A Gift for You . . . From You

As you toss out the Christmas gift wrappings, consider gifts to upwrap for yourself in the new year. Look back with 2020 vision. What do you wish you had done in 2019? What are your regrets? What might you have completed by now if you had only started? Look ahead. What possibilities do you see in the following areas of life?

·       Health – How might you improve your health? A new condition I developed requires I eat a low-salt diet. Now, I’ve always known that too much salt is bad for you, so I go light on salt when cooking. But I never realized the sodium content of processed foods or restaurant fare.

I try to consume less than 1500 milligrams of sodium a day. Do you know that a slice of bread holds anywhere from 130 to 230 milligrams? American cheese can have up to 400 milligrams in an ounce. Even lean chicken meat, because it’s infused with a water/sodium mixture, contains sodium.

Then there’s restaurant food. My favorite Olive Garden minestrone has 810 mg.; the bread sticks with garlic topping, 460; and the salad with dressing, 770. Guess I’ll eat fruit for breakfast and dinner if I lunch at Olive Garden.*

Yes, it’s hard. It requires time and effort. But it leaves me feeling healthy and well. So it’s worth it all. What adjustments in the areas of diet and exercise might make you feel better? Think about it.

·       Family and Friends – How might you improve relationships? Sometimes we get too busy to entertain, too busy to visit. But our mental health depends on good relationships.

One Sunday afternoon we, on the spur of the moment, visited a son’s family. While they were surprised, they welcomed us, and we enjoyed a delightful time.

We are social people. We need each other. I would like to invite people in or visit people at least once a month. Bill and I could visit shut ins. We need to cultivate friendships and stay in touch with relatives.

·       Enjoyment – What gives you pleasure? Last May I listed a dozen short day trips Bill and I might take during the summer months. I cut the list into slips and put them in a jar. Each week we pulled a slip and did what it said.

These were simple pleasures. For example, we browsed through The Kitchen Shoppe in Carlisle, dined at BJ’s in Selinsgrove and went to the movies. Simple pleasures. Maybe you’d like to take a vacation or just start a stamp collection. Put something on the calendar. Or in a jar.

·       Generosity – I need to be more giving. I’ve started by looking at my clothes. As I put away the last of my summer clothes, my storage chest overflowed. So rather than buy a tub, I sorted enough clothes to give to charity so that I could add the rest of the clothes to my chest.

Do you use the library? Do you contribute to its upkeep? What charities do you support? Each year I make a donation to Samaritan’s Purse in honor of my grandchildren. They send you cards to give honorees telling them that you’ve purchased a goat for a family, etc., or, as I did this year, contributed to a missions hospital. I have a grandson training to be a doctor, so I thought that would be a good choice. Then, of course, there’s your church. Do you tithe? Think about how you might cultivate a more generous life.

·        Spiritual Growth – Do you feel connected to God? Are you confident that if you die tonight you will go to heaven? You can be. Jesus paid the price for your salvation. You can read all about it in the Bible. The gospel of John is a good place to start. Do you know if you spend 5 minutes a day reading your Bible, you’ll read through the New Testament in a year. Here’s a link to such a plan: https://www.navigators.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/navtool-5x5x5.pdf

Do you take time to pray? Yes, God already knows your needs, but how does he get to know you if you never talk to him? We talk to our spouses and our children and our friends and our coworkers. Don’t neglect taking to God.

Think outside the box. Pray about world events while reading the newspaper or watching the news. Take a walk in nature and thank God for the beauty of creation. Before you fall asleep, thank him for the blessings of the day. He wants to hear from you.

I’m assuming you go to church. If you don’t, the new year offers fresh opportunities to connect with a congregation. Visit churches in your area until you find one that challenges you to worship and grow.

In closing, I remind you that you will not have 2020 vision as you look ahead. Only God knows what lies around the bend. (“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.” Jeremiah 29:11) But you do yourself a huge favor if you enter the year mindfully rather than helter-skelter. Sit down with a pen and have some fun thinking about what God might have for you in 2020.

*Ate at Olive Garden yesterday and discovered a Mediterranean menu with light, lower-sodium foods! They also offer a light dressing for the salad and bread sticks without the topping. So happy!

Book Review: Walking Tall in Babylon

Walking Tall in Babylon: Raising Children to be Godly and Wise in a Perilous World

If you have parents of teens or younger children on your gift list, this is the book for them. Author Connie Neal shares how she and her husband are raising their children to live in a culture taken over by nonChristian beliefs. They are teaching their children to think critically about what they see and hear. Her goal is that her children can govern their own behavior by the time they leave home.

Neal lists the characteristics of biblical Daniel and his friends to illustrate how they withstood the pressures of living in Babylon while remaining true to God. She shares detailed experiences of nurturing her own family with the goal of equipping her children to resist sinful behaviors and to stand for truth among their peers.

