Today, as we approach Christmas, Mary is on my mind. Jesus’ birth was announced as good news of great joy. There were proclamations of glory and whispers of peace scattered throughout the land. Excitement among those who knew of the pregnancy had to permeate the whole group. But let us not forget Mary. Sure, she was a faithful young woman who had a calling from God. Mary was also human. She was a young woman who was unmarried and was very pregnant. She now had to make a trip with her soon-to-be husband, who, by the way, is not the baby’s father. She had to leave the comforts of her home where she would take her very pregnant self somewhere for something some official had told them was required.
Can you imagine how she must have felt? She had to bear quite a bit of the weight of it all. Shepherds come to her excited. Later, magi will show up at her door. Older and wiser men and women will proclaim great things over her beautiful baby boy. Good news of great joy is indeed to come. But for now, she is a single, pregnant woman who is getting ready to travel and will likely not make it home before this baby is born.
Joy and peace and hope do not always look like we think they should. They do not always fit the mold we have created. God tends to do things outside of our mindset. Since he is the Creator, he isn’t limited to our narrow points of view. And he doesn’t need us to understand. He simply asks for faithfulness. In the end, that is what Mary was – faithful. She did get to experience good news of great joy, but only because she was faithful even when all looked frightening and shaky. She prepared for a journey not knowing how it would all turn out. But her faithfulness is still reverberating in our world today. What a gift of great joy!
Will you be faithful even when you do not understand? There just may be joy, peace, hope and love just around the corner.
Focus Scripture:
Luke 2:1-6
2 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be registered. 4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
It is interesting to me how we place value on most everything. We place obvious values on the things we are willing to spend our money. We place value on our time – what will we do and what will we have to say no to doing. We even place value on people. Some people offer more than others in our eyes. We look at what they bring to the table, so to speak. It is how business works and we let that flow into our personal lives. It easily spills over into how we see ourselves. We look at how valuable we are to others. But what if we are looking at it all wrong? What if we are missing it? What if our measurement is incorrect?
One of the most precious people in my life is my Grandmother. She is a sweet, petite, little firecracker. She has helped to raise a family, take care of a farm, and work a job on her own. She has spent her life working (and working really hard). She cleans more precise than anyone I know. She has cooked so many meals and fed so many stomachs that it cannot be counted. She has been an encourager and always tried to live out her beliefs. She loves God and she loves her family. I think she is pretty incredible.
Grandma is getting older. She cannot do the things she once did. She cannot cook or clean or work as she always has. Her body is giving her every signal that she needs to rest more and work less. This isn’t really working well for her. It isn’t who she has been for all these years. And it is obvious this bothers her. It is obvious she is upset she has to have help. She doesn’t like the fact that she cannot do all she wants to do. She sometimes indicates that she doesn’t want to be a burden or bother others. But Grandma is missing it. She is missing the fact that her value is not in her work or her cooking or anything else she has done. Her value is in her. She is the gift. She is the treasure. No matter what she can or cannot do – she is the most valuable. It doesn’t require her to work or cook or anything else at this point. She has done her work. She can now allow others to help her – those she has helped so many times before. She can now just enjoy her days without worrying about all the things to do. But this requires her to see that her value is found in her. She is a beautiful creation of God who is a joy simply because she is here. Nothing is required of her. She can just be and that is enough for us all.
Where do you place your value? When you look in the mirror, what do you see? Do you see a valuable gift of God? Do you see a beautiful creation by the ultimate Creator? Do you see that you hold value simply because you are here? Don’t miss it. Our value isn’t based on the world’s system. Our value is based in the One who gives us life and breath. And he thinks you are more valuable than you could ever imagine.
Focus Scripture:
Matthew 10:30-31
30 And even the hairs of your head are all counted. 31 So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
We never really know what is on the horizon. We can make plans. We can set expectations. We can review the guesses on the weather channel. We can check every box and still nothing goes as we would like. And that is okay. It has to be. We don’t always get to choose what is happening. We don’t control everything, even as much as we would like to think we do. Things will happen which we cannot predict or fix or change. And it has to simply be okay – even when it isn’t.
