Soul Sister 3:16

It's that time of year again ... you know, the time when we make promises to ourselves that we (or more specifically I) invariably fail to keep. Maybe it's to "get fit", or to "lose 15 pounds".  Maybe it's "learn a new language", or "be nicer to people."  Whatever it is - I wish you all of the luck/strength/passion/commitment needed to complete whatever goal you set. However, if you are like me - most of the resolutions last a few days or weeks at most, and then old habits kick in.  But here is the good news:  while a failed new years resolution can make us feel guilty or unworthy - failures in our lives should not. Failures of character and judgement, sins against God - all of those are EXACTLY why Jesus came to Earth.   God gave the people of the Old Testament very specific guidelines and conditions they needed to follow in order to "live up to" His expectations.  They couldn't do it.  Not one person.   No matter how m...

  I LOVE a Water Pik! Truly, I think it is the BEST dental hygiene invention known to man.   Sure, I like a Sonicare toothbrush, and yes - I use floss.  I also like ADA endorsed toothpaste, and Listerine mouthwash…but for my money - the Water Pik beats them all. That's because even after brushing my teeth, even after flossing, even after rinsing my mouth and gargling with mouthwash, when I use the Water Pik and shoot litle jets of water between my teeth - invariably bits of food and gunk come out of my mouth So why am I telling you this?  Well, l ast night I brushed and flossed my teeth before bed, but this morning - after brushing again I used the Water Pik.   I was revolted with what came out of my mouth and horrified at the thought of the food that had been rotting between my teeth all night.  DISGUSTING. They say good dental hygiene is key to overall health, and as I thought about my Water Pik this morning, I  thought about sin... I refle...

ARGH! I've had enough! I recently had to fill out a survey that asked me for my gender, and my options were Male, Female, Non-Binary, or Other. What the H .. E.. Double toothpicks?!?! And if that weren’t enough, earlier this week my husband showed me an article that says a new law will go into effect in California on January 1 requiring any large retail store with over 500 employees to have a "clearly labeled gender neutral toy section". Wait, what?  WHY?!?! Last I knew parents were the ones buying toys for their children, and whether there was a section in the store that was labeled "gender neutral" or not - chances are they would be picking the toys they believed were best suited for their child. So just who is the signage for - and WHO decides whether a truck or a doll is "sexed" or "neutral"? I mean is a drum neutral, but a PINK drum only for girls?  Do distinctions like that suggest that a boy who likes pink isn't really a boy at all...

I've heard it said that good parenting often allows children to learn from their mistakes, RATHER than always trying to talk them out of making them.  Such is the case with the middle schooler who wants to wear shorts to school during the middle of winter. Honestly, I don't know what is up with middle schoolers... but no coats, or shorts worn at the most inappropriate times (considering the weather) seems to be the norm. But I heard a wise person once say - let them do it.  It won't take more than once for them to realize being warm is better than being "cool"...and if they're cold because of the choices they make, maybe next time they'll make different choices. I think God is a VERY GOOD parent. By giving us freedom of choice, God has allowed us to decide whether we want to do life WITH Him, or WITHOUT Him...and for those who choose WITHOUT, He often lets them experience the consequences of that choice. But I KNOW from personal experience, that the moment...

The Everly Brothers once wrote a song called, "Wake Up Little Susie."  In it, the lyrics talk about a couple who overslept and who - because of it, are going to be in trouble... The other day I overslept. For me, that's a fairly rare occurrence as I'm one who generally subscribes to Ben Franklin's "early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise"   advice. However, last week when my eyes finally opened, I KNEW I hadn't gotten up at my usual time because the sky was light.  DRAT!  I HATE the feeling of waking up and knowing I am ALREADY behind schedule!  ... The Bible sometimes uses sleep as a metaphor for those who don't know God: "Wake up, sleeper, rise for the dead, and Christ will shine on you." - Ephesians 5:14 It warns us not to be caught "sleeping" when Jesus returns: "Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back - whether in the evening, or at midnight, ...

