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ALL THINGS GOOD

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I can still see her bright smiling face. The year was 1987 and I had been hospitalized for observations with my high risk pregnancy. A routine glucose test in my sixth month rewarded me with almost a week under scrutiny to determine my medical plan to keep my levels in healthy range. That’s when I met her, an older black woman who cleaned my room. She was very meticulous and everything I could observe about her caused me to realize she truly loved her work, which to me–a mere onlooker–automatically caused me to wonder if after a long day cleaning hospital rooms, did it wear her out? Her answer, wrapped in that beautiful smile revealing bright teeth that accompanied the glow on her face, said it all. 

“Oh, no, quite the opposite. I get SO much satisfaction when I clean a room. I lean back on my mop and say to myself ‘my, my, my, aint that purty?’ 

I’m ashamed I don’t remember her name, but as I said, I’ll never forget her smile, her pride in being purposeful and joyful as she went about her duties with not merely my room, but several others, too. And she did it every day, and judging by her age, for a good stretch of years.

Purpose. I wrote about that a few weeks ago and I entertained a thought to revisit this word. I was drawn to Genesis Chapter 1 which gives us the account of creation. It doesn’t take long to read this chapter which records God’s work, taking six days to form everything we see, touch, and smell–and those things beyond like far away galaxies! In addition God gave a command on the fifth day for all creatures in the sea and birds of the air to be fruitful and multiply. Later, this same command is given to Adam and Eve–after being blessed by Him! Purpose.

Upon completion each of those six days God declared that “it was good”. Yet, included in His kind of leaning back and looking over everything He had accomplished He emphasized that His work was “VERY good”. 

A bit of digging taught me–teaches all of us–that the Hebrew word for “good” is tov. It means beautiful, functional, harmonious, and beneficial. EACH part of creation fulfilled its purpose. In the Hebrew which was expanded by Him saying His work was “very good” –tov mo’ed–we learn that what He had made was completion and perfection of an entire interrelated system. Wrap your mind around that for a quick moment.

In Chapter 2 of Genesis we read the account of man’s creation, how God gave Adam purpose by having him work the garden. He got to name ALL the creatures on earth! It’s here also we see God saying “it’s not good for man to be alone”. Thus, Eve is formed from Adam’s rib. Marriage between a man and a woman is established by God, and their purpose is to be “fruitful and increase in number” (verse 28) Purpose.

Sadly, everything that God called “good” or “very good” has come under attack due to the sinful nature of man. Admittedly, there’s not enough room in one article to articulate the destruction and eroding of God’s beautiful beginning in Eden, arriving to our world as we know it today. Man has done a good job of counteracting everything to no longer be 100% beautiful, functional, harmonious, or beneficial. Schemes and selfish motives have robbed us of the interracial system that God put in place for us until sin entered through Adam and Eve. But God!

Nothing comes to God as a surprise or a declaration of “whoa, I didn’t see that coming!” Because He is all knowing He had a plan when things fell apart. There’s no real answer for how long between Adam and Eve being placed in the garden before satan came to have a chat, eventually leading them into darkness. Was it 10 days? A 100? Was it 100 years? What answer does matter is that Jesus and a plan of redeeming us was already in place. I believe that God–as a triune God–Father, Son and Holy Spirit wrote that plan before verse one in Chapter 1…’In the beginning….”

Purpose. Today,  and anytime for that matter, take a good look around you. Everything you see, touch, and smell was created. It all has purpose. It all was called “good” thousands of years ago. Six days of work  was called “very good” and you, me, all of mankind is included in that declaration! Like the wonderful woman who cleaned my hospital room we, too, can lean back now and declare to God regarding what we observe and say “my, my, my, ain’t that purty?”  And good.

SNOW DAYS, PAST & PRESENT

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Ah, snow days. Who doesn’t like a good occasional break from winter’s routines with weather that can interrupt and bring life to a fast standstill. And while such storms have their fair share of dangerous opportunities and mishaps, personally I find that the feelings that well up inside me when I hear of snow days for kids and teachers in our schools, still evoke a certain satisfaction inside me. And, because I don’t have a job or career that takes me outside the home anymore, I find I’m quite content to be home in comfort and away from any of a storm’s harsh realities. So it is this past week that I’ve paid attention, waiting to hear or read about cancellations, which takes me back to memories from childhood, when winter storms created snowdrifts up our back door, impassable streets and sidewalks.

