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Boxing Day . . .

12/26/2020

The day after Christmas … the presents are opened, and there is nothing under the tree. For some, the day after Christmas is a letdown; for others, a sense of relief.

So today is December 26, Boxing Day in the UK, and much of the Commonwealth. Traditionally, it was a day off for servants and a day they would receive a special gift (a Christmas Box) from their masters. They in turn would go home and give Christmas boxes to their family on this day.

Boxing Day is not a tradition in the U.S. but perhaps we could take a page from the Boxing Day book and tweak it a bit. Perhaps we could take one more day out of our life … today, tomorrow, the next … and look for one more person to bless … with a gift, some food, a smile.

Ironically, we are happiest when we aren’t focused on ourselves. May you be a blessing to someone in the next few days.

Happy Boxing Day!

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Merry Christmas … Tomorrow!

12/24/2020

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Christmas 2020 may look very different for many of us this year. I know in my family, it will be the first Christmas without my father with us. Many of you who have lost loved ones this year will be experiencing the same thing. For others, it will be the inability to celebrate with extended family, or the inability to celebrate in the manner you would like to because of lack of money.

Whatever your Christmas celebration looks like this year, I would like to remind us all of one thing that someone reminded me of recently: the reason for Christmas—the birth of the savior of the world—has not changed. And perhaps this year because gatherings are smaller or not happening at all—perhaps this year—more than any other—in the quietness of our homes—we will be able to focus on Him.

I would like to share with you a new Christmas song by Francesca Battistelli that was due to be released in 2019 but God stepped in and put a hold on Francesca’s heart. You can read about this “pause in release” and hear the song if you click on the link below. It is wonderful and yes, all so appropriate for this year. ( I added a second link straight to the song in case the one on the website failed to work.)

Merry Christmas.
https://waynation.com/video/the-song-god-told-francesca-battistelli-to-wait-to-release-for-2020/

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A Potpourri of Thoughts . . .

12/19/2020

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My brother is responsible for this blog though he would never admit it. He’s kind of quiet that way. In fact, sometimes he’s so quiet that I don’t even think he is paying attention. When our family is Zooming (possibly a nominee for 2020’s word of the year?), I don’t think he’s listening because he seems to be always looking at his phone. But then all of a sudden all of our faces slide to the right, and he is sharing his screen, and it’s then I realize––oh––he has been listening.

As we near the end of 2020, we are, paradoxically, all in a different place and yet in the same place.

Some of you have endured incredible hardships this year, and at times it is difficult to keep going. For you, I would like to share Mandisa’s “Overcomer” video (courtesy of my brother). Most of us will recognize the four individuals in the video, but if you don’t, they are Robin Roberts, Scott Hamilton, Hannah Curlee, and Gabby Giffords. May this video be an encouragement to you.

All of us, have at times felt a loss of hope, an absence of peace, and/or a lack of trust. For all of us, I would like to share a couple of verses, a quote, and a video shared via my brother’s Zoom Sunday school class. I will refrain from comment and let the words speak directly to you.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)

You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. (Isaiah 26:3)

“God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains; it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” C.S. Lewis

Finally, a song and video by Lincoln Brewster to encourage a very weary world. It reminds us, first, of the power and love of God and the beauty of the world He created. But, if you listen to the end, we are reminded again that it only takes faith the size of a mustard seed and the trust of a child.

May God speak love, peace, and hope into you this Christmas.

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Attitude . . .

12/12/2020

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One thing this year has not been in short supply of is attitude. We have seen it on display in many venues. Some warranting our respect while others––not. We have also probably been a bit surprised at our own attitude at times.

I recently came across this quote by William Arthur Ward, that gave me reason to pause and reflect.

The pessimist complains about the wind;
The optimist expects it to change;
The realist adjusts the sails.
I’ve never considered myself a pessimist, but I admit, that I have found myself complaining at times about the “winds” of 2020.

Rather, I have always thought of myself as an optimist, and while I hope and pray that things will change, I don’t know that I have always expected them to, so perhaps I am not as optimistic as I thought.

So, I must agree with Ward, that even as we hope things change and pray things change, we might also need to be a realist, and “adjust the sails” in order to navigate our current seas successfully.

Paul provides a wonderful example of this. He wrote the book of Philippians while in prison awaiting execution, a book that seems to be all about attitude: attitude checks and attitude adjustments. In it, Paul doesn’t complain, and though he says that he would like to be able to visit the Philippians again, and knows that God could make it happen, I don’t think he expects it. Instead, he adjusts his “sails” and uses his situation to further the gospel and bring glory to God.

Our attitude colors our entire world: both inner and outer. It affects our personal well being as well as our relationships with others. Yes, we may have reason to complain. Yes, I think we can continue to hope things change, and realize God can change them should He wish. But the bottom line is we need to use the situation we find ourselves in to bring glory to God. Let’s set our sails for that course.

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Disappointment . . .

12/5/2020

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2020 has been nothing if not a year of emotions. We have run the gamut––from surprise to concern to fear to suspicion, sadness, anger, and now as we have just celebrated our first major holiday of the holiday season, some of us can add one more to that list … disappointment.

For most of us, this Thanksgiving looked very different from Thanksgivings of years past. We either modified our in-person gatherings, virtualized them through Zoom, or jettisoned our plans at the last minute because of unexpected circumstances. Regardless, we all tried to keep a stiff upper lip, take it on the chin, put on a happy face … whatever cliche you want to use … but deep down we were disappointed.

Now many of us are doing the Post-Thanksgiving Monday morning quarterbacking: looking back and seeing if our decisions were warranted or not. If everyone remains healthy, we might add a new emotion … foolishness, then add a touch of anger, and feel we have been duped. If someone within that potential group does get sick, we are concerned for his or her welfare but also grateful the decision prevented others from becoming ill.

But if we prayed about our decision, then made it based on God’s leading, any post analysis is a moot point. Proverbs 3:5 reminds us to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” God has His reasons for leading us to the decisions we make, even if we don’t understand what those reasons may be.

As 2020 draws to a close, I am hoping that Thanksgiving might be the only holiday celebration where we experience disappointment, but who knows. Disappointments will always be a part of life. But if we really believe that God is in control, and His love is as unshakable and unfathomable as Romans 8:38-39 states, then we should also be able to say with assurance:

“God’s plans will always be more beautiful and greater than all [our] disappointments.”

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Boxing Day . . .

Merry Christmas … Tomorrow!

A Potpourri of Thoughts . . .

Attitude . . .

Disappointment . . .

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