Category: General Writing

Today is my sister’s birthday and it is a milestone one for her.  She is a very special person, and I’m thankful to have her in my life.  So, I begin this post by saying “Happy Birthday” to her. 

Birthdays mean different things to different people, but mostly they are considered days for celebration.  For children, birthdays mean parties and presents.  For adults, they mean achievements.  For young people, birthdays often represent another step closer to a goal-age.  And for older folks, they represent another year effectively accomplished. 

But birthdays can also be viewed negatively as unwelcomed mile-markers of aging, or as reminders of unpleasant memories.  Whether we think birthdays should be celebrated or ignored, there is one thing that we can’t deny: time marches on.  Whether we recognize our birthdays or not, the years are passing.  And I can personally attest that forgetting birthdays does NOT slow time’s progression – I’ve tried it and I’m still getting older! 

I think birthdays are opportunities to appreciate one another.  They are occasions that allow us show someone that we appreciate them; or to allow others show their appreciation for us.  We are always so busy in our lives, that stopping for a moment to observe someone’s birthday can be a much-needed break.  Even small gestures of birthday recognition can make people happy.  However, I must add that appreciation does not always mean purchasing gifts.  Perhaps for children, buying gifts may be necessary; but for adults, it is not.  A kind word, or a heartfelt note, or a homemade present can mean more to the recipient than something we might purchase.  In any case, giving gifts should be done out of the freewill heart’s desire of the giver, and not because of a required social convention. 

Almost all holidays are centered around some kind of remembrance.  Just as Thanksgiving is a day to remember all the reasons that we have to be thankful, a birthday is a chance to remember someone special to us.  As parents, we celebrate our children’s birthdays because we love them, and we remember the rejoicing that we had on the day they were born.  For birthdays of other family members and friends, we often reminisce about our shared experiences and the impacts that their lives have had on ours.  Overall, remembering someone on their birthday is a pleasant reminder of their significance in our lives. 

I like traditions.  As long as the tradition isn’t at cross-purposes with God’s Word, it can be an enjoyable, memory-making activity for families and friends. Birthday parties can be a delightful tradition for all ages.  I still remember some of my birthday parties from childhood.  They were such special events for me.  I always got to wear a pretty dress, and there were kids, and presents, and cake, and games.  I remember the first time my mom got me a store-bought birthday cake.  It didn’t taste any better than her homemade cakes, but it had flowers on it – beautiful pink edible flowers!  And surprisingly, not everyone liked the beautiful pink sugar-laden flowers, so I got to eat most of them. And I probably remember this because I might still be on that sugar high!

I also remember birthday parties that my friends in Ohio would have for me as an adult.  I don’t know exactly why it always seemed to be my birthday that we celebrated together, but it was; maybe because I’m the oldest?  Anyway, we played games, we did crafts, we ate and drank.  And the fellowship was terrific.  Those are very special memories for me. 

I remember my children’s birthday parties, especially the ones for my boys in the 8-12 year old range.  I have pictures from one particular party of a bunch of 8 to 10 year-old boys very proudly flexing their less than bulging arm muscles.  It is cheerful reminder of those years.  And for my daughter’s birthday slumber parties; I can still hear the high-pitched sound of giggling that only little girls can make!  But most of all, I cherish the memories of my kids’ birthdays with their grandparents.  The pictures from those times are irreplaceable.     

I could continue my walk down memory lane for pages, but I think you get the idea.  Birthdays can be a wonderful way to commemorate life.  Even if you have no tradition of celebrating birthdays, you can still bless someone by remembering them on their special day.  Sometimes just telling someone that you love and appreciate them can be the best birthday present you can give. 

No matter what your thoughts are on birthdays – good or bad, remember that our lives are blessed by God regardless of how old we are, (or young).  Age is relatively insignificant compared to eternal life, which we received when we got born again.  And the gift that God gave us on that day is the best present we could ever receive on any day including our birthday!

And if today happens to be your birthday – revel in God’s blessings.  Enjoy every moment of your day.  Congratulate yourself for another year successfully completed and look forward to many more years of God’s wondrous works in your life. 

Note to my readers:  Whenever your birthday is, “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!”  Thanks for reading!

Because of the Thanksgiving holiday, we may hear more people talk about being thankful than at other times of the year.  Thanksgiving Day is a reminder to all of us to think about how much we have to be thankful for and to honestly say “thank you” for it.  Some might struggle to find reasons to give thanks.  Others may joyfully recount all their blessings.  But no matter which end of the spectrum you’re on, there is always something to be thankful for.

Did the sun rise this morning?  Even if it was obscured by clouds, it rose.  And for that we can be thankful.  Take a deep breath.  For that we can be thankful.  Even the most fundamental things in life offer us reasons to be thankful if we take a moment to recognize them.

Thankfulness is an attitude that we must maintain.  It doesn’t happen automatically; we must choose to be thankful.  And that choice often starts with making the effort to notice and appreciate our surroundings. We need to pay attention to the things around us, to the people around us, and most importantly to God, who is always around us.  Simple things may be taken for granted or appreciated.  The choice is ours.  However, taking anything (especially God!) for granted profits nothing.  But appreciation is the basis of a thankful lifestyle. 

