Tomorrow my youngest granddaughter starts high school. How did that happen? When did she grow from a little girl to a beautiful young woman? While I enjoy our new relationship as we relate more adult to adult, I confess I miss playing “imagine” with her.

These twelve toy animals have been stored in a box for some time now. My husband and I put the animals, along with a couple of her favorite books and a stuffed animal called Willy, in a container and labeled it “to be opened on Zoe’s 18th birthday.” When we did that we thought that date was far, far in the future. But as quickly as time goes by, we have just four more years before she graduates.

To be honest, while she has been growing up, I have been growing old. I am not sure that I still have the energy to play for hours imaging all the different places we and the animals could go.

Still, as I read this post and remembered all the times we let our imagination take us to wonderful places, I will always be grateful for time spent with Hippy Hippo, Ted Tiger, Winnie Warthog and their friends.

Twelve Little Toy Animals, A Little Girl and a Big Imagination

Located in the heart of Michigan’s lower peninsula, St. Johns was made for mint. The area’s rich soil – and the dedication of the hardworking farming community – presented the opportunity to plant a legacy.

Peppermint was introduced to the U.S. by English settlers, with cultivation beginning in Massachusetts in the early 1800s, before larger scale production commenced in New York State (1830s) and then the Midwestern states (mid 1800s). In the 19th century, mint farming was taking Michigan by storm, spreading northeast from the St. Joseph and Kalamazoo regions. By the mid-1800s, mint production in Michigan had skyrocketed, rivaling New York as the national leader in mint supply. By the turn of the century, 90% of the world’s supply of mint oil came from the region reaching from St. Johns to the southwest corner of the state.

St Johns gained the title of “Mint City.”

Peppermint (Mentha piperita, named for its pepper-like taste) and spearmint (Mentha spicata, named for its arrow-shaped flower spires) are related plants that are rich in volatile oils called terpenes. These ethereal, complex organic compounds—mainly menthol and carvone—give mint the taste and aroma that make it a favorite for chewing gum, toothpaste, candy and medicine.  The two mint plants are believed to have originated in the Mediterranean basin, where their earliest uses were for fragrance and flavoring, especially in medicinal products.

It is used in baking, candymaking, coffee, cocoa and many other products. The oil extracted from mint through a steam distillation process is highly concentrated. One pound will flavor 135,000 sticks of gum. Initially, mint oil was used mainly for medicinal purposes, but the popularity of both chewing gum and toothpaste in the early 20th century provided a new market. Today 70% of US mint oil is consumed in the United States, and 40% of that goes to improve the taste of gum and 30% to toothpaste and mouthwash.

Mint field

While the mint production has declined in the area with mint farms now in the Pacific Northwest and the production of synthetic and artificial products, there are still three farms producing mint here in Clinton County.

The town celebrates its history every August with a Mint City Festival. This year is the 40th year of the celebration which attracts 60,000 to 80,000 people. Events are scheduled at the Clinton County Fairgrounds, St Johns city park and the downtown area throughout the weekend. There are food trucks, bands, car show, parade, carnival rides and, of course, mint ice cream.

Of course, we have a royal court for the year also. These girls represent the Mint City Festival throughout the year.

No festival would be complete without a parade.

My church also created a float for the parade. Our worship team played music throughout the parade. it was a fun time for all.

In the midst of all the craziness in our nation and our world right now, it’s so encouraging to celebrate a legacy that started in the fields but has blossomed into a vibrant community tradition. So good to see families, young and old, enjoying life in small town America.

How quickly times flies. Seems it was only yesterday when I said “I do” to my husband. Today we celebrate 41 years of marriage. How we have changed!

The dark hair and mustache on my husband is now gone. His grey hair gets thinner every year. My thick red hair has been replaced with very thin white hair (so I wear a wig). We both have put on some pounds, and we walk a lot slower.

Travel has always been a part of our life and on our anniversary we travel somewhere to see some new place or revisit a favorite spot.

The six kids we had together when we married (a blended family – two mine, four his) have now become a tribe with our second great, great grandchild coming soon. We have rejoiced as our tribe married, graduated from high school and college. (Check out my slide show below). We count schoolteachers, nurses, pastors, event director and even an attorney among the gang.

We have cried as the loss of a son and a grandson. We have struggled with health issues such as heart attack, advanced breast cancer and a brain bleed as well as health issues with children and grandchildren. And, yes, we have had moments when we struggled with misunderstandings and hurt feelings.

But through it all, we never lost sight of our initial commitment to truly take each other “for better, for worse.” We wrote our own vows and part of our vows declared:

“By the choice of God and by the choice of my heart…..I pledge myself to you alone with a devotion that shall increase as we pass together through sorrow and joy, through darkness and sunlight and through all the circumstances of life that God may send our way.”

One big difference today. For the first time we have not traveled anywhere. Old age is catching up with us. We settled for lunch at our favorite steakhouse. After a nap, we will end the day with a game of Super Scrabble. My husband also has promised he will serenade me with the song he wrote and sang to me on our wedding day as part of our vows.

So from this

to this

to this

I’m grateful for the ride thus far. While our traveling days are probably over, our love remains strong – and we have albums full of memories we can look back on and share.

And just before we say good night, I will remind my husband of one important thing:

This is my husband’s story. Over five years now – he is still doing great although the doctors were not too sure he would regain all his mental capacities. Still praising God and he is still painting.

Growing up, I always heard that the USA was a “Christian” nation. The last few years have seen us move away from that description. Many today would argue that we are anything but a Christian nation. The solution for many is to pass laws, laws they feel will return to the “good old days.”

But laws do not make a person or a nation righteous.

God’s Word and the whole idea of our Christian faith speaks against that.

Look at the nation of Israel in the Old Testament.  Led by Moses out of Egypt bondage, God Himself gave them laws.  If you read the Old Testament you see how many times they failed to follow those laws.  Why?  Because as God’s Word says “For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. ”

The story of the Christian faith is that laws did not work.  They could control the behavior of man to a point, but in the end, they always failed.  Man always found a way to ignore and/or disobey the law.  The nation of Israel wandered further and further away from the law because the law did not change their hearts.

So we can pass laws that make what we believe is sin against the law.  We can even persecute those who break those laws and send them to prison.  But how has that make our nation a Christian nation?  Granted it would mean that we as Christians might feel safer in a nation where everybody had to agree with us or go to jail.  We as Christians might enjoy a great safe and comfortable life.

But how would that change the hearts of the people?  How would that truly make us “all” Christians?

Jesus spoke about the importance of a change in our hearts, not just our behavior in that famous passage we call the “Sermon on the Mount”

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’  But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.”

So – we can make laws against murder (not saying we should not do so) but we cannot change the hearts of people who harbor anger in their heart.  And sadly, I have seen on numerous Facebook posts where Christians have been so guilty of disobeying Jesus’ instruction as they begin to call each other “fools” when they disagree on an issue.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’  But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

Clearly Jesus was calling us to a higher standard than just setting up a set of laws for all to obey.  He was calling us to a change in heart.

Only God can change a heart.  All the “righteous” laws in the world, even if enforced by our courts, cannot change the heart of men and women.

My fear is that instead of trying to share God’s love and God’s truth to our neighbors, instead of reaching out to those who were planning an abortion, who were taking illegal drugs, who were living a lifestyle we felt was wrong, we looked to a man/a political party to pass laws that would stop them from that lifestyle or punish them for it.

What if we went to that woman contemplating abortion and asked what we could do to help her keep the child?  Could we pay her medical bills?  Could we help her find a good family to adopt the baby?  Could we help her gain skills to get a better job?  And, if in the end, we could not change her mind, could we show her love and compassion as we pray to God to change her heart and mind?

And what about Jesus’s statement:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’  But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.  And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.  If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.”

I am thankful that I have lived my life in a nation where many Christian beliefs have guided our country – and I’m all for promoting those principles.  But we must never think if we force people to live by our Christian standards through fear of persecution or punishment by the courts, we are making our nation a righteous nation.

No law – no matter how good – can change the heart.  That is the whole point of our Christian faith.

Just a closing thought:  what if we spend as much time praying – seeking God – sharing His love to those we do not agree with – as we spend arguing, debating and even attacking those who are opposed to our Christian standards – would that make a real difference?

The Bible is an amazing book! Written over a 1500-year span from three different continents in three different languages by approximately 40 authors, it still is relative to us today. There are arguments about what it has to say (or not say) about abortion, prayers in the schools, displaying the Ten Commandments or the cross in public places (and the list could go on). Three major religions take many of their traditions from this book (Jewish, Christian, Islam). Much of our art and literature are based on Biblical stories.

When my husband and I pastored we often started the morning message by having the congregatdisplaion repeat this. Looking through my sermon notes from the past, I thought I would share this statement of facts regarding the Bible with you.

As we approach our reading of God’s Word, may we approach it believing that we can do, we can be what it says. May we ask the Lord to help our mind be alert and our heart responsive as we read.

This is my Bible.It tells me what I was.It tells me what I am.It tells me what I shall be.I am what it says I am.I have what it says I have.I can do what it says I can doToday I will believe what it says.Today I will be caught the Word of God.I boldly confess: my mind is alert,my heart is responsive,I will never be the same.I am about to receive the incorruptible,the indestructible,the everlasting seed of the Word of God.I will never be the same.

In Jesus name.

This summer our pastor is teaching on the book of Exodus. She, along with my husband and I, created a study guide to help supplement her sermon on Sunday and to give more background on the story of the Exodus. One of the articles I wrote was about the furniture in the tabernacle and how it pointed to Jesus Christ.

This led me to the subject of the importance of worship (both collectively in church and individually throughout the week). Brimming with all kinds of thoughts on the subject of worship, I did a query for any blogs I may have written on the subject.

To my surprise, I found a multiple of blogs. So, I decided what my blog probably did not need was another blog on worship.

However, I found the following as part of one of my blogs from 2021 and I could not resist sharing it again.

Worship Our Way

• Conductor – God
• Performers – Worship Team
• Audience – Congregation

Worship God’s Way

• Conductor – Worship Team
• Performers – Congregation
• Audience – God

One of my favorite singers – Twila Paris.

This is another post from several years ago, but in our current climate, I thought it would be good to repost.

I posted this blog several years ago, but in light of all the media and politicians talking about Christian persecution here in the USA, I thought it might be good to revisit what real persecution is.

Posted on September 25, 2020

I just finished reading a powerful book about the suffering of a Christian man imprisoned in Sudan for 445 days.  While I understand the concerns of Christians here in our country that we might lose some of our religious freedoms, I had to once again see that we have no idea what real persecution for the cause of Jesus Christ looks like. 

Petr Jasek,, a citizen of the Czech Republic and an aid worker, made a trip to Sudan in December 2015 to see what Christians could do to help their fellow Christians suffering at the hands of the government of Sudan.  After meetings with local pastors and other Christians he was at the airport getting ready to return home to his family when he was detained for questioning by  Sudan security agents.  They took his computer, phone and camera and charged him with espionage, waging war against the state and undermining the constitution.

After hours of no sleep and repeated interrogation, he was taken to prison and placed in a cell approximately eight feet wide by fourteen feet long.  There were already six men in the cell with only one bed. The five men without a bed slept on mattresses on the floor.  The only space he had to lay his body down was next to the entrance to the bathroom.  The shower was completely broken and the Western-style metal toilet was covered in rust.  He saw a hose coming out of the wall for water but soon discovered that the water was only on once or twice a day.  

I can’t imagine the stench of the room with seven men crowded together and no real facilities to maintain cleanliness.  

Added to that horror, he soon discovered his fellow inmates were ISIS fighters.  Although Sudan is an Islamist government, they did not want ISIS to find a home in their country because they were afraid they would win the people’s allegiance  and their own control of the country would be lost to ISIS leaders. 

He first realized who he was sharing his cell with when he was awaken at 4:30 a.m. by the call to prayer.  The men in the cell rose to their feet and began their morning prayers.  He was told that when they prayed he had to wake up and stand in the back corner of the room where they would not have to face him.  

