Category Archives: Holidays

An Anchor for Your Soul

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Welcome to 2022! It’s a fresh page in the newest chapter of your life! The Lord has preloaded experiences, events, and encounters into each day of this new year (Ephesians 2:10).  He designed each day specifically for you and with your best interests in mind (Psalm 139:13-170)! It’s important to have faith in His plans and purposes because not all of those experiences, events, and encounters will be easy.

As you embark on Day 1 of whatever year this is in your journey, can I encourage you to grab ahold? Grab ahold of a promise of God that speaks to your heart and will sustain you through the difficult times! It doesn’t have to be the same promise all year; in fact, God wants to give us “fresh bread” a.k.a. “fresh Truth” each day. You see, when the river of life begins to churn and feel more like white water rapids than a docile stream, we NEED to have an anchor to cling to! That anchor is found in the Truth of God’s Word and in the Truth of His character.

Let me connect two verses for you that I hope will encourage you to dig afresh into God’s promises for you!

In Jeremiah 1:12, the Lord tells the prophet “for I am watching to see that My word is fulfilled” (NIV). When the Lord makes a declaration, He is committed to follow through on His Word! That’s exciting!

Now check out II Corinthians 1:20: “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through Him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God” (NIV). Imagine a child that has an earnest desire and climbs up on daddy’s lap to make her request knowing that the answer is already a “yes.” That child has no fear or trepidation, only confidence in what is to come!

With the heart of that child, we participate in the process by identifying God’s promises and then affirming them with an “Amen” in our lives! Sure, God can do things on His own, but He wants to partner with us in this journey! He wants to build our confidence in His faithfulness (Hebrews 1:21).

Each new year, I pray for a word to help me embrace what the Lord has planned for me. This year, He gave me the word “hope” with Romans 15:13: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (NIV). I don’t know what experiences, events, and encounters even today holds, but I know Who holds me every step of the way and my hope is in His faithfulness!

Reach out for a Word from your Daddy, a promise1 from His heart, and know that He is faithful to bring it to pass! He is not sending you into 2022 with a handshake and pat on the back, He walks with you every step of the way. Grab ahold of a promise, grab ahold of some Truth, grab ahold of HIM each moment of every day and watch Him fulfill His promises to you!

Live loved,

1 There are many, many promises God has given us in His word. If you are unsure where to start, here are some resources for you. When you read one that causes your spirit to jump, that’s a great starting point!

He is Risen!

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It’s Resurrection Celebration week, also known as Holy Week! It’s a week to remember the events leading up to the empty tomb that Mary found on that morning so long ago. I had the pleasure of home-schooling my children and even though I worked full-time from home, I remember the blessing of being able to just BE with my kids. During this season, we purposely chose to spend time each day focusing on the gift of Jesus’ Sacrifice for us. One year, we even made a poster and added a picture or symbol for each day. This year, many families will have the flexibility and time to do the same, whether by necessity or by choice.

With that thought in mind, I’ve created a daily plan with activities focused on the events of Holy Week. With a few supplies (many found around the house or easily picked up while grocery shopping), you can facilitate focused conversation, thoughtful activities, and a meaningful family time that honors the Lord and deepens your own understanding of God’s gift to us through Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Palm Sunday & Monday: Read Matthew 21:6-11. Palm Sunday is the day that Jesus made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  It was a day when the people publicly declared that He was sent from God! Declare today how amazing Jesus is! Have each family member share something they love about God. Create an individual or family acrostic with the word HOSANNAH by writing each letter on its own line.  Then, write something that the Lord has blessed you with beside each letter. Decorate your acrostic and hang it on the fridge!

