New Year, New Hope

My holiday always ends up like a parade of endless food. By the end of December I just want a green salad and a glass of water. My taste buds need a break and a reset. Often times I feel like my spiritual self is the same way. My thoughts are clouded and my heart is not set on the Lord. These are the times I just need to step back and take a break from the world that is constantly pushing me around like the ebb and flow of the tide.

Take my to-do list, for instance. It gets the best of me. I write it all down full of hope. I don’t complete half of it because I am always over-zealous in my list making. Then I judge myself on how much I get done. My hope is drowned in the tide of too much to do. Or maybe it is my relationships. I have this hope of how things should go, what people will say, how they will react, or how wonderful everything will be. Life is messy and people are people. “Never put your hope in people,” my sister-in-law would always tell me. “You’ll always be disappointed. Put your hope in Christ. He never disappoints.” I don’t always remember those wise words, therefore, I’m often disappointed in myself and others. Hope recedes.

My heart deceives me with false hope. What am I to do? Jeremiah 17:9 tells us, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” Amen to that, right? I know this all too well. But listen to the first part of verse 10: “I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind . . .” I may not truly understand my heart and why I fill it with false hope, but my LORD does understand. Jesus tells us, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). Do I treasure the accomplishments of my to-do list and the acceptance of those around me more than I treasure my Lord? Sadly, sometimes I think I do. They are subtle idols I allow into my thoughts, into my heart. Like all hidden idols, they create disaster. They weigh on my thoughts. They play with my heart. They defeat me time and again. I cannot place my hope in what I do or the people around me. I must place my hope in what the LORD does. I need the LORD’s word and the LORD’s help like I need a green salad and a glass of water.

I need a reset, so I cry, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10). And I say, “Teach me Your way, O LORD, and I will walk in Your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name” (Psalm 86:11). And I am thankful, because my LORD promises me, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws” (Ezekiel 36:26). The LORD’s sweet words spill over me with a healing warmth I know I do not deserve, but He graciously gives. And I take it!

Maybe you are like me. Maybe the subtle idols of your heart are playing with you, too. Take the reset. Take the gracious gift offered to you in His word. What better time than the New Year to do this! Like a clean sheet of paper that holds endless possibilities, your pure heart, given to you by the LORD, can hold a world of real hope found in Christ this year. Take it and don’t let go.

Dear Lord, Thank you for Your hope that does not disappoint. Thank you for the promises of a new heart, Your Spirit, and the opportunity to get life right in Your eyes. I know that things do not always go my way. I don’t always finish my to-do list. I don’t always have perfect relationships, but I do always have You. Let me stand firm in Your presence and in Your promises. Thank you. In the sweet name of Jesus, Amen.

Making Room for Christmas

Does your holiday schedule look like mine? Family gatherings, parades, parties, dinner guests, shopping, cooking, cleaning, and travel? My goodness! No wonder we are so stressed out this time of year! We complain. We stress. But next year we will pack our schedules just as tight. What is the answer to our frenzy?

When I was a young teenager, my schedule was not as tight. My parents were divorced. Mom lived hundreds of miles away. My brothers were grown, and my dad went on many dates. I was home alone – a lot. Sometimes that was okay, but other times, especially on holidays, I was sad to be by myself. That’s when I would pray to the Lord and dream of a day when my life would be full of family and friends. That quiet time alone gave me many moments to think about Jesus and the true meaning of Christmas. I often read the Bible and sang Christmas songs, especially when I felt alone. But I wasn’t alone. These were together times – me and my Lord – and I was building a relationship with Him that would last. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

As my life filled up with friends and family, then a husband and children, I spent less time with Jesus at Christmas. One Christmas Eve, a friend invited my husband to an oyster roast. He took the kids leaving me at home to finish preparing the meal we would host later that evening. They were late returning. The house was quiet. I was alone. Suddenly I felt like I had all those years ago – forgotten, unwanted. I sat on the back steps and cried, “Lord. Well here we are again. Me and you alone at Christmas.” My heart was filled with sadness. But the Lord responded to my heart, “Yes. If you were not alone, you would not be here with me.”

Oh how true! His words stung my heart. I knew this moment was of His making so that He could be with me. How sweet. I was not forgotten or unwanted. We had a good laugh and a few precious moments together before my world was full of other people. I cherish that moment he made for me. It made me realize that in my attempt to grab all the holiday cheer possible, I often miss out on the one thing that Christmas is about: a savior come for me.