Since they had no access to news on the outside, they asked him to share the latest news.  He immediately thought of the terrorist attack that had taken place in Paris earlier in November.  At the mention of the death of 129 people, he was shocked when they at first became very silent, then began hugging one another and shouting with great joy “Allabu Akbar!”

After weeks of imprisonment he was set for a trial.  While waiting for his trial he was moved several times to different prisons and different cells.  Toward the end of his imprisonment he was able to share a cell with fellow Christians.  

After delay and delay he was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment.  A fine of 100,000 Sudanese pounds ($17,000) was also imposed on him. 

For most of us I am afraid we would have been crying out to God “why me?”  Petr came to the understanding that his time and his life were in the Lord’s hands.  With confidence that God was still in control regardless of how hopeless things looked, he began finding opportunity to share the Gospel with other prisoners and with his guards. 

One of his greatest joys while in prison was when he was allowed to have a Bible.  He said 

The Word of God is not chained – even when God’s people are.  The Scripture is alive and active, and when I began feelings its activity in prison, I would not keep it to myself.  The Lord began prodding me to share the Gospel with my fellow prisoners – nominal Christians, animists, and even Muslims….In prison I truly learned to love my enemies.  I still pray for the ISIS prisoners and I pray that many Christian prisoners in Sudan might have the opportunity to share the Gospel as well.”

Thankfully the Czech government and Christians around the world continued to intercede for Petr and he was released in 2017 after 445 days.   

This story is one worth reading.  “Imprisoned with ISIS – Faith in the Face of Evil”.  

The book is worth taking the time and money to read but you can also check out his story at

https://cruxnow.com/interviews/2020/06/christian-aid-worker-says-time-in-sudanese-prison-allowed-him-to-share-gospel/

Next time I hear someone complaining about how we are persecuted in this country for being a Christian, I will just remember Petr’s story and say God help us if we ever really have to suffer persecution.

“Puff The Magic Dragon” was a song written by Peter Yarrow and recorded by the folk group Peter, Paul and Mary. Released in 1962 when I was a young teenager, I loved the thought of a magical time of childhood when I could pretend that dragons were real and there was a magical land called Honah Lee.

The song was based on a poem written in 1959 by Lenny Lipton, a student at Cornell University. In the library on campus one night Lipton found a book of poems by American Poet Ogden Nash. He found he could not stop thinking of one of the poems, “The Tale of Custard The Dragon.” Inspired by the first lines of the poem, Lipton wrote about Puff and his friend Piper.

Belinda lived in a little white house,
With a little black kitten and a little gray mouse,
And a little yellow dog and a little red wagon,
And a realio, trulio, little pet dragon.

While I loved the song then and viewed it as a reminder of my childhood days when I had imaginary friends; when I became a grandmother, it took on a greater meaning.

Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea and frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honah Lee. Little Jackie Paper loved that rascal Puff and brought him strings, and sealing wax, and other fancy stuff. Together they would travel on a boat with billowed sail. Jackie kept a lookout perched on Puff’s gigantic tail. Noble kings and princes would bow whenever they came. Pirate ships would lower their flags when Puff roared out his name.

How I treasure those days when they were little and we played games on the floor, took walks through the park examining every flower and tree, sang silly songs, read books and played with imaginary characters.  Through their young eyes, I saw the magic of the world again.  The beauty of the snow, the thrill of a rainbow in the sky after a storm, the joy of feeling the soft spring rain on my face.  Through their imagination, I hid from the ghost, fought with the Ninja turtles, tossed food to Bernard the alligator that lived in our basement.

A dragon lives forever but not so little boys.  Painted wings and giant rings make way for other toys.  One grey night it happened, Jackie Paper came no more.  And Puff that mighty dragon, he ceased his fearless roar.

His head was bent in sorrow, green scales fell like rain.  Puff no longer went to play along the cherry lane.  Without his life-long friend, Puff could not be brave, so Puff that mighty dragon sadly slipped into his cave.

While the last verse of the song sounds so sad, I still enjoy my grandchildren who are now almost all young adults.  Our relationship is different, of course, but I enjoy hearing about their studies, their new careers, their hopes and dreams.  It is neat to relate to them more as adult to adult than adult to child. 

Twelve years ago, my last grandchild was born. Coming after the rest of the grandchildren were past the days of Puff and the magic dragon, I was thankful for one last chance at visiting the magic land of Honah Lee.

Every moment with her has been a joy just for herself along. But I have also relived the past years with my other grandchildren as I watched her explore and discover the world all around her just as they did.  Sometimes something she said or did brought my mind back to another time, another grandchild.

Of all my grandchildren, I think she has had the greatest imagination. Oh – the places we have visited and the people we have met.

Twelve Little Toy Animals, A Little Girl and a Big Imagination

Imagination – What fun!

I sometimes have wished I could “freeze” her and hold her at this age a little longer, but she too is growing up.  She informed me recently that she is no longer a kid but a “pre-teen.” The time has come for Puff to slip into his cave again – this time for the last time.

Sadly, not long after its release this wonderful song about childhood and the loss of innocence as children become adults was hijacked by the media. A urban legend began that this song was about using marijuana. The claim was that the name “Jackie Paper” was referred to rolling papers used in marijuana cigarettes and “Puff” implied smoking marijuana.

But the composer of the poem, Lenny Lipton, and the writer of the song, Peter Yarrow, vehemently denied that the song has any connection to drugs. They stated, “The song is about childhood, and the loss of innocence that comes with the end of childhood, nothing more sinister than that.”

For me, I will always love Puff and he will live on in my memories forever.

As a pastor’s wife for years I have shared God’s Word to all ages from young children to adults, led women’s retreats and mentored young women. In my “golden years” of retirement as I am no longer able to do all those things, I still want to help others. With my blog Grandma’s Ramblings I hope to challenge, encourage or just give someone a laugh.

My husband and I are Scrabble addicts playing on a Super Scrabble board.  We have kept records of our scores since 2018 and are very competitive.  My husband takes the job of scorekeeper very seriously.  

In 2002 I was diagnosed with a very aggressive breast cancer and told “the odds are not in your favor.” After 16 chemotherapy treatments with three powerful drugs and 32 radiation treatments, God was so good to me. My doctor had told me he did not think I would be able to make it ten more years, but here I am 22 years cancer free. I appreciate each day of life and try to enjoy every moment God has given me.

While going through cancer I lost all my hair. I believe faith in God and a good sense of humor can help you get through anything life brings you. So – trying to reassure my parents I had a picture taken of me with my father and my bald head laughing that I did not know how much I looked like him until I lost my hair.

After cancer my hair did not come back for a long time. Being a redhead I just purchased red wigs. When I turned 70 I decided I should go to grey wigs. This past year my daughters talked me into taking off the wig and seeing if my hair would come back. Thankfully it has. It’s a little thin and I am working at getting used to it, but glad to be rid of the wigs after all these years.

I love to read. Sometimes I have two to three books going at the same time. Being a speed reader, I often finish a book in one day. My husband, who is a slow reader, cannot understand how I can read so fast. One time he questioned me about what I had read to see if I was really comprehending what I read. I passed his test. When we moved to a condo six years ago and did some major downsizing, I sadly gave away many of my books to a local school. I ended up with just three bookcases for my books. However, I just keep buying more books and will soon need to get more bookcases. I agree with Thomas Jefferson who said:

I cannot live without books.

My greatest joy is my daughters. One is a school teacher and one is a pastor. It makes me so happy to see them sharing their love, talents and time with others.

My oldest daughter receiving her M.S. from Western Illinois University My youngest being ordained in The Wesleyan Church

So proud to be a grandmother, great grandmother and great, great grandmother.

As I come to the last chapter of my book of life, my desire is to laugh and praise God and if I can help someone else have a laugh, be encouraged or challenged, then the goal for my blog will have been a success.

I was recently asked to give a speech to a women’s group on the subject of angels.  As I began to research this subject, I realized I do not remember ever hearing a sermon on angels, or being in a Bible study on the subject of angels.

While I do not remember hearing that much about angels in the church, the world at large is getting quite interested in them.  Unfortunately, the portrayal of angels that we see on TV and in the movies often fall far short of the Biblical description of them.  I collect angels, but I must confess the angels in my collection look nothing like the description of angels in the Bible.   The angels in my collection either look like beautiful young women – gorgeous enough to be Miss America – or little, fat winged infants half-dressed.

These portrayals put them more in the category of fairy tales and fantasy than messengers of the Most High God.

No wonder they seem unbelievable to many people.  On the other hand, many who are disillusioned with our modern secular world are turning to the supernatural.  You can now find many who claim to have angel encounters with the angel of a tree or a flower.

To live by Scripture rather than the ideas of the world means that we have our own way of thinking about angels. The fact that we have neglected them, or been taken in by the movie, TV, greeting card or New Age version of them, tells us we had better get back to the Bible and its description of angels.

Angels are mentioned at least 108 times in the Old Testament and 165 times in the New Testament.  While the Scriptures give no definite figures, we are told that the number of angels is very great.  Since angels are spiritual rather than physical beings, they don’t have to be visible at all.  Elisha once prayed that his servant would see the armies of angels surrounding the city, and the young man discovered that he had overlooked a lot of invisible beings.   When angels do appear, they generally appear in the form of men.

In Genesis 18, Abraham welcomed three angelic guests who appeared at first to be nothing more than some travelers. In the following chapter, two angels went to Sodom where they were assumed to be simply a pair of human visitors.    Sometimes an angel appears to be a man with unusual features. Daniel saw an angel with arms and legs resembling polished metal and precious stones, and a face like lightning. The angel that rolled back the stone from Christ’s tomb was radiating dazzling light.   The books of Isaiah and Revelation describe some highly unusual beings referred to as seraphim and living creatures.

Angels in the Bible never appear as cute, chubby infants! They are always full-grown adults. When people in the Bible saw an angel, their typical response was to fall on their faces in fear and awe, not to reach out and tickle an adorable baby.

We don’t know whether every angel carries out the same tasks, or whether some of them specialize in certain areas. The Bible does speak about classes of angelic beings like cherubim, seraphim and archangels.  We are even told the names of two notable angels both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament:  Michael and Gabriel.

The unnamed angels who appear most often in Scripture carry out a variety of tasks—all designed to serve God…

Isaiah 6:1-4 – In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.  Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.  And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!”   And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke.”

Revelations 4:8 – The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying:  “Holy, holy, holy,   Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”

What is exciting to me is that Revelation gives a hint that we will one day join these angels in worshipping God.

Revelation 5:11-13 – Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice:  “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”  And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:  “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!”

We see this ministry in the Christmas story.

Luke 1:28-31 – And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”  But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.   Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.   And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.

Luke 2:8-14 – Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.  Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.  For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be the sign to you: You will find a 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, goodwill toward men!”

In fact, we see angels at every turn of the life of Jesus Christ — at the end as well as at the beginning.

• It was an angel that announced to Zacharias that he and Elizabeth would be the parents of a man we call John the Baptist.
• It was an angel that appeared in a dream to Joseph to reassure him that the child Mary was carrying was the Son of God.
• It was angels that rolled away the stone at the grave of Jesus and appeared to the women to tell them that Jesus was risen.
• It was angels that appeared to the disciples after Jesus had risen into heaven and told them that this same Jesus would come again.
• Jesus Himself said that He would return someday with His angels

Third ministry – the one I want to really think about today is that angels are used by God to help us.

• They guide us
  • Joseph at the birth of Jesus
  • The women at the tomb
  • Cornelius in the book of Acts
  • Phillip in the book of Acts – led him to the Ethiopian
• They protect us and deliver us
  • Lot and his family
  • Daniel in the den of lions
  • Disciples set free from prison and then later Peter
  • Even Jesus was ministered to by angels after his temptations and again in the garden just before going to the cross

Does that mean every human being has a “guardian angel”?  Only scripture I could find in the entire Bible is one where Jesus was speaking of the little children.  In Matthew 18:10 He says:

Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

Whether we can take from that one verse to say we all have a personal guardian angel –  I don’t know.

As Scripture teaches, the “hosts of heaven” — whole legions of angels — watch over us. We cannot settle for less.

