Monthly Archives: December 2024

WHAT PATH ARE YOU WALKING?

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Sitting here at my laptop, it’s hard to believe that another year has turned every page of the 2024 calendar. Reflecting on where I’ve gone, what I’ve accomplished, is bringing back many good memories along with numerous questions such as “have I left anything undone that was a personal goal?”

In late spring we enjoyed a “road trip” to Nebraska for a family wedding which allowed us to drive north from Lincoln to see Mt. Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial. On our return drive home, a last minute decision to lodge our car on the Badger allowed us to enjoy its cruise across Lake Michigan, taking in the beauty of that great lake, sunning our faces on the upper deck,  creating more memories, something to cross off our bucket list. October was another road trip, this time to Pennsylvania, for another wedding.  We were able to fill an entire day by visiting Gettysburg National Memorial, finishing our time there with a great burger in one of the small restaurants downtown. 

Summer allowed us to enjoy watching our oldest granddaughter play softball and in the fall our oldest grandson joined a soccer program. Seeing them enjoy, build on basic skills, and participate in a team sport filled some of our weeks traveling to watch, which we gladly did with no hesitation.

Rainy days were good ones to draw me into a good book, some for ministry and others for pure relaxation and enjoyment. Each book taught me new things to understand or escape from otherwise routine days and weeks not taken up with responsibilities.

Yes, 2024, has been good to me. And in a church wide devotional about 30 of us are doing together, the writings from December 24 were very insightful and encouraging. As I anticipate 2025–what will it hold–I like what the devotion’s author wrote: “We don’t need to wait to be called; Jesus has commanded all believers to go!”

So, what is my calling? What is yours? Often, I think Christians are waiting for a loud voice from the heavens announcing a grand “job description” on our life–become a pastor! Go, be a missionary to a foreign land! Give all your possessions to the poor and live a life of modesty! Run for public office! While these are all admirable vocations, in simplicity God calls each believer to walk the path of Jesus and do His work in order to bring increase to His Kingdom. When I answered the reflection question from the devotion I realized that my path usually winds through my church family, Celebrate Recovery, Kroger, Meijer, restaurants, sports fields, my social media platforms, and the privilege to write each week and be included in the Fowlerville News. My path may not be a very long one–with brief adventures like our out of state trips–but it remains one of importance with divine opportunities. 

Our Celebrate Recovery folks donated over $500 in December which we used to bless two families with Christmas gifts. These families were given to us by Angel Tree Ministries, caring for a loved one currently incarcerated. Last week I went with two other leaders to deliver gifts to our Lansing family. Spending time getting acquainted with them was priceless. Listening to their stories of love and support for their little nephew whose dad is currently serving his sentence, praying with them before we left, put a bright spot on my personal “path” that I know was an assignment from Jesus, a beautiful memory I will cherish and glean from the humble lessons I learned from that afternoon visit.

I don’t know what 2025 holds for me. I’m confident there will be more sporting events to attend…I have more ministry books to read…ministry at church and in my community will continue. Hopefully there will be a trip or two to enjoy another adventure!

I don’t know what 2025 holds for you either. As I look around our community I see wonderful families. I also acknowledge we have those living through hardships and tough circumstances. But I see organizations and churches–full of wonderful men and women–willing and waiting to meet needs. I see amazing Christ followers answering individual “calls” every day to change a life or fill a need. I am witnessing “Whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did”. (1 John 2) Those words describe my variety of adventures in 2024 and hopefully continue in 2025–for me AND for you!

PERFECT LOVE

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Sitting on top of our Christmas tree is an angel. In her hands she’s holding an open book of sheet music, symbolizing how we sing carols that remind us of the good news the angels delivered to shepherds on the night of the Christ child’s birth. Angels–God’s personal messengers–played an important role announcing God’s plan of salvation to mankind through the arrival of His Son. So, it is fitting that the fourth candle on the advent wreath is referred to as the “Angel Candle”. Some sources refer to this candle as symbolizing peace while others say it is representing love. No matter which we may settle on, this candle–when lit–brings us full circle around a wreath reminding us to seek hope, peace, joy and now love.

