Month: December 2021

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!

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!