Gifts That Keep on Giving: Happy New Year

No matter how you look at it, gifts are a fun part of the Christmas season. To me, a gift represents love, whether I give it or receive it. It says, “I was thinking of you. I thought you might enjoy this (item).”

Christmas celebrates Jesus’ birthday, and in His honor, many charitable works are done. After all, He taught his disciples that feeding the hungry, clothing those in need, visiting the sick, and those in prison were all ways of honoring Him, though they might not realize it (Matthew 25:32-46).

I always enjoy reading about the wise men in Matthew chapter two. Their gifts were expensive but there was a gift given to us that cost even more. Not only was it one-of-a-kind, but it was also free. It could never be earned or purchased.

Let’s do a little Q and A: This gift is explained in John 3:16-21:

Who gave this gift? God.

Why did He give it? He loved the world He created, and sin had corrupted it.

What was the gift? A Redeemer, His one and only Son.

Why did He give it? To save the world, not condemn it.

Who can receive it? Anyone who chooses to believe in the name of His Son, Jesus.

Gift-giving does not end with Christmas. 

Jesus is God’s gift that keeps on giving. One of His special gifts is peace.

He said, “My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).

I haven’t seen any long-lasting peace coming from our world, have you? Not one-on-one, and certainly not in any public setting.

I still say, “Happy New Year” because of Jesus’ offer of personal peace.

Do you want it? 

OK, just believe, ask, receive . . . and . . . remember to say, “Thank you, Jesus.”

 

Increase Your Christmas Joy

 

Christmas comes one day a year. When I was growing up, the big draw was two weeks out of school. Where I lived, that definitely meant lots of snow.

It also meant participation in the annual Sunday School program. Recitations and songs were followed by goodie bags for the kids. That was one Christmas tradition I was glad to outgrow---hard (unwrapped) Christmas candy sold in bulk!

I was an adult before I learned of a tradition called Advent. Advent means coming. My more liturgical friends had been celebrating Christmas with devotionals and candles starting the first Sunday after Thanksgiving.

I actually felt like I’d been cheated of something special; however, as an adult, I could change my ways.

Have you seen an Advent wreath? It’s a circle holding four candles around the outside edge, one for each Sunday of Advent. In the center is the Jesus candle. Traditional colors are four pink and one purple; however, any color can be used.

Still being in a non-liturgical church, I introduced Advent in Wednesday night services. The response was very positive. I chose four white candles for the outside, and a larger red one for the Jesus candle in the middle. I circled the candles with evergreens.

Each week celebrated a one-word theme. Words like Love or Hope or Light. Our ceremony had four simple steps: (1) A member read a scripture, (2) lit the candle of the week, (3) the congregation sang a song, and (4) a member closed with a devotional prayer.

Suggestions were available for those who wished to continue the theme in their daily devotionals.

Advent is personal and does not require a group setting. At home, I no longer light the candles but remain loyal to devotionals. 

This year I’m reading Why the Nativity? by Dr. David Jeremiah (Tyndale House Publ., 2006). It’s from my collection of Christmas books, many of which I have given away over the years.

I mentioned Advent to my sister-in-law this year. She asked what it was so I sent her a devotional. She said, “I found an Advent wreath at Hobby Lobby and we’re enjoying Advent devotionals for the first time ever.”

It’s never too late to increase your Christmas joy!

My Favorite Three-Letter Word

When it comes to movies, I enjoy good dialogue. Now and then someone will be trying to explain something when they are interrupted by the listener saying, “I hear a ‘but’ coming.”

Even if the speaker is saying something positive, the listener believes something negative is coming. They’re usually right.

Communication, including self-talk, should balance positives and negatives. Remember the days of high school speech class? I do.

Some critique was expected, but the major rule was this: A positive comment must be made before a negative comment can be given. A few positive words always softened the blow of the inevitable “but.”

I think the purpose of this three-letter word is to bring balance. There are always two sides to an issue. Life is full of both positives and negatives.

We can precede a positive thought with a negative one, or we can reverse it . . . start with the positive, followed by a negative.

Here’s an example. Which would you choose to make your point?

1)      I’m so glad you’re my daughter, but I’d like to see you take more interest in your appearance.

2)      I’d like to see you take more interest in your appearance, but I’m so glad you’re my daughter.

I love reading Proverbs. It’s filled with my favorite three-letter word. This creates comparisons which cause me to think. However, even the New Testament gets into the balancing act.

