Category: Joy

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
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
Are you thinking Christmas won't be the same this year? Feeling a bit rushed?

It's time for a break. Sit for a moment and catch the joy of these children–and adults–as you watch and listen to this YouTube of some years ago.

First, a bit of background

It all started when James Barthelman and his wife moved from Nebraska to the tiny village of Quinhagak, Alaska, to teach. Quinhagak is a (mostly) Yup'ik Eskimo village, 400 miles west of Anchorage, with no roads to the outside world. At the last census the population numbered 699 residents.

James was to teach in the village school, Kuinerramiut Elitnarviat School.

During the school year he and his fifth-graders came up with making this YouTube video as a school computer project that would involve both children and villagers. Barthelman filmed it, intending that this YouTube would go only to other Yup'ik villages in the area.

But it caught on and went viral

By now well over 1.8 million people have viewed this lively performance, all of it synced with the recording of the Robert Shaw Chorale singing the "Hallelujah" chorus from Handel's Messiah.

That one teacher in one small school never imagined how many people would be entranced by this video.

Quinhagak is a long way from Dublin, Ireland, where George Frideric Handel composed Messiah in 1741. At the time he considered himself something of a failure. Then during a 24-day period he composed the entire score of Messiah, for both choir and orchestra. He said he felt God gave him the music.

Handel never could have foreseen how his music would endure.

Nor that centuries later a teacher and a group of Inuit children would come up with such a creative performance, all of it synced with a recorded choir singing Handel's "Hallelujah" chorus.

Consider this another reminder what God can do with the work of one individual

Although Handel composed many other musical works, only his "Hallelujah" chorus is sung and hummed all over the world. His Messiah is performed every Christmas season by choruses and choirs in huge cities and in tiny villages on every continent.

There's a lesson here for you and me

As individuals and as moms and dads we cannot know what God will do with our work.

Or the work of our children.

I can't help thinking of this Bible verse.

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 NIV

That verse wasn't aimed only at Handel and other famous people. It speaks to you and me, too.

Think you're on a treadmill and going nowhere?

Perhaps today you question the value of your life. Maybe you're facing your first Christmas alone after losing a loved one.

Maybe you're a mom and your family most often notices what you do when you don't do it.

Put a positive spin on that. Being taken for granted also means your family knows they can count on you.

What's more, the family life you create and the love you pour into your days will live on in your children.

Joy comes from giving ourselves fully, knowing that what we do matters, whether we see the end result or not.

God is faithful. What we do in love will live on

Believe it. Let that truth put fresh energy in your tired body.

Someone needs us, needs our kind words, needs our encouragement. Whether we realize it or not, those are gifts, too.

This Christ-mas season let's put aside our usual thoughts of hurry and pressure and think on the greatest Gift.

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 ESV

Hallelujah!

Lenore

Here comes a Christmas heart-lift and a smile

December 7, 2022
Sometimes God chooses unlikely ways to remind us we have a lot to be thankful for, doesn't He?

I won't forget the day I learned a lot by eavesdropping on someone else's conversation.

Let me explain.

One morning I stopped a local coffee shop and soon got jolted out of my private little pity party. (It wasn't much fun, anyway.)

The hostess seated me in a booth close to a table where two men seemed really intent on their conversation.

One man had a radio-announcer voice that carried, even though he spoke softly. I couldn't help overhearing and once he started talking I didn't want to miss a word. Besides, I wanted to finish my coffee and snack. I grabbed my trusty note pad and jotted down his key points.

Here's my best recap of his story

"I have one brother, the only family I have left. We've never been close, but we talked by phone once in awhile. We lived a couple hundred miles apart, so we didn't know much about each other's lives, but that was okay with both of us.

"One day I got a call from a Child Welfare worker in his city. She told me the police arrested my brother and his wife for dealing drugs. They took his three children out of the house and turned them over to Child Welfare.

"The social worker told me my brother's kids would go into foster care unless my wife and I took them. We were their only hope and she wanted an answer by the next day. I was speechless and my wife even more so. We talked and talked and cried and prayed half the night. At last we said Yes, thinking it would be short-term.

"Not so. Eventually my brother and his wife were convicted of running a drug ring and both got long prison sentences.

"It's been hard, hard, hard, even though we've talked to our pastor and friends many times and we've had family counseling. My 9-year old nephew adapted pretty well. My 11-year old niece keeps it all inside, but those two both call us Mom and Dad and really, that's what we are. We're the ones who are there and who will be there, and we love them. They all know that, even the 15-year old.