The Christmas story reflects this same idea. There was no room for Mary and Joseph in the bustling inn. They went to the quiet stable. There, away from the hoopla, came the baby in a manger. The shepherds were out in quiet fields where they could appreciate the host of angels and the message of a savior. The Wise Men followed a silent star. I think that sometimes our hearts, like busy Bethlehem, have no room for Jesus. His presence comes softly, like quiet snow, not in the bustle. Therefore, we must stop the frenzy and intentionally make quiet time to be with him. God promises, “you will find Him if you look for Him with all your heart and all your soul” (Deut. 4:29). He will meet you in the pause. Together you will enjoy what He has done. Your life may be busy and you might need to slow down in order to take a few moments to be with your savior. Or, you may be in one of those quiet places already where people have moved on and you feel alone. I’ve been in both and I know that either way the pause is for you. Savor it. It is there you will find your Savior and Christmas.

Escape From the Pit

You know that pit you’re in – the one that makes you feel unworthy, defeated? There is hope for escape. “How did I get here?” you ask. Many roads lead to the pit. Repeated sin. Depression. Idolatry. Loneliness. Sickness. Maybe you made your own way there. Maybe someone or something pushed you down further and further until you were locked in by the dark walls of hopelessness. Listen! There is a way out. You are not alone.


Maybe you don’t see it now but, our hope is not in ourselves. Nor is it in the things around us. Our hope is in the LORD, and He is with you! Stop looking around. Look up! The LORD is there. His light is breaking your darkness like the dawn of a new day. Dawn happens gradually. The light ever so slowly chases away the darkness. It is beautiful to watch and nothing . . . nothing can stop it. Think about that. Nothing can stop the dawn from coming. The light will prevail. The only way to miss seeing the light is to run and hide. Likewise, the only way to miss the LORD’s light is to run from Him. Don’t! Stand firmly in the presence of your LORD. Watch Him dawn His beautiful light on you. Listen as He whispers, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. I will build you up again, and you, Virgin Israel, will be rebuilt” (Jeremiah 31:3b-4a).

Oh! What hope! The God of the universe loves you. He draws you into Himself with His kindness. He promises to build you up again. No matter how dirty or scarred you may feel, you will be pure again, sanctified, and with new purpose because of Him.

The way out is simple. Look up! Fix your eyes on the LORD. Read His word. Clothe yourself in His promises, His righteousness. Let nothing distract you from Him. Not your heart. Not your emotions. Not the world around you. Focus on Him. Soon you will find you are free from that dark place. Then, you will sing and shout His glorious praises in victory!

Heavenly Father, our world is sometimes dark. Thank You for the light of Your word. Thank you for hope. Thank You for the saving grace given to us because of Jesus. We commit ourselves to You. Guide us out of these dark places and into Your freedom. In Jesus’s name, Amen.


Additional readings:
2 Samuel 22:29; Psalm 4:6; John 1:1-5; John 8:12; 1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 21:23

Cheap Imitations

They were just little twinkle lights that looked like fireflies in the trees, but I thought about them often after I walked away that day leaving them on the store shelf. Little lights shining in the dark make me happy.

When I saw them the next spring, I quickly put them in my buggy. I couldn’t wait for dark when I could watch them twinkle in my own backyard trees. My husband plugged them up, and as the sun faded in the sky, we ceremoniously flipped the switch. Little green lights danced on the trees, not quite like fireflies. I acted excited, but honestly, I was somewhat disappointed. After a year of thinking about them, they didn’t quite live up to my expectations.

I thought about those lights when my husband and I were out in the boat one day. He fishes. I read. We trolled into this little cove escaping the main flow of the river. It was a glorious spring day. The sky was perfect blue. The leaves were newly bright green. Fluffs of willow seeds floated through the breeze like thousands of dandelion tufts. I was enjoying the sun and my book when we floated under the canopy of trees. I looked up to adjust my eyes in the dimmer light and that’s when I noticed: thousands of lights shimmering in the trees. Everywhere they danced, moving, swaying, glittering, twinkling. I caught my breath. “Oh look!” I exclaimed. “Look at the trees!” “Yeah, that’s nice,” my husband replied, more interested in his bobber.

It was the sunlight sparkling off the moving water, casting its reflection above on to the trees. It was captivating! As I sat there in this glorious spectacle designed by God, I could not help but think: No twinkle light could ever compare to the handiwork of God. No wonder I was disappointed in my store-bought lights.

But I wonder how often we settle for cheap imitations instead of looking for the real thing. How often do we fill our lives with a continuous scroll of superficial posts from friends when what we need is the deep abiding relationship of our Lord? How often do we over consume to feel some sort of satisfaction when what we need is but a drink of the living water offered by Jesus to quench our desires? How often do we search for something to fill us up, move our hearts, bring rest to our weary souls? The idols of this world do not have what we need. They are only cheap imitations packaged and parked on a shelf for easy consumption.

