Word of the Year 2022

                                                            

 

The 2022 year stretches ahead. 365 blank pages on the calendar.  Will this be the best year of my life?  The worst year? Somewhere in between? It is impossible to know that on January 1st.

 

There are many unknowns at the beginning of a new year. We can dream our dreams and make our plans - and we should.  But unexpected events can derail our plans. The future is unpredictable. That can be frightening unless we remember the things that remain unchanged.

 

Regardless of circumstances, God never changes.  He is the King of kings and Lord of Lords. He reigns on January 1st and will continue to reign on December 31st. He is wise, He is good, and He loves us with unconditional love. Our God is faithful and always keeps His promises. He will guide us step by step throughout the year. He will walk with us in good times and in bad. These  truths are constants throughout 2022.  Unexpected events will not change God or change His love towards us.

 

Last year I began a tradition of choosing a Word and a Bible verse to reflect on throughout the year.  I taped the Scripture verse and the Word of the Year to my bathroom mirror so that I would look at it frequently throughout the day. That practice was so spiritually enriching that I decided to continue the practice this year.

 

The word I have chosen for 2022 is Peace. My verse for the year is Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV): “You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You.” 

 

As we reflect on our unchanging God, He promises to give us peace.  His peace is steady and constant and is not dependent on circumstances. 

 

I pray that each of us might walk closely with God this year. As we walk with Him, may we know His Peace which passes understanding.(Philippians 4:7)

 

Have you considered choosing a Word of the Year? Or a verse of the year? If you have, I would love to hear which word and which verse you selected. 

 

As the New Year begins, I wish each reader a Happy New Year and a Blessed Year Ahead.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanksgiving 2021 Challenge

  

 

“You turned my mourning into dancing…O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.” Psalm 30: 11-12 NKJV

 

They sat in their tents complaining, grumbling, feeling hopeless. You would assume that these were people who knew nothing about God. That assumption would be understandable; it would also be wrong.

 

These grumbling people hiding in their tents had seen the Lord open the Red Sea and had walked across on dry land. Afterwards, their hearts had overflowed with praise and thanksgiving. They trusted this amazing God wholeheartedly. Surely, this deep heartfelt thankfulness would last forever. But, in time, thankfulness began to fade. A problem arose. They panicked. They doubted God’s goodness. Their thankful hearts turned into grumbling hearts. 

 

How could anyone who had seen the Red Sea open up ever doubt God’s goodness and His power?  How could they ever grumble? How could they ever stop giving thanks? It is hard to understand. Yet, I do understand. I am like the Israelites. In my life, God has answered many prayers. He has brought me through difficult circumstances. I have thanked Him profusely. Like the psalmist in Psalm 30, I was certain that I would thank Him forever. But time passed. My thankfulness grew dim. A new trial arrived, and my thankful heart turned into a heart of unbelief and grumbling.

 

When life is good, thankfulness comes easily. When a prayer has been answered, we readily praise and thank our God. But life also includes difficult times. God is worthy of our thanks in all circumstances. “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” I Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV

 

How do we cultivate a thankful heart in all seasons of life? As the holiday of Thanksgiving approaches, let’s turn our attention to thankfulness. Let’s begin by asking God to give us a thankful heart. Then, let’s challenge ourselves to thank God each day during the month of November. The challenge that I am making to myself and to my readers is to keep a Gratitude List during the month of November. Find a notebook. Write the words “Lord, I thank You for….” Write down one thing. Add to the list every day. On some days you may write 2 or 3 or even more items of gratitude. On some days it may be only one. But commit to adding at least one item to the list each day.

 

As we sit down to celebrate Thanksgiving this year, may we do so with hearts overflowing with  thankfulness to our God.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Close Behind

           

                                                    

 

“My soul follows close behind You.”  Psalm 63:8a NKJV

 

The mama duck and the papa duck were in front.  Close behind them swam 7 or 8 tiny little baby ducks. They appeared to be roughly the size of toy rubber duckies. The scene exceeded cuteness! The ducklings’ little legs were paddling extra hard to keep up with the mother and father. I watched the family until they swam out of sight.

