Category: Faith

Those two commodities are in short supply these days, aren’t they?

We shouldn’t be surprised. Any time spent paying attention to the news almost surely will include reports of angry, often shouting people, protesting someone or something they’re unhappy with. That’s no surprise. People often disappoint us and let us down. So does life in general, apparently even for the rich and famous.

That inner nagger taunts us continually: Whatcha gonna do about it?

Thanks be, Easter is coming and its meaning can refresh our spirits

The Easter story really began the Friday before. A crowd gathered at a rocky hill outside Jerusalem. They could not look away from the horror unfolding before them. Three rough wooden crosses had been pounded into the rocky ground and three men had been nailed to them.

A few days before–on the day we now call Palm Sunday–Jesus, the man hanging on the center cross, had attracted cheering crowds. Now his life ebbed away as onlookers watched. Most of them had either seen him perform miracles or they had heard the reports. No one else turned water into fine wine or fed huge crowds of people with a few fish and a couple loaves of bread. Jesus stilled the raging storm and walked on water, healed the blind and the lame. Unbelievably, he even raised the dead back to life.

Now this One whom wind and water obeyed appeared to be utterly powerless.

How could this be?

After six hours Jesus drew his final breath of air

The Sabbath would begin at dusk so his followers implored the Roman guards to take his body down from the cross. Then these friends carried his body to a new tomb which had been cut into the side of a hill. They wrapped strips of linen and spices around his body, according to the custom of the times.

As for the religious authorities, they had long felt threatened by Jesus. Now they could breathe a collective sigh of relief. He was out of their way. After all, dead is dead.

It wasn’t long before new concerns filled their minds. What if someone stole his body and then pronounced it yet another miracle? The risk might be small, but these leaders pressured Roman authorities to have a boulder rolled across the tomb’s opening and seal the edges with melted wax. What’s more, armed guards were ordered to stand watch around the clock.

At last the religious leaders could relax and prepare to resume their life of power and position as before.

Then came Sunday, the third day

Just after dawn several followers of Jesus went to his grave at different times. They found the stone rolled away and the tomb empty. All that remained were the strips of linen that had been wrapped around Jesus’ body. The burial cloth that had been around His head lay by itself, neatly folded up. (John 20:5-8.)

What could this mean? Each time an angel or a pair of angels appeared and told them, “He is not here. He is risen!” (Mark 16 and Luke 24)

Only then did they recall that Jesus told them several times that He would rise. Could this be what he meant?

Over the next weeks Jesus, very much alive, appeared to his followers and friends many times. He spoke with them and touched them–and they touched him. He ate with them and told them how much he loved them. Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit, to provide them with power so they could carry on his ministry on earth.

Their lives–and the sureness of their faith–would never be the same.

Thinking it through

God cannot die for any reason because He is eternal, without beginning and without end, therefore Jesus had to be true man. Yet Jesus had to be true God because one man cannot forgive sins or pay the price of sin for the world. Only God. Jesus was truly God and truly man (human).

Read the first few verses in the Gospel of John, which tell us the Word (Jesus) was present when God the Father created the world and everything in it. Jesus, the Son of God, came to earth as the Babe born to Mary in Bethlehem. At age 33, he began his ministry on earth, which culminated in his death on the cross. Three days later, he rose–was alive again, which is why we say he is our living Savior,

All this is beyond our human understanding

Tim Keller expressed that truth this way: “If God were small enough to be fully understood, He wouldn’t be big enough to be worshiped.”

The Bible tells us the “why” of Easter:

(Jesus said) “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that everyone who believes in him shall have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” –John 3:16 NIV

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” –John 10:10 NIV

All it costs us to be a Christian is to take God at his word and trust in Jesus as our Lord and Savior. The One who brings us hope when life feels hopeless. Who speaks comfort and peace in our times of pain and loss. Who offers love when we feel loveless and alone. In Jesus, our life endures beyond death.

No wonder we can have Easter joy even on our darkest days. No wonder we celebrate Easter every year!

Blessings to you and yours,

Lenore

Found: Hope and Joy That Light Up Dark Days

March 28, 2026
Whether we greet the morning with a grin or a groan, every dawn propels us into the unknown

All we know for sure is what yesterday looked like. But this day? Who knows?

Some of us consider our life to be good, others not so much. Perhaps our circumstances seemed right at the start and then our life took a turn we never imagined. Or wanted.