A good example is 1 Peter 1:24, 25. The writer quotes from Isaiah where man is compared to grass that withers and flowers in the grass that fade away.

Sounds like a downer, doesn’t it? Don’t give up. Read on:  . . . “but the word of the Lord endures forever.”

Now that’s encouraging for a couple of reasons: 1) I can find personal long-lasting hope in God’s Word, and 2) When trying to encourage someone else, I have more than my well-meaning words to share.

God’s Word endures forever. Grab it and hang on . . . there’s no expiration date!

 

Heavenly Passwords

Each morning I open a brief You Version devotional app on my cell phone. I have been inspired to hear Christians from all around the world.

One day this week a minister in Calcutta, India shared inspirational thoughts about Psalm 100:4-5:

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.

I was intrigued when he said, "Thanksgiving and praise are heavenly passwords." He further drew me in with his word definitions.

"Thanksgiving,” he said, “is thanking God for what He has done. Praise is expressing words of adoration for who God is.”  

As I listened to this devotional, I pictured some of the gated communities I have visited. Gates opened only after I entered a code or password.

Thanksgiving passwords get us into God's presence. Once inside, we can move on into a more personal setting with praise, followed by prayers and petitions.

My goddaughter had once been a missionary in India. I knew she would enjoy hearing this pastor.

She did, but her take on passwords was different from mine. Being younger than me and totally at home in the computer world, she pictured computer passwords.

That made sense to me, too. I remembered a teacher in one of my college classes holding up a thick address book one day. “These are my passwords,” she said, “I won’t get anywhere without them.”

The psalmist said God’s truth endures through all generations. In Psalm 100 we learn the importance of passwords and, young or old, we get the point.

Have you ever noticed how happy people are when we remember to say, “Thank you?” Or have you ever tried to tell someone what you really like about them?

Giving thanks and praise builds relationships . . . not just with people, but with God, too. 

It doesn’t happen automatically, however. Give it some thought. 

The Fruit of Thanksgiving

The fourth Thursday of November is almost here. A lot of people have made plans for this holiday. You've probably been part of such conversations yourself. 

Thanksgiving Day is a fun public holiday. People talk about the traditional turkey and dressing dinner, along with things like sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, and pumpkin pie.

I’d be surprised, however, if you’ve heard much about fruit for Thanksgiving. It’s a specialized individual item, but sharing it with others multiplies its pleasure. That’s why I’m encouraging you to include fruit this year.

Some of you think I’m talking about fruit salad. I’m not. I’m talking about what the scriptures call “the fruit of our lips, giving thanks” (Hebrews 13:15 NKJV). The question is how and when will you bring it out?

Hopefully, you won’t do what I did. I once served a beautiful well-planned dinner. The accolades of my guests made me feel great.

All that changed later when I opened the refrigerator door. Staring me in the face was a big bowl of fruit salad. Fruit is not known for its longevity, and it would have been so much fun to share. Timeliness is important.

The challenge this year is to purposely include some fruit. Remember, the fruit of your lips is giving thanks to God. This is open to all people regardless of age, social standing, or financial limitations.

Decide how you and your guests can share the encouragement of the fruit of your lips this year.

Need a starter phrase? Just say, “I’m thankful for (name it).” People can share fruit at the table or away from it. It’s Thanksgiving Day, remember?      

Candles and Flashlights

Last week I was watching TV when suddenly the lights went off. I had not been without electricity for years. Two things surprised me---the stifling feeling of complete darkness and the overwhelming silence.

I sat in my recliner, considering the situation. I thought I can see why people in solitary confinement might go crazy after a while. But a few minutes later I started to think now what shall I do?

First, I turned on my cell phone flashlight. God bless the person who designed that option. I used it to retrieve the flashlight on my desk, then I located the special candle created in a jar, plus some matches in my kitchen.

The furnace was off, so I bundled up in a blanket. Then I thought my cell phone works---I’ll make some calls. I even received a couple of calls, though they were surprised to learn I was sitting in the dark.

Later on, the flashlight helped me read. When that became tiring, I decided to rest. I figured the lights would come on eventually. If not, at least I could count on daylight.

The darkness was a wake-up call. But about ninety minutes later the lights came on as suddenly as they had gone off. The first thing I did was turn on the furnace. Then I located a flashlight in each room.

My stifling darkness had been alleviated by light in various forms and different sizes. I was thankful for each of them.

Light comes into our world in different ways, too. The psalmist David declared, “The LORD is my light and my salvation” (Psalm 27:1).

