A “CROWS FEET” New Years!

If you personally knew my late wife Piper, or have gotten to know her through this blog, then you know that she was a very CHEERFUL person.  One would be hard-pressed to find her without a beautiful smile upon her face!  I have heard it said that an individual who has developed small lines radiating out from the external corner of their eyes, known as “Crow’s Feet”, should be content with those “mini-wrinkles” because they are proof that the person smiled a lot and most likely lived a very enjoyable life… and in doing so… blessed whomever was fortunate enough to spend time with them. 

And when it came to Piper… well… she had ‘em and proudly wore her “SMILE LINES” as a testament to her CHEERFUL and sparkling personality!

As the ravishes of Alzheimer’s began to overtake her natural ability to audibly converse, I bought her a large poster with the words of one of her most often stated scripture verses from the Old Testament book of Nehemiah.  In this portion of scripture, the leader of the Israelites encouraged his people who had just returned to the devastation of their beloved Jerusalem, by announcing a day of feasting and celebration and he declared,

“This day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”  (Nehemiah 8:10 - KJV)

The poster vividly pronounces the later part of Nehemiah’s statement and simply and artistically imprints,

“THE JOY OF THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH.”

I purposely hung the poster on the wall at the foot of her hospital bed in our room, so that it would be the first thing that she set her eyes upon in the morning, and was the last thing she saw at night.  When I moved into my new home here in Oklahoma, it was one of the first things that I adorned my bedroom wall with… so that it would also be the first thing that I saw each and every morning!

And it got put to good use yesterday, as I woke up… shall we say… less than enthusiastic about the day?  I had rolled on my back with my eyes still closed and then slowly opened them until I glanced upon Piper’s poster… and you know what?  It worked!  As I stared at the words printed on that large white piece of paper, I made the personal choice to be CHEERFUL… and by the time I swung my feet over the side of the bed and touched the floor… my entire attitude had changed!

Soon afterwards, after a few sips of my home brewed, steaming hot cup of Starbucks Vanilla coffee, with its “velvety and rich notes” of flavor (as the bag advertises), I sat at my desk and did a Bible Study search on the word “CHEERFUL.”  I used my Passion Translation of the New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs and came up with nine matches.

And as it turns out, the first verse that caught my attention had everything to do with my earlier experience with Piper’s poster!  It seemed as if the Lord was reading my mind… or observing my wake-up adventure through some secret spy cam in my bedroom!  In Proverbs 15:15 it reads,

“Everything seems to go wrong when you feel weak and depressed. But when you choose to be CHEERFUL, every day will bring you more and more joy and fullness.” 

It would seem that as one year comes to a conclusion today, and a bright new one begins tomorrow, that the good Lord was reminding me that an attitude and lifestyle of CHEERFULNESS is a personal decision that each of us has to make on a daily basis!  It is not something that is dependent on how we feel at any given moment, on the set of circumstances before us or on the balance of our checkbook.

Proverbs 15:13 chimes in on this truth and tells us that sadness is bad for your day.  In The Message paraphrase it declares that,

“A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face; a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day.” 

And it further pushes the point in Proverbs 15:15 by bluntly stating that,

“A miserable heart means a miserable life; a cheerful heart fills the day with song.” 

When I pried open my eyelids yesterday morning and looked upon Piper’s poster, I had an instant decision to make.  Did I want a miserable attitude to set the course of my day… or did I want a CHEERFUL heart to put a smile on my face… and at every click of the clock… cause me to experience more and more joy and fullness in everything I did?

Well… CHEERFULNESS won, hands down! …and if I learned anything from Piper… it was the constant rewards of a CHEERFUL disposition!  The Jamieson -Fausset-Brown Commentary also chimes in by confirming that “The state of the heart governs the outward condition.”

So… with this being my last blog post for 2022, I would like to declare a blessing on everyone and boldly profess over me as well as all of you, that:

“CHEERFUL is the way to BE in 2023!”

Be blessed and have a fun, safe and sound New Year!  Keep EXPECTING God’s BEST… and then pass it on along the way! 

Let 2023 BE the year where your “CROWS FEET” – SMILE LINES exemplify the enjoyable, CHEERFUL life you have chosen to live!

…and think about the encouraging words of ‘Piper’s Poster’ (try saying that fast 3 times!) first thing every day!

The Character of God

Merry and Blessed Christmas Everyone!

Over the last month or so during this Holiday season, I have been thinking a lot about the character of God.  And as I have studied about it in my Bible, I find myself continually being drawn back to two expressions that came down from heavenly sources to mankind.  The first one was spoken by the angel Gabriel to a group of frightened shepherds sitting on a lonely hill, in the darkness of night, outside the city of Jerusalem.  The second was uttered by Jesus Himself, some thirty years later, we he addressed a woman who had just reached out in faith to Him.

The angel Gabriel’s conversation with the shepherds in Luke 2:8-17, began by him simply saying, “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people…”  but what caught my attention this time, wasn’t what he said… but HOW he said it!

I was recently introduced to the Remedy paraphrase of the New Testament that its editors define as “an expanded Bible paraphrase in which interpretation is filtered through the lens of God's design law of love, the template on which life is built. This paraphrase is intentional in its focus to reorient the Christian mind to God's character of love and His mission to heal and restore humankind, as taught by the early church.”

