I have no righteousness within me.
I do not deserve mercy and grace. How can this be?
I stand in humble adoration of the One who gave me life.
I kneel in repentance and plead as He washes me of all the strife.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus…
Romans 3:23
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9
Sometimes, it’s just hard to deal with certain humans.
If we’re being honest, you know it’s true.
Yet, just as it’s important to walk away from toxicity and dangerous relationships, it’s also important to be able to discern those who might be in a bad mood and those who are truly damaging.
And this distinction can truly make or break a leader.
Come to the wrong conclusion, and you can damage a relationship, a ministry, a group of people, and even a home.
Assume a friend is a foe, and you lose a covenant and companion for life.
Suppose a foe is a friend, and you may walk away wounded and scarred, or worse, you can find yourself enclosed in a cage of emotion.
Presume inaccurately on either side, and you can wound the most innocent among you.
Judge incorrectly, and the grace needed to make amends can sometimes be insurmountable.
So, step carefully and evaluate slowly.
Learn to recognize warning signs and decipher welcome flags.
Acknowledge personal hangups and triggers and work harder to overcome.
Create an atmosphere of curiosity and courage and allow for input from the older, wiser sages near you.
Open your heart wide and your ears and eyes even wider.
And above all, if you believe in the One who created you, pray and ask Him to guide, not only in the final decision but to the people who can help lead you in that direction.
A friend can be hidden from immediate view because the search is always an adventure.
A foe can be veiled from initial sight because the desire for communion is always a heart’s home.
Friend or foe, learning the difference is essential.
Open rebuke is better
Than love carefully concealed.Faithful are the wounds of a friend,
But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.Proverbs 27:5-6
Ointment and perfume delight the heart,
And the sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by hearty counsel.Proverbs 27:9
Change brings adjustments in relationships.
Adjustments bring uncomfortable conflicts.
Conflicts bring choices to remain or walk away.
When you are seeking to better yourself, sometimes, it will irritate those who want to remain the same.
When you are moving beyond the trauma, sometimes, those who enjoyed the drama will want to stay.
When you are healing and pursuing something better, sometimes, those who liked you broken cannot handle the new strength.
And that’s ok.
Keep walking ahead.
Keep healing from the past.
Keep moving forward toward wellness, peace, and joy.
Those who are meant to go with you will arrive.
Those who aren’t will remain where you were.
And that’s ok.
To thrive, sometimes you have to say goodbye to the old you and also to the old them.
Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12-14
Well, I’ve been taking a bit of a hiatus from writing. I just peeked back at my past notes, and it’s been since December that I posted here. For my friends and followers, my apologies if you wondered where I’d gone or what I was up to. And to those who might not have noticed, that’s ok, too. I’ve just been over here living life in my little corner of the world.
I hope to get back to posting at least weekly, if not more, but I’m maybe not going to make a grand announcement this time of how much. It seems I don’t do a great job when I make the big ol’ declaration and keep up with it for a bit of time, and then, life happens, and I get distracted, or I simply don’t feel like I have anything “brilliant” or worthwhile to share. So I think this time, I’ll just begin small and see where it takes us…
LETTING GO
Sometimes, you’ve got to let go in order to hold onto the things that really matter.
Sometimes, you’ve got to release the pain to embrace the joy.
Sometimes, you’ve got to drop the anger like a hot rock to pick up the love that’s been there waiting for you.
It’s only when you walk away from what you’ve always known that you can finally see what is most important and valuable.
So, remove the chains that have bound you.
Be liberated from your shackles that confine you.
Set your souls free and let your spirit fly!
Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
Galatians 5:1
You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?
Galatians 5:7
Day 20
Share the Load
Sometimes, we carry too heavy of a load. Sometimes, we carry too heavy of a load alone.
And it’s not Biblical.
Now, I know. We don’t need to be wimpy Christians. I know we need to rely on Christ for all we need. I know we need to be faith filled and encouraging and strong.
Yet, He told us to share the load, too. He told us to be the Body of Christ, each one having a part to play. He also told us when one mourns, we all mourn. When one rejoiced, we all rejoice.
So, don’t carry your load alone.
Share it with someone. Ask for prayer. Ask for help. Ask for a hand to be lended. And let them lift your load.
Don’t steal their blessing when they want to pay. Don’t shut them out when they want to pray. Don’t turn your back when they come to offer comfort and love.
You’ll be surprised as your load is lifted how much more of theirs you’re able to help carry.
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2
For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ…But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary…And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
1 Corinthians 12:12, 20-22, 26
Day 19
Hope is in the season, if you’re willing to see it.
Hope is in the greetings, if you’re willing to hear it.
Hope is in the warmth of home, and fellowship, and love, if you’re willing to receive it.
Yet, I’m often asked, “What If….?”
What if the season is hard because of grief, pain, and trauma?
What if the greetings are anger filled, hate consumed, and altogether damaging?
What if the home is broken, dysfunctional, and chaotic?
The “what ifs” of life make it difficult to have cheap, cliche , easy to deliver answers.
The “what ifs” confuse, complicate, and bring doubt when it just doesn’t fit.
I can’t answer all the what ifs, but I can answer the Who.
I know Who can bring peace that surpasses all understanding and strength to scale the mountain.
I know Who can shut the mouths of lions and bring comfort to the child.
I know Who can speak to the winds to calm and set a fire within the soul to save.
He is the only One who can bring grace to sustain.
He is the only One who can wisdom to abstain.
He is the only One who can bring sight to the blind.
Just try Him today. Say His Name.
He heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their wounds.
He counts the number of the stars;
He calls them all by name.
