Month: January 2026

This morning, I am really enjoying watching the snow fall.  While I was outside, it was as if it was wrapping me up.  To me, it is beautiful.  No, I am not a cold weather person, but I am enjoying the snow.  But it is really beautiful because I have warm clothes to wear when I have to go outside.  It is beautiful because I can watch it from my window inside a warm home.  It is beautiful because while it covers the yard, I do not have to travel anywhere today.  

When I was growing up, my Grandpa (Mitchell) hated snow.  We were not allowed to talk about it or get excited about it when we were around him.  He absolutely detested snow and any celebration was banned.  But there was a reason.  Grandpa worked for the State.  And when it snowed, he had to spend extra hours out in the snow clearing roads and pathways for people.  Snow meant little to no sleep for days and long unbearable hours in equipment he had to work on and with.  Snow was not beautiful to him.

It reminded me of how beauty really is in the eye of the beholder.  And it also reminded me how God beholds us and calls us his beloved.  We are beautiful in his sight.  We are loved by our Creator.  We may not always act beautiful or do beautiful things, but we are beautiful to him because we are his.  How amazing is it to know you are beheld and adored!  You are his workmanship.  May we see ourselves as God sees us today.  And that IS beautiful!

I’m not a big fan of super cold days.  When I watch TV shows with any temperature in the negative where they live, I instantly think…nope.  Same goes for really hot temperatures as well.  We know what it is to sweat in Eastern NC.  And apparently we are also trying to learn how to freeze.  I’ve realized I have a temperature range that I feel most comfortable and I’d like it to stay that way all the time.  On these really cold morning runs, I think…I wasn’t built for this.  I was built for a minimum of 50 degrees for a nice run.  24 degrees is unacceptable.

Now I know this isn’t realistic.  I can dream, though.  And I also know that isn’t how the earth works best.  The cycles and seasons are here for a reason.  They help our environment do what it does so it produces the best crops.  It also kills pests and makes dormant what doesn’t need to grow.  This is all vital.  

We actually were built to be uncomfortable.  We just don’t want to be.  I can get spoiled easily with my air conditioned and heated vehicle and home.  I don’t even have to be out in the weather unless I choose to be.  But being uncomfortable is part of growth.  It is part of what makes us better.  It helps us to become refined.  It keeps us from becoming complacent.  It also helps us to remember everything isn’t about us. It reminds us of our humanity.

So I work to change my attitude towards the cold.  This is where I can become stronger.  This is where I can learn adaption.  This helps me to become more equipped for challenges that lay ahead.  This is a part of my education.  And it is a way to humble me.  So maybe the cold isn’t the worst thing that could happen.  Maybe this is a time to simply appreciate the season – and maybe dream of warmer days.

Psalm 65

⁷ You silence the roaring of the seas,
    the roaring of their waves,
    the tumult of the peoples.
⁸ Those who live at earth’s farthest bounds are awed by your signs;
you make the gateways of the morning and the evening shout for joy.

⁹ You visit the earth and water it,
    you greatly enrich it;
the river of God is full of water;
    you provide the people with grain,
    for so you have prepared it.

When was the last time you looked at creation in awe?  When was it you felt the wonder of it all?  Awe is defined as “a feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder.”  It is this feeling of just how small we are in this great big creation.  And yet, it is the privilege of knowing we not only experience this amazing creation, but we are a part of it.  We are a small but important part of all God is doing.  He created and chose us to participate in his creation, to admire and to simply be in awe of what he has done and continues to do. 

As I read this Psalm, I thought of how the mornings begin, “the gateways of the morning” writes the Psalmist. It can be so very dark, especially when the moon is not visible or shining.  All the world can feel under this dark blanket of night.  And all of a sudden, it’s as if the lights begin to turn on.  To me, I am reminded of the lights which heat up to come to full brightness.  The sun begins to shine long before you actually see it appear over the horizon.  We begin to see the gateway of the morning, an opening of the day.  And as the sun sets, there are many sunsets which bring such joy and awe.  The beginning and ending to a day are just two examples of the awe we are privileged to experience each day – some more brilliantly than others, but always experience.

Where have you spent time in awe over God’s creation?  If you can’t remember, maybe it’s time to look, to admire, to find yourself in wonder.  It’s amazing to behold if we just take a moment.

There are some days I wake up and am not sure how I will get it all done.  I don’t really want to exercise or do any of the things on my list for the day.  I really want to just turn off my alarm, roll over, and try again tomorrow.  This isn’t realistic, though.  And it’s not what I would actually do.  So I get up and get moving.  There are a few things which help me take a hold of the day and one of those is running.  When I head out the door in the morning, there are some days I just want to take a few steps and quit.  I don’t want to run the miles.  But I start.  That first step is the key.  Getting out the door is important.  After that first step, it’s another, then another, then another.  Eventually I finish what I set out to do.  I accomplish what I didn’t think was possible when I started.  And it was done one step at a time.