Does that make us powerless?

I say No. Why would I/how could I say that?

Because we still choose how we will handle what comes. Will we live with fear? Or with calm? Without fail, we get to decide.

I didn’t always understand that. Then I ran across a Dale Carnegie quote that made me think. After reading it once, I read it again, a couple of times. Aloud. Slowly.

“Two men looked out from prison bars, One saw the mud, the other saw stars.”

For whatever reason, those words made me squirm. I heard that voice in my mind asking, What about me? What did I choose to see when I looked at my life?

How often did I cheat myself of seeing the stars?

Do our attitudes color our perception?

Always, we are individuals, not peas in a pod with identical lives. Some people live in the middle of a hard situation that offers little or no hope of getting better, yet they remain cheerful, even calm. How?

Like the prisoner who chose to look up at the stars, where we fix our attention greatly affects how we see our lives. How we think affects the people around us, too. That old saying, “If Mama ain’t happy ain’t nobody happy” also applies to Papa. Our moods trickle down to our children and to everyone in our lives.

In this age of information overload we can’t escape hearing news reports and warnings, morning, noon and night. Often we struggle to keep fear from getting the upper hand.

Even when life is good. Even when we believe in God.

Everyone’s life story includes ups and downs

Times when nothing seemed to work out right. Times we felt alone and comfortless. Even strong Christians can feel weak and empty now and then.

Yet through it all we believe God has not walked away from us and washed his hands of us.

Clearly, we are not the first to experience these emotions. Otherwise, why would the Bible include so much hope and reassurance? For example, check Isaiah 43:1-5; Psalm 139, especially verses 1-18; or John 14:27.

It helps to know where to find favorite Bible verses

Have you ever remembered part of a Bible verse, but not where to find it? Technology comes in handy here, even for us non-techies.

Just enter the words you recall into any general search engine on your computer or smart phone. Almost instantly the complete verse and where to find it will appear on the screen. Sometimes the verse will pop up in several Bible translations. It’s easy to scroll through until you locate the one that matches what you’re trying to recall.

Note: Even when one translation of the Bible varies from another, the core meaning of the text does not change. That traces back to the original texts, which all were written in Latin (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament).

Feel free to mark up your printed Bible

Long ago I started keeping track of verses by underlining them or marking them in some way. I started also keeping notes where to find them on the blank pages at the back of my Bible. My system was and is rather haphazard, but it works for me.

Here are two verses I underlined years ago:

I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life … –Deuteronomy 30:19-20

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. –Lamentations 3:22-23

Never ceases. Never come to an end. New every morning.

Armed with reassurances like these you and I can prance into the unknown, unafraid. (And we will prance, won’t we?)

Wishing you joy and peace,

Lenore

Good news! Every Day Is A New Beginning

January 14, 2026
Ask this question of a random group of people and answers will be all over the place.

One person may say, “I guess it’s kind of a nice story, but I can’t relate. I mean, this is the 21st century. How does a story about a baby in a manger have any meaning for us today?”

Another may say, “I think all religions are pretty much the same, so what difference does it make? We’re all headed for the same place, no matter how we get there. Isn’t that the bottom line?”

For people around the world who come to faith in Jesus, the story of that first Christmas is life-changing.

Here’s the true story of one such man, who found this to be true

I heard about a businessman, “Kevin,” who years ago had to spend some time overseas. He noticed he was scheduled for a free day in the city his college roommate called “home.” After a lengthy Internet search he arranged to meet with his old friend.

Kevin and “Abbud,” met in a quiet cafe and found a table toward the back. Immediately they slipped into the easy comfort of good friends reunited and talked for hours. After awhile Kevin mentioned he had been aware his friend came from a non-Christian background, but he hadn’t known how to talk about it.

Abbud carefully looked all around the space, then speaking almost in a whisper, he said, “That was true then, but no more. Believe me, I do not say this to many people. At home my wife ‘Alika’ and I find ways to hear and to watch broadcasts and telecasts from the West. Of course, we are very, very careful.

“When first we heard the good news of the Gospel we right away gave our hearts to Jesus.

Kevin said nothing for awhile, then cleared his throat and murmured, “This is an answer to prayer, my friend. Those years we shared a room it didn’t seem important–and besides, I thought I needed the ‘right’ words to talk about faith. I’ve wished ever since that I said something. I’ve prayed for you, really, I have.”