But it can get tricky.  Society teaches us to not appreciate what we have or who we are by taunting us with things that we can’t afford and physical attributes that we don’t have.   The decision to appreciate God, and all the good in our lives is almost always in direct opposition to what society is propounding.  The evil in this world would like to keep us miserable, but being thankful can impede those efforts.  Thankfulness brings peace and rejoicing into our lives.

Sometimes we face hardships; some are difficult, others are devasting.  It may seem impossible to be thankful at those times.  But we can weather those storms by looking toward a victorious outcome.  We are not thankful for the hardship, but we can be thankful to God for His help to get us through it.  Prayer gives us that ability.  Our prayerful requests with thanksgiving to God give us peace that guards our minds.*  And when we receive our victory, rejoicing abounds. 

Consider the origins of the Thanksgiving holiday.  The Pilgrims who came to this country to escape religious persecution in Europe suffered tremendous hardships on their voyage to the New World.  By the end of their first year of settling here, nearly half of their company had died and many of those who remained were weak or sick.  But through prayer and believing they survived and prospered. And at harvest time, they celebrated the abundance that they had received with great thanksgiving.  That thankfulness eased the memories of the hardships that they had endured.  Our thankfulness can do the same. 

Another essential element of thankfulness is expressing it.  We cannot be silent in our giving of thanks.  We must thank people when they bless us.  It is the polite thing to do but much more than that, it is our way of giving back.  It is a healthy response for both speaker and hearer.  Wouldn’t your heart break if you never heard a word of thanks?  Bear that in mind the next time someone does something nice for you.  And of course, God wants to hear our words of thanks.  Prayer and praise to God are an integral part of our relationship with Him.  And if anyone deserves our thanks, it is God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy!  God, who satisfies our mouths with good things so that our youth is renewed like the eagle’s; God, who gave us His only begotten son so that we could be saved and have eternal life ** – that God deserves all of our thanks all of the time!

When we live a thank-filled life, we are blessed.  Not only are we recognizing the good that surrounds us rather than focusing on all the bad, but we’re also recognizing that God is our sufficiency, and that He meets our needs.  We are allowing God to open the windows of heaven and pour out His blessings on us.  I heard it said that a lifestyle of thanksgiving is “thanks-living”.  Isn’t that the way we want to live?  Let’s be thankful for all that we’ve been given, for all that we have and for all that we will receive.  Praise God with lips of thankfulness and joyfully receive all the bounty that He has to give.  Then, as we give to others with a blessed and thankful heart, the cycle will start all over again.      

Isn’t it wonderful that our country has set aside a day for giving thanks?  In the hustle and bustle of daily living it is easy to forget to say thanks for all the things that bless our lives.  So let’s take advantage of the opportunity that Thanksgiving Day affords us; and be especially thankful to our God and Father for His goodness, for His extraordinary kindness, and for His mercy that endures forever!

         Scripture references:

         *  Philippians 4:6,7

** 1 Timothy 6:17, Psalm 103:5, John 3:16

Note to my readers:  HAVE A VERY HAPPY AND BLESSED THANKSGIVING!  Thanks for reading! 

A friend recently commented that she thought I was flourishing.  After I thanked her for her kind words, I thought, “What did she mean by that?”  So, my quest began.  First, I turned to my trusty Merriam Webster’s dictionary, and I discovered that the first two definitions of the verb, ‘flourish’ are, “to grow luxuriantly – thrive”; and “to achieve success – prosper”.  That made sense to me because my first two ideas about the word were of a garden flourishing or a business flourishing.  I don’t really tend a garden and I don’t run a business, so how am I flourishing? 

When we think about it, we all can flourish in so many ways.  In our lives, we are always growing.  We can learn something new every day.  Each day is a new experience. We flourish when we embrace these opportunities; when we approach our days as new adventures, rather than thinking. “it’s just another day”.  What if we started each day by asking ourselves, “What exciting thing does God have in store for me today?”  Inviting God into our lives sets the stage for luxuriant growth.  What if we asked God, “What can I do for you today?”  Each day would be an occasion to thrive.  Growing in our understanding, our commitment, and our service to God is flourishing at its best!

The second definition, “to achieve success – prosper” takes growth a step further.  We all have goals and aspirations; but how do we achieve them?  The first rule of success is that we cannot quit.  And the only way to prevent quitting is by positive conviction and the corresponding action.  We must be fully persuaded that we are able to achieve our goals and then we can proceed accordingly.  And the only way I know to assure we can accomplish that, is to trust God to help us and guide our steps.  Walking with God is the greatest way to flourish because God WANTS us to prosper.  

Here is a little side trip down one of my logic trails… 

God wants us to prosper, as the Bible clearly states in 3^rd John, verse 2.  And according to the MW dictionary, ‘prosper’ illustrates ‘to achieve success’, which is a definition of ‘flourish’.  So we can safely say that God wants us to flourish.  Now, if God wants us to flourish, it must be available.  And since God is well aware of our limitations, He must certainly intend to help us flourish.  And because God is all powerful, we know that with His help we are able to flourish.  When we believe that we are able; we won’t quit.  And if we don’t quit, we will achieve success, which is to flourish.  And not only will we flourish – but we’ll flourish with God’s kind of flourishing, which is the best kind!  (How’s that for ‘flourishing’ logic?? 😊)

So much of our lives is determined by our mind-set.  Are we positive minded or filled with negative thoughts?  Do we expect good things to happen or fear the worst?  Do we see the silver lining in the storm clouds or expect that rain will ruin our sunny days?  Do we see each day as an opportunity to succeed, or worry that we might fail again? 