Example: H is for a Healthy body and mind!, I is for Incredible creativity…

Tuesday: Read Matthew 26:6-13. A woman poured a bottle of perfume over Jesus’ head to demonstrate her thankfulness for His love and forgiveness. Choose some Scriptures that celebrate Who the Lord is to us as His children.  Write the Scriptures on slips of papers and enclose them in plastic eggs (add a few jelly beans if you’d like!).  Hide the eggs around the house and have an egg hunt!  When the eggs are found, gather as a family and read the Scriptures.  Sing a song together such as How Great is Our God or Our God is an Awesome God. Here are a few Scripture suggestions: Exodus 34:6, Psalm 89:9, 136:3, Isaiah 9:6, Matthew 16:16, Mark 1:1, John 11:25, 14:6, 14:26, Romans 15:13, II Corinthians 4:7, Ephesians 3:20, I John 4:9, Revelation 22:13

Wednesday: Read Matthew 26:36-46. Jesus was willing to do what Father God wanted Him to do, even though it would be difficult. He knew that God was faithful and trustworthy! Create a reminder of God’s faithfulness! Gather planting supplies: small pots, soil, flower seeds, water.  As you put the seeds into the soil, name your worries, fears, and dreams.  Cover those seeds with soil and water.  As you do so, pray together declaring that you trust God with all of them!  When we give our desires and worries to God, He can make something beautiful from them!  Read: I Peter 5:7, Romans 8:28.
Note: A planting “how to” video can be found here.

Thursday: Read Matthew 26:17-30. On Holy Thursday, Jesus served a Passover meal to His disciples. Sing a song together and then brainstorm ways for each member of the family to serve one another. With older children, consider having communion together using grape juice and crackers or even spend time washing each others’ feet as a sign of willingness to serve and honor one another.  Here are some ideas for serving your family:

  • Do another family member’s laundry
  • Share a chore that would typically be individual
  • Wash someone’s car
  • Make a sibling’s bed
  • Create a meal together


Friday: Read Matthew 27:11-55 (or a shorter portion depending on the age of your children). Good Friday is a day to remember what Jesus did on the cross for us.  Watch a kid-friendly video about Jesus’ Crucifixion.  Share about the love that God has for us, even when we mess up.  Draw a cross shape or print one (one for your family or one for each person).  In pencil, write on the cross wrong behaviors such as unkind actions, impatience, selfishness, etc..  As a family, confess those actions and ask the Lord for forgiveness, then erase the words.  Celebrate! Jesus’ death on the cross erases our sins!  Then decorate the cross by coloring it, painting it, gluing on tissue paper, colored rocks, or pretty ribbon!

Saturday: Read Matthew 27:57-66. Imagine how the Disciples felt when Jesus was gone.  They didn’t realize that it was only temporary!  What is something that you are asking God for in your family?  Thank the Lord for the answer even though you haven’t seen it yet!
The Jelly Bean Poem: This is a fun and concrete way to think about Jesus’ sacrifice for us!  Write out or type the Jelly Bean Poem and create baggies of Jelly Beans to share with others.  You can also make a Jelly Bean Prayer bracelet or necklace using beads!  You can find the Jelly Bean Poem here.

Resurrection Sunday: Read Matthew 28:1-10. He is Risen! Make Easter Sunrise Empty Tombs to celebrate that His grave is empty! Use this recipe or find one on Pinterest. One family I know creates an Empty Tomb cake each year. Click here for an easy miniature version. 🙂 Whatever your tradition, embrace it as a way to bring your family together to focus on the beautiful Gift of Easter morning!
Celebration time! Get dressed up! Wear one new item (shirt, dress, hairbow, socks) as a reminder that we are new creations (II Corinthians 5:17). In lieu of going to church this year, watch an online service.  Sing along to the songs, participating just as would if you were there in person. 
Organize a neighborhood car parade: Decorate your cars with streamers and a poster saying, “Jesus is Alive!” or something similar.  Line up in a central place and then drive around your neighborhood with the windows down, cheering and honking!  If you can’t organize a parade, be your own 1-car parade! Celebrate Jesus all day long!

Each Resurrection Sunday, as I get ready for the day, the song Arise My Love plays through my mind (and usually through my speakers)! The grave no longer has a hold on us as believers in Jesus! I am so thankful for the gift of Jesus’ sacrifice! In His death and resurrection we have forgiveness, freedom, healing, deliverance, restoration, an inheritance and everlasting life! Hallelujah! He is Risen!

Live Loved and Free!