For awhile the two men sat quietly, sipping their coffee. Then Kevin asked, “Could I ask what differences you find between the two religions?”

Abbud answered quietly, but without hesitation, “It is night and day! We all were taught that God is impossibly far from human beings, but still we must try our hardest to reach toward Him through being faithful in our spiritual practices.

“Imagine what it means now, to know that in Jesus, God came to earth as an infant, just so he could live among human beings. Among people like us!

“It still amazes me every time I think that God came to us!

“You probably don’t remember, but the last day of school you gave me a little Bible and told me to read it on the long flight back home. I just tucked it into my bag and never opened it, kept it hidden all these years.

“Now I could not stop reading. The more I read, the more I was amazed. In Exodus it tells how God dwelt with His people, the Israelites, there in the wilderness. God went before them in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night. He even spoke to Moses directly!

“Then Alika and I read it was God’s plan all along to send His Son to earth. He came to pay the price of all our sins. He came to set us right with holy God. We could live free from fear, free from condemnation. Right away I felt lighter, as if someone unlocked my heavy chains.

“Jesus did it all! For me! I will never be the same. No matter what comes next, I have peace in my heart–and so does my wife.”

Abbud’s dark eyes shone as he said, “So for us, this is what’s different about the Christian faith. Knowing that Jesus is for us and with us sets our hearts at rest.”

The Christmas story is more than just a charming holiday tale

First, plug into your awareness that this is more than just an unusual story about a baby. In the Bible, Jesus often is called the Word, as in the Gospel of John 1:1-5, 14; 3:16-17:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. he was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

The Christian faith is not about a far-off, distant god or a monument

Nor is it about magnificent temples or cities where followers must go and worship to prove their faithfulness. It’s not even about living up to a list of dos and don’ts.

The Christian faith is all about our Lord being up close and personal for every one of us. Our Savior and best Friend. Our Comforter. Our strength. Our Deliverer. Our Peace. Our Joy.

That’s why God came to earth, born as a human baby to a human mother, there in Bethlehem. Fully human and fully God.

He came for you. For me. And for all the world.

That’s the heart of what we call the Christmas story.

Dear Reader, whoever you are and wherever you may be, may your heart be filled with the peace and joy of Jesus this Christmas and every day of the New Year!

Lenore

What do you think? Is the Christmas Story just a story?

December 16, 2025
Are you tired of the way your day-to-day life has been lately?

Here’s the good news: Getting unstuck appears much more complicated than it really is. Here’s the three-word formula:

Change. Your. Thoughts.

I know, I know, that sounds too simple. I might not believe it, either, if I hadn’t lived it.

It started when our children were young. Back then my mood would depend on circumstances. Maybe the skies were gray and it was raining. Or the baby wouldn’t stop wailing. Or my husband seemed anxious about goodness-knows-what. (No wonder I was cranky.)

I apologized, of course, usually saying something like: “Sorry, Hon, I can’t help it. That’s just the way I’ve always been.”

One day the truth hit me. That tiresome statement had become my excuse.

I knew it was time for a turnaround. But how?

Enter “The Worry Clinic”

Our daily newspaper began running a syndicated column by the late Dr. George Crane three times a week. His style of conveying mental health tips immediately spoke to me, so I devoured every word, all while carrying on a running argument with him in my mind.

Dr. Crane, a trained psychologist and a physician, described his advice as “old-fashioned horse sense,” a.k.a. common sense.

He repeated this statement often:

Act the way you want to feel and soon you’ll feel the way you act.

The first time I read that it made no sense to me, but it opened my mind a crack. As time went on I began to see the truth of his words. It boiled down to:

Our emotions flow out of what we think.

Here’s how Dr. Crane explained the process:

You can change your thoughts as easily as you change stations on your radio or channels on your television sets. It involves deliberately switching your mind to another topic–and it can be learned.

All it takes is practice.

That bumped me up against an uncomfortable truth. I kind of liked being able to excuse myself with, “I can’t help it. That’s who I am.”

What shocked me more was to see that my moods rubbed off on our four young daughters. They had become star copycats of their mournful mom.

And my sweet husband, loving us, lived patiently with all five of us.

I resolved to change

Dr. Crane primed readers not to expect an overnight transformation. Just as the captain of an ocean liner cannot turn the huge ship 180 degrees all at once, neither should we expect to do a 180 all at once.