Psalm 34:7 – The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them

Hebrews 1:14 – Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation.

In all these roles, biblical angels are about God’s business. They are instruments of God in the struggle with sin, evil, error and death. Their praise, news and deeds, therefore, have nothing to do with our private agendas. Here we part company with many popular views of angels. Angels do not spend time looking after our personal interests, or furnish us with horoscopes about our future or give us directions on how to plant flowers correctly. Angel “sightings,” so to speak, always have a godly purpose and must be tested to see if they witness — as the angel Gabriel did — to something about Christ, or in conformity to Scripture’s teaching.  Paul warned us in Galatians that even if an angel preached something contrary to the Word of God, we were to not accept it.  In fact, he said if such an angel appeared with a new doctrine, they should be cursed.

Scripture teaches us also that angels are not just a now-and-then occurrence. The angel hosts are everywhere! They are present wherever the truth of God hits home — in reading the Bible, in hearing a sermon, when our sin is forgiven by Christ’s word of mercy, when our life is changed.

But God’s business is not just conducted in church. It takes place in daily life. When we follow what we know is true and good, when we go against the crowd, when we “do the right thing,” the angels are present. In moments of consolation over the loss of a loved one, when healing happens, when truth is told, the angels have played their part. On the larger landscape, when our nation is saved from some foolish action by our leaders, when it does do “the right thing” instead of following a cowardly course, God is at work. But so are the angels! When a victim on a Jericho road is ministered to, when oppression is resisted and a deed of justice is done, the angel with the flaming sword has been at work.

You have all probably heard stories of missionaries who have been protected by angels.    You may have experienced yourself a time when you knew angels were looking out for you.

For those who take this leap of faith into the biblical world, life does begin to look different. If the hosts of angels do surround us, why should we get up in the morning so worried about this or that? Who is afraid of the terrorists? Of tyrants? Of sickness? Of death? O, yes, they can do a lot of damage. But can they do us in? Can they finally defeat God? Overcome Christ? No, the hosts of the angels of the Lord will not allow it! They shall overcome. We shall overcome!

While we thank God for that angelic host we must never worship them or give them a place that is due only to God.  We should never seek for an encounter with an angel.  If your experience of Christ and the Holy Spirit is so rich and full, there is no need for the angels to make themselves known. We don’t have to have angel sightings to make it through life. We have enough in our communion with Christ to last for a lifetime.

I have not posted anything for almost three weeks (have you missed me?). In case anyone was wondering, here’s my story.

In 1971 Hasbro/Romper Room created small egg-shaped figures that “wobble” from side to side but return to an upright position. Their slogan for these toys was “Weebles Wobble but They Don’t Fall Down.” Inside each weeble is a small weight. When the toy is tipped to one side the weight will cause the toy to “wobble.” Gravity soon brings the toy back to an upright position.

For the past few years, I have experienced chronic pain throughout my body. At first, I just thought it was arthritis creeping up on me or perhaps damage done to my body from the many chemo and radiation treatments I had as a cancer patient almost 20 years ago.

Along with the pain, it has become more difficult for me to stand for any length of time and to walk any great distance. My husband and I have always been active, but this constant pain and difficulty walking was beginning to make me depressed. I began dreading growing old and living a limited lifestyle.

My clothes also did not seem to fit properly. My tops always hung to the left and anything with sleeves would find the left sleeve longer than the right. No matter how many times I tried to straighten my tops – they refused to remain straight and even.

Finally, my granddaughter told me “Grandma, you wobble when you walk.” I felt like those little weebles – bobbing from side to side as I tried to walk straight. On uneven ground or climbing stairs I even wondered if this “webble” would fall down.

At my last doctor’s visit, I pointed out to her that a rib on my left side was sticking way out. She gave a closer examination and determined that my left leg is shorter than my right and because of that my spine has slowly been tilting to the left. Thus, why my clothes do not fit properly and why I “wobble” when I walk.

Diagnosed with scoliosis, she sent me to their physical therapy department for further evaluation and treatment.

First order of business was to add an insert to my left shoe to begin to even out my legs. We have had to slowly raise the height of the left leg because my therapist said too much of an increase all at once would only make things worse.

My first few visits to PT were basically sitting, lying while they did adjustments to my pelvis, my spine, and my hips to try to bring me back into proper alignment. After four weeks of therapy, three times a week and more inserts in the left shoe, they have declared I am back in proper alignment.

I have four more weeks of PT where we are working on building strength into my muscles so that I can retain the proper position of my pelvis, spine and hips. My therapist told me I will need to continue these exercise three to four times a week for the rest of my life if I want my body to keep the right alignment. They can make adjustments to my spine, but it is the muscles that will hold that alignment.

While doing the physical therapy and learning to make other adjustments – such as losing my recliner for a more straight-back chair, using the right size pillows when I sleep, wearing shoes all the time (which I hate), adjusting my computer so that I am not looking up or down at the screen which is hard on the neck, I have been too busy to blog.

Honestly, I have thought about not returning to my blog and I have mixed feelings about it. But here’s goes my story of my absence – and I do hope some of my followers have missed me.

And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:10

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. Isaiah 12:2

Our pastor has been doing a series on Psalm 23 – taking one verse at a time. Today she spoke on one verse that has been such a blessing to me throughout the past almost 20 years. It is the verse that says:

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for Thou are with me.

That is the verse that came to my mind the day of my first visit to the oncologist following surgery for breast cancer. His first words to me were “The odds are not in your favor.” Immediately the above verse came to my mind.

I did not know if the Lord was assuring me I would walk through this valley to health and life on the other side or if I would walk through this valley into death.

What was comforting to me was the assurance that He was going to be with me through this time.

Looking back on my life as I near the last years of life I am so thankful to see all the times He has been there for me.

What comfort I find in knowing He will continue to walk with me through the rest of my life – both on the mountain times and the deep valley experiences life may bring.

At this point in my life I would say I’m mostly experiencing those “mountain” times. Last week my husband and I celebrated 37 years of marriage. What a blessing it is to be able to say that he is my bff and our love for one another is deeper and stronger than the day we married. We are blessed with good health for our age and we have a beautiful home to enjoy.

Yet I have been facing some “valley” moments these last few weeks. When I had surgery for cancer the surgeon apologized and said that he had done quite a bit of nerve damage as the lymph nodes were full of cancerous cells and he wanted to make sure he removed all the cancer. That plus the extensive radiation I had has left me with pain ever since. The damage done to my side has, with age, also led to a damaged rotator cuff. Surgeons now do not want to do surgery to repair the cuff because there has been so much nerve damage already done.

For whatever reason – old age I guess – the chronic pain that I have learned to live with has recently become much worse. It is especially difficult when I try to lay down and I have come to dread bedtime.

This morning my church family gathered around me and prayed for me. What an encouragement that was. One young man put some legs on his prayers and offered to come help me with my housework, even to vacuum my floors. My husband is able to help me and I refuse to just sit and give in – got to keep moving. But it was so kind of him to offer. That’s what real love is all about.

How blessed I am – how good to know not only that God is with me – but He has given me friends to love and support me.

Whatever situation dear reader you may be in – let me encourage you to lean on God. He is our Good Shepherd and His promises to be with us in “all” seasons I have found to be true.

What a difference a day makes!

Yesterday morning when I woke up I posted a verse from the Psalms:

This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.

Since we could not go to church I was thinking that I could complain about the restrictions right now with the virus, or I could choose to praise God for another day of life.

Looking forward to time with my husband – doing our devotion, playing Scrabble, watching an old movie.

He fixed me breakfast as he always does and I put on a meal in our crock pot – Barbara’s hash – a meal he loves.

A few hours before lunch time he came up from his studio in the basement and complained of a headache and took a Tylenol.  I was concerned because earlier this week he had fallen in the basement and hit his head.  Normally we would have gone to the ER for a checkup, but with the virus scare we were hearing not to go the ER unless it really was an emergency.

We decided to wait and see if he had any symptoms of a concussion – headache, nausea, confusion.  He had not shown any symptoms until Saturday when he complained of a headache.  He took a Tylenol and it went away so he still felt we should not go to the ER.

But yesterday after taking two Tylenol the headache was only getting worse and he began to feel nauseate.  Hurrying to the ER they would not let me go in with him.  Told me to go home and they would call me.

About an hour later the doctor called to tell me my husband’s brain was bleeding.  They were sending him by ambulance down to a larger hospital where they would have a neurosurgeon examine him.  I rushed to the hospital and pleaded with them to let me see him.  Seeing this old woman in tears, they finally gave me a mask, sanitized my hands and let me in to say goodbye before they took him away.  I confess the thought crossed my mind “would this be the last time I would see him?”

An hour later the surgeon called me saying they had to do immediate surgery or he would die.  There was blood in the cavity between his brain and his skull causing terrible pressure.  He was losing his ability to speak.

What a difference a day makes!

While I had anticipated watching an old movie with him that evening, instead I waited anxiously for a report from the doctor.  They had said they would call me after the surgery but it was 11 that night before I got a call.

He made it through the surgery and is in CCU now.  All signs are that he is going to live, but until they remove the incubator and cut back on the sedation they have been giving him, we don’t know if any damage has been done.

So – unable to go to sleep, and in such overwhelming sorrow that I cannot be with him in this terrible time, I remembered that verse I posted earlier in the day.

Regardless of what the day has brought, this is still the day God has made.  He was not surprised by the events of today.  He is with my husband.  He is my hope, my anchor.

I could not help but remember when my first husband was killed in an accident.  But I remembered that God was with me then.

I trust Him that he is with my husband and me and I pray for a complete recovery.

I’m amazed and blessed at all the people praying.

Regardless of what the days to come bring me this song I know is true.

Our country is experiencing a crisis most of us never thought possible.  The panic that has caused stores to run out of toilet paper, hand sanitizers and eggs seems a little crazy.  Yet the fear that we will not have enough – that we will get sick – and how will we pay the bills if we can’t work – that is real.

As a retired woman I do not face the difficulties many do.  I do not have to go to work, I do not have to worry about not getting a pay check, I have no worries about child care for my children.  Since it is just my husband and I our food supply should last a long time.

Still – a post I saw on FB this morning did make me laugh – but also make me realize I do need to take precautions.

That moment when you are worried about the elderly….then you realize you are the elderly.

Looking back at our country’s history we can see we have had tough times before.  To name just a few:

• World I and the Spanish flu
• World II
• the depression
• Polio scare
• 9/11

We have always pulled together as a nation.  Although we do see some craziness as a few people have been fighting over supplies at Costco and other stores, I have seen so many reaching out to support others.

My own church is putting together food items to pass out this week for those who might need them.  Teachers are working on line setting up places for children at home to continue with their studies.  Medical professionals are putting their own lives at risk to take care of the sick.  Truck drivers and workers stocking grocery store shelves are working hard to keep up with the demand.

Again a post on FB says it all:

And all of a sudden, farmers, truck drivers and those who wear jeans to work are the most important people in the world.

At Wal-Mart yesterday I saw a woman struggling to count out her money to pay for her groceries.  It was clear she did not have enough to pay for it all.  Before anyone could say anything, the woman in front of me asked the cashier how much the customer lacked.  Told she was short $25, she pulled out her credit card and said “I’ll take care of it.”

So – hopefully this crisis will continue to bring out the best in us all.

Because I have hope in the goodness of the average American, I do not despair.  But even more my hope rests in the Lord.  At 72, I have had my share of problems but this song states exactly how I face this new difficulty in our land.

I pray you have also found it to be true and that your hope will rest ultimately not in our government but in our Lord.

There seem to be so many articles out there on the web and in sermons today on the importance of believing in God when we pray….the importance of our words.

The Bible is clear that we need to believe in God when we express our petitions to Him.  Even science tells us that what we think – what we speak does affect us.  It is true that constant negativity will lead to depression and discouragement.

Having said that, I think we can take this “faith” issue to an extreme.  A friend once told me to never say I was sick or depressed or worried.  To her that displayed a lack of faith in God.

To me that is just a mind game.

I’m sick, I’m depressed, I’m worried, but if I don’t say it, if I don’t acknowledge I have some doubt, God will never know.  He will answer my prayer because He will think what great faith I have.  NOT!