I can easily get overwhelmed with life, but sometimes I just have to take the next step.  We don’t need to figure out how we will make the entire journey.  We don’t need to worry about the steps when we are exhausted or how we will survive.  We simply take the first step.  Another way I get started is a shower.  It is a way to wake up and announce to my brain that I am doing this – so let’s get going.  It’s just one more way to take the first step.

The point isn’t to figure it all out.  Life is overwhelming.  Goals can seem so distant and unreachable.  Days can feel like weeks.  And we can just feel defeated.  When this happens, take the first step.  Whatever that looks like for you, do it.  

In our spiritual journey, that first step might be to read a devotional or pick up a Bible and read a verse.  It might be a prayer or a moment to admire God’s creation.  We don’t become more like Christ in one day.  We do it by taking the next step.  It’s one step at a time.

Whatever you are working to accomplish – whether it is a big goal or simply making it through today – take the next step.  And keep going.  The path isn’t accomplished any other way.  

Blessings as you take the first and the next step today.

Psalm 8

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
    the moon and the stars that you have established;
what are human beings that you are mindful of them,
    mortals that you care for them?

When it’s cold outside, it is difficult to appreciate the beauty.  When the wind chill brings the temps in the single digits, there isn’t time to sit still and enjoy.  For me, I have to keep moving to avoid feeling like I might freeze.  It is easy for me to want to just “get it over with” and get back inside.  But during these times, when I’ve paid close attention, I have noticed the most clear and amazingly beautiful sky.  I know…most of you are thinking you will just have to trust me on this.  I get it.  But I think this is what happens so much of our lives.

We have reasons for moving quickly.  We have a meeting to attend, an appointment upcoming, a meal to prepare, a job to take care of, a family to love – these are all necessary things in life.  But we can get caught in the rhythm.  We can become captured by the mandatory.  And we don’t notice how much God has provided for us.  We don’t see the beauty.  It’s too cold, dark, light, hot… it’s always too something.  But God’s creation is too perfect to miss.  

We only get a short time on this journey.  The death of a loved one reminds me just how short this really can be and how everything changes so quickly.  Don’t get so caught up in all the things to complete.  Pay attention.  God has provided something amazing.  And one of those amazing things is you.

I have a special gift, an ability which seems to only get stronger as time goes on… it is the ability to lose things.  I shouldn’t say lose, it’s really a temporary misplacement, a momentary forgetfulness, an unintentional hiding place.  Today, it was my house keys.  I got home, pulled in the driveway, got ready to get out of the car and realized I didn’t have my keys.  My first thought was, I had put them in my backpack with my computer.  That was incorrect.  I thought about the pocket on my hoodie.  Wrong again.  Surely I had put them in the cupholder.  And that was also incorrect.  Wendy was already on her way home so I just decided to hang out in the car and wait.  It was a few moments to sit still.  As it turns out, my keys were still on the key stand, inside the house.  Apparently I didn’t think it was important to take them off of the stand when I left this morning.  But, I gave myself credit for at least putting them where they belonged – or belonged when I was inside the house (not outside).  

This is a normal occurrence for me. It is a daily challenge to remember where I put something.  I have really good intentions and sometimes I get it right.  Sometimes I put things in places to help me remember.  But most of the time, I can’t remember where I put the thing to help me remember.  It’s okay, though.  It’s just a part of life for me.  It just means I spend my time seeking.

Jesus reminds us he is always seeking the lost as well.  It isn’t that he has lost something, like I do.  He is seeking those who are lonely, hurt, defeated, hopeless… He is seeking those who feel this emptiness deep inside.  He is seeking those who are beaten down by a society which says you aren’t good enough.  He is seeking those who are lost in this world.  

When Jesus seeks, he finds.  And when he finds, he changes everything.  He brings hope to the hopeless.  He brings meaning to a life which seemed pointless.  He lifts up, he rejoices, he fills in the empty places.  He calls the lost his children and shows them a new place to call home.  And he does all of this because he loves – deeper and wider and more vast than anything we can imagine.  His love is incredible.  

Jesus’ love seeks.  His love finds.  His love changes.  May we be found today.

There is a phrase, “before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes.”  It is a great thought for how to treat other people and empathize. But we actually can’t ever walk in someone else’s shoes.  It’s impossible.  Even if we know the person well, we don’t actually know what they are thinking or feeling or experiencing.  We can grow up in the same household as someone else and still experience things very differently.  We really don’t know what someone else is struggling with or going through.

Despite all of this, we tend to make snap judgements about other people.  We put them in categories according to what we think of them.  Many of our judgements about others are actually based on our own feelings and experiences, and not as much on reality or the other person.  We project our own fears or hurts onto others because we don’t always know how to deal with our own.  

If we understand this, it hopefully helps us to be more aware of how we treat others.  We still naturally gravitate to people who make us feel comfortable.  It takes effort to spend time with people who are different in any way.  Yet, this is growth.  This is where we find out how very human “others” actually are.  It gives us a glimpse into the lives of those who are different.  If we do this, we might find we have more things in common than we thought.  We might even find we enjoy time with those who are not like us. 