In my introductory stages to this work, I find that I am drawn into the filter of God’s Love which is employed here.  In the Remedy, Luke describes the initial interaction between the frightened shepherds and the angel by stating,

“One of God’s angels appeared to them, and the fiery brilliance of heavenly light shone all around them; and they trembled in fear.  But the angel said GENTLY to them, ‘Don’t be afraid. I’ve come to share with you the best news of incredible joy that is for all humanity.  Today, in Bethlehem, the city of David, the promised Savior was born: he is Christ the Lord.’ “  (Luke 8:43-48)

I was emotionally moved when I pictured the angel’s gentle and tender approach and words to the shepherds.  I guess I had always accepted the strong, serious and commanding presence that most often seems to portray the angel Gabriel in the Christmas productions over the years!  The vision I received when reading this characterization, flooded me with the warm and tender sense of the character of God’s love.

Then, as I wrote about in a previous blog post*, I also felt the warmth and tenderness of the character of God’s love when I read about Jesus’ miraculous interaction with the woman with the issue of blood as recorded in Luke 8:43-48.  With a crowd of people pushing and shoving around Him, Jesus suddenly felt power being drawn out of Him and He stopped and exclaimed, “Someone touched me: I felt power go out from me.”** 

Well, the Apostle Peter who was standing next to Him in the crowd, thought that Jesus was being a little bit loco in making a point declaring that someone touched Him.  But Jesus was unfazed, and He turned and looked into the eyes of the individual who came forward and “He smiled and said, “Daughter, your trust in me has healed you. Live in peace.” **

I get the feeling when I read this, that the woman who was healed didn’t hear a word that Jesus said… once she looked into the deep pools of love that flowed from His eyes… that were solely focused upon her!  It is a look and response of His love that I have seen and experienced before.

When Piper was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, I suddenly realized that my personal relationship with Jesus Christ… had to get personal!  Does that make any sense?  I knew that HE was our only answer and that I had to KNOW Him and His Love in a deeper and more intimate way than I ever had before. 

I had always felt that Piper had a closer personal relationship with the Lord than I did.  And at that time of desperate need in our lives, I realized it was because she KNEW and really experienced the LOVE of God in a very personal and intimate way.  It was what I needed and what I began to experience and grow in, as I increased my understanding and experience of the depth of intimacy in which HE knew and loved Piper and I.***

It was the Lord’s and my continually developing relationship that carried me through the hardest times during my care for Piper in the final eight years of her life on this earth… and it is that which continues to carry me through now, without her.

The vision of the angel’s gentle reply to the frighten shepherds and the smile dripping with the deep love and concern on Jesus’ face toward the cowering women who had dared to touch him in the midst of a thronging crowd of people, reminds me of the GENTLE and SMILING LOVE with which the Savior of the World LOVES both YOU and ME!

In this season which is meant to celebrate His LOVE, His JOY, His PEACE and His GIVING, I encourage you to take some time away by yourself to renew and refresh… and deepen your intimate and LOVING personal relationship with the ONE who LOVES you.  Be still before Him and then when the time is right, tell Him how much you Love and trust in Him… and then allow that same sense of PEACE that I am sure enveloped the shepherds that dark night, and the women who was not only healed of the disease that had afflicted her for 12 years, but also, as the Word declares, was made whole****… Physically, spiritually, emotionally and financially!

NOW… that is the character of God that I want to dwell on throughout the rest of this Holiday season as well as throughout the New Year of 2023!

HOW ABOUT YOU!

I pray that you all have a most HAPPY, BLESSED and PROSPEROUS in every way Christmas!  And along the way in your busy schedule of activities, remember to let the character of God’s LOVE so saturate you… that you can’t help but to splash a bunch of it onto others around you!

 

*http://pjberruto.blogspot.com/2022/12/smiles.html

**Luke 4:46&48

***My breakthrough understanding came when I began a deep study into the Paul’s prayer to the church in Ephesians 3:14-21 in the God’s Word © translation, where it really points out the depth of personal intimacy in which the Lord loves us, and in turn, desires us to know Him with.

****The word “WHOLE” comes from the Greek word ‘Sozo’ which implies total wholeness in EVERY area of life!

Keep SMILING!

Well… I have to admit that winter introduced itself to us here in Oklahoma, with a burst of swirling snow and well-below freezing temperatures!  I’ve never quite seen or heard anything like the way the wind is blowing through the neighborhood today!  It even spooked the dog when we went outback early this morning as it sounded like a freight train going by!

But we are all warm and cozy inside now and have plenty of supplies to last us well into next week… not that this storm is supposed to last that long!  I even gave in and bought a snow shovel the other day, but I don’t think that I’ll need it this time, as this seems to be more of a wind and extreme cold event rather than that of a big snow storm!

I also felt warm and cozy on the inside as I continued my Bible study concerning the story of the lady with the issue of blood that pushed her way through the crowd surrounding Jesus… just so she could but touch the hem of His garment in order to receive His healing touch.  Once she accomplished her task the Bible records,

“And Jesus stopped and asked, ‘Who touched me?’   When no one came forward, Peter said, ‘Master, the crowd is immense; everyone is pushing against you.’  But Jesus clarified, ‘Someone touched me: I felt power go out from me.’  Then the woman, realizing she could not escape unnoticed, came forward trembling and fell down at his feet. In front of the crowd, she explained why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed.   Jesus SMILED and said, ‘Daughter, your faith in me has healed you. Live in peace.’” (Luke 8:46-48 The Remedy)

The more I studied this verse and read from my various Bible commentaries and dictionaries, the more I understood what a special interaction took place between this woman and Jesus.

The King James Version states Luke 8:46 as “And Jesus said, ‘Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.’” Both of the words ‘touched’ and ‘perceived’ directly infer an intimate connection between Jesus and the woman who was moved by faith in order to brave the fear of retribution for being unclean in a crowd of people, and do what ever she needed to do in order to receive her healing.