Are you one of those people whose Christmas tree is down and out by the curb the day after Christmas?   That always makes me a little sad. I supposed for some it's because commercialism drives Christmas earlier and earlier into the year (I saw trees at Costco back in October), and by December 26th many people are "ready to be done". But while for me it's the END of the season that is sad - for plenty of people it is the whole holiday that makes them blue. You know this is the first Christmas without my Dad.  I miss him terribly. In fact just writing this causes big tears to fall down my cheeks.   A few days before Christmas a friend of mine posted this on her Facebook wall: My house is always open.  Always.  Tea or coffee can be on in minutes and the kitchen island is a place of peace and non-judgement.  There's beer in the fridge and wine is always chilled.   We can sit on the deck in the nice weather or in the warm family room when it'...

Merry Christmas! In truth - growing up as a kid - Christmas Day meant PRESENTS!  LOTS AND LOTS of them.   I remember many a Christmas where we'd end up taking a break mid-morning to get "refreshed" so we could carry on because presents covered every inch of the floor of our living room.  Sadly, in all honesty - we tend to repeat things we grew up with, so my house this year won't be much different... 😕   It is as if in my mind, I have equated gifts with love.  e.g. - "I love you so I'll give you a present."  or, "I love you LOTS so I'll give you LOTS of presents." But no matter how many presents I put under that tree - it doesn't take long after they're all opened and all of the wrapping paper and bows have been tossed aside, that those gifts I bought become just MORE STUFF.  More stuff to clutter closets and fill drawers.  More stuff to have to find places for in the house.  More stuff people don't need - and often don't...

Tonight at midnight (whenever midnight comes to you) we will celebrate the New Year, and people will look forward to what 2024 might bring. I remember saying "Happy New Year" as we started 2001.  Nine months later our country would experience the first large terrorist attack on U.S. soil. I remember saying "Happy New Year" looking forward to 2020.  But then on March 13 - COVID shut down the world.  And while it's been over 3 years now - we STILL aren't fully recovered. When we ushered in 2023, I said "Happy New Year," not realizing this would be the year my wonderful Dad would pass away. No - not every New Year is HAPPY.  However, we can look forward with hope, because Jesus taught us that He would always be with us, and that God "works all things for the good of those who love Him." So tonight - as the clock strikes midnight - here is my wish for you: "May God be gracious to you and bless you and make His face shine upon you" ...

"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, 'Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?  We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.' Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.  He sent them to Bethlehem and said, 'Go and search carefully for the child.  As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.' After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.  When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.  On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him.  Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh." - Matthew 2:1-2, 7-11 Now there is some debate as to whether...

It's Advent season, and because of that, I find myself thinking about Mary and Joseph a little more now than I do the rest of the year. The Bible tells us that Mary was a teenage virgin who was betrothed to be married.  It says when the angel Gabriel appeared to her he said, "Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.  You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.  He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High.  The Lord will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob's descendants forever; his kingdom will have no end." - Luke 1:30-33 Back then, a woman who had sex outside of marriage was likely to be stoned to death.  At the VERY LEAST her pregnancy would bring shame upon her and her family.  She would most likely lose her fiancé, and then be forced to raise the child on her own.  But listen to what Mary's response was... "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "M...

I LOVE a Christmas pageant. There.  I've said it! I've loved them since I was a little girl and I got to be an angel, with a tinsel halo and wings my mother mistakenly put on me upside-down. I loved it when I got to play Mary, cuddling a little baby and looking into the eyes of a man who would  actually   one day become my husband. And I have LOVED the Glory of Christmas  epic spectacular that Northridge Church has presented for years.  I mean who wouldn't?  There are fireworks and flying angels, a full orchestra, and both secular and sacred Christmas music... But as I end this Christmas season, I need to remember that the story of Jesus does not end at the manger. In fact, look at this picture taken at Northridge's GoC pageant.  That manger doesn't look like any I've ever seen before - and it doesn't even look like the one the family is under at the end of the show... No - THIS manger, if you look closely, is one that looks very much like a crown of t...