Here’s the key for me:  Hatred is difficult when I’ve taken the time and effort to love.  I find it much more difficult to lump people into a group when I have taken the time to get to know folks in the “other” group.  I find I’m more compassionate and understanding.  I also find a lot of love from people who I would not normally spend time with.  

Our world is filled with plenty of hatred.  We can find hurt and meanness spewed everywhere.  We can make the difference when we choose to be different.  We can begin to see differently when we get to know others. We may not be able to walk in their shoes, but we can certainly walk with them on their journey.  We just might find humanity – in ourselves.  We just might meet Jesus there.  That’s where the Bible always said he was, on the other side.  We might find our true selves and him if we are willing to go.

Having studied church history and the Bible, I find it’s something that has occurred for a really long time. People have justified their actions using scripture.  “Christians” have felt good about their position based on their interpretation of scripture – of course, making sure the best scriptures for their position are selected. Hatred, slavery, hurt, fear, disgust, murder, gossip, and many other reactions have happened in the name of God.  And it’s always interesting how the scripture always defends how someone feels when they don’t like what someone else is doing or saying.  

Of course, this continues. The difference is now there is a platform for people to make sure they can get as much support as possible rallied for their position.  We all do it.  We look for people who think like us, believe like us and behave like us.  We seek our group.  And everyone outside the group is wrong (or at least not right like us).  

Here’s just one of the problems with all of this – using scripture to justify hatred or meanness or contempt. This isn’t the purpose or intent of God’s Word.  It isn’t how we are instructed to live.  It isn’t how Jesus lived or God created.  This is created by people.  And it’s not only harmful, but destructive.  

Jesus taught us to love our enemies.  We often think of enemies as those outside the faith.  I find some of the most harmful enemies call themselves Christians.  They disguise their hatred under the cover of the scripture.  

Maybe we consider flipping the script.  Maybe we justify our love rather than our hate with the Word of God.  I get a lot of things wrong, but maybe I’m found to be “too” loving of other people.  I’m okay with that. I will try to seek ways to love and include rather than exclude and shove away.  If I am accused of anything, my prayer is that I am accused of being too loving and too welcoming.  Maybe one of those people I loved and welcomed was Jesus (Matthew 25).  

When we are in trouble, we look for help.  If we have car trouble, we seek a mechanic.  If we are having health issues, we seek help with a physician.  If we are having trouble with our toilet or sink, we want help from a plumber.  If we are having mental health issues, we reach out to a therapist or psychiatrist.  If we are needing a boost, we get coffee.  If we are needing a dessert, we go to our favorite bakery, Grounded and Baked (see what I did there).  When we need help, we often have resources.  But what do we do when we don’t know what help we need, we just know we need help.

Writer Anne Lamont notes, “Here are the two best prayers I know: ‘Help me, help me, help me’ and ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you.”  When we are struggling, sometimes we don’t know where to turn.  We don’t know what to do.  We feel at a loss.  And we can feel helpless.  I am reminded of the Psalm which reads, “My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”  There are many Psalms and verses in scripture which remind us our help comes from the Lord.  He hears our cries and knows our pain. 

My goal is to constantly seek help from the Lord, not just when I am in distress.  My daily prayer includes a plea for help.  I don’t want to turn to God only when I am desperate.  I want to turn to God for life.  I want him to be my help always.  I want to be reminded he hears me and loves me and is with me, even when things are great.  I don’t want him to be just my emergency contact but rather, my constant friend.

Today, maybe we make a commitment to simply call on God – no reason except we want to know him better. Maybe we just take time with him, to grow closer.  Maybe we simply work on our relationship because we are loved beyond belief by our Creator.  “Help me” seems to be a good place to start.

I love trees.  They are one of my favorite of God’s creation.  Many of them stand tall and strong despite the environment.  They provide for cleaner air.  They do work without anyone even noticing.  They do not need much attention and yet provide grandeur.  They provide landmarks and help to navigate difficult places.  Trees remind us of the need to shed sometimes while still growing.   Many trees have leaves which change colors and fall off, only to return in even more beauty the next season.  

One of the most important aspects of a tree is its ability to send its roots down deep into the ground to find the needed water for growth.  This not only provides a source of water but also stability for the remainder of the growth.  Trees are stable when they are rooted and grounded.  They are amazing creations.  They come in all different types.  Some grow tall, some not.  Some provide flowers or fruit, some not.  Some are late bloomers during the season and some are green all year long.  But no matter what, they are all an important part of our world.

They also provide me with the reminder that I have to be more like a tree.  I have to be rooted and grounded in the right thing.  My stability has to be found in a place which can uphold me when life is difficult and overwhelming.  I have to dig my roots to the real source of life.  For me, that’s found in God.  When I put my trust in him, dig deep into his faithfulness, and steady myself in his love, I can withstand what comes.  

Where are you rooted?  It makes all the difference.