Hey Friend,
Oh Antigua how I miss thee! As my new husband and I walked our dogs in the single digit temp plus wind chill, I couldn't help but drift back to where I was just one week ago. We were sitting on our lounge chairs nestled in the white sand beside the crystal clear teal blue waters of the ocean in Antigua. The moderate 80 degree temperature, along with the soothing island breezes was the perfect respite after eight months of planning a wedding.
One guest at the wedding remarked that it was evident that God was/is at the center of our marriage. I am so blessed to be equally yoked with a godly man who shares my beliefs. The ceremony and reception really couldn't have gone more beautifully. Now here we were in this tropical jewel of God's holy creation. Surely this was one place God smiled upon as He pronounced his creation "good"!
Our very first day in Antigua a typical brief shower blew in, pushed the sunshine aside and sprinkled down drops of refreshment for the native lush flora and fauna. In the islands, if it rains, just wait for a little while and it will pass. Soon the sun began to shine once again through the rain and what did God paint across the sky, but a brilliant and bold complete double rainbow. My heart lept inside my chest. Surely this is how Noah must have felt - what a harbinger of God's faithfulness. What a blessing with which to begin our marriage!
I quickly fell in love with the beautiful people of Antigua. Their bright smiles and "no problem" attitude toward life were contagious. Our taxi driver, J.J. summed it up well when he said, "If I am alive, it is a good day." What an attitude of gratitude. One day, driving into the port of St. John, one of those brief passing showers came through. "Today is a good day, " J.J. remarked. During the non-rainy season, rain is a sign of a good day. What a difference in perspective I thought to myself. To us, rain was a damper on a good day; to the natives to the island, rain was symbolic of a good day. Just a little heavenly attitude adjustment.
In addition to the native islanders we met some lovely people from all over the globe. The U.K. and Canada were well represented. I quickly adopted the phrase that I was "on holiday" instead of being on vacation. Holidays are to be celebrated and being in this lush paradise that only God could have dreamt up was truly worth celebrating!
Another delightful pleasure was going "unplugged" for an entire week. No television, no cell phones, no ipads or other technical gadgetry. Instead we enjoyed the pleasure of conversation with each other and with others that we met. I also basked in the luxury of actually reading a book while sipping on a pina colada poolside. All things coconut are truly Heaven sent lol. So were the papayas, mangos, passion fruits, and various assorted melons that we breakfasted upon each morning. This java junkie also became a fan of the locally grown mountain coffee.
Outstanding were the sunsets over the ocean wherein God silhouetted the palm trees against the brilliant pinks and oranges of the clouds. Several nights we dined watching the sun set, sipping a glass of wine and listening to the steel drum band or soothing island reggae music. It was a rhythm that was easy to fall into. There was no need for a watch...we were on island time and our only dispute was trying to agree on what day it was. Ahh, pure paradise.
I've been snorkeling many times, but God had a lesson for me in this snorkeling experience. We just so happened to pick one of the rougher days to go out, by boat, to the reef to snorkel. The waters were white capped and very choppy. Half of the would be snorkelers backed out due to the rough sees, but not this girl...I was going in.
Above the water, the wind blew and the waves crashed and the boat rocked. But, once I stuck my mask below the water, a great sense of calm came over me. It was silent and peaceful here. The neon and brightly colored fish swam calmly between and amongst the coral outcroppings. Their color, beauty and diversity were amazing. The fan coral waved gently, beckoning me to swim closer and get a better look. Just as He is so many times, there was God - providing me with a peaceful calm amidst the swells of life. All I had to do was trust Him and dive in.
Sadly, after a week in paradise graced with hummingbirds and hibiscus, we had to begin our long journey home - back to reality. God had given us a mountaintop experience in order to help us venture back into the everyday world with a renewed awareness of his love and goodness. I am so thankful to have been blessed with the opportunity to delight in this one small piece of God's glorious creation. His creation is indeed good and so is God.
Maybe you aren't in the Caribbean islands today, but God will show you a measure of His love and care for you if you are willing to look for it. Will the rain, snow, sleet or ice dampen your day or will it help to make it a good day?
The choice is yours...wishing you a "no problem" kind of day!
In His love,
Bev
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Why I Write: One Year Anniversary
Hey Friend,
It is a day to celebrate...for it is my one year blogging anniversary! I want to say a big Thanks Y'all to those who have been with me from the beginning! You have been my steady encouragement. To everyone who has joined along the way, I am honored and humbled that you make time to read my posts!
Congratulations to Ellen B. and LaRhonda L. who won prizes in my anniversary giveaway drawing. It pays to subscribe and to comment :). Ellen won a copy of Ann Voskamp's best seller, "One Thousand Gifts - A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are". I highly recommend this great read. LaRhonda won a DaySpring mug featuring Isaiah 40:31 and a Starbuck's gift card. Thanks ladies!
At age 52, I am still pondering what I want to be when I grow up...anyone else feel like that?
I have done my stint as a professional in the business world. I also taught for several years with a break in between to concentrate on my most challenging and fulfilling role as "Mommy". A little over a year ago a complicated knee surgery sidelined me from teaching. When I literally couldn't put weight on my leg for six weeks (can you say stir crazy), I returned to my "first love" which has always been writing.