Jesus in turn, felt the touch of faith and the power to heal flow out of His body, the moment she touched Him.  I laugh when I read Peter’s reply because he totally misunderstood the miracle that had happened.  His immediate reaction was to go by what he saw of the crowd thronging against them, instead of taking a moment to pick up on the spiritual nature of the event.  I would have thought that he had been around Jesus long enough to be aware of the potential spiritual events that seemed to follow Jesus wherever He went.

But Jesus didn’t miss it!  He felt the power of the love that surged through and out of Him into the sick body of the women and felt an immediate, deep and loving bond with her.  That is why He SMILED at her when she came forward and it is why He called her daughter!

The Mounce Concise Greek-English dictionary defines this use of the word ‘daughter’ as “an expression of affection and kindness.”  John Gill described her ‘touch’ as one that was “Not in a common and accidental way, but with design, and in the strength of faith”  The word “perceive” as Jesus used it, tells us that her touch of faith and His release of healing virtue, was a very personal and intimate exchange between them.

I don’t know about you… but this story makes me SMILE!  The thought of Jesus smiling at us who come to Him in faith and then calling us son or daughter as “an expression of affection and kindness” stirs me up!  How about YOU?  I want Him to SMILE upon me so that I can take that LOVE and SMILE it right back into the lives of others around me that face adverse situations or needs… RIGHT?

In this special season of JOY and GIVING, I want to carry His SMILE with me everywhere I go and leave the scent of LOVE, JOY and PEACE wafting through the air as I pass by! 

Sounds like a good plan doesn’t it?  How about if you join me… right now, wherever you are, whatever your current situation may be… and share the SMILE of JESUS into a world that needs HIM more now… than ever before!

Have a great rest of your week and STAY WARM as you complete those last-minute Christmas “To-Do’s” and remember to SMILE and keep EXPECTING God’s Best both for you and through you unto others!

SMILES!

I have a tradition that I’ve developed over the years, that began when Piper got sick and I chose to stay at home to care for her needs.  I’ve always been a music lover and this schedule highlights my varying taste in music styles.  And even though we’ve lived in three different states over this period of time, I have simply adjusted the stations I tune into, while following the same daily routine.

First thing during the weekday, I’ll get the coffee going and then flip on the local (Tulsa) Christian radio station and listen to the contemporary Christian music they play and catch up on local events and weather while enjoying the banter between the two morning show hosts.  Then a few hours later, following my Bible study time, a shower, Fiver’s morning walk & breakfast, I’ll click off the radio, grab the all-in-one remote, turn on the home entertainment system and listen to Sirius XM’s Southern Gospel channel. 

And then, in the deep recesses of the late afternoon, as I am beginning to wind down for the day, I’ll switch over to a classical station, where I enjoy not only the various pieces played but also the history and other antidotes that the live DJ talks about.  (and to be honest… dream about Piper, every time I hear piano concerto!) On weekends I normally skip the local station and go right to the Southern Gospel channel where they have special programming in the mornings.

So, I told you all that to lead into a song I heard this morning on the Tulsa station.  The Steven Curtis Chapmen Christmas song that was playing suddenly caught my attention while I was studying my Bible in the other room.  It brought back some very warm and cozy memories of the time, soon after that particular song came out, when Piper and I took one of our 2-night holiday’s together up the coast at the Fort Ross Lodge.

It was the week after Christmas and what had been a particularly busy time for us with the preparation, practice and performance of a large and very involved Christmas play at the church… besides the push to meet end of the year delivery projections at my secular job!

To put it rather mildly, we were pretty worn out by the time we sought refuge at our favorite coastal retreat.  I don’t remember us doing much while we were there, except for a few walks along the bluff overlooking the gorgeous Pacific Ocean and lots of sitting around or napping, while enjoying the warm fireplace in our room… and listening… over and over again… to that song… which was the same one playing on the radio this morning! 

One of the other things that I clearly remember though, was taking lots and lots of portraits of my lovely wife and her enchanting, encouraging and joy-filled SMILE!  We SMILED a lot over that little holiday just because we were alone, at the coast and fully focused… without distraction… on each other’s company!

As I sit at my desk today and look at the wall before me which displays a wide assortment of pictures of Piper through the years, I can’t help but notice that there were many sides to her smile.  There was the compassionate smile, the congenial smile, the ‘you caught me by surprise’ one’s, the happy one’s, the giddy one’s, the funny Mom expressions, the content and confident minister smiles, the Holy Ghost anointed – lost-in-the-Spirit-during-a-move-of-God ones, and my favorite… which only I could capture… where she was glowing with happiness in her complete and overwhelming trust and intense love for and belief in me!

And, I had a ‘WOW’ moment in the midst of my Bible Study this morning when I caught a glimpse of Jesus with that same trusting and intense love SMILE for another individual, in a story about Him, where it is described saying that,

“There was a woman in the crowd who had suffered with bleeding for twelve years, and no doctor had been able to heal her.  She snuck up behind Jesus and touched the edge of his robe, and instantly her bleeding ceased.  Jesus stopped and asked, ‘Who touched me?’ When no one came forward, Peter said, ‘Master, the crowd is immense; everyone is pushing against you.’   But Jesus clarified, ‘Someone touched me: I felt power go out from me.’  Then the woman, realizing she could not escape unnoticed, came forward trembling and fell down at his feet. In front of the crowd, she explained why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed.  He smiled and said, ‘Daughter, your trust in me has healed you. Live in peace.’ “ (Luke 8:43-48 – The Remedy)

Can’t you just picture the absolute love on Jesus’ face that was radiated through His SMILE toward that woman?  It was a SMILE totally emersed in the love of God toward the woman who had just put her life into the hands of her faith… as she pushed through a crowd… toward the only One she believed could heal her!  And through her faith He did… and she was healed and made whole!

