‘You make known to me the PATH OF LIFE; in YOUR PRESENCE there is FULLNESS OF JOY; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.’Psalm 16:11
Thanks to my audience for your faithfulness in reading my blogs and following me along life’s path. I love hearing your stories as I travel, see your remarks on Facebook or in the comment section. Please feel free to pass along myblog toothers who might find the stories helpful or the questions asked beneficial.
What an inspiration of hope and joy to know that we can be an encouragement to one another, that we are not alone on this journey.
In this Christmas season I am reminded of Matthew 2:10 where we hear the story of the Shepherds, ‘And when they saw the star they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.’
‘And the Psalmist tells us in Psalm 16:11b “In your presence there is fullness of joy.’ Psalm 16:11b
We all have our stories but we are part of God’s bigger story together. Let’s keep intentionally telling our God Stories in Praise to God.
SO AS YOU LOOK BACK OVER 2019 WHAT HAS BROUGHT YOU HIS GREAT JOY?
One joy recently, Jim (my husband) and I returned from a trip to Europe where we were with a group of 75 young leaders where we both spoke on the Theme of “Dwelling” for 6 sessions. Shawna, our daughter, also joined us and spoke. It became a beautiful family affair; not to mention an incredible theme.
What a privilege also to serve the next generation. One of the sessions I spoke on was built around the theme of Dwell from Psalm 84.
‘Blessed are those who dwell in your house (the Lord’s) ever singing your praise, SELAH.’ As I practice sitting in His presence and singing praises to Him, my heart longs to draw others along with me. (Even if I cannot carry a tune).
Christ came down to this earth and dwelt among us in order to offer life and eternal life to all. He is ‘Emmanual’ ‘God with us’! God invites ‘us’ to come into his presence, to dwell with Him. One day we can sit with Him forever.
As we sat with these young leaders from all over the world for 8 days we felt God’s love and affection. We dwelt together in His presence. What a joy to hear their Kairos moments (those epoch moments) with God (His Story in their lives) as well as their respective journeys’ of pain over the last year. They vulnerably allowed us to peep into their beautiful hearts. Do not underestamate the power of skilled listening, sitting in God’s presence together hearing one another’s stories and watch God do the healing.
How can we be present and show God’s love for others if we have not learned to experience His personal presence daily ourselves? This reminds me of another story that still lingers in my mind’s eye with much joy but not without a path of pain.
( *Names are changed to protect the privacy of others.)
“I planted, Apollas watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.” (I Corinthians 3:6-7)
We arrived at this beautiful native resort called “Beehive”,overlooking one of the gorgeous Bohol Beach Coastlines of the Philippines, where the conference that Jim would be speaking at was being held. As I awoke the next morning I remembered that our room had a balcony. It overlooked the clear water before us with its blue and green colors.
The sea sat still, resembling as a picture of my feelings of peace and quietness before the Lord. So many good memories of our days in the Philippines rumbled my brain in thankfulness to God. This moment allowed us the opportunity to come back here again after so many years. We had lived on this same island for thirteen years.
Later that day we soaked up the moment and memories thanking the Lord. Some delicious mixed fresh fruit, like sweet mangoes, papayas, bananas and others greeted us for our breakfast. Nothing like fresh tropical fruit!
Then we proceeded to our first meeting session. As we walked in, Melinda*, my aerobic exercise coach from 17 years earlier, stood leading in worship along with a whole worship team.
When we lived and served on this island, I had joined Melinda’s* exercise class with one other friend whom had just become a follower of Christ at that time. We decided to take this class so that the two of us could work not only on our health, have time together as friends to grow in God but also so I could teach my friend Sharon* how to share her new found faith. I love making friends and connecting them with others but especially introducing them to my best friend Jesus Christ.
During our year with Melinda*, our team also used her place for a children’s ballet recital. Our kids along with neighborhood children had a ballet class at her place. The last day of the class, we invited the parents and friends to come to see an “end of the year” performance. We wanted our own kids to have as normal a life away from the States as possible, since this was our home now. We didn’t want them to feel like they were missing out on anything if we ever went back to the US for any reason. We wanted to use anything we could to build relationships with the community too. We were thankful for Melinda* to let us use her place to host this event.
Melinda* and her husband had not met Jesus personally when we left some 17 years ago. We had grown a great friendship relationship with them. We went out to eat, went to movies, invited them to Bible Study party events etc. We would often have great conversations centered on spiritual things but they weren’t ready to enter a Bible Study group themselves before we left.
