"Then You Will Know Which Way to Go"

Being the proud mother of two amazing young men, I have a front row seat to watching their lives unfold. It doesn't seem that long ago I was the one making the decisions for them -- when to eat, what to wear, where to go. And I admit, it wasn't easy giving up the power a parent has over their children and letting them go out into the world to make their own decisions...and mistakes. A good parent, after all, doesn't want their kids to suffer, whether from harm or disappointment.  

But life isn't like that. We all have to spread our wings and leave the nest. If we've been blessed with Godly parents who gave us a biblical foundation to stand on, we will hopefully seek God's counsel in the big decisions, like where to go to school, what job to take, and who to marry. God is, after all, the author of our story. He knows the beginning and the end. It's up to us to follow his lead to make sure the middle chapters are full of all the blessings He planned since before we were conceived. 

Sadly, lots of young--and old--people are out there trying to find their way in this dark world without the Light to lead them. As a Christian parent, I did my utmost to make sure my sons knew Jesus Christ. It will, of course, be up to them if they continue to follow him, which is my daily prayer.

When the Israelites were ready to take possession of the Promised Land, a land they had never been in before, they needed direction. God appointed Moses, then Joshua, to lead them. For me, Joshua 3:3-4 says it all:

"When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before."

There is a life-lesson in Joshua's words for all of us!

• "When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God" reminds us to keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. (Hebrews 12:2) 

• "...you are to move out from your positions and follow it" tells us we may have to move if we're going to continue following God's lead in our lives. It may be a physical moving, a mental moving or a spiritual moving. 

• "Then you will know which way to go..." isn't about getting good directions (aka advice) from your friends and family. It's about knowing Who is in the lead and Whom you choose to follow.

• "...since you have never been this way before." None of us know what tomorrow holds. None of us know where we will be a year from now. But God does. He knows the plans He has for us (Jeremiah 29:11). He knows the path we need to take to get where we're going. We've never been there, but God holds all our tomorrows in His hands. Trust Him!!

Do you know where you're going?

God does!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This week's Prayer Shout-Out countries are:

USA, Ukraine, Argentina, Brazil, Israel, Philippines, South Korea, Germany

"Two Are Better Than One"

"Two are better than one." Ecclesiastes 4:9

Today is hubby's and my 26th Anniversary. Twenty-six years ago we said, "I DO!" and twenty-six years later we still do! We've shared the good, the bad and even some ugly along the way, but by God's wonderful grace and mercy, we're making it through this life...together!

Marriage is a wonderful thing, but I'm here to tell you it is not all roses and candy. Marriage takes work, from both partners, to keep it alive and thriving. When things get hard -- and they will get hard, no matter who you are, how in love you are, or how much money you have -- it is tempting to give up. The divorce rate is proof of that.

Normal life stresses -- things like jobs, children, financial problems, health issues-- put a strain on your marriage. Yet the greatest enemy of marriage is the Enemy of this world. He is out to destroy as many families as he can. How do I know? Because he tried to destroy mine! You can look back to Genesis 3 and read about the first family Satan tried to destroy. Not only did he try to destroy man's relationship with God, but his lies created all kinds of trouble between Adam and Eve. Adam blames Eve for his failure. "The woman you put here with me -- she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it." (Genesis 3:12) Satan is still telling lies to couples today! He does not want us to enjoy happy marriages. He does not want us to enjoy fellowship with God. And certainly, if we're so consumed with all the problems life throws our way, including marital strife, we often allow our relationship with God to fade into the messiness.

So how can young couples -- and old couples! -- keep their marriage strong, alive and thriving? Here are some things I've learned in the past 26 years:

1. God MUST be the center of the marriage. A marriage not built on the foundation of biblical truths is doomed. 
2. Each spouse MUST put the other first. Always. Winning an argument or being "right" isn't worth the cost.
3. Never let your children come between you. Your first priority is your spouse and your marriage. Your children should always come second. The second greatest gift you can give your children is to love their Mom or their Dad. The greatest gift is, of course, Jesus.
4. Pray together. Every day. Sharing a devotional is good too.
5. Make a point to spend time together, alone, to talk. Real conversation. 
6. Adam and Eve enjoyed a sexual relationship in the garden before sin entered the world (Genesis 2:24). Enjoy each other! Regularly. 
7. Volunteer as a couple. At church or in the community. 
8. Find a hobby you can both enjoy. Cruising antique shops, bike riding, motorcycle trips, camping, whatever. Just do something together.
9. Take a weekend trip alone at least once a year. Even if you don't have kids at home, go somewhere special. 
10. Say, "I love you!" to your spouse EVERY.SINGLE.DAY!!

