Category: Jesus

It starts with asking yourself this question: “Are you ready to let God use you in someone’s life?”

Let me tell you a true story. “Kyle” grew up with parents who loved him, but never went to church. Not even at Christmas.

No bedtime prayers. No, “Thank you, Lord, for this food,” not even at Thanksgiving.

The only time Kyle ever heard the words, “God,” or “Jesus Christ,” was when somebody opened a bill or banged their fingers in a door.

He walked by a church on his way to school, but he didn’t know what people did there.

Then a family with a boy his age rented the house next door

Kyle and “Jimmy” played together every chance they got. After school let out for the summer, Jimmy asked Kyle, “Hey, want to come along to VBS? It’s fun!”

Kyle’s mom said, “I suppose it’s okay, but I don’t know why you’d want to.”

Dad objected but Mom threw in the clincher. “Oh, what harm can it do? Besides, it would give me a break.”

So the next Monday, off they went. When Kyle found out that “VBS” meant Vacation Bible School he wondered what he got himself into. School? In summer? In no time at all, he loved it. Besides, these smiling grownups seemed to love kids and there were lots of homemade cookies. Soon Kyle didn’t want VBS to end.

A couple of weeks later Jimmy’s dad took another job and the family moved away.

When Kyle turned 16 he got his driver’s license

One Saturday he asked if he could use the family car next day, so he could go to church. His dad said, “Church? Why on earth would you do that?”

“Well, I remember that VBS with Jimmy. The people are nice over there and I like Pastor Matthew. I still remember the stories they told us and I want to find out more.”

Dad said, “Well, I guess if you want to give up a Sunday morning, go ahead. I’ll bet you once will be enough.”

But it wasn’t. Some of the “cookie ladies” recognized Kyle right away and hugged him. Pastor Matthew remembered Kyle from VBS and invited him to come around any time. Before long Kyle considered Pastor Matthew his friend because he listened.

Every question Kyle came up with, he answered, then said, “Got any more? Bring ’em on.”

The more Kyle knew about Jesus, the more he wanted to know

After awhile he asked to be baptized and later he was confirmed. Awhile later Kyle told his parents, “I know what I want to do with my life. I want to study to become a pastor.”

“But Son, why? You could be anything!”

Kyle persisted and wouldn’t hear of any other options. Finally his parents told him, “Okay, Son, if you’re determined about this foolishness, go ahead. But don’t expect any help from us. You’re on your own.”

He said, “Then I guess it’s up to God and me. We’ll do it together. Somehow. Some way.”

Kyle related that conversation to Pastor Matthew and a few others who asked, “Got any college plans?”

Soon a member started a church scholarship fund and Kyle was the first recipient.

Studying hard and loving it

Hebrew and Greek taxed Kyle to the limit. Five nights a week he stocked shelves in a warehouse and learned to get by on four or five hours of sleep. He had never worked harder in his life, but he also had never been happier or more at peace.

At last he was ready to graduate. Marvel of marvels, his still-skeptical parents accepted his invitation to attend the worship service where Kyle would be ordained as pastor of a church.

That was their first–and only–time inside a church.

Some years later Pastor Kyle came to serve as pastor of our congregation

One Sunday he shared his story, how as a child he knew nothing about Jesus except for that one week of hearing the Good News of Jesus, the One who loved children. Then he smiled at us, his faith family, and said, “I also remembered all those nice, smiling grownups at Vacation Bible School who genuinely seemed to like kids. Even kids like me.

“It’s no stretch at all to say I wouldn’t be here if not for that one week of Vacation Bible School. All these years later I joyfully can tell you that my parents now are baptized believers in Jesus.”

That year when the first call went out for VBS volunteers, the list filled up instantly.

Why not? Every one of us could manage to be nice and to smile at the children, couldn’t we?

That’s the main requirement, really. Whether child or adult, every human being needs to feel loved before they can hear the Gospel. (That’s also what Kyle felt from the smiling “cookie ladies.”)

There are no age limits. In our church we have VBS volunteers from eighth grade up to age 80-plus, all working together.