Our idol-filled world can feel hopeless but our God is faithful. Cast aside the cheap imitations you are clinging to. They may sparkle, but they can never shine as brightly as our Lord’s love. Like spring overtaking winter, the Lord can overtake your idol-filled heart with a symphony of song, twinkling sunshine, green leaves, and bright flowers. So, “stop and consider the wondrous works of God” and worship Him (Job 37:14).

Momma and God

Momma died the summer of 2017. The Lord gave me the honor and privilege of walking with her through her last days. When the Alzheimer’s first set in, and the reality of it stared me down. I was scared. It all seemed so complicated and overwhelming. I know that God can use all things to strengthen us, so in the beginning I came to the conclusion that when Alzheimer’s strikes, it is His way of building perseverance in the caregiver. I was thinking, “Momma’s mind is gone; whatever the Lord does with this will be for those helping her.” After all, He tells us in James 1:2-5:

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”

I needed lots of wisdom to deal with this disease: how to care for her, how to deal with money, how to deal with her property, how to deal with the personalities in my family. I called on the Lord – a lot. I needed physical and emotional strength to persevere through this long disease. He answered my prayers, but my eyes were on how He was helping me with all of the complicated things. I never noticed what He was doing for Momma – until one spring day.

I picked Momma up for lunch at my river house. When we arrived, and she was seated in the rocker on the porch, she looked around and exclaimed, “Oh my, look at what God has done! Isn’t it beautiful! The trees . . . and the river! Just look! God is so good!” And Momma began to sing. She sang one hymn after another, praising the Lord with all her soul. Her voice was shaky and she often got the words wrong, but she sang sweet praises to her Lord.

I stood there crying. How simple. How sweet. It dawned on me that God was with her just as much as me. He helped her in simple ways her mind could understand: beautiful scenery, hymns, music, visitors, good food, and sweet caregivers. I know the Lord was helping her even at the end as she talked to the carpenter standing beside her bed – the carpenter I couldn’t see, but I’m sure was there.

Never did He leave us. Never did He forsake us. Our Lord was with each of us in the way we needed most. I learned that day that even when things seem complicated, His presence is simple. Simple and sweet. Momma was right. God is so good! Whatever way you need Him most today, He is simply there. It may be the smallest thing, but it is strategically placed right there just for you. Praise Him!

The Vacuum Cleaner and the Revealing Light

The Vacuum Cleaner and the Revealing Light

I got a new vacuum cleaner about a month ago. I hate it! It has a light. That is the worst part. The light, which should give me a better view of the floor so I know where to steer the vacuum, only reveals what I’m leaving behind: dirt, dust, dog hair, people hair, leaves, and other floor trash. The vacuum sucks some of it away – in little strips, but it leaves a huge amount. It just can’t dust mop hardwood floors. I should feel good about vacuuming and how clean my floors are after I’ve spent all that time on them. But I can’t. I don’t. The revealing light has shown me what I’ve left behind, and even though I can’t see it when the light is gone, I know.

For a while I would dust mop and then vacuum, but that felt like I was doing two jobs, and I soon got tired of that. So, I just quit vacuuming unless I really, really had to. I swept or swiffered or picked things up with my hands, just so I didn’t have to break out the dreaded revealing light.

You know God and His word are compared to light.

Psalm 19:8(b) – “ The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.”

Psalm 119:105 – “ Your word is a lamp unto my feet and light for my path.”

Psalm 119:130 – “The unfolding of your word gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.”

John 8:12- “ When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

1 John 1:5 – “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.”

The God of all creation is light. His commands give light. His word gives light. This light gives understanding. It brings life. The light reveals God’s commands. We understand them, and we understand we are sinners in light of them. We cannot possibly follow those ten commands and get it right all the time. The revealing light of the LORD shows us exactly how dirty we are. That is a fearful place to be – in the dreaded revealing light looking at all the dirt.
So what do you do? Do you work really hard doing all kinds of things to clean yourself up? Do you clean up this or that . . . because all is too much? Do you just quit trying – put up the light of the LORD because it shows you too much? Is it too overwhelming? What do you do? The dirt doesn’t go away. Just because you don’t pull out the dreaded revealing light doesn’t mean it isn’t there; you just can’t see it as clearly. And, you know, its stacking up – all the that ignored dirt. Its growing.

