Dear friends, my "tomorrow" will start with a 21-day fast from social media, but before I disappear, I wanted to wish you all a Happy New Year! May 2022 bring you peace, joy, good health, and many blessings.
12/31/21
12/25/21
A DIFFERENT KIND OF CHRISTMAS
This song has been playing in my mind since I got up this morning to a very different kind of Christmas. The words have gripped my heart in a way they never have before. How unfathomable the thought that Jesus, King of kings, and Lord of Lords, not only took on human form, but came to earth as a helpless baby born in a manger because there was no room for Him anywhere else.
Christmas Day my West Virginia family and I have a tradition of getting together for a special feast, followed by fellowship and the giving of gifts around the tree. Then we have a second celebration the day after when our New Jersey family arrives. This year, however, following a series of domino like events--including several cases of Covid--there was no one left to celebrate with and so we had to put it off.
Though I love my family, and miss being with them, I know we will get together on another day. Instead of feeling sad, I welcome this chance to spend Christmas with Jesus, worshipping Him, and offering Him my gifts of thanksgiving. As I do so, many thoughts cross my mind, such as the brevity of life, and how our best laid out plans can come to nothing when unexpected circumstances arise. None of us is promised another day--nor even another moment, for that matter.
Don't put off telling someone you love them. And, most of all, don't put off receiving the gift of salvation Jesus is offering you. Tomorrow may be too late.
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For the wages of sin is death, but the gift
of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our
Lord. (Romans 6:23)
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We are all born with a sin nature that separates us from God. All through the ages, with few exceptions, people have rejected Him, preferring to rule themselves and do things their own way, and yet He never stopped loving us despite it all. He longs for us to become part of His family forever, and has done everything He can to make this possible.
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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)
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God loves us so much that He gave the very best and most valuable thing He had to give--His only Son, Jesus, who came to earth in human form to atone for our sins and shame. By His death on the cross we have been cleansed, forgiven, and offered the gift of eternal life. All you have to do is reach out and receive this free gift by faith. It is not something you can earn. God won't force you to accept it. The choice is yours.
12/7/21
EXPECTATIONS
This post was written for Five Minute Friday
Word prompt--EXPECTATIONS
Five minutes to free write about it
---------------------------------
I was not planning on participating in this week's challenge, but the word prompt provides such a perfect segue to the testimony I was about to share, here goes.
* * * * * * * * *
My expectations rarely play out the way I expect them to. Sometimes things turn out better, sometimes worse. This testimony is about a blessing I almost missed out on because my expectations were all wrong. But God...
I had a very old, bulky, tube TV with the big back, from days long before flat screens came on the market. Mostly I used it to watch DVDs, VCR tapes, and my Wii Fit, all of which were hooked up to it. When it finally died, I thought I would need to replace it with something similar because I didn't realize that newer model TVs also have ports you can plug jacks into. So I posted a want ad on Freecycle asking for an old model TV that had these ports, and included a picture of what mine looked like.
The first response was from someone who was out of town, but would be back in a week, so we made arrangements for me to stop by when they returned. Meanwhile, I got another response from a lady who wrote, "I have exactly this. We just upgraded." So, what to do? Wait for the first person to get back, or get this one? I decided to go with the new offer if I could find someone to help me with the lifting. And so started a series of e-mails between us that I will only just give the gist of:
Me (with the expectation that this was another big, bulky, heavy TV): I'll come as soon as I can find someone to come with me and do the lifting.
Lady: It's not that heavy.
Me: I can't find anyone, so I'm going to pass. P.S. I'm 82 years old, and just about everything feels too heavy.
[At this point, most people would have let it go at that, but this lady was persistent.]
Lady: I can help get it to you. Where do you live?
Me: That's really kind of you, but I'm still going to pass, and research other options that aren't so big and bulky.
Lady (thinking I was afraid to have her bring it to me): I understand you not being comfortable having a stranger in your house, but I'll hold on to it for a week in case you change your mind.
Me: Oh my goodness, I was not worried about you coming to my apartment. I was telling you the truth about having changed my mind about getting another big, bulky TV.