Yes, it’s true that some children will be there because their parents view this time as free baby-sitting. That’s okay with us. We know that for some kids this one week may be the only time they will hear that Jesus loves each one of them.

We volunteers all remind each other often that even if that’s all our VBS kids remember, it’s enough. Besides, anything beyond that is God’s work, not ours.

Here’s a loving reminder. It’s the time of year when most churches offer VBS or something similar for youngsters. Wouldn’t you like to be part of it and play some part, however small, in helping kids know that Jesus loves them?

It takes no special talent, just love and willingness. What better way to leave your mark on the world?

God bless you, dear reader!

Lenore

Leave Your Mark on Tomorrow-It’s easier Than You Think!

May 28, 2026
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
Reasons to be anxious flood the news 24/7.

We listen. We sigh. We pray. We’re deluged with rumors and statistics and more. What person who’s breathing and has a brain wouldn’t be at least a bit anxious?

All this goes on while “The Experts” warn that anxiety and stress are bad for our health and could shorten our lives, so we need to remain calm.

Here’s some good news for a change

There is a way to drive out fear and find strength for each new day. Best of all, this remedy has been tested and tried countless times, with no ill effects. This “Happiness Medicine” is yours for the taking.

Directions for use: Take in at least once a day and think what each “ingredient” means to you. Repeat as needed.

Remind yourself who’s really in charge

Recount the ways God has blessed you in the past

Recall his promises to be with you

Remember who you are–and Whose you are

Relax and enjoy the life he has given you

This “medicine” is available all over the world, at no charge and has no age limits.

Parents will reap a side bonus because professionals agree: When parents are calm, their children are less likely to be uptight and fearful.

How could something so simple make any difference?

Think how light overcomes darkness. When life threatens to overwhelm us we turn inward. Our minds fill with our mistakes and fears and at least for awhile, we lose sight of what’s good in our lives.

Anyone with a smidgen of faith in God knows that negative mindset doesn’t come from our Friend and Redeemer Jesus Christ. Rather, it’s the work of that troublesome old foe: the devil.

Satan will never quit trying, but take heart. Jesus Christ sets us free from bondage. .

So Jesus said … “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the the truth will set you free. … So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” –John 8:31-32, 36 ESV

Any time you feel that old pull downward, be armed and ready for battle

Uplifting books you read and podcasts can be helpful, but better yet, have a stash of strength Bible verses stored in your memory. Or keep a list somewhere that’s easy to pull up, because repeating these treasures over and over to yourself will put lift your heat and put starch in your spine.

We need to put the Good Stuff in if we want to get the good stuff out. To get you started, here are three of my favorites.

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” —Isaiah 41:10 ESV

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. –Psalm 23:4 ESV

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. –Philippians 4:6-7 NIV

No matter what may come up in the future, those of us who believe in Jesus as our Savior need not quake in fear. In every situation we are not left to cope just on our own.

I find it helps a lot to start my morning by thanking God for the day and reminding myself who I am in Christ. I have Help. So do you if you love Jesus as your Savior.

Help today. Help tomorrow. And for all your life.

Trusting, too,

Lenore
Find inner peace by watching your diet

March 19, 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
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
Some of us know anxiety like the back of our hands, the low-level uneasiness that never settles down.

Take a nap, take a walk, take a pill, it's still there. Sometimes we blame it on current events or relationships or family situations. Other times we can't figure out a cause for the nagging sense that something "isn't right."

Could the root cause of our unrest be a matter of the soul?

Easter, when Jesus set things right between God and us

But first came Christmas and what the angels announced to the shepherds:

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11

Jesus, true God and true man, was born as a human infant.

When Jesus was about thirty years old he began to teach and preach about God the Father and about the reason he was born.

"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

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

Jesus gave his life for you and me, to pay the price for all the ways we fail to live the way God would have us live. That is, to live a perfect life in thought, word, or deed.

It cost Jesus everything. All it costs us is to let go of our easy skepticism and truly investigate God's written word.