I'm sick. And in truth I was going to bemoan the fact and tell you all how much I had to do today, and how awful being sick right before the holidays is.  In fact, in a sentence I just erased I had said "being sick at the holidays is THE WORST." But God stopped me in my tracks. "The WORST?" ...I heard that still small voice say - and then the famous line from Princess Bride, "I do not think it means what you think it means..." No.  Being sick at the holidays is definitely NOT the worst. Being without a child, or a spouse.  Watching someone you love as they take their last breaths in hospice.  Hearing about the accident that paralyzed or killed a friend or a spouse, or dealing with a recent diagnosis of a life-threatening disease - there are many things that are worse... And even then - those tragedies are NOT the worst if the people in question have a relationship with God.   THE WORST - is being without Him, not just during the holiday but any day of ...

Yesterday I wrote about Mary...but Joseph is the other side of the couple who had the amazing privilege of raising the Son of God.  And I think God chose them because Mary showed tremendous faith...and   Joseph was a man of CHARACTER. I know this because he was engaged to Mary, a young teenage virgin.  However one day she came and told him that she was pregnant.  She claimed this was true even though she said she'd never slept with a man. As I said yesterday, back in those days - religious leaders would ensure such an offense was punishable by death, and Joseph was a religious man.  At the very least Joseph had a right to be furious.  But the Bible tells us this: "Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly." - Matthew 1:19 He "DID NOT WANT TO EXPOSE HER TO PUBLIC DISGRACE..." Clearly Joseph loved Mary.  And surely Mary's story sounded questionable...b...

  This is me, and i n this picture I am 1 1/2 years old.  The manger is one that used to be (or maybe still is) at one end of Bronson park in Kalamazoo.  And, if my parents never took me back there - then I REMEMBER THIS NIGHT! "Sure" you say, "sure you do..." But I do! I remember looking at Mary and Joseph who were taller than me, and seeing that little baby Jesus in the manger.  I remember my Dad telling me about Him, and noting that Mary had a baby, and my mom was soon going to have a baby.  I remember the HUGE camels, the donkey, the sheep, and the wise men... Now, in addition to the manger, Bronson Park had never looked so festive.  Along each path  there was a long row of lighted candy canes that you could walk under.  The night sparkled with the lights on the little Christmas trees that had been brought in and decorated.  There were bells, and lanterns, tinsel, and at the center of the park  even a  Santa in a sleigh, way up ...

Being retired has its benefits. This past summer, retirement meant I got to spend 7 weeks working in Nicaragua in the community of San Benito to help install a water system. It was GOOD WORK.  Rewarding for me.  Life changing for the people in that small community...  And as we get ready to head into the last week before Christmas, I find myself thinking of the people there... In Nicaragua they speak Spanish.  Sadly, I do not... However I DO KNOW that " mas " means more.  And so as I sit in my house this morning drinking coffee and thinking about the word Christmas - I suppose it might translate to MORE CHRIST. I like that. I like it for the simple reason that the people in San Benito - actually, the people I've met THROUGHOUT Nicaragua, seem to have a better handle on what happiness looks like than many of us here in the U.S. do. In the U.S. I believe folks often look to what's under the tree to bring them happiness at Christmas.  But no matter how grand t...

I heard a story Tuesday that made me very sad. It was of a woman named Sandy who was part of the choir at our church.  One week ago tonight she was performing Silent Night with the rest of the choir as the audience watched Mary, Joseph and Jesus at the manger.  Suddenly, the flame from a misplaced candle caught her costume on fire. There on stage, with 3,000 people in the audience and her mother also in the choir watching, flames flickered and then caught, and the Silent Night was marked with screams. Fortunately, some quick thinking folks were able to put the fire out - however not before Sandy received 2nd and 3rd degree burns over 30% of her lower body. Then yesterday, I learned that a friend and former co-worker, one of the nicest men you'd ever meet, had a heart attack in his car resulting in a crash, which left him dead.  He is young, and has a wife.  It is a sad tale that will probably mar his family's Christmases going forward. And finally, my son's Godmother...

If you go to your local library or bookstore, you'll see an enormous section of self-help books. I think the volume of advice and the magnitude in the number of books is because so many people out there are broken and searching.  They are looking for something that will enrich their lives, smooth out the bumps, and make their world just a little better. I have one word for them. GOD. I saw a meme once that I really liked.  It was a different sort of self-help and its advice was very simple and straight forward.  As I looked at it I thought that if it were followed, libraries and bookstores would have a lot more space on their shelves.  Ready for it?  Here it is: Happy Moments....................Praise God Difficult Moments ....................Seek God Quiet Moments ....................Worship God Painful Moments ....................Trust God Every Moment ....................Thank God That's it - a self help guide for GOOD and GLORIOUS living.  Enjoy! "Look ...