A Case for Fatherhood

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This Father’s Day, our worship team, like many others, led us in the song, “Good, Good Father.”1  How beautiful it must have sounded in the realms of Heaven, hearing strains of this song echoing from all over the world.  What a powerful truth that the enemy has tried to steal from the hearts of society as a whole.

Think about it, over the past 40 years, the media has tried to erase the remnants of fathers worth respecting.  It has presented us with examples of fathers that are foolish, clueless, outdated, and dull.  It has attacked strong fathers as being macho, selfish, or chauvinistic.  Stereotypes have been applied and enforced through television shows, lyrics, and comics strips. 

As the respect for fatherhood declined, so did the fathers.  Men began abdicating their role in droves eventually creating a generation that was dubbed, “The Fatherless Generation.”2

That’s not to say that there haven’t been some poor examples of fatherhood.  Many can attest to experiencing painful childhoods because of absent, uninvolved, or abusive fathers.  And when your father memories are fraught with pain, the idea of God being a good, good Father is foreign and unrealistic.

But the role of fatherhood was created to be an expression of love and provision throughout childhood as well as one of guidance and wisdom for life.  It was originated by our Heavenly Father when He breathed His very breath into Adam and when He created Adam and then Eve, in His own image.3  He spent time with them each day, walking and talking.  That is the heart of the Father!  It’s a commitment of love that allowed Jesus to walk through a tortuous death and resurrection in order to reestablish a pathway of relationship with us!

We need fathers!  We need YOU, Dads! 

We don’t need you to be perfect but present!  We need fathers who will:

  • Listen to silly jokes and never-ending stories
  • Paint fingernails and toenails while sipping imaginary tea
  • Toss baseballs and practice dance moves
  • Schedule son events and daughter dates
  • Celebrate successes and rising from failures
  • Work elbow to elbow in chores and homework
  • Be teachable yet confident, kind yet firm
  • Demonstrate generosity, integrity, and faith
  • Lead, honor, and love through every season

I know, that’s a tall order, isn’t it?  But the payoff is without comparison! “The father of a righteous one rejoices greatly. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him.” (Proverbs 23:24 TLV)  How does a father end up with a righteous and wise child?  By following the example of the Father of fathers!  What makes God a good, good Father?  He is loving, kind, compassionate, faithful, wise, merciful, generous, and oh, so, patient! 

You may be thinking, but He is perfect and I am not.  That’s true, but… His perfect love can flow through you–a less than perfect–but teachable father!  Trust that He loves you enough to give you all that you need to be the dad your family needs!

Dads, don’t shy away from your role!  Fathers are an integral part of God’s plan for healthy families a necessary foundation for healthy communities!  Not only do biological and blended families need their dads, but there are emotionally hungry children who need adopted dads, and spiritual orphans who long for spiritual dads.  Allow the Father’s love and character to flow through you to the next generation!  Your investment will bring dividends that far outlast your life here on earth!

Live Loved,

I’m immensely proud of this amazing man! He loves deeply and well. He is teachable and generous! I am ever so thankful for this Dad and my own Dad & Dad-in-Love! <3

P.S. It’s fascinating to learn about how young bull elephants act when the male role models are missing from their lives: https://youtu.be/5gsNjI99eFE

1Good, Good Father by Christ Tomlin, Songwriters: Anthony Brown / Pat Barrett

2The Fatherless Generation: https://thefatherlessgeneration.wordpress.com/about/

3Genesis 1:26-27, 2:7

#thankful

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Have you noticed the new t-shirt trend?  Sure, there are still the sassy ones out there: “Sarcastic comment loading,” or “What makes you think I care?”  But there is also a wave of t-shirts available now that celebrate… celebrate strong girls, celebrate world changers, and celebrate positive attitudes: #thankful, #gratefulheart, #blessed, #spreadkindness.  As a teacher, I see the trend and I’m loving it.

When life is tough, your attitude can make or break your day! 

