thoughts.  We can overcome the negatives that persist in clouding our minds by changing our thinking.

We can start the new year with new plans, new ideas and new resolve.  We can change the way we think and thereby change our actions.  We can succeed where we may have failed in the past.  And just as our goal in writing is to replace the words that we erase with better words, we can replace our old thoughts with more profitable ones.

And the only guaranteed profitable thoughts come from thinking God’s Word.  Putting God’s Word in our minds and changing our thoughts accordingly is the key to power.  That power enables us to change and be better; to grow and flourish; to overcome any adversity.  We can utilize that power because God has given us the gift of holy spirit, which in inherently powerful.   And since it is ours, we have the God-given authority to use it. 

Most all of us want 2022 to be better than 2021, even if 2021 wasn’t a bad year.  2022 certainly can be a great year if we keep our thinking aligned with God’s Word.  If we use that backspace key to erase the negatives that need erasing.  And if we replace those negatives with the glorious light of God’s Word in our minds. 

Philippians 3:13

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

Note to my readers:  HAPPY NEW YEAR!!  Thanks for reading!

People have many different ideas about this time of year.  Some people love it, and some people hate it.  Some people look forward to it, while others dread it.  Some people revel in the celebration, and others can’t wait for it to be over.  This time of year, which we call the “holiday season” elicits an opinion from just about everybody.  And because those opinions are based on personal experience and teaching, they as varied as snowflakes.  Even within ourselves we may have mixed emotions about the season.  Our current circumstances definitely influence our attitudes, as do our surroundings.  Religious beliefs and family traditions also play major roles in our sentiments about the holidays.   

So, here is a little bit of my seasonal reasoning… (for what it’s worth) 😊

Society embraces this season, and that allows us time to spend with our family and friends.  Of course, society’s motives are driven by profit margins, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t take advantage of the opportunity.  Kids have a lengthy break from school, and parents often take some time off work.  Even if we can’t be with family, we can use the time to enjoy a little change of pace.  There are often gatherings of some sort; co-workers, neighbors, or friends have parties.  Civic events, like tree-lightings can bring people together.  And holiday entertainment is usually uplifting.  Just about everyone has a favorite holiday movie.

Holiday decorations are typically dazzling.  There is just something to be said for all those lights!  I still remember my dad driving us around to look at them when I was a kid.  It was a highlight of the season for me.  And even now, I get excited by festive light displays.  Our little town does an outstanding job of lighting the main street; and there is a lovely display of lighted trees by the lake and another around the pond.  I smile every time I see them.  We recently attended a party at a friend’s house that was beautifully decorated for the holidays.  It was a pleasure to behold all of the tasteful adornments.  It looked like a holiday movie set. 

I enjoy decorating my own house as well.  The tree with all its lights and ornaments, and my other decorations bring back many good memories and special thoughts.  When I unpack the ornaments that were gifts, I think about the givers.  Even the things that I’ve gotten for myself remind me of certain times or experiences for which I’m thankful.  Plus, I just like looking them. 

Presents are a central theme of the season.  And I love to give them.  My heart thrills when I find the perfect gift for someone.  I like seeing lots of presents wrapped in colorful paper under the tree and seeing the smiles as they are opened.  Even though gift giving is really promoted by commerce, people generally do think more about the act of giving during the holiday season.  People seem to be a little friendlier, a little happier, and a little kinder at this time of year. 

These are just a few of the things that I appreciate about the holiday season.  These things make me happy.  You might not observe or enjoy these same things.  But as I mentioned earlier, our opinions don’t have to agree.  Your experiences and mine may be very different.  How we were raised and what we were taught contribute to our individuality and our free-will opinions.  There is no one-right-way of celebrating the holidays – even if it’s not celebrating them at all. 

Most Christians are aware that December 25^th is not the actual day that Jesus was born.  But it is the day that our society makes time for us to celebrate it.  Given the state of the world these days, I’m thankful that there is still a time set aside to recognize our Savior’s birth even if it’s not the right date.  So why not use the time available and rejoice anyway? 

