Category Archives: Blog

Jesus Rules!

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I was honored to write this post as part of a series called, “Blessed” at   http://www.faithfullyfollowing.com You can click over to read more of their inspiring words or find them on their Facebook Page called “Faithfully Following Ministries”. Jodie and Donna inspire me and refresh my soul. I know they will do that for you, too!

Jesus Rules!

You don’t have to spend too much time with me before a few of my “quirks” begin to introduce themselves; like, “Hello, I’m a recovering rule follower.”  Many years ago my little girl heart shattered when my dad walked away from our family. As it began to heal, a lie cemented itself in the cracks and I grew up convinced that if I’d only been better, done better, maybe my dad wouldn’t have left. And so, in an attempt to “be good” the confines of adhering to rules slowly but surely became my comfort zone. 

“Praise the Lord! Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in his commands.” Psalm 112:1 (NIV)

So, what happens when a rule-loving gal reads in the Bible about being delighted and blessed by following commands like in this verse? Well, just imagine a high five being lifted toward heaven and the words “I’ve got this,” slipping from my lips.

“You shall not murder.” Check!
“You shall not commit adultery.” Check!
“You shall not steal.” You get the idea.

Maybe like me, you think having a commandment check-list complete with heavenly high fives sounds “delightful,” but here’s what I’ve been learning: Obeying the rules isn’t what brings us true blessing. Remember the rich, young man? (A champion rule-follower, himself!)

“As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. ‘Good teacher,’ he asked, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ 

‘Why do you call me good?’ Jesus answered. ‘No one is good-except God alone. You know the commandments: You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’

‘Teacher, he declared, ‘all these I have kept since I was a boy.’

Jesus looked at him and loved him. ‘One thing you lack,’ he said. ‘Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven. Then come, follow me.’ ” Mark 10:17-21 (NIV)

Friends, Jesus looks at us too, and He loves us more than we can comprehend (quirks and all). His love is so great, He went to the cross to release us once and for all, from the bondage of rules we were never able to obey on our own in the first place. What the young ruler missed, and sometimes we do too, is that following the rules doesn’t change us; following Jesus does! And while we don’t have to go and sell everything, we do need to rid ourselves of all that keeps us focused on our own efforts rather than on Him.

 In life, there will always be rules to obey. The delight comes when we walk away from depending on our own performance to gain a father’s love or whatever we’re in search of, and instead, with thanksgiving, pursue the One who’s already blessed us with everything we’ll ever need.

“But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.” Romans 7:6 (NLT)

“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.”
Ephesians 1:3 (NLT)

Redeeming Promises~Five Minute Friday

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“My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to You; and my soul, which You have redeemed.” Psalm 71:23 (NASB)

Redeeming Promises

Carefully placed between the pages of my Bible, are “heart treasures”: cards, notes, prayers, photos, letters, and such, that I’ve saved over the years. Things so precious, I want to keep them close to refresh my memory of the rich love they hold. One such gem is this “Christmas Coupon Book” given to me years ago by my young daughter. Each coupon page written in her little girl handwriting, was a gift I could redeem whenever I chose to.

As you can see, I was presented with a wide variety of promises. (My favorite is “kill flies”! We lived in an old house at the time, where in the fall, the flies thought they lived there too. It was a job not taken lightly! ) The thing is, by tucking her words away, I failed to benefit from the opportunities so generously offered out of love, to make my life better.

How often do we do the same thing with our actual Bible? God’s Word is a treasure meant to be held close. We know it’s a gift, full of precious words and rich with love for each of us, yet, we frequently tuck it away for going through later, failing to gain from the life it offers.

As a reminder, imagine with me for a moment, a “Christ Coupon Book”, to us, from God, each page written with the palms of Jesus’s hands:

Page 1- “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23 (NLT)

Page 2- “They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, ‘The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. The will kill him, and after three days he will rise.’ ” Mark 9:31 (NIV)

Page 3- “Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, ‘I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.’ ”
John 8:12 (NLT)

Page 4- “But-When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.”
Titus 3:5 (NLT)

Page 5- “Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!”
Luke 12:24 (NIV)

Page 6- “You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you.”
John 15:4-5a (NIV)

The Bible presents us with promises after promises, so generously given, not just to make our lives better, but to offer us eternal life!  The question is, will we chose to benefit from His gift?