What greater topic to write about than our great God who created each of us and loves us with a love that our tiny minds cannot fathom. This God of loving-kindness has faithfully walked with me through all sorts of trials and tribulations. This blog, "Walking Well With God" is a tribute to His faithfulness and fulfilled promise to never leave nor forsake me.
I have tried my best to Keep It Real in this boat called Life that we do together. I have dared to be vulnerable with my life experiences so that we could support each other and grow together.
I guess you could say that my writing is my faith applied...lived out in order to bring glory, not to myself, but to God. I am a cracked vessel through which Christ's light shines...at least I try to be.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? (James 2:14)
As the Sunday school song favorite goes, "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine." My cup overflows with God's great love for me and He has asked me to pour out His love on you. Do you know how great God's love is for you? I hope that reading some of my posts has given you an inkling!!
In 2013, my little blog through God's abundant grace, has reached almost 10,000 readers across the globe. That, my friends, is God at work!! In 2014, I have chosen the word, "Intentional" as my word for the year. It is my heart's desire to live each day with more intention and purpose - through my actions and my words.
I have a lot more words to share. Are you with me for another year? I hope so!
I'll end this post with the mediation I always pray before I press "Publish" each week:
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight O Lord. Amen.
In His love,
Bev
ps. I will be taking a two week break for my upcoming wedding and honeymoon. I invite you to catch up on my 47 other posts in my absence. You will continue to be in my prayers...
It is a day to celebrate...for it is my one year blogging anniversary! I want to say a big Thanks Y'all to those who have been with me from the beginning! You have been my steady encouragement. To everyone who has joined along the way, I am honored and humbled that you make time to read my posts!
Congratulations to Ellen B. and LaRhonda L. who won prizes in my anniversary giveaway drawing. It pays to subscribe and to comment :). Ellen won a copy of Ann Voskamp's best seller, "One Thousand Gifts - A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are". I highly recommend this great read. LaRhonda won a DaySpring mug featuring Isaiah 40:31 and a Starbuck's gift card. Thanks ladies!
At age 52, I am still pondering what I want to be when I grow up...anyone else feel like that?
I have done my stint as a professional in the business world. I also taught for several years with a break in between to concentrate on my most challenging and fulfilling role as "Mommy". A little over a year ago a complicated knee surgery sidelined me from teaching. When I literally couldn't put weight on my leg for six weeks (can you say stir crazy), I returned to my "first love" which has always been writing.
What greater topic to write about than our great God who created each of us and loves us with a love that our tiny minds cannot fathom. This God of loving-kindness has faithfully walked with me through all sorts of trials and tribulations. This blog, "Walking Well With God" is a tribute to His faithfulness and fulfilled promise to never leave nor forsake me.
I have tried my best to Keep It Real in this boat called Life that we do together. I have dared to be vulnerable with my life experiences so that we could support each other and grow together.
I guess you could say that my writing is my faith applied...lived out in order to bring glory, not to myself, but to God. I am a cracked vessel through which Christ's light shines...at least I try to be.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? (James 2:14)
As the Sunday school song favorite goes, "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine." My cup overflows with God's great love for me and He has asked me to pour out His love on you. Do you know how great God's love is for you? I hope that reading some of my posts has given you an inkling!!
In 2013, my little blog through God's abundant grace, has reached almost 10,000 readers across the globe. That, my friends, is God at work!! In 2014, I have chosen the word, "Intentional" as my word for the year. It is my heart's desire to live each day with more intention and purpose - through my actions and my words.
I have a lot more words to share. Are you with me for another year? I hope so!
I'll end this post with the mediation I always pray before I press "Publish" each week:
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight O Lord. Amen.
In His love,
Bev
ps. I will be taking a two week break for my upcoming wedding and honeymoon. I invite you to catch up on my 47 other posts in my absence. You will continue to be in my prayers...
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Things I Would Have Done Differently
Hey Friend,
I'm sorry it's been a long while since I have written. I guess you could say that life has been tugging on my heart strings. You know those times...when life sometimes just gets too hard to bear. I have been having to measure out tough love to my almost twenty one year old...not an easy thing to do. Perhaps if I had practiced more on the small stuff, it would have made tough love on the big stuff easier to measure out?!
Ahh reflection. That's what we're supposed to do when we greet a new year - reflect on the past and make resolutions on how we will make changes in the new year. Perhaps I have been reflecting upon my years of child rearing and asking myself if I had it all to do over again, what would I have done differently?
The answers came all too quickly. Yes, I would have done some things differently. I think that my children exited the womb and came bursting upon the world screaming, "I want!" Not, I need, but I WANT!!!! You see I am a baby boomer parent and that means that I grew up with a healthy fear of my parents. There was a certain respect granted to our parents, teachers, and other authority figures. We had regular chores and got menial jobs when we turned sixteen and were happy for the pay that we got.
We didn't get cars on our sixteenth birthday (I felt fortunate to be able to drive the family beast of a station wagon on special occasions). I grew up in a small three bedroom house with one bathroom and when I graduated from high school, I didn't go on a trip to a foreign country. I went out to Wright's Seafood Restaurant with my family (which in those days was a big deal). In short, I had a healthy sense of gratitude which my children, and I believe other children of the baby boomer generation, do not have. In our quest to give them everything we did not have, we have deprived them of the gift of gratitude. Look at other countries with far less than what we have in the US and their level of gratitude for all of God's gifts.