Primary source material abounds. Just read the eyewitness accounts found in the Bible: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

The record doesn't stop there

Several respected historians of the time described the same events. One was Josephus, a well-researched and respected Jewish historian, who lived from 37-100 AD. He wrote "Jewish Antiquities" in 93 AD. Here are some excerpts from that book.

(Jesus) "a wise man … who performed surprising deeds and was a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly … Pilate had condemned him to a cross … He appeared to them spending a third day restored to life, for the prophets of God had foretold these things and a thousand other marvels about him … And the tribe of the Christians, so called after him, has still to this day not disappeared." –Book 18, Ch. 3, part 3.

Josephus, like all historians, recorded facts, names and places. These historical accounts prove it's no myth that a man called Jesus lived and died on the cross, then three days later, he rose again to life.

What then? After that the risen Jesus, fully alive, showed himself to believers (Acts 1:3). He wanted them to know for sure that he was not a spirit or a ghost, but truly a human being. They touched him and Jesus talked with them. He ate ordinary meals with them.

After forty days he ascended to Heaven to sit at the Father's right hand.

The cross was God's way out for you and me

Our loving God knew we human beings cannot live an absolutely holy life because we all fail, all the time, even with our best efforts. We can't even live up to our own good resolutions.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8-9

That's why Jesus, the Son of God, came to earth to willingly die in our place.

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

Jesus died so we can live free from guilt and fear of punishment and hell.

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 1 Peter 2:24

He did it all for you and me, so we could have eternal life, life that never ends.

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

What now?

Once again we find the answers in the Bible.

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Romans 6:23

When we confess our sin to God, we hand over all our failures and mistakes and uncertainties. All of it. And we are to leave it there.

Because Jesus died in our place, our loving Father answers, "What sins? My only Son paid your debt in full. My dear child, I love you."

It's as if God looks at us through one of those lenses equipped with a filter and sees only his perfect Son.

We can swap anxiety for peace. For good

Jesus living within us means we are never left alone to fear what comes next. Not even death, because we know that's not the end of our story, either.

This is only the beginning of the good stuff.

So let the anxiety go. Take a deep breath and relax. Let yourself believe in Jesus as your Savior, knowing he will not deny you. Feel the peace of being loved and accepted by God, without any ifs, ands or buts.

Next time anxiety comes knocking, turn your mind to the chorus of the beautiful old hymn, "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus."

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace.

Happy Easter! May you know the lasting the deep-down peace and joy of knowing and trusting Jesus Christ as your forever friend and Savior.

I'm praying for you, gentle reader,

Lenore

Swap Anxiety for Peace That Lasts

March 28, 2024
None of us know what Mary felt, but Scripture says it was something like this:

The day began like every other day.

Then out of nowhere a radiant being stood before me and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."

Somehow I knew it was an angel, yet why would an angel come to me? I was a poor young woman who lived in lowly Nazareth.

The angel said, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High."

I could make no sense of it, but as I felt my heart warm within me I knew it must be true.

"How will this be, since I am a virgin?"

"The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God . . . For nothing is impossible with God."

I could say nothing but "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said."

Suddenly I was alone again and my heart brimmed over with wonder and joy.

But … What will I tell Joseph?

Joseph! My precious Joseph, my betrothed. As was the custom, we were waiting out our year of betrothal before we came together as husband and wife.

What would Joseph say when he found out? What would he do?

A shiver of fear ran down my spine. He could accuse me in front of the elders and have me flogged in the public square. I would be disgraced. Alone.

No, I and this child would live in disgrace.

I sat a long time, pondering. Praying. Crying. I swung from joy to sadness and back to joy, over and over again.

At last I resolved to trust the Lord, no matter what

As any other man would be, Joseph was stunned to find out I was pregnant. Finally he said he cared too much for me to see me judged. That dear, righteous man would quietly seek a divorce.

Not long after, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

Joseph believed! Neither of us really understood, but we believed

How, I cannot say, but we knew it had to be true that God chose Joseph and me to be part of his miracle in sending his only son to earth.

Joseph took me to his home. We already had agreed not to come together as husband and wife until after God's Son was born.