The difference in these attitudes is the difference between flourishing or not.  If our minds are clouded by a plethora of negatives, we cannot flourish.  But if we regularly expect God’s best in our lives, we will assuredly live a flourish-filled life.  Now I know that our lives are not always a bowl of cherries, no one’s is.  But even at the challenging times, it’s available to flourish with God’s help.  We just need to trust Him and not be swayed by our circumstances.  We cannot allow the situations with which we are faced to be the determining factor of our attitude of believing.  We can flourish in negative circumstances by patiently anticipating God’s resolution and by confessing our belief that God will come through for us.  Confession is a key to keeping our minds on track. And confession is not always audible words that we speak, but often is just words that we say to ourselves.  We remind ourselves that God is able.  We remind ourselves that God WANTS us to flourish.  We remind ourselves that God is love. 

Flourishing is maintained by a positive attitude, which is maintained by continued positive confession.  Thereby we enjoy the benefits of thriving and prospering.  Flourishing is not dependent on our surroundings, but our surroundings can be improved by our flourishing.  Flourishing is the way of life that God desires for His children.  Why not expect to flourish in everything you do?  And if you’re not flourishing now, expect that you soon will be.  Expect God to help you in any and every situation and allow His abundant grace and peace to cause you to flourish.  Never forget that God loves you and that He is ABLE.

Note to my readers:   3^rd John 2   Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

Thanks for reading. 

This post marks the one-year anniversary of my blog.  This venture has been a most fulfilling endeavor.  It was something that I had wanted to do for a long time but lacked the confidence to try.  When I finally made the leap, it was a great victory for me. 

Everything I’ve written has been for the sole purpose of blessing others.  I prayed each week for inspiration and trusted that God would help me with my words.  If only one person got blessed by only one post, I would still be thankful for this opportunity.  But many have responded with positive feedback, and that makes my heart soar. 

I have renewed my site license for another year. So, we’ll see where this thing will go!  I thank each and every one of you who have encouraged and supported me.  You are the motivation for my continued writing.

Poems have always been special to me, and this one is one of my favorites.  It was written by Edgar A. Guest, an American poet who wrote from the early to mid 20^th century.  His poems are known for their inspirational and optimistic views of everyday life.  It is reported that he wrote some 11,000 poems in his lifetime!

Sermons We See
I'd rather see a sermon than hear one any day; 
I'd rather one should walk with me than merely tell the way. 
The eye's a better pupil and more willing than the ear, 
Fine counsel is confusing, but example's always clear; 
And the best of all the preachers are the men who live their creeds, 
For to see good put in action is what everybody needs.

I soon can learn to do it if you'll let me see it done; 
I can watch your hands in action, but your tongue too fast may run. 
And the lecture you deliver may be very wise and true, 
But I'd rather get my lessons by observing what you do; 
For I might misunderstand you and the high advice you give, 
But there's no misunderstanding how you act and how you live.

When I see a deed of kindness, I am eager to be kind. 
When a weaker brother stumbles and a strong man stays behind 
Just to see if he can help him, then the wish grows strong in me 
To become as big and thoughtful as I know that friend to be. 
And all travelers can witness that the best of guides today 
Is not the one who tells them, but the one who shows the way.

One good man teaches many, men believe what they behold; 
One deed of kindness noticed is worth forty that are told. 
Who stands with men of honor learns to hold his honor dear, 
For right living speaks a language which to everyone is clear. 
Though an able speaker charms me with his eloquence, I say, 
I'd rather see a sermon than to hear one, any day

How loudly this poem speaks to us from the hearing and seeing standpoint!  Of course, we want people to ‘say what they mean and mean what they say’ – and the only proof of that is in their actions. We have more respect for someone who walks their talk; who lives according to their creed; than for someone who is always preaching one thing and doing another.  And absolutely, we learn more from someone’s example than from the words they spout. 

But this poem speaks even louder to me about what I am doing.  Am I walking the talk?  Am I living according to the words that I am speaking?  Am I being a good example?  My heart’s desire is to be a sermon that someone sees.  To be the one who walks with others rather than giving them directions and sending them away.  I want to be the one who helps and teaches by my example, the one who shows kindness, the one whose honor is visible.  And why is that my heart’s desire?  Because I know if I am doing those things, I am walking the way my Heavenly Father wants me to walk. 

Basically, Christians yearn to be pleasing to God.  But sometimes they get side-tracked, or tricked, or complacent and they forget what they are really supposed to be doing.  It takes much less effort to talk than it does to take the required action.  So people can find themselves in a situation of thinking they are doing okay because they are saying the right things; but they are actually missing the mark.  We do not want to find ourselves in that boat!

Let us all show the world what it means to live for God; to live the way that our Heavenly Father designed for us to live.  Let’s be bold.  Let’s be fearless.  Let’s do more than just talk!  Let’s be good examples of what it means to be Christians.  Let’s be the sermons that everyone can see! 

Note to my readers:  I cannot thank you enough for reading!  I love you all. 