The popular holiday activities with all their trimmings are simply remnants of traditions handed down through the years and can be fun if we want to participate.  Santa Claus, trees, lights, and decorations have no connection to Jesus’ birth and I don’t try to put them in the same category.  But a lot of the classic carols and other references to our Lord are still around at this time of year and I appreciate that too.  I think of it like two simultaneous but separate celebrations. 

I guess what I’m trying to say is that I hope you have a wonderful holiday no matter what your opinions are of the season.  Whether you choose to celebrate or not, I hope you are blessed.  My prayer is that you have peace and joy, that you love and are loved, and that you smile.   

One of my favorite holiday shows is “A Charlie Brown Christmas”.  I think it’s great that Linus recites scriptures from Luke:

Luke 2:8-14

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Our wonderful savior, our Lord Jesus Christ should never be far from our thoughts.  And thinking about his birth during the holiday season is not a bad thing.  Whatever you feel about the holidays, savor every moment. 

Note to my readers:  “Happy Holidays”!  “Merry Christmas”!  Whatever you choose to say – enjoy.  Thanks for reading!

I had the privilege of learning God’s Word from a master teacher.  He was like a father to his students because he taught us so much and genuinely cared about our well-being.  He had a saying, “A lot of things, kids”, which I have remembered often over the years.  I’m sure that most of his students remember this saying and it means something different to each of us.  But this is what it means to me… 

When I remember my teacher saying this, I hear him saying it with a sigh.  Not a sigh of discouragement or anxiety, but a sigh of hopeful contemplation.  He spoke from the wisdom of his age and experience, which none of us students had yet.  And he spoke from his knowledge of the Bible, which we were just beginning to learn.

Looking at things with hopeful contemplation allows us to see them for what they really are.  When we take the time to thoughtfully consider something in the context of what the Bible says about it, the pure light of God’s Word reveals it clearly.  We are not duped by circumstances or confused by situations because we see them plainly through that light. 

Picture yourself walking around your house in the dark.  Even in that familiar environment, you may be fooled by your surroundings.  You might trip over something you can’t see, or wrongly identify a shadow.  But if you turn on the lights, all becomes clear.  The things that were hidden in the shadows are now openly visible. 

God’s Word lights our paths with unmistakable clarity.  And when we have that clarity, we can be hopeful.  A lot of things happen in life that are not positive.  Some are downright awful.  But we can contemplate those things in the light of God’s Word and expect God’s solution, which allows us to remain hopeful.

“A lot of things, kids” is a reminder that life is full of experiences, opportunities, challenges, and learning.  Can you list every experience that you’ve had since birth?  Of course not!  There have been millions of them.  But reflecting on memories of what we’re learned can help us manage in the present and prepare for the future.  When we remember the opportunities that we’ve had, it boosts our confidence that we can have more of them.  And reminding ourselves of past triumphs, encourages us to believe that we can do it again.  All of this is learning.  And learning is an exciting adventure. 

I have gained a modicum of wisdom from my age and experience, and I have learned a bit of the Bible over the years.  There have been good times in my life and bad times.  There have been successes and failures.  There have been times of laughter and times of tears.  But all of these things and more have been woven together to become the life that I have now, and it’s a good life.  Not only am I a son of God, but also, I’ve been taught God’s Word, rightly divided.  I have a wonderful family.  I have terrific friends.  I belong to a fantastic fellowship of believers.  And that’s a lot of things!  What more could the heart look for?

Sometimes, I wonder what God ever saw in me to call me to be His son.  I was a screw-up from way back!  I was full of fear, doubt and worries.  I had the self-esteem of a garden slug.  But God saw past all of that and picked me anyway.  He gave His only begotten son for me and everyone like me!  My teacher said once, “God is so good to me, I sometimes wonder if He’s mixed me up with someone else.”  He said that with tongue-in-check candor, but it expressed his humility and gratitude well.  And it reminded me that God loves me too.  For that I am thankful. 