Just as I feared, the townspeople whispered about the child I was carrying. The men called Joseph a fool, but he paid them no mind. He became my protector and my support.

The months went by.

Then Emperor Caesar Augustus decreed a census must be taken of the entire Roman world

Caesar ruled his Empire with an iron fist, so we had no choice. Joseph and I both belonged to the line of David, so we must travel from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, and then to Bethlehem, the city of David.

Oh, the misery of that journey! I knew God's Son would be born soon. Whether I walked or rode on the donkey, I felt every jolt, every rock, every rut in the road.

Toward the end I did not think I could go on and I held my aching belly as I walked. We were close to Bethlehem when I felt a sharp pain down low. I knew my time to give birth would be soon.

Yet we had no place to stay.

Joseph searched the town, pounding on doors, frantically inquiring of innkeepers. There were no rooms, not anywhere. At last one kind man took pity and told us we could stay in his stable.

A stable for God's Son?

At least we would be out of the cold night air and have a bit of privacy. The innkeeper lent us a small oil lamp. We watched its light dance and flicker on the rough walls and listened to the soft sounds of the animals.

Joseph did what he could. He spread out a garment for me and helped me lie down on it. My swollen feet throbbed and my whole body ached.

We had only the warmth–and the smell–of the animals. Only our love for each other.

Only the waiting for God's Son to be born.

Then my labor pangs began in earnest, quickly growing stronger. Joseph stayed by my side, his eyes filling with tears as he stroked my forehead and tenderly whispered my name, over and over. I hear him still: Mary. Mary …

Then the urge to push grew stronger. With one final push and a long sigh my labor was over.

God's Son, the Savior, the long-awaited Messiah, was born!

As I looked into my baby's face I wondered what the future might hold for him. Then I wrapped him in soft cloths I brought with me and held him.

After awhile I laid the Child on top of the fresh hay Joseph had spread in the manger. It was the cleanest place in that cattle barn.

We never could have imagined what would come next. A group of shepherds burst into the stable. They went right to the manger and gazed down at Jesus. Then they bowed down in worship.

Their faces glowed.

As if they already knew who he was

After awhile they told us what brought them to the manger. They were guarding their sheep out on the Bethlehem hills as usual.

Suddenly everything around them shone so bright they fell to the ground. Then an angel appeared and said, "I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Before they could speak a word the sky filled with a great company of angels, all of them singing and praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men."

Just as suddenly the angels were gone. The shepherds could hardly contain themselves. One said, "Let us go to Bethlehem and see this wonderful thing!"

So they abandoned their sheep and ran as fast as they could to find the Savior, Christ the Lord, there in that lowly manger just as the angel told them.

Why were any of us surprised?

Centuries before Jesus was born there lived a prophet of God named Isaiah. He foretold that a virgin would be with child and give birth to a son who would be called Immanuel, which means, "God with us."

I never stopped thanking God for choosing me to be part of that glorious night.

Still, to my dying day I wondered how it could be that one night God stepped into our world and almost no one paid attention.

_________________________________

Dear reader friends,

To read the best-known account of Christ's birth, turn to Luke 2:1-20 in the Bible.

Nothing has changed: Jesus is God with us. All who believe in him as Lord and Savior are forgiven for every sin and will live eternally. (John 3:16-17)

Thank you for reading my blog. I pray each of you will have JOY in Jesus this Christmas–and throughout every day of the year ahead!

With love,

Lenore

Looking at the first Christmas through Mary’s eyes

December 13, 2023
Sometimes a slight twist of our perspective leads to major changes.

That happened to my husband and me the week our entire family went to summer camp on the shore of Lake Michigan.

At the time we lived on and operated a dairy and grain farm, with all the constant responsibility that implies, plus we had four lively children.

Between cows and crops and kids, both of us were running on fumes by July and needed a break.

Needed time.

Needed to find each other again.

Then we heard of a long-established, well-respected Christian family camp. We could drive there from our Illinois farm.

And, oh bliss! Every day would offer age-appropriate programs and daytime activities for kids and teens, all supervised by well-screened youth counselors and leaders.

