Fear Not

 There is a popular belief that the Bible has 365 sayings of "fear not" or " do not fear", or " be not afraid". Although this is not true literally, it is clear that God does not want us to be fearful, but to trust Him. This is easier said than done. 

How often have we witnessed or experienced something that we can make no sense of; a young person dying, horrific suffering, or a child being mistreated?  Many wonder why would a loving God allow this to happen if He is all powerful. I don't have an answer that will satisfy many, but I do know this. God says in Isaiah 55:8-9  

" For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways , my ways declares the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts".

When one is  higher, one has a bigger picture of things. Although we do not understand the big picture and it may feel unfair and unjust, we have this word from God. For this reason, I am able to trust God. This is not to say I don't struggle with it at times, but when I do struggle , I return to this verse.  

Our Father

When asked by the disciples how to pray, Jesus gave us the blueprint.. During the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6: 9-13 and again in Luke 11:2-4. He begins with "Our Father", not my father but immediately uniting all of us Christians as God's children. He is including us with Him in this prayer as we look to the Father. Jesus was called the "Son of God". Although not equating ourselves with Jesus, we too are sons and daughters of God. "But as many as received Him to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name". John1:12.Perhaps going forward when you pray the Our Father you will think about the fact that you are united with Christians around the world and all those who came before you. This is a strong link that unites us all.

Be Still and KNOW

 I was listening to someone read the 46th Psalm the other day as Advent is upon us. For one reason or another one line stood out to me. "Be still and know that I am God". In our hurried life with information bombarding us every day, how difficult it is to be still. How many of us stop and think about the gifts God has given us and take time to thank Him. Can you imagine how you would feel if you gave someone a gift and they never even said "thank you"? Would your feelings be hurt? Now think about the gifts God has given you every day; the ability to walk, talk, see, hear, smell, the sunrises and the sunsets, the flowers and the trees. I could go on and on but you get the idea. Take some time today, this Advent and be still. 

The second part of the psalm addresses and "know that I am God". The writer does not say think, believe, contemplate, or even have faith, but "KNOW". It is said with such certainty. It leaves no doubt as to what He wants us to know. This my friends is another gift and it is why the 46th Psalm is my favorite... more on this Psalm later. Read it for yourself and I welcome your thoughts. 

Recently I read an article about the importance of the family dinner and the value to each member of the family. It seems that the family dinner is trying to make its' way back into our lives despite the fact that we are doing more today than ever before.

Gayle Peterson notes it is not only the food that nourishes, but also the spirit and souls of each member. It is a time to demonstrate that family is important and comes before other activities. This often requires an effort on the part of all the members, but there is value in teaching good communication, faith in God, and love and concern for one another. the family dinner also provides a sense of groundedness and roots to each member.

According to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA), the chance of a child using drugs significantly declines when they regularly eat dinner with their parents. In addition, the teens are less likely to smoke tobacco. CASA created a national family day to encourage families to start to eat together. It is the fourth Monday in September and has been celebrated since 2001. You don't have to wait till then. Pick a regular time and day and begin to establish this ritual as a regular practice.

Family is important and providing something with so much value for your children and for yourself is a way of demonstrating what is really important in life.

Blessings

In the Christian faith, we are in the heart of the Lenten season. This is a time of prayer, fasting and contemplation. I try to be more aware of the many blessings God has given to me and ask for His guidance in making the most of my talents and appreciating these blessings.
The ability to recognize the miracles in the everyday requires a mindfulness that is easily lost in the treadmill of life. We begin to take these blessings for granted.
I remember when my mother got sick and was told she only had 6 months to live. She told me that suddenly everything took on new meaning. A sunrise....a baby's cry...birds singing or even a smile..... all of it was important. She understood that with each blessing came the crushing realization that these experiences were limited and she would not enjoy them forever. Each blessing was to be savored for the moment making it far more rich than ever before.
Learning to become aware of everyday blessings is a wonderful way to enhance your own journey and enrich your own life. Give thanks and celebrate life each and every day.

It's Never Too Late

I have been in school now for the last 2 years and only have 3 more courses in order to complete my bachlor's degree in nursing. I was pleasantly surprised when I enrolled for online courses over the internet to find that most of the other students were in the same age bracket that I was. Who would have thought that the baby boomers in their 50's would be back in school?
I remember my mother telling me, "you can do anything you set your mind to". She was right. I have actually surprised myself reading for hours on end and writing term papers .Of course the other expression she used to say was "nothing good comes without hard work". She was right on that count as well.
In order to fulfill a life long dream of completing my college education, I have had to rearrange my life. Work hours were cut and the house gathers far more dust than it used to. Fortunately, my family is supportive and understands how much this means to me. Pursuing one's dream brings about a contentment with the self. It's never too late...