WOWZA! I woke up this morning and looked out my window to see the most incredibly bright star hanging over the Eastern sky.  It was enormous, and in seeing it, I couldn't help but think about Christmas. Now for you astronomers in the crowd, I KNOW it was most likely Venus, and I KNOW the brightness was probably a reflection of the sun on the planet's surface...so please don't write me letters telling me what a knucklebunny I am!   However, the truth is - I prefer to think of it as a star.   In fact, I PREFER to think of it as THE STAR. There are lots of things that will cause someone to search for Jesus.  For many, the holidays are an incredibly difficult time as we remember loved ones who have passed away, or who cannot be with us because of proximity.  Our hearts long to be with them, and their absence causes the holiday to be a little "less festive" than it has been in years past. I feel that this year as I get ready for my first Christmas without D...

I saw something someone posted the other day that said this... "Follow your heart" has ended more marriages, caused more addictions, mutilated more bodies, destroyed more souls, and ended more lives than Satan ever imagined.  It is one of hell's most effective slogans.  Don't follow your heart, follow the One who created it." True. The devil loves it when we follow our hearts because our hearts are fickle.  Our hearts are "self-serving" rather than God-serving.  Our hearts focus on our own needs and wants, whereas God wants us to put those aside, as we LOVE Him, and SERVE others. Yesterday's date verse says this:  "Be devoted to one another in love.  Honor one another above yourselves." - Romans 12:10 That's often very hard to do...especially if we allow our hearts to get involved. Honoring one another translates to SERVING one another.  Even when we don't feel like it.   In relationships this is often so very difficult. Yesterday...

For MONTHS I have been thinking that God wanted me to write about Micah.  And months ago, when I felt the first tugs about it, I looked up the book in the Bible and read it.  Northing struck me. I thought instead maybe I was supposed to write about the rock Mica and the layers...but again, nothing. Then this past week as we started our Advent study on hope, the book of Micah was a subject on the first day.    It was because as part of his prophecy, Micah also preached HOPE. I have a sticker on my bulletin board from one of last year's church services. It declares " Hope Changes Everything ".   And this year in our pre-Christmas series at church we're learning that HOPE is different than optimism.  Because while optimism means we "choose" to see how circumstances could work out for the best, Biblical hope, gives us a strong and unwavering foothold in that we can look at the past and see all times where God was faithful and kept his promises, and then us...

I saw a meme the other day that made me smile.  It said, "I turn coal into diamonds, sand into pearls, and a worm into a butterfly.  I can turn your life around too. - God"  I think when things are difficult, and we feel that God is no where to be found, we will often embrace a mindset that says, " This is all there is.  I am all alone. " But that is not true. In Matthew 28:20, Jesus tells his disciples this.. "And remember, I am always with you always, until the end of time." I believe the devil waits for those moments when we are feeling lost and alone, like the world is against us and God has left the building, to whisper his lies in our ears.  But we must not believe him!  Instead, we should remember that coal isn't turned into diamonds overnight.  Sand doesn't change into a pearl in the blink of an eye. And, a caterpillar doesn't become a butterfly in an instant. But God promises that in all things He "works for the good of those wh...

This week I started a new ADVENT Bible study, and I learned that m any of the members of my group had previously been on mission trips.   As we talked about the people we'd encountered when we'd gone to "serve", our consensus was the same...the people we had met, those we'd gone to "help", though living meager lives in VERY ROUGH conditions, often seemed much happier than people here in the United States. We all were struck by the fact that the people we'd met had loving spirits, an inner peace, and a genuine joy that seemed implausible given the hardships of their lives. We talked about how people with dirt floors, and homes made from corrugated metal and cardboard, seemed to have a better sense of God, a better sense of the value of family, and a better sense of community, than many of us here in the U.S. do.  We wondered about why that might be... And then one young woman spoke up.  She said, the people in the U.S, that aren't happy are unfulf...