Learning to let go a little can certainly relieve some of our stress and anxiety. When we can learn to live trusting in our Creator rather than our abilities, we find a sense of ease. It doesn’t mean all goes well. It doesn’t even mean we will like the outcome. It also doesn’t mean we sit around just watching to see what happens. We are still working. We are still planning. We are still dreaming just beyond the horizon. These are all good things – really good things. What we aren’t doing, though, is stressing every single time plans change. We aren’t getting overly anxious when our plans are redirected. We aren’t giving up when the horizon looks more like an imminent storm on our perfectly planned picnic. It is a means of simply letting go and breathing.
This all sounds great in print. Putting it into practice is quite a different task. For some of us, it can take many tries to get it even close to right. But, we continue to try. The only way to move forward is to keep reaching for the horizon. We must keep moving forward to a better future, one with hope and promise. We cannot give up trying just because the storm today has wrecked our plans. The storm will pass, we will pick up the pieces, and we will move forward. We do this best when we trust in the Creator of it all. He has a way of calming our fears, relieving our distress, and giving a fresh, hopeful, loving future to an otherwise disastrous day.
Keep dreaming beyond the horizon. There is so much good that awaits. It may look very different than any of us might expect. But it might just be exactly what we are looking to find.
Focus Scripture:
Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
Isn’t it interesting how we often know the right answer but still do something different? We know the foods our bodies need but we still go for the things which cause us distress. We know we do better when we exercise but then don’t go and exercise. We know we need to fill our hearts and minds with good things but sometimes the crap on TV is just interesting at the time. We know the right path and still choose something different.
It takes a lot to change our course. We could make a decision we are going to do better in the blink of an eye but it will take a lifetime of constantly doing better to see results. In our minds, we may have big plans but then we have to put these plans into motion. Sometimes it is easier to just not. Actually, most of the time, it is easier not to do it.
I fight this battle often. I know that running and exercise will help me tremendously. I know what happens when I don’t do these things. I have a history to show me how much better I do when I simply choose to get out and go for a simple 3 mile walk or run. I can show facts of how exercise completely changes my mental state. Yet, to get up and go exercise takes effort. It takes a swift kick to get me out of the house and into the cold. It takes planning. And sometimes, I would just rather not. And I pay for it.
This isn’t just for our physical bodies. I find this is true for us spiritually as well. We can get caught up in the routine we face every day. We can become consumed by family and obligations. Good things can so overtake our day that we do not take any time to simply be. We do not take the time to take care of us. We do not take the time to hear God in the wind or sense his presence in our own breath. We miss how we are being loved and adored by the Creator of the entire world because we are wrapped up in our things. Sure, noticing these things can completely change us. But it takes time and effort and a willingness to change. Sometimes, it is easier to just not. But then, what do we miss?
Today, make it a point to stop and just be. For just a moment, seek God. He is here. He is loving us. We may be changed if we will just pause. And then pause again. And then, pause…again. May we feel his presence in the pause.
Focus Scripture:
Matthew 11:28-29
28 “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
Today it is simple. We are going on a treasure hunt. No tools needed. No vehicle required. You do not need to change your schedule nor alter your day. All you need is to pay attention. These are all things placed before us, hidden in plain sight.
So here we go:
Find small joys hidden among the craziness.
Find a moment of laughter despite the circumstances.
Find treasures of peace in the chaos and the noise.
Find glimmers of hope in the dark parts of our lives.
Find the bit of extra energy needed to be kind.
Find God loving you when you can’t even love yourself.
Find a moment to breathe, taking in God’s lovingkindness and breathing out the harmful things we are holding onto.
Find a moment just to be.
God is here. And that is all we need.
May your treasure hunt result in a whole collection of good things today. Happy Monday!