If God is our Father, then isn’t it better to have a honest, open relationship with Him?  A loving father would be one to whom we could express our deepest feelings and one who would love us and do what He could to help us with those feelings that are not good for us.

I’m so thankful that I believe God loves me not because I am such a great woman of faith, but because I am his daughter.

In the Bible a father brought his child to Jesus to be healed.  When Jesus responded that all things were possible to one who believed, the man’s answer is one I have often prayed.  “Lord, I believe.  Help my unbelief.”

I think of the early church that was gathered in prayer when Peter was put in prison.  In answer to their prayers, an angel came and rescued Peter.  Hurrying to the place where the church was meeting, when Peter knocked at the door and a servant girl told those praying that Peter was at the door, they did not believe her.

Obviously they were praying with a lot of doubt.  One could not really blame them.  Just a few days earlier the disciple James had been put in prison and then beheaded.  They had to be in fear that Peter also would suffer the same fate.  In spite of doubts, they prayed and God answered.

Sometimes I pray with great faith fully expecting God to grant my request.  Sometimes I pray with great doubt, afraid.  But in both circumstances I pray.

I think perhaps that is the greatest faith.  To pray to God and to trust that He in His wisdom will do what is best.  To realize I don’t always have the answers and my ways may not be what is best.

Years ago when I met my oncologist for the first time and he told me the odds were not in my favor, the words from Psalm 23 went through my mind.  “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”

When God brought that verse to my memory at that moment I wondered:

• Was He saying I was going to beat this disease, going to walk through the valley to more years of a cancer-free life?
• Was He saying I was going to walk through this valley by dying and receiving that hope of eternal life?

I did not know which alternative He had for me, but what I did know was the verse told me I did not need to fear for He would be with me.

So – when I pray, I pray with trust that He is in control and that He will do what is best for me – and that I may not always know what is best.  So – I pray and leave the results to Him.

My confidence, my faith is in who He is – not in how strong a believer I am.

It’s Friday and time for a post about another old gospel song.

I have shared several now and hope you have enjoyed them.

This week’s song is one of my husband’s favorites.  He has often performed this song in church services and at “gospel sings.”

The song starts with a question:

Why should I feel discouraged?  Why should the shadows come?  

The song quickly gives the answer:

His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me.

This thought is based on the scripture in Matthew 10:29-30

“Two sparrows sell for a farthing, don’t they? Yet not a single sparrow falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. The very hairs of your head are all numbered. Never be afraid, then—you are far more valuable than sparrows.”

While this song was made famous by two different African-American singers,  Ethel Waters and Mahalia Jackson, it was written by a Canadian lady living in Elmira, New York.

In her own words:

“Early in the spring of 1905, my husband and I were sojourning in Elmira, New York. We developed a deep friendship for a couple by the name of Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle – true saints of God. Mrs. Doolittle had been bedridden for nigh 20 years. Her husband was an incurable cripple who had to propel himself to and from his business in a wheel chair.  Despite their afflictions, they lived happy Christian lives, bringing inspiration and comfort to all who knew them. One day, while we were visiting with the Doolittles, my husband commented on their bright hopefulness and asked them for the secret of it. Mrs. Doolittle’s reply was simple: ‘His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me.’ The beauty of this simple expression of boundless faith gripped the hearts and fired the imagination of Dr. Martin and me. The song ‘His Eye Is on the Sparrow’ was the outcome of that experience.”

Ethel Waters was born to a teenager who had been raped.  Although she was raised by her grandmother, she took the last name of her father.  She demonstrated her musical talents while very young, singing at the age of five at church.  On her 15th birthday she won an amateur night and began performing in vaudeville in 1917.

In 1953 she sang this song in the movie “Member of the Wedding” and brought the song to the attention of the world.  She loved the song “His Eye is On the Sparrow” and in her later years she often sang it for the Billy Graham crusades.

Mahalia Jackson made the song even more popular when she sang it at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1958.  The song became associated with the civil rights movement in the 1960’s.  Rev. Martin Luther King Jr said Mahalia did not just sing the song, it was her life story.

Mahalia spoke of the song and its meaning to her:

“When our savior came, now he didn’t come down here just to tell people to believe on him, he healed the sick and he healed the blind, he raised the dead. He did things for people. So salvation and the Word of God can do things for you. It can open doors for you. And I know it can, Studs. Look what it done for me. And my people have–we’re coming along, but my God, we’ve come along so slow till we chokin’.”

For my husband and I, the song has always been a comfort.  No matter what the circumstances of life, we can sing and find joy in the knowledge that God truly loves us and is aware of all we face each day.

Walking with Jesus as my friend and redeemer for many years, I found Him faithful in every circumstance.  Yet, I must confess, sometimes when things get difficult I seem to forget His faithfulness and start worrying.

Recently, thinking about this I thought my reaction really depends on where I stand in my relationship to Him.

Looking up into the sky I can see an airplane flying miles up in the sky.  The airplane looks very small.  In fact, I can hold up my hand and completely block out of my view.  If that was the only time I ever saw an airplane I would think airplanes were small like a child’s toy.

However, the first time I stepped up to board a 747 on a flight to the Philippines, I was amazed at the size of that plane.  Clearly I could never block it our of my view – even if I held up both my hands.

The size of the airplane did not change.  It was always a huge flying machine.  What changed was where I stood in relation to the airplane.

So I think my relation to Jesus Christ may often determines if I see Him as able to walk with me through my tough times and give me strength.

When my prayer life and God’s Word is neglected, He can seem smaller than my problems.  But when I stay grounded in God’s Word and keep that time with Him, I realize how big and mighty He is.

All depends on where I stand.

Throughout my life I have read arguments for and against having faith in the Christian God – or any god for that matter.

Some say to question our belief is wrong.  To express any doubt will definitely displease God.

Others say to believe without positive proof of a god is simply showing a lack of intellect.

I have always found myself in the middle.

I do not believe God gave us a mind and then did not expect us to use it.  I do not believe that God cannot handle our questions, our doubts.

At the same time, to assume that anyone who believes in God without being able to “prove” His existence lacks knowledge is so unfair.

In this back and forth argument I read this week from the book “Deliver Us From Evil” by Ravi Zacharias and found this quote expresses so completely how I personally feel about faith vs reason.

One of the most startling things about life is that it does not start with reason and end with faith.  It starts in childhood with faith and is sustained either by reasoning through that faith or blindly leaving the reason for faith unaddressed.  The child’s mind has a very limited capacity to inform it of the reason for its trust.  But whether she nestles on her mother’s shoulder, nurses at her mother’s breast, or runs into her father’s arms, she does so because of an implicit trust that these shoulders will bear her, that her food will sustain her, and that these arms will hold her.  If over time that trust is tested, it will be the character of the parent that will prove that trust wise or foolish.  Faith is not benefit of reason.

That pretty much describes my faith journey.  Born into a home where I was taken to church every week and taught about God from my parents, I believed in the Christian God and committed my life to Him at a very young age.  No questions asked.  Simply the faith of a child running into her father’s arms.

As a young adult I experienced some difficult times.  At the same time as these problems arose I was also attending college at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville.  In one of my classes the professor was advocating strongly that creation by God was not true.

I reached the point where I began to question if all I had believed all these years was really true.  Was God real?  Sitting on my front porch one night I looked up into the sky and said, “God if you are truly real, if what I have believed all these years are true, I need you to reveal yourself.  I need you to help me out of these difficulties.”

There was no lightning or thunder or a great voice of God.  But slowly over the next few weeks I began to see drastic changes in my circumstances that reason alone could not explain.

I also began to research my Bible, read books on archaeology, evolution and Christian apologists.  Slowly, but surely, my belief in God was increased by what I learned.  It was during the next couple of years as I studied, prayed and learned that my faith was made stronger by my questioning.

As the years have gone by and I have seen both good times and bad, I have also found myself running into my heavenly father’s arms and the character of God has proven my trust to be a wise one.

If you have doubts about God, do not deny them.  Do not be afraid to express them.  But do more than that.  Read, pray, research.

But also don’t be afraid to be that little child and run into His arms.

He said “You will seek me and find me when you seek for me with all your heart.”

I have found that true.

I love to read the Gospel of Mark.  His story is full of action.  More about what Jesus did rather than what He said.  This week as I read once again how His disciples seemed to simply not “get it” I thought:

What was wrong with them?  How could they be so blind – so stupid?

They saw Jesus take a few fish and a little bread and feed a multitude.  And He did this not first, but twice.

So – you think they might get it.

This man, this rabbi they were following was more than a man, more than a great teacher.

Besides the miracles of feeding the crowds that followed Him, He also had calmed the violent storm by merely speaking to it.  He had healed a man who had spent years naked living among the tombs and cutting himself with stones.  He had raised a young woman from the dead.

So – you think they might get it.

Yet as they rowed across the lake once more and Jesus began to try to teach about the hypocrisy of the religious leaders by telling them to beware of the “yeast” of the Pharisees, they immediately thought they were in trouble because they had forgotten to bring any bread with them.

Those thick-headed disciples

Then, I stopped and realized I’m not different.

How many times in my life have I cried out to God and He has answered?

How many times has He healed me?  Comforted me?  Gave me strength when I so desperately needed it?

Yet, what is my tendency when I get sick, when trouble comes, when I feel weak mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually?

Just like the disciples, I often forget what I have seen my God do – and I start to worry, to get all upset at the situation.

I’m so thick-headed too!

I wonder how God must feel sometimes at my inability to “get it.”

When my girls were growing up, I am sure I made mistakes in my parenting.  But even so, I was a good mother.  I saw that they had food to eat, clean clothes to wear, a comfortable bed to sleep in.  I worked hard to provide not only their material needs, but made myself available to listen to their concerns, to play with them, to support them in their efforts in life.

I wonder how I would have felt if I had heard one of them say to a friend:

I really hope I have food to eat tomorrow.  I hope mother doesn’t forget to wash my clothes this week.  I’m really afraid Mom won’t buy me the new shoes I need.

How upset I would have been if I had heard them say that.

How could you say that?  Haven’t I always had good meals on the table every day?  Haven’t I always washed your clothes?  Haven’t I always bought you new shoes and clothes as you needed them?  How could you possible be worrying that I would not provide for you?

Perhaps God is up there saying

Barbara, how can you be worried?  Haven’t I always be faithful to you?

Forgive me Lord.  Help me to “get it.”  To trust in who You are.  The great I AM.

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble….Psalm 46:1

After my son told me I was not old, I was seasoned, I keep asking myself “What seasoning am I?” Thinking on that led me down a lot of different paths. I thought of funny descriptions of our different personalities.

But then it led me to think of the concept of followers of Jesus bearing fruit – something to provide nourishment.

The Bible talks about bearing fruit. There are many verses that indicate our lives should be productive in qualities that are helpful to others.

How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers. Psalms 1:1-3

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23

What is the purpose of fruit? For us to take and eat, be nourished with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fibers and phytochemicals.

So as a follower of Jesus, what kind of nourishment am I providing to those about me? What kind of seasoning am I contributing to my family, friends, church, community?

Spicy: While there is a negative definition to this word, let us look at the positive definition – zestful, interesting, lively. We add cayenne pepper or garlic to give our food a zestful, lively flavor.

The Cleveland Clinic says that chile peppers and other spicy seasonings carry health benefits. Capsaicin, the ingredient that gives chile peppers their kick has been found to boost the body’s ability to break down fat and burn more energy. That may help with weight loss and reduce risk of diseass such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and Type 2 diabetes. A study from the University of Vermont found that people who regularly ate chile peppers had a 13% lower likelihood of death.

A person described as spicy is one who probably is more willing to take risks, more open to new adventures. Perhaps more outspoken and quicker to speak their mind.

The disciple Peter comes to my mind when I think of spicy. He always seemed to be putting his foot in his mouth, speaking before thinking carefully. But I love how his lively personality led him to get out of the boat and walk on the water toward Jesus. Sometimes the fact that he got afraid and started to sink is pointed out. But I love that of all the disciples, this lively, spicy man was the only one that got out of the boat and for a short few steps actually walked on water.