This post is a bit different than my usual writing.  I wanted to do something to honor my friend, Rev. William I. Winegarner.  If you knew him, I hope my reminiscing will bless you.  If you didn’t know Bill, maybe my thoughts will spur your memories of someone special to you.  I am dedicating this post to the legacy of Bill’s life.

Bill Winegarner fell asleep on October 27, 2021.  It was a great loss not only for his family but also for the body of Christ.  It was a personal loss for me because I counted him as my friend and brother.  Many of my readers may have known Bill as an active force in the Way Ministry.  If you were a WOW Ambassador or attended the Rock of Ages, even if you didn’t know him, you probably heard of him.    

Bill was many things to me.

He was my brother in Christ, and my big brother in the Word.  He was my friend and the husband of one of my best friends.  He was my boss and my real estate broker.  He was my trusted counselor and my confidant. 

In addition Bill was a great example of the believers.  He was a wise teacher and a faithful minister.  Bill was a dedicated husband and a loving father and grandfather. 

 I first met Bill in the early 1970’s.  It was at a time when God’s Word was making a great resurgence and many of us kids were turning-on to It.  Poor Bill was charged with raising all of us from the central Ohio area in God’s Word.  I say poor Bill because I guess there were over a hundred of us hippie kids in our late teens and early twenties who all were zealous for the Word, but clueless about life.  It must have been like herding cats for him. 

Bill taught us many things back then, but there is one lesson that I have never forgotten.  He was running a meeting and when he began to speak, it was obvious that he had a bad cold.  I for one was perplexed — being so young in the Word, I couldn’t understand how a leader could get sick.  I must not have been the only one with those thoughts racing around in their head, because Bill paused his agenda and sternly addressed the group, “Don’t you dare judge God’s Word because I have a cold.  You need to get to the place that you believe the Word is truth regardless of what your senses say!”  I took his admonishment to heart.    

I remember when Mary told me that she was going to marry Bill.  I was surprised and a little puzzled.  I thought, “But Mary, he’s a grown up!”  She said that he was the kindest, most unpretentious man she had ever met.  So, I gave her my blessing – not that she needed it – and I was very happy for both of them. 

Bill and Mary moved to the Way headquarters in New Knoxville, Ohio, where Bill served in positions of great responsibility.  Our lives moved in separate circles for many years.  But then as God would have it, we ended up in close proximity again, and Mary and I reconnected.  When we started spending time together, it was like we had never been apart.  And to me, Bill was still my leader in the Word. 

My husband and I asked Bill to be our real-estate agent when we wanted to buy our first house.  Boy did we look at some unusual houses together!  However, what I remember the most was the absolute confidence we were able to have with Bill on the job.  He was genuinely more concerned about us getting the best house / deal than he was about making his commission.  He was honest and trustworthy.  I remember thinking, “Why would anyone choose another real-estate agent instead of Bill??”  Later, we called him again to sell that house and find us a new one, and eventually to sell that one.  As a real-estate broker, Bill really knew his stuff and he was a shrewd businessman.

It just so happened around the time we sold our first house, and were buying our next one, I needed a new job.  Of course I mentioned that to Bill.  And after the new house deal was done, he hired me to work for him at a retiree organization of which, he was the Administrator. 

I worked for Bill for about 6 years in that organization.  During those years, our brother-sister relationship grew.  I would unload all my problems on Bill – I mean really, isn’t that what big brothers are for?  And he would always counsel me with God’s Word and sometimes with other tidbits of wisdom.  One day after having had an argument with my husband the night before, I was complaining to Bill about how hard marriage is.  And he gave me one of those tidbits that was the best advice EVER!  He said, “One thing you must always remember about your spouse is, their best quality is that they put up with your raggedy ass.”  He referred to himself in that same manner and those were the perfect words to get me back on track. I have repeated his advice many times, not only to others but also to myself. 

Another thing I learned about Bill during our time working together is that he loved a good debate.  I learned to never casually say, “The Word says…” without making sure that I knew what I was talking about!  It was such good training for me to “study to show myself approved unto God”, rather than just repeating something I had heard.  I learned so much from all of our debates!

Another one of my favorite memories happened after Bill got the Board of Directors to approve 3 days of paid leave for employees for snow each year.  He did this not only for me because I had a long commute, but also for an older employee because he didn’t want her driving in bad weather either.  Well, one year we had a terrible ice storm, which was especially bad out in the rural area where I lived.  I missed three days of work because everything was engulfed in 2 inches of solid ice.  I actually had to use a hammer and chisel to get the ice off my car.  Well, the next week when payday rolled around, I was not paid for those days because the Treasurer said that my absence was due to ice and not snow.  What??  So I marched right into Bill’s office ranting and raving.  I told him that he could keep his stupid snow days because there was no way that I was going endanger my life driving on in icy roads to get to this job whether he paid me or not.  Bill sat quietly and listened to my tirade, then grinned and said, “I just wanted to see if you were going to fight for yourself.”  I got paid for those days. 

My time working for Bill ended because my husband got a job in New Jersey, and we moved.  During those NJ years, Bill and Mary remained part of our lives.  I would often visit with them when I returned to Ohio to see our kids.  We would get together whenever possible.  They came a couple times to visit us while we were camping with our son’s family for the Fourth of July.  Those visits were particularly special to me. 