When I was a child, we relied on our local television networks to broadcast weather. Much anticipated school closings were announced using a message tape that ran across the bottom of the TV screen. In our home, it was my dad’s routine to tune in “The Today Show” for the morning news. Invariably, if a pounding snowfall began in the night, I was up in the morning my usual time, still getting ready for school, but anxiously watching the television for the answer to my prayer –”please God! Let it be a snow day”. Often, I was disappointed when the ticker message didn’t include Saginaw City Public Schools. Alas, meaning I kept getting ready. In elementary years we walked two blocks to school. By the time junior high years arrived dad dropped me at my best friend’s home and we walked together, covering more than two blocks to our building. In high school, dad often drove me or dropped me at a corner where us kids could catch a city bus which was chartered for transporting students (there was no school bus operation in the late 60s and 70s) When my best friend could drive, she used her family car to get us to school, rain, shine and snow.

Those days are long gone now for me, yet I can still pull images from my memories of snow days that involved a lot of shoveling, snowforts, snowball fights, piles of snow on every corner and along driveways. There was one year that the pile of snow dad and my brothers created from clearing the drive that us kids were able to mold it into an igloo complete with digging it out for a couple of us to crawl inside. If memory serves me correctly we may have even sprayed it down with water to form a good ice covering, but then that would mean my memory says the hose to the faucet was available. Hmmm, maybe that part was a pipedream!

Then there was the winter blizzard of 1967. My oldest brother’s wedding was planned for January 28 but when Thursday rolled around, snow began falling and didn’t stop for hours. Streets, roads, sidewalks, driveways were buried under almost 23 inches of pure white flakes. Needless to say, with a lot of phone calls and tears, Dave’s wedding was cancelled. Those of us in the family who could dig out were able to gather on Sunday for a small ceremony, allowing them to get married. Dave’s father-in-law and other family members put together a meal which we enjoyed in the comfort of their farm home. Not to leave out celebrating with family and friends, my brother and his new wife hosted a reception a month later which meant Kay got to wear her wedding gown a second time, as did the bridal party. The blizzard of ‘67 was a topic of family get-togethers for years….tears  that had by now turning to smiles and laughter as we reminisced about overcoming mountains of snow!

That same weekend I can still see Tommy who lived across the street from us. Tommy was an amateur daredevil. Before our street was plowed out from the “city crew”, he was able to get into his bright blue 1967 Chevy Nova II, maneuver in reverse down our road, put it in drive and hit the pedal as though he was starting a drag race! Tommy’s goal was to “clear” a huge snow drift that had formed near our adjoining driveways. I still laugh as I “see” Tommy’s enthusiasm come to a screeching halt when the front end of his car disappeared under the drift, thankfully not causing any harm to him or his car.

Snow storms that turn into blizzards or freezing rain that covers roads and power lines are indeed big challenges as we hunker down through winter months. They are like a two edged sword….no school means a different kind of playtime for kids….hazardous roads need attention from hardworking plow crews…possibilies of power outages give concern to families and businesses. Yet, with each storm, each blizzard, each setback in comfort, somehow we manage, don’t we? Ingenuity –like Tommy’s–and resilience take over, thus removing doubts of seeing the sun come out, temps rising, all the conditions that begin melting those piles made which left us tired, sore, and cold to the core.

I certainly am not wishing for another blizzard like the one in ‘67 but I will say this, all these years later I still enjoy a good snow storm. I can brew a cup of tea in the afternoon, layer myself under a throw blanket, and watch  nature’s beauty from a window, seemingly endless pure white flakes falling and cascading in the air, landing on our pines, painting portraits of perfection. And, much like when my family stood at our living room window watching Tommy in his Chevy Nova, listening to him rev the engine, all of us giggling at his “foolishness”, wondering if he’d indeed win the battle against a looming snow drift,  I smile.  I breathe sighs of contentment and happiness. “These” current snow days are very different from my childhood but one thing remains. The peace, awe, and wonder from winter’s offerings always overshadow anything else going on that’s less than pure joy for my own “snow day” at home!

Be safe! Stay warm! 

WHEN LIFE IS A PUZZLE

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You know the feeling. You’ve opened the box that has a beautiful photo of what’s inside the box. An array of colors fill your eyes with colors galore and anticipation of creating your own masterpiece, using the contents from the box. Your time and effort will take patience, time, and concentration to the point where your eyes become tired and blurred. With numerous careful moves, honing in on each item from the box, you slowly solve the problem in front of you and just as you arrive at your “a-ha moment”, sadness and frustration take over your former serene lapses of time spent on your project. You’ve just entered the warp of frustration when one puzzle piece is either missing or your realization that one part  is not where it belongs, throwing off the entire completion of the numerous designs meant to come together in order and purpose to create the exact image that’s on the box.