And I betcha anything… that she SMILED back to Jesus with that same intensity of love and trust radiating from her face! 

Is that the type of faith that YOU possess when it comes to your trust and intense love for the Lord?  It is most definitely the kind that I aspire to have!  It is the type of SMILE that I endeavor to have on my face throughout each and every day?  And with the Season of Giving upon us… that task is made even easier!  The true test will come when we return to our regular flows of life at the start of the new year… What do you think about that?

Enjoy your last week before Christmas, and as you do… Keep SMILING with the LOVE of God and EXPECTING His best for you… as well as for everyone you see along the way!

Whose TRUTH?

In the course of my morning Bible study today, I clicked over to Dictionary.com in order to gain a deeper understanding of a word chosen by the modern translation of the Bible I was looking in, instead of the one used in the much older King James Version.  As the site popped up on my screen and I began to type in the word, my eyes caught a question across the top banner asking “Can you guess the 2022 Word of the Year?”

Well, my interest was peaked and I clicked the banner and discovered that their winner was the word “WOMAN.”  They introduced the subject by stating that “It’s one of the oldest words in the English language. One that’s fundamental not just to our vocabulary but to who we are as humans. And yet it’s a word that continues to be a source of intense personal importance and societal debate. It’s a word that’s inseparable from the story of 2022.”*

They explained that lookups of the word on their site increased by over 1,400% over the course of the year, with the highest spikes between February and March when a nominee for the Supreme Court of the United States was asked by a US Senator during the confirmation hearings, to provide a definition for the word “WOMAN.”  A seemingly simple request that the individual being questioned could NOT succinctly answer.

I found the article* to be an interesting read and enlightening in the way in which it got me to expand my understanding of the importance that words have in many differing aspects our society.  I also noticed that their official meaning of the word is still explained in the scientific, truth-based facts of the traditional biological definition.

When I finished reading the article, a beacon of light seemed to pop on in my mind that pointed me directly to a translation of the Bible that I recently acquired entitled The Remedy, which is described as ‘an expanded paraphrase of the New Testament,’ that states Paul’s words to Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:7 as,

“For God did not give you a character of insecurity, doubt and fear, but a mind and character of confidence, POWER IN THE TRUTH, love, and self-control.” 

It was the idea of God giving us a “a mind and a character of POWER in the TRUTH” that seemed to flash on and off in bright red neon lights before me!

According to Jesus and many other of both the Old and New Testament writers, God’s Word is considered to be the final truth on any manner under the heavens.  Kings David and Solomon constantly extolled the merits of the truth of God and His Word in the Psalms and Proverbs.  Then on the night in which He was to be betrayed and arrested on His way to Calvery, Jesus prayed to His heavenly Father concerning those of us who would believe on Him as Savior and Lord, by asking Him to,

“Sanctify (or set apart) them through thy truth: THY WORD IS TRUTH.” 

And as I pondered all these thoughts in conjunction with the article I’d just read, it suddenly dawned on me that when individuals begin to question and doubt the TRUTH, they quickly place themselves in a position of weakness. 

When I thought back on the many interviews I’d heard over this last year when the TRUTH of God’s original intent for women and the scientific, biological facts behind this TRUTH of creation, was questioned, the ones denying the TRUTH were at a disadvantage and almost immediately resorted to anger, name calling, and the making of false accusations against the ones who disagreed with their convoluted reasoning.

I also recalled my personal experience of those who chose to deny the TRUTH of God’s Word that Piper and I were standing on during her illness and of how their position of giving helpful input and ideas became less and less valuable to us… to the very point of being harmful.

But on the other hand, Jesus unequivocally told those who believed in Him, in John 8:31-32 that,

"If you live by what I say, you are truly my disciples.  (And) You will know the truth, and THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE." 

I interpret Jesus’ statement as saying that our knowing and application of the TRUTH puts us in a position of ADVANTAGE when it comes to the navigation of the events and situations that occur in our daily lives.  It destroys the bondages that try to attach themselves to us and sets us free to be all that He has planned for us to be in our own lives as well as being a positive influence in the lives of others!

So… let me ask you… Whose TRUTH will you choose to put your faith in?  The made-up, everchanging to fit the various situations they face, confusing, false truths of the world… or God’s steadfast, bondage breaking, situation changing, and all-powerful Word of TRUTH?   I know… I know… kind of a silly question… but I had to ask!

Have a terrific rest of your week, and as you do, keep walking in God’s TRUTH with an EXPECTATION of God’s Best for you and others!  I just came back from Fiver’s and my daily afternoon walk… and let’s just say that I am happy for having purchased an insulated hoodie back in North Carolina!  Stay warm wherever you are!

 

* https://www.dictionary.com/e/word-of-the-year/

 

Go Tell It on the Mountain!

Our older son Josh and his youngest daughter flew over from Tennessee a week ago Friday night and landed around eleven at the Tulsa Airport.  I met them there and drove us back to my place for what had been planned as a surprise for the rest of the family, when we drove down near Oklahoma City the next day, to celebrate our youngest granddaughter’s second birthday!

Well, by the time we arrived at our younger son’s home in Edmond, the only one left to be surprised was Jeremy, our redheaded child.  We have redheads on both sides of our family, so it was natural for the gene to be carried on by at least one of our kids!  And it has also been passed down to the next generation with Josh’s younger daughter Lily, and her bright red crown of glory!

As it turns out, Jeremy was quite stunned to see Josh and Lily and the look on his face as he opened the door expecting to see only me… made all the clandestine planning worth the effort!  We had a great time there and were quite satisfied with the gathering, the good conversation and my personal enjoyment of seeing the boys together. 