“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.”
Ephesians 2:8 (NLT)

In this time of Lent as we prepare to make our way to the foot of the cross and the empty tomb,  what if we also seek out the treasure of God’s Word once again, along the way. Let’s challenge ourselves to pull our Bibles off shelves, out of drawers, from under the stack and day by day, refresh our memories of all the “treasures of The Heart” we have received!

“Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!” Psalm 107:2a (NASV)

Writing today along with my friends at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com to the prompt, “Redeem”. You can click over to read more thoughts and even join in with us yourself! I want you to remember that I do not take for granted the time you offer me when you stop in. I count it as a gift for sure! 

 

True Colors

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“But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.’ ” 1 Samuel 16:7 (NLT)

True Colors

A year ago, I sat in this very chair at my hair dresser’s. It was the last “normal” thing I did before our worlds shrunk to the size of our homes. For the next months the real color of my hair slowly became more and more evident. Catching a glimpse of myself in the mirror resulted in a double take and stopping for a closer look, left me asking, “Who is that gray-haired lady staring back at me?” The longer it went on, the more the pandemic revealed the “real” me.

“As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person.” Proverbs 27:19 (NLT)

I’ve heard it said, maybe you have too, that it’s usually during the worst of times a person’s true colors show. We’ve certainly been going through that kind of time, haven’t we?  All the changes, restrictions, disappointments, and unknowns certainly could expose someone we don’t recognize. When catching my own reflection, there’ve been times I was blue as sadness crept into my days. Shades of envy green grabbed my attention when others were gathered with family and I couldn’t be. It wasn’t hard to see that I also attempted to keep a white-knuckled grip of control on normal life as it seemed to quickly slip through my fingers. Maybe you’ve felt like an emotional chameleon, too.  True colors of my heart? Probably so, but thankfully not permanent ones because like the Psalmist, we can cry out:

“Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 (NLT)

As you might have guessed, I’m not ready for others to see the natural color of my hair quite yet. Thankfully, my friend and hair stylist can now cover it up for me! So, what do we do about those true colors that creep into our hearts that we don’t want to show the world, either? Thankfully, Jesus’s red blood covers and transforms those!

“And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.” Hebrews 10:21-22 (NLT)

Much has changed between my visits to cover up the gray. Things we never imagined could happen have now become part of our everyday; but, I was reminded as I sat in my hair stylist’s chair, that there IS something we can count on to always remain the same: Jesus and His work in us. (Hebrews 13:8)  Even when our (my) hearts become tinted by the circumstances around us, what a comfort to know that, in His hands, they become a palete of True Colors He uses to create a masterpiece in each us. And this one? We WANT to display to the world!

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

I did a lot of reflection as I sat in that chair this week, knowing all that had happened in a year! I love when God sends me a lesson that I need right at the moment I need it! I pray that it will encourage you, too.  I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support of being here reading my random thoughts. It means more than you know! C~

 

 

 

Green With Envy ~ Five Minute Friday

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“What will you give me to turn Him over to you?” They offered him 30 pieces of silver.” Matthew 26:15 (The Voice)

Green With Envy

Egos green with envy,
They plotted out their plan.
To rid themselves completely
Of this popular Man.

Jealously quickly mounted
And hatred grew and grew,
As He stole all the attention
From their privileged few.

Intending to cleverly trap Him
They questioned His every word.
But defeated, they soon departed
Amazed by what they’d heard.

Secretly gathered in the palace
A betrayal had begun.
Those egos green with envy,
Would crucify God’s own Son.