No cooking. No cleaning. No kids during most of the day, with family free time in the evenings. What's not to like?

Heaven on earth, here we come!

We arrived on a Sunday afternoon

Next morning we escorted our four girls to their age-appropriate activities, signed them in and walked away. They would be safe and have fun for the next 5 or 6 hours. Yippee!

That first day we two decided to "try out" the adult Bible study led by a pastor from the Northwest.

He started off with something like this. "Jesus told us to love our neighbors as ourselves. Let's think this through. Who is my closest neighbor?"

Silence for a moment.

Then he hooked us with these words. "Answer: Our families. Nobody is a closer neighbor than the people we live with and share a life with. Nobody more deserves to be treated kindly and considerately.

"After all, they're the ones who every day have to deal with us. Us, with our individual quirks and habits." (Laughter.)

Then he launched into lively personal examples. As always, I took notes.

His first illustration made me squirm

"Every morning when I'm ready to eat breakfast with my wife, I never know what to expect. Most of the time she's a sweetheart. But sometimes, blame it on PMS, or a dreary day or whatever, she sighs a lot, slams cupboard doors and bangs the dishes around. At our house, that's not a good sign."

(I didn't look at my husband and was glad he didn't give me the elbow.)

"So every morning I have a choice. Will I give back what she is giving out? Or will I, even on those mornings, remember that my call as a Christian is to love her?

"To love her even when I know I'm in for another tough day at work. Even if I'm not sure whether we can cover all the bills this month.

"My first call as a Christian husband is to love my wife. Period. And a Christian wife has the same call toward her husband."

You could have heard a pin drop in that packed auditorium

His simple words shot down every excuse and self-justification I could think of.

"You may wonder if this principle also applies to us as Christian parents," he said. "In one word: Yes.

"Parenting is hard!" (Applause all around the room.) "For those raising children on their own it's even harder, yet the challenge remains the same: To live out love unconditionally as best they can.

"My three children often charm me, irritate me, baffle me, embarrass me, disappoint me, bring me to tears. But it doesn't matter. That's all part of rearing these gifts of God.

"As their dad, my call is to keep on loving them through it all."

Each day our teacher opened his heart and helped us look deeper into living out our Christian faith and pointed out the many places the Bible says the Holy Spirit is our Helper.

His words were water on our dry, dusty hearts

Our wilted spirits slowly revived and bloomed again. The invisible distance between us melted and our usual oneness returned.

Did my husband and I immediately morph into ideal spouses who never again got impatient with each other? Not likely.

But we gained new understanding and turned a corner in our thinking. The last afternoon we promised each other we would do our best to live out love every day.

And over the years, we did, sometimes slipping and sliding along the way but hanging on.

Jesus knew we would find this a challenge

He tells us to "Love your neighbor as yourself."

"AS yourself."

That's the "ouch factor" in those words, isn't it? The one that sets us coming up with "Yeah, buts."

It gets easier when we remember what that study leader at Camp stressed over and over:

"Love" is more than an emotion. To live out love means to do what's loving–and this we control.

That surprised me then and it still does

Looking at love this way means we needn't first try to dredge up emotion from within ourselves. We don't have to feel loving to demonstrate love. To act in loving ways.

When we simply do what love calls for it's not long before our feelings match our actions.

But that's the point, isn't it? When Jesus told us to love he did not mean to love when we're in the mood and the rest of the time, forget it.

Let's keep the order straight

Jesus sums it up in Mark 12:30-31:

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

After this comes:

The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself.

We love because he [Jesus] first loved us. 1 John 4:19 NIV

Along the way, let's be kind to ourselves, too. Sometimes we will fail and need to start over, simply because we're human beings. That's a good time to remind ourselves of this truth:

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

Our forgiveness in Christ means we are not condemned when we fall short of loving unconditionally. Instead, we are free to start over and go on, living our faith and growing stronger.

Best of all, we're not left on our own

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13 ESV

Let us rejoice and be glad!