As we were leaving the Philippines to come back to the States for good, after 13 years, we introduced them to our other co-workers to continue the friendship. Eventually they did join a Bible Study and soon became followers of Jesus. Today she stood up leading in Worship. Wow! A flood of memories came rushing back from our days on Bohol.
The minute I saw Melinda*, my heart leaped with Joy. I didn’t know she had become a follower of Jesus, through our c0-worker’s Bible Studies so to see her up front leading us in songs to Jesus it brought tears of joy to my heart in praise to the Lord. To hold my tears back I immediately went to the rear of the room to be with Jim. The Lord said, in my mind, you should just go over there and share it with her.
As I approached her after the worship time was over, I hugged her and expressed my delight to the Lord and the reasons for my tears. She hugged back and we wept together. It was a God moment indeed, in celebration to Him for what He had done in the lives of two people, hers and mine, many years ago until now.
After a few moments of this she looked at me and said, “It was you Sterling that planted the 1st seeds of Christ in my heart when you asked me a question at exercise class, do you remember?”
No!” “What?
You said, Do you realize the words of your music you play each day in class? Or Do you pick the music for the beat?
At that moment I remembered asking her that question but forgot the rest of the story. However, not for long because she proceeded to tell me what happened next. In asking her this question my hope was to find out where her heart was for spiritual things and then have a point of entry later for a conversation that might lead to things of God.
She said:
Sterling, after you asked me that question, I went home, listened and realized all was on sex and lust. It got me to thinking about my life and God. It was soon after that I joined the Bible Study and came to know Jesus as my personal Savior.
We both gave glory to God….
We often don’t see the Lord’s Fruit from our service to Him. Some plant, some water, but God gets the glory. God was kind enough for us to see the fruit and He got the glory!
The apostle John says,
that there isn’t any greater joy than to see my children growing. (I John)
I can relate to the apostle John again on that day after seeing Melinda*. There are many Sterling’s, Co-Workers and Melinda’s out there, some plant, some water but God gets the glory. So don’t lose heart! God doesn’t miss a beat and uses all. Loving, being present in listening to people, and asking good questions to draw out what is in people’s hearts, the Holy Spirit can use even when we don’t know it. Keep looking to Him as your author and finisher of your faith, as you go toward people and serve others well. May you point them to your best friend Jesus.
PERSONAL REFLECTIONS: What thoughts stirr within you as you read this story? Can you expound them? How are you connecting to people to make the place you are serving home and share Jesus? How are you walking alongside of others? Please share any comments.
From One Pilgrim to another together on the journey,
“Consider how you may spur one another on towards love and good deeds….. encouraging one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)
27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; (I Corintians 1:27)
INTRODUCTION About the time I started to feel the heat of the lions den, in walks Debbie! Here was someone who was considered a nobody in the eyes of most people around her. Never meeting Debbie before that day I would have thought the Red Sea had just parted. I felt “The Spirit of God was with her”. Debbie’s presence transformed the atmosphere in the room and my grandmother’s attitude. Wow. Who is this woman?
Afterwards Debbie told me “Well, the first day after I came home from being with your grandmother, I told my husband I wasn’t going back to work for that woman. He asked me a few questions and after hearing my reasons said, “okay, but have you prayed about it first?” That was all he had to say. I was convicted as I told him I hadn’t.”
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MY GRANDMOTHER, MAMAMA & DEBBIE….
During the Great Depression, my grandparents worked hard and through much difficulties and uncharted choices made it rich by most standards. This hard earned wealth created a perception that her family had this unspoken standard to measure up to. When my dad didn’t always live up to it, it wasn’t pleasant around my family. Often their attitudes were imputed onto us kids, too. I never felt totally accepted by my grandparents, but in some strange way I respected them and knew they loved us even if it wasn’t always demonstrated in ways I would have preferred or understood.
I am thankful for my grandparents (Nananer (Na-na-ner) and Mamama (Ma-ma-ma) for many good memories, During my elementary years we would often spend, Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners with them. During Easter time, they also invited us to their beach house.
My Grandfather built a tree house in the woods for us to enjoy. I loved exploring and climbing around their home. I believe God used them, to also plant a seed, of my love now, for tennis. But at the time I didn’t want anything to do with it
Even with a disfunctional family I knew I was part of something bigger than just my immediate family. With my grandparents, parents and siblings, I felt a sense of belonging, family, hospitality, and community. But I wouldn’t understand it all till years later.