“And so the chief priests and the Pharisees, the teachers and the elders, knew that when Jesus told these stories He was speaking about them. Not believing, they looked for a way to arrest Him-a stealthy way, though. They were afraid to make too bold a move against Him because all the people believed He was a prophet.” Matthew 21:45-46 (The Voice)

“Jesus knew these men were out to trap Him. ‘You hypocrites! Why do you show up here with such a transparent trick? Bring me a coin you would use to pay tax.’ Someone handed Him a denarius. Jesus fingered the coin. ‘Of whom is this a portrait, and who owns this inscription?’ ‘Caesar.’ Well then, render to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.’ And those who had come hoping to trick Jesus were confounded and amazed. And they left Him and went away.” Matthew 22:18-22 (The Voice)

“And almost as He spoke, the chief priests were getting together with the elders at the home of the high priest, Caiaphas. They schemed and mused about how they could trick Jesus, sneak around and capture Him, and then kill Him.” Matthew 26:3-4 (The Voice)

The prompt at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com today is “Green”. All day I thought I’d be writing about the green daffodil leaves poking through the ground and renewal or refreshing. And all day nothing came. I’d pretty much decided I wouldn’t be writing this week when out of nowhere “Green With Envy” came to my mind along with those self-righteous (can’t we all be) Pharisees and in just a little longer than five minutes I was done. I never know when I begin where I’ll end up. Today is a good example! I just have to hold on and go where the Spirit leads me. Thank you for going along with me!  You’re presence here is always a blessing! 

Share Four Somethings ~ February 2021

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As hard as it is to believe, February has been here and is gone! Time has felt so strange! Thankfully though, slowly but surely, time is shifting a little more toward “normal” here.  Schools are back in session full time, we’ve been having in-person church, businesses are able to host more customers, and my calendar actually has writing on it in the coming weeks and months of which I am VERY thankful. Speaking of gratitude, it’s time to look back over the past month with http://www.heathergerwing.com and think about what I’ve “Loved, Read or Heard Said, Treasured, and to What’s Ahead”. Being February, it’s all about love this month! So, here we go….

February Share Four Somethings

“My loved ones, let us devote ourselves to loving one another. Love comes straight from God, and everyone who loves is born of God and truly knows God.” 1 John 4:7 (The Voice)

Something Loved

Showing love, is the something I loved in February! It’s often easy to take Valentine’s Day for granted after spending 39 of them together. Not wanting that to happen, I decided to celebrate with my husband all week leading up to the 14th. What a great time I had picking out little favorite treats I know he enjoys and then coming up with silly sayings to go along with them. It brought me joy to remind him that he’s still the ONE for me! Showing someone they’re loved is always the best gift and we don’t have to (and shouldn’t) wait until Valentine’s Day to give it!

“With every sun’s rising, surprise us with Your love, satisfy us with Your kindness. Then we will sing with joy and celebrate every day we are alive.” Psalm 90:14 (The Voice)

Something Read/Said

In a Voxer message, a friend recently read me some words that truly made my “heart sing”! When I messaged back asking where she’d found them, she shared this wonderful book with me. Sally Lloyd-Jones knows how to speak words of God’s love to the soul. A devotional, “Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing” is that special combination of being written for children and yet, within the pages and illustrations are messages everyone longs to hear, no matter their age! I’m looking forward to sharing this beautiful little book with my grandsons and reading it for myself when I need to, as the Author’s Note says, “listen to whatever God wants to say to me” about “how He loves me and how I can love him”.

“I (God) appeared to them from far away and said: ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love-out of faithfulness I have drawn you close.’ ” Jeremiah 31:3 (The Voice)

Something Treasured

Love in real time across the miles: That’s what I treasured in February! My sisters and I spent our early childhood in California while our grandparents lived in Michigan.  The only way for them to share in our lives was through rare, expensive long distance phone calls or after the fact in letters sent across the country. The same was also true for my Mom after we girls went our own ways. While we too are separated by miles, how grateful I am to be able to share in my kids’ and grandsons’ day to day lives right as things are happening! How fun to see the boys play in the first snow of the winter, watch our youngest grand beginning to crawl, and view our son’s craftsmanship displayed at his first show! There’s no doubt that for this Mom and MiMi, loving in person is best; but, being included in long distance, real time love is something I’ll always treasure, too!