So, it is with life sometimes. I think it’s safe to say many of us have experienced feelings of not “quite belonging”, “being in the wrong place at the wrong time”, staying in jobs or careers that do not satisfy a longing for accomplishment, making a difference in our world, or using our talents to their fullest potential.

In Rick Warren’s book “A Purpose Drive Life”, he wrote about how God has placed a purpose in every person. Quoting him from page 1 of chapter 1 is this: “It’s not about you. The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness”. He continues “if you want to know why you were placed on this  planet, you must begin with God. You were born BY His purpose and FOR His purpose”.

His book is a wonderful read for anyone and one I highly recommend. What Warren teaches is timeless wisdom in every chapter. He brings clarity and understanding to the age-old question “why am I here?” and helps the reader to identify purpose and not feel like the person struggling to force a puzzle piece in the wrong spot within its original design. Like a misplaced puzzle piece, how often do we–especially Christians–try to fit in where we don’t belong or linger in relationships that drain our energy rather than flourish, hang onto jobs that frustrate us, repeat the same behaviors over and over again hoping for change, with no results other than more despair and defeat.

Puzzle boxes have the picture of what’s inside the box. Like a preview of the finished puzzle, God gives us a glimpse of how our lives should look, too. In Romans 12: 2 Paul wrote “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (New Living Translation)

As a child, when I began putting a puzzle together I always set the box cover on end so I could refer to it for hints as I fingered pieces, assembling outer edges first to begin filling in the remaining sections. It’s a habit I would continue to use now if I chose to sit down with a puzzle. In like manner, for me to live each day with purpose and intention, I hold my Bible on my lap and read portions of scripture that help me to see and understand why I’m here, what work God has for me to do, how to treat others inside and outside of my family, how to conduct myself in all manner. Life will be a constant puzzle for me and you as we figure it out. Only God sees the beginning to the end for us. Isaiah said “Only I (God) can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish”. (New Living Translation)

Years ago I sat under a teaching that unpacked the concept of how God sees our lives. Our life is like a line that is eternal, stretching east to west, no beginning or end. In one look, God sees each one of us as newborn, childhood to teen laboriously entering adulthood and eventually the elderly person waiting and abiding for physical death. The timeline of life–as we know it–differs greatly compared to His perspective.  He has every piece of our life exactly in its place according to His plan and purpose. Thus,  when we stray from His perfect design, trying to force ourselves to fit in the wrong time or spot, He patiently waits for an awakening within us to return to wisdom and discernment, and He carefully places us back in the right place.

We can assemble with ease when we place the puzzle box cover on edge, its photo acting as hints guiding each piece in our fingers. Moreso, we are able to glean abundant knowledge when the pages of a Bible are open on our laps, giving direction and meaning to life. 

The goal of the puzzle box is to empty its contents and put the design together. The goal of God is for us to empty ourselves before Him and allow Him to fill us with beauty, wonder…and purpose. 

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In full disclosure, a dear friend of mine gave me a suggestion to write about life compared to a puzzle. She’s a person I fully rely upon for true friendship through the mountains and valleys of my life, as we share prayer requests with one another as well as the goodness of God.

ARE YOU AN ENCOURAGER?

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“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”     (Leo Buscaglia)  

Leo was an American author and motivational speaker  and a professor known as “Dr. Love” based on his teachings about love, human connection and personal growth.  When I thought about what to write about this week, the concept of being kind and an encourager crossed my mind as I finished my last cup of coffee, gazing out my window as snowflakes debated whether to continue falling from gray clouds or retreat for a while. Kindness and encouragement have always been important to me–though admittedly I certainly have my share of awful behavior–yet, at the core of my being is a desire to love well, compliment and acknowledge the goodness of people I meet, to cheer on family members who, like me, are doing their best every day to achieve dreams, goals, live life through its ups and downs.

Looking back on the last few months, I’m able to see that I’ve got friends who are going through some very hard stuff such as grief from the loss of a child, another with a spouse experiencing unexpected physical ailments which required a few days in a hospital as well as those eking out a living to care for growing children, making ends meet with the resources available to them. 

As always–even though I like what Mr. Buscaglia said–I ask myself “what does the bible have to say about….fill in the blank. So, what does the bible have to say about being an encourager. Thankfully, a lot.

In 1 Thessalonians 5: 11: “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

Proverbs 16: 24  “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.” 