Great is our Lord, and mighty in power;
His understanding is infinite.
The Lord lifts up the humble;
He casts the wicked down to the ground.Psalm 147:3-6
You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.Isaiah 26:3
Day 18
This little ornament has always struck me when I read it each year.
“With nails, the carpenter fashioned our salvation.”
Think about it. The Creator of the universe. The Beginning of all things. The King of all we see and beyond, He chose to leave all His glory to come to earth as a babe and be raised here as a carpenter’s son.
He chose to become humble, a lowly workman’s son who fashioned wooden creations with hammers and nails by his own hands.
He grew into a man, obedient to His Heavenly Father, even unto death, to save a world that hated Him. He chose to be nailed to a rugged cross, accepting a cruel and violent death to shed His blood, being atonement for all who would believe.
And then, breathing His last, He died. But not without promise. In three days, He arose; later ascending, promising to come again for all those who are His own.
He is real. The promises He gives are true. And it is all unconditional, free to him who believes.
Will you believe in Him this season?
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
John 3:16-17
By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us.
1 John 3:16
Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
1 John 4:15-16
Day 17
What brings you joy this holiday season?
Is it the gifts piled around the tree?
Is it the distant relatives who come to visit?
Maybe it’s the college kids or military spouses, sons, and daughters who return home for a welcome stay. Maybe it’s the cozy fireplace with Christmas carols in the background. Or maybe it’s the dreams of winter white wonderland coming true on Christmas morn.
For me, I love to have our college aged men home for a few extra days. They may be sleeping late and leaving a trail of items from the front door to their rooms, but I smile and sigh in contentment, knowing “all my little chicks are under one roof” again. They may be grown, but having them close brings the laughter and joy that fills the void when they’re gone away.
I adore watching the “little boy” excitement as they unwrap the presents on Christmas morning. We grab a cup of coffee, search for all the names and distribute well, to watch the smiles and wide-eyed anticipation of many confirmations from the well worn lists that were sent and a few pleasant surprises from under the tree.
I always look forward to the expectancies of Christmas movies, decorated cookies, and holiday baked goods that come this time of year. And I cherish the take-it-slow mode of intentionality we all seem to settle into, knowing the days grow shorter with every passing hour.
All of these wonderful moments bring my joy to overflowing as I bask in the strength and love of our family.
Yet, I do believe my very favorite thing that brings me joy is when we gather on Christmas morning, after all the presents are piled up and the wrapping paper is all tossed, and we read a little story from their childhood reminding us what’s so important about the day…
This is the sweetest little story of Jesus’ birth that we began reading way back when they were just little tykes. It has a wonderful surprise in the very last box to tell everyone what God truly wants for Christmas. And every year, even though they’re grown now, we read and remember Who’s the purpose for the season and what He would like for this beautiful day.
This is it.
This is what brings me such joy in the holidays.
And I hope you find can Him, too…
Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
Luke 2:10-12
Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
John 8:12
Day 16
Sending Christmas cards seems to be a dying art, much like writing in cursive and sending a handwritten thank you. Call me “old school,” but I can’t seem to bring myself to stop the tradition. The format may change; maybe it’s a “family letter” one year, and maybe it’s a photo card the next, but it’s still a little note to those we love and care about to tell them we’re thinking of them. And maybe the cost of stamps and cards goes up, and maybe it’s not feasible for everyone to do the same. And that’s certainly okay, too.
But for this season that can get so chaotic and the meaning become lost in the gifts, wrapping, and extra parties, let us all take a moment to send out our love. Let us take a second to tell someone we’re thinking of them. Let us step back from our busy agendas and take a moment to reach out to someone, particularly those bereaved, broken, or alone, to tell them we still care.
Care doesn’t have to be displayed in lights and glitter. Kindness doesn’t have to be portrayed in extravagance or expense. Sometimes, it’s a hug, a smile, a gentle touch.
Our words matter. Our presence matters. And our thoughtfulness means even more. During this season, may we be the Body of Christ He’s called us to be. ❤️
Ps. Notice came: my cards are late…wouldn’t you know it? 🤦♀️🙄😂
She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.Proverbs 31:26
He who speaks truth declares righteousness, but a false witness, deceit.
There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health. The truthful lip shall be established forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.Proverbs 12:17-19
Day 15
Finally got the ornaments on the tree (not pictured). Every piece is a memory, a moment, a milestone, a memento of a time passed, a person gone home, or the little lives we’ve raised who are now grown. This year, it took me longer to want to put them on the tree. Felt a little too melancholy everytime I thought about it, and I just waited till the day felt right. So, today rolling into the second week of December, I decided there’s no better time than the present.
Put on some Christmas tunes and got to work. Now sitting here by the fire before I go to sleep, Bing Crosby is singing, I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” and it lends my thoughts to all the soldiers who are all over the world, away from their loved ones and their homes. I think of those in the war-torn areas, wondering if they’ll ever see home again. And I think of so many who have already had to say goodbye to family, friend, or foe and will never take another breath.
My heart is thankful for the goodness of my God. I am grateful for His grace, His love, and His peace. And I’m praying for all to come to know Him, to find healing, to find hope, and to find the eternal joy and peace that only He can bring. ❤️
…Share the good news with someone this Christmas season. You never know what a difference it might make…
Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
John 8:12
You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do theylight a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men,that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16
Scripture Musings
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My journey didn’t stop with mere time travel or writing; it led me to become one of the most sought-after empaths, a soulful psychic who reads the hidden depths of the human spirit. I’ve been blessed—or perhaps burdened—with an ability that allows me to feel the emotions of people from every corner of time.
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