Better than Christmas Snow

Today's devotion in Our Daily Bread is called "The Wonder of Creation." I really enjoyed it...I love devotional readings that touch on the topic of God's creation. But my favorite part was the reflection question at the end. It asked: "When has something in God’s creation brought you joy?: My eyes immediately went to the big window in front of me and the sight of the thick snowfall outside made me giddy.  "I guess I don't have to search in memory lane to answer this one, huh?" I thought.  Today, I am blissfully enjoying God's creation in the form of white precipitation.  

And, it's not that I love snow.  I really don't.  I only like snow at Christmas time.  BUT...to tell you the truth, this snow storm now, is way better than Christmas snow to me.  The reason is, thanks to this snow, I have had 2 unexpected days off to spend here at home with my peeps. I sooooo needed that.  

I love it how God has used His creative power to give me what I needed the most: a moment to slow down. 

Snow is still inconvenient.  I still can't drive on it, especially when there is a layer of ice underneath.  Grey skies still depress me.  I still hate having to clean after the dog every time he goes outside.  I still dislike cold weather with a passion.  But today, I am most grateful for this aspect of God's creation...because it has brought me great joy.  The Lord knows what we need, indeed...and, in His mysterious and unique ways, He always provides.

I also loved the closing prayer in today's Daily Bread reading, so I will reproduce it here as a reminder to always be thankful: Thank You, God, for the wonder of Your creation and the privilege to learn about You through it. May we remember Your Hand is behind every thing we see in nature, and that Your Nature is Glorious! In Christ's Precious Name. Amen!

Touched by an Angel

 Last Sunday our dear Pastor Dan preached on Psalm 91, which is one of my favorite. Even though it is one of my favorite Psalms...and I have read it and re-read it many times over the years...the Word was truly fresh and new.  At that moment, while Pastor Dan was reading the portion of the Psalm he was going to preach on...it was as if I've never heard it before, especially this part:

If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”

and you make the Most High your dwelling,

no harm will overtake you,

no disaster will come near your tent.

For he will command his angels concerning you

to guard you in all your ways;

they will lift you up in their hands,

so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. Psalm 91: 9-12

I just want to cry reading these blessed words again this morning. Even now, they become alive in my soul and feel new in my heart again.  I hang on to them for dear life, and claim the promises it contains...particularly when it says that The Lord "will command his angels concerning" me... what a precious promise.  In the House of the Lord nobody is unprotected.  He watches over us as we make Him our Refuge and Strength...and He sends His angels.  There is such beauty and comfort in this promise, it's as if we are reminded to breathe.  After holding our breath for so long, we are invited to come into the protection of His dwelling, and exhale...

Pastor Dan mentioned how his late, first wife had an encounter with what might have been an angel who saved her from being run over by a car in New York City when she was in her twenties.  He mentioned how she'd talk about that encounter all through her life...recalling the intensity of the angel's blue eyes.  I've heard of such situations, when a devastating accident is prevented by a stranger who is there, but then vanishes to never been found again.  There are also those who hear an audible voice, not a thought, a voice, that guides them, when there's nobody else around speaking.  

I've never experience anything like that myself.  The closest to anything so amazing is Dan getting warnings in dreams or premonition-type feelings when we are about to do something stupid.  Those "gut feelings" have kept us from making several foolish mistakes, that's for sure.  But not me...I have never experienced anything like that myself.  Perhaps, I have, but I have been too distracted to notice...I live my life in such a hurry, filled with so much stress and worry, that I miss quite a bit.  Probably the only way I would realize it is if I get the angel to reveal it to me, like in that show from the 90s, "Touched by an Angel."  It was a nice show, but I remember not liking the part where they would always say: "Hi, I'm an angel sent by God."  I don't know why, but that moment on the show was always kind of like a let down for me...

Anyway, I guess the reason I wasn't too thrilled with the angelic revelation in the show was because I've always thought that most angels are NOT supernatural.  At any given moment, we are all someone else's angel too.  As we obey the Holy Spirit's nudging, we are acting as God's earth angels in the lives of others.  A kind word, the giving of our time, a message, our company, our shared tears, our share laughter, our generosity, our compassion, our love, all of these and many more offerings we present to those around us constitute angelic gestures designed by Our Lord for the benefit of His children.  And, I am happy to say, I have been the blessed receiver of these angelic gestures throughout my life...for which I would always be most thankful.  

I guess, now that I think about it...I have been touched by an angel after all...countless of times...and the revelation is in His Word, as He invites us to take shelter in His dwelling and rest in the knowledge that He and His angels will guard our ways. And all I can say to that is: Praised be the Lord. In the Precious Name of Jesus, Our Refuge and Strength! Amen!