A few days ago, I {finally} relaxed on a massage table as I used the gift card my husband gave me last Christmas.  As the therapist started working on the knots in my shoulders, I actually had to work at calming my mind and letting go of my “To-do” list as well as my “Problems to solve” agenda.  As I listened to the soothing music, I began to talk to the Lord.  I thanked Him for my job, even though it’s stressful.  I thanked Him for my home, even though it needs some upkeep.  I thanked Him for our cars, even though the payments are coming due.  I thanked Him for my family, even as I wondered how I was going to budget Christmas.  I thanked Him for His goodness, even though I know I don’t deserve it.

By the time the therapist got to my hands, I felt overwhelmed with thankfulness!  But this thankfulness was different. I was thankful for simply having all 10 of my fingers!  I began to think of not just what I have, but also what I don’t have… an insurance claim for a house lost to a fire, a doctor’s appointments for a terminal condition, or an addiction to manage.  I don’t have empty cupboards or a home infested with pests.  I don’t have to visit a family member in jail today or a missing loved one to file a police report on.

Is life perfect?  Not for anyone!  But if I don’t choose thankfulness, what’s left to choose from?  Complaining, whining, bitterness, self-pity, jealousy.  None of those sound particularly pleasant.  In fact, all of those attitudes will make me a less than enjoyable person to be around.  Don’t get me wrong, sometimes we need to “vent” to an understanding ear.  But if we stay in that place of perpetual complaining, our attitude {and facial expression} will scream #sourpuss, no t-shirt necessary!

The other day, my friend said, “We can complain ourselves right out of a victory!”  That statement was an eye opener for me!  The reality is that life feels like a battle at times.  What will my battle cry be?  #whyme? #Idon’tdeservethis! #lifeisnotfair!  These battle cries will lead to discouragement and failure.  Our battle cries should be declarations of victory! #Icandothis #blessed #Godisgood #endurewithgrace #thankful!

I am thankful!  I have the best Dad ever!  He is a faithful God and trustworthy Father.  Even when life sends me spinning, I know that He has me in the center of His Hand.  If you need that same confidence, turn your face heavenward!  God created you and He loves you!  He IS love!  He has good things in store for those who trust Him!  Hebrews 12:28 in the Passion translation says, “Since we are receiving our rights to an unshakeable kingdom we should be extremely thankful and offer God the purest worship that delights His heart as we lay down our lives in absolute surrender, filled with awe.”  Your right to an unshakeable kingdom comes when you acknowledge God as your Father, Healer, Deliverer, and Savior!

#extremelythankful

Please comment and share what you are most thankful for today!

Live loved!

P.S. My husband just walked in and told me what the chickens are thankful for: they are not turkeys! 🙂

One Word…

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As the clock ticks towards midnight… not just any midnight, but the end of 2017… I confess, I’m excited!  Not to see 2017 end, but to see 2018 begin!

For the past few years, I’ve embraced the One Word Challenge… asking the Lord to give me a word to characterize the upcoming year.  It’s a word that would reflect what the Lord wants to do in and through me during this season. (I gave up on New Year’s resolutions a long time ago!)  My sweet friend, Deanna Shrodes, writes more about the One Word Challenge.

For 2017, the word He gave me, “training” wasn’t too exciting!  But quickly the Lord confirmed in my heart that this was His word for me and why.  Now, looking back over the past year, I can see where I’ve been trained and had the opportunity to train.  The result has been growth in many areas of my life!  There is value in what has transpired in my life and I am so thankful!  Yet, I’m ready to embrace the new things the Lord has for me!

“But forget all that—it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.
For I am about to do something new.  See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.”       Isaiah 43:18-19 (NLT)

Last Sunday, I realized how close we were to the end of the year and I reminded the Lord that I needed a word for 2018. Suddenly, I felt Him drop a word in my spirit with a kiss on my forehead!  Truly, the Lord holds precious gifts for us and is just waiting for us to pause and listen!

After this “mic drop” moment, I meditated on the word the Lord gave me for 2018.  Immediately, I searched for a Scripture to confirm the word.  I can’t help but smile and feel His favor on me for this new season.  (Cliff hanger… I’m not going to share the word yet!)