I'm sure to some, I sound like an old curmudgeon. Perhaps if I had used the word "No" as an answer to the primal scream of "I Want" more often, I would have more grateful children. Maybe if instead of planning family ski vacations, I had planned more trips to the local shelter to serve meals to the homeless, there would be more hope for this next generation? Perhaps...perhaps...
I pray that God, in his goodness, will fill in the cracks where I fell short (and those are plenty). There are, I realize, some things that I would have done the same. Such as: I would be fully present with my children. I would not be consumed with technological distractions. I would often put down whatever I was doing in order to give them the gift of importance.
I would also have kept my rule of one activity per child. None of this running every night of the week to a different activity. On the days when there wasn't an activity, homework came first and then, wonder of all wonders, I shooed them outdoors to play. It's amazing the life lessons you learn in a pick up game of neighborhood roller hockey. If they got bored...all the better. Some of the world's greatest inventions came about because someone was allowed to get bored.
Most importantly, I would have definitely wielded the sword of truth - scripture. My children used to teasingly call me "Bible Lady" because I would quote scripture to them on all occasions since they were tiny. I believe there is power in the Word. We need to teach it to our children.
Teach them (God's precepts) to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, ... and when you lie down, and when you rise. (Deuteronomy 11:19)
I believe that the Word will not return void when used. We may not see the fruits of our labor right away (yes, I have a prodigal child), but I do believe that in time the truth we have impressed upon them will yield a great harvest.
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6)
Thank you for your patience with me in my sabbatical from writing and then returning with a reflective editorial. If someone can learn from my mistakes and my victories, then let me be transparent.
More than anything, know, in 2014 that you are loved beyond all measure by the God of the universe. He has great things in store for you this year. Be open to His leading and let His light shine brightly through you.
In His love,
Bev
ps. Even though I haven't been writing lately, I still continue to pray for each and every reader of my blog in the morning and in the evening. Praying you will be blessed!
I'm sorry it's been a long while since I have written. I guess you could say that life has been tugging on my heart strings. You know those times...when life sometimes just gets too hard to bear. I have been having to measure out tough love to my almost twenty one year old...not an easy thing to do. Perhaps if I had practiced more on the small stuff, it would have made tough love on the big stuff easier to measure out?!
Ahh reflection. That's what we're supposed to do when we greet a new year - reflect on the past and make resolutions on how we will make changes in the new year. Perhaps I have been reflecting upon my years of child rearing and asking myself if I had it all to do over again, what would I have done differently?
The answers came all too quickly. Yes, I would have done some things differently. I think that my children exited the womb and came bursting upon the world screaming, "I want!" Not, I need, but I WANT!!!! You see I am a baby boomer parent and that means that I grew up with a healthy fear of my parents. There was a certain respect granted to our parents, teachers, and other authority figures. We had regular chores and got menial jobs when we turned sixteen and were happy for the pay that we got.
We didn't get cars on our sixteenth birthday (I felt fortunate to be able to drive the family beast of a station wagon on special occasions). I grew up in a small three bedroom house with one bathroom and when I graduated from high school, I didn't go on a trip to a foreign country. I went out to Wright's Seafood Restaurant with my family (which in those days was a big deal). In short, I had a healthy sense of gratitude which my children, and I believe other children of the baby boomer generation, do not have. In our quest to give them everything we did not have, we have deprived them of the gift of gratitude. Look at other countries with far less than what we have in the US and their level of gratitude for all of God's gifts.
I'm sure to some, I sound like an old curmudgeon. Perhaps if I had used the word "No" as an answer to the primal scream of "I Want" more often, I would have more grateful children. Maybe if instead of planning family ski vacations, I had planned more trips to the local shelter to serve meals to the homeless, there would be more hope for this next generation? Perhaps...perhaps...
I pray that God, in his goodness, will fill in the cracks where I fell short (and those are plenty). There are, I realize, some things that I would have done the same. Such as: I would be fully present with my children. I would not be consumed with technological distractions. I would often put down whatever I was doing in order to give them the gift of importance.
I would also have kept my rule of one activity per child. None of this running every night of the week to a different activity. On the days when there wasn't an activity, homework came first and then, wonder of all wonders, I shooed them outdoors to play. It's amazing the life lessons you learn in a pick up game of neighborhood roller hockey. If they got bored...all the better. Some of the world's greatest inventions came about because someone was allowed to get bored.
Most importantly, I would have definitely wielded the sword of truth - scripture. My children used to teasingly call me "Bible Lady" because I would quote scripture to them on all occasions since they were tiny. I believe there is power in the Word. We need to teach it to our children.
Teach them (God's precepts) to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, ... and when you lie down, and when you rise. (Deuteronomy 11:19)
I believe that the Word will not return void when used. We may not see the fruits of our labor right away (yes, I have a prodigal child), but I do believe that in time the truth we have impressed upon them will yield a great harvest.
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6)
Thank you for your patience with me in my sabbatical from writing and then returning with a reflective editorial. If someone can learn from my mistakes and my victories, then let me be transparent.
More than anything, know, in 2014 that you are loved beyond all measure by the God of the universe. He has great things in store for you this year. Be open to His leading and let His light shine brightly through you.