“But now faith, hope, and love remain; these three virtues must characterize our lives. The greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13 (The Voice)

Something Ahead

They began in December at the Prayer Tree: my prayers for the Covid vaccine.  Since then, I’ve been hoping and praying for the call that I received this morning. It’s my turn! I’ve waited and watched as the 80+ crowd received their shots, then the 70+ crew, and now….the 60+ gang that I’m part of are up! I’m not just looking ahead to March 4th though, I’m also looking ahead to what March 4th and the vaccine mean. Soon I will, without fear of unknowingly making someone sick, finally be able to spend time with family. My calendar can once again become a place of plans to gather with friends, birthday celebrations, and holiday traditions! While “normal” of 2019 and “normal” of 2021 will most certainly look different as we move ahead, these remain: faith that God is working all things for good, hope in what’s to come, and most of all, love that never ends!

I “love” this practice of looking back before we look ahead. I’d love to hear your reflections on February! Just share them in the comments if you’d like. I continue to be grateful for your presence here with me and my pondering. You are a blessing to me! Happy March!

The Way is Enabled

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“Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures.” John 10:9 (NLT)

The Way is Enabled

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a hundred times, “I don’t like passwords!” Oh, I know they’re necessary to keep our information private and secure, but still. It seems like whenever I’m right in the middle of something, a transaction, purchase, or even trying to add words of encouragement on someone’s blog post, that pop up asking for my password will block my way. Then, I find myself having to go through the steps of getting my book, finding the right one, and entering it in perfectly before I can get where I wanted to go. Anyone else relate?

Recently, I had a day full of worry where my heart raced and my thoughts spun even faster. In the midst of my anxiety I cried out to God. What a comfort to know that there was nothing else I needed to do to get my request right to Him! No password or steps to take necessary.

Think of the Old Testament Priests. They had to get the right clothes, find certain foods, and follow the rules perfectly or their way to God was blocked. Hallelujah, that Jesus, through His sacrifice, has enabled the way for us, far-from-perfect people, to go, without hesitation to God!

“So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, lies us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”
Hebrews 4:14-16 (NLT)

Maybe passwords are difficult for me because I’m not a technological native but rather a foreigner trying to function in an unfamiliar world. I know it helps to have younger people to guide me in the right direction! It can feel that way living in our day to day world too! Finding ourselves at dead ends and feeling lost is all too familiar; but, we’re not alone in it, either.  Jesus tells us that He is the Gate to go through, the Door that will be opened, and the Way to follow.

“Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us. So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. you are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.” Ephesians 2:18-19 (NLT)

“So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.” John 10:7 (ESV)

“Jesus told him, ‘ I am the way the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.’ ” John 14:6 (NLT)

If you’re like me you may not remember your passwords, but here’s the good news: when written on our hearts, Jesus keeps us secure and is the only Word we’ll ever need to enable us to pass from this world into the presence of God. Now that’s worthy of another “Hallelujah!” don’t you think?

“So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.” John 1:14 (NLT)

Writing today as part of the http://www.fiveminutefriday.com community and as part of #write28days (even tho I’ve only written 4) with http://www.anitaojeda.com to the prompt “Enable”. Please know that I appreciate you stopping in and reading the things I ponder on. Your presence is a gift to me! God bless.

 

 

Observant or Serving

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“Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.” Romans 12:12 (NLT)

Observant or Serving

Look closely. Notice anything out of place in my peaceful bird feeding world? Yes! An intruder! As I watched out the window, I was amazed at how focused and in tune with all the birds’ movements he was. And all the while, they had no idea danger was near! Clearly, he had only one thing on his mind: to attack and consume one of my unsuspecting bird friends. 

You know, there’s a prowler after us, too. He’s observant.  Our words and actions are familiar to him. Patient, he waits for the opportune time to pounce and disrupt our peace. Unfortunately, we also often fail to recognize his presence. He likes it that way. It makes us easy to prey upon. 

“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith.” 1 Peter 5:8-9a (NLT)

We’re living in challenging times, exactly the kind a predator enjoys! Now more than ever, we must be extra vigilant and on the look out. Alone, we’re readily vulnerable to his temptings and can be easily consumed, satisfying the enemy’s hunger for more. We must ask God to help us control our words, monitor our minds, think before we act, and to protect those weak spots (I) we each have from being targeted. Luckily, after discovering the trespasser, the bird restaurant didn’t stay open long.  Just as I ran off this unwanted neighborhood cat from his hidden hunting place before he was able to have lunch, we can deter the stalking devil before he devours us. God has given us everything we need for the fight!