"She still has nightmares. She rebels in just about every way she can dream up, no matter what we do. We're coming to think perhaps what she needs most is beyond our ability, maybe some kind of special mental-health treatment for awhile, to help her heal.

"We've prayed and tried to pour out love, but we've also failed in a lot of ways. I think I didn't really know much about talking to God before this upheaval in our lives. One thing I know, we wouldn't have made it without God giving us strength, minute-by-minute. Sometimes we've thought we couldn't keep on, but God has brought us this far, so we trust Him for the future.

"Here's the wonderful surprise and extra blessing in all this. We missed seeing it for quite awhile. Then recently we thought back to the early days of our marriage when the doctors told us we never would have children of our own and we were crushed. Now here we are with three kids, two of them doing very well. Now we are at peace. In spite of all the pain, we have joy and we know we did the right thing."

As I rose to leave I glanced at the men and saw they both had tears in their eyes. They matched my own.

A change of heart

You won't be surprised to hear I walked out with a new perspective on challenges in my life, my heart brimming with thanks and praise.

Thanks for that man and his wife who opened their home and their hearts and changed the lives–and the future–of three hurting youngsters. (And their own.)

Thanks to God for supplying the love and strength they needed to give of themselves, day by day, and not count the cost.

Thanks that they can see the blessings and joy hidden within their daily sacrifices.

That conversation refocused my thinking in how to look at challenges in my life.

Like that couple, let's open our eyes to the joy!

The Apostle Paul well knew personal suffering but he also knew how to find joy. I love the way he sums up his secret in Philippians 4:

Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice! … 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.

Finally, brothers (and sisters) whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things . . . And the God of peace will be with you. (Selected from Phil. 4:4-9 NIV)

"Rejoice!" It's not a suggestion, it's more like a must. An attitude we choose.

"If anything is excellent or praiseworthy … " Paul is telling us that whatever comes we can search out some bit of excellence or cause for praise. IF we wear that mindset as we look for it rather than getting stuck in our problems and disappointments. IF we remind ourselves that our loving God never leaves us on our own.

We will find the good, not because we're so great, but because God is faithful to those who trust in Him.

Trusting, too,

Lenore
Why it helps us to remember what’s good and right and true

June 25, 2022
Sooner or later we discover that life is a series of highs and lows.

Each of us would choose the highs and toss out the lows. If we could.

Everything reminds us it's the season to rejoice, but perhaps right now it takes all we've got just to get through the day.

Looking back brings sadness.

Looking ahead brings fear.

Some may be waiting out results of medical tests, our own or someone we love. Or we know what the tests reveal–and wish we didn't.

Or it could be job loss. Marriage problems. Strained relationships with family members. The uncertainties of aging. The anxiety that rises in our throat every month as we total up expenses.

Hardest of all is the grief after a loved one dies. People talk about "closure," as if one shuts the door and that's it. Not true. Hearts thankful for happy memories can still ache, still feel empty. Even for Christians.

Silence is not always golden.

Whatever the cause we ache to feel joy once again

Despite what we see around us, some of us may not feel much like giving thanks or singing "Joy to the world."

Yes, we know hard times come to all of us,. Knowing that doesn't help much.

Perhaps we blush to remember times we told others in pain that the Lord helps those who help themselves. Now it's our turn–and we've tried. We may have prayed until our throat went dry and scratchy.

Maybe we've given up because nothing changes.

Ever since Eden we live in a messed-up world

That's plain to see, yet God in the Bible assures us that trouble does not mean God stopped loving us. He never will.

The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness." Jeremiah 31:3-4 NIV

"Everlasting." Love that has no beginning and no end.

Another verse well-loved by many promises everything that happens to us has a purpose, one way or another.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good for those who are called according to his purpose.   Romans 8:28 ESV

What could be "good" about a hard time?

Try these, for starters:

We may not know the answer to that question for awhile, but God does.

It may be good, even though it does not feel good to us.

Without a doubt every challenging experience will stretch us and change us.

Do I like this process? Not at all. I want my life to be smooth as a mountain lake at dawn.

Over the years I've learned not to blame God for causing my problems. Does He allow them? It seems so, but always to teach and grow me, not to beat me up and then walk away.

This leaves us with the obvious question to ask ourselves: How will I handle this?