In His love,
Bev
ps. Even though I haven't been writing lately, I still continue to pray for each and every reader of my blog in the morning and in the evening. Praying you will be blessed!
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Made For Another World
Hey Friend,
There are many things that I do not comprehend...an innocent child being diagnosed with cancer, people close to me having their marriages torn apart by selfishness and infidelity, a town of hard-working people whose homes are destroyed by tornadoes, a classmate losing her battle with depression...these do not make sense to me
If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. (John 15:19)
So, if I am In Christ, the world will hate me. Jesus spoke these words to his disciples, so if I am His disciple, this pertains to me too. Maybe that explains why I have this homesick feeling?! Don't get me wrong, there are many things in my life that I love: my fiancé's loving arms around me, my children's smiles and laughter, a jaw-dropping sunset, the roar of the ocean, the breathtaking majesty of God's complex creation. But, there is always an itch that I cannot scratch, a longing that nothing earthly will fulfill.
"If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probably explanation is...that we were made for another world." (C.S. Lewis)
I kind of have to laugh at the bumper stickers and line of clothing that says "Life is Good". One day, I am going to make one that says, "Life is Hard But God is Good". Do you think that would sell?
God lovingly gives us glimpses of Heaven. Postcards from Heaven, I call them.
The book of Ephesians talks a lot about our life in the "heavenly realms". Christians have already been made beneficiaries of every spiritual blessing that belongs to and comes from the heavenly realm. Grace, redemption, peace, forgiveness, love, to name a few. God has already bestowed upon us a piece of Heaven.
Sometimes I get so caught up in the trials and tribulations of this world that I lose my eternal perspective.
Erma Bombeck was famous for saying, "If life is a bowl of cherries, what am I doing here in the pits." Somewhere along the way we get the notion that life should be a bowl of cherries. Then when life throws something at us, a real curve ball, we are surprised and taken back. The Bible tells us, up front, that we will experience trouble.
In this world you will have tribulation, but take heart I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)
God is a spoiler...He gives us the end of the story. Read it again, but take heart I have overcome the world! What a praise! We know, without a doubt, who wins in the end.
It's been a long time since I have been behind the lens of a camera, but one of my favorite shots was to make the forefront of the picture somewhat blurry and focus in sharply on my object of interest in the background. I was focused in on what was ahead instead of what was immediately under my nose.
In a similar way, God wants our eyes focused on the future joy that He has in store for us. In that day we will know for the first time, unpolluted joy!
So what can we take from our earthly trials and tribulations? How do we endure? We hold on tightly to God's righteous right hand and we profess:
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. (2 Corinthians 4:17)
What this says to me is not that God is making light of our very difficult struggles, but that in comparison to the glory that awaits us, they will then appear light and momentary.
Our tiny minds cannot even begin to grasp what our Loving Father has in store for us. I know Him just well enough to be certain that He will blow our socks off! He loves you so much and is with you in your troubles. He promises to never leave nor forsake you during your brief earthly journey and He will lovingly lead you into the place that He has prepared for you and scoop you up in His strong arms. He dearly loves you. That you can rely on.
I'll end this post with the lyrics of a song by the contemporary Christian group, Building 429:
There are many things that I do not comprehend...an innocent child being diagnosed with cancer, people close to me having their marriages torn apart by selfishness and infidelity, a town of hard-working people whose homes are destroyed by tornadoes, a classmate losing her battle with depression...these do not make sense to me
If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. (John 15:19)
So, if I am In Christ, the world will hate me. Jesus spoke these words to his disciples, so if I am His disciple, this pertains to me too. Maybe that explains why I have this homesick feeling?! Don't get me wrong, there are many things in my life that I love: my fiancé's loving arms around me, my children's smiles and laughter, a jaw-dropping sunset, the roar of the ocean, the breathtaking majesty of God's complex creation. But, there is always an itch that I cannot scratch, a longing that nothing earthly will fulfill.
"If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probably explanation is...that we were made for another world." (C.S. Lewis)
I kind of have to laugh at the bumper stickers and line of clothing that says "Life is Good". One day, I am going to make one that says, "Life is Hard But God is Good". Do you think that would sell?
God lovingly gives us glimpses of Heaven. Postcards from Heaven, I call them.
The book of Ephesians talks a lot about our life in the "heavenly realms". Christians have already been made beneficiaries of every spiritual blessing that belongs to and comes from the heavenly realm. Grace, redemption, peace, forgiveness, love, to name a few. God has already bestowed upon us a piece of Heaven.
Sometimes I get so caught up in the trials and tribulations of this world that I lose my eternal perspective.
Erma Bombeck was famous for saying, "If life is a bowl of cherries, what am I doing here in the pits." Somewhere along the way we get the notion that life should be a bowl of cherries. Then when life throws something at us, a real curve ball, we are surprised and taken back. The Bible tells us, up front, that we will experience trouble.
In this world you will have tribulation, but take heart I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)
God is a spoiler...He gives us the end of the story. Read it again, but take heart I have overcome the world! What a praise! We know, without a doubt, who wins in the end.
It's been a long time since I have been behind the lens of a camera, but one of my favorite shots was to make the forefront of the picture somewhat blurry and focus in sharply on my object of interest in the background. I was focused in on what was ahead instead of what was immediately under my nose.
