Today I’m enjoying the anticipation of Thanksgiving…definitely not on a par with CHRISTMAS EVE; however, I’m really excited about a day of family, food and fun…emphasis on FAMILY!

There is so much to give thanks for this year with two engagements (matches made in heaven) and GRANDbaby ELEVEN on the way! My “perfect ten” will become my “eleven from heaven”…2020 will mean much more than PERFECT VISION! You know I wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to be my “punny” self!

Blogging this to let you know, family, that you fill my heart with THANKSGIVING EVERY DAY! Just sayin…

Update…Thanksgiving 2021! We have celebrated three weddings and baby Elsie arrived March 25, 2020! AND another “match made in Heaven” engagement! Giving THANKS to our GOOD, GOOD HEAVENLY FATHER!

There is a loveliness about Sunday morning that is inescapable to me. The sense of a “day of rest”; a day to linger while reading God’s Word and savor the fresh truths I find in my devotional readings. I love the quietness and sense of peace that oversees this particular day of the week like no other.

The traffic is not snarled, very few cars moving about in the early hours. There’s a little increase as church time approaches, but even then, there is not the hurried pace of the work week. It’s God’s day…or at least it should be.

I grew up in the days of “blue laws”…no businesses allowed to be open on Sunday. The exceptions were those that were truly “needed”, like pharmacies. Even though those laws have, sadly, been taken off the books I choose to enjoy the day as God prescribed…a day of rest and worship.

This morning even the sound of a noisy leaf blower couldn’t interrupt the Sunday morning pleasures I was enjoying. The pleasure of seeing birds on my feeder, of having the screen open on my storm door, and, most especially, of knowing that God enjoys my company as much as I enjoy His.

A little reminder to any who may read this…”God RESTED on the seventh day from all the work He had done.” Follow His example.

It’s so important to look at how things began and assess if the purity of original passion and intent is still on track. Many great endeavors have begun well and found themselves off course and needing to recalibrate. A scriptural account of this is found in Revelation chapter 2:1-7 when Jesus addresses the Church of Ephesus. He began with a strong word of commendation of all they had done right; their work and patient endurance, opposing evil, identifying false apostles, enduring patiently, bearing up for His Name’s sake, and not growing weary. But then He addresses a serious flaw in their present condition…they had left, not lost, the love they had for Him at the first. This is a Church where Paul poured out three years of his life teaching and shedding countless tears. (Acts 20:17-38) This was a Church where his departure brought them great distress and their own shed tears. Yet here we find them being called to remember from where they had fallen; called to remember the relationship they once had with Him, called to REPENT AND GO BACK and do the works they did at FIRST. It’s true that sometimes we must GO BACK to GO FORWARD. The reward of a willingness to heed this call is personal revival.  A very severe consequence of refusing this admonition is an inability to continue to give light to others and a loss of postion in His kingdom. This is a “valley of decision” we all come to at some point…do we “have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to the church”?

At midnight on December 31st, 2018, the world bid farewell to the old year and hello to the new. I heard the fireworks going off and imagined the revelry going on around our neighborhood and lovely city; friends toasting with champagne, couples kissing, children, who had fallen asleep awaiting the peach or crystal ball to drop, being carried to their beds. Everyone would eventually follow suit, possibly drifting off to sleep thinking of resolutions to consider in this fresh new year of 2019.

Some were sure to put the black eyed peas in a pot of water to soak overnight before turning in with anticipation of securing a prosperous new year by accompanying them with collards the next day. Hot cornbread would be added to the table, and maybe a sweet potato casserole would round out the traditional meal. After all those holiday sweet treats this would be a welcomed respite for those hungry for some REAL food.

Tradition. The word seems to have fallen from grace in recent years, but not in our family. There is something comforting about the “sameness” of things we return to every Christmas and New Year. It turns our hearts toward family as we gather together and provides opportunities to reminisce and give honor to loved ones who have passed on. We look back with fondness and sometimes hysterical laughter at past holidays that have imprinted wonderful memories on our minds. Memories like going to the same play for so many years that we can finish the sentence of each character and still roar with laughter at every punch line. Opening gifts, playing games and now the annual (and very competitive) gingerbread house decorating contest keep tradition alive and well in our family!

Let the traditions continue and new ones added as we anticipate more sweet memories to be made in Christmases to come…more New Year’s celebrations to enjoy….                    

ALWAYS remembering that “EVERY good and perfect gift comes down to us from our Father above.”

Into the New Year, dear family…                      

The season of Christmas is upon us, and, as usual, there is a flurry of activity. There is so much activity and so little “wonder” at “the mystery of the incarnation”. The mystery of how the seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15) would be conceived and born as the Savior of the world. What we refer to as The Christmas Story begins in Luke 1:26-36 with the angelic visitation of Gabriel to Mary, a young Jewish virgin. This was prophesied hundreds of years before by the prophet Isaiah. (Isaiah 7:14) The long awaited event of our coming Savior (Messiah) occurred in the little town of Bethlehem (house of bread). This, also, prophesied years earlier by the prophet, Micah. (Micah 5:2) God’s plan unfolded just as He said it would.

This is “the mystery” revealed…”The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten Son, full of grace and truth”. (John 1:14) This is TRULY the reason and reality of this season…time to offer up worship to our King who was clothed in human flesh and born to die for the sin of the world.