"It's better to have a partner than go it alone. 

Share the work, share the wealth.

And if one falls down, the other helps,

But if there's no one to help, tough!

Two in a bed warm each other.

Alone, you shiver all night.

By yourself you're unprotected.

With a friend you can face the worst.

Can you round up a third?

A three-stranded rope isn't easily snapped." Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 from The Message Bible

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This week's Prayer Shout-Out countries are:

Romania, USA, UK, Australia, Belarus, Canada, France, Philippines, Serbia, Russia, South Korea, Germany

The "Good" in Friday

Good Friday.

It's a bit of an oxymoron. As a kid, I always wondered why we call the day Jesus was crucified "good." "Black Friday" or "Sad Friday" seemed more appropriate.

I understand it now.

Jesus suffered a brutal death on Friday. That is not the good part. I am ashamed and broken when I think about him being mocked, beaten, spit upon, kicked, wounded by a thorny crown, and finally nailed to a cross to die an excruciatingly horrific death. Because of me. Because of you. Because of our sin. There is nothing good found in any of that. There is nothing good in knowing that each of us played a part in his death, even though we weren't there. There is a song out on the Christian radio that says, "I am the thorn in your crown. I am the nail in your hand. I am Judas' kiss." Oh, how my heart aches to know the truth in those words.

Yet why do we call today "Good Friday"?

Because the good is found in his great love for you and me.

The good is found in his willingness to die for our sins.

The good is found in knowing we can have life eternal because of his death.

Good Friday.

It truly is!

Today, though, I also think about our friends, the French family. They will bury their 24-year old son this afternoon. Josh was killed in a car accident last Saturday. He leaves behind a new bride of less than a year. My heart aches for his parents, his wife, his brothers, and all who loved Josh .

BUT...

Josh had accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior. It is amazing to think -- to KNOW! -- that Josh is now WITH Jesus! On Good Friday and Easter weekend, Josh is WITH the Risen Lord! Wow!! He has attained the place I long to be -- Home in Heaven with my Lord, Jesus Christ!!

My prayer for you, my readers, is that you will know the eternal hope found ONLY in Jesus Christ!

Have a Blessed Easter!

Why Dog's Don't Live as Long as Humans

(Taken from an email)

WHY DOGS LIVE LESS THAN HUMANS? ANSWER FROM A 6 YEAR OLD

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives.

Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up. "I know why."

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try and live.

He said, "People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life, like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?" The six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."

Live simply.

Love generously.

Care deeply.

Speak kindly.

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you're not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!

"But the People Grew Impatient..."

Patience.

Ah, that illusive trait. I do not posses it naturally. You? I try. I really do. Most days, anyway. And I'm successful. Most days, anyway. I'm a much more patient person than I used to be, thankfully. I've even been praised by my (former) elderly clients and their families for being so incredibly patient and understanding. Friends would tell me I was a patient mother when my kids were growing up. My kids, bless 'em, knew otherwise. Hubby too.

Now, with all the rich wisdom that comes with age and time, I look back and wonder why was I such an impatient person? Why would I get angry if things didn't happen the moment I thought they should? Why was I in such a rush for this or that?

I'm reading through the Old Testament right now. I'm in the Book of Numbers. If you're not familiar with the Old Testament, it's the story of God's people, the Israelites. It's about their roots, their escape from Egypt where they were enslaved, and their journey to the land God promised to give them. And in reading their story, you can't help but come to one firm conclusion:

The Israelites were some of THE most impatient people ever created! 

Just today, I read Chapter 21. They're headed to the Promised Land. God has delivered them from Pharaoh in a spectacular way, with plagues and clouds of fire and a sea actually parting so they could walk through on dry land. He's provided food when they whined about hunger. He provided water in a dry and dusty desert. Most recently, He gave them victory over their enemies. Look what verses 1-3 say:

"When the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming along the road to Atharim, he attacked the Israelites and captured some of them. Then Israel made this vow to the LORD: "If you will deliver these people into our hands, we will totally destroy their cities." The LORD listened to Israel's plea and gave the Canaanites over to them. They completely destroyed them and their towns."