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world (John 8:12 NKJV). He further declared that His followers were to let His light shine through them in good works, not for their glory, but to the glory of God (Matthew 5:16).

Don’t say, “I’m only a small candle.” Don’t even think I’m only a flashlight. Just shine! Follow Jesus and do good. Even a tiny light pushes away the darkness and brings hope around it.        

 

 

The Promise of "T"

Moving from the Midwest to the Southwest was a big challenge.  One reason was that I was moving with six weeks left in my Junior year of high school.

Another reason was riding to school on a metropolitan bus. I had always walked to school, even being able to get home for lunch! I was very unhappy with the cafeteria on my huge new campus.

I had one bright spot in my day: Mom and her tea. I looked forward to getting off the city bus at our corner, walking into the house, and joining mom at the kitchen table. While we talked about my day, I learned to relax with tea, too.

Mom had a lovely smile and a calm demeanor. Proverbs 15:30 says, “A cheerful look brings joy to the heart . . .” That was mom for me.

It wasn’t that we always talked for a long time. It was just that she made my day seem worthwhile. Proverbs 12:25 says, “Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.” I felt like a dot in the sea of education and city life, but at home, I mattered. Mom took time for me.

“T” means TIME, not TEA! Which human being does not need some exclusive time to be encouraged or made to feel appreciated?

I’m sure you’ve heard debates on quality time vs. quantity time, but to me, that’s not the issue. I think we should simply do WHAT we can, WHERE we can, WHEN we can, with WHOMEVER we can.

Be thoughtful - - - get creative! “T” could include talking, texting, treats, trails, teamwork, or even time for tea! Once COVID releases its social barriers, trips or tickets might be a choice.  

In your world, this very day, you'll find a person---young, old, or in between---who could benefit from some of your special “T”. No one else can do it like you!

 

 

Just One Little Candle

Have you ever been in the dark? Light is something easy to take for granted. Just flip a switch and there it is---light!

I have rarely been without it in my lifetime. The few times I have been in the dark, I have been grateful for one little candle. It didn't matter if it was a single tall taper or a fat round pillar.

Light has always been a major factor in the world. In the Genesis story of Creation, the first thing God said was, "Let there be light" (Genesis 1:3).

Read further and you see light specialties---sun for the day, moon and stars for the night. Beautiful, yes, but practical. Their purpose was to mark seasons and the passing of time. I wouldn't want to give up any of them, would you?

God is always into light, not darkness. He expanded light in different ways. He sent His Son who was declared "The Light of the world" (John 8:12). People, who chose to believe in Jesus, would no longer walk in spiritual darkness.

God's light was further expanded as Jesus instructed those who believed in Him to be lights, too. How? By their good works as they followed His teachings. They would bring glory to God (Matthew 5:16).

Over the centuries there have been lights that brightened the lives of millions. For example Mother Teresa, Billy Graham, William and Catherine Booth, Father Michael McGivney, Corrie Ten Boom, and Jan Karon.

Have you heard of Sister Gaynel, Pastor Joe and Carolyn, Grandma Weber, or Mom Mullins? No? Oh, I know why! Their lives of good works and good words brightened MY small world.

All these people have one thing in common---humility. Whether praising Mother Teresa or Billy Graham, each would insist, "I'm just one little candle." Mom Mullins and Grandma Weber would say the same.

Two important principles remain at work: (1) Someone is waiting for just one little candle to shine in their darkness, and (2) I am not called to shine where you can shine, nor vice versa.

She Lived to be 100!

As our pastor gave an open invitation to a memorial, my curiosity kicked in. I kept waiting for him to say the name, but he just said she had lived a little over one hundred years.

I decided to attend. It was my first opportunity to celebrate a centenarian. Yes, I know . . . a friend reminded me that people live way longer than that nowadays, but I’ve never met any of those either.

Her big, beautiful family, including great-grandchildren, impressed me. It reminded me of Proverbs 17:6: Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children (NLT). The memorial reflected their love for her.

During the slide show, I realized I knew this lady, though I had never met her. I had often observed her walking slowly toward the church, holding onto the arm of her daughter-in-law. She was obviously a senior, but I would never have guessed her to be one hundred.

I wasn’t the only one who noticed they parked far out. The pastor said, “One day I asked why they didn’t drive up closer and use our portico?” Their reply? “She wants to walk.”

Imagine the changes this lady lived through. From the end of the horse-and-buggy era into the space age, for one thing. And think of the changes from wall-mounted party-line telephones, to desk-top rotary-dial models, to current pocket-sized cell phones.