 

My heart went out to the little ducklings.  Why were the mother and father swimming so quickly? Perhaps the older ducks knew innately that the babies needed to develop their leg muscles.  And the only way for that to happen was to push them to the limit.

 

The baby ducklings innately knew that danger awaited them if they were separated from their parents. The parent ducks would protect them if a predator came along. They would make sure the little ones did not get lost. They would provide them with food when they were hungry and a place to rest when they were tired. The parent ducks had taken good care of them since the day they were born.  Surely, they would take good care of them today. So, even though the pace was swift and the current was against them, the baby ducklings paddled with all their might. They followed close behind the mama and papa ducks. 

 

In Psalm 63, the psalmist is speaking of the Lord when he says: “My soul follows close behind You.” The Lord leads, and His children follow. He sets the agenda. The smart thing to do, the only thing to do, is to follow close behind Him. 

 

The Lord will protect me from danger.  He will guide me so that I don’t get lost. When I am hungry He will give me food. When I am tired, He will give me rest.  He has always taken care of me, and He will do so today.

 

Lord, as a new day begins, may my soul follow close behind You every step of the way.

Little Birds

                                          

 

 

It never fails to put a smile on my face.  At least 20 sparrows flying back to their bushes as I walk towards the Assisted Living Facility.  It’s no wonder that the birds choose this location to congregate.  Outside the building are rocking chairs occupied by senior residents who love to feed the birds.

 

September 10, 2017. Hurricane Irma hit the state of Florida.  Although Bradenton, Florida did not get the brunt of the storm, Irma did her share of damage.  Power lines down. Traffic lights inoperable. Large mature oak trees uprooted and toppled onto roadways.  Debris everywhere.

 

A few days after Irma, I returned to work and went to see my patient in the Assisted Living Facility.  As usual, I parked my car and walked on the sidewalk towards the building.  At least 20 sparrows flew past me toward the bushes. I smiled as usual, then I paused to think.

 

The sparrows, so tiny and frail, had survived the storm.  The same storm that had sent giant oaks crashing into the streets had spared the fragile sparrows.  Logic would have told me to expect to find 20 little birds destroyed by the storm and all the strong oak trees standing.   The words of the old gospel song popped into my mind: “His eye is on the sparrow and I know He cares for me.”

 

Maybe there is a scientific reason why tiny little sparrows survived the same storm that toppled the mighty oaks.  For me it is enough to know that the same God who is more powerful than a hurricane is also tender enough to take care of fragile little birds in the storm.

A Parade of Joy

                                                            

 

The beat beat beat of the drums grows louder and louder.  Round the corner marches the drum line.  The Fourth of July parade has begun. 

 

My mind flashes back to long ago July 4th parades. Proudly wearing my Girl Scout uniform, I march down the street. Along with the Girl Scouts come the Boy Scouts, the high school band, the volunteer fire department and various other community organizations.  We march down familiar streets. Neighbors and friends decked out in red, white and blue stand on sidewalks cheering and waving flags. Such joy and excitement to begin the holiday!

 

Today’s parade, however, looks a little different.  Yes, a high school drum line leads the parade. But if you look closely, the other marchers appear to be a tad bit older. Some march proudly on their own. Some are pushed in wheelchairs.  Some ride electric scooters. Some are joined by service dogs. This parade is made up of members of a retirement community.  Along the sidewalk stand fellow residents waving and cheering. Such joy and excitement to begin the Fourth of July holiday!

 

The two parades are similar but not the same. A few more wrinkles adorn the faces in the second parade.  The steps are a little slower, but the smiles on the faces are just as radiant.  The joy is just as real.  Aren’t you glad that joy is not only for the young?  Joyful moments are gifts from God scattered throughout all seasons of life.