So, to make a long story short, all was well until we left the big Bass Pro Outdoor Shop on Sunday afternoon, on our way to our oldest daughter’s home for a visit.  And then without any prior warning, my trusty car started to stall at every intersection!  We did make it to our daughter’s place and had another nice visit but as the time for Josh and Lily’s return flight drew closer, I asked Jamie if she could take our visitors to the airport since I didn’t know if my car would make it or not.

She happily agreed to the request and I said my farewells (I have to tell you… it was REALLY nice to have the laughter, love and companionship of our family in my quiet house again!).  I did made it home okay… even though it kept trying to stall out on me… and called the dealership the next day to made an appointment to get the problem resolved.

And so, as I waited in the Customer Service lounge for the next shuttle to take me back home at the big Chevy dealer on Wednesday morning, I had a revelation while I watched the big screen TV on the wall broadcasting that morning’s episode of the “Today” show.”

After a while, I couldn’t help but to burst out laughing and I reached for my notebook that I had with me and started taking notes of the top subjects that they were covering that day.  I am familiar with the show and the two main hosts, but I had never actually watched the program before.  I laughed because if I hadn’t known any better, I would have been ready to run out the door and hide in a cave for the rest of my life… with all that BAD NEWS and FEAR that they and their (news?) correspondents discussed!

From their dramatic, panic driven declaration of the ‘worst flu season ever’ and the fears of the possible shortages of off the counter flu medications (even though they interviewed a spokesman from a major manufacturer of the most popular flu medicine, who said that they would have NO problem meeting demand… go figure!), to potential threats aimed at the country’s power grid, alarming reports about Putin’s use of nuclear weapons and of course, their over-anxious concerns of the Trump documents as well as the supposed ‘insurrection’ on January 6^th,  the two female hosts and their reporters painted a picture of the utter destruction of life as we know it.  They heralded fear, anger and a strong sense of hopelessness.

What a totally opposite and complete difference to what the angel of the Lord proclaimed to those lonely shepherds watching over their special flocks outside of the city of Jerusalem, when he happily declared to people of every generation… including ours today saying:

"Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11 EMTV)

Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries informs us that the “good tidings of great joy” is speaking specifically of “an announcement of Good News,” and especially “of the gospel of Jesus Christ.”  In fact, the word “gospel” is used over 104 times in the New Testament and is defined as “a good message of the glad tidings of salvation through Christ and the proclamation of the grace of God that is pledged in Christ.” (Strong’s and Thayer’s)

No wonder the Apostle Paul tells us over and over again in the book of Philippians to “Always be joyful in the Lord!”  In his 1911, 20 volume work entitled “Great Texts of the Bible” James Hastings, DD wrote that,

“It has been well said that this whole Epistle (Philippians) may be summed up in two short sentences: ‘I rejoice’; ‘Rejoice ye!’ The word and the thing crop up in every chapter, like some hidden brook, ever and anon sparkling out into the sunshine from beneath the shadows.”

So, I ask you once again TODAY… Whose VOICE are you going to listen to in the midst of this Holiday Season, in which we worship and honor the birth of the GOOD NEWS for you and me… for both now and eternity?

I can honestly say without any shadow or hesitation of doubt… It definitely WON’T be the likes of the destructive hopelessness of the “TODAY” show, but instead, of the proclamation of HOPE, LOVE, GRACE, PEACE and JOY that the angel of the Lord announced to us… a proclamation that speaks as LOUDLY and TRUTHFULLY as it did some two thousand plus years ago… and still encourages you and me to sing aloud today…

♫“Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills, and ev'rywhere; go, tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Chris is born!” ♪*

Have a wonderful weekend… and as you do… go out and BE JOYFUL while you go and tell everyone about the hope-filled, true reason for the season of Christmas!

 

*Compiled by John Wesly Work, Nashville, TN, (1872-1925)

♪ ‘STUCK’ in The Most Wonderful Time of the Year! ♫

Have you ever got “STUCK” on something before?  Something like a particular song you heard in the car, an old TV series, a favorite book or maybe even a silly come-back when someone talks to you?  (I would drive Piper nuts at times, by repeatedly answering her with some silly saying we had heard in a children’s song or video… I guess that’s what happens when you lead the Children’s Ministry for many years!)

Lately I have found myself “STUCK” on scriptures that talk about the season of “good tidings of great JOY which shall be to all the people.”*  But it is not just the specific verses that talk about the birth of the Christ child, it also includes many of the others found throughout both the Old and New Testaments, that speak of the JOY that comes with and through our Christian experience!

And through all of these cheer-bringing statements that originated in the throne room of God before the very creation of the world, I am re-discovering the overwhelming importance of the lifestyle of the “Joy of the Lord”** in my life.  The Apostle Paul makes it very clear that JOY is to be the style of life that everyone of God’s children should seek and endeavor to live on a daily basis.  In Philippians 4:4-5 he wrote,

“Always BE joyful in the Lord! I'll say it again: BE joyful!  Let everyone know how considerate you are.  (for) The Lord is near.” (God’s Word ©) 

Three particular words in this modern translation catch my attention as they seem to perfectly describe the emphasis of the point that Paul is desiring to make.  It’s obvious to the reader that JOY is the subject of Paul’s command and that the word “ALWAYS” immediately sets the time standard to the action of our JOYFULNESS.  And then, as to the duration of the action, he tells us to simply “BE” JOYFUL… ALL THE TIME!  According to the Oxford Online Dictionaries, to “BE” means “to have the state, quality, identity, or nature of the role specified.”  Dictionary.com goes a step further and says that the term to “BE” is “used to describe, identify, or amplify the subject.”