After Nananer died due to kidney failure, my grandmother missed him, of course, but as she aged she became “harder” on the inside. She had much to contend with and lived with a lot of loneliness even though she knew many people. Mamama felt like she still had a reputation to live up to.
This world Mamama created did not easily permit me to feel accepted for who I was. I didn’t dress the way she thought I should. I became a follower of Jesus, went to a Christian college, married a Yankee and served overseas as a missionary. Each decision was contrary to her ideals or expectations for me.
One of the qualities Mamama had was her strong disposition. She didn’t back down for anyone! I think I inherited some of that tough hide. “Shhhhhh! No comments.”
After being overseas for many years, married and with kids, we came home from living in Asia on home ministry (furlough) for a year when I went to visit Mamama. Mamama was now up in years and we didn’t know how long she would live so this visit was very important. I picked up a gift for her like Jacob presented to Esau before he saw his estranged brother. Like, Jacob didn’t know how Esau would respond to him, I didn’t know what reaction I would get from my grandmother. I was apprehensive.
I also asked God to go before me like Moses had asked God.
As I arrived I met Debbie, this sweet African-American lady who was now one of the primary care-givers for my grandmother. She took me upstairs to see Mamama. My aunt was there, my father’s sister. I took my youngest daughter too, since she had never met her great grandmother. All seemed to be going well.
Until my aunt and Grandmother took the conversation in a direction I didn’t want to go. I wanted to honor my grandmother but the direction turned more difficult and critical. This was not something I wanted my daughter to hear.
About the time I started to feel the heat of the lions den, in walks Debbie! You would have thought the Red Sea had just parted. Never meeting Debbie before that day, I felt “The spirit of God was with Her”. I felt His presence when Debbie walked into the room. Amazing! Debbie’s presence transformed the atmosphere and my grandmother’s attitude. The rest of our visit was unusually pleasant. Wow! Who is this women?
I knew Mamama’s bent was prejudice toward blacks, which was common in the south in her day. But it was the 1990’s, yet in some ways she had not changed with the times. So I was surprised by the love Debbie was showering on my grandmother. And my grandmother was receiving it!
I found out later Debbie knows Jesus. He was making a difference through her life.
God can use what the world thinks as foolish to confound the wise.
The Israelites in the book of Joshua were now waiting outside Jericho on the otherside of the Jorden where they were told by God to take possession of the land. This city had strong defenses.
In Numbers13-14, we see the Israelites wandering in the wilderness for 40 years because the people disobeyed, listening instead to the 10 spies out of 12. The 10 giving the ‘majority report’ saw themselves as grasshoppers and the people in the Promise Land as giants. Now many years later, God’s people and Joshua are about to enter the Promise Land facing this big city. How will they view themselves? Did they learn the needed lessons?
Joshua was one of the origianal 12 spies, He did not see giants. How will Joshua, as the new leader, some 40 years later, lead the Israelites to trust God forward to destroy Jericho?
Joshua decided to send in 2 people not 12 to spy out the land before attacking it. He had learned a valuable lesson. The two spies met Rahab, a prostitute.
The 2 spies found out from Rahab, how God had gone before, creating fear in the hearts of the Canaanites. Rahab wanted to believe in their God.
She, too, was considered a nobody! Rahab demonstrated her faith by hiding these 2 spies from her own people. She helped them escape even in the evident danger of possible death.
[https://archive.org/details/rahab_the_harlot[/]( by Ky Baptist)
I don’t know about you but sometimes I feel like a nobody. “How can I help” I am just one person and what’s in front of me seems so daunting.
The Spirit of God had gone before Joshua and the people into Jericho even before the two spies arrived. They were guided to Rahab. She responded in faith. Can you think of a time where you felt the Spirit of God working?
I cannot remember the time table of life but not much later, maybe two years, we came back from living overseas when Mamama took her last breath.
I was not looking forward to going to the funeral. I was sad not knowing where Mamama would be spending eternity. She never wanted anything to do with followers of Jesus, and their Lord even though she was a faithful church goer.
Mamama felt Jesus was a crutch and thought she lived just fine. When she died her requests were only a graveside service and no flowers. No one was allowed to give any testimonies about her apart from her pastor. I so wanted to share some of my good memories but no opportunity was presented.