“Let your speech be helpful, building others up as needed.”  (Ephesians 4:29).

Those are but three scriptures to describe how we should conduct ourselves regarding kindness, encouragement, and love. There’s plenty more, which makes me believe that God wanted us to know His heart through these words.

Does it take a lot of time or energy to be kind? Goodness, no. But it does take intentionality, even humility. Do you thank the person who bagged your large grocery order?  Do you say “thank you” to someone who held a door open for you? (which by the way is a great gesture to teach young children) If you’re a man, do you open the car door for your wife? (mine does) and he still insists on walking by the curbside of the sidewalk, a form of protection gentlemen assumed years ago when escorting a woman on dirty and dangerous streets. 

I could write a lot about encouragement and kindness. Lord, knows many of us need a review–even lessons–on what I assume to be common sense. Sadly, common sense is sometimes a rarity in our current culture no matter a person’s standing in society. Proof of the matter is found in countless social media posts and reels, media headlines, commentaries from the very people we rely upon for local, national, and world news.  Yet, much of the rhetoric we are bombarded with on a daily basis is out of our control, for in reality none of us can truly change the persona or actions of another person, but we CAN change our own attitudes, choice of language whether spoken or written, and above all–how we treat other people regardless of their role in workplaces, our churches, the places we shop or go for entertainment, and most crucially– in the center of our family homes.

I “encourage” you this week–and in weeks ahead–to find ways to compliment someone, to say “thank you” for what may appear as merely being a common small task, to offer a smile to a stranger sitting across from you in a waiting room. Look for a child who needs an extra bit of courage, catch a kid doing something kind and tell them “way to go!”

What will happen?  You’ll feel like you’re a better person from  a small moment of kindness that brought light into someone’s dark day. Like Leo said, you “may turn a life around”….you’ll become more and more like Jesus who is the author of perfect love, kindness, and encouragement in its purest form!

GOD VS. gods

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Admittedly, I’m far behind in a reading plan for the Bible which is taking me on its chronological order versus the way our scholars have given us today’s versions of scripture. Here it is January of 2026 and I’m still in April of 2025, landing me right now in the Book of Isaiah, one of my favorite prophets.

In the four chapters I read today, Isaiah is expounding on man’s foolishness to create graven gods from earthly materials such as wood or precious metals. As I read, I imagined the guy who goes in search of just the right kind of wood or the exact amount of gold or silver needed to form the image he’s created in his mind. To fashion his “god” he needs to cut, hammer, pound, shape, cut some more, chisel the rough edges. All his effort is poured into creating “something” he can talk to, plead his requests, look to for favor and relief from his troubles.  Reading man’s attempts to create his own god confirmed God’s command to the Israelites–upon their release from Egyptian captivity–that “you shall have no other gods before me”. It’s actually one of our ten commandments.

Fast forward to today’s culture. Are we–in some parts of our society–not unlike those ancient people who were always looking for a way to escape life’s daily or stretches of hardships? In every people group known to me, there is a form of religion based on a “god” or a “concept” hoping to find purpose, peace, provision, favor. I think of the account of the prophets of Baal, 450 men under King Ahab’s rule who came against God’s man, Elijah. On Mt. Carmel there was a challenge. Whose God would show up to bulls laid on a wood pile to be offered as a burnt sacrifice? It’s a very intriguing story recorded in 1 Kings 18: 20-40. If you haven’t read it, I encourage you to do so. It’s a gruesome story to say the least. There’s even some sarcasm as Elijah comes out victorious, exposing the falsehoods of their “gods”.

Much can be learned from Elijah’s encounter with false prophets. As believers we also must exercise caution creating our own “gods”. What! Yes, too often we see how professional athletes are elevated to hero status. Some individuals know more about Hollywood celebrities than current events. Political parties and leaders have received more trust in all the areas that belong to God. And, once again, admittedly, as I’ve watched a variety of news interviewers travel college campuses or visit spring break beaches, asking questions of the youth they encounter, ignorance and knowledge is gravely lacking.