What about you?  Have you had it with resolutions that have rotted away?  Are you ready for a fresh approach to a new year?  Steal away for a few moments and seek His face.  Ask Him to whisper His heart into yours.  What word can you embrace for your new season?  Set your sights towards how He will move in and through you in 2018!

“Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise His holy name.
Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things He does for me.
He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.
He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!” Psalm 103:1-5 (NLT)

I would love hearing the word the Lord gives you, so please share!  I’ll share mine too… soon!

Live loved!

Don’t Write on Yesterday’s Page

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There’s something exciting about “new.”  Imagine that feeling of popping open the fresh box of pointed crayons, smelling that new car scent, opening an untouched jar of peanut butter, pulling out a new pair of jeans.  New is adventurous!  New is refreshing!  New is an untouched opportunity!

Maybe you’ve heard someone say, “I can’t wait for the new year, I’m ready to be done with this one!”  We celebrate each January 1st as a new beginning and a fresh start. It represents an untouched opportunity to explore, grow, and change.

But why wait?  By waiting for the close of the official calendar to evoke freshness in our lives, we are missing the blessing of each new day!  Too often we wake up in the morning just to have our minds flooded with the happenings of yesterday… missed opportunities, frustrated moments, forgotten commitments, harsh words…  all stains that should stay with yesterday but are allowed to bleed into today.  Don’t begin today by writing on yesterday’s page. Each new day is a new beginning.  You were designed to open to a fresh page when your eyes embrace the morning light!

The Prophet Jeremiah experienced loss, anger, and frustration, yet he reminded himself (and us), “The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning.” (Lamentations 3:22-23, NLT)

What are these mercies that are new for us each morning?

His faithfulness-Isaiah 30:18, I Thessalonians 5:23-24

His unconditional love-Psalm 103:11, I John 4:9-10

His forgiveness-Micah 7:18-19, I John 1:9

His strength-Isaiah 40:28-31, Philippians 4:13

His grace-Psalm 84:11, Romans 5:20-21

His peace-Psalm 29:11, John 14:27

As you step into your new day, what is it that you need today… His faithfulness, love, forgiveness, strength, grace, peace? All of those things? Me too!  And they are all found in our Savior!  He is never further than a whisper away!  Don’t wait for a new year to gain a fresh beginning; start each day with a new page!

Don’t stop there though, as you experience God’s faithfulness, love, and forgiveness, extend those gifts to the others in your life! Offer forgiveness that isn’t requested; give grace to those who offend; show kindness that is undeserved.  Freely you have received it, so freely give!

Our Father is a God of new beginnings!  He promises to forget our mistakes and help us clean up our messes.  Our eyes and feet point forward because that is how God designed us to move… forward into what He has for us today without clinging to the stains of yesterday.  Let each day unfold on a fresh page, purified and ready to reflect God at work in you and me.

Live Loved, because you are!

Please share your thoughts in the “reply” box or by clicking on the bubble by the title!

Obey, Adore, Pursue

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The first Friday in December is our Women’s Tea at Freedom International Church!  It’s one of those events that the ladies, 6 years old and up, wait for all year long.  There’s lots of singing, laughter, gifts, fellowship, and food!  At this year’s tea, Pastor Sarah shared these anointed thoughts with us and they touched my heart.  I asked her to write them down to share with you!  So, I’m excited to introduce guest blogger, Pastor Sarah Lehmann, to you!  Pastor Sarah has an amazing way of speaking life and encouragement to those around her.  When you talk with her, you feel like the most important person in the room!  She is an anointed woman of God, wife, mother, and friend.  May her words lift you up, encourage you, and challenge you as they did me.

Obey, Adore, Pursue

December’s airwaves are filled with notes of joy and words of truth as carols proclaim our Savior’s Birth!  Christmas is a time of celebration like no other… filled with sharing, friends, family, and traditions. Luke’s account of the birth of Jesus can almost seem common place during this season.  But His birth was anything but a common place!  As I meditated on the approaching season, my heart longed for fresh revelation.  It was with this mindset that I considered some of those figures in our Nativity scene.  What do their actions teach us today?