In a similar way, God wants our eyes focused on the future joy that He has in store for us. In that day we will know for the first time, unpolluted joy!
So what can we take from our earthly trials and tribulations? How do we endure? We hold on tightly to God's righteous right hand and we profess:
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. (2 Corinthians 4:17)
What this says to me is not that God is making light of our very difficult struggles, but that in comparison to the glory that awaits us, they will then appear light and momentary.
Our tiny minds cannot even begin to grasp what our Loving Father has in store for us. I know Him just well enough to be certain that He will blow our socks off! He loves you so much and is with you in your troubles. He promises to never leave nor forsake you during your brief earthly journey and He will lovingly lead you into the place that He has prepared for you and scoop you up in His strong arms. He dearly loves you. That you can rely on.
I'll end this post with the lyrics of a song by the contemporary Christian group, Building 429:
"All I know is I'm not home yet
This is not where I belong
Take this world and give me Jesus
This is not where I belong."
God IS good! He has just made me, made you, for another world...
In His love,
Bev
ps. Don't forget that any comments and/or subscriptions to my blog will enter you into a prize drawing at the end of this month. Great prizes...don't miss out.
Friday, November 29, 2013
Keeping Christmas Simple
Hey Friend,
The pots, pans and mountain of dishes had been washed and were drying in the sink. My fiancé and my daughter's boyfriend were already heavy into football. The turkey's l- tryptophans had settled in and so my son and the two dogs were peacefully dozing with full stomachs. I had my feet, finally, propped up and was taking in my satisfied brood. Ahhh, yes, this was Thanksgiving!
About then, my daughter's question cut into the peaceful calm. "So, are you going to decorate for Christmas tomorrow?" she queried. Everyone else remained still and calm, but I felt my heart start to flutter. I could feel the anxiety begin to creep throughout my body. I'm certain my blood pressure took a sudden leap. "Uhh...well...I don't know...I guess so," I managed.
I was looking for a lifesaver to hold onto my sanity. Silence. And then it came to me, "You know, I'm really busy planning my wedding in January," I said as the words started to flow, "and I have various contractors coming to work on the house in December, and your brother is moving back in, and Christmas is just going to have to be really simple this year." There I said it. I had my excuse. Christmas was going to be really simple this year!
Why did I feel like I needed an excuse to keep Christmas simple? Maybe, because in boxes in my attic, I have the ability to do christmas...or I have the potential to do CHRISTMAS!!! Though my heart yearns to keep Christmas simple, the world screams for bigger, better, bolder CHRISTMAS!
In reality, I don't need an excuse to lower my blood pressure and keep Christmas simple, if I take my cues from the Christmas story in the Bible. In Luke 2:1-20, Luke, the wordiest of the disciples, tells the entire Christmas story in twenty verses. An event that was foretold for centuries, is relayed simply in one portion of one chapter in the whole Bible.
I encourage you to read this passage as we begin the Advent season, as we begin preparing our hearts for Christ's coming. Take in the simplicity of the setting. Mary and Joseph were doing the ordinary things of life. They were going to register for taxes. Along the way they found refuge in the only place that was not full that night - a cave-like shelter where the animals were kept. The only warmth was offered by the animals bodies and their breath. This tiny babe was wrapped in simple cloths and laid to rest on hay in a feeding trough.
The angels first announced His birth to the simplest of men - the shepherds and they offered "Peace".
Perhaps my favorite line is found in Luke 2: 19, "But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart."
Mary's response to birthing this God-child, was simple and sincere...she treasured and she pondered.
This Christmas I want to keep Christmas simple, not because I have a ready made excuse, but because I want to take my cues from scripture and like Mary, I want to take time for reflection and to treasure up all these things and ponder them in my heart.
To do this, I will have to be like the salmon swimming upstream against the CHRISTMAS the world wants me to get sucked into. I will have to be purposeful in making time to treasure and ponder. I will have to let the simple be good enough...
After all, simple was good enough for Christ...
What are you purposefully doing, or not doing in order to keep Christmas simple? I'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas!
In His love,
Bev
ps. All subscribers in November and December will be entered to win prizes as I prepare to celebrate my one year blogging anniversary. Leave a thought or idea on keeping Christmas simple in the "Comments" section and I will enter your name as well.
The pots, pans and mountain of dishes had been washed and were drying in the sink. My fiancé and my daughter's boyfriend were already heavy into football. The turkey's l- tryptophans had settled in and so my son and the two dogs were peacefully dozing with full stomachs. I had my feet, finally, propped up and was taking in my satisfied brood. Ahhh, yes, this was Thanksgiving!
About then, my daughter's question cut into the peaceful calm. "So, are you going to decorate for Christmas tomorrow?" she queried. Everyone else remained still and calm, but I felt my heart start to flutter. I could feel the anxiety begin to creep throughout my body. I'm certain my blood pressure took a sudden leap. "Uhh...well...I don't know...I guess so," I managed.
I was looking for a lifesaver to hold onto my sanity. Silence. And then it came to me, "You know, I'm really busy planning my wedding in January," I said as the words started to flow, "and I have various contractors coming to work on the house in December, and your brother is moving back in, and Christmas is just going to have to be really simple this year." There I said it. I had my excuse. Christmas was going to be really simple this year!
