Thanksgiving? Advent? Christmas? Bah Humbug!!

I’m still in the thanks-giving and gratitude-living afterglow. BTW, I’ve loved seeing your Thanksgiving family photos. Beautiful families. Incredible displays of tables set with perfection. But, you may be one saying “Pleassse, no more Thanksgiving talk! No more cozy family photos.” I know not everyone can join the thanks-giving bandwagon!

You may be one not-so-invested in the holidays when it seems everyone else gets their holly-jolly-selves on! They're cheerful, happy, all caught up in their blessing moods while you are in the middle of bailing water out of your boat. You’re holding your breath that one more thing doesn’t capsize your boat and you go under. You may be one who dreads this time of the year as it holds so many memories past and you’re so very lonely. Or it is the season that reminds you that you don’t have very much or nothing at all to buy gifts for others – though you’re a “giver” and it breaks your heart that you can’t give.

I know not everyone is able to get into the “It’s the most wonderful time of the year” singing, dancing and ringing jingle bells or dreaming of a white Christmas. Your hope has been lost from the heaviness of the weight you are carrying. I know that because I know what those weights look and feel like. I’ve been there. Even as I type this blog today, I’m thinking of some dear family members and friends who are carrying, what seem to be, enormous weights of hopelessness.

Here comes the lessons we learn again from Paul the Apostle who had the right to tell us what gratitude and hope looks like because he sure knew heavy weights. He said: “We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Hope does not disappoint us, because God poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, Whom He has given us.” Romans 5:2-5

We can be thankful, even in hardship, because our future is based on God’s love, not on our present situation. We may experience temporary hardships but they all came TO PASS. The phrase “it came to pass” occurs again and again in the Old Testament. “It came to pass” describes events in history and even our own experiences. “It came to pass” reminds us that these tough times are soon over; they come, but they "come to pass." We may not always realize it, but it is always true. I know this scripture is true – I lived it. "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning." (Psalm 30:5) Some of those nights were long, long nights, but they came to pass and they did pass. Wounds heal. Heartbreak mends. Tears cease. A new day dawns. A new sunrise dispels the darkness. Despair loses its hold. Grief is replaced with hope. It came to pass.

Being positive and faith-filled takes discipline. Can I hear a big “AMEN”? We can do this. Gratitude is in us. Let’s not waste this season with worry. Let’s not live in regret. Let’s not miss out on THIS day that He made with you and me in mind. Because this day – came to pass. We’ll never get this day back. And this Advent and Christmas will never come again. This is our opportunity to look up with hope and expectation that something good is about to happen. As we embrace the journey of a young, courageous girl and a supportive, noble man to the town of Bethlehem, may we too, take a journey of faith and hope that “Joy to the World” and joy to you and me dispels the darkness around us and the brightness of the Star of Bethlehem brightens our own little world with hope and joy. Isn’t it worth the effort to take the journey that might change everything?

“This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

Oh, Yes, My Dear – You ARE a Star

At my weekly Bible study group, we were discussing the famous words: “Abram believed the LORD, and He credited it to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6) And then Paul the Apostle added “So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.” (Galatians 3:6,9) Those words pack a punch. Abraham (the father of our faith) continued to believe that indeed he would be a father of many nations and here we are today – one of those stars that God pointed Abraham to when he said, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That's how many descendants you will have!" (Genesis 15:5) Just look at us – we are one of those stars! We are the stars – the descendants – the seeds of Abraham!

Continuing on with our discussions, when I heard those words “His faith was accounted to him as righteousness”, I thought about the faith journey of Abby Johnson’s parents who kept praying and believing for their daughter to come to her senses during the eight years that she worked for Planned Parenthood. I’m sure it seemed hopeless to them as Abby continued to “sell” over 22,000 abortions to women, but they didn’t give up on God and their prayers were answered.

I mentioned to my group, “I know what that kind of faith is all about. You see, my husband and I had that relentless faith when we were believing for his healing from cancer. We refused to believe anything other than his healing. We really weren’t in denial. We were in faith.” But, some would say “But, your husband died. Your prayers weren’t answered.” And I contend that they were answered. He was healed. Maybe that wasn’t what we had believed for, but God’s ways are so much higher than our ways. We believed. Others believed with us from around the world. At the end of the day – no one can say “You didn’t have enough faith!” Oh, we did and look at me, now! I’m stronger in faith than I ever was before. My sweetheart is still alive so big in my heart and helping me help others to believe, to trust God, to live for Him and to serve Him with all their hearts.

And, I say to you, my dear, dear friends – know the prayers you’ve prayed – those gut-wrenching, heartfelt prayers for your children, grandchildren, and loved ones, are still on God’s heart too. Don’t give up! That faith “stand” that you’re taking? Don’t stop standing! I pray that you are filled with the Abraham kind-of-faith that will be accounted to you for righteousness, too! Let your faith vision be one of prayers answered, children coming home, families reunited, and many joy-filled times of celebration! After all – that’s what STARS do – they brighten the sky with the wonders of God’s infinite love and grace.

“And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” Daniel 12:3