Much of the world is celebrating the birth of Jesus, our Creator Savior.
You cannot do wrong by carrying the memory of all He means to you, because He loved you first. Only Jesus can give the peace we all desire.
My wish for you is to have a safe, memorable Christmas filled with the makings of contentment and good memories.
Merry Christmas!
Has the evil Grinch Dr Seus created in his children’s book How the Grinch Stole Christmas robbed you of all seasonal good will? It takes no effort on our part to feel overwhelmed from the things associated with Christmas. How can a person keep Jesus in mind as we celebrate his birth?
The words I share with you today are not all mine. Recently I listened to a message from missionary, Joy Owens, on how to keep our focus on the true message of Christmas. She helped me see references in the Good Book on how to get through the busy days ahead. I wish to share them with you.
Did you make a to-do list? Joy did.
Let the above words bring joy back into your holidays. Jesus did not arrive in a nursery months in the making, but a stable meant for animals. He is a simple son of God, known as our Messiah, Savior of the world. Allow him to restore your Christmas spirit so you can enjoy the peace he brought to earth.
Have you ever had a missed opportunity?
My most recent missed event came from a routine trip to my local Walmart for a few groceries. As I went through the store I found myself behind a shopper dressed in her camouflaged Army uniform.
As I passed her, I hesitated long enough to thank her for her service to our country. Her response stopped me in my tracks. Putting hand to heart, “Thank you for the opportunity to serve.” What a gracious young woman.
How I wished I had noted her name, taken a picture—anything to have further honored this soldier. She deserved it as we find our military, police, and first responders being dragged through verbal mud.
I just don’t think fast enough.
We are in the time of year when lots of thinking is going on. We think of the family member that won’t be at the table this Thanksgiving. We think of the gifts we wish to buy for our loved ones. We think of past holidays—when the kids were little and thought they would never grow up.
They are now and have a life of their own that may not include us. We invested so much of ourselves. Missed opportunities to treasure what we had. But they are adulting, and that is commendable of them.
Would it surprise you to learn that Jesus thinks of you daily? He invested too. In mankind. Jesus knows what it feels like to be left out—as we go about our busy lives. He literally gave us his all, dying for our thoughtlessness.
As our holiday season approaches—do it different this year. Instead of mourning lost opportunities, make the best of what you have. Some have more than others, but we all have the same amount of time.
A portion of this afternoon was spent rummaging through a few family heirlooms. I came across a letter my Aunt Jane wrote to Jesus. Some were words of confession over her unmet past opportunities—but in the bottom line of her wishes—she asked for wisdom to live out the rest of her life seeking his direction on how to spend her remaining days investing in others.
I share her sentiment and hope you give it consideration too.
Have a happy and blessed Thanksgiving
Today I have tackled eating an elephant. Figuratively speaking. How does one eat an elephant? One bite at a time.
My ‘elephant’ is in the sewing room with a dreaded project hanging over my head. Let it be said here that knowing how to run a sewing machine does not equate to being a skilled seamstress. Or in this case, a tailor. The zipper on my windbreaker jacket broke and needed replacement.
Some time back I ordered a white separating zipper online for a bathrobe. The package was delivered in a timely manner with one little problem—the zipper was black. Realization comes to me slowly at times. The windbreaker is black.
In my thinking spot I realized this was to my benefit. Take out the broken and replace with the already paid for mistake. Easy to say, a challenge to do. What I did not realize is how well made the windbreaker is. Really well made. To ensure that all the pieces of jacket remained in place I basted before I started ripping out. Unfortunately, the zipper also wanted to remain in place. I suspect fabric glue was part of the construction.
As I basted away I came across a surprise. Inside the jacket is a hidden pocket! I love inner pockets and thrilled at what I have hidden in plain sight. Visions of sugar plums dance in my head as to what I can now carry sheltered from wind or rain.
Well—sometime anyway. My days are full and this project will not be accomplished anytime soon. Completion may not come until the dead of winter when it will be too cold to wear a jacket. Baby steps. One bite at a time. This was a dreaded project because seldom can I make a repair on a ready-made garment and have it looking as good as a factory finish. My skills do not match my intentioned goals. But it will work, even though it may look as though I tampered with it.
Look closely at what you may have hidden in plain sight. Whether it be a pocket, an opportunity or something packed away. You know what I’m talking about—that thing you could not bear to part with because someday it could be useful. Today may be your day.
Life is like that. So is Jesus. Do you have circumstances that you dread—fearing it is going to be a big deal? Something you would rather not deal with? I get it.
As far as this zipper project goes, I have decided to ask Jesus to give me the wisdom and skill to get it done. If you like, you can try Jesus with your thing too. I have every confidence he will come through—for both of us.
PS The bathrobe is patiently waiting.
How do you feel about Artificial Intelligence? It has been around for sixty years, but that does not mean you have to like it. The average person did not acknowledge it much back in the day. It was too close to wishful thinking—I am sure that is how it all began. I recall the sixties television show The Jetson’s with their robot maid Rosie. Little did I realize how technology would continue to grow to where it is today.
