When?

When my children were small, and being the phlegmatic mom that I was, and in teaching them to not kill themselves or anybody else, I could only work on one behavior at a time. When the two year old insisted on running into the street it took a whack on the diapers to get the point across that this was dangerous.  When the crawling baby chewed on the wires attached to the stereo, misdirection worked on that risky activity.

Now in my own effort to change my own behavior and or attitudes I find I can only work on one thing at a time.  Last year, for the New Year, I made a list of refusals—things that I refused to do like being bitter or unforgiving.  This turned out to be a little overwhelming. 

So today, with the New Year right around the corner, it’s that time again—time to store away another used up year.  I’m ready to begin a shiny new one.   This moment in time instead of making resolutions, or coming up with some refusals, I decided to adopt the idea of a couple of other bloggers. They suggest you choose one word that you want God to help you achieve. Click here to read one blog  and click here to read the other one-- in case you want to check them out.

Because of my prayer several times a day—Lord have mercy, how long will you delay?  When will you come and set things right? —I decided I need to become more grateful for each blessing God provides me each day and enjoy the day. In choosing one word to describe what I want to work on this year I chose “thankful.”  I’m praying that God will help me to be more thankful for what He has supplied and to not take every good thing for granted.

Will you join me in choosing your word?

I Thessalonians 5:18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 5:20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to [a]God, even the Father;

Psalm 118:24 This is the day which the Lord has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

How Will The Children Hear The Christmas Story?

We have a starfish topper on our Christmas tree this year.  Most of our ornaments have a nautical theme so, as our granddaughters were decorating our tree, they knew that a star on top was a necessity.  They strapped the starfish on with some of the garland!

They know the story of our dear Savior's birth and how the star guided the wise men to the baby Jesus.  Unbelievably, there are many children who do not know the story. They have never heard the carols of “Silent Night,” “O Holy Night,” or even “Away In A Manger.” They have never been to church.  The public schools have removed anything to do with Christianity.  Many will never have the opportunity to hear the story.

My prayer this year is that the Christmas story will be told far and wide.  That many who have never heard the story will hear and believe, especially the children.



Several years ago, as I was watching a Hallmark Christmas movie, I heard the song, "In The Bleak Midwinter."  I had never heard it before so was quite taken that Hallmark had included the song in the movie. Click here  to listen to one rendition.  Below is a link to a blog telling how the poem was written.  The music was added later.

Click here to read about the author of the poem.

Pain And Purpose

Pray for our president.

When I was five years old the neighbor’s red Chow dog took at least six bites out of my arms and legs. When I was seven I broke my left foot, (I broke it again when I was nineteen, and when I was around forty).  At twenty-two year of age I had difficult relationships with several relatives, which caused not only emotional pain, but also physical pain.  I came down with fibromyalgia in my late thirties.    At twenty-eight I gave birth to our daughter and at thirty-four our son.  These events and others caused suffering in my life.  Some were unpleasant for a short period of time and some were prolonged. Everyone will experience some type of pain in life.

One way to deal with the trials is to write.  Most authors choose a theme which will show the pain which causes conflict—Man versus Man, Man versus Nature, Man versus Society, or Man versus Self, to name a few.  In our narratives we see that distress, often times, will lead to us turning to God or away from God.  We have the freedom to choose.

So now we have the awful experiences of shootings, terrorists, corruption, greed, and other terrible events in the world to deal with on a daily basis. To me it looks like the world and all those who live in it are becoming worse instead of better.  But there is hope, and here’s why—Matthew 24: 4-8:

“Jesus came out from the temple and was going away ^[a]when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him. ² And He said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.”

³ As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the ^[b]end of the age?”

⁴ And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. ⁵ For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the ^[c]Christ,’ and will mislead many. ⁶ You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. ⁷ For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. ⁸ But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.”

Jesus told us that these things would happen-- but we are not to be frightened.  God is in control and will work all things out for His own purposes—Romans 8:28—“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” All we have to do is ask God for the faith to trust Him.  He loves us.  The proof is that Jesus died to pay the price for our sins and His righteousness rests on us if we believe.