Lenore

A fresh take on “Love your neighbor”

June 18, 2022
What an odd mixture of Easter symbols we have in America…and probably all over the world. Bunnies, butterflies, baby chicks, eggs, flowers and green grass, chocolates in foil wrappings.

And once in awhile, a picture of a man hanging on a wooden cross.

But hey, isn't Easter really all about Spring and everything greening up, blooming, growing?

No, not really.

The deeper meaning of Easter

Easter traces back to the life and death of a man called Jesus, who was impaled on a wooden cross on a hill outside Jerusalem.

Heavy nails had been pounded through his hands and his feet. Blood trickled down his face, the intended result from Roman soldiers twisting together some thorny branches to make a crown, then pressing it down on his head.

Blood seeped from the wounds on his back, too, the result of being mercilessly whipped by soldiers with leather whips that featured bits of bone and rock imbedded on the ends.

Onlookers moaned and wept to see the suffering of this man.

But the story doesn't end there

Jesus said little during the nine hours he spent on the cross. Near the end, he cried out in a loud voice, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:45)

Not long after, once again he called out in a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." (Luke 23:46)

At this point, for one who had been hanging on the cross for nine hours to be able to say anything in a loud voice was remarkable. A few breaths more and Jesus gave up his life as a human being.

One of Jesus' followers found courage to ask permission to take down Jesus' body from the cross before sundown and Roman rulers permitted it. So Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the Jewish ruling council, took it down, then wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a new tomb cut in stone. The women at the cross followed and saw where Jesus' body was laid.

Then because sundown ushered in the Sabbath, they hurried home so they could observe it properly.

The sad day Jesus died became known as "Good Friday," because it led up to Easter

Early on Sunday morning followers of Jesus went to his grave, ready to embalm his body properly. They pondered how they could move the heavy stone Roman guards set in place to block the entrance, then sealed it around the edges with sealing wax. What's more, Pilate, the Roman ruler, had told the soldiers to stand guard, day and night.

They tried to think how they could manage those barriers.

Matthew 28 tells us when Mary Magdalene and the other Mary arrived at the tomb there was a violent earthquake. An angel of the Lord came down from heaven and rolled back the stone, then sat on it. The Roman guards were so afraid of him that they shook and passed out.

When these grieving friends looked into the tomb they saw it was empty, with only the cloth death-wrappings left behind.

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid…He is not here; he has risen, just as he said…Go quickly and tell his disciples…"

What could this mean?

Who could know what it meant to "rise from the dead?" Every person alive, now or then, knows that dead means dead.

They hurried away from the tomb, headed for Galilee. Then suddenly (Matthew 28:9) Jesus himself stood before them and said, "Greetings."

Filled with joy, they clasped his feet and worshiped him. Jesus said, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

They could not explain it, but Jesus did not stay dead. This was not a ghost, not a spirit, this truly was Jesus, their friend and teacher.

Jesus, fully human, born of Mary, was–and is–true God, as well

Now his followers saw and touched the same loved friend they had watched die on the cross, very much alive and in the flesh. He spoke with them. He ate with them. How could this be?

Jesus told them again how much he loved them and promised they would receive power to carry on his ministry. How would this happen? Through the power of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, which Jesus promised to send them. (And he did, just read the book of Acts and the rest of the New Testament.)

Even today, the same indwelling Holy Spirit lives within the hearts of everyone who believes what the Bible says and trusts in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Maybe you're reading this and thinking, "Says who? Why should I take your word for anything?"

Please don't. Check it out for yourself. Pick up a Bible and read the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. (Don't miss John 3:16-17.) They all tell the story of Jesus and his life.

Each Gospel has a slightly different "flavor," since each was transcribed by a different individual. Matthew and Luke begin with his birth. Each one winds up with the sequence of events leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his resurrection.

It's worth reading the book of Romans, too, especially chapter 8, verses 1-4 and also verse 31 to the end of the chapter.

How could one sum up the Easter story? John's Gospel, Chapter 3:16-17 lays it all out for us:

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.

Are you looking for a more modern explanation?

One I think says it well goes something like this:

Jesus had to be true man, because God cannot die for the sins of the world. God cannot die for any reason. He is eternal, without beginning and without end.