Am I sweet?

Sweet: pleasant, kind, thoughtful.

Two sweet spices that provide good health benefits are cinnamon and basil.

Cinnamon contains an ingredient, cinnamaldehyde, that has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties that ward off diseases, prevent infections and boost metabolism. Basil has many vitamins, nutrients and minerals that, among other benefits, alleviates stress and balances mood.

When I think of an example of a kind, thoughtful person in the Bible, Ruth comes to my mind. This Moabite woman left her family and her home to accompany her mother-in-law, Naomi, back to her homeland in Israel after they both had lost their husbands. Think of the help she was to Naomi in relieving the stress she faced in returning home without a husband or any sons to support her.

I have always loved Ruth’s beautiful statement of commitment to Naomi. In fact, I made it part of my wedding vows to my husband.

“Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.”

Sour: resentful, embittered.

Like spicy, sour seems to carry a negative meaning. But sour seasoning can improve taste by balancing out sweetness or spiciness in a dish. Think of a lemon slice in a glass of water. Or a dash of lemon juice in a marinate for meat.

While many citric fruits have a sour taste, they also contain high levels of vitamin C, fiber, potassium, and antioxidants. These play a crucial role in strengthening your immune system to fight against diseases. Sour and fermented foods also help regulate beneficial bacteria and improve digestion. Sour candy or treats can also increase energy levels because their taste releases chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine to prove your mood.

The Bible character that comes to my mind when thinking of someone who has become embittered is the prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah began his ministry in 627/626 BC. He was a contemporary of Isaiah, Ezekiel and Daniel. He warned the Judea nation of the coming destruction by the Babylonians. His prophecies were not well received by the king or the nation.

At one point Jeremiah became embittered at the call God had given him. After being beaten and put in stocks at one of the main gates in Jerusalem, he complained to God.

“You deceived me, Lord, and I was deceived; you overpowered me and prevailed. I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me. Whenever I speak, I cry out. So the word of the Lord has brought me insult and reproach all day long. But if I say, “I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,” his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.”

So – am I spicy? Am I willing to listen to the voice of God and obey when He asks me to do something that I am not comfortable with doing? Am I willing to take a chance and speak to that stranger, reach out to my unfriendly neighbor, go the extra mile with someone who has hurt me? Do I add life and joy to others with my zest for life because of the love of God?

Am I sweet? Do I show kindness to those I come in contact with? Even the cashier who is slow and grouchy? Even the person who cuts me off on the road? Am I thoughtful when I speak with others, more concerned about their needs than mine? Do I add a sense of peace and comfort to others with the love God has given me?

Am I sour? Do I complain too much when things do not go my way? Do I add a sense of worry or despair because I get my focus off of God’s provision and more on the problems I face?

Less I appear too negative on the sour seasoning, let me add this. We all do have times of overwhelming situations. God understands when we complain. I think the secret is to be honest with God as Jeremiah was. God can handle our complaints. But after expressing his complaints, Jeremiah continued to obey the Lord and continued his ministry.

So – am I sour? Do I refuse to give up in difficult times, but keeping trusting in God to deliver me? Do I improve the atmosphere around me by injecting some energy and perhaps provide a balance to the spicy and sweet people around me who can sometimes need to be reminded that life is not always good. And, yes, we can complain to God. He is big enough for our “sour” moments.

c – on the assumption that Doing a study on 1 John in the Bible, I noticed how many times John used the word “if.”  That started me thinking about all the “ifs” in the Word of God.  It seems to me that there are many promises of God that we claim without taking into account the “if” that is associated with it. It is clear that we can never earn our salvation.  We can never do enough good on our own to earn that gift of eternal life.  John 3:16 makes it clear that if we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, he grants us forgiveness and eternal life.  Paul the Apostle also stated very plainly in Ephesians 2:8-9 that:

 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.

But once we begin that walk with the Lord, it is clear that if our relationship is to grow and we are to develop as true disciples, there are conditions to be met. The “ifs” seem to indicate that there is something required from us.  How we respond to these “ifs” will determine our receiving from God what He has offered. Here are just a few for you to consider:

For IF you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you…Matthew 6:14

We talk a lot about how God forgives us if we ask.  But we must remember that forgiveness is tied to our forgiving others.

IF you are faithful to what I have said, you are truly my disciples…John 8:31

So — if we are not faithful to God’s Word, how can we claim to be His disciple?  And how can we be faithful to His Word, if we never read it, never study it, never really know what it says?

 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, IF you love one another…John 13:35

Interesting – the mark of a disciple according to Jesus is not all the great sacrifices we might make, the many talents we might use, but the love that we have for others.

IF anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him and We will come to him and make Our abode with him…John 14:23

We love to talk about desiring the presence of the Lord in our life, in our family, in our church.  Many of our worship songs are all about how much we love God.  But again, that big little word “if” says we only really love God and we only can expect His presence, if we keep His Word.

One of the biggest IF’s I think is found in Matthew 16:24

IF anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.

Again, we love to talk about our commitment to Christ, but we are only committed when we truly deny our-self, take up the cross and follow Christ.  The idea about a cross is really lost to most in our society.  To us a cross is a decoration on the wall of the church or on the steeple.  It is a piece of jewelry we wear or hang on the wall of our home.  But to the society to which Jesus spoke these words, the cross represented death.  To truly follow Jesus requires a willingness to die to our own desires and be led by Him.

But one of the greatest “ifs” in the Bible is found in Revelation when Jesus said

Behold I stand at the door and knock.  IF anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come in and sup with him.

What a great promise!  To open the door – to invite Him into our life, that is all we have to do and He will be glad to come in, to have a relationship with us.  Notice that we are the ones to open the door.  He is a gentleman and does not force Himself on us.  But he extends that wonderful invitation.

If you have not done so, I encourage you to open the door.

A few days ago I posted a blog regarding the persecuted church and showed a picture of a young boy whose face was horribly mutilated during an attack on his village.  (http://barblaneblog.c`om/2015/11/27/i-will-not-let-them-suffer-alone/)

Thirteen–year–old Danjuma Shakaru was critically injured during an attack on his village in northern Nigeria on January 28, 2015.  Muslim militants struck Danjuma on the head, arm and body with their machetes. His right eye was carved out, his genitals were cut off. Seeing his mangled, lifeless body covered in blood, the villagers who found him dug a grave for him.  Before he could be buried, he regained consciousness and began crying and shouting.  Taken to the hospital at the nearest city, workers there could not believe he would survive.

But survive he did!

Today, though his face is marked by horrendous scars where his right eye was carved out, his face shows a bright smile of joy for God had other plans for Danjuma.

In spite of what he has suffered, Danjuma is certain that God is still in control. He has no anger toward his attackers. “There is no problem,” he said. “I have allowed God to handle everything.”

I forgive them

Asked about his attackers, he said “I forgive them because they don’t know what they are doing,” he said, echoing the words of Christ. “If they had love, they wouldn’t behave that way.”

A defiant joy

While the attackers stole so much from Danjuma, they couldn’t take his joy. It is still evident on his face and in his voice. “The joy comes from the Lord,” he said.

Danjuma said his relationship with God has only grown stronger since the attack. He continues to pray regularly and seek God’s guidance. “God continues to guide and protect,” he said.

And today –

He recently had an operation that frees him from having to carry a bag for his urine.  Voice of the Martyrs is sending him to a school for the blind where he can learn Braille.  The hospital staff refers to him as “Miracle.”

Could/would I do the same?

As I read about this young man I have to ask myself, could I – would I forgive?  I think of the times I get all upset because someone said something unkind about me – or they did not respond to my phone call or text.  The words of Jesus ring in my ears:

You have heard that it has been said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.  But I say unto Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you, and persecute you; that you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He makes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

For if you love only those who love you, what good is that?  Even scoundrels do that much.  If you are friendly only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else?  Even the heathen do that.

Be you therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

What if we really did that?

What kind of a world would we have – how full would our churches be if we really completely did that?

In Christ alone my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my song; this Cornerstone, this solid Ground, firm through the fiercest drought and storm. What heights of love, what depths of peace, when fears are stilled, when strivings cease! My Comforter, my All in All,

here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! who took on flesh Fulness of God in helpless babe! This gift of love and righteousness Scorned by the ones he came to save: Till on that cross as Jesus died, The wrath of God was satisfied – For every sin on Him was laid;

Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay Light of the world by darkness slain: Then bursting forth in glorious Day Up from the grave he rose again! And as He stands in victory Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me, For I am His and He is mine –

Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death, This is the power of Christ in me; From life’s first cry to final breath. Jesus commands my destiny. No power of hell, no scheme of man, Can ever pluck me from His hand; Till He returns or calls me home,

Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand

The Voice of the Martyrs is a non-profit, inter-denominational Christian organization dedicated to assisting our persecuted family worldwide. VOM was founded in 1967 by Pastor Richard Wurmbrand, who was imprisoned 14 years in Communist Romania for his faith in Christ. His wife, Sabina, was imprisoned for three years. In the 1960s, Richard, Sabina, and their son, Mihai, were ransomed out of Romania and came to the United States. Through their travels, the Wurmbrands spread the message of the atrocities that Christians face in restricted nations, while establishing a network of offices dedicated to assisting the persecuted church. The Voice of the Martyrs continues in this mission around the world today through the following main purposes:

Their ministry is based on Hebrews 13:3:

Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

VOM’s Five Main Purposes

1. To encourage and empower Christians to fulfill the Great Commission in areas of the world where they are persecuted for sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
2. To provide practical relief and spiritual support to the families of Christian martyrs.
3. To equip persecuted Christians to love and win to Christ those who are opposed to the gospel in their part of the world.
4. To undertake projects of encouragement, helping believers rebuild their lives and Christian witness in countries where they have formerly suffered oppression.
5. To promote the fellowship of all believers by informing the world of the faith and courage of persecuted Christians, thereby inspiring believers to a deeper level of commitment to Christ and involvement in His Great Commission.

VOM’s Mission Statement

“Serving the persecuted church through practical and spiritual assistance while leading Christians in the free world into fellowship with them.”

It started with Claudine.  Claudine was a young high school student living in Cebu City, Philippines.  Through Compassion’s program to help release children from poverty, I began sending a monthly contribution to help meet Claudine’s educational and physical needs.  While in high school Claudine attended the Cornerstone Student Center.  Through the Center – in cooperation with Compassion – Claudine enjoyed good and helpful medical check-ups, help with school work, learned life skills such as cooking and baking and assistance in job applications.

With their help, she filled out her “My Plan for Tomorrow” workbook helping her to plan her future and set goals.  Extra-curricular activities were provided that helped her explore her God-given talents.

We enjoyed years of letters and pictures sent back and forth.  It was a bitter-sweet day when I received her last letter.  She had graduated from school, had a job and was now moving out of the Compassion program.  She was making plans to pursue a college degree.

She thanked me for the monthly sponsorship, for the birthday, Christmas and family gifts, but when she told me what she was most thankful for, tears came to my eyes.

What I will miss the most are your letters where you tell me about your life and what’s happening.

She said she hoped I would still sponsor another needy child like her.

I will never forget you and I will always love you and your will be forever in my heart.

So – in honor of Claudine and her hard work and faithfulness to God and her family, I chose another little girl from the Philippines.

Now comes Rachell Ann

This time I decided to pick a little girl much younger than Claudine had been when our sponsorship started.  This would give me more years to develop a relationship with her and help her from the very start of life.  It is also nice that Rachell Ann is only 5 months older than my youngest granddaughter, Zoe.

Rachell Ann lives just east of Quezon City.  Because she is so young her mother writes to me for Rachell Ann.  Very interesting to see that the place she would like to visit is the same as many kids in the USA – Disneyland.  But the chances that she will ever be able to do that are pretty small.  While I can’t help her with that dream, I’m grateful that I can help see that this little girl has a better chance of growing up healthy and educated – and know the love of God.

I’m not posting this story to “brag” about what I’m doing.  I’m hoping you will read and decide that you, too, can help bring a child out of poverty.  It costs us so little – it means so much to others.