A little backstory to understand what's going on: God commanded the Israelites not to accept the gods in the lands they came into. So, when the Israelites defeated the Canaanites, they had to destroy everything because of the pagan gods and the pagan worship that had taken place in those cities.

God answered their prayers. Again. He delivered them from their enemies. Again. You would think they'd be the most grateful people on earth, right?

Wrong. Here are verses 4 -5:

"They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient along the way; they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food."

The people grew impatient. Wow.

Are you waiting for something God has promised you? Do you feel like you're wandering in the desert? Trust me, I'm right there with you. And I've been more like the Israelites at times than I care to admit. If you keep reading in Numbers 21:6 you see that God didn't put up with their childish temper tantrum. He sent venomous snakes among them. Eeek!

The old saying is true: Patience is a virtue. And virtue is better than venom any day! I think I'll be patient today. You?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This week's Prayer Shout-Out countries are:
USA, United Kingdom, Russia, Germany, South Korea, Mexico, Sweden

"Be Still, and Know That I am God"

I took this picture a few weeks ago here at the ranch on a foggy February morning. The air was still, not even a breeze rustled the tops of the trees. All was quiet. Peaceful is how I would describe it. For me, this picture embodies Psalm 46:10, a favorite of mine. "Be still and know that I am God." The New American Standard Bible says, "Cease striving..." Like a lot of you, I often have to be reminded to "be still." Especially with the busy, complicated lives we lead these days. Peace is hard to come by when the TV is blaring, the computer is humming, cars are racing here, there and everywhere. Something deep inside me craves peace. The kind that only comes from God.

Be still, my friend. Rest in His peace today. Carve out some quiet time in your day to simply be still before the Lord. The outdoors, for me, is the best place to "see" God. His creation calms my spirit. Even the earth, as in the picture above, becomes still before the Lord. But wherever you choose, sit quietly. Listen to the silence. Let Him be your refuge and strength. No matter what is going on in your world, God is there.

Psalm 46

1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.  Selah
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help here at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
7 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.  Selah
8 Come and see the works of the LORD,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear,
he burns the shields with fire.
10 "Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth."
11 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.  Selah
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This week's Prayer Shout-Out countries are:
USA, Germany, Russia, Belarus, Canada, Malaysia, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Zimbabwe

In the Center of His Will

Life is good. I mean...really, really good. Right now, today, in this moment...life is good.

Why?

Certainly not because all our bills are paid. Certainly not because we don't have any worries. And most certainly not because of anything our government officials are doing over in Washington!

Life is good...really, really good...because I truly believe I am right in the center of God's will. 

How do I know?

Because I can look back in my life and see the times when I was NOT in the center of God's will. Not in my walk with Him. Not in my career choices. Not in my marriage relationship. The difference is staggering when I think about it. When I am not in God's will -- meaning, when I am doing my own thing my own way -- I'm not happy. I don't have joy in spite of all the bad and worrisome things going on in the world. I can't see the big picture. I wallow in today's problems, usually complaining and griping to myself, my family, my friends and my God. And, the worst of it, I feel distant from God. I often wonder, "Where are you, Lord?"

When I am not in God's will, it's usually because I haven't sought His direction and advice. Or if I have and didn't get the answer I wanted, I kept going my own way without Him. The thing is, God has a plan in place for each of us. Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." He created you and me with purpose. We're not here by chance or accident.

Simplistically, think of yourself as a car. A car is designed for a specific purpose: To be driven. But it can't go anywhere without a driver. We humans need a Driver too. If we don't let God sit in the driver's seat, we'll end up going in the wrong direction. We'll end up in places we never would have or should have gone. When we break down, there's no one there to get us fixed. And if you let the wrong driver take over the controls, you can really find yourself in trouble.

Like a car, there is a manual that tells us how to operate this life we're given: The Bible. In the past few years I've read the Bible from cover to cover a couple times. And you know what? Folks way back then had the same problems we have today. They may look different, but they're pretty much the same. Family problems. Money problems. Government problems. Societal problems. When God's people turned away from Him, trouble followed. When God's people sought him with their whole heart, peace and joy followed. That doesn't mean all their problems disappeared or they had an easy life from that point forward. Peace and joy go a lot deeper than that.