The only way to do it was to deliberately master one degree at a time and then repeat that maneuver 180 times.

Would it take awhile? Yes. Would it be worth it? Yes!

Always before, I prayed for God to change me, then waited for change to happen. Now I understood I also needed to act in faith.

That is, I needed to pray and trust, but also behave as if God already answered my prayer and changed me. As time went on these actions began to feel “natural.”

Over time these small, incremental moves paid off. Our home became a happier place.

For all six of us.

Branching out

As a Christian it reassured me to read this remark of Dr. Crane, who was an M.D. and also a doctor of psychology and psychiatry:

“I gleaned more practical psychology and psychiatry from the Bible than from all other books!”

By now I wanted to learn more and read more, but I didn’t want to lose my way. I needed a solid understanding of what the Bible says so I could evaluate what I read or saw in the media. I became more serious about reading the Bible and scribbled notes and underlined verses that spoke to me.

In those pre-Internet days I dug into the shelves of our public library and frequently brought home stacks of books on personal growth, marriage and parenting. When something hit home I wrote it down. Older books, newer books, it didn’t matter. I devised my own criteria.

–Did the principles in this book conflict with what I believed as a Christian or with my personal values? (If so I set it aside.)

–Did the author sound in touch with real people or rely on jargon?

I picked up bits of knowledge and wise advice from a host of good, qualified authors and counselors. Each one helped me grow.

After years of reading and living, here’s what I know is true

The circumstances of our lives do not determine our mindset. What matters most happens between our ears.

We can manage our emotions because they flow out of what we feed our minds, just as Dr. Crane said.

Sound thinking is not enough. We also must invest our time and our will to make the changes we need.

It’s not uncommon to have the “want to,” but think we’re not making progress in changing our habits. If trying to change is a continuing struggle it’s time to talk to your pastor or a trustworthy professional counselor.

Whatever it takes, every bit of progress we make is still a win.

Staying on track for the long haul

It is a daunting task to set out to change oneself from the inside out and it takes time to change old patterns of thinking. What helped me most was reminding myself often that my best Friend, Jesus Christ, never left me to struggle on my own.

Here are some of the Bible verses that spoke to my heart–and still do:

I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you. Isaiah 26:3

It sounds too simple, but it’s true: You can change how you feel about your life by watching where you park your mind.

Lenore
Here’s a no-cost way to make each day better

July 11, 2025
Do you ever feel like you’ve had it and want out?

I’m guessing we all feel that way at times, if only for a moment. Or a day. Times we feel a bit, shall we say, wimpy.

That’s when I often turn to this Winston Churchill quote that hangs above my desk. It came with a blurb that explained the Prime Minister spoke those words in a speech he gave during October, 1941. The United Kingdom already had entered World War II, while the United States formally joined the War effort in December, 1941.

I once knew a British war bride who lived in that harrowing time. She told how as a young woman she spent her days doing secretarial work in downtown London. Every night she and thousands of other Londoners crowded into the tunnels of the Tube (the Underground) and tried to sleep in the dank cold while Hitler’s Luftwaffe bombers rained bombs overhead.

Each morning my friend and the others would drag themselves up and out, blinking in the daylight. They picked their way around and through piles of rubble and suspicious-looking debris to get to their work. Churchill’s slogan became their battle cry.

When anyone seemed dejected and hopeless, they would call out–or mutter, “Never, never, never give up! Remember?”

Hitler had one goal: to break the spirit of Great Britain and conquer

Churchill had a far different aim, to keep the citizenry united in their determination to survive whatever the Nazis hurled at them. Throughout World War II he frequently broadcast pep talks and status reports, often over short wave. Old and young strained to hear.

Churchill had a way with words and his Nation clung to them for hope.

No wonder he so often was credited with keeping up the morale and determination of the British nation.

His words hang above my desk for a reason

Sometimes I need that reminder, too, and his words prod me to keep on writing. If that surprises you it’s probably because movies, TV and novels usually depict the carefree, romantic life of a writer.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but that’s fiction for most.

Every writer I know tells a similar tale. First we brainstorm for ideas. Then we struggle for words that do more than lie there limp as a shoelace out of its shoe. Next we mentally try on points to make and practical take-aways we hope will fit possible readers.

We stare off into space a lot, too, wondering whether our words will ever connect, ever touch hearts.