A quick online search for the definition of “love”, primarily from the Greek language (our New Testament was written in Koine Greek, the common language in its time) revealed there are eight different definitions of this word. It’s fair to say that depending on which word was used for describing love, a reader or someone engaged in conversation would understand what was being conveyed.

I dare say, in comparison, that in our English language the word “love” is used to describe our emotions for a broad variety of things, including how we feel about another person. Here’s some examples how we throw around this word:

  • I absolutely love my children
  • I love cheesecake
  • I love the new TV series I’m watching
  • I love watching my kids play their favorite sport
  • I love my dog
  • I love seeing loving in action
  • I love…..(fill in the blank)

What about God’s love for us? How is His deep affection for us defined We can find an answer in the Greek word “agape”. Agape love is considered as selfless, unconditional, and sacrificial–the highest form of unconditional love. God’s love endures forever, too.

Words from the prophet Jeremiah tell us “The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness”. 

Isn’t it amazing how God’s love spans all of time. This Ancient of Days as He is sometimes called, has no boundaries trying to hold back what He graciously pours out from generation to generation!  In another beautiful hymn written by Issac Watts the last verse sums up how one man described God’s love:

  • Were the whole realm of nature mine,
    That were a present far too small;
    Love so amazing, so divine,
    Demands my soul, my life, my all.

As we move from Advent’s preparation of our hearts and minds to anticipate and greet the arrival of Jesus, may we take time to ponder God’s love. His love IS amazing. It IS divine. It is matchless, full of wonder, power, grace, mercy, and so much more…

“How precious is your steadfast love, O God!

The children of mankind take refuge in  the shadow of your wings.” (Psalm 36-7)

May the love of Christ fill your hearts to overflowing this Christmas! May you respond to His love for you with gratitude and adoration. Merry Christmas!

JOY–LOUD & CRAZY ALLOWED

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Now under a soft glow of two flickering candles in the advent wreath, another candle is lit which adds more light to darkened worship in cathedrals, small country churches, or huge modern auditoriums. The newly lit candle–light pink in color–contrasts the other two candles which are purple. Why the difference in color? Dating back to ancient traditions in the Christian church, pink or rose color symbolizes “joy”.

A popular Christmas carol sung by people around the world is “Joy to the World”. This beautiful hymn was written as a poem by Issac Watts and published in the 1700s. His work was based on Psalm 98 and actually is about Christ’s “second coming”, not as an announcement for His birth among the nations. In this particular psalm the author uses beautiful word pictures to describe honoring the Lord with loud worship and praise. We find these phrases:

  • Shout for joy
  • Make music with harps
  • Trumpet blasts and ram’s horns
  • The rivers clap their hands
  • Let mountains sing

That’s quite the noisy approach for celebrating the Lord!

In our children’s ministry at my church, I have delighted privilege to help lead our young elementary students in group worship time. After the children settle on their benches, a countdown to group worship begins. A video starts at “30” and the kids join in announcing the descending numbers. When we reach “10” their small voices increase in volume with each number until at “zero” they are full volume! I love it. I love their excitement. I adore their passion. I am thrilled that our children have been given “space” to be loud and crazy for Jesus. I always think that we adults have much to learn from children who worship loudly without worrying about what others think about their silly antics. Oh, there are some who don’t fully engage…but seeing most who do…brings a smile to my face, especially when I see 4th and 5th graders–you know–the ones who are thinking it’s “not cool”– join in singing and making  motions we use for our songs.

Likewise, in my role as the ministry leader for our adult Celebrate Recovery ministry, I get to see men and women come through our doors who are hurting, some very deeply. They are wounded. Some are deep in addictive behavior. Somber and downcast faces are evidence of feeling bound in chains. But God. But worship. I am amazed that in “our” time of worship, these same men and women have hands lifted high as we sing about God’s love and His promises to give us freedom, hope, and healing from all that keeps us feeling hopeless.

I see women who have exited spousal abuse. I see women celebrating years of freedom from alcohol. I see men who have victory over pornography. I see women who are living life with mental health struggles. I see worshippers filled with hope and “joy”.