Finally, I hear the caring compassion of a parent in my teacher saying, “A lot of things, kids”.  Regardless of our ages, he called us all “kids”.  And I think he meant it.  As parents, we always want the best for our children.  We take the responsibility of parenthood seriously.  Our hearts yearn to train up our children according to God’s Word and to do whatever we can to secure their happiness and well-being.  Their successes are our successes.  And in the difficult times, their tears are our tears.  God is our Father, and He treats us as His beloved children.  We are to imitate Him.  God is our #1 example of parenting; and He is full of compassion and extraordinary kindness. 

For me, “A lot of things, kids” is a fond memory of my teacher.  It is also an inspiration for me to appreciate all the things that have transpired in my life to bring me to this day and time.  It reminds me to be thankful to my Heavenly Father for everything that He has done, is doing and shall do for me.  It is my prayer that you may find similar inspiration in this simple saying, “A lot of things, kids”. 

Note to my readers:  “God bless.  I love you.  You are the best.”   Thanks for reading!

Florida has the second longest coastline in the United States, longer even than California; and the vast majority of Floridians live along that extensive coastline. *  But another statistic that people may not know, is that Florida is also full of lakes.  According to a report by the Orlando Sentinel, Florida has 30,000 lakes, which cover a little over 3 million acres.  So, I think it’s safe to say that water plays a significant role in the lives of almost every Floridian.  (*Alaska has the longest coastline.)

Now, you might be saying, “Thanks for the geography lesson, but what does that have to do with set-backs?”  Allow me to explain…

I often think of life like being in a boat on the water.  Sometimes the waters are calm, sometimes they are turbulent.  Sometimes we struggle against strong currents, sometimes the currents take us where we don’t want to go.  Sometimes storms cause damage or may even capsize us.  No matter where our boat is taking us; one thing is certain, the waters are ever changing. 

Overall, life is mostly calm waters.  We float through our daily routines on the gentle sway of the water’s path.  One day is like another and we have no complaints.  We are comfortable and content.  But sometimes the path leads to turbulent waters that require much attention and effort to navigate.  Our lives become difficult.  These times are set-backs.  We may wonder what we did wrong to be surrounded by these choppy waters.  We may feel seasick.  But when we remember that it is simply the nature of the waters to be either calm or turbulent, we are able to put things in proper perspective and deal with the situation.  We remind ourselves, “this too shall pass” and that God is able to guide us back to the calm waters.

Perhaps after enjoying the calm waters for a season, we wake up one day to find ourselves completely off course – carried away by a current we didn’t even notice.  We’re not sure how we ended up where we did, but there we are!  This is also a set-back.  We then become tasked with diligently rowing against the current to get back to the calm waters where we want to be.  We learn that we must not ignore the currents and that God can help us identify them.  It is quicker to get back to the calm waters from a few feet off course than from miles away. 

There are also times when storms arise, maybe without warning.  Storms bring the greatest turbulence and the strongest currents.  Storms can be devastating and destructive.  We may feel overwhelmed by the storm’s force.  We might find ourselves in distress or upheaval.  These are the set-backs in which we must rely on God more than ever.  We must be confident that He is able to quiet the storm, repair the damage, and restore us to the calm waters.

Life is full of set-backs.  Some set us back a few steps, others knock us down.  But no matter what the results of our set-backs are, God is able to handle them.  Think about it – if God is omnipotent (which He is); do you think that He judges situations by their level of difficulty?  Of course not.  He is all powerful.  There is nothing too hard for Him.  It is only we humans with our limited abilities who assign levels of difficulty to situations.

Jeremiah 32:27

Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?

No matter where you are in life, this verse is applicable.  No matter what your circumstance is, no matter condition you’re in, God is able to supply, and He shall take care of us.

Set-backs can take the wind out of our sails.  But we must always batten down the hatches and persevere.  Just as ships were made to sail, we are made to succeed.  And the only way we can really do that is by utilizing God’s resources and support.  It is the power of God that brings about our true success.  It is God’s love that guarantees our victory. 

Psalm 37:5

Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

Looking to God in every situation, (including every set-back) is the best way to assure our smooth sailing.  Set-backs may slow us down, but they need never stop us!  Always remember – without a challenge, we would never taste success. 

Note to my readers:  Full sail ahead!  Thanks for reading!