Focus scripture:
Psalm 136:1
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
I appreciate the depth of creativity I see in this newer gender reveal party deal. I continue to be amazed at how people can think outside the box to announce the gender of their baby to come. The excitement is palpable. You can feel it in the air. These parties weren’t a thing when Wendy was pregnant. In some ways, I wish they were because you really get to go all out with new and different ideas. In other ways, I am glad we didn’t because the pressure of having to come up with something new and different is a lot. And then I read how gender reveal parties are nothing new. They have been for at least thousands of years. We may not have recognized them as such. They may not have categorized as this. But have you checked out this announcement? It is one for the ages. People are still talking about it. It is still a hit all these many years later. It’s like a fireworks show for a whole company of people. It is incredible.
There is Zechariah who gets his announcement in church from an angel – even in his older age, he would have a son – it’s a boy! His gender reveal was so transforming it left him speechless for like the next 9 months. And there are the shepherds who were minding their business and get an announcement that shocks, surprises, and otherwise changes their whole lives – it’s a boy! They are so taken back they have to travel to celebrate with the parents. There are magi who get the gender reveal through a star! A whole star so bright it cannot be ignored. There is a whole star just to announce a birth – beats any birth announcement we might could come up with. There is a star revealing – it’s a boy! And there is, of course, the ultimate announcement – it comes in two forms. There is an announcement by angels to Joseph – look, Joseph…your fiancé is pregnant and as you know, it isn’t yours…but it’s all good…it’s God’s…so, I’m going to need you to take care of Mary and this baby, because God needs you…oh, and it’s a boy! Can you imagine? So many reveals in some pretty spectacular ways that no one can compete – or would even want to try. But, for me, this one is the ultimate. It is the reveal to Mary. To a young woman who had not done anything to become pregnant is now pregnant – she isn’t married – she isn’t born to people with great means – she isn’t a princess in the world’s eyes – she is a young, willing girl who God reveals…YOU are carrying my baby boy! And this is the place where Mary settles…the place where she comes as she sits with her cousin Elizabeth…
Luke 1:46-55
46 And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. 52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
Mary realized – this is God’s own child. This baby boy is not the ordinary. This event would change the course of events for the entire world. This baby would shake the foundations of all that was believed to be true. This baby would shift the dynamics of the comfortable and comfort the distressed. This baby would bring something to this world that the world didn’t even know it needed. This baby would bring more than anyone – including Mary – could comprehend. Note that even though this is Mary’s proclamation, it does not mean she completely understood it – no more than we understand it. All she knows is this – things are changing.
Things are changing – that seems to be the theme of this year. Things are changing faster than we can even see or understand or take in. Things are changing so much we don’t know which way to turn or what to do with all this. Yet, let’s not forget – things are not changing near as much for us in a year as they did for Elizabeth and Zechariah, for Mary and Joseph. Our changes are insignificant in comparison to the life changes these folks would encounter. And they ARE doing what God called them to do. God is working even when all else seems chaotic. God is revealing when all else seems cloudy and frightening. God is working when no one really understands. God is working to bring about a change. And when God is in it – it is good.
Mary’s proclamation reveals it will be a plan no one was expecting. She gives birth to the One who will bring peace – but not in a military way. She brings forth a child who will bring hope, but not in things or governments or powers. She bursts forth One with joy – but in unexpected ways – joy that is different and yet natural. This is the joy which comes not from things or events, but in the One who fills us with joy no matter our circumstances.
The joy of Jesus causes us to get excited because redemption is born. The joy of Jesus causes the ultimate feeling of satisfaction because all we need is fulfilled in HIM. Jesus brings joy because we no longer need anything in this world to bring us happiness – we have a joy rooted in us that goes deeper than any gift could touch. We have a joy which gives us eyes to see God at work, even when everything else seems scary and unsteady. We have joy, not because of anything we have done, but because of everything God has done.
May you find joy – the joy rooted within. May you live in joy – you have been given all you need. May you celebrate in joy – there is still so much to celebrate. May joy overwhelm you, comfort you, and cause you to see God at work. May your joy be complete.
I grew up learning the value of being able to make do. Sometimes you don’t always have what you think you need. There are times when you can’t afford what you believe is required. Instead of giving up or quitting on it all, you learn to make do. That’s when the creativity comes into play. You really get to think outside of the box to figure out how to make do with what you already have.