This year, Bill and Mary joined our online fellowship on Sunday evenings.  It was always great to see them even though it was just video conferencing.  On Sunday, October 17, I had the privilege of sharing God’s Word with the group.  Bill was online that night.  He liked my sharing.  That was our last interaction.  I will always cherish that memory. 

We all may have experienced losing someone.  So we know how sad this time can be.  BUT – praise God that we have The Hope.  We know that our loved ones are asleep awaiting the sound of the trumpet. There is no consciousness of time for them.  The next thing they will know is their getting up and meeting the Lord.  And if we are still alive at that time, we will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  (ref: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17)

Everything in this life is temporal. Knowing the truth of God’s Word about our future brings great comfort to our hearts, especially at these sad times.  We know that right now, God is nigh unto the broken hearted,* and we know that all of our tears shall be completely wiped away by the absolute glory and joy that we will have for all eternity being together with the Lord.*

1 Thessalonians 4:18,  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Note to my readers:   Mine was only one of the many lives that Bill touched.  I hope my memories gave you a glimpse into the wonderful man that he was.  Thanks for reading. 

** ref: Psalm 34:18, Revelation 21:4

In my toddler and pre-school years, I had a ‘security’ blanket.  I cannot remember exactly, but I think it was blue, maybe green.  It was small enough to carry around with me, which I did just about everywhere.  My mom used to tell stories of my sitting on the basement steps on wash day, patiently watching my blanket tumble in the dryer.  Of course, I eventually outgrew the need for that blanket, which was good since it vanished one day. (that’s a story for another day!)  I honestly can’t remember why that blanket meant so much to me, but I do remember that it comforted me when I was scared. 

Which brings me to my topic this week. 

Comfort is not exactly the same as comfortable.  For the most part, comfortable relates to our physical well-being, while comfort relates to our emotional or spiritual well-being.  However, being comfortable physically can aid in being comforted emotionally. 

Merriam Webster’s essential meaning of comfort is, “to cause (someone) to feel less worried, upset, frightened, etc., to give comfort to (someone)”.  M-W also defines this verb as, “to give strength and hope to; to ease grief or trouble of”.   Of the noun form, it says, “strengthening aid; consolation in time of trouble or worry; a feeling of relief or encouragement; and contented well-being.”

What blesses me about the definitions of the verb form of comfort is that they all are about giving comfort to someone.  We as Christians live our lives in the context of giving because love is giving.  It says, in John 3:16 that “God so loved the world that He GAVE…”.  Comfort is something we can give!   And isn’t it amazing to be able to help someone by giving them comfort?  Of course, it is equally amazing to receive a generous outpouring of comfort when we need it.  But there is just something so special about being able to help others.

Comforting someone can be as simple as giving them a hug or a smile.  Letting someone know that you understand their hurt and that you want to help is comforting even if there’s nothing you can do for them at the time.  Sometimes just sitting in silence with someone will give them great comfort. 

One of our most rewarding experiences is when we say or do something that comforts someone without our even knowing it.  Don’t our hearts thrill when we find out later that we helped someone without realizing it at the time?  These incidents occur when our minds reside in giving mode.  In that mode we are not focused on ourselves, but on others.  So our awareness of other’s needs is keen, and God is able to work in us to bless them.  Any act of kindness can comfort a broken heart.  And only God can see people’s hearts. 

God is the greatest Giver – and the greatest giver of comfort.  He works mightily to take care of all His kids and He gives us comfort in times of trouble because of His great compassion for us.  His Word is filled with comfort.  The book of Psalms in particular supplies comfort to me in many situations.  I often just start reading Psalms when I feel down-hearted.  I have my favorites and read and reread those, but just about any of the Psalms supply comforting words that speak to my heart.  Of course comfort isn’t limited to Psalms.  The whole Bible is filled with comforting words about God’s love for us.  I just have to quote my favorite comfort scriptures:

2 Corinthians 1:3,4

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

Now that’s a lot of comfort!!

God comforts us in our troubles.  And when God comforts us – we receive all the comfort we need!  So then we can give that comfort to someone else when they are in trouble.  Then they receive and they give that comfort to others and the cycle continues over and over.  And God is blessed! 

I pray that this is not a time that you need comfort, but if it is, I pray that you receive an abundance of it!  None of us want to be needy.  But we must be honest to admit that there are times we need comfort.  The beauty of being part of God’s family is that there are so many caring members who can comfort and help us.  And there are so many members that we can help by giving them the comfort that we have received. 

Note to my readers:  If you want a smile, look up ‘comforter’ in the Merriam Webster online dictionary.  Thanks for reading! 

Take a moment and think about what makes you happy.  There are millions of things in life that make us happy if we take the time to recognize them. 

Have you ever heard the saying, “stop and smell the roses”?  It has been a popular saying for a long time.  However, as it often happens, a saying becomes cliché because of its popularity, and then it becomes unpopular because it is cliché. 

Cliché or not, “stop and smell the roses” is actually good advice.  The gist of the statement is that we should take time to appreciate the good things in our lives.  Even something as simple as smelling a rose, can make us happy if we stop long enough to appreciate it. 