During World War II she took her place in a factory to help with the war effort. She lived through the Depression and several recessions. Is it any wonder this was the verse on the front of her memorial brochure? The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged (Deuteronomy 31:8).

One comment on her life stuck with me. While sharing the accomplishments of this Christian wife and mother, Pastor said, “There were many changes during her life, but one thing remained constant---her values.”

What a statement! 

I hope people will be able to say that of me. 

What about you?

Principle for a Good Life

I think I was a little spoiled as I was growing up. Mom sewed for me and made things fit beautifully. She even sewed my wedding dress while I was attending college in another state.

A few days before the wedding, mom arrived with the dress, prepared to let it out or take it in. I took it all for granted.

During my growing years, if the dress was too short or the bodice too tight . . . no worries. Mom would let down the hem, or let out the bodice.

Emotionally we do things like that daily. We make allowances for things that bother us and keep us on edge. We let them remain in our minds and they give us no peace.

People look for personal peace in different ways. Some try to "let" it in their lives through alcohol or drugs---short-term solutions. Even TV becomes boring after hours and hours, too much sleep is not refreshing, and neither is constant snacking.

All of these things miss the principle of a good life. Long-lasting peace does not come from things. It comes from a person who understands everything about us and the world we live in.

Let's hear it from Jesus, himself: Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:27 NKJV).

In John 14:1 He said it again: Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 

If you are worried that He won't hear your prayer for peace, consider His words in John 6:37: The one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.

If that's not encouraging, what is?

Our world has always been full of troubles. Jesus' peace comes on an individual basis. Do you want it?

Step one: Do not let your heart be troubled any longer. Step two: Ask Jesus to give you peace, the kind that only He can give.

 

Daniel, The Lion Tamer

A few weeks ago, our pastor preached on “Jesus at the Watering Hole.” When I realized it was about Jesus talking with a woman at the city well in Samaria, I had to smile. The off-beat title got my attention.

That’s why I decided to write about “Daniel, The Lion Tamer.”

As a young man, Daniel was a captive carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon. He and other promising young men were put into a top-notch training school. Graduates were presented to King Nebuchadnezzar for private interviews. He would decide how they could best serve him.

As a graduate in service of the King, Daniel was known to go to his room and pray toward Jerusalem three times a day (Daniel 6:10).

Later on, the Persians overcame Babylon. Daniel rose to the top in service to King Darius, and jealous peers concocted a scheme to pull him down.

Their plan worked. Daniel was tossed into the lion’s den, but God sent an angel to shut the lions' mouths. It’s a great story. Read it for yourself in Daniel, chapter six. The power of prayer cannot be discounted.

Prayer is never out of season, but people seem more drawn to prayer in hard times. Today we hear much about the call to prayer in 2 Chronicles 7:14.

God said He would hear prayers and have mercy if His people would do three things: 1) humble themselves before Him, (2) pray and seek His face and (3) turn from their wicked ways.  

Daniel said a prayer like that for his people. Read it for yourself in the Old Testament Book of Daniel, chapter nine.

The Apostle Paul wrote that the weapons of our (spiritual) warfare are not carnal, but they are mighty (2 Corinthians 10:4).

James, another apostle, declared we show our faith by our works (James 2:17-18). Each of these men would have found in Daniel a fellow believer.

Today’s threats are not lions, but prayer still makes a difference.

Are you a person of faith? How do you show it? 

A Matter of Will

We are born with the ability to choose. It's a matter of will.

Proverbs 20:11 says, "Even a child is known by his deeds, whether what he does is pure and right." This is true of adults, as well as children. 

Of course, deeds are not always pure and right. Despite the negatives, I think our will is an ability worth celebrating. That's why I wrote the following:

Dear Will,

It's a pleasure to write this letter. I appreciate having you in my life.

Thank to you, I can make thoughtful decisions. You make it possible for me to choose what to do, where to go, and what to say.

I appreciate the freedom you give me. You wait patiently as I review information and search things out. You always desire that I make a good choice.

I'm captain of my own ship, in many ways, because of you. Storms of life may cause me grief and troubled times, but I don't have to bob along on unsettled waves. I can decide which life-saving actions to pursue.

Experience has shown me that you can be quite flexible.

If I need strength and boldness, you rise to the occasion and people call me "strong-willed." If I shrink back, letting circumstances and others' choices control me, I get labeled "weak-willed." Either way, you stick with me.