As Mamama’s Minister gave her Eulogy, I thought I was at the wrong graveside service. He didn’t really represent the grandmother I knew. Very impersonal and depressing!
I was feeling guilty too, all I could think of was hurtful things I felt she had imputed on me and others I loved. Of course I am praying and asking God to help me with a better attitude and some kind of hope that I could walk away with through the service. But I wasn’t finding anything!
As I was praying, however, I saw Debbie, the caregiver. I made a mental note I would connect with her after the service was over.
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“Debbie, Debbie, hi, I don’t know if you remember me but I am one of my grandmother’s, granddaughters, Sterling”?
“Yes, I remember you.”
“Do you know who was with my grandmother in her final moments and how she died? ”
“I and Gladis, (the maid) were with her.”
“Really, would you mind taking the time to tell me about it”?
“Sure” she said with a soft smile. As everyone left, Debbie took the next hour to share as we walked the graveside together.
“When I came to work for your grandmother, after one day I knew I did not want to work with that lady! When I was a little girl, my aunt worked for this old critical prejudice rich lady and after I saw what that lady did to my aunt I vowed as a little girl I will never wipe the “butt” of any white rich old woman with that kind of attitude, if life depends on it.“
“Well the first day after I came home from being with your grandmother, I told my husband I wasn’t going back. He asked me a few questions and after hearing my reasons said “okay but have you prayed about it first?” That was all he had to say. I was convicted as I told him I hadn’t. ”
“I then said I would let him know in the morning. I couldn’t sleep all night. The next morning when I woke up, I knew God had called me back to take care of your grandmother. I realized she needed Jesus and God wanted me there to tell her. I didn’t know how but I knew God wanted me to go there and show her first His love by loving her.”
“Over the months leading up to her death, I processed each person in the family with her. I started with each grandchild and then up to your dad and mom. With each person I pushed and pushed with questions until her straw man of what she had fixated about them could not be justified and she had to forgive them.”
“She would get so mad but when she got quiet I knew God had gotten through to her core. God gave me the courage because she could have fired me but didn’t. God was working in her heart.“
“The day she died, Gladis and I were bathing her when she was asking us to hurry. “
“Hurry, Hurry,” she kept yelling. We didn’t understand why the rush. But, she wanted us to dress her fast and have her ready.
I realized as we were finishing her up it wouldn’t be long before she would die, her feet were getting blue and it was going up her leg. It would soon hit her heart and she would be dead.
As the last piece of clothing was on her, she looked at me and asked very sincerely, “Debbie, will God accept me into Heaven?”
“I said Caroline, God has always accepted you, the question is will you accept him?”
“What must I do?” She said.
“You know what to do. We have talked about it before. You must ask him to forgive you and surrender yourself to him believing what He did for you on the cross. He died so you could have eternal life. He is your Lord and loves you very much!
She paused and then set up with strength I didn’t know she had and said,
“Okay Lord please forgive me!” As her arms went up in the air and then she laid back down.”
“As I looked into her eyes there was a glow on her face like I had never seen before. She was so calm and peaceful. When she turned and looked up at me and said,
“Debbie…. Thank you!” She smiled… and closed her eyes and died”.
All of a sudden Gladis and I felt a breeze in the room, even with all the doors and windows closed. With Gladis on one side of the bed and I on the other between your grandmother, we stood frozen staring at each other, tears streaming down both of our cheeks, on what felt like holy ground.
Later as we talked, we both confirmed the air felt was God’s spirit taking your grandmother up to heaven. “
Wow! I, too, sensed God’s presence and God’s delight in my spirit as she told the story of her time with my grandmother. This is the hope I came for.
After giving Debbie a great big hug, I looked at Debbie with tears in my eyes now, and said “Thank you for heeding God’s call in your life. For being there for my grandmother even when she wasn’t so nice to you. Thank you for taking time to share this forever loving memory etched in my heart.”
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“Thank you Lord for Debbie. For answering my prayers! For letting me hear this story Lord, in redeeming my grandmother’s life before she died.”
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Debbie, was weak before the world but mighty before God, like Rahab where God chose to put both on assignment for His Kingdom work. Debbie with my grandmother and Rahab for the 2 spies, the Israelites, and her family.