Sometimes, amid the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we forget to “smell the roses”.  Our busy schedules distract us from recognizing the good things that we have.  Chances are we are surrounded by fields of roses, but we may be walking past them without taking the time to appreciate them.  Another consequence of our busy schedules is thinking that we do not have the time to “smell the roses”.  There are so many demands on our time and energy that we can feel overwhelmed and find our thinking engulfed by those demands.  Either of these scenarios could rob us of experiencing peaceful happy moments that would actually help us cope with our busy schedules. 

When we take time to value the small things, we build a habit pattern of appreciation that can extend to other aspects of our lives.  Consider the people we love.  Family members often make us happy, but it is not uncommon to take one another for granted.  I think this happens because people confuse contentment and complacency.  Contentment leads to happiness because you are no longer searching for something you don’t have.  Complacency leads to dissatisfaction because you don’t appreciate what you do have.  When we appreciate our families, we can be content and happy.  And when we show our appreciation, our families will also be content and happy. 

We must remember that happiness requires some effort on our part.  It requires us to direct our thinking toward a positive focus.  When it comes to relationships, we must focus on each other’s positive qualities and not on the negative ones.  We encourage one another by sincerely appreciating each other’s positive qualities, and by exhorting each other to more worthy endeavors.  Dwelling on someone’s faults never helps anyone – ever!  In other aspects, it is also necessary to maintain a positive outlook.  When you see the roses, expect them to smell good.  And if you come across one that doesn’t, move on!  There will be others with remarkable fragrances. 

We can also benefit from being happy in our surroundings.  Things always take second place to people in our lives, but things can be a source of happiness if we appreciate them.  When it comes to the things with which we are surrounded, the Bible encourages us to be good stewards.  This means that we take care of our things.  Not because we ‘love’ them, but because we are not wasteful.  Our society has become a ‘disposable’ society.  It seems that the school of thought is, “If you don’t like something, throw it away and get a bigger better one”.  Not only is this wasteful, but it is also driven by covetousness.  People get trapped in the snare of thinking that they must have the newest, biggest, best, most expensive things to be happy, which of course makes them unhappy with the things they already have.  This kind of thinking produces anxiety and discontent, and it is a lie. 

Sometimes we are unhappy with ourselves.  Many of us are overly critical of ourselves.  We (especially women) can be unhappy with our appearance.  Just about all of us are critical of our own abilities and/or accomplishments.  I often find myself thinking about me in ways that I would never think about anyone else.  BUT the habit pattern of appreciation covers this category as well.  See your own value in the small things, then you’ll be able to see it in the big things too.  All of us have positive qualities and we all have something to offer.  Appreciate yourself for who you are and what you have to give. 

I saved the greatest happiness for last.  The best and most enduring source of happiness is God’s Word.  God has given us holy spirit and in Galatians chapter 5 (verse 22) it says that one fruit of that spirit is joy.  We have joy in us that the world cannot give.  Our joy supersedes any happiness that the world can deliver.  However, that doesn’t mean that God wants us to be unhappy in the world.  He’s the one that made the roses for us to smell!  He called us to His family because it pleased Him.  With His great love, He provides for us exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or think!  (Ephesians 3:20)  He promised us an abundant life in all categories.  That makes me happy!  How about you? 

When we appreciate God’s handiwork in our surroundings and in the people in our lives, we can rid ourselves of the anxiety and strife that makes us unhappy.  When we are happy, we are able to make others happy, and when we do that, we are even happier!  It’s a beautiful cycle. 

Note to my readers:  Some synonyms for happy are; joyful cheerful, blissful, glad, pleased, ecstatic, delighted, and blessed!  You can be all those things!   Thanks for reading. 

I am a fan of old movies.  In Junior High, I was so painfully shy that when all the other kids were out having fun, I was at home watching old movies.  I enjoyed the old comedians like the Keystone Kops, W.C. Fields, Mae West, Abbott and Costello, and Charlie Chaplin.   In their genre, there was often a storyline in which an attractive young actress portrayed the misfit character in a high society gathering.  Coming from the wrong side of the tracks, she would say things like, “Chawrmed, I’m shur-wa” when she met the designated dignitary.  And the group would roll their eyes or gasp in derision because she didn’t meet their social standard. 

That lengthy introduction was to say that for a long time, when I heard the word, “culture”, I often thought of those movie scenes with the snooty rich people who fancied themselves as culturally superior to the misfit character.  I thought of culture as well-educated museum goers, who love opera and symphonies, and drink tea from fine bone-china cups while extending their pinkie finger.  I thought of culture as snobbish rich people who think that they are better than the commoners.  But that isn’t what culture means at all!

There are at least ten variations in the dictionary’s definition of the noun, ‘culture’.  A brief summary is: “the characteristic features of everyday existence”; “shared attitudes, values, goals, practices, and conventions”; and “the integrated pattern of knowledge, belief and behavior”.  

Every society has its own culture.  These cultures are formed over many years from a variety of influences.  Cultures vary from society to society, and from country to country.  For example, the culture in the United States is very different from the culture in Japan.  That makes travel interesting, but it also can be a little intimidating because we tend to feel awkward if we don’t know the accepted cultural norms.  We don’t want to look foolish or be offensive.   