I know life will not always feel as "good" as it does today. I know we often experience calm before the storm. We still have a stack of bills and mountains of debt. We still have kids who are trying to find their way in this world, making those inevitable mistakes all parents dread. We still have mortal bodies prone to disease and sickness. Life is short and can end at any moment.

But today, I'm basking in the peace -- real peace! -- of knowing I'm in the center of God's will. He's in charge of my life today. And happily, I'll let Him take care of all my tomorrows too.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Today's Prayer Shout-Out countries are:
USA, Russia, Belarus, Australia, Israel, Poland, Sweden, India, South Korea, Germany

God and Storms

I have a wonderful quote written down in my Bible, right inside the cover where I see it every morning when I open God's word for my devotion time.

"Sometimes God calms the storm. Sometimes He lets the storm rage but calms the child."

I have no idea who said this or even where I copied it from, but it struck me in such a way that I knew I wanted to remember it. Because in this life, we will encounter storms. Jesus said it best in John 16:33:

"In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Trouble. Storms. Whatever you want to call it, you can be assured it will find you. Whether it be relationship problems, financial problems, parenting problems, physical problems, and on and on. Life is filled with trouble. With storms. What you do when those storms come up, however, will determine whether you survive them or not.

The woman in Luke 8:43 had a bleeding issue for twelve long years. She'd tried everything and every doctor, to no avail. I would imagine she wanted to simply give up on life. I can imagine her depression over her poor health. But one day Jesus came to town. This woman made a decision to seek his help. Possibly a last ditch effort, but still, an effort on her part. She made her way to Jesus, boldly touched his cloak, and was healed. What if she'd just stayed home feeling sorry for herself?

Blind Bartimaeus sat in the same place day after day, begging. Can you imagine the monotony of such a life? The hopelessness? One day he heard a commotion. Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. Bartimaeus made a decision. He would call out to this Jesus, hoping all the stories he'd heard about the miracles were true. They were true, of course, and he was healed. What if Bart had stayed silent and simply let Jesus pass by? (Mark 10)

Health, marriage, finances, raising kids. I've seen a storm or two in each of these areas. Some days you simply want to give up. Some days it's just too hard to fight, to struggle. But other days, by the grace of God, you persevere. You cry out, "Lord, help!" and He does. You take one step at a time through the storm, through the trouble, and suddenly, you're on the other side looking back. You survived! It's an amazing feeling.

Could I have survived the storm on my own? Doubtful. I needed help from the God who said, "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5) He is the One who gave me peace when we went through a rough time in our marriage. He is the One who gave me assurance that we would be provided for when my husband lost his job. He is the One who put joy in my heart despite learning my Mom had Alzheimer's. Lots of other storms, lots of other times when God saw me through.

Why does God let the storm rage sometimes? I can't say for sure, but I know that in the midst of my storms, I've learned valuable lessons. Lessons about God, about trust, about faith. I bet the woman with the bleeding issue and Blind Bartimaeus would agree.

As with any earthly storm, like a hurricane or tornado, they do pass. They do come to an end. If you're in the middle of a storm, take heart. Jesus has overcome every storm imaginable. Just trust Him!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This week's Prayer Shout Out countries are:
USA, Russia, Israel, United Kingdom, Ukraine

Why I Believe in God and Christmas

I woke up this morning with a grateful heart. Grateful that I know the true reason for Christmas. Grateful that I know the God who came down from heaven to dwell among men. Grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ.

Why all this gratitude?

Yesterday while I was reading news clips on CNN's website, I came across an article entitled Seeking the Truth About Jesus. Always curious what "the world" has to say about my Savior, I clicked on it. The article itself was okay. I disagreed with the author on some major points, but what struck me more were the comments that followed. So many were negative. Some were downright rude and ugly. The majority of posters, it seemed, had no belief in Jesus Christ or the Christmas story at all.

But one comment in particular grabbed my attention.

It was written by a man named Ed. Ed's very lengthy post declared that God does not exist and that he can prove it. Reading on, I found that Ed had no such proof to backup his claim. What he did have, however, broke my heart. Ed said he had searched for God, begging God to reveal himself to Ed, for ten years. At the end of those ten years, God still had not revealed himself to Ed. Therefore, Ed's conclusion is that God must not exist.