I was feeling pretty hopeless about my floors, knowing all that dirt was there and knowing the vacuum I had wasn’t really doing that job I needed done, when one night, while watching tv, I ran across an infomercial for a vacuum. Now, I don’t normally pay attention to those things. I flip, flip, flip, right past them. But this one – ah! This one was something I needed. The longer I watched this informercial telling about the two rollers and no loss of suction, the more I knew I needed it. The front roller was the secret. Its soft, red, velvety construction picked up all the fine dust, dog hair, and particles that a one roller vacuum leaves behind. The light on this baby reveals, but the red velvet roller cleans it all up. What a wonderful vacuum! I knew this was the answer to all my floor woes. I ordered it!

Now I have a new, new vacuum. It works wonderfully, and does exactly what the informercial said it would do. My floors are clean – and my ceilings and my walls and my curtains! In fact, I will find a reason to bring the vacuum out for some cleaning. I’m so excited to both know how dirty my floors were, and to know how clean the little red-velvet roller gets them.
This is where Psalm 27:1 comes into our “The LORD is my light” story:
“The LORD is my light, and my salvation – whom shall I fear?”
Yes! The LORD is my light. His commands reveal where I sin. His word unfolds, giving light and understanding. But, He doesn’t leave me trying to clean things up on my own. The velvet, red blood of Jesus washes away my sins. Jesus cleans up the dirt – the drifts and eddies and piles of dirt. He wipes them clean and takes them away. I am left knowing how much dirt the light of the LORD revealed in my actions and my heart, and, most of all, knowing that my precious Jesus took it away! What a marvelous thing!

No longer do I have to struggle to clean it all up myself or pick and choose what to clean or even ignore it. Now, I can look over my life and say,
“The LORD is my light, AND my salvation – whom shall I fear?”

My friend, you can say the same thing too. Jesus is your salvation as well. Know that he has done the work you cannot do. Jesus has taken away the sins of the world. Rest in this! Live in joyful obedience to a savior who has washed you white as snow.

Thank you, Jesus, that You both reveal my sins and take them away. It is the gift of knowing - knowing what was there, and knowing that it is not there any longer. It is the gift of grace, for I do not deserve your great and generous forgiveness, but you give it to me anyway. You give it to me out of love. And all I can say is “Thank you . . . Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

The Dance

I have a friend who is a single mom. She gets very little help from her ex-husband financially or otherwise. In fact, he causes more stress in her life than is necessary. My friend works two jobs, maintains her home and finances. She parents a teenage daughter and an elementary school daughter; a huge task by yourself. She juggles their school activities, their extra-curricular activities, and their personalities. She volunteers at church, leads a small group, heads numerous committees at work, and is completing her masters degree. She does this all with a smile on her face, and while reaching out to others. Honestly, I don’t know how she does it all.

She called me the other day to tell me about a dream she had. She was dancing with a man. They danced for a while; she was enjoying it. Then he said, “Let me lead.” And she let him. A huge burden was lifted from her as she allowed him to take the lead. Relief and relaxation flooded into her being. Surely this was representative of her life. In her waking thoughts, she longed for this release of responsibility. She needs someone to share the responsibility of taking care of her family and home. In God’s economy, a husband is the leader of the family. That is what she is craving – some God-ordained leadership. She knows He will provide in the right time. Meanwhile, she will continue to take care of things.

I was pondering all of this as I prayed for her this morning. I was thinking about Jesus. I was thinking about our God-ordained roles in this dance of life, and how Jesus is the leader and we are to let him lead. We are part of this dance, but each partner has a role. That’s what makes it work. That’s what makes the dance beautiful.

Imagine if the leader didn’t lead in the dance. Then the two would be bumping into one another, not going anywhere, not knowing what comes next. Imagine if both dancers tried to lead. There would be a power struggle with jerky moves that wheeled each partner one way then another. Neither of these scenarios would work. There needs to be a clear leader. In our dance of life, it is Jesus.

Many times we don’t let him lead. We try to be the one calling the moves, not only in our everyday lives, but also when it comes to our redemption, our righteousness. We try to take the lead with our good works, our obedience. We think, “Oh, I”ll do this today and God will surely think I am good.” We think, “If I do this and this and this, surely I will go to Heaven.” Friend, this kind of thinking is futile: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Of course good works are part of what we do, part of the dance, but our leader, Jesus, has already done the thing that makes us right before the LORD: “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Jesus satisfied the wrath of God over our sins through his death on the cross because “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). He paid the debt, now offers us redemption.

Listen, there are some dance moves we just can’t do. There are some solo moves that only Jesus can accomplish. On the cross, the Heavenly spotlight was on him as he performed the moves no man can copy. Watch and be amazed, and when he holds out his hand and invites you to the dance, hold on and let him lead. It will be far more beautiful than anything you could do on your own.