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Finding Love in a Storm

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I sit, watching the storm blow in, and I can’t help but remember my childhood at the lake.

Sitting on the oversized, padded porch swing tucked under my grandparents’ cottage, my cousins and I would swing and laugh and plan the next excursion of our summer vacation.   We’d gather there in storms just like the one today, feeling oh, so safe amidst the pounding rain and the thundering bellow of the clouds.

And I realize something.

There is nothing so wonderful, or calming, and as peaceful as feeling safe — of knowing we are loved.

Those days at the cottage were my favorite memories of childhood.  I often wonder why. 

I imagine it’s because we gathered as families, loved by parents and grandparents who cared about giving us simple gifts like this — our yearly family vacation.

Possibly it was in this lovely space away from home, we had no cares in the world.  Both adults and children left the hustle of work and chores to get away and breathe.

But one thing remains.  A sense of peace.  Of security.  Of love.

God Give the Gift of a Storm

The quiet of the rain softly pattering on the roof.  The mist brushes our cheeks as we swing on the porch.  The slow rumble of the thunder echoes its way across the sky.

And we have peace.  Peace amidst the storm.

I pause and ponder for the first time in what feels like months.  And I realize how very important it is to give one another that sense of peace and love.  That feeling of being wrapped in a parent’s arms in the storm, knowing we are safe.  And loved.

Seek out your children or grandchildren today.  Let them know they are loved and safe with you.  Let them know you will be by their side.  No. Matter. What.

Of course, remember this doesn’t limit us only to children needing safety and love.  Our spouses need that same affirmation.  And friends.  Even enemies.

If that makes you nervous, go to God, the source of all Love and Peace.  Ask Him how to love while seeking nothing in return. 

He’s the expert!   His love never fails.

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Love never fails.  1 Corinthians 13:8

Prayer — Who’s It For Anyway?

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Prayer, like everything in the Christian life, is for God's glory and for our benefit, in that order. RC Sproul

Prayer —

It’s something we often take for granted.  It’s also something we can think of too little.  Something that’s often our last resort.  This quote from RC Sproul reminds us to glorify God in our prayers, even before we seek to benefit ourselves.

In our home, I’ve often reminded my family to shake things up in our prayers.  Especially at our mealtime prayers.  It’s so easy to just say the prayers, give thanks and ask for what we want.  But what if we really pause to reflect on who God is and what He’s done for us.  To really thank Him and acknowledge His place in our lives.  And then to ask to be the kind of people who reflect Christ to the world.

“Our Father”…..

It seems so very basic, but The Lord’s Prayer is just that kind of prayer.  One which reminds us to put things in order as we pray.  To truly remember just Who we are addressing and what we’re asking of Him.

Jesus begins His prayer by addressing the one true God.  “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.  Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

Only after acknowledging the power and position God holds, does Jesus ask His Father for things done on earth — “Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  Amen.”

In all seasons and in all prayers, let’s give God the glory and praise, then ask for His blessings and care.   Possibly as we do this, we’ll recognize our great need for humility and help in this life on earth.  We’ll not just spend our prayer time asking for an easy life, but for the ability to be strong and live out our faith in a world that desperately needs to see what faith really looks like in action!

Our Father, you sent your Son from heaven above, and you above all are the Giver of all things good.  Let your will and your way be done on this earth to all your creation.  Thank you for all the blessings you send our way.  Forgive us for the wrongs we have done and remind us to forgive others for their insults in the same way.  Please send us only the things we need and keep us from those that would harm us.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Blessings and prayers to you all at the start of this New Year!

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I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
    incline your ear to me; hear my words.  Psalm 17:6

What’s This About Christmas and Tiny Tim?

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Well, we’ve entered into this holiday season full swing!  In our home, the decorations were slowly put up to savor each activity — the gifts gathered with each special person in mind — the Christmas movies enjoyed as we take time to relax after a long day.

One of our favorite stories this time of year is A Christmas Carol.  Charles Dickens said it best as he reminded us what’s important at Christmas.

My heart’s desire is that we take time to remember why we celebrate this day — why it’s our favorite season!

  • First, it’s not all about the lights or the decorations or our favorite Christmas melodies (although they add so much to this time of year).
  • It’s not all about the cookie recipes our families pass down for generations.
  • It’s not the gifts piled under the tree (we often have 20+ family members celebrating with us — so the gifts are piled!)
  • It’s not even winter’s glistening frost lit by the sun casting long shadows across the yard.  It does make it feel, oh so, Christmas-y!