Mary… she demonstrated unquestioning obedience even in the hard things. Mary’s decision to obey came at a great cost.  We can only imagine the stigma, being unmarried and with a child, she faced in the culture of her day.  When Gabriel revealed to Mary her destiny, she didn’t ask for guarantees or affirmation.  She simply obeyed.  Mary received no applause for her obedience.

An opportunity to obey in the ‘hard’ things, is also an opportunity to see with eyes of faith without looking for affirmation or applause from others.  From our obedience to God, we derive a fulfillment greater than any applause that comes from men. We obey because we love the Father and we have a deep, meaningful, and abiding sense of fulfilled purpose as a part of His plan.  The lesson of Mary: Be willing to be obedient in all things!

 

Shepherds – these people dropped everything. After the angels’ radical announcement, the shepherds were quick to search out and adore Jesus! They left their work… their ‘do-to-list’… and made adoring Jesus their first priority. Life is busy and we all have obligations and priorities that require our time, energy, and attention. In our busy lives, can we be quick to ‘drop’ what we feel is important and run to Him?

God honors our love-gifts of time spent with Him by giving us all that we need in order to accomplish (with joy) the things we had set aside to spend time with Him. The lesson of the Shepherds: Be quick to adore Jesus!

 

Wisemen – those who kept seeking Jesus.  The Wiseman were wealthy, had influence and were most likely very comfortable. Yet they chose to search long and far to find Jesus.  They endured all kinds of weather, rough roads, wrong directions, and threats from an insanely jealous king. But in the end, they found Jesus!  They never stopped pursuing Him.

Have we become satisfied with a ‘comfortable’ relationship with God?  Has going to church, doing good, and even daily devotions developed into a spiritually sedentary lifestyle? Let’s never stop seeking the King of Kings.  Let’s not allow storms, rough roads, or threats from the enemy to keep us from actively cultivating and growing our love for Jesus.  And may comfort be a blessing that comes from our increased capacity to love our King! The lesson of the Wisemen: Never stop seeking the King!

Obey, adore, pursue… lessons from the ones who were there on that very first Christmas! Lord, May our hearts be willing to obey You, quick to adore You, and persistent to pursue You!

In Him, Pastor Sarah

Freedom International Church, Pastors Eric & Sarah Lehmann, Wesley Chapel, Florida

 

Thank you, Pastor Sarah, for sharing this encouragement!  You are a blessing!

Joy

Savor the Season!

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year!  November and December usher in wonderful opportunities to reflect on the blessings in our lives as well as the people who make our lives richer!  But as our calendars fill up and our wallets empty, the season seems to slip by much too quickly and on January 2nd, we look in our rearview mirror wondering how it flew by in the blink of an eye!

It feels this way each year for me…  so, I’ve been contemplating…  what can I do, or not do, to treasure the days, value the moments, and capture the pleasure instead of haphazardly racing through the season.

Savor… I’ve decided to purposely savor… savor the preparations, savor the time invested, savor the opportunities, savor the finds, savor the people!

Savoring involves using the 5 senses to experience and appreciate the world around us.

Tasting…  so easy this time of year!  Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa… each involves deliciously prepared foods that we anticipate each year.  But there’s so much more to tasting!  The preparation time and effort going into our food can involve times of cooking together, whipping up cookies with a promising baker, sharing a special recipe with a new family member, inviting the input of someone who usually doesn’t offer it.  Savor the moments of food preparation as well as the food.

Smelling…. Ahhh, at this moment, there’s a caramel pecan candle filling my home with a sense of warmth and delight.  Cinnamon, pine, favorite perfumes, honeyed-ham, all evoking images that bring delight… or maybe not.  Our sense of smell is uniquely connected to our memory.  Sometimes memories can be painful or remind us of loss.  But even those moments have value.  They remind us of past blessings, victories over pain, and anticipation of new memories being made.  Savor the smells and the memories that come with them.