Lady (sending me a picture): I guess I'm not giving up. This TV is not bulky. When I saw your ad, I had just been telling my son that I'd like this to go to someone who can use it. Not someone that just wants a 4th TV.
Wow! Who would have thought. Did God plan the timing of this whole scenario or what?
And now my five minutes are up, but I need to add a P.S.
* * * * * * * * *
P.S. God is so amazing. I'm always in awe at the way he orchestrates things down to the most minute details.
When I picked up the TV, the lady and her husband loaded it into my car for me. It is beautiful beyond my wildest expectations. Nothing like what I had before. The screen is 31.5" wide (about three times bigger than the old one), and it's only 8" deep, so pretty close to a flat screen. And when I got home and got out of my car wandering how I would get it up to my second floor apartment, a guy just happened to step out onto his patio for a smoke. I asked him if he would be willing to carry it up for me, and he was most happy to oblige.
And now for the final detail, which could only have been masterminded by someone who knew the beginning from the end.
When I went shopping for Christmas cards this year, I picked out several for people who have been special blessings in my life, and somehow, one of the nicest ones was wound up getting left over after I finished addressing everyone on my list. I couldn't understand how that could have happened, but now I do, and can just imagine God smiling a big smile and giving me a huge wink.
11/19/21
HIDE
This post was written for Five Minute Friday
Word prompt--HIDE
Five minutes to free write about it
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There was a time in my life when I tried to hide many things. Now not so much. One of the benefits of growing old is that I no longer feel the need to impress anybody or worry about what they might think of me. I am who I am, and the only person whose opinion matters, is that of the God who created me and who knows my heart.
When I became a Christian, some 30 years ago, I kept hidden the fact that I had once been deeply steeped in New Age and occult practices, and that I had authored a book (actually more than one) on numerology. And then one Palm Sunday, our pastor challenged us to do something radical, and I did. I wrote a blog post entitled Sincerely Wrong, in which I spoke openly about these things for the very first time.
After writing that post, I became convicted that it was time to bring all the other things I didn't talk about into the open as well because, just mabe, there was someone out there who desperately needed to hear it.
I had always believed that the reason I kept certain things hidden, especially from my mother, children, and other family members, was because I was trying to protect them from being hurt, but now I realized that was only partly true. I did want to keep them from unnecessary distress, but if truth be told, the greater reason was fear of what they might think of me. And so I went on to write my memoir, Sincerely Wrong: An Improbable Journey.
Writing the book was not an easy thing to do, because in order to give the whole story, I had to share things that I had never spoken about before. What I learned through the process though, is that hidden things have a way of eventually being exposed anyway, and when you are the one to bring them out into the open, they lose their power over you.
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For everything that is hidden will eventually
be brought out into the open, and every
secret will be brought to light.
(Mark 4:22 NLT)
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11/13/21
P.S. TO MY FMF PRAYER POST
This post is for Ginny Hartzler, who wanted me to expound a little, and for the several others of you who had similar questions.
Draw the Circle is a 40-day Bible challenge I have done several times over the years, and recently felt led to do once again. Each day has a short Scripture, a true story of God's answer to prayer, and prayer prompts, to inspire and encourage us to pray bold, persistent prayers, believe God can do all things, and be observant to see how He is working,
Basically, I read the chapter for the day, write my prayers down in a journal, and then draw circles around them. There's nothing magical about the circles. It just helps me be more persistent.
Nobody joined me this time around. Seems like everyone I invited was too busy. But that's okay. I don't mind doing it on my own, and something new that was not available before, is a daily video you can sign up for that corresponds to the chapter of the day. The videos are short--only about two minutes each, and they are free.
I've enjoyed going back and reading the old journals I kept when I took this challenge before, and seeing how God has responded to those prayers. Many have been answered, although not all of them in the way I thought they would be, and some prayers I am still praying for.
Well, I hope I've answered all your question.