Let that sink in for a moment.

Ed, like many, many others out there, wanted solid, tangible proof that God exists. What exactly he wanted, I don't know. Did he expect God to appear right before his eyes? Did he think heaven should open up so he could see the throne with God seated on it? Sure, those very things happened to different people in the Bible, but very few people out of all the people that have ever walked this earth have had encounters with God like those.

So, if God doesn't reveal himself to us in order for us to believe in him, why do so many people believe anyway, myself included?

One simple word answers that question: Faith.

The disciple named Thomas didn't have enough faith to believe that Jesus had been raised from the dead. He wanted proof, much like Ed. Only after he touched Jesus' hands and feet did he declare, "My Lord and my God." (John 20:28) But it's Jesus' words that are very telling, and very hopeful to me. They are words I wish people like Ed would take to heart: "Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

The apostle Paul wrote that, "We live by faith, not by sight." (2 Corinthians 5:7)

The author of Hebrews wrote, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1)

I wish I could talk to Ed and share with him my "proof" that God does exist. I'd take him to a mirror and let him behold the wonder of the human body. I'd show him pictures of the two amazing creatures that grew inside my womb and who are now these incredible young men. I'd drive him to a mountaintop or to the beach and let him "see" God in the wondrous beauty. Id' take him to a zoo to see the vast number of different creatures, and then I'd buy him lunch at the supermarket where an abundance of vegetables, fruits, nuts and meats give evidence of a Creator who put thought into each item.

Paul wrote it plain and simply in Romans 1:20: "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities -- his eternal power and divine nature -- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse."

The pure and simple truth is, I believe in God. Not because I have seen Him, but because I see EVIDENCE of Him all around me! I don't need to be convinced of his existence. The proof is everywhere I look! I believe He came to earth in the form of a baby, born to a virgin. I believe he lived and died and lives again.

My heart is full this morning. Of truth. Of gratitude. Of peace and joy.

Merry Christmas, One and All!

An Angel's Story: Part 3, The Conclusion

What was it like to be an angel on that first Christmas? Our story's conclusion...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was going to see the Lamb! I practically shouted with joy! 

Gabriel and I made our way back to earth. We passed over the same land, water and grassy field where we'd been moments before. Only the sheep stood there now. Soon a small village came into view. The streets were crowded with people, even at this late hour. I guessed they had all come to worship the Lamb.

Gabriel took me to the edge of town. I looked about for the palace. All I saw were simple houses and a place where animals were kept. 

"Why are we here?" I asked, confused. "I thought we were going to see the Lamb."

"We are," Gabriel replied. We stopped at the entrance where animals lived. The sound of lowing cattle met us.

I turned to Gabriel, thinking he must be mistaken. "Here?"

He nodded again. "See His star?"

I looked to where he pointed. A brilliant light shone down from the black night directly onto this place. I didn't understand. Why would the King of kings be in a smelly, dirty stable? Why would he leave the riches of heaven and come here?

Gabriel motioned me inside. I took hesitant steps into the dimly lit space. I was surprised to find the shepherds from the field there. They knelt in front of a small wooden structure. I noticed a young woman sitting on a blanket on a bed of straw. She looked tired but happy. Her eyes shone bright as she spoke softly with the shepherds. A man stood nearby, and I got the distinct feeling he was alert to every noise and every movement, as though watching, guarding.

I followed Gabriel as we moved closer to the humans. They couldn't see us, for which I was glad. I was confused about what was happening and didn't want them to know it. We stepped into a circle of lantern light, and I gasped at what I saw before me. 

A tiny, brand new baby lay in a manger, wrapped in cloths. His eyes were closed ,and he slept peacefully. 

I looked at Gabriel. "The Lamb?" I whispered in shock.

"Yes. Our Prince." He looked at the baby. "The Savior of the world."

I gazed at the small, helpless lump of humanity. I didn't recognize him at all. Gone was the Prince of heaven, to be replaced with a creature who could do nothing for himself, let alone the entire world. I glanced at the lowly shepherds, ragged and dirty, worshipping him. At his mother and earthly father who clearly did not live in a palace but were forced to take refuge with animals.

It didn't make any sense. None at all.

"How can this be?" I asked. "Where is his throne? Where is his palace? Why should God leave the riches of heaven to come to earth in this manner?"