In Hosea, another of God’s prophets, he says “My people are being destroyed because they don’t know me. Since you priests refuse to know me, I refuse to recognize  you as my priests.  Since you have forgotten the laws of your God, I will forget to bless your children.” (Hosea 4: 6 New Living Translation)

I don’t want to see people and families destroyed. I don’t want to witness our nation becoming further and further away from Judeo Christian values, teaching, and knowledge. I don’t want to see people forget about God and who He is along with our children losing His blessings. Yet, I do see it. I read about it. I scroll social media and shake my head some days, even wondering if we’ve entered the days described by Isaiah declaring “what sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter. What sorrow for those who are wise in their own eyes and think themselves so clever.” (Isaiah 5: 20-21 (New Living Translation)

However, as much as I can lament about the negative behaviors taking place in our culture, I also rejoice at the positive revivals happening in churches, especially with our youth. Relying on social media once again, there are numerous accounts of our young folks waking up from lies the world offers, turning to find out who Jesus is, getting back to church, filling their empty hearts and bellies with the truths found in the Bible. When I witness all the excitement and fervor in our youth, I have hope, the kind that is fueled–like Eliajah’s fiery challenge–by a living God, and not from some crudely handmade object that will only rot or tarnish.

If you’re tired, if you’ve been complacent in pursuing knowledge and understanding of who Jesus is, I invite you to return to church or go for the first time. Find out that God is light. He’s sweet. And He’s good.

TIME DOES FLY

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Happy New Year! 

In my younger years I often heard my “elders” declare  with each passing year that common phrase “my, how time flies”. I honestly didn’t give much attention to that thought, until now. I “get it”. Passage of time since our own children entered adulthood seems to have caught me up in this  perceived acceleration of time. Maybe I can credit this due to a lightened schedule–no full time work requiring me to report to five days a week, parenting of small children behind me now, less bills to pay.

Sitting here on a very cold day I can’t help but reflect on the past year. It truly seems like yesterday when I drove north in the month of April to enjoy a four day sabbatical. Except for a few times when my husband was away for a weekend, I hadn’t been truly “alone” since my mid 20s when I lived in an apartment with no roommate. Last April, warmer days teased  us with opportunities to be outdoors, heavy coats no longer necessary, promises of sunshine on our faces overpowering the previous weeks of cloudy wintry weeks.

The opportunity to be alone for four days taught me a lot. I learned that I am fully capable of taking care of myself. Awkward at first, with no one to talk to, I grew comfortable in silence.  I let the natural rhythm of sunrises and sunsets dictate my schedule, not relying on a clock. With the exception of using my phone for assisting me with scripture reading or watching a movie, there was no noise in my northern habitat  from TV or radio. What a wonderful break from outside interference!

On two occasions I stepped out of my comfort zone–no pun intended–and ventured on two hikes on trails near where I was staying. I’ve been on hiking trails before, with friends, but this time in April I was alone. My only company was April’s cool breezes, wind in the trees, and the sound of crunching leaves under my feet, accompanied by my increased breathing as I pushed my body to new limits navigating each trail. Though I was apprehensive at first, being alone in the woods, any fear I initially embraced soon waned, making room for excitement and exhilaration at achieving a bucket list goal–go on a hike without anyone else tagging along. 

As much as I thought I was alone though, in reality I was not. The entire purpose for getting away for a few days was to allow me time to dive deeper into scripture, spend uninterrupted stretches of time listening and talking to God. Each morning gave me well over an hour–even two–accomplishing this desire, yet I found that during  both hikes in the woods God continued to speak, be present, and reveal Himself to me, reminding me that I am truly “never alone”.  What a gift, what a promise!

As 2026 has arrived, it is hard for me to comprehend that soon it will be a year since my sabbatical. Thankfully, the memories I created from my four days are journaled in a book set aside for just that time. Hopefully, I’ll be able to create a few days in this new year to embrace another stretch of time alone, get out pen, paper, Bible, and notebook to dig a little deeper into scripture that is alive by the power of the Holy Spirit, who still teaches and speaks new things from generation to generation.

Yes, I will agree that “time flies” as one gets older. And, I’m okay with that because God “is the same, yesterday, and tomorrow.”  (Paraphrase from Hebrew 13:8) He’s the One who exists outside time as we humans know it; He’s the One Who will sometimes speak in a still quiet voice whether we find ourselves on a winding hiking trail or sitting under a cozy blanket as the sun rises, giving us the promise of a new day with “new mercies every morning” (Lamentations 3: 22-23).

I’m ready for what 2026 holds. I’m excited to look back next year and see where God showed up, how He spoke, what He taught–not only for me–but everyone I love, and for our community!

RESOLVE ‘NOT’ TO RESOLVE

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Well, we’ve come to the time of our year when all major holidays are behind us. Christmas decorations will remain in place for a few more days, the anticipation of what’s inside wrapping and stockings has worn off. Bags of trash created from the frenzy of opening beautifully wrapped packages along with remnants from many dinners fill our waste cans or spill over in garbage containers waiting for the next pickup. As excitement over gifts begins to wane, many of us turn our thoughts now to a new year soon approaching, one last flip of the calendar. Ah, 2025–with all its wins and losses small and big–is behind us as we welcome 2026 in a matter of a few days. 

