One week from today it will be Christmas Eve! And then one week after that it will be New Year’s Eve! Ready or not – here they come! How will you spend these days….Excitedly looking at the whole? Or surviving each one?

Depending on your traditions and schedule, there may be a LOT going on these next two weeks. Or maybe this season of life finds you alone and filled with sorrow. Who will meet your needs this Christmas? What life hack will help you get it all done?

God is the perfect gift for everyone everywhere!

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.” Lamentations 3:22-24

You know that one person…..or pair of slippers….or coffee cup…or baseball glove…that is your very, very favorite? That special form of a hug, that wink, that fits you juuuuuuust right and always lets you know that everything is going to be OK? Close your eyes and just imagine that precious gift.

Now open. That is the same way that God sees YOU! You are HIS special someone.  HIS precious gift. HIS beloved.

Thank God for those gifts and feel His love surrounding you right now.

“Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in Him, for He shields Him all day long, and the one the LORD loves rests between His shoulders.”  Deuteronomy 33:12

I lifted a bag of chicken feed the other day and my stomach muscles declared it to be “too heavy”. But I persevered, stubbornly finishing the chore without asking for help. That is a bad example of what God has in mind for our lives.

Lesson learned. So the other day I was stuck in a situation. This time, I asked a friend to pray for me. Less than 24 hours later, I wasn’t stuck at all – God opened up my eyes to HIS beautiful solution! Better than I ever could have ever imagined!

Life is so super fast paced these days. Especially at this time of year. We have long to-do lists. More, more, more is always on our minds. What will it take for you to slow down and seek the Lord’s plan? His timing? His direction?  “The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him,”  Nahum 1:7

My 5 year old granddaughter loved looking through our Christmas decorations the other day. She took full liberty at arranging pieces and patterns as she seemed fit. Very different from the way I have always done things! I gulped. And maybe argued a little bit. Gently. She was breaking my tradition for decorations my first class of students gave me over 30 years ago! After I listened to her “logic” I conceded. There was nothing wrong with her arrangement.

That night when I went to bed I noticed on my nightstand the “new” decoration! It was lovingly placed right where I would see it every morning and night. I nearly cried at her thoughtfulness! Her tender care! Her confidence in not being afraid to change my tradition. She didn’t even realize that breaking the tradition would produce something more precious and valuable!

May I challenge you this Thanksgiving/Christmas season, to experience a breakthrough? In decorations? Sure. More importantly though, in your relationship with the Lord. Let go of the way things have always been, holding on to shame and regret, fear and worry, and trust in the Lord for His beautiful life for you!

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

I’ve heard it said that Patience is when you choose to be happy while you wait.

Thanksgiving break is coming up. Are you choosing to be happy while you wait? The REAL time to decorate for Christmas is right around the corner (Black Friday, for the record!) 🙂 Are you being patient? Springtime weather will be back in a couple months. How are you feeling?

Probably every person reading this has a situation that needs to be made better.  A struggle that needs a conclusion.  A mystery that needs to be solved.  A crisis that needs to be settled. Can you rest in the Lord’s timing?  God is not Amazon. He is not DoorDash.  He is the Sovereign Ruler, loving Father, Gentle Shepherd and Wise King, patiently waiting for you. Seek His heart for you. His love, His patience, His peace that passes understanding.

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.”  Isaiah 26:3

Teachers. Heroes. Super Stars. Guardians of our cherished children. Oh, how I thank God for the group of men and women who dedicate their lives to protecting and providing for the needs of children. What a gift for families to be able to entrust their precious babies to safe, caring professionals!

It has been 30 years since I have worked in a classroom full-time. It was hard then. The burdens the teachers carry today are unimaginable. THANK YOU to all those who serve so very deeply and generously – providing the gracious support and love of Jesus!

“But Jesus called the children to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”  Luke 18:16

Another Winner!
There is another winner in our community who has successfully finished her race!  Our dear friend, Kristy Simcox, battled cancer fiercely for 8 years.  Kristy, like Trey, has experienced the Ultimate Victory!  They now see Jesus face to face!  They received the BEST miracles ever: Forgiveness for their sins, Mercy and Grace instead of their sinful state, AND Eternal Life dancing and singing with the angels!  (Trey is probably doing more dancing – Kristy doing the singing!)

Yes, we are heartbroken. As a friend said, Sweet sorrow for those left behind…missing the presence of our sweet friend….but knowing she is in the arms of the Lord.  Can I get a Hallelujah!?

Trey’s HomeGoing date is tomorrow, November 5, 2014.  It seems like yesterday and yet it feels like forever ago. God isn’t finished with Trey’s story. Or Kristy’s story. Or your story. We need to live a life of legacy: enduring impact.  

So today, let’s dance like Trey. Sing like Kristy. Love like Jesus!

“For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”  Romans 14:7-8

The big chill is coming, so my husband and I spent Saturday cleaning out our vegetable gardens.  We marveled at God’s beautiful display of His power through the twisting and turning of the long green vines….bean plants climbing through a trellis, tomato plants crushing support systems and pea vines interlaced with weeds.  Each beginning with a tiny seed.

During my time in the garden, with dirty fingernails and weary muscles, I paused to consider the tiny seeds in my life.  What am I planting?  What am I allowing to take root in my life?  What is strangling my supports and good fruit?

God’s Word ALWAYS sets me straight!

“let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus”. Hebrews 12:1,2

Scrolling through my recent Missed Calls I see a variety of Caller IDs.  The numbers of….Wireless Caller…Unknown…Toll Free Call….Random City, State…..Maybe (this person)….And the ever popular Scam Likely!

We don’t pick up on these calls because we have no relationship with these people.  We can’t trust their motives in calling. We won’t invest our time and energy in the random nature of them trying to connect with us.

There is one Caller ID I recognize and rely on anytime and every time of day/night!  And I’m so glad He picks up my call even before the very first ring!

“I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.”  Psalm 34:4

When playing the game we ALL know it is better to be the Hider than the Seeker, right?  The Hiders have community, know each other’s secrets, and plot against the Seeker.  The Seeker is alone, on the hunt, vulnerable.  

In God’s Kingdom, it is no surprise that we have it all backwards.  God doesn’t want Hiders.  (He can see you anyway!). God wants Seekers.  He wants you – and each and every one of us – to be looking for Him.  He wants you to endlessly pursue Him.  And He wants the real, vulnerable and transparent – everything out in the open – you!

“You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”  Jeremiah 29:13