Check out the Compassion, Inc. site.  See what you can to do to help a child – and therefore a family, be lifted up from poverty.

The young people from Bethel Assembly of God standing with their barrels with funds raised for BGMC this past Sunday!

Boys and Girls Missions Club (BGMC) is the missions program my church uses to teach the children to love the world – not just our own country – and to do what they can to make a difference in the lives of others.  Funds raised by the kids do what you would expect a missionary organization to do – share Bibles, Christian curriculum and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the communities where the money goes.  But just as Jesus did when He was on earth, the children also help to meet many of the “here and now” physical needs such as providing food, digging wells and providing help to the local church workers.

Buddy Barrel

Buddy Barrel is the mascot for BGMC. Buddy was created in 1949 when the club shipped supplies to missionaries in barrels.  The barrels kept the supplies from getting ruined in route to their destination.  At first small wooden barrels were created for the children to save their coins in.  Today the barrels are now yellow plastic barrels.  Each month the children are encouraged to bring in the money they have saved in their barrels.

But what can little children do to make a difference?  A lot!

The following is just a small list of what the children have done with their fund-raising.

• Sunday school shelters
• Tabernacles
• Generators and solar-powered digital Bibles
• Buildings, equipment and supplies for children’s homes at home and abroad
• Sunday School curricula translation
• Children’s school facilities and resources
• Drug free school assembly kits and outreach materials
• Drug free and HIV AIDS free prevention resources to help children
• After-school programs for needy children
• Shelters for homeless children
• Girls Ministries and Royal Rangers supplies for foreign missionary outreach
• School books and supplies

This program is not just a fundraising program.  Through BGMC the kids learn about the needs of others around the world – teaching them to go beyond the “me-centered” world they experience growing up in the USA.

So far this year the children have raised $273,588.64 for the world!

Little children CAN and DO make a difference.

So – what are you doing to make a difference?

“We as a community of friends are gathered here in God’s presence to witness Paul and Barbara’s renewal of commitment to one another and to ask God’s continued blessings on them. Marriage, like our creation as men and women owes its existence to God. It is His will and purpose that a husband and wife should love each other throughout their life. Shall we pray?”

This was how our Pastor began the ceremony when my husband and I renewed our wedding vows on our 25th anniversary.   It was a special day as we shared with family and friends the story of how we met.  Almost seven years have passed since our celebration of 25 years and we still feel the same.  As we approach Valentine’s Day I love to remember that story.

Here’s the story!

While living in the state of Washington, my husband, Paul, found himself a single father trying to raise two teenagers. Needing support, he returned to his home town to be near family. He was very lonely and began to pray for a Christian wife. Since he was a minister and also loved to sing, he asked God if it would be possible that this wife would also play the piano and be able to work with him in the ministry.

Her name will be Barbara

While praying, he felt impressed in his spirit that God would grant him that request and that his future wife would be named “Barbara.” He was afraid at first to share that thought with anyone as he felt they would think he was crazy. But it was so real to him he needed to reveal it to someone. He finally related that information with a couple at the large church he was attending.

Four months later I walked into the church with my two young daughters.

While living in Southeast Missouri, my first husband was accidentally killed leaving me with two small daughters to care for. Everything I read about grief told me that I should make no sudden changes or moves for at least a year. However, after a year of trying to make it far from home, I decided to return to Illinois where my family could give me much-needed support. While it was great to be close to my family again, I still carried a heavy load of grief and sorrow. I tried to be strong for my two young daughters, but after a while I realized I did not want to continue living alone. Although I longed to find happiness again, I knew that my daughters’ happiness and safety were more important than my own. If I ever remarried, it would have to be a very special man who would love my daughters as well as me.

I asked God to give me a godly husband who would help me raise my daughters.

One year after moving back to Illinois, I decided to attend the church where my parents were members. When I walked in the foyer, I saw a couple that I recognized. They were friends with my first husband’s parents but I had not seen them in years. They seemed extremely happy to see me, but it was only months later that I found out why my sudden appearance at their church was so exciting to them. They were the couple that Paul had shared his secret with.

After greeting me, they hurried to locate my future husband and tell him, “There she is.”

He had no idea what they meant until they told him the red-head that had just walked into the church was named Barbara. A few weeks later Paul asked me on a date and the rest, as they say, is history.

And a good history it has been. Paul has proven to be a wonderful husband and, even more important, a wonderful father to my two daughters, who are now grown.

 Sisters are a blessing?  Or a curse?

Growing up I was fortunate to have two older sisters.  Time and distance now separate us, but the older I get, the more I like to remember those days when we were young and still free of wrinkles, arthritic backs and grey hair.

Velma

My oldest sister, Velma, was often more of a second mom than a sister.  Nine years older than me, she helped Mother out by seeing that I was dressed for church or school and my hair properly combed.  She helped me with my homework and told me stories.  They tell me when I was only a few weeks old Mother went to get me out of the crib to carry me to the car for a trip to town.  Panicked when I was not in the crib, she looked out the window to see my sister holding me in her arms and headed toward the car.  As she approached a ditch she tried to jump over it with me still in her arms.  Unfortunately, she dropped me.  Although I was not hurt, my family always teased me that I had been dropped on my head as a baby (said as they rolled their eyes and laughed).

Velma took home economics in high school and became a very accomplished seamstress.  She made many of my clothes.  During her senior year she made matching dresses for me and herself and we were chosen to model them at a fashion show at the high school.  Night after night in our kitchen Velma would practice with me making sure I knew how to walk, when to turn, how to hold out the hem of my dress as I courtesied to the audience.  On the night of the show I don’t know who was more excited – Velma or me.  Waiting at the back of the stage for our turn with all the “grown up” seniors, I could hardly contain the excitement I felt.  With my red hair in banana curls, everyone was saying, “What a cute little girl!”  I felt so special.  But what really made it so special to me – and still is special after all these years – is I could see how proud my sister was of me.  Her pride and joy in me at that moment still lives in my memory.  (Thanks Velma!)

A year after her high school graduation she married a young man named Gary.  I was heart-broken.  How could she do that?  How could she leave me for him?  She normally shared a bedroom with my other sister, but I was allowed to sleep with her on her last night at home.  I asked her, “Why would you want to go sleep with him when you can sleep here with me?”  How we have laughed about that question through the years?  (After I grew old enough to figure why she would want to do that.)

She assured me she would come to visit me often and I could come stay with her and Gary during summer vacations.  That was not reassuring to me because I thought, “Yeah, she will come visit, but he will always be there”

And He has always been there.  Faithful, steadfast as a husband, father and the greatest “brother” anyone could every want – he has been there for over 56 years.  I can’t imagine life without him in our family.

Minnie

My second sister was more a playmate.  Only five years older than me she played paper dolls and jacks with me.  She was a giggler and always made us laugh.

Minnie and I took piano lessons when we were very young.  Mother and Dad could not afford to pay for both of us to take lessons separately so they made a deal with the piano teacher.  She would teach both of us.  Minnie would take a lesson one week – then I would take a lesson the next week.  As we played we would share with one another the discoveries we made during our practice sessions.

As a young teenager I looked up to her as a role model.  She was so pretty and so smart.  Knowing I could not compete with her in the looks department, I was motivated to try to match her academic achievements in school.  It’s probably because of that strong desire to measure up to her that I did so well in school.  (Thanks Minnie!)

Minnie and I shared some memories that no sisters should have to share.  But it brought us close in a difficult time.  When our father deserted Mother and the two of us, times were tough.  We struggled financially and emotionally.  Minnie was the breadwinner in our family for a few years as I was still in school and Mother was so scared of going out into the working world.  She took on a responsibility no young woman should have had to do, but I never heard her complain and she never made me or mother feel bad for depending on her for our daily needs.

Thankfully the day came when she also found “Mr Right.”  By this time I was old enough to understand why she would leave and I rejoiced in her happiness.  So thankful for all the years of joy she had with Ralph.

Although most of my memories of my sisters are full of joy, I would be lying to say we never had fights or disagreements, that there were never times of misunderstanding.  But when I add up the times they made me mad or hurt my feelings or just frustrated me and then add up the times they made me laugh and feel loved, the good memories far outweigh the bad.

I thank God for my sisters!

This quote from Barbara Alpert says it all – but I especially like the line “who sees you at your worst…..and loves you anyway.

She is your mirror, shining back at you with a world of possibilities. She is your witness, who sees you at your worst and best, and loves you anyway. She is your partner in crime, your midnight companion, someone who knows when you are smiling, even in the dark. She is your teacher, your defense attorney, your personal press agent, even your shrink. Some days, she’s the reason you wish you were an only child. ~Barbara Alpert

The following is taken from the book “The Hole in Our Gospel’ written by the president of World Vision, Richard Stearns.  It speaks much better than I can of our need to make a difference.  I have expressed my thoughts on this topic in other posts:  What is on Your Menu for the Christmas Meal? and Poverty – It’s Real!

“It is hard to read the headlines each day without a growing sense of alarm.  We hear about terrorism, ethnic and religious tensions, wars and conflicts, corrupt governments, massive natural disasters, climate change, nuclear intimidation, and even child trafficking and slavery.  Our post 9/11 world seems both frightening and threatening, and the majority of us struggle to understand it, let alone do something about it.  The world’s problems just seem too big and too hard for most of us; it’s so much easier to retreat from them than to take them on.  On Sunday morning, safe in our church pews and surrounded by friends, it can be all too easy to leave the world’s violence, suffering, turmoil outside–out of sight, out of mind.

But wait–as Christians, are we really given the option of turning away from the world’s problems?  Does God permit that?

The ideas behind The Hole in Our Gospel is quite simple.  It’s basically the belief that being a Christian, or follower of Jesus Christ, requires much more than just having a personal and transforming relationship with God.  It also entails a public and transforming relationship with the world.

If your personal faith in Christ has no positive outward expression, then your faith–and mine–has a hole in it.

Embracing the gospel, or good news, proclaimed by Jesus is so much more than a private transaction between God and us.  The gospel itself was born of God’s vision of a changed people, challenging and transforming the prevailing values and practices of our world.  Jesus called the resulting new world order the “kingdom of God” and said that it would become a reality through the lives and deeds of His followers.  Jesus asked a great deal of those who followed Him.  He expected much more from them than just believing He was God’s Son.  He challenged them to embrace radically different standards, to love their neighbors and their enemies, to forgive those who wronged them, to lift up the poor and downtrodden, to share what they had with those who had little, and to live lives of sacrifice.  Then He likened their effect on the world around them to that which light has on darkness.  Light dispels darkness; it reverses it.

Those who choose to follow Christ have struggled since the very beginning to live differently in a world that often rejects their values and mocks their belies.  The temptation to retreat from it and to keep our faith private has befallen every generation of Christians.

Yet we are the carriers of the gospel–the good news that it was meant to change the world.  Belief is not enough.  Worship is not enough.  Personal morality is not enough.  And Christian community is not enough.  God has always demanded more.  When we committed ourselves to following Christ, we also committed to living our lives in such a way that a watching world would catch a glimpse of God’s character–His love, justice, and mercy–through our words, actions and behavior…..

Living out our faith privately was never meant to be an option.

In good times and bad – blessed be the name of the Lord!

Love the words of this song:

And when I count the problems that I seeHope looks all, but gone (yeah)But when I count the ways You’re good to me

You got me counting all day long, oh, yeah!

Today my husband and I celebrate forty years full of life.

Between our blended families: six children, 18 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, and 1 great-grandchild.

We have been pastors, music ministers, missionaries.

The street where we lived in Iloilo City, Philippines. When it rained we walked through several inches of water to get to our house.

We celebrated our first anniversary walking the streets of New York with Teen Challenge sharing the gospel with drug addicts and people living on the streets.

The team we worked with each day going out on the streets of the city to talk to those living on the streets and to the many drug addicts we found. Quite an eye opener.

We have played over 1500 games of Scrabble. 🙂

We take our Scrabble games seriously…. Paul keeps our scores. We have records from 2008.

We have enjoyed reading books, watching documentaries, and spending hours discussing American history. We have planted countless hostas and flowers.