PERSONAL REFLECTIONS: What about this story either Rahab, Debbie or my grandmother resonated with your heart? What made both Debbie and Rahab step up to accept their tasks? How might history have been different without their courageous faith? Would love to hear your thoughts in the comment section …
From One Pilgrim to another together on the journey,
“Consider how you may spur one another on towards love and good deeds….. encouraging one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us. (Ephesian 3:20)
A family member told us on Monday that a pastor friend called him last Friday night. The pastor was so upset and distraught, not knowing what to do. He needed a close friend to sort things out, and pray with him and needing some wisdom on what to do next.
After our family member got his pastor friend all calmed down, the pastor friend told the story about how his wife’s mother, who had died unexpectedly. When his wife had heard the news she broke down and cried. He had never seen his wife so discouraged. This pastor friend loved his wife so much that he was willing to do anything to help his wife get through this.
They had just finished making arrangements at the funeral home and were on their way home. As they were nearing their home, they approached a corner stop sign. Here the couple saw a group of teenage kids, trouble makers, that they knew from their neighborhood. The kids were yelling and fighting with each other and as people in their cars stopped at the stop sign the kids would antagonize, the onlookers.
When the pastor and his wife stopped these kids started giving them a hard time, too. This pastor was going to get out of there as fast as he could, thinking it best to ignore them. But there were too many cars in front of them that delayed desired get-out-of-there.
Finally, the wife rolled her window down, not able to hold in her anger any longer, after the way her day had gone. She started screaming out the window, “You don’t want to mess with me today, this is not a good day, so stop fighting and get out of here!”
Among other things, about the time she started talking someone decided to report the incident. A police officer just happened to be strolling past in his car as well at that same time. It didn’t look good.
He saw what was happening and arrested the teenage kids and the “pastor’s wife” as well! The pastor tried to tell the police officer who he was and what was happening but the officer wouldn’t listen. He arrested her on inciting and possibly causing a fight. If he arrested the teenagers yelling, he had to arrest her too, for responding out of her car with like manner.
The husband wasn’t able to go with the police officer. Being late Friday night his wife would have to go to jail. The pastor called the police station to see about getting her out but he would have to wait until tomorrow or Monday to talk to anyone who would have any kind of authority to get her out.
This is when he called our family member, who prayed with his pastor friend. Our family member was willing to go down with him the next day to help get this pastor’s wife out. This was about all that could be done that night. So they waited till morning.
The next morning, our family member found out that his pastor friend didn’t sleep at all the whole night. He worried about his wife, all night! He remembered the state of her from earlier that day. How upset she was with her mother just dying, the teenagers and now being put in jail all night. He assumed this would send her over the top.
After entering the jailhouse the next day and doing all the necessary paperwork, his wife was able to be released. As she walked out she was smiling and laughing and hugging all the people who were in prison with her and the guards, as she said her good-byes.
What was going on!
She told him that when she got there she was put in jail with about 11 young girls. Because she was older then all these girls and a pastor’s wife they all started coming to her one by one, talking to her throughout the night with their problems. She was able to share Christ with them in the process. She had become like a mother or good big sister to them.
When she found out one of them had a birthday, too, she rallied the officers to get a birthday cake and they celebrated this girl’s birthday in the cell. She had won the hearts of all these young ladies and they loved her, as well as the guards. How many pastor’s wives get thrown into jail as a way to minister?
Here her husband was up all night worrying and she in jail rejoicing and being used by God! Sounds like the apostle Paul when he was in jail singing and the jailer got saved and the church was up all night praying.
God opened up an opportunity for her to share and she took it. Are you looking for opportunities? Are you praying for these kinds of opportunities? God is ready to open up the door when He knows you are ready to walk through it.
From One Pilgrim to another together on the journey,
“Consider how you may spur one another on towards love and good deeds….. encouraging one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)
2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Col 3:2-3)
Our Family would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas from our Home to yours! Whatever is your life’s journey remember God love’s you so much that He sent His Son as a baby, Jesus (Emanuel With US), who lived, died, and rose from the dead, so that we might have life and life more abundant, eternal life.
May He encourage your heart and help you remember what is important even when things might not be as you expected or would like. And be thankful for the things that you do have. Stop and reflect how God has blessed you then pray about ways to bless others. You are blessed to be a blessing.
As I think of Christmas my heart often is drawn to various people from around the world or people around me who are less fortunate or broken, in need of Christ. People, who may not have a family to spend Christmas with or even heard the name of Jesus. How can I bless?
So what is it like for many overseas Gospel workers to be away from one’s mom, dad, siblings, “back home”, all that is familiar, especially at Christmas and find oneself living in another culture?