Jesus had to be true God because man cannot forgive sins or pay the price of sin for the world. Only God.

So what's the big deal about Easter? Just this: New life for the world. New life for each of us–eternally–free for the taking.

Look around. Every new leaf, every bud and bloom, points back to the Source of life that never ends: Jesus Christ.

All it costs is taking Jesus at his word.

"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Romans 10:10.

Life. To the full. Now and eternally. For me, that's the real meaning of Easter, because Jesus' resurrection proved the truth of what he said about himself. Now, there's reason to celebrate!

May you know for yourself the peace and joy that Easter's real meaning brings,

Lenore

Will the real meaning of Easter please stand up?

April 7, 2022
Everybody wants it, but apparently not many of us can hang onto it.

That's strange, isn't it, when bookstores and libraries offer yards of books telling us how to find peace, not to mention Google's gazillion experts.

But we keep looking.

We pore over articles and books about mental health and happy living and serenity. Some are quirky and off-the-wall, easy to discard. Many others offer good advice and sound principles.

If you're like me you may have followed somebody's program a few times–and it worked. For awhile.

I found–and maybe you did, too–before long the "what ifs?" and "if onlys" slithered in again, invading my thoughts and churning my gut.

All the while I said I believed in Jesus–and I meant it.

Still, I often asked myself, What's your problem? Don't you know you are blessed?

I did. I do.

The breakthrough cometh

I finally got it through my granite skull that peace will never be found "out there someplace" and came back to what I've always said–and thought--I believed:

Only one wisdom source holds true over the centuries: God's word, the Bible.

What's more, it's not about finding peace.

Peace is an inside job, a matter of the heart and will. The Apostle Paul spelled out the secret in his letter to the Colossians:

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15 ESV

"Let," the little word with giant implications

After checking the definition on http://www.dictionary.com I came up with three questions based on the meanings given.

Will I allow Christ's peace into my heart?

Will I permit it to rule over the "stuff" that threatens to overwhelm me?

Will I grant his peace and calmness occupancy in my heart and mind?

Ouch. That confirms what I suspected. My biggest hindrance stares back at me from every mirror.

And yet he loves me anyway, even though I'm pocked with flaws in my perfect facade.

"Shalom"

This beautiful Hebrew word means peace of body, mind and spirit. A sense of completeness. Wholeness. Harmony.

It's a peace beyond our human understanding, the kind Jesus spoke about to his disciples:

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." John 14:27 ESV

Isn't that what we all long for?

Jesus died and rose again to fill us with new life and peace. Once we know him as our Savior he lives within us by his Spirit.

Not because we're good enough.

Not because of who we are or what we do.

Only–only–by grace, that is, the undeserved love and forgiveness we have through faith in Jesus.

No more worries, it's a done deal

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1 ESV

We have peace with God. Now. Forever.

I know, I know, it sounds too simple. We want some tangible proof that guarantees we'll never slip back into unrest.

If that's true how can my sense of peace slip away as if by gravity?

It's not gravity, it's that inner tormentor, a.k.a. the devil, who never stops trying to pull us back.

That "roaring lion" (1 Peter 5:8) tiptoes in like a pussycat and purrs, "Oh really?"

I've found I need to watch my thoughts and my words so I spot anxiety and negativity before they take hold.

That's the time to remind myself who I am in Jesus and read or repeat verses like those above.

Just as important: "And be thankful"

Did you notice those three words in Colossians 3:15?

The more we look for reasons to be thankful the more we find–even in the midst of trying times.

It's not a magic charm. When we thank God for what's good it changes our focus on ourselves. It turns our gaze on him and all the ways he blesses us, day in and day out.

Best of all it reminds us who we are in Jesus Christ: God's much-loved child.

Our moods and our times of feeling discouraged make no difference in this equation. It's not about meeting some elusive standard or "having the right stuff."

It's all about Jesus and believing he loves us.

Could there be a better key to inner peace?

Still learning,

Lenore
Inner peace is closer than you think

August 20, 2021