You see, sometimes (often) I wonder what else could there be to say, or who might read what I write, much less remember any of it.

Times like that Churchill’s quote reminds me to just get going and write something.

Down days come along now and then, for every one of us

We all prefer the bright and sunny days, don’t we? Most of us know what it feels like to have times we barely manage to “gut it out” and pray we can make it through.

Winston Churchill’s parents may have felt that way as young Winston got expelled from more than one school. Too uncooperative. Too rebellious. Too independent–you get the picture. Somehow he made it through school. Perhaps his “Never give up” motto stemmed from his own years of struggle.

Who could have predicted that many of the qualities that kept Winston in trouble as a youngster were exactly what he needed as a leader during World War II? I think there’s a message here for you and me:

We cannot know now what our lives will be like in the future, or how all along God is equipping us with the qualities and learning we will need then.

Words I treasure even more than Churchill’s

His words, as great as they are, indicate the courage to keep going has to come from within myself. Just between you and me, I’m not that strong.

I do know where to find courage and comfort and peace when I’m troubled. Too often I try to work it out on my own first. It’s so much better to first talk it over with God (pray) and find the Bible verses that speak to my heart. The Bible is full of them!

Here are a couple of the verses I treasure.

[God says] “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” –Joshua 1:9

I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. –Psalm 34:4

We can talk to God about our fears and inadequacies, our innermost feelings any time of the day or night. He never slumbers or sleeps, remember? Any time is the right time to lay out our cares before Him.

One truth I learned from living: When life challenges us to our limits, no matter how weak we feel, He enables us to “never, never, never give up”

Dear friend, I pray you would know the truth of this and the joy of this for yourself.

Lenore

Words to Keep You Going

June 27, 2025
Does your heart start pounding when you watch or listen to the news?

Many of us know that feeling, because it’s obvious that emotions run high on all sides. Lots of speculation–and fear.

That makes it a good time to remind ourselves that our good old USA has been in turmoil before and this probably won’t be the last time that’s true. Whatever our current crises may be, this time likely will end up being another variation on an earlier period in U.S. history.

If you doubt that, just read this editorial from Harper’s Magazine. It appeared in their October 10, 1847, edition, 175 years ago.

(Please note at the time this was written it was socially and politically acceptable to use the term “man” to refer to all of humankind.)

It is a gloomy moment in history. Not in the lifetime of any man has there been so much grave and deep apprehension; never has the future seemed so dark and incalculable.

In France the political cauldron seethes and bubbles with uncertainty.

England and the British Empire are being sorely tried and exhausted in a social and economic struggle, with turmoil at home and uprising on her teeming millions in her far-flung Empire.

The United States is beset with racial, industrial and commercial chaos, drifting we know not where.

Russia hangs like a storm cloud on the horizon of Europe–dark, menacing and foreboding.

It is a solemn moment, and no man can feel indifference, which happily, no man pretends to feel in the issue of events.

Of our own troubles no man can see the end. …

What if we took that essay as encouragement instead of gloom?

History–all of it–is loaded with missteps and mistakes, repeated again and again. Yet the sun keeps rising and setting on schedule and so does the moon. God set it up that way.

Here are a few quotes and Scripture verses I pray would be heart-lifters for you as they are for me.

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. –Franklin D. Roosevelt

[Jesus said] “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

Cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. –1 Peter 5:7

Courage is fear that has said its prayers. –Dorothy Bernard

May you find JOY in your day-to-day,

Lenore

Take Heart! The USA Will Endure

May 29, 2025
Have you ever sunk into feeling sorry for yourself?

I confess to being, um, a little bit familiar with that unfortunate state of mind.

Like the time my husband got transferred in his work. He had studied and worked hard, hoping a move up would come through–and it did. He couldn't stop smiling.

I was happy for him, truly I was, but I couldn't quite share his exhilaration. I grieved inwardly about leaving our friends and the community I loved.

My sweet husband? "Yes, but Honey, you know I can start right in and you read the contract. We'll be okay."

Logic told me he was right, but logic didn't change my heart. Yet I absolutely knew God arranged this position for my husband, so …

I kept reminding myself surely He would have something good waiting for me, too.

But what? Where?

Once the moving truck unloaded our stuff in our new home, well, you know the routine.

Right away my husband had a "place" in our new community. He packed his days with appointments and meeting new people. I kept busy unpacking boxes and finding a place for this and for that. At last it felt more like our home, at least inside our four walls.