It may have begun innocently, but as you know it progressed through the years. I was using it before I realized what exactly it was…and appreciated it at the time. When texting on my cell phone, often I began spelling a word, and before I was finished, it popped up.
This time though, AI went too far.
Recently, I was invited to interview a neighbor for our community newsletter. I agreed with a little apprehension, I had never interviewed anyone before. When I sat down with—I will call her Diane. (I know her name and it is not Diane!) But as we visited she was very easy to talk with and open to answering questions that I thought would be relevant to the article.
I was both surprised and relieved at how well it went—this opportunity came at a good time. There was a chance I would have nothing to offer for the newsletter this month, I had run out of ideas to write about. The down side is I submitted the manuscript without making sure all was correct. It automatically changed her name without my noticing it!
Now everyone will start calling her by the wrong name! Needless to say, AI and I are no longer friends. No matter how convenient it is. At least I have my submission ready for next month’s newsletter—‘Correction from last month.’
Well almost.
We have this sandstone rock outside our door that looks its age. A quick glance tells it has seen the hard knocks of outdoor living—dirt and dust abound. Along with years of rain, snow, and sleet to ingrain itself into the porous stone— manufacturing mold.
Yuck, what is even more disgusting is we breathe that stuff in. So much for going outside to catch a breath of fresh air, right? Thank goodness it does not seep into our pores for a permanent residence.
As I scrubbed away at the mold, the appearance looked a little better. But I could not help thinking the human race has much in common with the stone. Not the mold, but how the places we gravitate to can unintentionally permeate our life.
The cheaters in the classroom, the office staff that five-finger lifts supplies for personal use at home. Some young moms we encounter at the grocery store give their little ones a fruit to eat as they shop. It keeps them occupied and quiet and we think nothing of it. But its ingested food never paid for. Not true. We shoppers, all of us, pay for it.
It’s just not right. The Good Book calls the things not right as sin. It may sound harsh, but wrong-doing can easily sink into our minds and hearts if we are not alert to it. That is why Ezekiel, a priest back in the Old Testament, got a word from Jesus about it that he shares with us today.
“And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.” Ezekiel 36:26 &27
What a relief that to know that Jesus can scrub the things we may not even recognize as sin and make us clean. Or should I say cleaner. Like my stone, it still bares marks, but is improved. Living this side of heaven, we may bare a few marks too, but our words and actions will definitely be an improvement.
Where do I even begin in sharing this? There is much to tell—some of which may sound unbelievable. Believe it because I never aim to deceive.
Cops and Doughnuts bakery has become a regular stop-over when visiting my brother, Bruce. He and his wife Sharon moved to the little town of Clare in Central Michigan long ago. The town takes pride of being the Gateway to the North.
At the time it was sleepy little place. But as time marched on, discount stores made Clare home, putting many of the smaller retailers out of business. It was getting depressing. When the local bakery, owned and run by family members for one hundred years decided to close their doors—it was the last straw.
The local policemen would. Not Have it. The unthinkable was about to happen if they didn’t do something. Nine brave officers, who knew nothing about making doughnuts or running a business stepped up.
Many have heard the love affair a policeman has with doughnuts. Their book, Cops & Doughnuts, told to Anne Stanton, tells the story of how this all came about, explaining the why of it. When an officer has the late night or early morning patrol, they often have a need for a little pick-me-up to see them through their shift. The only places one can count on to be open is the doughnut shop. Now you understand the connection, you’re welcome.
These officers had a very short time to crash learn the ins and outs of doughnut making and carrying on business as usual. But they did it with results business owners dream of. A smashing success. The town is sleepy no more. Police from all parts of Michigan have come to support or learn the how-tos of the bakery business. Making national news helped put them on the map, visitors come from around the nation.
Through the years it has expanded both in real estate and merchandise. The mugs and T shirts bearing clever sayings are popular. “Don’t glaze me bro!” or” D.W.I Doughnuts Were Involved.” It has become an event for busloads of shoppers, complete with signage, “Inmate of the Month: Parking Only.”
These officers have an enviable sense of humor and play it up to everyone’s delight. It shows policemen in a different light. They are real people (gasp!) that have a respect and a shared commitment to their community. Countless occasions have provided them to help individuals as well as its citizens. An FYI, none of the profits go to the owners, they already have a viable occupation. All funds earned go back into the bakery.
It meant a lot to me to sit briefly with Bubba—I learned they all have nicknames—giving me free reign to the pictures in the book and telling the story. As I introduced myself being Bruce Baldwins’ sister, it was necessary to clarify which Bruce Baldwin.
My brother has a Clare story too. When he and Sharon moved up from the Detroit area, they were not warmly received. City slickers. You understand. It took ten years for them to become accepted residents. But that was only half the problem. It seems they already live there, folks with the same name, well-known among the police force and town at large. Meaning not in the best light— the problem was real. Thankfully, they were able to outlive the mistaken association.