In many households indulging in favorite holiday foods and candy will be replaced with dieting ideas, returning to a somewhat normalcy in daily meals. Some of us will welcome January 1st by making a list of “new year’s resolutions”. Each stroke of our pen brings with them a promise to “stay the course” and not “break” our simple oaths that we make to ourselves.

Just where did making resolutions in the new year originate? If you’re like me, I often wonder the “why” behind practices that people adopt over years. It’s one thing to be committed to taking on a challenge, it’s another to understand the why behind it.

A quick search online showed me that resolutions began about 4,000 years ago in the Babylonian culture. These ancient people made oaths to their “gods” in order to gain favor. Part of their ritual was a commitment to pay off all debt and return items that had been borrowed. What a novel idea!

Now, we make promises to eat better, exercise more, drink more water….our self made goals seem to focus on “self”, the physical aspect of our bodies versus our minds and hearts. While that’s a genuine goal, what if God desires something different than a fit and beautiful toned body? What if He would have us choose to develop and transform our minds and hearts that lean towards Him?

2 Corinthians 10: 5 says  the “We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.” (New Living Translation) True to my nature, comparing different versions of scripture, I like how the Common Jewish Bible states this verse: And every arrogance that raises itself up against the knowledge of God; we take every thought captive and make it obey the Messiah.” Both versions make me say “ouch”, not because the words hurt me physically but rather the strong directives given to me by a loving yet righteous God.

I gave up making resolutions in the new year long ago. Why? Because I’m a failure. The month of January often looks successful in many ways for me until my old habits creep back, luring me into comfort instead of diligence. When I always try to “lean on my own understanding and will power”, I lose my ambitions. This is why I need God. I need Holy Spirit to spur me on much like a sideline coach. I need the words from Galatians 6: 9: “So let us not grow weary of doing what is good; for if we don’t give up, we will in time reap the harvest”. (Common Jewish Bible) The New Living Translation says “we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”

As Christians, we are called to rely on our Father, Who is the One and Only, the King of Kings, a God who told us over 4,000 years ago to “have no other gods before Him.” Man has been pretty good at creating other gods, then finding ways to appease and plead for earthly comforts, thus the example of the Babylonians giving us the idea to make new yearly promises to escape hardship. God’s version of living “with” hardships that are not withheld from our lives is the gift of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace who comforts all who mourn. He’s a Mighty Counselor guiding us how to resolve conflict in relationships. He’s Jehovah Jireh, the one who provides. He’s much much more.

So, as we close out 2025 I invite you to throw out the idea of making “new year’s resolutions”. May I suggest that you pick up pen and paper, find a comfortable spot and make a list of all the things you’re grateful for this past year. Then ask God “how can I know You better? What kind of good things can I do to help reap harvests in our families? In our community?”

I promise you that answers will come. God WILL speak to you by the power of His Holy Spirit. If we as true followers of Christ listen, obey, and act…well, think of the blessings that will be poured out on our families and this town we lovingly call “the ‘Ville’”. That’s a harvest I can get excited about!

JESUS, THE PERFECT GIFT

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In a recent devotion I read this Advent season, the author asked us readers to close our eyes and think about a memorable gift we received at Christmas. We were asked to go as far back into our childhood for possible images. While I thought I might remember one, I actually thought of two gifts at different times in my life.

I admit the first gift I thought of was my Barbie Dream House. I would have been about 8 years old or so. It was the first one on the market, green, compared to pink versions that came along later.  The house opened up with walls, and inside she had a living room, bedroom, all the rooms in a home. There were small storage spaces for her accessories. A carry handle allowed me to lug it wherever,  even to a friend’s home where we combined our Barbie accessories for hours of play.

I also remember when I was 11 or 12, my brother Mark bought me a pair of ice skates. He had taken on a paper route that year so he was floating in money! I wore those skates well into my late teens as I was fortunate my feet had stopped growing. I brought them with me to Fowlerville when we moved here in 1989 but sadly, the skating opportunities here weren’t the same as my hometown Saginaw.