The holiday season is one of the most difficult times of year for anyone working on recovery. It’s why one of our last lessons we teach at Celebrate Recovery is titled “Relapse” which emphasizes the importance of being present at meetings and using every available support system to stay on track. Usually each week we welcome a new person to our group, someone who has reached a place of having lost all hope to be better. At CR we love newcomers. We love seeing men and women come back week after week in order to “let go” and “let God”,  restoring what life’s hurts, habits, and hangups have stolen from their lives.

At Celebrate Recovery, we offer hope, peace, and “joy”. We don’t do any of those things on our own, but only through the power of Jesus Christ. And now that we also offer Celebration Place for the children of our attendees, we are changing the very atmosphere in our families homes. Having these youngsters with us in our worship time is another beautiful sight to see–kids dancing around the room, jumping up and down–as their parent(s) also worship our Lord. 

Tuesday nights of worship are sheer “joy”. We are doing our part to bring the words of “Joy to the World” alive, following its commands to be “loud and crazy”.

If you are someone who needs peace, love, and joy–we invite you to join us. We meet at the Fowlerville United Brethren Church at 7 pm. Find us on Facebook or call 517.223.9490 for more information.

PEACE THAT PASSES UNDERSTANDING

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Peace. What is it and how do we receive this beautiful anecdote which brings silence and a blanket of calm that both forces chaos to halt and cease its bombardment of our emotions and senses.

In a letter dated August 16, 1945 written by a young newlywed, a bride wrote to her husband–”Well, at last there is peace. That sounds so wonderful. Tuesday night I was sitting on the porch when it came over the radio. I didn’t know whether to cry or laugh”.

On the ring of the advent wreath, another candle waits to be lit, becoming a companion to “hope”.  This candle represents more than one kind of peace. With its flame burning, dancing in front of longing eyes, it emits promises of inner peace for us when life is overwhelming. A second promise calls us to know we can live in “peace with others”. Embodied in the Hebrew greeting “Shalom” is the very essence of peace “knowing that this is what is meant to be” and illustrates that God’s peace is a “slice of heaven”.

Therefore, what is “peace”? It’s more than a feeling. This much sought after feeling of hope and security is actually embodied in the person of Jesus Christ. 

Isaiah, an 8th century prophet was gifted by God to foretell his people some of the most beautiful words I’ve read or sung…”For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9: 6) 

700 years after Isaiah’s prophecy, the birth of the Christ child is recorded in the four gospels of our New Testament. Luke is my favorite author who recounted Christ’s miraculous birth and the people who were chosen to receive news of His arrival first–lowly shepherds tending their flocks in the dark of night. Utterly surprised by a multitude of angels singing– who broke into an ordinary night– their song is recorded for us in Luke 2: 14…”Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Our young bride continues in her letter…”People got guns out, old cans, anything to make some noise. People went wild with excitement. Ed and I got in the car and went downtown. Traffic was awful…papers were all torn up. Flags were out…later that evening Evie, Gloria and I went back downtown around 8:30. You could hear horns for blocks away.”

At the appointed time God sent His son Jesus to be born as a child, fulfilling not only His birth, but to assume every name in heaven granted to Him with proper authority. I can’t imagine the beautiful chaos in heaven as angels worshiped and celebrated His birth. In contrast, all of hell broke loose, too, as the adversary–God’s prime enemy–Satan, was faced with a reality shining off the face of an infant who would bring an end to evil schemes and demonic strongholds in the adversary’s  constant striving to steal, kill and destroy all that God created and loves.

“I guess everyone is looking for the day when all the boys come home…well, darling, I’m glad I don’t have to say ‘I wish’ anymore.’

A common living room radio announced the news tired nations were longing to hear. World War II was over. A young bride, anxious to be reunited with her husband, rejoiced between tears and laughter. My dad was coming home soon…

Heavenly angels were God’s messengers delivering divine news to ordinary shepherds. Years of waiting for a promised messiah were over. Although these men and their Jewish nation did not or would not fully comprehend the events coming in the next 33 years of Jesus’ life and ministry, one thing remained. A peace that surpassed any other form known to them had arrived … .this kind of peace, set in motion 2,000 years ago is still a force to be reckoned with in a world that needing to be reconciled to the Prince of Peace.