In addition, the specific overall culture in a country generally has geographic nuances.  For instance, in the U.S., the Midwest culture is very different from the culture in the Northeast.  The culture in the rural areas is very different from the culture in the big cities.  Culture varies from state to state and from climate to climate. However, these nuances generally adhere to the overall cultural structure.

Sub-cultures also exist in society.  These develop from special bonds among people with the same careers, hobbies, special interests, or other endeavors.  These sub-cultures influence people’s behavior, attitude, and appearance.  Skateboarders for example…  There is an identifiable sub-culture surrounding skateboarding.  We see this not only in the performance of their sport, but also in how they dress, how they talk, and how they act.  This sub-culture is so popular that even non-skateboarders imitate their appearance and behavior.  So it is with many sub-cultures.  I still wear my Harley Davidson t-shirts even though we no longer have our bike.  Most of the time these sub-cultures fit neatly under the umbrella of the overall culture.  However, there are times that sub-cultures can challenge the accepted norms.  Whether that is a good thing or bad thing depends on:  1. The motives behind the movement, and 2.  Which side of the fence you’re on. 

Cultures can be confusing and somewhat uncertain.  The first time we traveled to England, I was surprised to feel uncomfortable.  There was no language barrier, but I was not acquainted with their culture.  The only way I could explain it was that I felt like I didn’t know the rules, and consequently I didn’t know if I was breaking them.  I didn’t want to appear to be some boorish American tourist.  Even moving to a different state meant I had to learn about a new culture.  I remember being at work in New Jersey shortly after moving from Ohio and I said, “pop” referring to a carbonated beverage.  Conversation instantly ceased and all eyes were focused on me as if I had just stepped off a spaceship.  I quickly learned to say, “soda”! 

When values, attitudes, and behaviors become common practices, those practices become the established norms, and those norms become the culture.  And because life is ever changing, culture is ever changing.  As society progresses, we are supposed to change with it, but sometimes a culture’s progression isn’t toward a positive change. 

Have you ever thought that life was better, easier, or simpler when you were a kid?  Part of that is our perspective, but part also could be because of an erosion of our culture.  We may not agree with the changes happening around us because the values that we hold dear are being left behind.  And if the values change, so do the attitudes, behaviors, and practices.  It certainly seems like today’s culture is challenging many of the values that I hold dear.  Negative opinions are rampant about God, family, liberty, country, and many Christian values.  So what do we do?

All the references I have made to culture so far in this post have been about the physical culture of the world.  We as Christians are affected by that culture because we live here, but we also have a spiritual culture.  You probably have heard the statement, “we are in the world, but we are not of the world.”  We have the culture that God has called us to live.  We have the culture that God’s Word proclaims as our way of life.  We can live that spiritual culture and live above this world.  The worldly culture may consider that the culture of living as God’s family is a sub-culture.  Nothing could be further from the truth!  God’s Word reigns supreme in this world whether people recognize it or not.  And no amount of contradicting God’s Word changes its truth or power.  When we are committed to live the culture of God’s Word, we disrupt the negative influences of the world, just like they did in the Book of Acts.  When we walk as sons of God with power, the negative influences are paralyzed. 

We can show the love of God to people, so they too can live above the world and be delivered from the crippling forces that oppose God and everything He is.  And the more that the spiritual culture prevails, the less that the negative worldly culture can manipulate people’s lives. 

Let’s show forth the goodness and kindness of God by living the spiritual lifestyle of God’s Word.  Let’s invite people to see how great God’s love is.  And let’s disrupt the devil’s schemes by proclaiming the Word of God so that everyone has a chance to hear it.  Let’s live ‘the integrated pattern of knowledge, belief and behavior’ of God’s Word; and enjoy the benefits of God’s spiritual culture.

Note to my readers:  Never underestimate your value as a son of God and member of the body of Christ.  Thanks for reading!

I thought it might be time for another poem.  I think all authors, even would-be ones, have a work that is special to them.  This is one of my favorites.  It is called, “The Mighty Oak”. *

Outside my window
The grand old oak
Stood fast against the storm

His branches stretched 
His muscles flexed
Declared, “I will fear no harm”

The howling gales
And relentless rain
Pounded the oak all night

But the dawning day
Had much to say
About the brave oak’s fight

Oh, some leaves were lost
And twigs were snapped
And a branch lay on the ground

But the faithful oak
Remained unmoved
Still standing strong and sound

You see, his roots 
Were sturdy
They made his anchor sure

They spread wide
And very deep
And kept the oak secure

We must be like the mighty oak
With our roots
Spread deep and wide

Unmovable from  
The truth we know
God’s Word, which is our guide

For storms will come
And storms will go
But our strength is from the Lord 

And when we trust 
In Him alone
Our anchor shall be sure

So boldly stand
Like the mighty oak
Fearing not what comes your way

For God’s Word
Is a firm support
To strengthen you every day* 

“Learning is an exciting adventure”.  I’ve heard this quote many times, and I have experienced it.  Learning something new is thrilling.  It gives us a sense of accomplishment.  It opens doors for even more exciting adventures.  It satisfies our hunger.   

So, given that I have this opinion about the excitement of learning, imagine my surprise when I looked up “adventure” in the dictionary.  The first entry is, “an undertaking usually involving danger and unknown risks”.  And all the other definitions, except one, include risk, danger, or difficulty in some manner. 