Why did I feel like I needed an excuse to keep Christmas simple? Maybe, because in boxes in my attic, I have the ability to do christmas...or I have the potential to do CHRISTMAS!!! Though my heart yearns to keep Christmas simple, the world screams for bigger, better, bolder CHRISTMAS!
In reality, I don't need an excuse to lower my blood pressure and keep Christmas simple, if I take my cues from the Christmas story in the Bible. In Luke 2:1-20, Luke, the wordiest of the disciples, tells the entire Christmas story in twenty verses. An event that was foretold for centuries, is relayed simply in one portion of one chapter in the whole Bible.
I encourage you to read this passage as we begin the Advent season, as we begin preparing our hearts for Christ's coming. Take in the simplicity of the setting. Mary and Joseph were doing the ordinary things of life. They were going to register for taxes. Along the way they found refuge in the only place that was not full that night - a cave-like shelter where the animals were kept. The only warmth was offered by the animals bodies and their breath. This tiny babe was wrapped in simple cloths and laid to rest on hay in a feeding trough.
The angels first announced His birth to the simplest of men - the shepherds and they offered "Peace".
Perhaps my favorite line is found in Luke 2: 19, "But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart."
Mary's response to birthing this God-child, was simple and sincere...she treasured and she pondered.
This Christmas I want to keep Christmas simple, not because I have a ready made excuse, but because I want to take my cues from scripture and like Mary, I want to take time for reflection and to treasure up all these things and ponder them in my heart.
To do this, I will have to be like the salmon swimming upstream against the CHRISTMAS the world wants me to get sucked into. I will have to be purposeful in making time to treasure and ponder. I will have to let the simple be good enough...
After all, simple was good enough for Christ...
What are you purposefully doing, or not doing in order to keep Christmas simple? I'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas!
In His love,
Bev
ps. All subscribers in November and December will be entered to win prizes as I prepare to celebrate my one year blogging anniversary. Leave a thought or idea on keeping Christmas simple in the "Comments" section and I will enter your name as well.
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Approaching God
Hey Friend,
In tackling this subject, I logically came up with the Who, the How and the What when approaching God. I have struggled and prayed about being vulnerable enough to share the "What" when I get to that part of my post. So I ask you gently, in advance, to hold it carefully in your hands.
When I was little I had a love-hate relationship with the movie "The Wizard of Oz". I hated the wicked witch and the flying monkeys. I recall burying my face in my mother's shoulder when it came to that part. I also wondered about the great and powerful Oz. If he was the giver of good gifts, why was he so intimidating to approach?
I admit that often I have approached God as if he were Oz...I was afraid of God. Was my God just a bunch of smoke and mirrors like Oz? I would hear people speak about the God of the Old Testament - the God of fire, floods and plagues. I gravitated more toward Jesus. I liked the pictures of Him in my Sunday school stories with little children sitting on His lap. He was usually smiling or had a peaceful look on His face. I could relate to Him.
However, Jesus clearly states in John 14:9, "Whoever has seen me has seen the father." The more I purposefully and intentionally dug into this truth, the more of God I began to see. The God of the Old Testament was also the God of the parting of the Red Sea, the Passover and countless times He showed mercy to His people Israel.
I am especially drawn to the verses that speak of God as compassionate and filled with loving-kindness.
"I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness." (Jeremiah 31:3)
"For your loving-kindness is before my eyes: and I have walked in your truth." (Psalm 26:3)
"Every path He guides us on is fragrant with His loving-kindness." (Psalm 23:10)
God is quick to lavish his mercy, grace and loving-kindness upon us. These words are a cool drink of water to my parched soul.
How then, do I approach my loving and kind God?
I am the queen of namby-pamby prayers. I tend to sheepishly go before God and then I cover all my bases...uh, well God, if it's your will and if you see fit, then well maybe you will answer my prayer. Pffftt!
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)
In him (Christ) and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. (Ephesians 3:12)
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be the glory. (Ephesians 3:20-21)
"Ask and it will be given to you..." (Matthew 7:7). Sometimes we simply do not ask.
I can just hear God urging me on, "Come on girl...you can do it...come boldly before me and bring your prayers with you!"
So What do I bring before the throne of grace? Hold this gently. Of all my prayers, I believe my most earnest plea would be for my son...that God would soften his hardened heart. I have always said that my greatest desire, as a mother, would be for my children to have a close and personal relationship with their Lord and Savior and that they would walk in His ways.
I won't go into all the details of how his impressionable heart was hardened, but I come with confidence before God and pray that He would give my son a heart of flesh in place of a heart of stone and that When not If my son returns that he would be greeted by my loving arms and the compassionate arms of the Lord.
As I pray for you every morning and every evening, will you pray this for me?
In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. (Psalm 5:3)
Will you wait in expectation with me? What prayers do you need to bring boldly before His throne of grace?
In His love,
Bev
ps. Don't forget about the drawing at the end of December for Ann Voskamp's best selling book and the DaySpring mug and coffee for all those who subscribe to my blog. Be sure to look for the verification email once you subscribe. No spam; no lists that are sold...promise!