So what is it all about?

  • It’s ALL about the Son – God’s Son who cast His shadow across history and all of creation so many years ago in a manger!
  • It’s all about the Baby who made shepherds pause in wonder and angels sing praise and glory.
  • The Child who caused wise men to travel for years to seek this Messiah.
  • And as Tiny Tim said in our favorite Dicken’s story, that Baby-turned-Man “who made the blind to see and the lame to walk”!

‘And how did Tiny Tim behave?’, asked Mrs. Cratchit …….‘As good as gold.’ said Bob, ‘and better.  Somehow he gets thoughtful sitting by himself so much and thinks the strangest things you ever heard.  He told me coming home that he hoped the people saw him in the church because he was a cripple, and it might be pleasant to them to remember on Christmas Day, who made lame beggars walk and blind men see.’                                                                                                                    A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens

Oh, this is my absolute favorite line in all of Charles Dicken’s novels!  May we truly see the Truth of declaring the Gospel in his simple words.

Blessings to you as you prepare for this beautiful season of remembering God’s Son!

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And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.  But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.  The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.  Luke 2:18-20

This Is Definitely What Christmas Is All About, Charlie Brown!

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Linus’s age-old adage rings as true now as it did 50 years ago!  We remember with much nostalgia when he recites Luke 2, then concludes with the refrain, “That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown!”

Christmas is all about Jesus.  It’s about celebrating God’s greatest gift to us — Jesus — our salvation through nothing else but faith in God’s Son.  

Getting Sidetracked This Christmas?

It’s too easy to get sidetracked thinking it’s about decorations and gifts.  Now, we love a decorated house this time of year!  But it can get overwhelming.  And you know about those hundred gifts on your list.  “What?” you say.  “I don’t have a hundred gifts on my list!”  Umm, count again.  Include teachers, bosses, neighbors, friends, greeting cards with pictures, stocking stuffers, cookies for the neighbors….yep, you’re getting close to a hundred!  See what I mean about sidetracked?

Now don’t think I don’t understand.  I’m right here with you….like forgetting about our Jesse tree and instead, getting started on my shopping trips.  Reading the real Christmas story only because my daughters had a party for my ‘grandboys’!  ‘Tis true…but get this — when I read to those wondering eyes, when I saw the intent on their faces, I remembered again.  

This truly is the reason for the season.  It is our job, our duty, to make sure we’re not quiet about what we believe and in Whom we believe!

Won’t you join me in relishing in the tinsel and holly and glitter, but not forgetting that simple, cold manger so many years ago?  The sheer beauty of God’s gift of everlasting life, brought to us in the tiny frame of a babe, wrapped in swaddling clothes.

Keep Christ’s Love In Christmas

A bit of encouragement and some ideas to renew your sense of purpose this season:

– Our friend owns a thrift store in town, but it’s not just any thrift shop!  This one uses the store’s proceeds to feed the hungry in our community.  Check out your local ministries to discover how you can help the needy this year.  People are cold, hungry, lonely, sick.  What can we do to be Jesus’s hands of mercy to them?

– Tiny Tim is a name most people know.  Learn how to share God’s love from his simple pronouncement to those around him.

–  Here’s a great way to bless those in need this year!  It’s so easy to pass by those in need along the road.  What if we were prepared for those meetings by having a care bag of goodies to hand the homeless?   We will never have an excuse to look the other way.  (We have a homeless woman on the edge of town.  We pass her most days and wonder how she does it with the cold weather approaching.  Reading this post again has me excited to bring her a care package this week!)

– Some people ask the question, Should Christians Celebrate Christmas?  It’s easy to see that it’s gotten out of hand with Santa, “Happy Holidays,” and compulsory gift-giving.  Some proclaim Christmas is for pagans and just a copycat of idol worship.  My post declares why it’s a good thing to celebrate.  Choose for yourselves….but as for me and my house, we will celebrate the Lord!

– Visit a Fire or Police Station and bring goodies for these first responders!  With a son-in-law who has this difficult job, we see first-hand how much we take our safety for granted.  Give the gift of appreciation this year!

There are so many ways we can remember what Christmas is all about.  Let’s share our ideas — with friends and family — and here. Leave a comment with ways your family celebrates or shares God’s love this time of year!

Happy Holy Day & Merry Christ-mas one and all!

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So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.  When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.     Luke 2:16-20

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