Peace is Coming

 

Hard to believe it is the first Sunday of Advent, 2022!  This year has flown by (as the years seem to do as I get older).  As I reflected on the impact for this Advent season, the word peace came upon my heart repeatedly.  Peace seems to be a word, a feeling, that has been remiss in the world today.  Between different country conflicts, conflicts within country boundaries, financial challenges, and the stress of everyday living, peace seems to be far away. 

Therefore, I thought that a focus on peace for four weeks may help us to look at our lives in a different way, to feel the peace that God had in mind for us.  This verse, from the Old Testament book of Isaiah, prophesizes about the coming of Jesus.  It is here that we see the plan God has for His Son in our world.  The names of Jesus!  I love this verse – the comfort that the words bring – Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Even before Jesus arrived on Earth, God knew what He would bring to us – peace!  Jesus was coming to bring the peace that we are incapable of bringing to ourselves.  Our lives can seem anything but peaceful – filled with the daily activities that take peace away from our soul.  The good news is that when we turn ourselves away from those daily activities, even for brief moments throughout the day, and focus on Jesus, the peace that ONLY He can provide can envelop us.  The peace can pour over us, the peace can rush into our souls and our hearts, the peace can keep us moving through our lives with hope. 

When the days get hectic and we aren’t sure where to go next, let’s stop.  Let’s close our eyes, fold our hands, and talk to Jesus.  Let’s ask for His peace, the peace that only the Prince of Peace can provide.  Simple faith can take hold of that peace that God told us would enter our lives.  May Christmas Peace Last All Year!

Prince of Peace, help us to search for you when life gets hard.  May the peace that only you can provide shower over us with hope and joy.  Amen!

Thanks and Rejoice

 

The days prior to Thanksgiving are filled with activities.  There is the grocery shopping, cleaning, cooking, baking, etc.  The list seems endless and can leave us exhausted before the actual day arrives!  The actual day of Thanksgiving there is the pressure to ensure the meal is ‘just right’.  As we move through Thanksgiving, sometimes it can be difficult to see the ‘thanks’ in anything. 

Reflecting on the busyness of the day, I realized that this has become a reflection of our lives.  Moving from one item on the list to the next to ensure everything is done ‘just right’.  There is no time for relaxing, no time for chatter.  Just movement.  I find the same thing happening at work as I do at home – moving from one item on the list to the next without any time to chatter.  The days fall into weeks, the weeks turn into months and before we know it, we have lost the art of communication.

I am hoping that this Thanksgiving can be different.  I am hoping that this one we can all bring it down a notch and realize the importance of who we are with and what we are thankful for.  When the children were younger, we used to make a ‘Thankful Chain”.  It was paper strips of thanks that were completed each night and hung together as we worked through November.  Seeing thanks through the eyes of a child helps to put life into perspective.

This Thanksgiving, may we have a change of heart, of soul, and of mind.  May we take the time, each day, to thank those around us – from coworkers, to cashiers, to our family members.  May we realize all the little things that they do that passes by us on a regular basis.  May we take the time to say ‘thank you’ to those near and far.

Let us not lose sight of the One that deserves all our thanks, Jesus.  It is because of Him that we can get up each day and rejoice in the goodness.  It is because of Him that we know that even a bad day is a good day when God walks beside us.  It is because of Jesus that we have a direct line to our heavenly home.  For the sunrise, the sunset, and all the minutes in between, take the time to thank our Savior.  Without Jesus, our lives would face damnation.  May we wake up each day, realize it is the day our Lord has made, and be glad – and grateful – for it!  Happy Thanksgiving.

Dearest Jesus, help to remind us to take time to say thank you to those around us, rejoicing in all they bring to our lives.  May we never forget to thank you, Dear Lord, for each day you give us, for it turns Happy Thanksgiving into every day!

Messy Lives

 

I watched a young mother in a store the other day.  It was obvious that she was frustrated with her toddler.  The toddler had knocked down some product and it was all over the floor.  The quick and abrupt reaction by the mother must have startled the child and he was having a bit of a meltdown.  The young mom was struggling with how to react.  She was frustrated.  She was embarrassed.  She had no more patience.  Her head in her hands said it all.