Many workers around the world and you may be one, too, wrestle with such conflicting thoughts. I was reminded of this the other day when I read an article in alifeoverseasblog.com “Tis the Season of Incongruity” by Marilyn on December 9, 2018. She helped put into words how one might feel this time of year. She stuggles with it, too, like many of you might.
The beauty of Christmas we often experience over against the hopelessness and brokeness of one’s reality around them gives us time to pause and think of those less unfortunate. Marilyn said “And yet, God’s story has always been a story of conflicting images…..God came into a world of contrasts. A world of the beauty and the broken….. I cannot make sense of this world but He can.” She concludes with
“The words of a Christmas carol”, where she said “I rest in these words”
Come, Thou long expected Jesus Born to set Thy people free; From our fears and sins release us, Let us find our rest in Thee. Israel’s strength and consolation, Hope of all the earth Thou art; Dear desire of every nation, Joy of every longing heart.” 1
Jesus, the True and only one God is the Hope of One’s Faith that satisfies the longing of the human heart. He is the key to the joy that makes sense of life’s incongruences.
I was in my early 20’s when I experienced my first Philippines, Christmas where we moved and would spend the next 13 years calling the province of Bohol home. Recently I found an article (update newsletter) I wrote from that time period. To my surprise it got published. As I read it again it was fun to reflect back on those early days in mission service in Asia. How did I handle that first Christmas away from what I knew to be home, before the Philippines became that place too? Maybe you can relate.
“Christmas time can be one of the hardest times for many missionaries especially when you are 10,000 miles from family. We found that by giving to those around us, we were able to see people brought together. I asked myself. “What am I giving of myself to make this the best Christmas ever for those I love and I am ministering to-like Christ gave of Himself to me?”a
Taking the advice of a friend, we had brought our own Christmas tree (4 ft Tall) with us from the States to our new home in the Philippines. Having it really helped us feel like we had a bit of “home” with us.
Reaching out to other” team-mates “was my next step. I had surprise gifts made for them and then packaged “native-made” gifts to send to our family in the United States.
On Christmas night, we got together with” some of the believers we were serving, “gave them gifts, sang Christmas songs, and presented the Christmas story. In giving to others, we were able to lose some of our home-sickness. We are very thankful for the ministry God has given us to these special people. “2
From the article even in my early 20’s I loved traditions, people, family and opportunities to express and reflect Christ to others. Also I looked for ways to give back to Jesus by giving to others in need.
This year I was given a gift for a free class with Coach Marcia Ramsland (https://organizingpro.com “Simplify Your Holiday Season This Year: Overcome Season Stress with a Plan” .3 Even as a Life Coach myself I still need and love to be coached.
So Marcia stressed the importance of giving time and space for our hearts so it got me thinking about what I might want to cut back on or what I might add to make sure my heart is prepared to serve others during this season. The point is to keep my heart on track with Jesus and the values important to me in the midst of the culture in which we live that doesn’t always lift Jesus up as the reason for the season.
Of course every year is different, so I have been reminded to simplify my Christmas to what I can fit in with whatever schedule given, saying yes to some things and saying no to others.
With all the traveling this year, unlike other years, and with all our children coming this year to celebrate Christmas with us, having Marcia’s class and coaching has helped me stay focused. To keep the main thing the main thing. Her coaching has allowed me to be able to be ready for Christmas both inside and out with much less stress and more time to feel relaxed and be ready for my family coming.
She encouraged us to put Jesus at the top of our Christmas gift list of people to get gifts for. “What can you do for Jesus this year?”. Almost the same question I asked myself in my early 20’s in the Philippines that first Christmas there.
So one thing we did this year was clean the house by getting rid of Christmas ornaments, clothes, etc… we didn’t want anymore but others could use.
We found an organization, “Global Charitable Resource” 4 who provide resources to those who are involved in changing the world. They also provide resources to those in diaspora communities and people around the world who might have greater needs at this time of the year.
Jim also preached a sermon last Sunday on “When Heaven and Earth Meet” on the characters in Luke 1 and 2. This study helped us stop and reflect in a deeper way into the lives of those God tells us about when HE (Jesus) was born into this world many years ago. Today He is still using us to tell His story in the midst of life’s messes.
Can you stop for a moment and reflect on where your heart is this Christmas if you haven’t yet? Seek to feel his presence then ask: what do I need to give up and what gift can I give Jesus this year? It is not yet too late!
