Tag Archives: scripture

Reflecting on Christmas

Posted on by

This is the way I learned about Christmas as a child, and I never tired of hearing it. No longer a child, I still love to read and reflect on this age-old story from the Gospel of Luke, chapter two, verses one to twenty in the NIV (New International Version) Bible. It’s what keeps me grounded to what Christmas really is while I’m enjoying the worldly pleasures of the season.

The Birth of Jesus

2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

This version of the birth of Jesus has inspired many Christmas carols which most of us enjoy today: Away in a Manger, Silent Night, Oh Little Town of Bethlehem, Joy to the World…to name a few. They are a reminder that unto us a Child was born…the true meaning of CHRISTmas.

 

What Some Say

Posted on by

Some say, “That’s the way I am and I can’t change.” Don’t you think that’s a very limited way of thinking? We can all change if we really want to…but we have to want to…that is the key. We have to recognize that maybe the way we are is detrimental to our own peace of mind and that the way we are can also be detrimental to our relationships.

After recognizing things about myself that I didn’t like, I set about to change them. Do I think more change is needed? It is always a work in progress.

Scripture is a good place to look regarding changing. Romans 12:2 says, “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” that was my beginning many years ago. I took that scripture and ran with it.

Jeremiah 7:5 says, “If you really change your ways and your actions, and deal with each other justly,”…extremely good for mending relationships.

Matthew 18:3 says, “Truly I tell you, unless you change…” and Ephesians 4:23 “ to be made new in the attitude of your minds;”

Of course, there are those who think scripture is not to be believed but I believe it. I know the difference it makes in my life and in that regard, it doesn’t really matter what some say.

 

 

 

 

 

Gobsmacked (What a Word!)

Posted on by

Gobsmacked means (among other things) utterly astonished or astounded. It is apparently British slang and I heard it for the first time about a year ago and was astounded that I had never heard it before that; after all I have lived a long life and it doesn’t take too much to astonish me any more.

Having said that, I was gobsmacked by the harsh criticism that our Prime Minister took, mostly from our government’s opposition, for saying something positive about Fidel Castro after his death last Friday.

Sure, he, Castro, didn’t live up to the standards of most parts of our world but as always, there are two sides to every coin, argument, and people.

We are striving for a world of peace, but we are not going to achieve that when the battering rams of criticism are directed at the peace lovers of the world for choosing to articulate the good points of people that others love to hate. That does not lead to peace.

The Prime Minister took to defending his remarks, which, in my opinion, he should never have had to do. Why should you have to defend being a decent and upright human being?

Even though I like the word, I didn’t like being gobsmacked in that way.

Fidel Castro once said, “I don’t know what day I will die but I am not worried about it. I enjoy celestial tranquility.”

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:18 NIV

 

 

 

Consider the Birds

Posted on by

I wish you a day of rest, peace, and the joy of spotting a cardinal or your own favorite bird. Matthew 6:26 says “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns…” Happy Sunday.

Steeple Space

Posted on by

I love how the steeple has its own space amid the trees. This is where I spend my Sundays with my church family, one of whom took this photo; another instance of seeing more than you are looking at. Surely the Lord is in this place. Genesis 28:16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Birds of a Feather

Posted on by

“Birds of a feather flock together”. This is a quote that has been around for years, no, centuries. I take it to mean that the same kind of creature prefers the company of its own kind.

This post is about birds but also about the human experience. This morning I woke up feeling a little unsettled with myself…feeling as though my life is not meeting God’s expectations…and wondering just how I am going to remedy that. It was one of those moments where one feels unworthy for whatever reason; not just in God’s eyes but in the eyes of friends and family.

So, I took my feelings to my “prayer chair” which overlooks a garden containing a bird bath, feeder, flowers, and trees. Within minutes the yard was filled with birds. These were not “birds of a feather”. There was a blue jay and a cardinal sitting together on the fence. There were sparrows and a yellow finch quenching their thirst together. A red-headed woodpecker seemed to be teaching his youngster how to get this job done, when the mom showed up and joined in. Two mourning doves were doing their thing on the garage roof; you know what doves are like, billing and cooing all over the place.

There were two birds I didn’t recognize and had never seen before. They were a brownish yellowy color with a touch of orange or red on the back of their heads, and when they spread their wings to fly their backs were all white. I’ll look them up later.

Now I marveled at all this, especially when the cardinal and blue jay came and rested on my deck railing. I was in awe and wondered out loud why I was being treated to such a spectacular show of nature. It’s over now. There’s not a bird in the yard.

This whole scene helped to lighten my mood but the clincher was this. It was time for my daily devotional and when I opened my Bible, this is what I read in Luke 12:24 “Consider the ravens; they do not sow or reap…yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds.”

Birds of a feather? I was happy to see so many different species of feathers this morning, and happier still to receive the message they brought.

 

 

Barefoot Over the Bridge

Posted on by

Walking down the aisle is no longer the only road to matrimony, it seems. On Saturday I watched my granddaughter, Courtney, walk barefoot over a wooden bridge, in her princess wedding gown, accompanied by her proud dad, to stand by Matt, the man she intends to spend the rest of her life with. The lake water lapped and glistened as if in symphony with the nature of this outdoor wedding.

Everything else was traditional in a sense. The wedding party, beautiful in their pastel gowns and gray suits, waited for the bride to take her place beside her groom and the service began.

It was both solemn and sweet as this special couple took their vows having eyes for only each other. I’m not sure whether the vows they repeated were written by themselves or the minister who performed the ceremony, but I do know that Saint Paul wrote the following words of love in 1 Corinthians 13:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.8 Love never fails… 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

These words have been repeated at many wedding ceremonies over the centuries and my heart filled with love for the young couple hearing them now, probably for the very first time. I hope their love will remain as alive as it was on Saturday when Matthew watched his bride walking toward him,..barefoot over the bridge.

 

 

Whatever It Takes

Posted on by

Someone needs to hear that they are making a difference in someone’s life. They need to hear that because they exist, life is easier, happier, and more fulfilling. They need to hear that their contribution to a relationship is what makes it stronger. They need to hear that they themselves are strong, resilient, and someone to be proud of. Someone needs to hear that they are loved, appreciated, easy to be with; they need to hear that they are passionate, compassionate, considerate and caring; that a certain someone wouldn’t know what to do without them in their life. And to top it all off, someone needs to know that they are beautiful inside and out and that no one else could hold a candle to them.

Is this someone you? You may have to be the someone who makes another person feel the way you want them to make you feel. Life is reciprocal…you get what you give…reap what you sow. Do to others as you would have them do to you. (Luke 6:31) It’s widely known as “the golden rule”

So, if you are the someone in question and are not being fulfilled to your expectations, even after doing the sowing thing, then perhaps it’s time to borrow the mirror on the wall from the evil queen in the Snow White fairy tale…whatever it takes.

(The idea for this blog came from a post on someone’s Facebook page and I decided to mix being serious with a little fun and fancy. However, it is always uplifting to hear nice things about one’s self, so let me tell many of you that my life is much brighter and happier because you are in it, and all of you are beautiful.)