Every day I pored over the local newspaper, trying to get a fix on the place we were living. One day I noticed a small listing for a community non-denominational women's Bible study. What did I have to lose?

The next day I grabbed my Bible and drove to the host church. To my surprise and delight, parked cars stretched for blocks in all directions.

Near the closing time all our small groups gathered in the auditorium so the teaching leader could expound on our assigned lesson from the Bible book of Exodus. She vividly recounted the story of God freeing the Israelites from captivity in Egypt.

That day the familiar story from Sunday School sounded brand-new to my heart.

The marvel of God's power

You may remember how God set the children of Israel free from slavery in Egypt. Soldiers in chariots came after them all the way to the Red Sea, but before they got there, God parted the waters so His people could walk on dry land across the seabed.

Once the Israelites were safely across, God released the waters. The pursuing Egyptians, along with their horses and chariots, were lost.

Now God's people were free, but all they saw around them was dry desert and wilderness, but God did not abandon His people. He provided Manna every morning and flocks of quail every twilight, plus pure water.

And yet the people grumbled.

Exodus 16 tells us they looked back fondly to Egypt–and slavery–because they liked the food better.

The truth that hit home

In her talk our study leader kept looking around the room to be sure we all felt included. Then came her concluding applications. It seemed she looked right at me when she asked, "Are you wandering around in a dry, dusty wilderness of your own making?"

I gulped. Then she asked, "Are you murmuring against God because the specifications of your life are not exactly as you would choose?"

She couldn't have known, but her words described exactly how I felt about our new life, the one God had given us.

That day nothing changed, but everything changed.

Once I took my eyes off Poor Pitiful Me and looked for the good in our new situation I found quite a lot.

My husband said he got his wife back–and here I thought he hadn't noticed.

I've never forgotten that lesson: Look for the good, whatever the situation

Recently I ran across an old prayer I've loved for years, ever since I happened on it in a souvenir shop.

The original was found folded and tattered in the pocket of an unknown Confederate soldier, a casualty in the U.S. Civil War, 1865:

I asked God for strength, that I might achieve;

    I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey.

I asked for health, that I might do greater things;

    I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.

I asked for riches, that I might be happy;

    I was given poverty, that I might be wise.

I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men;

    I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.

I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life;

    I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.

I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I hoped for.

    I am among all men most richly blessed.

Those simple, eloquent words still touch my heart every time I read them because they remind me of all the times I, too, got "nothing that I asked for, but everything I hoped for."

I wish I could say I never lost sight of that truth, but one thing I know for sure. When I focus on the Giver's goodness it's much easier to keep a sunny mood.

My friend, I pray that you find many blessings in each day!

Lenore

Change Your Life By Changing Your Mindset

May 14, 2025
Maybe you think that's impossible in your situation.

But what if it were true? Would you trade how you feel about your life now for deep-down, unshakable peace, no matter what comes?

I write this as we near the end of what Christians call the Lenten season and nearing Easter.

You may be thinking, So what? That means nothing to me except chocolate eggs and bunnies. Silliness, really.

Let's set that aside and concentrate on why Christians have celebrated Easter for centuries.

Not for treats but to remember the reason for it all.

Let's start with a brief recap

The first pages of the Bible recount how God created what we call the natural world out of nothing. (Genesis 1)

Genesis 2 tells about God creating Adam and Eve, the first two human beings. They lived in a beautiful garden and were completely at ease with their Heavenly Father. We would say, they had it all.

God laid down only one condition: Do not touch or eat the fruit of this one tree in the middle of the garden or you will die.

Then came the Devil, who spoke through the serpent. He planted doubt. (Doesn't he always?) Eve tasted the fruit and found it good, so she gave some to Adam and he, too, turned away from the Father who loved them. (Genesis 3)

Their disobedience changed everything–for them and their descendants–that's us–even to this day.

What does this have to do with me?

We all know how often we fail to live up to even our own standards. (Remember those New Year's resolutions?)

What about after we die? Most people say they want to live a good life and many think if they "do the right thing" enough of their life they will make it into Heaven.

Yet our best efforts fall short because God's desire is that we be holy, because he is holy (Leviticus 19:2.) That means to be utterly good, in thought, word and deed, 24 hours a day throughout our lifetimes. Anything else is called "sin."

You and I know we couldn't achieve that, no matter how hard we tried.