We had over 200 hostas as well as roses, lilies of the flower, columbine and much, much more in our home in Illinois.

We have driven down innumerable roads just to see where they led. Everywhere we have lived, we have ministered to the elderly in assistant living facilities and nursing homes. Sometimes conducting religious services but also many times just providing some songs from their childhood and early adult times. Sharing a meal or playing a game with them.

Our life has led us through several moves and in our retirement years we find ourselves in a small town in mid-Michigan.

Moving as we have; we have friends and family all over the country. (We have children, grandchildren in Maryland, Missouri, Texas, Illinois, West Virginia, Georgia, New York, Tennessee, North Carolina and Michigan.) Often, we miss some of our old friends and our family, but as we near the end of our own lives, we think of all the friends we have made and think what a reunion day it will be in heaven!

We have survived heart attack, cancer, colon resection, knee replacement and brain bleed.

But we have also rejoiced at graduations, weddings, births and enjoyed watching grandchildren grow up and become adults with their own families.

Looking forward to more years together as God gives us. And we know that whether we have many more or just a few – the ride has been wonderful!!!

I love music!  My best times of devotion are when I listen first to a praise song and sit and meditate on God’s presence before I pick up my Bible or my devotional book.  In times of great joy or great sorrow in my life I have often gone to my piano and played a song expressing that joy, that sorrow.

One of my favorite musical groups is Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.  This morning listening to one of their songs, “So You Would Know,” once again my mind roamed back to all the times God has been there for me in times of great sorrow or tragedy.

I have shared in other blogs many of those times God helped!

The Day That Changed My Life

Coincidence or An Act of God?

I’m thankful for those times when God’s presence and help were so needed – and He was there.  Those times when I was weak and He carried me.  Those nights when he wiped my tears away.  Those times when pain racked my body and He sent healing down to me.

When you walked on this problemDidn’t I step right in on timeWhen you got weak along life’s journey

My angel carried you

When the pains were racking your body
Didn’t I send a healing down to you

How many days must I be a fence all around youHow many nights must I wipe your tears awayHow many storms must I bring you safely through

For you to know just how much I love you

However, while I thank God for help in difficult times, sometimes I forget to thank Him for day-to-day blessings, the many things I take for granted.

Didn’t I wake you up this morningWere you clothed in your right mindDidn’t I put food on your able

Show UP! when your bills were due

So today I thank God

• that I woke up this morning still in my “right mind.”  (And at my age, that is a blessing!)
• that I was able to walk all by myself
• that I was able to see the first flowers peeking out of the ground (spring is coming)
• that I was able to hear as my church family sang praises to God
• that I had plenty of food to choose from for breakfast:  bagels, cereal, bacon and eggs
• that I had a hot cup of coffee waiting for me fixed by my loving husband (and at our age, to still have my husband alive and well is a blessing!)
• that I have a beautiful home and a closet full of clothes
• that while I am not rich by any means, all my bills are paid
• that I have clean, running water (and hot water too)

And the list could go on and on.  Things I just take for granted.  Things that a majority of the world does not have.

I want to encourage anyone who reads this to take a few minutes to think about all the things God has blessed you with.  And recognize how many times we complain about our very blessings.

• We complain about our “busy” schedules instead of thanking God for the children we have or the friends we have that take up so much of our time. 
• We complain about shopping for groceries instead of thanking God we have a grocery store with plenty of food to choose from and money to buy food for our family.
• We complain about the weather instead of thanking God for the air conditioning and heating that makes life so comfortable on those hot or freezing cold days.
• We complain about our jobs instead of thanking God that we have employment (if we are still young enough to work). Or thank God for the jobs we had that have led to our retirement now.
• We complain about our aches and pains and loss of energy as we age in retirement instead of thanking God that we have lived long enough to be retired.

But the greatest blessing in my life is not that He delivered me from cancer, He strengthened me when my husband died or all the material blessings He has given me.  The greatest blessing is that as a young child He helped me to see my need of Him and to understand how much He loves me.

When you were lost in sin and sorrowI died to set you free

So you would know just how much I love you

Join with me in praising God today for His blessings – both the BIG ones in times of GREAT need but also the EVERY DAY blessings we take for granted.  And as you count your blessings, let it be a reminder of HOW MUCH GOD LOVES YOU!!!

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil.

WHY????

For you, God, are beside me!!!

So thankful that my husband is still painting. It has been over three years now since he had surgery for a brain bleed. Not certain how it would all turn out, but God has been so good to us.

Last week he painted Spring Time.

This week he painted Fall.

I have a birthday coming this spring. As I realize I will be three quarters of a century old and I have fewer days ahead of me than behind, I have been doing a lot of reflecting on the years gone by.

Interesting – sometimes I cannot remember what I had for lunch but memories of life when I was five or six are so vivid.

If I had to say what these reflections have led me to conclude about life so far, this song says it all. Committing my life to Jesus Christ at six years of age was the best decision I have made.

Life has brought joy and sorrow, moments of great excitement and moments of despair. But through it all, I see the goodness of God.

Next week we celebrate Thanksgiving. As I began reflecting on my many blessings and making a list of things to be grateful for, I realized we often mention the “big” ones (which we should) like knowing Jesus Christ or our family. Then I thought how often we just take much for granted without stopping to be grateful. Things that are “small” in and of themselves, but that add so much to our life.

So, here’s my 10 things I am thankful for this year.

1. The freshly fallen snow outside my patio window.
2. The birds gathered around the birth bath.
3. The sound of the children’s laughter playing next door.
4. The leftover chocolate bar I found in my daughter’s collection of Halloween candy. (Don’t tell her I took it.)
5. The smell of clean sheets taken from the dryer.
6. Holding my husband’s hand under the covers as I drift off to sleep.
7. Finding reruns of the Flip Wilson show on YouTube.
8. The smell of the apple pie as it comes from the oven.
9. Texts I get with pictures of great grandchildren who live in other states.
10. My Amazon package bringing me more coffee from around the world.

As I look at this list I realize it reflects the many “big” blessings for which I am thankful. Eyes that can see, ears that can hear, the ability to taste and smell. Family. Finances enough to be able to have food, entertainment, a home.

How often do I just take those things for granted.

This week my prayer is:

Lord, thank you for my eyesight and the beauty I can see each day; for my hearing and the joy of my family’s voices, the music and the bird’s songs; all my senses that help me experience and enjoy the world you have made. Thank you for being able to get out of bed each morning, dress myself and take care of my needs. Thank you for my every breath that keeps me alive. For the love of family and friends which make life worth living. Thank you for another day of life. One more day to love and be loved. One more day to laugh and maybe even cry. One more day to know You better.

And may my gratitude not be a momentary thing as we approach Thanksgiving, but may I be more aware of all my blessings each and every day. Amen.

A few days before Thanksgiving I posted a blog from last year where I encouraged us to give thanks even in the midst of the chaos of 2020.

Can We Give Thanks in 2020…..2021?

Shortly after posting that blog my youngest daughter called to tell me she had some bad news. Our granddaughter had been sent home from school that morning, along with all her class, because they had been exposed to Covid-19 the day before. They would have to quarantine for Thanksgiving and would not be able to join us for the day as we had planned.

Of course, my first concern was that she and her parents would not get Covid-19 in spite of the exposure. But immediately I also realized what this meant for us. They would have to spend the day with just the three of them and my husband and I would be just two for Thanksgiving.

We have a large blended family but they are scattered all over the USA. We have children and grandchildren in Arizona, Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, West Virginia, Missouri and Illinois. As the grandchildren have grown up and married with families of their own, our Thanksgiving gathering has slowly gotten smaller.

Moving three years ago to Michigan we only have one daughter nearby. And yes, she is the one who had to quarantine.

As I started to feel discouraged about that, I remembered my own blog I just posted.

So I began looking at what I have to be thankful – even as my Thanksgiving feast will only have two seats at the table.

Here are just a few of the things I found I have to be thankful for:

• Thankful for cell phones and FB so I can still wish loved ones Happy Thanksgiving and see pictures of them.
• Thankful that none of my family have died from the Covid-19 though a few of them have had the virus.
• Thankful that I have my husband – my bbf – and I will not be all alone at the table as some may be.
• Thankful for my beautiful home and that my table will still be full of good food.
• Thankful for health so that I can prepare the meal not only for us two but also take a meal to my daughter’s home and leave it on the porch for them to enjoy.
• Thankful for being granted the privilege of being born in this country.

The more I thought about it, the more my list of things to be thankful for grew.

The best thing to thank God for is that we will soon be celebrating his coming to earth to live, to die, to rise again. That in the midst of chaos, He is there.

How did my Thanksgiving day go?

My husband worked with me fixing the turkey and all the trimmings, then quickly took some of it to our daughter’s home. We enjoyed the meal, shared a time of prayer and Bible reading, played Scrabble (we are Scrabble’s addicts), and ended the evening with a movie.

Confessions of a Scrabble Addict!

As we went to bed last night my husband said, “This has been a different Thanksgiving and I missed family, but in a way it was one of my favorites. I spent the day with my best friend doing things we loved to do. It caused me to really take a look at all the blessings God has given us and I am very grateful.”

The day ended well for me – I won the Scrabble game!!!!

My daughter sent me a picture of my granddaughter enjoying my pumpkin pie – with loads of Cool Whip.

I’m not sure if it’s my pie she loves – or all the Cool Whip!

And after almost a week – it appears my family are free of symptoms – no Covid-19.

Thank you Jesus!

DISCLAIMER: I am not advocating for either candidate. How you vote is strictly your privilege as an American and I do not desire to try to influence anyone in any direction. But as one who loves the Lord and hates it when I hear someone say “Jesus Christ” as a swear word, I can’t stop from speaking out. I want to tell them “Please don’t do that. There are plenty of cuss words you can use but don’t invoke my Savior’s name like that.” So it has bothered me all weekend as the name of Jesus has been used, I think, for political purposes and I have to air my pain and, yes, even anger. If as you read this, I offend you, I am sorry.

Growing up in church, I learned the Ten Commandments early in life. One of them said (in the King James language) “thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain.”

To me that meant I should not swear or use God’s name as a cuss word. No “God dam” or “Jesus Christ.”

While I still believe the commandment includes that, I realize today there is many ways we can take the name of the Lord in vain. Sadly, I have seen it done more and more in our highly divided political situation.

At a recent political rally some young people tried to interrupt the speaker by yelling “Jesus is Lord.” When the speaker moved on and rejected their calls, immediately the speaker was accused of being against Jesus.

When we say “Jesus is Lord” our motive should be one of praising Jesus and trying to bring glory to His name. It should never be to cause confusion or division. You would not go into a Hindu temple or a Jewish synagogue and cry that. You would understand they would not agree with you, and you would only cause a problem for everyone. It would not bring glory to Jesus.

So, in a crowd where someone is trying to speak on political issues it is not the place to interrupt with what is not really a praise to Jesus, but rather a disruptive tactic.

Jesus is Lord and should be praised, but his name should never be used as a political tool.

When we call ourselves “Christian” we are also taking on the name of the Lord. We are saying we are part of Jesus’ family. If our actions do not reflect the goodness of God, we are taking his name in vain.

As a young girl sometimes when my siblings and I would go to an event, my father would say, “Don’t do anything that would discredit the family name.” He was teasing us as he did not think we would do that, but still, it did make us stop and think about our actions.

My prayer is that I will live in a way that I never bring discredit to the family name of Jesus Christ. And I pray that we will not allow his name to be used for political gain.

We have examined the furnishings of the Holy Place. Now we look at the Most Holy Place.

The Most Holy Place was small, just 15 by 15 feet. There was a veil separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. This veil was woven from fine linen and made of blue, purple and scarlet yarn. Moses was instructed to have skilled craftsmen embroider figures of cherubim in the veil.

We first read about cherubim in Genesis where they were placed to guard the Garden of Eden after Adam and Eve were evicted because of their disobedience. Ezekiel also mentions them in a vision. The creatures he describes are strange with four faces and attached wheels full of eyes. Could these be real creatures or only symbols? Some Bible scholars proposed that these were symbols showing God as all-wise, all-knowing, all-seeing. The fact that the wheels moved forward without turning express God’s righteousness and truth – he is faithful, never changing. However, we see similar creatures in Revelation that appear to be real beings that stand before the throne of God and worship him day and night.