Gabriel shrugged. "In what manner should he have come? As a Warrior God, forcing the people of earth to worship him?"

I frowned. "No." God doesn't want anyone--angel or human--forced to worship him. "Tell me then. Why is the Lamb here, like this?"

"For them," Gabriel said simply, indicating the shepherds. "And for others like them. Had the Lamb come to earth with an army of angels and set up his kingdom in a palace, many humans would have come and bowed before him. But they would not have come with a pure heart seeking a Savior. And that is why the Lamb came: to seek and to save the lost. To do that he must dwell among them and know life as they do. He must face the same temptations, the same trials and, ultimately, the same death. But when he is raised to life again, then they will know that he is their King. Then those whose hearts are open and receptive will bow down in true worship."

I understood then.

God had asked the Lamb to sacrifice himself for all mankind. He left the perfection of heaven, knowing he would be born in a barn to a humble couple with lowly shepherds as the only worshippers. He knew he wouldn't live in a palace or be honored as Lord. He knew the people of earth would eventually reject him and kill him. 

Yet he came anyway! He came because of his great love for mankind. He came because he wanted the people he loves to be free from the bondage of sin. He wanted them to live a life of joy and peace with God. And He wanted them to spend eternity in heaven with Himself and the Father.

I looked at the baby again. He was awake now, silently studying the faces around him. Then he looked at me, and I fell to my knees.

"My Lord and my God," I whispered.

His tiny lips lifted in a smile. I smiled back. 

While Mary, Joseph and the shepherds laughed and cooed over the smiling baby, I stood, ready to return to heaven.

I knew God had things firmly under control here on earth.

******************************************************
Jesus left the glory of heaven to dwell on earth for one reason: You! His love for you is beyond anything you could ever imagine. It is full and complete. It is everything your heart and soul desires. If you don't know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, my prayer is you will take time this Christmas to truly seek him.

Merry Christmas to You and Yours!

~Michelle

An Angel's Story: Part 2

What was it like to be an angel on that first Christmas? Our story continues....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Heaven seemed different without the Lamb.

As though the very light of heaven had dimmed somehow. It hadn't, of course. God is our Light and His presence is always near. 

But still, an emptiness that could not be filled persisted. 

We angles went about our work as usual. We sang praises to God. We took care of heaven's business. With God's permission, Gabriel shared with us about his mission to earth to prepare the way for the Lamb. Angles didn't often appear to humans, even though many of us are serving and working throughout the earth at all times. He told how he spoke with the young woman--Mary--whom God chose to carry the Baby in her womb. I was pleased to hear that Mary understood what an honor was being given to her. I was also pleased to hear that the man who would be her husband was righteous and humble. It would take a man like that to be father to the Lamb! 

One day God summoned us all before the throne again. It troubled me to see the Lamb's empty throne. I hoped God would tell us the Lamb was coming home. 

When all were present, God smiled. "Today is a blessed day for the people of earth," He said. "Today Salvation will come to the world. The Lamb will be born unto a virgin."

 Angles around me cheered. I knew I should be happy for the people of earth, but my shoulders slumped. It seemed as though half of eternity had passed since the Lamb departed heaven, but He hadn't even been born as a human baby yet. He wouldn't be coming home anytime soon.

"I am sending Gabriel to announce the birth to my people. Some of you will join him in the celebration."

An angel stood beside God with a scroll. He began to read off names. I held my breath, waiting. Name after name. Angel after angle came forward until a very large group circled Gabriel. Finally, just when I began to give up hope, my name was called! 

We left heaven and traveled through the stars and planets. God's handiwork truly was beautiful. Gabriel led us to earth, across water and land, until we finally came to a wide-open grassy area. It was dark, but I could see several men relaxing around a fire. A herd of sheep stood nearby. 

I looked around, waiting to see the crowds of humans who would receive Gabriel's message about the Lamb's birth. Surely all the kings of the land and the important leaders should be here, ready to pay homage to the King. 

But Gabriel didn't wait for anyone else to arrive. He showed himself to the men in the field, who seemed terrified when they beheld Gabriel.

"Do not be afraid," Gabriel said to them. "I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: you will find the baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Gabriel turned to us and suddenly the men in the field saw us too. 

"Glory to God in the highest heaven!" we said, lifting our voices as one. "And on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."