Even so, God never stopped loving. That's what Christmas is all about. The human baby born to Mary in Bethlehem, was the Son of God, and Joseph was to be his human father. (Luke, chapters 1-2)

That Baby was human, born to a human mother, but he was also God. (Luke 1:35)

So why did he die on a cross?

Let's get this straight first: Jesus was not overwhelmed and captured by those soldiers in the Garden of Gethsemane. He went with them willingly, all while knowing what would follow.

This God-man came to earth to set things right between us human beings and God. Jesus, who never sinned, allowed Himself to be nailed to the cross. For you, for me. It was all part of God's plan.

God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21

In [Christ] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace. Ephesians 1:7

Jesus died on a cross, yes, but there is more to it

If you haven't known it before, you can read the whole story in the Gospel of John, chapters 19-21.

Yes, Jesus died to pay the price for all our sins, past, present and future.

But … he rose again!

After three days in the tomb he reappeared to his followers many times. He interacted and talked with them and ate regular food with them.

Jesus even invited Thomas to touch his wounds because Thomas couldn't believe what his friends were saying.

No wonder his followers were overjoyed

You and I can share in that joy. Because Jesus lives eternally, every person who trusts and believes in him as their Lord and Savior also has eternal life.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.                                                                                     John 3:16

"Whoever" includes all who believe. Period.

That's why Christians celebrate Easter

It's all about love. Love that kept Jesus there on the cross. Love that never fails or walks away when we're hurting. Love that brings us joy, even in our lowest times.

This gift is available to every one of us, ours for the taking and the trusting. Will we accept it and choose to walk with the One who loves us this much?

I'm praying for you, dear invisible friends,

Lenore

Are You Longing for More Life in Your Life?

April 18, 2025
One unforgettable Sunday morning in church we sat right behind pure joy

The worship theme for the day was "Joy!" and a little girl in the row ahead of us showed us what joy looks like.

She looked much like the girl in the photo as she swayed back and forth in her polka dot dress, keeping time to the music of the worship team.

She kept smiling up at her parents and her smile lit up her face. That adorable 5-year old was lost in praise and joy.

All of us around her were smiling, too. As always, we sang the praise songs, but with (ahem) more restraint. Blame it on being all grown-up and "sensible". Experienced. Seasoned by life.

(But wouldn't it be wonderful to feel such joy every day of the week?)

Are you feeling life is one dreary round of duty after another?

We all could use a fresh infusion of joy, especially this time of year, when dark is long and daylight is short.

Still, we short-circuit that possibility by our December routines:

Impossible schedules, with Christmas programs and parties and gatherings all converging on a few dates

Never enough time

Never enough sleep

Dithering over what to have for the eat-too-much family dinner. Or if out-of-town family is visiting over Christmas, will we be hosting? And how much food will we need to prepare?

Tensions over wanting to give gifts that light up our loved ones' eyes while trying to stick to the family budget

It's time to ask ourselves what really matters?

Many of us are scurrying around, reciting to ourselves, "I-gotta-remember-to- …" Suppose we stopped for awhile and breathed in God's strength.

It helps to refocus our thoughts and fill our minds with what He says to us:

Be still, and know that I am God. -Psalm 46:10

Let the peace of God rule in your hearts. -Colossians 3:15

In quietness and trust is your strength. -Isaiah 30:15

These verses can become the music in our minds that drowns out the din and emptiness of commercialism.

Always, we have a choice of what we let take root in our minds.

Remember the reason for the season

If we look back at our lives, what stands out are the people and the love.

That's true for our children, too. Right now we can be laying down treasure in their memory banks and their hearts. Let's make it the real thing, like celebrating the birth of the Christ Child together and nestling into the warmth and love of family.

If we're preoccupied with the tinsel of cramming in all the "stuff" of the holidays we'll miss out on what really matters and they will, too. Our calmness and gentleness will help quiet our children and give them a pattern for how to live.

Joy comes from within, remember?

Jesus is the reason for the season

The angels proclaimed JOY to all the world the night Jesus was born. Remember?

That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people." –Luke 2:8-10

Joy to you and joy to me.

The same joy that bubbled up in that little girl and spilled over onto the world around her.

Joy to the highest of the high and the lowest of the low

We may assume those shepherds had it easy, lolling around on picturesque green hills while their gentle sheep grazed peacefully. All they had to do was keep an eye on them.