My Strength and Shield

 As I am struggling to keep my head above water at work, I took a minute to read today's devotional in Jesus Calling by Sarah Young, and the words were just what I needed, so I am going to reproduce them here, if only for me to try to help my mind and heart internalize them:

I am your Strength and Shield.  I plan out each day and have it ready for you long before you arise from bed.  I also provide the strength you need each step of the way.  Instead of assessing your energy level and wondering about what's on the road ahead, concentrate on staying in touch with ME. My Power flows freely into you through our open communication.  Refuse to waste energy worrying, and you will have strength to spare.

Whenever you start to feel afraid, remember that I am your Shield.  But unlike inanimate armor, I am always alert and active.  My Presence watches over you continually, protecting you from both known and unknown dangers.  Entrust yourself to My watchcare, which is the best security system available.  I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go.  

I pray that the Holy Spirit will give me what I need, and will help me to "refuse to waste energy worrying."  I am a worrier at heart, but I am trusting that the Lord will give me the strength to refuse the fear and the worry as soon as they start creeping up my back.  I claim the words of Psalm 28: 7

The Lord is my strength and my shield;

my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.

I rest in You, Lord.  In Jesus' Precious Name.  Amen!

You Are the Potter and We Are the Clay

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.” Jeremiah 18: 1-2

As a teacher, I'm always looking for ways to "show" rather than just "tell" my students what I want them to learn.  I try to replicate in the classroom real-life situations that will help them get much needed practice, which is key for their second language acquisition process.  I see it with Dylan as well.  He learns best when he is immersed in an environment where he can witness the lessons come to life...where he can do more experiential-hands-on style of learning activities.  That's when he really "gets it."

Among everything else, Our Great God is an Amazing Teacher.  Nobody beats Him in the classroom of life.  He wins all the excellence in teaching awards, no contest!  One of such instances, of the Teacher-Nature of Our Lord is clearly seen in the passage above.  For 17 chapters we see Jeremiah's ears been filled by God's judgement for His People Israel...which will still continue in the coming pages...but here, at the beginning of chapter 18, God gives Jeremiah a classic high-impact/experiential learning practice, where His compassion for Jeremiah's battered heart is demonstrated...as Jeremiah takes his first step into the Potter's House.

The Prophet goes down to the Potter's house and he sees him working at the wheel.  What a precious image.  Like Jon Courson's commentary says, Jeremiah witnesses, even without God pointing it out, that there is purpose in the Potter's work, "he is not playing or amusing himself with the clay. He was making something of the clay." The analogy came to life right in front of Jeremiah's eyes...and he got it:  God is the Potter, we are the clay, and the wheel, the instrument He uses to shape us, is life itself.  The wheel of life can be grueling at times.  Its constant spinning could be dizzying.  Often, the Potter reshapes us completely...but the ultimate truth is: we are always in His hands.  The clay cannot resist the Potter's hands.  Imagine if it did...what a disaster that would be.  With the utmost care, the Potter's hands just smooth out all the rough edges, and as the wheel turns round and round, His tenderness molds us until we are finished and become what He had intended...a most beautiful creation.

Like the eyes of my students sparkle when they "get" the lesson after I put them in a situation where they can see it and touch it and experience it, Jeremiah's eyes were open to the teachings of God and to His Truth.  And we benefit from it, for the lessons learned by the prophet so long ago, come to life today in us.

May we remember we are the clay, and that we are always in the care of Our Divine Potter's loving hands, regardless of how mad the wheel is spinning below us.  In the Precious Name of Jesus.  Amen!

Women's Retreat

Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home. Luke 1: 56

One of my most cherished activities our church organizes is the women's retreat.  I've tried to attend as many as I could over the years, and each time I've been able to go, it has been a most comforting, re-energizing, spiritually-filling experience.  As everything else in the entire world, our beloved women's retreat has been impacted by the unending Covid-19 pandemic.  But, there is hope for this year to bring it back, and I can't wait!  I sure hope it is on a weekend I'm available given the requirements of my current job...

At any rate...the women's retreat is a time when women gather together, at a location away from home, to enjoy fellowship and to help each other refocus our sight on Jesus, encouraging one another, bringing to life Proverbs 27: 17 As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

There's nothing like time spent with sisters in Christ to renew one's joy and strengthen one's soul for the journey ahead.

If I'm allowed some speculation here, I believe with all I've got, that Our Lord, knowing the depths of the female psyche and heart, which He designed Himself with all its intricacies and complexities, gave Mary this time with Elizabeth as a sort of women's retreat to strengthen her for what was to come.  It was out of His mercy and love, that God's provided Mary with the support and comfort she most needed at that exact time.  He knew she could not find it at home.  He knew she needed a kindred spirit...a spiritual sister who was going through a very similar situation, to guide her and help her remember who God is and that she could truly trust Him.