When I look for an example to explain the action of or the BEing of JOY… I simply talk about my wife Piper!  Her life was the perfect example to identify, describe or amplify the subject or idea of JOY or JOYFULNESS!  When I look back at our 48 years together… I would have to say that “JOY” was the key to the oneness we enjoyed, to the peacefulness, love and happiness that our children and we experienced in our home, and it’s that JOY that acted as a magnet to the hurting folks in the churches in which we served as well as in the neighborhoods we lived in!

I believe that I’ve mentioned this before, that when Piper quit working outside our home in order to raise and homeschool our children, her biggest concern was that she would no longer be able to minister to the troubled people in the world.  But then she prayed about it and the Lord spoke to her heart and told her that He would bring them to our front door… and you know what?  He did!  Her JOYFUL encouragement was a staple to almost every neighbor in every neighborhood we lived in over the years.  Her BEing full of JOY drew people (even the one’s that other’s didn’t care for) to her!

The other word that caught my eye was the idea that to BE or NOT to BE is totally up to each of us individually!  Paul instructs us to “‘LET’ everyone know how considerate (appropriate, patient, fair, moderate, reasonable, kind, fitting and with the sweetness of temper – as different versions translate this word) you are.”  In other words, it is something that is left up to us to do… or not!  It is a decision that we have to make, an attitude that we have to develop and practice and a way or style of life that we make the choice to live… 24/7 – 365 days of the year!

So in this holiday season, we have the choice to BE JOYFUL and live our daily lives with a heart of thanksgiving and actions filled with JOYFULNESS… or BE like the Grinch who enjoys stealing the Holiday spirit of “good tidings of great JOY which shall be to all the people.”* 

What lifestyle are you ‘STUCK’ in?  Is it going to BE “Bah Humbug!” or “Praise the Lord!... how can I help to make this season of giving more JOYFUL and blessed for you?”

Have a great rest of your week!

 

*Luke 2:8-20

**Nehemiah 8:10

Jump Start

I don’t know if you are anything like me, but the day after Thanksgiving officially begins the Christmas Season and seems to set me free to focus all my thoughts, hopes and dreams on the JOYS and PROMISES that this unique and special time of year avails!  I can’t help but to go back and read of all the events leading up to and including the story and miraculous events that happened before, at and after that first Christmas that took place in a country far away, some 2000 plus years past.  I also love to go back and remember the exciting memories of my childhood Christmas time adventures with my family and the fun-filled extended family gatherings that at times, felt bigger than life itself.

But as an adult and especially with the passing of my girlfriend and then wife of a combined 48 years, I find myself reliving many of the special Christmas’ we shared and especially the two firsts, as a four-month-old dating couple and then as husband and wife in our tiny little apartment.

Looking back now, I find it funny that our first Christmas in the early stages of dating, and even though we already seemed to be inseparable, was NOT celebrated together with either of our families.  We giddily exchanged gifts on Christmas Eve afternoon in my parent’s living room while my mom and dad were in the kitchen on the other side of the wall, preparing foods for the family gathering later that night.  I laugh about it now, because a scant five months later, we were both a regular part of each other’s family gatherings and a somewhat permanent fixture at each other’s home afterschool and on weekends. 

In my family, Piper went from being seen as my friend, to toasting a drink (punch in her glass) with my family’s favorite Uncle Frank (wine in his) at a dinner celebration in honor of our high school graduation!

We had caused a tiny bit of friction within some of the ranks of Piper’s family, five years later at our first Christmas together as husband and wife, when we had announced that we wanted to start a new tradition and celebrate Christmas morning alone at our own home.  It turned out to be one of the best decisions we made in those early years, as witnessed by all the precious and one-of-a-kind memories we created for our children over the ensuing years.

And even though we were in our early twenties, Piper and I felt like little kids at our first Christmas alone.  She gave me the red 12 string copy of a Gibson Hummingbird guitar that I had drooled over one day while we were out together, picking up some piano music for her and guitar picks for me, at Canevari’s House of Music in the Montgomery Village shopping area of our town.  I gave her a fancy sewing machine that I had proudly researched and purchased (with my 10% employee discount of course) at the downtown Sears store where I worked at the time.

With all the gifts we gave each other over the years, I can honestly say that those two presents were (and still are) the longest lasting and most used gifts that we ever gave to each other.  I cannot even chance to guess how many hours I’ve spent playing that guitar at home, at church, on retreats and at public events over the years.  It has seen countless sets of new strings, had a pickup installed, had to be repaired when part of the back separated, got nicked (the only one on it!) when Piper and I ran the children’s ministry at a church family camp some 45 years ago, and even though I have added and subtracted other guitars to my small repertoire over the years, it is still the sweetest sounding and most favorite of all!

And what can I say about Piper’s sewing machine?  Our oldest daughter and I were reminiscing on Thanksgiving afternoon and she specifically mentioned her fond memories of her and her siblings standing around the kitchen table while their mom sewed and fitted dresses, shirts and costumes for the many church, ballet or school events that they were all heavily involved in as they grew up.  She also sewed dresses for herself and a few western shirts for me!  I still find myself smiling with tears in my eyes when I look at that old portable green machine as it now rests on a shelf in the walk-in closet in my master bedroom.

I also smile and hold back tears of JOY every year when I revisit the original Christmas Story as recorded in the Biblical books of Matthew and Luke.  But what literally JUMP STARTS me into the season and brings a jolt of life into my faith, is when I read of the angel of the Lord’s first words to the young virgin Mary, when he tells her of the miraculous events that will be unveiled and then answers her reply of bewilderment saying in NO uncertain terms:

“For no word from God shall be void of power.” (Luke 1:37 – ASV) 

The Amplified Version does a great job of clarifying and furthering our understanding of this specific statement that I believe the Lord employed, in order to set the stage and the precedent for the Good News of Jesus Christ coming into the world.