Not true. If you've spent any time around sheep you know they're easily spooked and will run mindlessly after the first sheep that starts running.

Add in possible predators that lurk in the shadows, waiting. In 1 Samuel 17 young David tells of a shepherd's life:

“I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,” he said. “When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death."

Doesn't sound too idyllic, does it?

Every day those shepherds dealt with life and death–and they got no respect from the world. They lived with their sheep and probably smelled like them, too, coming back to their villages badly in need of soap and water and a haircut.

Yet they were the first to see and worship Jesus, except Mary and Joseph.

Whatever our difficulties, Jesus brings joy

Christians are not immune from troubles and trials, but we're never on our own.

The Apostle Peter wrote about that in 1 Peter 1. He describes how Jesus brings us joy, here from the New Living Translation, verses 8-9:

You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him, you trust him; and even now you are happy with a glorious, inexpressible joy. Your reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.

That's our reason for joy and for praise, for swaying with the music of our lives. Through whatever comes, we know Jesus is with us.

That joy can be yours.

If you're still wondering what you think about God, find a Bible and look up the Gospel of John. Read John 3:16 and think on it awhile. Ponder that the word "whoever" includes you.

You can read the familiar Christmas story in Luke, chapter 2.

JOY to you, my friends, in the dark and in the light, at Christmas and all year through!

Lenore
Are you longing for Christmas joy? Find it here

December 15, 2024
Let me pass on a lesson I learned along the way–and isn't that the way we all learn?

I'm making progress because awhile back a new friend said, "You always wear the hint of a smile. What's your secret?"

I thanked her for that delightful compliment, of course. Right then I couldn't come up with anything better than a glib "Well, I guess I have a lot to smile about."

Later on an incident from years ago popped into my head and suddenly I knew the answer to that question.

It sounds strange, but sometimes big truth comes from unlikely sources.

On that ordinary, life-changing day I was so completely focused on my list I didn't really look at the other shoppers milling around me

That is, not until one of them stopped me by tapping me on the shoulder. The tiny elderly lady looked concerned as she said, "'Excuse me, Honey, but you look so sad I had to stop. Is there anything I can do for you?"

Sad? Me? Baffled, I said something like, "I'm sorry, ma'am, but what do you mean?"

"Well, judging by the expression on your face, I figure you must be dealing with something really heavy. I'm so sorry! Just wanted to tell you things hardly ever are as bad as they seem. So cheer up, Dearie, and never, ever give up hope!"

With that she smiled again, then patted my shoulder and scurried away.

I stood there speechless

All I could think was, what on earth was she talking about?

A few steps later I ran into my reflection on a mirrored pillar near me and took a hard look. I did look, well, grim. As much as I hated to admit it to myself that little lady wasn't exaggerating.

I heard her words in my mind for days. So did the question that refused to be stilled: What do I communicate to others around me?

Always before I thought of myself as a happy person. Now I couldn't escape the obvious: That's probably not the message the people around me picked up.

What could I do?

I decided to start with the way I deliberately set my lips, even when I was alone.

Just as importantly I would pay attention to the words coming out of my mouth.

Now I had a plan. From that moment on I would

wear a happy expression

look for the good and

speak encouragement.

I soon decided that wouldn't matter unless I lived it. If I wanted this to become a habit, my new behavior had to be all day, every day.

So I paid careful attention to the expression I wore. To my surprise, before long I didn't need to remind myself so often.

I also concentrated on looking for and speaking the good. Soon that became more routine, too–but I still have to watch myself.

Always, always it's easier to sink into a down mood than to stay in an up mood.

Nothing changed, but everything changed

Before long I realized I was more fun to be around, even for myself. My same old, same old life felt happier, too.

Could it be this simple?

All I know is that old song holds some real meaning:

"Put on a happy face…and you will be happy, too."

It's not the whole truth, for sure, but it's a beginning.

Like that tiresome saying, you can't journey a thousand miles if you never take that first step.

Looking for Bible backup?

For me, "thinking good thoughts" won't keep me going for long. Here's one specific verse that speaks to the subject.

A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed. –Proverbs 15:

There's more, of course. Whatever our situation, we Christians always have reason to smile.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. -John 3:16

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. -Romans 5:8

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him. -Romans 15:13

With love and prayers,

Lenore
Found! A Simple Way to Improve Your Mood

November 12, 2024