The men stood wide-eyed for several moments. When they couldn't see us anymore, they talked among themselves excitedly.

"Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." And they set off, leaving their sheep unattended.

We left then.

I felt...disappointed. Why had we delivered the most wondrous news to a tiny group of lowly shepherds? Why hadn't the kings of earth been there to hear the message? Why hadn't we been allowed to announce the Lamb's birth to the entire world?

Before I could stop myself, I came up alongside Gabriel.

"I don't understand," I said. "Why are we leaving? All the men of earth should be told about the Lamb. They should all be summoned to his earthly palace to worship him."

Gabriel studied me for a long moment before he spoke. "Come," he said, taking me by the shoulder. We separated ourselves from the group of angels returning to heaven and went in the opposite direction, back to earth. 

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"To see the Lamb. Then you will understand."

I couldn't help but smile. I was going to the palace to see the Lamb.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Watch for An Angel's Story: Part 3, the Conclusion, on Friday, December 21, 2012.

An Angel's Story, Part 1

Excitement filled the air. I and all the angels of heaven, as well as those serving on earth, were summoned to present ourselves before the LORD. Something big was happening but no one knew what. When we'd all assembled--ten thousand times ten thousand and more!---Gabriel stepped forward and stood near God's throne. The Lamb sat on a throne on God's right. He looked peaceful, serene.

God rose from his seat and everyone grew quiet.

"Today the prophecy I gave my servant Isaiah will be fulfilled." His voice thundered through the heavens.

A hushed murmur rose from the crowd of angels. We knew God spoke of the covenant he'd made with a human named Isaiah, one of God's chosen race, the Hebrews. Isaiah was obedient and faithful, and God had placed upon him the responsibility to be His voice throughout the ages to the disobedient Jews. Through Isaiah, God promised to send a Messiah, One who would save the entire world from sin. God's patience with mankind continued to amaze me. They deserved the same fate as the people in Noah's day, but God promised never to destroy them again. Instead, He set in place a plan of salvation that even I didn't fully understand.

Seeing Gabriel standing beside God, I wondered if perhaps he was being sent to save the human race. Gabriel would be a good choice. He was strong and mighty, and God had sent him to earth on other occasions.

But just when I expected God to call Gabriel forward, the Lamb stood.

A collective gasp went through the crowd. Surely not the Lamb!

"I am sending the Lamb to be a sacrifice for all mankind," God said. "Whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life with us."

"No!" angels shouted all around me. "Not our Prince!"

God raised his hand for silence. "It must be so. There is no other way."

I looked and saw Michael and his army draw their swords. Relief swept through me. The Lamb would be protected. No harm would come to him.

But God instructed them to put their weapons away. "The Lamb will go alone. He will become human. He will be born of a virgin, and he will grow in wisdom and stature. After a time, however, the men of earth will reject him and kill him."

A terrible hurt rose inside me. I'd heard humans talk about something called sorrow and I knew this must be what they meant. The pain grew deeper than anything I'd ever known as I watched my beloved Prince--heaven's treasure--depart God's presence. I didn't understand how God could allow this to happen, but I trusted Him to know what was best. He had never failed us before, and I knew He would not fail us now.

I felt a strange wetness on my face and was surprised to find tears dripping from my eyes. I looked and saw others around me wiping wetness from their faces too.

I hadn't known before.

Angels can cry.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Coming Wednesday, December 19, 2012 -- Part 2: The angels come to earth to announce the arrival of the Messiah!

Not One of Our Own

Living and working in the hill country of Texas is, in a word, wonderful! The beauty surrounding us every day is amazing. It's peaceful, calming, satsifying. We feel incredibly blessed.

Every morning on our way to work, and every afternoon on our way home, we pass a field of grazing goats. Usually they're quite a distance from the road so we've never paid too much attention to them. After all, herds of goats and cows are plentiful here in Texas. But one day last week the group was a bit closer to the road, and I noticed something unusual as we drove past. One of the goats was smaller, skinnier, and browner than the rest. Upon closer inspection, I realized it was a deer. The next day it was still there, grazing with the goats. And the next day. And the next. Hubby and I decided it must be an orphan, probably left all alone when its mother was hit by a car or met some other misfortune. We wondered if the owners of the goats found it and put it with the herd, or if it found its way there on its own. Either way, this group of goats had fully accepted the presence of an outsider, not one of their own. He doesn't look like them. He doesn't have the same goat-like personality. He is...different.