Be blessed,
Sandy
I WONDER AS I WANDER
This post was written for Five Minute Friday
Word prompt--WANDER
Five minutes to free write about it
---------------------------------
The moment I saw this week's FMF prompt, the haunting melody and first few words of "I wonder as I wander" started playing in my mind. It kept repeating itself over and over in continuous play mode as I tried in vain to recall the rest of the words, where I had heard them, or even just what type of song it was. Finally, I gave up and consulted Google.
According to Google, those words belong to an old Christmas hymn written by folklorist/singer, Jacob Niles (1892-1980). It was inspired by the garbled fragment of a song he heard a young girl singing about the wondrous gift of Jesus at an evangelical fundraising meeting he attended in Southern Appalachia.
I wonder as I wander, out under the sky,
How Jesus the Savior did come for to die
For poor on'ry people like you and like I.
I wonder as I wander, out under the sky.
When Mary birthed Jesus, 'twas in a cow's stall
Came wise men and farmers and shepherds and all,
And high from the heavens a star's light did fall;
The promise of the ages it then did recall.
If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing,
A star in the sky or a bird on the wing,
Or all of God's angels in heaven to sing,
He surely could have had it, 'cause he was the king.
Enjoy!
11/5/21
PRAYER
This post was written for Five Minute Friday
Word prompt--PRAYER
Five minutes to free write about it
---------------------------------
Several years ago I took Mark Batterson's Draw the Circle 40 day prayer challenge. For a while now there's been a stirring in my heart to do it again.
I've texted the original group of ladies who did the challenge with me to see if any of them want to join me again this time around, but even if no one responds, I'm all in.
11/1/21
MORNING
Word prompt--MORNING
Five minutes to free write about it
---------------------------------
Morning heralds a brand new day.
No matter how I may have been feeling the night before, mornings are full of hope and anticipation. A time of gratitude for the gift of a new day. A fresh page, a new beginning, one more chance to get things right.
God's mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23)
10/23/21
STILL
Word prompt--STILL
Five minutes to free write about it
---------------------------------
The first thing that popped into my head when I read this week's prompt was Psalm 46:10a--"Be still and know that I am God." A timely exhortation and reminder to a mind full of looped tapes replaying the same scenarios over and over again. In response, I prayed for the Lord to help me still my mind and gain control over my thoughts.
Romans 12:2 tells us that God transforms us into a new person by changing the way we think. That is something that only He can do. My part is to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).
Phillipians 4:8 has been a great help in breaking the loops. Whenever I'm tempted to be critical or judgmental, for example, I try to remember to turn those thoughts around and fix them, instead, on something that is "true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable... things that are excellent and worthy of praise."
At first it seemed like an overwhelming challenge, but the more I do it, the more second nature it becomes.
10/16/21
TREASURE
This post was written for Five Minute Friday
Word prompt--TREASURE
Five minutes to free write about it
---------------------------------
Treasure: valuable or precious possessions -- accumulated or stored wealth -- a stash of money or jewels (as in buried treasure) -- anyone or anything that is greatly valued...
This week's prompt made me think of Matthew 6:19-21, which says, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, or where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Long before I met Jesus and invited Him to become Lord of my life, and long before I became acquainted with the above Scripture, I had an earthly treasure--a box full of beautiful jewelry that had been given to me on different occasions. I didn't wear it much, but enjoyed looking through it. Then one day I came home to the heartbreaking discovery that our apartment had been broken into, and my box was gone.
10/9/21
A LIFE COMPLETED
Word prompt--COMPLETE
Five minutes to free write about it
Today my heart aches for my daughter who had to put her beloved dog to sleep.
I'm having a hard time thinking of what to write for our weekly challenge so, instead, I've put together some pictures of favorite memories as a tribute to this sweet granddoggie, whose life came to its completion on this sad day.
If our FMF friend Andrew is correct, however--and I believe he is--we will see our pets again when we get to Heaven. The thought of Benji now free of all sickness and pain, frolicking on fields of green with his cousins and sisters who preceded him makes me happy.
10/3/21
WHAT DO WE REALLY NEED?