“A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all the strategies of the devil.” Ephesians 6:11(NLT)

We spend a lot of our time distracted, watching our phones, TV, other people, our bank accounts, and so much more. Let’s not forget to be alert to the one who lurks in the midst of it all. God has provided a defense so that we can stand firm and be strong in our faith, be a light in the devil’s darkness revealing his hiding places, and victoriously compel him on his way.

“Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of Spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6:13-17 (NLT)

May we remain ready for battle, always observant instead of becoming the next “serving” on the enemy’s menu!

Teaming up with http://www.fiveminutefriday.com and #write28days at http://www.anitaojeda.com writing to the prompt “Observant”. Your presence here is a blessing to me. I always pray you leave encouraged. God bless and stay well!

Once

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“Now rescue your beloved people. Answer and save us by your power.” Psalm 60:5 (NLT)

Once

I once took a girls’ day out shopping for granted….
Now, I don’t.

There was once a time I didn’t know that gathering with family would be considered risky…
But now, I do.

I believed the privilege of going to church was guaranteed, once….
Now, I don’t.

Wearing a mask everywhere I went, once seemed impossible….
But, now I do.

Hugging was once the way I greeted my friends….
Now, I don’t.

Once, I had no idea how much I could miss “normal”, everyday life….
But now, I do.

I once assumed that grocery store shelves would always be full….
Now, I don’t.

I couldn’t comprehend how very lonely a holiday could be, once…
But now, I do.

Oh, how easily, I once regularly overlooked the simple joys of life….
Now, I don’t.

Once, I had never prayed for the end of a pandemic….
But now, I do.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

 

These random thoughts about the last months came as a result of the prompt, “Once”. I’m writing today with others at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com and with #write28days over at http://www.anitaojeda.com so “once” you’re finished here, why don’t you click on over to read others’ offerings. Wishing you all a Happy Valentine’s Day! Remember God Loves You and that I appreciate you taking your time to stop in. 

Waiting for the Sunrise

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“I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.” Psalm 130:5-6 (NIV)

Waiting for the Sunrise 

Early bird? Not me! But even so, there are many winter mornings I sit in my chair with my coffee, still waiting for the sunrise. The mountains out my front window keep the sun’s rays at bay until later than most places. And so I wait. I watch. Then, about half way through my second cup, the sun rises over the ridge and I welcome the day with those first bright beams breaking through the gray, early morning and transforming ordinary things into a palette of reflected light.

“As evening approached, Joseph, a rich man from Arimathea who had become a follower of Jesus, went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. And pilate issued an order to release it to him. Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a long sheet of clean linen cloth. He placed it in his own new tomb, which had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance and left. Both Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting across from the tomb and watching.”
Matthew 27:57-61 (NLT)

Just a short while ago things were going so well. They thought they knew what the future would hold. But then, everything changed. And now? These followers of Jesus were sad, scared, and didn’t know what to do next. And so, with darkness closing in, there they sat… watching, waiting, and longing for the Light. Sounds very familiar to me, how about you?

Waiting. Not one of my favorite things, especially when waiting in the dark. We all know about that, don’t we? Seasons of life change just like seasons of the year, and we can find ourselves, without warning, in the midst of bleak days where all we can do is watch, wait, and long, too.

“Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint. Then the angel spoke to the women. ‘Don’t be afraid’ he said. ‘I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He has risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying.’ ” Matthew 28:1-6 (NLT)

Just a short while ago things weren’t going well. They thought they knew what the future would hold. While the Marys and the world waited in the darkness, the mountain of rock couldn’t hold Him back and The. Son. Did. Rise! And in that moment everything changed for them.

I’m sure you’ll agree that this world can plunge us into unexpected darkness. We’ve been living there for about a year now, haven’t we? Here’s the thing: when we welcome the Light into our days everything changes for us, too.  Our circumstances might not be different, but how we see them will be. The Light shows us the Way. He shows us the Truth. He offers us a life transformed, one where we ourselves become a palette of reflected Light. The wait is over! The light shines in the darkness, not just today, or tomorrow, or for only a season, but my friends, the Son Rise is for evermore.

“Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, ‘I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.’ ” John 8:12 (NLT)

Doing double duty with this post and joining http://www.fiveminutefriday.com and  http://www.anitaojeda.com for #write28days both using the prompt “Sunrise”. Lucky you! There’s double the great writing to read. Just click on over and see what the “Sunrise” brings! As always I am more than grateful for your presence here with me in my ponderings. You are a true gift! 

January Share Four Somethings

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My goodness, this month flew by! The days just kind of blur one into another and I easily lose track. That’s why I want to be dedicated to joining each month and share “Four Somethings” at http://www.heathergerwing.com .  (You can, too!) I didn’t do too well last year (well, last year was a weird one, wasn’t it?) Anyway, I hope to do better in 2021. So here we go:

January Share Four Somethings

“So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NLT)

Something Loved

Since retiring, I’ve been trying to add new recipes to my menu each week. Whether main dish, side dish, or dessert cooking new things brings me joy and I’m especially happy when something in a meal is a big hit. This month’s most loved thing to tickle the tastebuds was Sloppy Joe Soup. Not only did my recipe “guinea pigs” enjoy it, they also have asked me to share it with others. Now, that’s a sign they really did love it! And what’s not to love? Easy, simple ingredients, and great taste; not to mention a wonderful dish on these cold, winter evenings. It’s found a place in my recipe book for sure. One of my love languages is most certainly cooking, so for this gal, having something loved from my kitchen is truly a gift!

“Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the spirit, and I will also pray in words I understand. I will sing in the spirit, and I will also sing in words I understand.” 1 Corinthians 14:15 (NLT)

Something Read/Said

 This past Christmas I continued a new tradition I began in 2019 of having a Community Prayer Tree in the small park across from my house. As the prayer requests came in, I hung them on the tree and then each day in December I prayed over each one. It has become a very meaningful experience for me. This year there were so many heartbreaking situations and honestly, I wondered if I was “the one” to be lifting them up. Since then I’ve decided to learn more about God’s plan for us in prayer, so I’m doing a search in His Word to hopefully (with His help) gain wisdom before next year’s tree is set up. That’s where my something read/said comes in. Years ago, I read and loved the “Yada Yada Prayer Group” series by Neta Jackson. And in God-wink fashion, my books were just recently returned to me after being shared for years. Perfect timing right? I took the hint and once again am reading them. It didn’t take me too many pages to know that I will be encouraged by the words in these books, too.

“I want to learn how to worship You, Jesus. I want a bigger faith. I want to learn how to pray. And, yes, I want to know what You created me for…”
~The Yada Yada Prayer Group, Book 1

 

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21 (NIV)

Something Treasured

Oh. My. Goodness! To say that this treasure is priceless is an understatement! This is our very first ever, letter from a grandchild! I am a BIG fan of real mail! For as long as I can remember I’ve sent cards and letters regularly to those I care about or am thinking of. So of course, I write to the boys, sending pictures I’ve drawn for them with simple messages of love from “MiMi and Pop Pop”. Never did I expect a handwritten note so soon, (5 years old!) but that’s exactly what I found when I opened the envelope. There may have been a few tears shed…. For now, this treasure is hanging on the fridge, but eventually it will find its place in the pages of my Bible where all treasure is found!

“Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.” Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT)

Something Ahead

Who knew practicing something could be so much fun? Learning to use my new camera has brought me so much enjoyment! I’ve always been an observant person but now, I see potential photos everywhere, which isn’t always good, especially when driving the WV mountain roads I do! There’s so much beauty in the everyday that we miss, but looking through my lens I’ve found it in so many unexpected places. Now, I can’t get enough, so I’m looking forward to finding an online photography class to help me use my camera to its fullest (right now I am only at the elementary level). So, with a little more knowledge and a lot more practice, I hope there will be many more photos ahead so I can share God’s beauty with others!

January has been a month of being full: full of good food, God’s Word, love, and beauty. Now, that’s a month to celebrate! What about you? What did January have to offer? I’d love for you to share your “Four Somethings” with me in the comments. And as always, you being here with me is something I celebrate everyday! God bless and I pray February brings us all much joy!