“For with God nothing is ever impossible and NO word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfilment.” (AMP)

Think about the reality and power of that statement… Is that what you believe… REALLY BELIEVE… concerning the working of the Word of God in YOUR life?  To me, it is a foundational part of my Christian faith that our heavenly Father wanted to make clearly known and exercised in our lives, from the birthing stages of the New Testament revelation of Jesus Christ coming as our personal Savior and Lord.  It is also spoken of in prophecies throughout the Old Testament and confirmed by Jesus Himself in the New Testament.*

Jesus also declared that the miraculous possibilities of God, as written within the promises of His Word, become active in our lives through the regular participation of our own faith!**  And then He helped us along, through the ministry of the Apostle Paul, by teaching us in Romans 10:17 that “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (KJV)

Wow!  That’s It!  That’s exactly what gives my system the electrical type of jolt that I need and desire to re-ignite my fire for the Good News of Jesus Christ and the burning desire to not only see the miraculous active in my own life… but continue to share that Good News with others!

How About You?

If you haven’t before… I would challenge you to begin to look at THIS Christmas season in light of the Angel of the Lord’s introductory words concerning the coming of the Savior of the World.  I betcha… that it will CHANGE and greatly EXCITE your family’s Holiday celebrations and JUMP START your New Year with a new-found excitement that you’ve never experienced before!

Then come the first few weeks of January 2023… write me a note and tell me all about your experience!

 

*See: Luke_18:27; Gen_18:14; Num_11:23; Job_13:2; Jer_32:17, Jer_32:27; Zec_8:6; Matt_19:26; Mark_10:27; Php_3:21

** For examples see: Matthew 9:29, Luke 8:48, Luke 8:50

Thankfulness

As Fiver and I were taking our morning walk a few hours ago, I couldn’t help but contemplate my life and be THANKFUL for the way it turned out.  As we proceeded along our regular path, I was taken in by the presentation of the weather as we felt the wind blowing all around us, the mostly leafless trees swaying in cadence to the gusts, and the partially cloudy skies that seem to hold the promise of a storm later tonight and tomorrow.  The entire layout of the physical attributes of the day seemed to purposely draw me back to memories of my childhood during the fall and the warm, exciting and heartfelt memories of the holiday season.

I am THANKFUL for my upbringing in the midst of a large gregarious and outgoing extended Italian family.  Holidays meant many family gatherings with grandparents, aunts and uncles and cousins… complete with lots of laughter and fun… and tables filled with huge platers of lovingly made rich Italian cuisine.

I am THANKFUL for the sweet, freckle-faced, petite, encouraging bundle of joy that I met during my high school years, with whom we set the course of our lives together for the next 48 years!  I am THANKFUL for the precious, wonder-filled and productive life we had while raising four children, ministering in various churches and living a life of faith where we had the pleasure of experiencing new adventures, visiting new places, casting forth vision and fulfilling dreams. 

And even though it ended prematurely with her sickness and passing… I can’t honestly think of much that I would have changed!  And even during the last eight years of her life when I took care of her 24/7… I am THANKFUL and honored that I had the opportunity to do what I had always enjoyed most during our time together, and that was to be with her, take care of her and dedicate every ounce of my energy, love and joy to her until the day she left us in September of 2018.

I think that I could sum-up my THANKFULNESS by repeating the words of the Psalmist in Psalms 7:17 when he wrote,

“I will give all my thanks to you, Lord, for you make everything right in the end. I will sing my highest praise to the God of the Highest Place!”  (God’s Word ©)

Through the years the Lord brought us and our family up to many of His High Places.  As I have pointed out before, we were in many ways, very different than the rest of our extended families.  We tended to see and live life through a different filter, per say, than they did and although not always in total agreement with some of the directions we took, they many times followed us to the destinations we sought to discover and to grow through.

I am THANKFUL that the Lord usually led us along the paths less taken by most people.  Piper and I always had a “Pioneering Spirit” about us and liked to explore new things and places.  I am THANKFUL that we came to the decision in the early years of our marriage to be active participants in the game of life as well… and more importantly… in our Christian faith.  We didn’t want to just read about the promises, miracles and adventures of faith written about in pages of our Bibles… we wanted to live it and see them actively occurring in our daily lives.  I am THANKFUL that we choose to take God at His Word and follow in child-like faith in agreement with the writer of the book of Hebrews, as he gave us the definition of the God-kind of faith saying,

“NOW FAITH is the assurance of the things we are (actively) EXPECTING and convinces us of the existence of things (that we are standing in faith and believing for) that are not yet seen.”  (Hebrews 11:1 - KJV/God’s Word ©/personalized)

I admit that the last four years since Piper’s homegoing has been a struggle, but I am THANKFUL with the knowledge that the Lord is not yet done with me and the work that He has for me to accomplish on this earth.  The calling into the ministry that the Lord spoke to my heart while laying on a bunk in an old and drafty cabin in the snowy mountains near Lake Tahoe, CA in the mid-1970’s still burns with a passion in me today.

I can honestly say that every major decision that Piper and I made in life from that night on, was led by that clear call on my (our) life… and it is still calling to me today.  I do find that it is easy for me to feel lost without the presence of the one who spent the majority of my life at my side as I seek to know His direction… but I am also confident and THANKFUL in His leadings and plans for me.  That fire on the inside of me is still telling me that we’re not done yet… and as Piper and I always did before… I plan to stay in prayer and preparation for His perfect timing and plan and when the time is right, I will know it and follow Him!

What are the highlights in your life that you are THANKFUL for?  I would encourage each of you to spend some time in contemplation over your areas of THANKFULNESS, to jot them down and then share them with family and friends during this celebration of Thanksgiving!