If you cook a lot, I am sure you have figured out ways to make do. You have made a pot of soup made for 4 people and 4 more show up. You don’t turn them away. You start adding things to the soup. It could be a few extra vegetables or maybe some broth that gets thrown in the pot. If it is really bad, you start adding water so the soup doesn’t run out so fast. But there seems to be a way to make do. While it might not make the most ideal soup, the fun and fellowship are really the gift. The soup is just a vehicle to all the joys that surround us.
I think duct tape became popular with those of the mindset to make do. When you don’t have anything else, try duct tape. If something is loose, just duct tape it back. It is a great temporary fix that sometimes becomes a more permanent fix. You now even get it in many different colors and varieties. It may not be the ‘right’ way to fix something, but it does the job when you don’t have anything else.
I think we learn a lot when we have the make do mentality. We don’t waste as much because everything holds potential value. We don’t take things for granted as much. We are always trying to see the ‘other’ uses that objects hold. When we are in a pinch, we can make things come together just fine.
What if we took that same mindset to our whole lives? We don’t always have everything we think we need. We are not always where we want to be. Situations don’t often turn out just like we wanted. We aren’t always going to be on the right spiritual track or where God would want us to be. It could be we are missing all the things already given to us, right before us. If we have a make do mindset, we may realize God has given us everything we need to make it through the struggle. God has equipped us with just the right gifts to do exactly what he wants. We aren’t limited by our thinking because we are living in God’s power. We begin to see the amazing things that can happen when we use what we have already been given. We might find the best things come from making do.
May you see all that is around you. May you realize all God has gifted you. May you see the value of making do.
Focus Scripture:
Colossians 1:11-12
11 May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
I find myself doing it often. I am looking down, trying to make sure I don’t trip on anything. I want to know my next step will be okay. So my head is down and I am moving forward. But I forget to look up. I sometimes forget that there is so much more than the road in front of me. If I only look down, I miss all that is happening around me. I miss the sunrise. I miss the stars and the moon that shine so brightly. I miss the animals that roam close. I miss the beauty of the day when I am only focused on my little area.
Leo loves to chase flies. I am not sure what it is about them, but they ignite a hunt in him. One can fly by and he is ready to go. Last night, we were watching TV and he was staring up towards the ceiling. This isn’t normal for him. He is either sleeping or begging for a treat. So it instantly made us look as well. He had spotted a fly on the ceiling fan. Now we know there is no way he was ever going to reach that fly. But this captured his attention. He was so focused on that fly that he watched its every move. He was alert and ready for something that he could not reach. It had him intrigued.
I wonder what we miss when we are only focused on our little circle of the day. When we have our head down, honed in to the work of the day, what is going on around us? I think we sometimes miss God at work all around us. I think we miss how he is changing lives and loving on others. I think we miss opportunities to show his love, grace, and mercy. I think others miss seeing the peace that is within us because we are focused so heavily on the task at hand. Sometimes it pays to look up. It could be that when we look up, we are intrigued at the opportunities around us. We just might find our ‘fly’. And it just might bring us joy.
Look up, my friends. Good things are all around us. God is with us. God is at work.
Focus Scripture (a Benediction for today):
2 Thessalonians 3:16
16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with all of you.
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
When I travel, I depend heavily on my GPS. Even if I know the route, I will turn it on anyway. There are a couple of reasons for this. I do this because if I am thinking about something else, off in my own world, I will miss a turn even when I know where it is. It has happened quite a few times. All of a sudden, I look around and realize I don’t know where I am. Now, that usually is not so much of a panic because I stay lost so much. Directionally challenged doesn’t begin to describe it. So I end up figuring out where I went off course and getting back to the right place. The other reason is because of these newer features on my GPS. Now the GPS will tell me if there is a roadblock, roadwork, an accident, or any other issue upcoming.
Yesterday as I traveled the interstate, I was making good time. I had to go through some fairly large cities so traffic was a concern. I left extra early and my arrival time reflected I would be 45 minutes early. That’s perfect. At some point in the trip, I looked down to see my arrival time begin to change. At first, I was going to be 30 minutes early, then 15. Before I knew it, the arrival time had me 30 minutes late! All the time, I am traveling along with no problems. What did the GPS know that I didn’t? It knew there had been an ‘incident’ that had blocked all the lanes of the interstate about 50 miles ahead. This was going to be an issue – except it wasn’t.