Others may threaten to affect my life in uncomfortable ways, trying to pressure me to do their will. You respect me by waiting in the background. Then when I've made my decision, you help me follow through.

Thank you for being a companion, not a dictator. When wrong choices cause discomfort, you remain loyal, hoping I will see the error of my ways.

I thank God for you, Will.

Not only have you helped make me who I am today, but you will continue to impact my life right to the end. 

The Balance of Three

   

If you believe in prayer, you've probably heard a lot about it lately. I've been familiar with the National Day of Prayer for years, but this year held something new.

Jonathan Cahn, the author of The Harbinger, written after 9-11, has a current book called The Harbinger, Two. Along with the book, he organized a National Day of Prayer called The Return. 

Today was the day: September 26, 2020. Not everyone could get to Washington, DC, of course, so people were encouraged to sponsor community-wide events in their own areas.

A few weeks ago, a friend invited me to our local event. I wrote it on the calendar and determined to go.

I heard there would be several speakers and I wondered how there could be much prayer? I was pleasantly surprised. Meaningful prayers were offered by each speaker as they closed out their personal story, or shared their involvement with some social concern.

We had been encouraged from the start that this was not a spectator event. We were asked to join in a personal prayer of agreement with each speaker.

Some people stood, some sat, and some knelt on the grass. There was no pressure to pray in a certain position, or even to pray out loud.

This event was based on 2 Chronicles 7:14. It's a direct call to people who call themselves Christians. I see it in three parts:

1. Humble yourself before God
2. Pray and seek His face
3. Turn from your wicked ways

My concern is that we will do the first two, but skip the third. That's where it gets quite personal.

After 9-11, there was great interest in spiritual things. Churches were full overnight, but looking at society's issues and actions today, there was obviously a lack of deep, lasting spiritual commitment.

Thank God for every person with a heart to pray; however, two things are needed: (1) Don't limit this prayer to one-day events, and (2) observe the balance of three.   

                                  

Good Medicine

The right medicine can do you a lot of good, and some really good medicine is free. There's a catch, though . . . you have to look for it. 

Proverbs 17:22 (NIV) says, "A cheerful heart is good medicine." You could take that a couple of ways:  (1) Instead of floating through your day with negative thoughts, make it a point to think positive, or (2) be on the lookout for humorous events and conversations around you.

A cheerful heart is a very individualized medicine. I learned to look for it daily while undergoing chemo, surgery, and radiation for breast cancer in 2007. I found this medicine so enjoyable that I kept on taking it.

People are always happy to get free medicine samples from their doctor. Here are some samples of my own:

    (1) I shared this one with a friend just the other day. I was once taking sermon notes when I heard the pastor say, "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord---even if it's bad breath!" He was quoting the very last verse in the book of Psalms, but every time I remember his tagline I have to smile.

    (2) In a thrift store one day I was musing over some colorful floral-motif plates. Without thinking I said aloud, "I wonder if my husband would eat off these?" A lady nearby said, "It probably depends on what you put on 'em!"

    (3) A friend shared this one: She overheard her grandson call a playmate "Stupid!" She called him in and said, "You can't call somebody stupid. It's not nice." He said, "I'm sorry, Memaw," and went back outside to play. He surprised her by rushing back in a little while later asking, "But what if they really are?"

You don't always need a full-strength, laugh-out-loud belly buster. Good medicine works in smaller doses, too. Just follow these instructions: To be taken multiple times daily, with or without food.

Your Future is Now

Life is full of changes. We have just come through a hot summer. Now, almost overnight, it's time for the heater, not the air conditioning.

There are other obvious changes thanks to COVID. I was telling a friend about a couple of restaurants that had removed all their tables and chairs. Business seemed robust with their take-out options.

I said, "I wonder if they'll ever bring back their seating? I would think their life is simpler without it."

She said, "I think the face of our nation is forever changed." And it's not just us; COVID-19 has changed the world.

I enjoy the devotional thoughts of Sarah Young. Here are a few comments from her book, *Jesus Calling. The caps are mine for emphasis:  So many people dream of the day WHEN they will finally be happy, WHEN they are out of debt, WHEN their children are out of trouble, WHEN they will have more leisure time, and so on."

Dreams and plans are a positive part of our human experience, but there's a major problem. We are not in control of our lives or those of the people around us.  

Life HAPPENS and plans CHANGE. No truthful person would ever say life is easy, but we need to live life in the NOW. It's a choice we can make.