We can fight the situation and complain and grow bitter. Or we can grow stronger. We can become a person with more empathy and understanding for the pain of others.

Always, the choice is ours.

The Pilgrims show us how to live

Paintings of that first Thanksgiving show the artists' concepts of the scene, but none can depict the emotions of that day.

When we look on happy settlers and friendly Native Americans gathered around a huge table loaded with food we assume joy ruled the day. After all, the year's bountiful food supply was safely stored away for winter so they could rejoice and be glad.

What isn't shown is the deep grief that shadowed that first Thanksgiving gathering.

The Mayflower left Britain loaded with 110 passengers and crew. By that first Thanksgiving about a year later, only 50 people survived. Only three families that boarded that ship remained intact.

And yet they thanked God.

Instead of getting stuck in mourning what and whom they lost, they turned their eyes and their hearts to what remained–and gave thanks to God.

What if we took our cues from them?

Whatever our situation may be, we, too, can entrust our lives to our Father's loving care and be at peace.

We can rejoice and celebrate what is.

How do we do that if at the moment, our joy has dwindled and our hope has dried up? Still we can wrap ourselves in the unfailing warmth of God's love for us and be comforted.

This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Psalm 107:1 KJV

Inward peace and joy do not depend on things going right for us. They flow out of knowing for certain that Jesus loves us. His Spirit is with us, every moment of every day.

Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." John 14:23 ESV

As the old advertising slogan told us, "It's what's inside that counts"

My friend, you have all you need to deal with whatever comes. Today. Tomorrow. Always.

How do we get through the weeks ahead?

Breathe–and rejoice that you are able to

Refuse to keep reciting that familiar list of "What ifs"

Let yourself feel joy because you know who's really in control

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 ESV

For each of us, lasting joy and peace that come from trusting Jesus is the gift that we can rely on. Whatever the day brings.

So let us give thanks to the Giver. Let us rejoice and be glad!

Lenore
Can we thank God in our hard times?

November 24, 2021
A lot of us are thinking Christmas won't be the same this year. Some of us are feeling our necks and shoulders tightening as each day goes on.

Why not take a break you'll remember? Sit for a moment and catch the sheer joy of these children–and adults–as you watch and listen to this YouTube of some years ago.

First, a bit of background

Their story began when James Barthelman and his wife moved from Nebraska to the tiny village of Quinhagak, Alaska. This (mostly) Yup'ik Eskimo village is 400 miles west of Anchorage and has no roads to the outside world. Its population numbered 699 residents at the last census.

The Barthelmans came with a purpose as James would be teaching in the village school, Kuinerramiut Elitnarviat School.

During the school year he and his fifth-graders came up with making this YouTube video as a school computer project that would involve both children and villagers. Barthelman filmed it, intending that this YouTube would go only to other Yup'ik villages in the area.

Since then well over 1.8 million people have viewed this lively performance, all of it synced with the Robert Shaw Chorale recording of the "Hallelujah" chorus from Handel's Messiah.

This one teacher in one small school never imagined how many people would be entranced by this video.

It's a common question, what can one person do?

A lot, as it turns out.

Let's go back to the story of how what we know as Messiah came to be. It is the year 1741 and George Frideric Handel lives in London. He's feeling depressed, with some cause. A stroke left him with blurred vision and his financial situation is shaky.

Then Charles Jennens brings him a new libretto for an opera and asks Handel to compose music to go with it. Handel reads it and inspiration fills him.

One account said Handel felt God gave him the music and he could scarcely write the notes down fast enough.

Over the next 24 days he stays in the front room of his home and composes the musical score for Messiah for both choir and orchestra.

He works tirelessly day and night, often forgetting to eat the meals left for him on a tray outside his door. Nights he writes by lamplight and candle-light.

Handel composes and orchestrates every harmony, every note for all choir parts and for every instrument in an orchestra. True to the time, he relied on his trusty quill pen and a bottle of ink.

Handel never could have foreseen how his music would endure.

Consider this another reminder what God can do with the work of one individual

Although Handel composed many other musical works, only his "Hallelujah" chorus is sung and hummed all over the world. Every Christmas season choruses and choirs in huge cities and in tiny villages on every continent perform his Messiah.

There's a lesson here for you and me

As individuals and as moms and dads we cannot know what God will do with our work. Or the work of our children.

I can't help thinking of this Bible verse.

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.  –Ephesians 2:10 NIV

That verse wasn't aimed only at Handel and other famous people. It speaks to you and me, too.