 

Does God want us to have joyful lives? The fact that the word Joy is mentioned 244 times in the Bible tells me the answer is yes.  

 

One of my favorite verses is Psalm 118:24 “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Every day that we wake up is the day the Lord has made. And with each day He gives us opportunities to rejoice, opportunities to be glad.

 

Another favorite verse is Psalm 16:11 “In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore”. As Christians, we have the privilege of coming into God‘s presence as we open His word and as we pray. He wants to meet us, and He wants to give us fullness of joy. He walks with us throughout the day. Ask Him to remind you of His presence. Ask Him to open your eyes to sources of joy as you walk through the day.

 

Let us rejoice and be glad on this Fourth of July.  Let us rejoice and be glad on every day the Lord has made.

 

 

A Kind, Patient Love

                                                             

The news that someone has passed always evokes a response. We pause. We stop. We become somber. Perhaps we cry or we weep if the relationship was a close one.  Often the news leaves us with a desire to be alone, to be still, to pray, to silently remember the person who has passed.

 

When Jesus heard that his cousin John the Baptist had been beheaded He may have experienced these same emotions. Matthew 14:13 says: “ When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself.”

 

The verse continues: “But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him.”

 

If I had been in Jesus’ place, I would have been annoyed.  I would have tried to hide from the multitude of needy people.  If they had found me, I would have sent them away, telling them that this was not a good time.

 

The response of Jesus, however, was much different than mine. Matthew 14:14 says:

“He saw a great multitude and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed them.” 

 

The love of Christ is beyond our comprehension. At a time of personal sorrow He looked at the needy people and wasn’t annoyed with their interruption. Instead, with deep love and compassion He met their needs.

 

“Love is patient. Love is kind”(I Corinthians 13:4). The deep love of Jesus was patient with people who showed up at an inconvenient time.  In kindness He greeted them and met their needs.

 

I am thankful for a Savior whose compassion was so evident as He walked the earth. Although the miracles which He performed were done to fulfill prophecy, He did not do the miracles coldly and mechanically.  He looked into the eyes of the lepers, the blind, the deaf, the paralyzed, the demon possessed, and He was moved with compassion as He saw their pain.

 

This same Jesus is our Savior.  His Spirit abides in the hearts of believers.  His love for each of us is as deep and as genuine as the love which He had for the hurting people who showed up as He was grieving the death of John.  He invites us to come to Him with our needs.  There is never a bad time to approach His throne.  He is never busy or distracted. When we come with needs, both great and small, we are always greeted with kindness and compassion.  What amazing love!

 

Early Morning City Sounds

                                                    

 

The rumble of traffic outside the gate. A chorus of birds waking up for the day. An ambulance siren in the distance. A friendly walker wishing me a good morning. The hum of an air conditioner.  A gurgling creek. The whistle of a train. Birds calling to one another. The sound of a helicopter overhead. The rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze. Sounds that greet me on my 6 a.m. walk.

 

Some sounds come and go. But the rumble of traffic never stops. And the singing of birds never stops. These are the constants in my 6 a.m. world.  I live within the city limits and the sounds of civilization are real.  I live in a gated community with trees and flowers and a creek running through it. The sounds of nature in my community are real.  Which sounds will capture my attention? I choose to tune out the traffic and listen to the birds.  

 

As my morning walk comes to an end, the introverted part of me would like to keep walking all day long.  Communing with God and enjoying nature 24/7 is an appealing thought.  But the steady rumble of traffic in the background reminds me of a world of men and women and children.  And the same God who walks with me each morning is the God who says “love your neighbor as yourself.”

 

As I leave my gated world and enter the world of people, new sounds greet my ears.  I hear gentle, encouraging, positive voices. I hear grumbling, cynical, negative voices.  And steady in the background of my heart, I hear the still small voice of my God reminding me that He is with me.  Lord, may Your love flow through me to each person I meet today.