The Apostle Paul explained his approach in Philippians 4:11: . . . I have LEARNED how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am (AMP).

People willing to learn are flexible.

Go ahead . . . dream and plan. But realize your future is now, and learn to enjoy life today!

*Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence, Sarah Young, Thomas Nelson, Nashville, 2004, p. 266.

Headlines, Old and New

Headlines are teasers, bits of news to hook our attention. I always read headlines but move right along unless I'm really curious.

In our day we have endless resources for news. Take your pick . . . TV, radio, cell phones, newspapers, magazines, and even social media. No one ever has time to connect with all these, so headlines work hard to grab our attention.

Here's a piece of news: I have seen violence in the city. Day and night they go around it on its walls; iniquity and trouble are also in the midst of it. Destruction is in its midst; oppression and deceit do not depart from its streets.

It sounds like a description of our 2020 city riots: violence, iniquity, trouble, destruction, oppression, and deceit.

In truth, it's really old news, written between 1005 and 965 B.C., by the famous King David. After I read those lines the other day (Psalm 55:9-11, NKJV), I thought people sure haven't changed much over time.

We do have some good news, however. We can follow David's example.

In Psalm 42 David was doing a little self-talk. Times were tough and he expressed his frustration to God.

We can be honest with God, too. He's big enough to handle whatever we tell Him.

Despite what headlines may say, let's appropriate David's words of encouragement: Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God (Psalm 42:11b, NKJV).

Little Blessings

Children, whether your own or those of others, can be little blessings. In my case, it turned out to be those of others.

When my husband and I married, we planned for a family. It's a long story, but it turned out to be an empty dream. In fact, neither of our families was very prolific in the baby department. But children were still important to us.

In my teens, I volunteered as a Sunday School teacher. My class of preschoolers was so much fun. Then after college, I taught in primary grades.

As Ministry Associate in a growing church, one assignment was to organize Sunday School and Children's Church. At that point, I was a teacher of teachers. But it was a pleasure to work with volunteers who truly cared about children.

My personal passion was the children's choir. Two moms were great assistants. One was always ready to play the musical tracks, and the other prepared the snacks.

Our thirty children presented a mini-concert one Sunday morning each month. The impact of these little blessings was obvious. Adult attendance became noticeably larger.

Little blessings, however, did not always come in big groups. My husband and I were blessed by the friendship of a young family with three children. Two little boys and their younger sister helped us create many happy memories.

We were also blessed with a Goddaughter. A family we had known for four generations honored us with this addition to their family. That little baby grew into a lovely young adult and we're still in touch.

One year, during a sabbatical, we lived with best friends for six months. The little blessing there was their three-year-old granddaughter. We enjoyed our daily interaction with her.

People have different reactions to Psalm 127:3,5. It speaks of children being a blessing from the Lord. My advice is, "Be open to little blessings, no matter how they come to you." 

 

Run With Patience

It's funny how you can read a well-known passage, only to have a new thought pop up. I love it when that happens.

Today's reading was Hebrews, Chapter 11, sometimes called The Hall of Faith. It lists people who, against all odds, "kept the faith" to gain an eternal crown of righteousness.

In the next chapter, Paul wrote of a race to be run with endurance. It was a marathon, not a sprint.

If you say, "Runners," I think speed. That's why "run with patience" caught my attention. People usually say, "Slow down!" when they mean stop rushing around and messing things up. It's another way of saying, "Be patient."

Each of us is running our own marathon. Paul wrote to Timothy that he had "finished his race, kept the faith, and was looking forward to receiving a crown of righteousness" (2 Timothy 4:7-8, NKJV).

He was slowed down plenty of times. His short list included shipwrecks, beatings, imprisonment, hunger, sleeplessness, and more (2 Corinthians 11:24-28, NKJV).

In our day, we have been slowed down by a different challenge: COVID-19. Instead of dashing off to work, school or church, we've had to slow down. For some that meant working at home, for others loss of a job, or lack of childcare. 

As we shelter in place and listen to endless reminders for social distancing and healthcare, there's no doubt about it---we are slowed down!

Are you setting an example of running with patience? Are you enduring your challenges without complaint? Are you creatively using your abilities to endure this race with calmness and self-control?

Consider the example of wagon-train pioneers plodding slowly westward. They had no control over the weather or speed of their journey. Their only control, day after day, was self-control . . . their heart set on perseverance to the end. 

Our worldwide pandemic has no end in sight. Like the pioneers, our only control is self-control. It's a daily challenge, but let's run with patience and stay the course.