Today was a feel-good post. The book indicates they have a relationship with Jesus, proving with him, all things are possible.
Returning to our home state is a walk down memory lane. So many places to go and people to see. More so this trip than the others. What took us back to Michigan was a fifty-five-year class reunion. It was determined that Dave and I were married the longest. Or should I say we married the youngest?
We saw people all right, ones that we mostly didn’t recognize. It was a bittersweet evening. Ribbons with photos of classmates no longer with us. One in particular I was anxious to reconnect with, not to be, she entered her eternal home. Joining us at our dinner was a classmate that knew and remembered me more than I did him. That can be a little disconcerting.
While there we made the routine trip visiting our past homes. Where Dave grew up, where I grew up, where our children grew up. I don’t miss the homes as much as I miss the trees. They are everywhere, shielding us from bright sunny days. This time, the skies were mostly overcast. Another thing I miss, cloudy skies.
As we gawked at the home of my grandparents, we got to speak with the new owner. The home has never looked so good. New homes have taken the place of Grandpa’s fruit trees.
The unexpected perk in visiting my brother was receiving drawings our mother did that I had never seen before. Mom was a gifted artist. She could have made a living from them had she pursued that avenue. Instead, her time was invested in my father and us kids. One time she confided that she should not have married. Housekeeping was not her forte.
She had too many interests to be concerned what our home looked like. Knitting, I am certain I have a tablecloth she crocheted, piano and her artwork. Those things fed her soul, just as seeing the trees fed mine. What feeds your soul?
There is beauty in the world if we look for it. Either in the nature Jesus created for our pleasure or the activities that bring joy.
There were more pleasures in our travel that I will share at a later time. Stay tuned.
Do you feel as though the world has run amuck and a little encouragement would be refreshing?
I came across the writing that Servant Hearted Sisterhood made public. Maybe you have not seen it—so I present it to you:
“Don’t feel sorry for or fear for your kids/grandkids because the world they are going to grow up in is not what it used to be.
God created them and called them for the exact moment in time that they’re in. Their life wasn’t a coincidence or an accident.
Raise them up to know the power they walk in as children of God. Train them up in the authority of His word. Teach them to walk in faith knowing that God is in control. Empower them to know they can change the world.
Don’t teach them to be fearful and disheartened by the state of the world, but hopeful that they can do something about it.
Every person in all of history has been placed in the time that they were in because of God’s sovereign plan.
He knew Daniel could handle the lion’s den.
He knew David could handle Goliath.
He knew Esther could handle Hamen.
He knew Peter could handle persecution.
He knows that your child can handle whatever challenge they face in their life. He created them specifically for it.
Don’t be scared for your children, but be honored that God chose you to parent the generation that is facing the biggest challenge of our lifetime. Rise up to the challenge. Raise Daniels, David’s Esther’s and Peter’s.
God is not scratching his head wondering what he is going to do with this mess of a world. He has an army he is raising up to drive back the darkness and make him known all over the earth.
Don’t let your fear steal the greatness God placed in them. I know it’s hard to imagine them as anything besides our sweet little babies, and we just want to protect them from anything that could ever be hard on them. But they were born for such a time as this.”
Unknown Author
I cannot think of anything to add, this says it all.
Today’s blog almost did not get written. All because I cleaned my writing room. One could think it doesn’t pay to clean.
Correction. Cleaning homes is a profitable endeavor unless you are cleaning your own home. Such as I do. More than the normal dust and dirt was tracked around the house. I was saving it.
Those that know me well and love me anyway, know my cleaning pattern. Wait until it gets really bad, then clean to make the effort worth the time invested. If you have the same tendency, I will share one of my better household hints. Allow clutter to accumulate on as many flat surfaces as you can. It keeps the dust off your tables.
Later, I sat down to write—but could not. My laptop worked fine, not so the monitor. Ditto for the printer, it too, refused to cooperate. Checking all connections, I was baffled to what was the problem.
In such instances, I call out to my husband, Dave. He always comes to my rescue and is handy to have around—the man can fix anything. As he investigates, I mention the printer as well. He gave me ‘that look.’ It was just the incentive I needed to try harder.
What I learned is that I am a lousy connection checker. He located the issue on the monitor and bless my soul—I managed to get the printer up and running all by my little self.
Welcome to my life. Another day to realize more of us suffer from disconnectedness than we realize. It comes in many forms, the aforementioned electrical, mechanical, relationally deficit—don’t forget Jesus. Have you tuned into him lately?
You’re busy? I understand, so am I. But have discovered a revelation that I will pass on to you. If I devote time to be with Jesus in prayer or even silent moments thinking about him, my day goes much better. I’m diligent to my tasks, have more energy, and go to bed at night satisfied with what got accomplished.
If my to-do list is too long, it happens. I can still rest easy, looking forward to another day of opportunity. Give it a shot. What have you got to lose? Don’t say time because Jesus redeems time—as was stated above, with more energy.
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