Think you're on a treadmill and going nowhere?

Perhaps today you question the value of your life. Maybe you're facing your first Christmas alone after losing a loved one.

Or maybe you're a mom and your family most often notices what you do when you don't do it. Choose to put a positive spin on that. Being taken for granted also means your loved ones know they can count on you.

What's more, the family life you create and the love you pour into your days will live on in your children.

Joy comes from giving ourselves fully, knowing that what we do matters, whether we see the end result or not.

God is faithful. What we do in love will live on

Believe it. Let that truth put fresh energy in your tired body.

Someone needs us, needs our kind words, needs our encouragement. These are gifts, too, even when we don't realize it and even when the other person may seem to pay no attention.

This Christ-mas season let's put aside our usual thoughts of hurry and pressure and focus instead on the greatest Gift.

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 ESV

Hallelujah!

Lenore

Looking for Christmas joy? Catch some here

December 9, 2020
Here we are, with 2020 bearing down on us. The end of another decade. What will we do with it?

I've loved Christmas since I was a little girl singing and "saying my piece" for the Christmas program. I love the wreaths and the lights and all the happy frenzy.

Touching hearts and connecting. Remembering. Missing loved ones no longer with us.

One minute it's laughter and hugs, the next it's tears. In this season all our emotions are right there at the surface.

Very soon we'll pack away the tenderness and the trappings of Christmas and get back to the business of life.

Boxing up the tree and tangibles may make us sad, but that's all surface stuff. What we'll miss even more is setting aside our tender feelings and our willingness to be softer, more giving of ourselves and our time.

Why bother with Christmas lights and decorations?

We never know how our Christmas gestures and traditions may touch someone's heart.

Every year I think of another time, another place, when someone's Christmas star was just what I needed.

At the time we knew we'd be moving on, but for a few years we had no clue where my husband's job would take us. To me it felt like waiting for the other shoe to drop.

(Did I mention I'm not so good at waiting?)

Each December 1st someone on a far distant hill would put up a lighted Christmas star so large I could see it clearly as I turned off the freeway and headed the mile or so toward home.

Almost every time the sight of it would bring me to tears. Tears of gladness that despite all the commercial hoopla someone, somewhere, still cared about the Christ Child and the star that brought the shepherds running to Bethlehem.

Tears of doubt and self-pity, too, I confess. I wanted to know what came next and I also knew I couldn't, so at last I'd ask God to give me patience and peace as we waited.

Somehow, by the time I reached home seeing that star would calm my heart. Most of all, it reminded me that Jesus Christ was born to bring us peace.

Even me.

Even in the midst of not knowing.

Truth is, none of us ever knows what comes next

Our lives can be turned upside down in an instant. Most of us have lived it at some time.

All it takes is a letter. A phone call. An unexpected–or expected–diagnosis or a test result we didn't want to hear.

You've heard that saying, "Life is fragile. Handle with care."

The better maxim for us Christians would be, "Life is fragile, but we're safe in God's loving hands."

Our times are in his hands, remember? (Psalm 31:15.)

We can count on the One who knows the future

Let's not pack away our joy along with the "Christmas stuff."

Yes, we live in turbulent times and life may seem discouraging and dismal at times. Still, by this time most of us have figured out that we find what we look for.

Let's look for what's good instead of being on alert for what's wrong.

Let's remember who we are–and more importantly, who God is.

A verse to post on our mental bulletin boards and live by every day

There's a reason why this Bible verse has been treasured for centuries:

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you." Jeremiah 29:11-12 NIV

How about taking those words seriously as we start each new day?

I can't think of a better way to keep the joy and peace of Christmas in our hearts 24/7, can you?

Trusting along with you,

Lenore

What if we took God at his word, every day of every year?

December 29, 2019
If Messiah fills the air waves and our arms are getting sore

    From the Christmas cards we've written, but we've still a whole lot more,

    Yet we're feeling jolly, hanging lights and holly on the door,

    The secret's out, there is no doubt, it's Christmas time once more.

If the family's acting funny and we're fuming just a bit

    While we're hunting for the bunting that will surely be a hit,

    Christmas shopping has us hopping, we're about to lose our wits,

    And the object that's a project has turned out to be the pits.

If we have no whammy bunting, only clammy hands and sighs

    'Cause we're sick of spending money. Isn't funny, isn't wise.