I understand these definitions with reference to sky-divers, whitewater rafters, or mountain climbers.  Those are certainly perilous adventures that I’m sure are extremely exciting.  Those kinds of pursuits with their inherent dangers have become the standard for adventure for lots of people.  But what about the rest of us who are not so inclined to do those kinds of exploits?  Are we destined to an adventure-less life with no excitement? 

Absolutely not!

Learning is an exciting adventure! 

Consider all the things we’ve learned in our lives.  From infancy, our lives have been a constant cascade of learning new things.  As children, we were barraged with so much information that we really didn’t recognize it as learning.  It was just life.  But think of how thankful you are now that you learned all those things in childhood.  Do you remember when you learned to tie your shoes?  Weren’t you excited and proud of yourself?  It was an adventure!  Aren’t you still excited that you learned to read?  How many adventures would you have missed if you had not? 

Then came the teenage / young adult years when we were sure that we already knew all that we needed to know.  Even then we were learning, although we may not have admitted it to ourselves.  We were learning to formulate our opinions about life.  We had blossomed beyond the innocence of childhood, and we were preparing ourselves for adulthood.  Actually, if we recall those years, they were loaded with exciting adventures!  We learned that we could do things for ourselves when there was no one there to help us.  We got our first real taste of independence.  It was definitely an exciting adventure! 

A few more years passed, and we began to realize that we didn’t know everything like we thought we did, and there was MUCH to learn.  We can now spend our lives learning and enjoying that adventure.

The one remaining definition of adventure is, “an exciting or remarkable experience.”  Now, that’s what I call adventure – no danger involved!  Learning something new is exciting and rewarding.  Think of the times that you repeatedly struggled to perform an arduous task.  Then someone taught you a simple way to accomplish it.  Wasn’t that exciting?  How about some information that you couldn’t quite grasp, then one day, something ‘clicked’, and you understood it?  Wasn’t that satisfying?  When we recognize these kinds of victories in our lives, we appreciate the excitement of learning and the adventure we had on our way to success. 

Learning is not limited to just receiving information.  Experience is usually our best teacher.  And naturally, not all of our experiences are going to be positive.  Much of our learning is accomplished by trial and error.  I often say that I learn more from making mistakes than I do from getting things right.  And a glaring error almost always assures that I won’t do that again!  It’s like telling our children that the stove is hot.  We say it over and over, but inevitably one of them touches the stove and gets burned.  Their experience taught them more than all our words.  Learning from our mistakes contributes to our adventure.  You may feel like I do… I hate when I screw up, but I love the learning that comes from it.

Change is often a marvelous teacher.  Change may be scary at first because it involves the unknown.  It seems that we think of change in light of the definition of adventure involving danger and risks.  But why should we expect the unknown to be dangerous?   Of course there are risks with any new endeavor, but it doesn’t have to be scary.  Risks are just opportunities to rise up to the challenge.  Change can be a remarkable experience for us, and an adventure of success!

Moving is a good example of change.  I have moved several times in my life, mostly because of job requirements, sometimes due to life alterations.  But I can honestly say that each time I moved was an exciting adventure.  Why?  Because I learned something.  I may not have wanted to move, and I may not have liked where we were going, but I sought to make the best of the situation.  I tried to look for the positives of my new environment, and I was always excited to find them.  I enjoyed the challenge of making my family feel at home in our new locale.  Learning about a new area; finding new places to shop, eating at new restaurants, and especially meeting new people are all exciting adventures. 

Now, I know that not every change in our lives will be a positive one.  Sometimes things change for the worse.  But at those times, we can still learn.  We can learn to overcome adversity.  We can learn to find the silver lining.  We can learn to be brave regardless of the pressure.  Any one of those is a great victory, and that victory is exciting.  Even if the only thing we learn is to be patient, we have learned something very valuable. 

Sometimes experiences are thrust upon us.  I often joke, “I was walking along minding my own business and this (whatever the circumstance) fell on me”.  Isn’t that the way things seem to work sometimes?  These times, although difficult or painful, can offer us a great deal of learning.  We learn that we can be strong, often stronger than we thought we could be.  We learn that we are surrounded by people who love and care for us, maybe more than we realized they did.  And we learn that our God is faithful, always beyond what we could have imagined.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not some great adventurer.  The times that I have been successful in my life are due to the power of PRAYER – my own prayers and all the others made on my behalf.  God has answered so many prayers for me that I can’t begin to count them all.  But I am thankful, very thankful.  And allowing God to help me, to guide me, to support me, and to deliver me is definitely a remarkable experience and an exciting adventure! 

Along those lines, perhaps our greatest adventure is learning God’s Word.  What else in life is perfect?  God’s Word is a surety in our lives, an unchanging constant.  It is always reliable.  It never fails.  It answers all our questions.  Think about your life from the first scripture that opened your eyes through all the verses you’ve learned since then. Isn’t that the very definition of a remarkable experience?  It is the epitome of an exciting adventure. 

Wherever your adventures take you, enjoy the journey.  We are never too old to learn new things.  We are never so smart that there isn’t something to learn.  Life is an exciting adventure! 

Note to my readers:  This blog has been an exciting adventure for me.  I rejoice every time that I hear it has blessed someone.  As always, thanks for reading.