Word prompt--NEED
Five minutes to free write about it
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Over the years, a small fortune has probably slipped through my fingers on things I thought I needed, but have yet to use. Boxes full of unread books, most of which I could have borrowed from the library; ever growing stacks of magazines I can't bear to part with until I have at least had a chance to skim through them; kitchen gadgets that seemed absolute necessities, such as the rarely used air fryer/grill combo that now occupies valuable space on an already too small kitchen counter. Obviously there's a serious disconnect in my mind between true needs and just wants made to seem like needs by clever, enticing advertising.
In reality, the only things we really need while inhabiting this earth are water, food, air, shelter, and clothing. By the grace of God, I've never been deprived of any of those needs, although I did come close to experiencing lack of air during the almost two weeks spent hooked up to a ventilator when I contracted double pneumonia due to acute heart failure almost four years ago (documented in my book, Oil of Myrrh).
Looking at things in their proper perspective, what I need above all else is the LORD. Only Jesus can provide me with His peace that surpasses understanding--no matter my circumstances--and through Him alone my eternal life in the presence of God is secured.
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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)
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-6 ESV)
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! (Isaiah 26:3)
I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. (John 14:27 NLT)
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. (John 16:33 NLT)
Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? (Matthew 6:25-26)
9/25/21
JUMBLED EMOTIONS
This post was written for Five Minute Friday
Word prompt--CARE
Five minutes to free write about it
---------------------------
My mind is full of jumbled emotions. I've been feeling stuck, tired, and overwhelmed, and very down on myself for feeling this way. My cares seem so petty in the big scheme of things, it shames me to even think of them as such. This morning's devotion from Streams in the Desert could not have been more timely.
"'Why must I go about mourning?' (Psalm 42:9)
"Dear believer can you answer the above question? Can you find any reason why you are so often mourning instead of rejoicing? Why do you allow your mind to dwell on gloomy thoughts? Who told you that night will never end in day? Who told you that the winter of your discontent would continue from frost to frost and from snow, ice, and hail to even deeper snow and stronger storms of despair?
"Don't you know that day dawns after night, showers displace drought, and spring and summer follow winter? Then have hope! Hope forever, for God will not fail you!" -- Charles H. Spurgeon
Good questions to focus on as the battle rages in my mind and I try to focus on my many blessings. God has never failed me yet, and I am grateful beyond words for His mercies that are new every morning, His unconditional love, and that He never gives up on me--even when I would long ago have given up on myself. I am also grateful for my amazing daughter who is one of the most caring people I know, as well as for the good friends who check in on me and encourage me even when I'm in isolation mode.
"Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God." (Psalm 42:5 ESV)
9/18/21
WHEN GOD HAS A DIFFERENT AGENDA
Word prompt--PURPOSE
Five minutes to free write about it
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This week's prompt made me think of Proverbs 19:21 and the many times I've allowed my faith to waver because things didn't turn out the way I anticipated they would. It wasn't that I was out of God's will, but rather that He had a different agenda in mind, which down the road would prove to be much better than mine.
I don't know if any of you have been following singer/songwriter Jane Marczewski (aka Nightbirde) on the news, but in addition to being the epitomy of faith and courage in the midst of adversity, she is an amazing testimony to how much grander God's purpose and plan can be than anything our finite minds can imagine or think.
During the audition for this season's America's Got Talent show, she received Simon Cowell's golden buzzer for her performance of "It's Okay," a song she had written for herself in the middle of her own dark storm. However, she had to withdraw from the competition when her cancer took a turn for the worse.
On the night of the AGT finale, she posted on Instagram, "I bet you never saw someone win so hard and lose so hard at the same time. This isn't how the story was supposed to go."
The story may not have played out the way Nightbirde wanted it to, but in no way was she a loser. The Lord just had a different purpose and plan than she expected. Once the door had been opened with her golden buzzer performance, He used a much more powerful agenda to create a greater win than she ever dreamed of.
To date, Nightbirde's song, "It's Okay," has been viewed 200 million times, and the numbers keep climbing. More hearts have been touched by its message of hope and encouragement than just being an AGT winner could possibly have done.