When I got close to the slow down, my GPS did this thing called “re-routing”. Normally I am not a fan of re-routing. I like to travel the same way all the time. I like the comfort of knowing where I am going and seeing familiar surroundings. I ride this road enough I know where the good places to eat and where the rest stops are. I don’t like to get off the path. I like the path. I know the path. In this case, though, I welcomed the scenery. The interesting thing is if I had not known about the incident ahead, I would have ignored my GPS and it’s need to re-route. I would have kept on going on my same path. Because there was something causing such a delay, I gladly followed wherever the GPS took me. And it worked. I ended up getting there in plenty of time.
Our lives get re-routed way too often, in my opinion. I like the sameness. I like the comfort of the beaten path. I like knowing what’s next and seeing the same scenery daily. There is a security in all of this. So when I am taken off path, I resist. I resist with every part of my being. I don’t want to. I like it the way it is. I know the other way may be better but I KNOW this way. Yet, God knows what’s ahead. And sometimes it can feel like he is carrying me straight through a crash site. Sometimes it feels like I am taken right through the trouble. In reality, he is guiding me where he needs me. He is taking care of me because he knows what is ahead. He is preparing me for the ‘incident’ and showing me the right way to go. The problem usually arises when I decide I don’t like the re-route and I stick to my own plan. And I usually end up late and frustrated and upset. I usually end up in a mess. I should have taken the re-route.
Today, maybe God is taking you on a path you never have approached before. Maybe you are on a journey that is unfamiliar and quite scary. The scenery is not what you are accustomed to seeing. You don’t recognize the signs or the landmarks. I challenge you to look to the Navigator. If God is directing your paths, there is nothing to fear. He knows what is ahead and he promises to be with us through it all. So go, follow, and be willing to be re-routed. You just may find God in the unfamiliar. He just might be waiting for you there.
Focus Scripture:
Matthew 4:20
20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
To say ‘God is good’ indicates some sense of trust and reliance. It means we do not understand and we are okay with it. It has this ingrained belief that God is merciful, kind, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love as we are reminded he is. Or it could simply be a statement we are clinging to and hoping it is really true. It is hard to say until all we know is questioned.
When all goes well, God is good becomes a motto we can hold fast. We can rely on it because all we have and all we do point to this fact. We often equate goodness with prosperity, good health, and overall success. So if all is going well, it does make the statement more tangible. But what happens when all doesn’t go well? What happens when we do lose it all? What happens when our loved one dies too soon? What happens when we lose our job or something tragic happens? What about the times when all doesn’t appear so great because it isn’t so great? Is God still good then?
If we measure goodness simply by our standards, then we may waiver in our belief. We may find ourselves in a wasteland wondering what went wrong. We may think that God has forgotten us. Maybe we need a new measurement. Maybe God is good anyway. Maybe God’s goodness is not measured by our earthly, American standards. Maybe, just maybe, God’s goodness isn’t based on the things we hold so close.
What if God’s goodness is really based in those attributes we read about? God’s goodness could, in fact, be based on the fact that he is merciful, kind, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. Those things have nothing to do with our creature comforts on this earth. These are the things which carry us through those tragic times. These are the things that are there when nothing else can be. These are the things which wrap us tight when we are falling apart. God is good. He is good not because all will go well for us. God is good because he is there for us in the good times and in the bad. He is good because he doesn’t leave us when all the rest of our world collapses. He is good because he is faithful. We don’t need to understand his goodness, we simply need to rest in it.
May God’s goodness wrap you tight today and provide you with all you need for the next breath. May you find God’s goodness all around you – and not in things. May you see God’s goodness at work. God really is good.
Focus Scripture:
Psalm 103:7-9
7 He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. 8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 9 He will not always accuse, nor will he keep his anger forever.
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
SEEING THE EXTRAORDINARY 
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