I’ve been there as I’m sure any young parent has been.  Our children can mess things up leading to our frustration and testing our patience.  I thought about this a bit more and there are times when those we care about, young, and old, can mess up our well-orchestrated plans, leaving us angry and frustrated. 

More importantly, there are times when I have been the one messing things up.  My actions disappointed others, and myself.  The combination of daily life and my sinful nature can lead me to not just messing things up with those I care about here on earth, but my messes certainly must disappoint my Heavenly Father.  I can just imagine God looking down upon my life and saying, “Susan, you really messed that one up.”  How many times I have disappointed God?  How many times I have messed up the plans He set for my life?  That list is endless.

Let’s go back to the story of the young mother.  She lifted her head from her hands and looked at her crying toddler.  She caressed his head in her hands and said, “No matter how big the mess, I will always love you.”   She said those words over and over again.  The toddler moved from crying to smiling, and the two cleaned up the mess and were on their way.  It was beautiful.  That is exactly what God does with my messes.  When what I’ve done seems so big and unforgiveable, He reminds me that nothing, no matter how big the mess is, can ever separate Him from me.  He will always love me, for eternity. 

The verse for today is so powerful.  It reminds us that whatever we have done, how grave our sin may be, God is always waiting with open arms and saying, ‘I will always love you.’  This world can be tough.  Our days can be difficult.  Add on the added stress of sin, and it can be overwhelming. Yet, when we go to the open arms of our Lord, He reminds us that we aren’t meant to handle sin on our own.  We are meant to come with contrite hearts to the only One who can forgive our sins and cleanse our souls – Jesus.  With Him as our father, we are guaranteed forgiveness and love – no matter the mess.

Heavenly Father, thank you for loving me, regardless of how large of a mess I have made.  Your open arms and forgiving heart are always there for me.  Thank you for letting nothing come between us.  Amen.

Unexpected Warmth

 

The first weekend of November in New Hampshire.  Typically, we are donning sweaters, flannel and my favorite, hoodies.  Yet, yesterday found us all in shorts and t-shirts as New Hampshire saw record temperatures.  Everyone was outside, walking dogs, clearing leaves, riding motorcycles, and enjoying the warmer weather.  It was definitely unexpected warmth for this time of year.  It felt like a warm hug wrapped itself around New Hampshire towns for the day.  People were basking in the warmer weather as we know the colder days of fall and winter will eventually arrive.

It is so easy to get wrapped up in the details of day to day living.  Making the ‘to do’ lists and then ensuring there are check marks next to each item.  Rushing through errands, making dinner, doing the laundry, cutting the grass, etc.  The list can go on and on.  All of those items do need to be accomplished.  Yet, what if we did them with ‘unexpected warmth.’ 

Unexpected warmth does not have to be left to the weather.  As people here on earth, we can provide unexpected warmth to each other in so many ways.

Ø  A warm smile to the person you are passing in the grocery store.

Ø  Letting another car take YOUR parking spot as you park farther away.

Ø  Sharing flowers with a complete stranger.

Ø  Buying coffee for the person behind you.

Ø  Invite the person eating alone to your table.

Ø  Take time to chat with a neighbor.

The list is endless.  Receiving unexpected warmth is like a hug of kindness.  Giving unexpected warmth feels even better.  We never know the impact our actions will have on others.  What we do know is that God wants us to ‘do good’!  He wants us to be the unexpected warmth in people’s lives.  He wants our actions to permeate others.  When I have shared this concept with people, they have said, “They probably won’t appreciate it” or “They are so negative, nothing will make them smile.”  I simply say, “Have simple faith – trust God”!  He will use our good intentions for greatness.  All we need to do is provide the unexpected warmth.

Heavenly Father, help us to find opportunities to provide unexpected warmth to all people around us.  Help us not to focus on the result, but on the action of doing good!  Let us walk in the steps you have for us.  Amen!