 

Those goats can teach us a lesson, I think. When people who are different come into our lives -- whatever that difference may be -- we need to welcome them with open arms. Love on them, open our homes and our hearts to them. Be a little goat-ish when a deer wanders in. You never know what that deer has been through. He may be all alone in the world, or feel like it anyway. You may be the family -- or friend -- he needs right then.

I hope our little deer eventually finds a group of his own kind to hang with someday. You know, so he can get married and have kids. But for now, God blessed him with a family of goats.

Makes you all warm and fuzzy inside, doesn't it?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This Week's Prayer Shout Out countries are:
USA, Germany, Russia, France, Austria, Brazil, South Korea, Philippines

Mary, Did You Know?

This has long been one of my favorite songs, although not just at Christmastime but all year long. Years ago, when I was pregnant with my first son, Mary became a very real person in my heart and mind. Before that, she'd simply been a character in a story. A beautiful story, to be sure, and one that I believe with all my heart. But Mary, the mother of Jesus, was difficult for me to relate to. She seemed so perfect, so old even. But she wasn't either of those. Yes, God found favor with her, which tells me she loved Him with all her heart and soul, but she wasn't perfect. She needed a Savior, just like the rest of mankind. She was also a very young woman -- perhaps only fourteen or fifteen years old.

 

That year as I felt my baby moving within my womb, I couldn't help but wonder what Mary's emotions and thoughts were when she felt Jesus -- God! -- moving within her womb. When she kissed his sweet, downey cheeks after he was born. When she watched him grow into a boy and then a man. All things I've expereinced as a mother, Mary experienced them too.

 

I wrote about this in my story called "Mary and Me." It's published in several Chicken Soup for the Soul Christmas books, including their 2012 offering. If you're interested, you can click on the links on the left side of the blog and order online.

 

In the meantime, enjoy this song. And may your heart be filled with the Wonder of Christ come to earth as a tiny Baby, all because of His great love for us!

 

 

 

 



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This week's Prayer Shout Out countries are:
USA, Russia, Austria, China, Germany, France, Nigeria, Philippines, Poland, Ukraine

A Thanksgiving List

I can't do life without a list. Grocery. Chores. Reminders. Dates. Travel. If anything is going to get done, it must be on the list! But today I want to share the most important list of all: My List of Blessings. I encourage you to make a list too if you haven't already done so. You never know how truly blessed you are until you see it in black and white.

Have a Blessed Thanksgiving!

I am thankful for:

• My Savior, Jesus Christ, who gives me everything else on my list.
• My dear parents who loved me unconditionally.
• My Christian heritage, passed down through generations.
• My wonderful, hardworking, funny husband who has put up with me for nearly 26 years! (Longer if you count dating & engagement!)
• My precious sons who make me laugh and taught me more about love than anyone ever could.
• My sister, Kim, and brothers Mark and Gregg, who fill my childhood memories.
• My brother, Steve, and sister-in-law, Chrys, for their selfless sacrifices over the past nine years while taking care of my Dad and Mom.
• My wonderful in-laws. Even a few outlaws.
• My sweet nieces and nephews.
• My friends. You know who you are. 
• My Bible! How I cherish that book!
• My church, our pastor and all who make Celebration Church an amazing place to worship.
• Our home sweet home. (Dorothy was absolutely right.) And for our new temp home while we wait for our caretakers house to be built.
• Air conditioning! Living in Texas one must always give thanks for a/c!
• Our jobs -- previous and especially our NEW job as Estate Caretakers.
• Our vehicles, old and tired but still running. 
• An abundance of food.
• Clean, clear water from every faucet in my house.
• Living in America with all the privileges and blessings that come with it, despite my sincere aggravation with our government officials.
• The Texas hill country. So beautiful!
• Mountains. Snow. Autumn leaves, especially the golden aspens I miss so very much.
• Good books, most especially those written by friends!
• Our sweet 13-year-old Dachshund, Copper. Bad breath and all.
• Lastly, I'm thankful for the life God has given me and the desire to share His amazing love with you!

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This week's Prayer Shout-Out Countries are:
USA, United Kingdom, Germany, Russia, Canada, Poland, Ukraine, China, Norway, Spain