Another gift that had a tremendous impact was actually one my father gave to my mom. Her parents both died well before my birth. We had our share of snapshots of them that were stashed away, but dad was able to borrow their formal portraits from a cousin, had them professionally duplicated and gifted them to mom. This was in 1979. By then, I was 25, had my own apartment and to make Christmas special that year, I slept at my childhood home Christmas Eve so I could wake up in the morning as a “little kid” so-to-speak. That Christmas was probably one of my favorites until our children came along, making celebrations through their childhood years fun and memorable. Now we have four grandchildren which absolutely brings about more merriment, laughter, and memories.

Christmas 2025 is but a few days away as I write this. Our home is ready. Decorations have been in place for a couple of weeks. Gifts are wrapped–well, all but a mere few. Chex Mix has been made–and enjoyed–for a week. Almost time for another batch!

As I’ve been out on my errands, I have to admit it’s rather sad there’s not much evidence of Christmas in some of our public spaces. I fear that being politically correct has stripped away former years of beautiful decorations and Christmas music in the background. I’m thankful, though, for the beauty of our downtown streets with lights, garland, and yes–even a tree that has a slight lean. While there’s been those who wondered why the village couldn’t do better, I beg to differ. There’s beauty in imperfection and I think a tree that has a slight lean to its stature is a good reminder we are all imperfect people in one way or another! Afterall, it’s our great imperfections–our sinful lives–that caused God to have a plan of salvation in place to redeem mankind. We need not look too far to realize that our world is ever changing–some for good and much towards evil. 

Furthermore, I think our current world climate exemplifies words spoken from the prophet Isaiah in Chapter 5: “They say that what is right is wrong and what is wrong is right; that black is white and white is black; bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter.” (Living Translation)

It’s my humble opinion that much of our culture is upside down and most of what I call “common sense” has been exchanged for worry over offending someone. While common courtesy and kindness should never be excluded from how we treat others, there is also a responsibility to understand God, His purpose and plan for sending His Son to save all of us. This is why Christmas is important. Although December may not be the actual birth month for Christ’s arrival on earth, we celebrate because He CAME to dwell among us. And, sure, there weren’t Christmas lights, trees, Santas, reindeer–all the trimmings you and I adorn our homes–but there were angels, shepherds, and a star. The latter are now woven into some decor. Some homes even set up nativity scenes, another rarity in our culture as blow up snowmen, santas, elves–even dinosaurs–adorn front lawns.

This Christmas, close your eyes and think about the best gift you ever received. A favorite toy, a pair of skates, precious photographs–those hold special memories for me, yet they pale in comparison to me realizing I was a sinner in need of a saviour. THAT gift, given to me over 2,000 years ago, is mine now. I opened my heart to God’s gift in 1979 and it’s one that isn’t old, remains undamaged, not stored away, but hopefully shines brightly in my life as I live and breathe through each day I’m blessed to be share with family and friends.

Merry Christmas 2025!

SNOW ANGELS, JOY & DELIGHT

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Ah, fresh snow. That’s what I’m enjoying seeing outside my window as flakes large and small fall, making piles on the ground, covering plants that have long died to summer’s heat and beauty. My mind wanders to all the activities that a good snowfall offers, having read on social media last evening that a friend tried snowboarding for the first time which is quite a feat considering she’s now 40. I actually did the same thing at that age, only it was the smaller hill by Torch 180 and admittedly, although it was great fun, I went down quickly on my behind. I haven’t attempted snowboarding since.

When was the last time you made a snow angel? This simple act of artwork in freshly fallen snow is a favorite among children and well, I have a dear friend very close to my ripe age of 72, who keeps the beauty of snow angels alive. We refer to it each winter as “our own personal challenge”. There’s no pressure to get outside to participate, however, we are required to give “proof of life” by snapping a picture and texting it to one another on our phones. How fun is that! 

Lisa and I are both pursuing living the older portion of our lives without losing our inner child joy. Even though getting down on snow covered ground to make our angel is more difficult than our fond childhood years, we do it. We giggle. We feel each other’s pain when it’s time to get up, trying to do so with as much grace as achy and tight joints allow. As much clumsiness is involved, the end result of feeling joy and laughter on an otherwise ordinary wintry day is worth all the struggles within our effort.

Joy and delight. I read those words in my devotion this Wednesday morning after hearing from Lisa. “Hey, have you made your snow angel yet?”  They’re found in Luke Chapter 1 when an “angel of the Lord” visited Zechariah during his priestly duties to announce that he and wife Elizabeth–in their old age!–would welcome a son, commanding him to name the babe John…”he will be a joy and a delight to you”. What a beautiful description and promise! Wouldn’t all of us as parents love to have a personal word spoken over our babies yet to be born? Actually, we do have a way to speak loving and powerful words over our children!