I like how Neal recommends books that may be useful to parents. I also like how Neal backs up her points with scripture and notes when she takes the liberty of deducing conclusions from biblical stories.

This book includes a chart to guide you in teaching children the interplay between moral absolutes, consequences, mercy and grace. The author shows deep respect and knowledge of God’s laws and ways of working in the world. For instance, she offers questions to discuss (with answers) to evaluate the story of David and Bathesheba.

Walking Tall in Babylon concludes with a Group Study and Discussion Guide, so it would be an excellent tool for small groups and Sunday school classes.

Neal’s last chapter offers hope: “But let us rest in the sure knowledge that our God is good, and powerful, and sovereign over all, in that he is intent on delivering those who are his during the most perilous times.” A must-read for parents . . . and grandparents. After all, we also want our grandchildren to “walk tall in Babylon.”

Neal has written dozens of books, including What's a Christian to Do with Harry Potter?.

Five Ways to Face Tragedy

What do you do when things don’t turn out as you planned? When the things you prayed for do not happen? When, in fact, life takes a downhill slide? How do you keep the faith? Especially while carolers sing joy, joy, joy!

A friend and her husband planned an overnight visit to us a few days before Thanksgiving. We live at a midway point between their home and a daughter’s home. A few days before their visit, they were hit by a car while walking in their neighborhood. My friend’s husband did not survive.

How will my friend respond? I know her. She will trust God and keep the faith.

We can do the same. No matter the experience. No matter the outcome. God is faithful to us in times of peace and in times of distress. In times of sickness and in times of health. Even in times of accidents.

I think of biblical Job. He lost his children, his livestock and his health. His response? “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” “Though he slay me, yet will I trust him.”

I think of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. When thrown into the fiery furnace because they wouldn’t bow to the image of the king, they trusted God. They knew God could rescue them, “But even if he does not . . . we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

By keeping the faith, these people gave it away. To us. And if they could keep the faith, so can we. We can trust that God will see us through whatever situation we face. He may or may not heal us. We may or may not die. But no matter what, God is with us. The Good Shepherd never leaves his flock. He cares for: Every. Single. Sheep.

So how do we face the tragedies, of life? Especially at Christmas?

·       We thank God that Christ’s name “Emmanuel” means He is with us. His Spirit calms our hearts. His Word reassures us of His Presence.

·       We thank God for small blessings. The support of family and friends. The air we breathe. The food we eat. The doctors and medications God provides. We focus on the positive, slim as it may seem.

·       We wait to see what God will do. Perhaps he will work a miraculous healing. Perhaps not. Perhaps we will never know what he is doing. But we wait and watch for His Hand.

·       We do what we can to help ourselves. What practical steps are required to ease our situation? Will we need therapy? We cooperate. Will we need help? We accept it.

·       We hope. A candle on the Advent wreath symbolizes hope. Christ’s birth gives us hope that, ultimately, everything will be all right. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, came to earth that first Christmas, showed us how to live and died so that someday we may join Him in heaven. No. More. Tears.

God is faithful. In my own life, He has supported me in one way or another as I’ve said good-bye to loved ones and experienced losses.

Once, when I waited as Bill underwent a heart procedure, I watched tropical fish in an aquarium in a hospital waiting room. I was stunned by the exquisite beauty and variety of the tropical fish, fish created by our amazing God. Those fish reminded me of God’s wisdom and goodness--and brought me peace.

Recovering from grief and loss may require years of waiting and trusting. I know my friend has a long road ahead of her. But I also know she is keeping the faith.

Like Job, Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego, contemporary Christians around us offer hope in the midst of tragedy. And by keeping the faith, they give it away. To us. And faith is the best gift of all. At Christmas or anytime.

No matter what circumstances you face, take heart. Keep the faith. And give it away.

And have a Blessed Christmas—regardless of your circumstances. 

A Role Model

I grumbled at my husband for what I perceived to be a lack of communication. The previous day I had read a Facebook post in which a husband chronicled the glorious attributes of his wife. It was oh so sweet. And it made me want to hear such praise myself. I can't remember what Bill said (or didn't say), but I grumbled. And later apologized.

Why do critical words pop out of my mouth? Why do I speak before I think? Why do I want Bill to be what only God can be to me? I regularly disappoint myself by not living a perfect life. Can you relate?

Well, the apostle Paul did not live a perfect life either. This is what he wrote: Forgetting what lies behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14).

Paul had persecuted Christians before he came to know Christ. And even after he knew Christ and longed to live a righteous life, he lamented that he had not yet attained all this. So we are in good company.

A blot on Paul’s conscience did not keep him from moving forward and neither should it stifle us. Jesus blood covers the ink blots of sin in our lives. Leave them in the past. Instead, focus on pressing on toward the goal.