9/16/21
SERENDIPITY
Ser-en-dip-ity -- noun -- the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way -- "a fortunate stroke of serendipity" -- a word of English origin, first introduced in 1754 by Horace Walpole in his fairy tale, Princes of Serendipity, where the heroes were always making discoveries by accident and sagacity of things they were not in quest of. (Google English Dictionary)
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Since childhood, I've always loved doing jigsaw puzzles. There's always been one in progress somewhere in my home. These days, it's on a table in my living room, and is one of the first things people notice and make a beeline for as they enter the apartment.
My "fortunate stroke of serendipity" came in the form of an unexpected delivery of two stacks of jigsaw puzzles sent over by a friend. They arrived just as I was finishing up the last one in my stash. Thanks to her, I'll have plenty more to keep me busy for a very long time.
9/13/21
MAMA MIMI
This photo was taken by my grandson on a recent trip to Rendezvous Park in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Hard to believe this gigantic interactive sculpture is supposed to be a troll. I think she's way too pretty.
Mama Mimi, a she is called, is the work of Danish sculptor, Thomas Dambo and his crew. Built out of recycled materials such as discarded wooden pallets, and driftwood roots found washed up on the banks of a nearby river, she sits overlooking the pond, in a spot that was once a gravel pit. One of her legs extends over the water to rest on a little island, and serves as a bridge to cross over.
Using this example of turning trash into treasure, Dambo's intent is to get people to think differently about conservation and recycling. (Jackson Hole News and Guide)
QUIET
Today is Day 1 of a five day Instagram challenge initiated by #hopewriterlife. The word prompt is QUIET.
Using my cellphone to write a post directly on Instagram is a novel experience. Quite a challenging one at that, as I try to type the words on a small on screen keyboard.
My first thought was, where does one go to find quiet? A library? A cemetery? A monastery? The great outdoors? Even my empty home is a quiet place, but not so my mind.
My mind, of late, seems to be in constant overdrive. It's like a sponge absorbing all the drama surrounding me and adding it to my already turbulent thoughts.
Psalm 46:10 says, "Be still, and know that I am God!" The closest I've come to that exhortation is on the rare occasion I'm up early enough to witness the break of dawn.
9/10/21
RESCUED BY GOD
Word prompt--RESCUE
Five minutes to free write about it
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Years ago I took part in a time of cardboard testimonies at our church.
At first I didn't think I had a testimony to share. My conversion experience had been less than dramatic. Nothing like what people who have hit bottom experience when they come to know the Lord and their lives are miraculously transformed. However, during a discussion with friends, I was struck by how great a miracle it was that I found the right path at all, considering I believed I had already found it and was no longer searching.
My memoir, Sincerely Wrong: An Improbable Journey, tells the story of how the LORD rescued me from the darkness that was blinding me. If you would like to read it, you can download a free PDF file to your computer by clicking on the image of the book cover on my blog's sidebar. The short version, however, is that I grew up with a desperate need to feel significant, and after a long quest for roots and purpose, thought I had found them in New Age and occult doctrines. My vulnerability led me to believe a lie that I persuaded others to believe in as well. It was never my intent to deceive anyone. I was just sincerely wrong.
Don't be deceived as I was into thinking that there are many paths to God, or that we get to Heaven by being good. That is the biggest deception of them all.
Although we were created to have fellowship with God, Adam and Eve's sn caused us to be born into a fallen world. The Bible tells us that "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23), and that "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). Because of this, a vast gulf separates us from our Heavenly Father, and there is no way we can cross it through our own efforts. Only one path can lead us there, and that is through Jesus (John 14:6).
The good news is that "God so loved the world [you and me included] that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). It is a gift that can only be received by grace, through faith. It cannot be earned by good works (Ephesians 2:8-9), and as much as it is not God's will for anyone to perish, He will not impose His will on you or force you to accept it. The choice is yours.
Jesus stands at the door of your heart knocking and waiting for you to answer (Revelation 3:20). I implore you to open the door before it is too late. Accept His invitation to enter your life, forgive you of your sins, and make you a new creation.
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