Remembering this ancient path should cause us to fall on our knees in gratitude and adoration to our great God. Join me, in the midst of all the flurry of activity, and slow down…sense the “wonder” of “the glorious incarnation”. Emmanuel …God with us.       How “WONDERful”, indeed!

Returning to the Ancient Paths

I saw a bluebird first thing this morning as I sat down in my quiet spot. We’ve had two weeks of rain and my bird feeders have been empty as a result…empty of seed and of my daily visitors. Yesterday I refilled them with the anticipation of my feathered friends returning. Well, obviously, I was not disappointed. They began gathering early and before half an hour had passed, along with the bluebird,  I had visits from a red headed woodpecker, a tufted titmouse, some mourning doves, and, of course, those cute little nuthatches. I expected the cardinals would be coming soon. They mate for life and come as a couple everyday. While enjoying them I was reminded that Jesus said “consider the birds of the air”…so I decided to do just that!

There was a first couple who were mates for life, and they walked the most ancient of paths. Paths that led through the most beautiful of gardens, Eden. God had made everything, including the birds of the air, for Adam and Eve to enjoy. He came daily to walk with them among the beauty that He had created. I believe the first path we need to “go back” to is the path of fellowship with God. We are introduced to Him as the Creator and Giver of life Who desires to spend time with us. If this path is neglected it’s inevitable that we will lose our way.

Daily fellowship with God will keep us on the next ancient path to which we need to return, the path of obedience. Adam and Eve were given one simple command and their disobedience led to the fall of mankind and the loss of uninterrupted communion with their Creator.  Listening to the voice of the serpent rather than the voice of God got this first couple off the path of life and onto the path of sin and death.

This was no surprise to God Who had made a provision for restoring relationship and fellowship through the offering of a sacrifice. In the garden an animal was killed so that clothing could be made to cover the nakedness (exposure) of their sin. Sin brought on by disobedience. Eve was deceived by the serpent’s subtlety. He is crafty in his allurement. This is why the need to know God’s word is so crucial. The siren song to leave the path of obedience is always, “Did God really say?” His word provides the boundaries needed to stay on the ancient path of obedience.

Two ancient paths  that can be followed with assurance are daily fellowship with God and obedience to His word.    Join me in “going back” and walking them.

The picture of a blank journal and a hot cup of coffee seemed appropriate to prepare for a journey…a different kind of journey. Sometimes we have to “go back” to “go forward”. God exhorts us  through the prophet, Jeremiah, to “stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it and find rest for your souls.” This blog is an invitation to (dare I use the word) repent and return to the ancient paths, the good way. If you are weary of high tech shows and entertainment in what is called “church” on Sunday mornings, please join me as I share “old truths” that need to be reclaimed AND proclaimed in our day.

There is a generation starving for Biblical teaching and a call to holy living. Our sanctuaries have been replaced by auditoriums and our altars by stages. The pulpit, once referred to as the sacred desk, has become comedy central with feel good messages that leave a hunger in the souls of those who hear them. Those who lead these weekly gatherings have achieved celebrity status. Fans gather at stages. Penitents kneel at altars. No altar…no problem. There are no penitents in these settings. Why? Because there is no convicting sermon to awaken them to their sin.

As in Nehemiah’s day when he was grieved over the broken down walls of Jerusalem, we need to grieve over the broken down walls in our lives and our land. It’s time  to return to God’s path and rebuild the walls brick by brick with the eternal truths of God’s word. I’m “going back”.  Join me.

Returning to the Ancient Paths

I saw a bluebird first thing this morning as I sat down in my quiet spot. We’ve had two weeks of rain and my bird feeders have been empty as a result…empty of seed and of my daily visitors. Yesterday I refilled them with the anticipation of my feathered friends returning. Well, obviously, I was not disappointed. They began gathering early and before half an hour had passed, along with the bluebird,  I had visits from a red headed woodpecker, a tufted titmouse, some mourning doves, and, of course, those cute little nuthatches. I expected the cardinals would be coming soon. They mate for life and come as a couple everyday. While enjoying them I was reminded that Jesus said “consider the birds of the air”…so I decided to do just that!

There was a first couple who were mates for life, and they walked the most ancient of paths. Paths that led through the most beautiful of gardens, Eden. God had made everything, including the birds of the air, for Adam and Eve to enjoy. He came daily to walk with them among the beauty that He had created. I believe the first path we need to “go back” to is the path of fellowship with God. We are introduced to Him as the Creator and Giver of life Who desires to spend time with us. If this path is neglected it’s inevitable that we will lose our way.

Daily fellowship with God will keep us on the next ancient path to which we need to return, the path of obedience. Adam and Eve were given one simple command and their disobedience led to the fall of mankind and the loss of uninterrupted communion with their Creator.  Listening to the voice of the serpent rather than the voice of God got this first couple off the path of life and onto the path of sin and death.

This was no surprise to God Who had made a provision for restoring relationship and fellowship through the offering of a sacrifice. In the garden an animal was killed so that clothing could be made to cover the nakedness (exposure) of their sin. Sin brought on by disobedience. Eve was deceived by the serpent’s subtlety. He is crafty in his allurement. This is why the need to know God’s word is so crucial. The siren song to leave the path of obedience is always, “Did God really say?” His word provides the boundaries needed to stay on the ancient path of obedience.

Two ancient paths  that can be followed with assurance are daily fellowship with God and obedience to His word.    Join me in “going back” and walking them.