Have a wonderful day tomorrow no matter how or with whom that you celebrate.  Stay in an attitude of THANKFULNESS and allow the GOODNESS of God to flow in you, for you and through you onto others… and enjoy a juicy turkey thigh for me!

More Than Enough!

I had an interesting experience the other day when Fiver and I were out and about on our morning walk along the city golf course next to our neighborhood.  It was quiet and cold with a noticeable absence of golfers on the green.  When we were about half way back to the house, I suddenly sensed some movement behind us and turned unexpectantly to see that a rather tall, white Huskie had seemingly come out of nowhere and was standing right behind us!  Then when I looked past him, I observed another, slightly smaller, tri-color huskie standing about ten feet behind the white one.

As I quickly assessed the situation, I thought about the can of Postal worker approved pepper spray that I always carry with me on our walks for situations like this, but I felt a particular calm that was supported by Fiver’s peaceful demeanor.  So, I tightened up my grip on Fiver’s leash and softly talked to the two dogs (like they were gonna have a conversation with me… right!)

Both of the good looking and well-cared for dogs, who obviously had gotten out of their yard, looked to be pretty young and even though the white one was taller than Fiver, I think Fiver had a few pounds on him.  The tri-color kept his distance from us but the white one kept dancing around Fiver and finally came up nose to nose with him.  But by that time, I think Fiver had had enough of the song and dance, sniffed the other dog, growled softly and then took a (non-contact) nip at him.  I am not sure if Fiver was just protecting me or trying to show some dominance, but either way, it worked as both of the Husky’s turned and high-tailed it off into the distance and out of sight!

They turned and ran away about as quickly and silently as they had come up on us!  I think that even Fiver was surprised with their quick departure.  So, as we turned and continued back home, I began to pray, thanking the Lord that everything worked out okay and at the same time… kinda shook my head and wondered “What was that all about?”

Awhile later, after we returned home and I sat down at the table to eat my breakfast, I suddenly heard that all familiar small-still-voice on the inside of me* saying, “You know Jim, you pray for angelic protection over you and the dog every time you go for a walk** and that is exactly what you experienced this morning… you got EXACTLY what you ask for every single day!  Well, that comment made me feel more than just a little silly, but yet it humbled me at the same time.

The next morning, as I sat down to study my Bible, I felt led to turn to 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 where the Apostle Paul is talking about the constant barrage of verbal and physical persecutions that seemed to follow him everywhere he went.  He explained to his audience that he prayed (some versions say that he “begged”) to the Lord three times to take away the problem and the Lord answered him saying that,

“’My grace is always more than enough for you, and my power finds its full expression through your weakness.’ (and Paul went on to teach saying) So I will celebrate my weaknesses, for when I’m weak I sense more deeply the mighty power of Christ living in me. So I’m not defeated by my weakness, but delighted! For when I feel my weakness and endure mistreatment—when I’m surrounded with troubles on every side and face persecution because of my love for Christ—I am made yet stronger. For my weakness becomes a portal to God’s power.”   (TPT)

I got the feeling as I read these verses that the Lord was telling Paul to EXPECT, LOOK FOR and then FOCUS ON the wonder-working, circumstances-changing, power of His GRACE, whenever he (Paul) felt like he was less than equipped with his own means and resources for any situation that he faced in his daily life.

In contrast to when I was actively caring for Piper 24/7 during the last eight years of her physical presence on this earth, I can’t honestly say that I was EXPECTING, LOOKING FOR or FOCUSING ON the power of God’s GRACE when I turned and found myself staring down the eyes of those two loose dogs the other morning.  But I would say that when I think back, the sense of His GRACE was definitely guiding the event as there was no fear and except for Fiver’s warning growl, no agitation either!

On the other hand, once we received the first official diagnosis from Piper’s original brain scans (three different kinds), we immediately knew that we had to put her health into the hands of the Lord as there was NO medical cure for the disease.  From that point on, we most definitely EXPECTED, LOOKED FOR and FOCUSED on His GRACE for every phase of her declining health, as well as for all our physical needs (ie; income, housing, medicines, insurance premiums, etc)

We learned that what you EXPECT, LOOK FOR and FOCUS ON is EXACTLY what you’ll SEE and EXPERIENCE in the situations of your life!  We also quickly realized that the enemy of our faith will use whatever and whoever he can to try and get you to break your FOCUS off from God and the truth of His Word.  And when that occurs, it becomes very easy to let go of your faith and zero-in on all the problems that are happing because of the physical situation you find yourself in.  Once you begin to FOCUS in on the problem… you will lose sight of and connection to God’s answers!

And that my friend… is NOT the place that you would ever want to find yourself in!  We discovered that we had absolutely nothing in our own strength and abilities, nor in the strength and abilities of medical science, from which to gain a place of strength in Piper’s time of need.  God’s GRACE had to be “more than enough for us…” and it was!

How about you?  Where do you find your source of strength and your supply of “more than enough?”  Whether I am out walking the dog or facing the most difficult event in my entire life… God’s GRACE has been and will continue to be “more than enough for me!”

Can you say Amen to that in your life as well?

Have a great weekend!  We went from an overcast sky with snow flurries and the high temperature of the day barely making 30 degrees yesterday, to sunny skies with a projected high of 46+ today!  You’d think it was like the beginning of summer!  What a different the sun (and the absence of strong winds from the north) can make.  I pray that your weekend is as enjoyable as the beginning of summer is to most of us!  And while you’re out there enjoying the day… keep EXPECTING God’s BEST in and though your life!

 

*See: 1 Kings 19:12

**See: Hebrews 1:13-14