Like the cherubim guarding the Garden of Eden, the cherubim in the veil appeared to be saying “You can come this far, but no further.”

Behind the veil was the Art of the Covenant. This was a box made from acacia wood 45 inches long, 27 inches wide and 27 inches high. Overlaid with gold, it was fitted with two pairs of gold rings with permanent poles inserted. When the Israelites moved, the poles were used for the priests to carry the ark. No one was to touch the ark because God had said His presence would dwell over the ark. (Exodus 25:22)

There has been much speculation through the years since the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed, first by the Babylonians in 586 BC and later the Romans in 70 AD as to what happened the ark. Hollywood a few years ago made a movie called “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” Totally nonsense.

The ark contained the two tablets of the Law that God had given Moses on Mt. Sinai (Exodus 25:16), Aaron’s rod that had budded (Numbers 17) and a jar of manna (Exodus 16). The Law stood for the covenant between God and the Israelites. The rod reminded the Israelites of the danger of rebellion against God. The jar of manna reminded them of God’s providence for them.

They were to make a cover for the ark of pure gold the same width and length as the ark. On that cover were a pair of cherubim. While no one knows exactly what the ark looked like, from the description in the Bible, artists have tried to imagine it.

The cover of the ark had two cherubim facing each other with their wings extended over the cover. The space between them was called the mercy seat. God said He would meet with them over the mercy seat.

The Hebrew word for this mercy seat is kapporeth. This word speaks of a sacrifice that reconciles and leads to peacemaking. Under the Law, the High Priest would enter the Most Holy Place only once a year where he made a sacrifice for the sins of the entire nation. Today, this special day is celebrated by the Jewish community. It is called “Yom Kippur” (Day of Atonement). This is the holiest day of the year in Judaism and is celebrated by making thing right (atonement) and repentance.

Think of the separation between God and the average person. Only the High Priest could enter the Most Holy Place, and he could do so only one day a year. What a dilemma God told them to build a tabernacle because He wanted to dwell among them. Yet, because of man’s sinfulness and God’s holiness, they were limited in their relationship with Him.

What to do?

Enter Jesus. On His death, Matthew’s Gospel tells us the veil was torn in two. The way to God is now open for everyone.

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh.” Hebrews 10:19-20,

Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. For by one sacrifice, he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. Hebrews 10:11-14

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-

I am so thankful for what Jesus did for me. To know that I can enter confidently into His presence. To know I need no person to intercede to God for me. Jesus has opened the door and said, “Barbara, come on in. You are welcome!”

The door is open for everyone. John 3:16 tells us that “God so loved the world that He gave His only son, that whosoever believes should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

We have looked at the Golden Table of Shewbread and the Golden Lampstand. Today I will share about the third piece of furniture in the Holy Place – The altar of incense.

The altar was made of acacia wood covered with gold. It was about 18 inches square and three feet tall. It stood in the Holy Place just in front of the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.

A vessel with live coals was placed on the altar and the priest would enter the Most Holy Place and sprinkle incense on the coals every morning and every evening. (Exodus 30:7-8)

This incense was to be a special blend of fragrances and was to be used only on the altar. Anyone who made this fragrance for personal use was to be cut off from the community. (Exodus 34:34-38) The fire used to burn the incense was to be taken from the altar of burnt offerings that was outside the Holy Place.

Much of scripture associates incense to prayer. David wrote in Psalm 141, “May my prayer be counted as incense before You; The raising of my hands as the evening offering.”

When John wrote about his vision of heaven, he described a scene where he saw “the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.”

“Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne.”

Zechariah was offering the incense on the altar when the angel Gabriel appeared to him and told him he and his wife Elizabeth were going to have a son. The Gospel of Luke tells us that while Zechariah was offering the incense, the people were outside praying – again an association with the incense offering and prayer. “Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside,”

I find it interesting as we look at the Tabernacle we first come to the burnt altar, where sacrifice for sin took place. Then, we pass the golden laver where the priests washed their hands before entering the Holy Place.

This points, I believe, that as we approach God, we first stop at the cross and receive forgiveness of our sins by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Cleansed by the blood of Jesus, we still live in an imperfect world. As I shared in the post on the golden laver, we need to continue to take time to examine our hearts and minds and allow God’s Spirit to convict and then cleanse us again.

“In Biblical times, the priests would have washed at home. But walking through the dirty, dusty streets their feet could easily become dirty again. Perhaps this is a reminder to us that although we are saved by faith in Jesus and are clean, we are surrounded by a world that is far from God. Perhaps a reminder that while we are saved by faith in Jesus Christ, it can be easy for us to pick up pollution from the world around. Things we see, words we hear, actions we encounter with others. How do you embrace the holy and live in a polluted world? You must keep stopping the laver.”

As we continue our approach into the presence of God we enter the Holy Place. Here we see the golden lampstand and the golden table of shewbread, and we are reminded that Jesus is the light and the bread of life. Coming face to face with the veil separating us from the Most Holy Place we find the altar of incense – the place of prayer.

Some believe this represents Jesus interceding for us before the throne of God. “Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.” Hebrews 7:25

Others think this points to our need to make prayer a daily, constant part of our lives. “One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.” Luke 18:1

Either view to me is encouraging. That Jesus is actively interceding for me, that He is aware of me and my strengths and failures. It is a comfort to know that He did not just die on the cross, arise again and return to heaven waiting until He returns someday. But He is actively involved in my walk with God.

It also comforts me to know that the prayers of God’s people are shown in John’s vision of heaven to ascend before God’s throne. He hears my prayers. It is a sweet-smelling fragrance to him.

As we communicate with God at the golden altar of incense, we are getting close to actually entering the Most Holy Place – the very presence of God.

How do we do that? What does the veil separating the priest from the Most Holy Place tell us about our relationship with God today?

I’ll be addressing that next Sunday. Hope you join me then.

In the meantime, know that God loves you and wants to hear from you. Spend time in prayer with Him this week.

In the Holy Place there were three pieces of furniture. Last week I looked at the golden lampstand.

/https://barblaneblog.com/2024/09/08/let-your-light-shine/

Today let’s take a look at the golden table of shewbread. Made of acacia wood and covered with gold, it was 36 inches long, 18 inches wide, and 27 inches high.  There was a gold molding around the edges and four gold rings to hold poles that were used to carry the table when the Israelites moved from place to place.

The Table of Shewbread is called in Hebrew “lechem panim” or Bread of Face or Bread of Presence. The bread was set in the Tabernacle before the face or presence of God. The table was to hold twelve loaves of bread, representing the twelve tribes of Israel. The bread was to be replaced every Sabbath and only the priests could eat the bread.

As the priests ate the bread, I think of our own homes as we gather around the table to share a meal. We do not just sit and eat, but we share with one another how our day has been, the latest political or sports news, our plans for the week, things that are of interest to us. Eating a meal together is part of most of our gathering with others – weddings, funerals, holidays all include a time of sharing food together.

With the table of shewbread and the priests sharing this bread every Sabbath, I think we can see it pointing to how God desires a time of fellowship with us also.

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” John 1:14

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20

“God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:9

The bread was to be made of the finest flour. In order to make flour the grain had to be ground, crushed and sifted. This also points to the life of Jesus here on earth as he faced temptation by Satan, betrayal by his own disciples and finally a cruel death on a Roman cross.

Tradition says the bread was to be unleavened. Since all the other grain offerings in the Mosaic law were to be without leaven, it seems likely this bread would also be the same. Leaven in the Bible has many different meanings. One meaning, however, points to how a small amount of leaven in a pan of dough causes the whole dough to raise, so allowing a “little” sin in our lives can soon destroy our relationship with God.

“Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” James 1:15

Finally, I think it certainly points to Jesus who said, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” John 6:35

We can celebrate this gift of life from Jesus and the fellowship with Him in many different ways. But one main way we do this is though communion. Depending on what church you attend, you may believe that the bread actually becomes the flesh of Jesus. Or, you may believe it is a symbol of his body, but not actually his flesh.

Regardless of how you view it, through partaking of the bread in communion we acknowledge the importance of receiving the forgiveness from Jesus made through his sacrifice on the cross.

I’m sure many of you have heard the story behind this song “It Is Well.” But if you have not, here it is. It is an inspiring testimony of how God is present in the middle of our tragedies. That does not mean a Christian feels no pain, heartache, sorrow. Rather it proclaims that God is present with us and gives us the courage and strength we need to face the problems life sometimes brings us.

This song has been a great encouragement to me at different times in my life. If you are struggling with a problem, I hope it will also encourage you to look to God for the strength you need.

The writer of the hymn, Horatio Spafford, was a successful lawyer and real estate investor in Chicago. Along with his wife, Anna, and their five children they were active in service to their church and their community in Chicago. In 1871 their young son died of scarlet fever and the great Chicago fire destroyed their real estate properties living them in difficult financial circumstances.

Two years later, in 1873, the family planned a trip to Europe. When business required his presence in Chicago, he sent his wife and four daughters on to Europe. On the trip, the ship was struck by another ship and it sank. His wife was rescued, but all four daughters were lost.

Spafford booked a ship to Europe to join his wife. As the ship neared the place where his daughters had been drowned, he wrote the words of this song.

“Consistently Jesus refused to use coercive power. He knowingly let one of his disciples betray him and then surrendered himself without protest to his captors. Despite Jesus’ plain example, many of His followers have been unable to resist choosing the way of Herod over that of Jesus. The Crusaders who pillaged the Near East, the conquistadors who converted the New World at the point of a sword, the Christian explorers in Africa who cooperated with the slave trade…we are still feeling aftershocks from their mistakes. History shows that WHEN THE CHURCH USES THE TOOLS OF THE WORLD’S KINGDOM, IT BECOMES AS INEFFECTUAL, OR AS TYRANNICAL AS ANY OTHER POWER STRUCTURE. When the church has intermingled with the state (the Holy Roman Empire, Cromwell’s England, Calvin’s Geneva) the appeal of the faith suffers as well. Ironically, OUR RESPECT IN THE WORLD DECLINES IN PROPORTION TO HOW VIGOROUSLY WE ATTEMPT TO FORCE OTHERS TO ADOPT OUR POINT OF VIEW”

From “The Jesus I Never Knew” by Philip Yancey.

Do you have your Christmas shopping done? In years past I always tried to do my shopping early before the crowds got so large. Today, with so many opportunities to shop on-line, I can avoid the stores completely.

As you make your list of who is naughty and who has been nice, may I make some suggestions on who you should include in your list.

2.3 billion people lack basic hand washing facilities with water and soap. One out of four people lack clean drinking water. In Sierra Leone, this is a typical water access point for over 50% of the rural population. Every single day, men, women, children, grandmas, and grandpas, eat, drink, and bathe with water from sources like this. Sanitation is even worse.

Mariatu’s Hope works with the government to bring clean water to communities. They also provide breast milk for babies whose mothers have died, teen pregnancy education, provide needed nutrition to families with small babies and share the story of Jesus.

We take having clean water with just a turn of the faucet for granted. Not so in so many other countries. Look at these happy faces as they get clean water right in their own community.

As Mariatu’s Hope continues to expand new waterpoint program areas, drilling formations have become more difficult. For 2024, Mariatu’s Hope will celebrate their 10-year anniversary and as part of their celebration they are seeking fund to purchase a new LS400 rotary drill rig. This will increase their capacity and capability when drilling in harder formations.

You can learn more about this great organization and give support by checking out their Facebook page at Mariatu’s Hope.

This Christmas, let your Christmas list go beyond your own circle of family and friends. Remember Jesus said:

“For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink….I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!“

Give a real gift to Jesus for His birthday!!

I love the old Christmas carols that I grew up singing and listening to on the radio and at church. But a couple of trees ago a new carol was written. To me, it is one of the best conveyors of the Christmas story.

Hope Has a Name.

Hope you enjoy it!