Feeling… Feelings of the heart and feelings of touch are precious opportunities to savor the season!  Whether you live alone or in a houseful of chaos, look for opportunities to encourage others with kind words, thoughtful actions, and genuine affection.  Give to those who don’t expect it and can’t give in return.  Hug instead of shaking hands. Offer soft answers to those whose stress levels push yours.  Savor the opportunities to be a blessing.

Seeing…  We see with our eyes and envision with our mind.  Savor the people in your life with both!  See who they are and who they are destined to be.  Understand that our loved ones do not always show us their kindest moments yet love embraces the person for who they are not for what they do!  Savor the delight on your loved one’s face as they open a gift from you.  Capture a mental snapshot of an unexpected, serene moment. Delight in the splashes of color uniquely displayed during the holidays.  Savor the sights of your eyes and heart.

Hearing… Close your eyes and hone in on the sounds… the laughter, the music, the greetings, the bells.  Choose to tune out the demands on you that seem so urgent—but can wait.  Sift through the must dos and set them aside for some things you choose to do that bring you joy.  Listen to the words of Christmas Carols, focus on the silly stories your children share, laugh at the joke you’ve heard 10 times before, hear the heart of your loved ones, even if their words don’t match.  Listen carefully, hear with your heart and savor the tune.

Savor the Season! Embrace the moments!  

The new year will come with its demanding schedule, list of responsibilities, and new challenges.  But for now, pause with me to enjoy this season of celebration!  Enjoy the reminder that God loved you so much that He sent Jesus to earth to bring His Kingdom into our hopeless situation.  Thank Him for the blessings of breath in your lungs, food on your table, and sunshine each day. He’s a good, good Father!

Live Loved,

Please share your thoughts in the reply box!

His Celebration, His Way

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  • But that’s the way we’ve ALWAYS done it…
  • We can’t change that, it’s tradition!
  • The way we did it last year is fine; if it’s not broke, why fix it?
  • At our old church (school, office, etc.) we did it this way…

Do any of these sound familiar?  Have you introduced an idea just to have it cast aside in favor of “the way we’ve always done it?” Or are you the one who has been shaken up by the idea of doing something different than you have in the past?

As humans, we are habitual creatures.  We sit in the same seats at church, our morning routines are consistent, and we buy the same spaghetti sauce we always have.  So, when the Holiday season rolls around, it’s not surprising that we tend to celebrate in the same ways, give to the same charities, and attend the same events that we have each year before. There’s something to be said for embracing family traditions that build unity and a sense of stability.  But when traditions hold you captive and stifle growth and change…

It’s time! It’s time to shake things up!  Look for new direction! Explore possibilities that we have ignored till now!  Why?  Simply put, we need freshness in our lives!  We need to see the world around us with a new perspective from time to time!

More clearly, we need to see the world around us with HIS perspective!  After all, it is the Lord that we should be focusing our thanksgiving on…  And it is His birthday that we are celebrating!  Do you think that maybe He has some ideas about what He wants us to do?  Could it be that He has plans for how He wants to spend time with us?

I do!  I think He has some great ideas!  I think He has some people on His heart that He would like us to bless; or maybe He wants us to open our hearts to be blessed by others.  I imagine that He would like to show us some clear ideas of what His heart holds.  I’m thinking that there’s a new song He’d like to hear and a fresh opportunity He’d like to present to you and your family.  But how will we ever know if we are so caught up in doing things the way we always have?  If we are locked into routine and tradition, we leave no opening for the Lord to give us His perspective.

As time marches us towards this special time of year, explore new possibilities!  Embrace fresh perspective, listen for clear direction, and open your eyes to new opportunities!  The Lord is an endless Source of dreams, visions, and ideas!  When you turn your ear in His direction, He will pour out His heart and share His passions!  He will whisper to you the delight He takes in spending time with you and how it blesses His heart when you share His love!

Dive Deeper: Proverbs 2:6-11, Hosea 10:12

 http://day2dayjoys.com/

I could give you some ideas… but I suspect you won’t need my suggestions!

As for me… I’m already feeling inspired to drop some bits of blessing in a new way this year!

Please share your thoughts and ideas to inspire others by clicking on the bubble near the title!

Live Loved,