    So we go into a huddle, still we muddle, agonize,

    While our dreams of finding "perfect" self-destruct before our eyes.

If we'll pitch the lists and flowcharts, let our hearts start thinking small,

    No more reading. What we're needing won't be found within a Mall.

    All the best stuff is the real stuff. Nothing changes, after all,

    It's still love that makes gifts matter, 'spite of chattter in the hall.

So at Christmas time and all the time, this wish comes from my heart:

    May great joy reign, May all your pain and all your stress depart,

    And may every day be one you say, "I cannot wait to start!"

   Then at day's end, let Christ, our friend, speak peace deep in your heart:

(Jesus said) "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." –John 14:27; For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders, and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. –Isaiah 9:6

So . . . Merry Christ-mas to you and yours! May your heart be filled with JOY because you know the Babe in the Manger came for you–to be your Friend and to set you right with God.

Lovingly,

Lenore



It’s Christmas time once more! (with apologies to all you poets)

December 20, 2017
Quick! What comes to mind when you think of that first Christmas in Bethlehem?

Probably we picture Mary and Joseph beaming their love at the newborn Baby while a bright star overhead shines its light directly on the stable.

We often see illustrations that include a semi-circle of sheep, cows and donkeys that may seem transfixed as they gaze at those human intruders into their world.

How lovely, we think.

Reality would not have been so neat and tidy.

I’ve been around cows and sheep. That shelter would have kept out the cold night air, true, and the animals would have given off heat, but animals give off something else, too. Let’s just say that stable would not have smelled of incense or fragrant spices.

Mary and Joseph never would have chosen such a place.

Yet that lowly stable was God’s appointed place for them that night.

Sometimes life is like that for us, too, isn’t it?

Even when we trust in God. Even when we’re doing what we believe is right. Living our faith. Believing. Trusting. We end up in a place we didn’t choose and we think, that’s not right. Then days or months or even years later, we see the pattern hidden from us in that time.

Think how often we pray and then make what seems a good move. Maybe we go to the right.

God, however, has another direction in mind. Somehow before long we find ourselves going left.

How can this be? Are we not in charge of our lives?

Answer: Not as much as we think and this turns out to be a very good thing

My husband and I got a big lesson in how this works some time ago. For many years we operated a successful modern dairy-grain farm in central Illinois. Life was good.

Then a series of events and people contacts came together in a remarkable way and we left it all behind. Oh sure, we prayed for guidance with all our hearts, more than ever before in our marriage. We came to know, absolutely know, that God was leading us.

For a few months that seemed wonderfully true and we brimmed over with praise and joy.

Then one thing after another fizzled out. There we were in our new life, in that new place where hardly anyone knew us–or cared about us–asking each other and God, “Why?”

We had followed what felt like clear guidance, so it made no sense. At the time.

Later we could see God’s leading in all the twists and turns. Had our original plans worked out we never would have arrived in the good place God planned for us.

Through it all we learned to trust Him in a deeper way than we ever had before. We came to understand that HE knows the way, even when life seems to make no sense to us.

How much more true that was for Mary and Joseph!

Joseph and Mary believed God in what seemed an impossible situation. They believed He went before them, no matter what.

Yet there they were, on that journey to Bethlehem because the Emperor decreed every citizen must go to their town of origin. No exceptions.

Joseph walked, leading the donkey while Mary, in her ninth month of pregnancy, most likely sat on its back.

Even before they reached Bethlehem she felt the first pangs of labor. Despite Joseph’s frantic search, there was no room for them but in that stable.

And God lit up that humble place with His light and His love.

He can light up our lowly places, too

Every one of us occasionally spends time in situations we would not have chosen. All we can do is keep putting one foot in front of the other and pray God will bring good out of our pain and confusion. Pray He will bring healing of body, mind and spirit.

Christmas reminds us nothing is impossible with God.

Because Jesus was born that night you and I can have hope in the midst of our dark times, the times we can’t see the way ahead but still must keep on walking.

God comes to us at just the right time, just as He did in Bethlehem that starry night long ago.

Here’s the Good News for you and for me and for all the world:

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. -John 3:16-17

That verse sums up why we say Jesus is the Light, the One who shines His love and peace into our dark world.

My friend, may HE bring you light and life and peace and JOY, at Christmas and all through the year ahead! It can be yours, just for the asking. Merry CHRISTmas to you and yours!

Warmly,

Lenore

How can we relate our lives today with that long-ago first Christmas?

December 13, 2017