PERSONAL REFLECTIONS: Where are you this Christmas? How is this Christmas different for you than before? What traditions enhance your season and enrich your life and faith? What can you do this year to make it more simple and less stressful? What ways can you give a gift to Jesus? Would love to hear some of your journey at the end of the section on “Merry Christmas 2018”
From One Pilgrim to another together on the journey,
“Consider how you may spur one another on towards love and good deeds….. encouraging one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)
One extra resource to encourage your heart during this Christmas season. 12-days-of-christmas-an-audio-devotional by Josh Davis, Founder of Proskuneo Ministries.
As I went to the ladies meeting my heart weighed heavy with one of my child’s life choices. I had joined “Moms in Prayer” for many years to intentionally pray for our ‘prodical’ child. I had seen many prayers answered over the years that gave me hope God was still working in my son’s life. But no matter how long I prayed he still wasn’t surrendering to the Lord. My heart grieved. Even though I came with continued hope that day, that my son would find his way back to our Heavenly Father, little did I know what God would do in my heart.
Linda*, our speaker for the day, met Jesus out of the Hippy era, and had this amazing spiritual gift of evangelism. She was a beautiful, sweet spirited lady, with a spunky personality, and a tender heart toward God. Linda had us laughing and crying all at the same time, as she spoke about how God moved as she stepped out to share Christ. (more…)
Whatever your life’s journey or wherever you find yourself this Christmas, remember God love’s you so much He came down as a baby. Jesus, lived, grew in wisdom and stature, died for your sins, and rose from the dead, so that you might have life and life more abundant, eternal life. He was tempted in every way as you are but without sin. (Hebrew 4:15) May He encourage your heart and help you remember what’s important even when things may not be as you expected or would like. You are blessed to be a blessing.
Our Christmas’ have changed since my husband and I’s first one together 37 years ago, but one thread has been a constant for us, to seek to emulate Christ to others around us. For example let me share three thoughts: Patience, Lowering our Expectations, and Memories with Extended Family. A free gift at the end.(more…)
“The heart of man plans his way,but the Lord establishes his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9 (ESV)
When you were young was there a sport or hobby, or a skill you were made to participate in or develop that you didn’t like? Or something you were working hard on but it didn’t turn out the way you felt it should have, wasting all of your time?
When I was young, tennis was something my grandmother and aunt played and desired for me. It was the known game of the “elite” (those with more financial means, usually those with power and influence or privilege). I didn’t consider myself “those people”. I thought, to be “one” of them meant you weren’t friendly to others less fortunate than you.
But because I loved and was taught to respect my grandmother I took the tennis lessons she paid for. I learned the basics of tennis but never really developed my form. Oh how my grandmother would be smiling today if she were to see me. Presently, Jim and I play several times a week. I’ve come a long way since those formative years. (more…)
I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.
(I Corinthians 3:6)
Indie, horrified that she gave birth to a Down Syndrome baby girl, now carried the burden of what people might say about her. On our island, generally the Filipino’s believe if a baby is different in any way it is because the sins of the parents have been passed down to the child. Many parts of the world believe this too.
So when their little girl was born with Down Syndrome, people seemed to talk in the community. They said it was because of Indie’s sins, that God was angry and was passing judgment on her and her family. She was now being ostracized by her own culture.
How would one move in, team up with God and share Christ and His love in this context? (more…)
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesian. 2:10
What is one question you often ask God? Is it, “God do you have a plan for me?”
Each of our lives is a beautiful piece of artwork. Unknown to us, God has been painting our canvas, long before we were even born. Psalm 139:14 tells us “we were created and fearfully, wonderfully knitted together even before we were conceived.”
He has a plan and purpose for all of us. Often people separate who God is from what He does. It is the same! It is seamless. For example: When we say “God is our creator”. We are saying He is God and He is our Master Artist. We can’t separate one from the other.
He is God the Creator: Of all the things He created, we are His masterpieces. He chose us as His signature artwork!. We belong to Him and He is our God. (refer to Ephesians 2:10a above)
He created us for a purpose: First we have to accept and learn God is our loving eternal Father, who loved us so much that he sent His son to die on our behalf, for our sins, and was raised from the dead on the third day in order that we might have life, eternal life. (Easter made alive) He then wants us to live for Him because He has a plan and purpose for our life. (refer to Ephesians 2:10b above) (more…)