That, of course, is easier said than done. Childhood hurts cut deep. Current offenses derail our emotions. It’s hard to keep a positive focus in a negative situation. But it’s not impossible. Here’s what I’ve learned from Paul:

Leave the past behind.

We cannot change our past experiences, but we can learn from them. We can seek truth. Were we abused? While we may never forget, we can forgive. We can listen to the testimonies of others who suffered abuse and lived to conquer its negative effects. Have we abused someone in the past? How have other Christians handled such failures? We have an awesome God who forgives, who does not leave us without access to His wisdom and resources.

Learn all you can.

I am amazed when I sit down each day to study the Bible how my eyes are opened to something pertinent. I’ve read through the whole Bible over and over and over again. But God can use little noticed verses to speak fresh truth to my heart. We are never too old to learn. That is a fact!

And we have so many resources available. Books, television broadcasts, online Bible studies. The list goes on. What topic would you like to learn more about? Search Amazon for books on the subject. What Bible book confuses you? Find an online commentary and read about it.

Live for the future.

Paul never knew what the future held. He just kept walking on. One missionary journey after another. The man surely tired. He surely wanted to sleep in his own bed. The older I get, the more I feel that way. What are your personal goals, career goals, service goals? How might you take a step to reach them? What do you want to do for God? How has He equipped you to build His kingdom?

If you need a mentor, there’s Paul. A man who put himself out for the kingdom. A man who admitted his faults and worked hard to overcome them. A man who wasn’t perfect, but he loved God and served others. What an inspiration to us all.

From a Mother's Heart . . .

This month Sen. Doug Mastriano and Rep. Stephanie Boro wicz of Pennsylvania unveiled a “Heartbeat Bill,” which would prohibit abortion if a fetus’ heartbeat is detected. In light of that, I’m sharing an opinion piece I wrote that was published in Harrisburg’s Patriot News and online PennLive on Valentine’s Day, 2019. Two people told me I had one word wrong in the article. See if you can find that word. I’ll share it at the end of the piece.

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I’ve cuddled many newborn babies—my own and others—so I can’t help but feel outrage at the recent passage of a New York state law that allows abortion up to the time of birth. Other states are considering following suit.

The Declaration of Independence states that all people are “created equal” and born with God-given rights including “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” But now fully formed babies—tiny, helpless people—are denied those rights.

            Charles Dickens wrote “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times . . . .” In many ways we live in the best of times. Medical technology produces miracles. Forty-four years ago, my only daughter died at birth. Although she weighed five pounds, her lungs were not fully developed. Had Christy Marie been born today, she would probably have survived and thrived.

            But it is also the worst of times because we allow babies with fully developed lungs to be killed for the sake of convenience. People appear to be more concerned about animals. I watched James Lankford (R – Oklahoma) address this issue in a video. He spoke of protestors at a facility that used animals for research chanting “Animals’ lives are their right, we have just begun to fight.”

            A Facebook “cartoon” shows a dog looking down at a baby asking, “Aren’t there any laws to protect you?” Evidently not. Lawmakers today seem more concerned about animals than children.

            Some justify abortion because a baby’s organs can be used for research. But at what cost? The life of a child. Something is wrong with a society that allows the slaughter of innocents. Each person is uniquely created by God, but we have lost respect for life. Long and hard fights have gained respect for people of different colors, for people with disabilities, for people of different faiths. Now Christians are put down for fighting for the lives of babies.

            The Bible is considered irrelevant in a society that makes its own rules. We have lost our sense of right and wrong. There is no authority; people want tolerance. But when you tear down fences meant to protect society, that becomes intolerable. Chaos reigns. Each man or woman does what is right in his or her own eyes. A whole biblical book was written about a time like that. It’s called Judges. And judgment might fall on America for this crass disregard for human life.

            We have lost our sense of wonder. The miracle of the seasons. The miracle of plant growth. The miracle of birth. When you contemplate such miracles, you stand in awe. We feed, clothe and care for cute little babies. We applaud their first words and record their first steps. It’s all so wondrous. But now millions of babies never experience such milestones.

            I am not wise enough nor credentialed enough to know how these recent laws might be reversed. I am simply a woman, mother of two married sons, grandmother of five with a daughter waiting in heaven. But I do know right from wrong. And I pray those in authority will recognize the tragic consequences of enacting such laws.

            A pastor I once worked with liked to say, “Good people, given enough time, will do the right thing.” He is now a resident of New York. May his maxim prove true.

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The word people noticed was “might” in the sentence “And judgment might fall on America for this crass disregard of human life. Those who contacted me said the word should be “will.”

Feel free to share this post. Also if you agree, contact your state senators/representatives to support the heartbeat bill. You can submit a form through The PA Family Institute: https://pafamily.org/rejectHR5/?eType=EmailConfirmation&eId=32616c51-8b07-4989-9a63-f10d3d1e447e