In tackling this subject, I logically came up with the Who, the How and the What when approaching God. I have struggled and prayed about being vulnerable enough to share the "What" when I get to that part of my post. So I ask you gently, in advance, to hold it carefully in your hands.
When I was little I had a love-hate relationship with the movie "The Wizard of Oz". I hated the wicked witch and the flying monkeys. I recall burying my face in my mother's shoulder when it came to that part. I also wondered about the great and powerful Oz. If he was the giver of good gifts, why was he so intimidating to approach?
I admit that often I have approached God as if he were Oz...I was afraid of God. Was my God just a bunch of smoke and mirrors like Oz? I would hear people speak about the God of the Old Testament - the God of fire, floods and plagues. I gravitated more toward Jesus. I liked the pictures of Him in my Sunday school stories with little children sitting on His lap. He was usually smiling or had a peaceful look on His face. I could relate to Him.
However, Jesus clearly states in John 14:9, "Whoever has seen me has seen the father." The more I purposefully and intentionally dug into this truth, the more of God I began to see. The God of the Old Testament was also the God of the parting of the Red Sea, the Passover and countless times He showed mercy to His people Israel.
I am especially drawn to the verses that speak of God as compassionate and filled with loving-kindness.
"I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness." (Jeremiah 31:3)
"For your loving-kindness is before my eyes: and I have walked in your truth." (Psalm 26:3)
"Every path He guides us on is fragrant with His loving-kindness." (Psalm 23:10)
God is quick to lavish his mercy, grace and loving-kindness upon us. These words are a cool drink of water to my parched soul.
How then, do I approach my loving and kind God?
I am the queen of namby-pamby prayers. I tend to sheepishly go before God and then I cover all my bases...uh, well God, if it's your will and if you see fit, then well maybe you will answer my prayer. Pffftt!
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)
In him (Christ) and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. (Ephesians 3:12)
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be the glory. (Ephesians 3:20-21)
"Ask and it will be given to you..." (Matthew 7:7). Sometimes we simply do not ask.
I can just hear God urging me on, "Come on girl...you can do it...come boldly before me and bring your prayers with you!"
So What do I bring before the throne of grace? Hold this gently. Of all my prayers, I believe my most earnest plea would be for my son...that God would soften his hardened heart. I have always said that my greatest desire, as a mother, would be for my children to have a close and personal relationship with their Lord and Savior and that they would walk in His ways.
I won't go into all the details of how his impressionable heart was hardened, but I come with confidence before God and pray that He would give my son a heart of flesh in place of a heart of stone and that When not If my son returns that he would be greeted by my loving arms and the compassionate arms of the Lord.
As I pray for you every morning and every evening, will you pray this for me?
In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. (Psalm 5:3)
Will you wait in expectation with me? What prayers do you need to bring boldly before His throne of grace?
In His love,
Bev
ps. Don't forget about the drawing at the end of December for Ann Voskamp's best selling book and the DaySpring mug and coffee for all those who subscribe to my blog. Be sure to look for the verification email once you subscribe. No spam; no lists that are sold...promise!
Thursday, November 14, 2013
When Others Let You Down
Hey Friend,
My twenty five year old daughter is my maid of honor in my upcoming wedding in January. She is very creative and has a good eye for details, so early on in the planning process I wanted her to come with me to the venue where we are having the ceremony and the reception in order to get her input and ideas.
I had visions of a wonderful bonding experience between mother and daughter. I had expectations of her oohing and aahing over how beautiful, cozy and inviting it would be. I wanted her eager ideas and suggestions on how best to create the perfect setting.
What I got was about the complete opposite. She harshly critiqued everything. If there was something wrong to be found, she found it. There was no laughing and smiling and hugging...it was, in short, a great disappointment. She had let me down.
I stewed on this for about two months until I finally had the courage to confront her with my disappointment. Stewing...bad idea! Wounds left untreated always tend to fester. What I had was a major infection. When I did finally talk with her, she apologized profusely and then shared what I had overlooked...here she was, twenty five, and dreaming as every girl does of her perfect wedding. And here I was, her middle-aged mother getting to plan two of my own weddings before she even got to plan one of her own. She owned up to her problem - it was jealousy with a capital "J"!! After our talking it out there was forgiveness and reconciliation. I also found out that she had been hard at work arranging a lovely bridal shower for me. I didn't know the whole story.
Another thing wrong with this story were my expectations. How often do we place unrealistic expectations on others, particularly those we love the most, and then are let down when our expectations are not met? I remember, as a wife, how I often expected my husband to read my moods or my body language - in essence read my mind - and when he failed to do so, I felt let down.
I have learned, slowly, over the years that other people are not psychic. They can't read my mind and therefore, cannot possibly read my expectations.
I have learned to look for the best in others rather than expect the best.
Great expectations are usually a recipe for disaster. Besides, the Bible tells us that everyone, even our closest family members, will fail, forsake or let us down at some point. They may do it intentionally or unintentionally, but it WILL happen. There is only One who will never let us down.
I will never leave you nor forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5)
There are two stories in the Bible that stand out to me as to how we should handle it when others let us down. It may not be easy, but God promises blessings if we do it His way.
In 2 Timothy 4:16-17, Paul is speaking at his court hearing, "At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth."