Like mentioned before, Mary's song, The Magnificat, my Mom's most beloved prayer, ends sort of abruptly, with the mention of Mary's retreat at Elizabeth's.  However, when we see the whole picture, we can appreciate this is a very significant conclusion.  In the song, we witness Mary's act of surrender in her intentional effort to remember, to bring to the forefront God's mighty deeds not just in her life but throughout history.  That's exactly what she needed to do at this most complicated crossroads of her life: to take some uninterrupted time to remember.  

God's gift to Mary is to allow her exactly that, the much needed time to regroup and to meditate on everything she knew about God...to continue on with her recounting of God's mercies, promises and goodness...so she could be equipped for the journey ahead.  And what best way to do that, that in the fellowship of a small "women's retreat."

I am moved to tears as I think of this, because it brings to my mind a bit of the mind of God and how tenderly and lovingly He tends to the heart of women.  He knows what we need and often, He gives it to us even without our asking.  

I pray that the Holy Spirit leads us to where we need to be, so we can experience the comfort, support, love, care and strength that fellowship with the body of Christ can bring, especially, among our spiritual sisters.  May the Lord allow the women's retreat to come back.  I sure am ready for it.  In the precious Name of Jesus.  Amen!

God is Faithful

...remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever,

just as he promised our ancestors.” Luke 1: 54b-55

I avoid making promises.  It is very, very rarely that anyone would hear me say: "I promise," to anything.  I know myself.  I'm too fickle.  And people love to rub unfulfilled promises on one's face...so I avoid making any, so I don't have to hear anyone saying to me:  "but you promised!"  When Dylan tries to pull that one on me (he doesn't do it much any more because it has never worked), my customary reply is: "No I didn't.  I never promised you anything!"

Thank Goodness Our God is an Awesome God, who is Faithful beyond measure!  Although He knows humans are fickle, He does not share this trait with us.  Praise the Lord!

A commentary I read about these last verses in Mary's song stated how she was confident that God fulfills the promises which had been spoken to the Patriarchs and specifically the covenant promises to Abraham and to his seed forever. The commentary continues saying how by mentioning Abraham and his seed Mary is proclaiming a reminder of God’s promise to send the Messiah through the seed of Abraham (Gen 12:1-3; 17:19; 22:18; 26:4; 28:14). And that Mary believes that God will fulfill this covenant promise through the baby in her womb.

Mary is reminding herself and all who would read her song in Luke chapter 1 from that moment on, that Our Lord is Merciful and Faithful.  She is reminding herself and us that He will take care of her and us forever, for He Who Promised is Trustworthy. 

I am grateful for the reminder.  I am thankful that I don't have to judge God's designs by my own actions...for, I don't want to enter into any promises to save my own face, but God promises to save our souls.

Regardless of our circumstances, may we, like Mary, always remember...

God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? Numbers 23: 19

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10: 23

God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 

1 Corinthians 1: 9

Receivers and Givers of Help

He has helped his servant Israel, Luke 1: 54a

As I have shared before, I don't really do New Year's resolutions.  Instead, I think of a word that I try to carry with me throughout the new year as a sort of reminder of areas I want to focus more on.  This year, I was a bit torn as to what my word would be.  However, I decided on "HELP."  The way I think of this concept is two-fold: help, as in asking for help.  And help as in helping others.  So, when I read today's verse, I couldn't help but to pause on the word "helped."

I agree with what I read in a commentary saying, that Mary is expressing her trust in God's current actions for her as an individual in the light of God's faithfulness to His children throughout history.  God has helped her by giving her a sympathetic supporter in Elizabeth and a husband who is not going to abandon her in Joseph.  He has given her help in the form of strength so she can carry out her most holy mission.  He has helped her by giving her the ability to recall His blessings, including, the way God has helped His servant, Israel.  She is Israel and she claims His help for His chosen ones as one of them.  

On the same token, I wonder if she is also seeing the two-fold nature of God's help fulfilled in the baby who is miraculously forming in her womb?  I wonder if she comprehends the full extent of how she is part of that help Our Lord offers His servant Israel.  She is claiming the help, but she is also the vessel that God uses to dispense help.  

Like Mary, we are in that same position.  We are the blessed receivers of God's help, and we are the ones He calls to help our brothers and sisters.  That is the reason for the blessing: so we can bless others.

Mary was carrying the One...we carry Him too.

May the Holy Spirit manifest Himself through us and use us as vessels of His Light to end the darkness of this world today.  In the Precious Name of Jesus.  Amen!