I often go to sleep at night with NO CLUE as to what I will write about on this blog in the morning.  On those nights I ask God to put something in my head... Often He does. The problem is - while the ideas all make sense in the middle of the night when they comes to me, by the morning the idea has slipped from my head and I'm back to square one.   That's why I've decided to put a tablet by my bed.  Then, if I receive an inspiration during the night I can write it down. The Bible tells us that God WILL often speak to us at night: "For God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it.  He speaks in dreams, in visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they lie in their beds." - Job 33:14-15 (NLT) And it admonishes us to "be ready" to receive His words and act on them. "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth." - 2 Timothy 2:15...

Matthew 2 tells us that when Herod learned there were Wise Men who had come to Jerusalem in search of a child who was "born to be king of the Jews," he was very upset. "So Herod called together all the chief priests of the people.  He also called the teachers of the law.  He asked them where the Messiah was going to be born. 'In Bethlehem in Judea,' they replied.  'This is what the prophet has written.  He said, 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are certainly not the least important among the towns of Judah.  A ruler will come out of you.  He will rule my people Israel like a shepherd.' <Micah 5:2> Then Herod secretly called for the Wise Men.  He found out from them exactly when the star had appeared.  He sent them to Bethlehem.  He said, 'Go and search carefully for the child.  As soon as you find him, report it to me.  Then I can go and worship him too.'" - Matthew 2:3-8 They say jealousy is a "green-eyed monster...

I n the time of Jesus - Shepherds were men without much power or stature.  Their job, to watch over the sheep, was a boring one to be sure.  Their days were filled with counting animals and ensuring the sheep had enough food and water to sustain them.  Their nights were spent watching for predators, and sleeping on the ground.   Lowly sheep.  Lowly shepherds. UNTIL.. "An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid, I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the 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 a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.' Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor ...

One of my favorite Christmas songs (and videos) is called Joseph's Lullaby by Mercy Me,  and before we go on, you can  listen to it here  if you'd like. (Note if you click the link it will open the song in a new window...remember to come back!) When I watch that video and see that little baby being placed in a food trough for animals, I am struck by the knowledge that God does not operate in ways that we expect . At the time of Jesus' birth, the Jewish world was waiting for a Messiah.  They were looking for one who would reestablish Israel, who would turn swords into ploughshares, who would end oppression, and who would bring justice... for such was the vision of the Biblical Prophets. But rather than a ruler who would overthrow the Roman government, and restore Israel - here was this tiny baby!  No wonder so many are still waiting. However, I believe that God sent Jesus to this Earth to make a way for us to be reconciled and acceptable to Him.  And I belie...

I saw a news article the other day that has been hurting my heart ever since.  It talked about something called "The Satanic Temple" and their "religious abortion ritual"... WAIT - WHAT?!?! I honestly couldn't believe what I was reading was real - and so I googled it.  If you do, you'll see The Satanic Temple has a website and that their opening message says they encourage "benevolence and empathy, reject tyrannical authority, advocate practical common sense, oppose injustice and undertake noble pursuits." These all sound reasonable...but then if you dig a little further and look at the website's LEARN section you will see this as one of their main tenets and beliefs: One's body is inviolable, subject to one's own will alone. In other words - "I want to be able to kill that thing living inside of me." ... Apparently the TST has holidays they like to celebrate (the words that follow are theirs not mine): Lupercalia - Celebrati...

The other day I was at my house when I spotted a spider crawling across the floor. Now I've always felt that outside, little critters are free to roam and be free, however, once they start invading my house, well - then all bets are off. So before thinking too much about it, I stepped on and squished the spider as I said the words, "you're in MY house." Then all of a sudden - I had an incredibly sharp image of God doing the same thing to me as I walked into church on Sunday!  And I realized I am very much like that little spider. No - I don't DESERVE mercy.  I certainly didn't EARN mercy.  And if God wanted to, he could squish me right where I stand, right now... But He doesn't.   This morning as I consider that little spider, and the grace and mercy I have been shown by God, I think about the other times in my life that those two signs of love have not been my first response, and I am ashamed. Today, as I go about my day interacting with others whom God h...