Notice what Paul says when all of his best friends deserted him..."May it not be held against them." Notice the blessing that followed when he obeyed God's command to not hold it against them - the Lord stood at his side and gave him strength and he was delivered from the lion's mouth.
In the book of Genesis, the writer tells the story of Joseph who was basically sold into a life of slavery by his jealous brothers. Talk about being let down by those you love. What is Joseph's reaction when he encounters his brothers years later when he is in a position of great power? In Genesis 45, he forgives his brothers. Furthermore, in Genesis 50 he goes one step further; he reassures his brothers.
"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good..." (Genesis 50:19-21).
When others let us down, we need to realize and trust that God is in control and will use every situation, even the really devastating ones, for our good!
One last thought on this topic...realize that when someone lets you down, there is very likely something going on in their life. The reasons people let other people down are many: jealousy, selfishness, greed, anger, immaturity, hurt and in general, our sinful nature. I've heard it said that hurt people hurt people.
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." (Matthew 5:43-44).
That's a tough one - pray for those who persecute you. You don't know what is going on in their life, so God calls us to lay our enemies on the altar before Him.
Will you pray with me? Lord, so many times I have let you down. Please help me to forgive ____________ who has let me down. I release my hurt and disappointment to you as I lay them before you at your altar. Bless them and keep them. In Jesus name...Amen.
In His love,
Bev
ps. Don't forget to subscribe to my weekly blog. Winners will be chosen to receive the best seller by Ann Voskamp "One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are" and a DaySpring coffee mug and coffee. When you subscribe you will receive a "verification email request". Be sure to click the link in the verification email you receive in order to activate your subscription.
My twenty five year old daughter is my maid of honor in my upcoming wedding in January. She is very creative and has a good eye for details, so early on in the planning process I wanted her to come with me to the venue where we are having the ceremony and the reception in order to get her input and ideas.
I had visions of a wonderful bonding experience between mother and daughter. I had expectations of her oohing and aahing over how beautiful, cozy and inviting it would be. I wanted her eager ideas and suggestions on how best to create the perfect setting.
What I got was about the complete opposite. She harshly critiqued everything. If there was something wrong to be found, she found it. There was no laughing and smiling and hugging...it was, in short, a great disappointment. She had let me down.
I stewed on this for about two months until I finally had the courage to confront her with my disappointment. Stewing...bad idea! Wounds left untreated always tend to fester. What I had was a major infection. When I did finally talk with her, she apologized profusely and then shared what I had overlooked...here she was, twenty five, and dreaming as every girl does of her perfect wedding. And here I was, her middle-aged mother getting to plan two of my own weddings before she even got to plan one of her own. She owned up to her problem - it was jealousy with a capital "J"!! After our talking it out there was forgiveness and reconciliation. I also found out that she had been hard at work arranging a lovely bridal shower for me. I didn't know the whole story.
Another thing wrong with this story were my expectations. How often do we place unrealistic expectations on others, particularly those we love the most, and then are let down when our expectations are not met? I remember, as a wife, how I often expected my husband to read my moods or my body language - in essence read my mind - and when he failed to do so, I felt let down.
I have learned, slowly, over the years that other people are not psychic. They can't read my mind and therefore, cannot possibly read my expectations.
I have learned to look for the best in others rather than expect the best.
Great expectations are usually a recipe for disaster. Besides, the Bible tells us that everyone, even our closest family members, will fail, forsake or let us down at some point. They may do it intentionally or unintentionally, but it WILL happen. There is only One who will never let us down.
I will never leave you nor forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5)
There are two stories in the Bible that stand out to me as to how we should handle it when others let us down. It may not be easy, but God promises blessings if we do it His way.
In 2 Timothy 4:16-17, Paul is speaking at his court hearing, "At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth."
Notice what Paul says when all of his best friends deserted him..."May it not be held against them." Notice the blessing that followed when he obeyed God's command to not hold it against them - the Lord stood at his side and gave him strength and he was delivered from the lion's mouth.
In the book of Genesis, the writer tells the story of Joseph who was basically sold into a life of slavery by his jealous brothers. Talk about being let down by those you love. What is Joseph's reaction when he encounters his brothers years later when he is in a position of great power? In Genesis 45, he forgives his brothers. Furthermore, in Genesis 50 he goes one step further; he reassures his brothers.
"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good..." (Genesis 50:19-21).
When others let us down, we need to realize and trust that God is in control and will use every situation, even the really devastating ones, for our good!
One last thought on this topic...realize that when someone lets you down, there is very likely something going on in their life. The reasons people let other people down are many: jealousy, selfishness, greed, anger, immaturity, hurt and in general, our sinful nature. I've heard it said that hurt people hurt people.
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." (Matthew 5:43-44).
That's a tough one - pray for those who persecute you. You don't know what is going on in their life, so God calls us to lay our enemies on the altar before Him.
Will you pray with me? Lord, so many times I have let you down. Please help me to forgive ____________ who has let me down. I release my hurt and disappointment to you as I lay them before you at your altar. Bless them and keep them. In Jesus name...Amen.
In His love,
Bev
ps. Don't forget to subscribe to my weekly blog. Winners will be chosen to receive the best seller by Ann Voskamp "One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are" and a DaySpring coffee mug and coffee. When you subscribe you will receive a "verification email request". Be sure to click the link in the verification email you receive in order to activate your subscription.
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