Proverbs 18: 21 is perfect guidance for us…”the tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit”.

I’ve been around some awesome parents who truly encourage and love their children, choosing their words very carefully. Unfortunately, I’ve also witnessed firsthand those who are very harsh with their children, screaming and using obscene language when making minor corrections to behavior. The latter breaks my heart every time. Expanding on the author’s words found in the proverb, later James wrote to us in scripture: “And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right”. (New Living Translation)

Snow angels are fun. Messages directly from God’s angel to Zechariah–or anyone for that matter–are powerful and should never be dismissed or go unnoticed.

Zechariah and Elizabeth were old, far beyond childbearing years. But God. There was a plan written long before they were born. From their old age, from their faithful prayers asking for a child, God used their barren years to produce a miracle named John, who indeed brought them much “joy and delight”. More importantly,  John was also considered as “great in the sight of God” and as a man became His messenger who would prepare the Jewish people for the arrival of the Messiah, taking his rightful place announcing the earthly ministry of his cousin, Jesus.

As we think about Christ’s birth that we will celebrate in a couple of weeks, my challenge is this. First, have a little bit of fun and make a snow angel. If you’ve got kids, do it as a family. Second, read about John in Luke chapter 1. Third, be a blessing to your children–and others– by speaking words of “life” and “love” over them every chance you get. 

Words have power. They speak of life, creation, destruction, even death. Jesus’ words brought healing and His teachings show us how to be encouraging and gracious not only to our family but everyone we meet throughout our day. May we all strive to be examples of  “joy and delight” in our homes, workplaces, and community!

FROM SIMPLE TO EVERLASTING

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What does a clothes hanger bent in the shape of a circle and small strips of green and red tissue paper have in common?

Reflecting back on a Christmas season in my fifth grade class, where art projects were created under the guidance of our primary teacher, this particular year Miss McKenzie taught us how to make a simple–and by no means elegant–Christmas wreath. 

I’m pretty sure each one of us kids in her classroom provided our own coat hanger. As was custom in her class, every Friday afternoon was dedicated to art. This meant that when we returned from lunch break, we had about two glorious hours to focus on working with our hands to create art projects that came alive using simple materials.

Making our wreath involved twisting and shaping our wire clothes hanger into a good circle–no wood or plastic ones would host this project! Layers and layers of red and green tissue paper were then gently torn or crudely cut to form strips of paper that we twisted around the wire, pushing each strip close to its neighbor until the entire circle was full. Then, we checked our final work, fluffing and adjusting each strip where necessary. Ribbon to form a bow was provided by our teacher as well, giving our wreath its final touch.

Where did Christmas wreaths originate? If we can trust wikipedia this site says:

The Christmas wreath originated from ancient traditions where circular arrangements of evergreen branches symbolized life and renewal during winter. It became associated with Christmas in the 16th century when Christians in Germany began using wreaths to mark the Advent season, representing eternal life and the promise of Christ’s coming.

One of my daily devotions from this week focused on the words found in Jeremiah 31: 3 where God spoke through this prophet…Long ago the LORD said to Israel: “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself. (New Living Translation)

As I listened to the short reflection from the devotional reader, I learned that our tradition of putting up evergreen trees and hanging a wreath of greens on our front doors symbolizes love and hospitality. In addition, it’s common understanding that a circle is eternal; it has no beginning or ending which depicts God’s love and promises for us perfectly! Evergreen trees represent life, hope, and actually fare well in cold winter months thus reminding us of how our own lives can be resilient under pressures from outward influence and circumstances.

My tissue paper wreath from that long ago year of 1963 is long gone … .I remember taking it home when it was finished and my mom hanging it on our front door. I don’t recall if it survived being packed away with other decor when the holidays ended but I have fond memories that a simply crafted 5th grade art project helped to adorn my childhood home, hopefully letting all who entered know they were welcomed and much loved.

Now, in my own home, we have a beautiful lighted wreath that we display every year. It’s too large for the front door but absolutely beautiful hanging on the front of the house near the living room window. My hope is that passersby enjoy the beauty of its glow in night skies and all who enter our home feel welcomed and loved, enjoying hospitality blanketed under the beauty of the Advent season.

As much as I love having our modern wreath I admit a bit of melancholy emotions rise inside me as I think back how my simple 5th grade tissue paper wreath didn’t survive from year to year, yet as it eventually made its way to being discarded, the memories still linger and fill my heart with great joy.

Kind of what Jeremiah said about God’s love. Everlasting.