The holidays are upon us. This also means holiday shopping is upon us. Holiday shopping on top of holiday events and an already packed schedule can be a recipe for anxiety, stress and anger. It can so easily happen. And anger is often misdirected. It can be seen anywhere. A person is angry at something else that has happened and takes it out on the worker at the fast food restaurant who simply forgot a sauce. A person is hurt because of something that was said and lashes out at the receptionist in the doctor’s office who is just trying to follow a policy she didn’t create. Someone else is dealing with medical issues and takes it out on the driver that cut him off. These are already reactions that happen and when compacted with the holidays, this can become a real problem, real fast.
What can we do about it all? We can’t make someone else not yell at the worker or the receptionist or the driver. We can’t stop others from carrying their anger and taking it out on the first person to receive it. We can’t make others see that Christmas is not about all of the things which bring up so much anxiety. What we can do is work on us. I can work on me. You can work on you. We can make sure we are not the one yelling at the restaurant worker. We can make sure we are not the one becoming hateful at the doctor’s office. We can take a deep breath when we are cut off in traffic and simply be okay. We can change ourselves. We can find kindness in us. We can be the difference. We can show love where there seems to be so little of it.
This year, I think this is especially important. We not only have stress and anxiety with the holidays, but we also have this pandemic we are all having to deal with. This year, we can make even more of an impact. If you have the love of Christ in you – share that instead of your anger. If you have the peace of Christ in you – let that rule your hearts and minds rather than hatred. If you have the hope of Christ in you – let that hope shine through so brightly others see the hope in you. If you have the joy of Christ in you – may it be the first thing others notice. We make the difference if we have Christ living in us. What is shining through you today?
Focus Scripture:
Matthew 5:13-14
13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.
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I will be the first to admit I do not know much about astronomy. It has always seemed to be the study of things so very far away. And it isn’t something I understand. I am always grateful for those who do who can help me along. What I do know is the sky is full of beauty first thing in the morning on a cool crisp early run. I’m always out before the sun rises which gives me the opportunity to see all my eyes and mind can take in. The moon has been especially big and bright lately. As I gaze up in the sky, I see stars reminding me God has put every single one of them in place for such a time as this. I stand amazed. But lately I have noticed this one star. It seems more brilliant than all the rest. It is almost so bright that it stands alone. I could tell there was something different about this particular star. I continued to admire it for several weeks until I found someone to ask. I attend church with a friend who knows much more about astronomy than I do (not that it takes that much to know more than me). He has a telescope and enjoys searching the great beyond in precise detail. So I asked him about this star. He made a guess on what he thought it was but gave me the link to an app that would tell me for sure. I went out yesterday and sure enough, he was right. This is why it is important to surround yourself with people smarter than yourself. The star? It was Venus.
This may not surprise you. But it sure surprised me. A planet that I have studied and always just had in my mind that it was so distant I could not see, appears as a brilliant star in my own backyard! That’s simply amazing to me. What I thought was so far off, so unreachable, is within sight of my own eyesight. This reminds me of God.
God often seems so distant, especially when we are grieving. He can become a concept rather than Someone tangible. We can talk about God as if he is off in another universe never to be noticed. And yet, I feel his love. In some strange and amazing way, I understand that he knows me by name. It isn’t that I am especially good or hold any particular status. He knows me because he created me. And he did the same for you. God loves us beyond our comprehension, just because that’s who he is. I stand amazed.
I want you to know that God is very near. He is so near he feels your heart break and understands your pain. He isn’t some distant thought but a very near healer. You are grieving, that doesn’t change. Your loved one is not here, nothing fixes it. But God is present, real, and evident right before you. I pray you experience him today.
As you grieve, you do not grieve alone. As you struggle, you do not struggle by yourself. As you search, know that you are already found. God is near. And you mean more than you know to him.
Focus Scripture:
Psalm 73:28
28 But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, to tell of all your works.
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Lord, protect me. Protect my mouth from speaking hatred or spewing meanness. Protect my heart from exposure to the things which stain. Protect my mind, that I will think good things which bring You glory, Lord. Protect my spirit, that I will not allow those who mean evil to beat me down. Protect me, Lord, that I may serve you.
We don’t often consider how exposed we can be. We too easily allow others to influence our hearts and our minds. We give control to those who should not be allowed to have control over us. We allow ourselves to be manipulated without ever realizing it has happened. Before we know it, we are not the people we sought to be. We don’t realize how much protection we really do need. But God does. And so many times, we read how the Psalmist does.
When we are in times of physical war, we seek protection. When we clearly see the enemy, we become defensive and ready – prepared for what is ahead. But when the enemy sneaks into our lives undetected, we are unprepared. We miss how we have allowed others to control our attitude or steal our joy. We don’t recognize when we have lost all sense of who we are and given ourselves to things which are unhealthy (spiritually, physically, and emotionally). We miss it because this evil is hidden among the good.
So today, we seek protection. May God protect us from those things which we do not see or recognize, but that harm us in so many ways. May God give us clean and fresh air to breathe so that we might see him. May God cover us with his wings so that we are not exposed to the harshness that can so easily surround us. May God protect our hearts, our mouths, our spirits, that we will be the instruments of his peace and love. And may we live, truly live, protected by the hand of the Almighty God.
Focus Scripture:
Psalm 141:8-10
8 But my eyes are turned toward you, O God, my Lord; in you I seek refuge; do not leave me defenseless. 9 Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me, and from the snares of evildoers. 10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I alone escape.
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
There are times it is simply enough to know that God is the God of Hope. There must be. When we don’t have the answers, when we don’t understand the outcome, when we don’t get what is going on – our only hope is found in God. It doesn’t take away our hurt. It doesn’t fix things. This isn’t some magic potion that clears everything up and all is well. It also isn’t some pie-in-the-sky thinking either. We don’t live well without hope and our hope cannot be placed in the hands of any other. We cannot move forward without hope, but we cannot look elsewhere for hope or we will be let down. Hope is only found in the God who created it all, including us. And since he created it all, he certainly can be a resting place for our hope.
Hope in God transcends our circumstances. Hope in God illuminates our path and reminds us we are not alone. Hope in God gives us the courage to take one more step when we feel too frightened to even lift our foot – as if we were stuck in cement and it had already hardened around us.
As we enter the holiday season, there is so much to celebrate. There is so much to look forward to discovering. There are good times ahead. But that doesn’t mean we will all celebrate. It doesn’t mean the holiday season is great for us all. It doesn’t mean there aren’t people struggling with grief, loneliness, fear, and hurt. That’s all the more real than the celebrations for so many. And this year everything seems to be amplified.
But what isn’t lost in it all is hope. It isn’t a hope in things getting better. It isn’t a hope we will get what we want. It isn’t a hope in people or places or situations. Hope is found in God who reminds us that no matter what, there is always a reason to take one more step. There is always a reason to pick up your head and see his glory. There is always a reason to lift your eyes to the hills – that really is where your help comes from. If God made the heavens and the earth – if he cared enough to make you – then he cares enough to provide you a wellspring of hope.
May your heart be lifted ever so gently to the God of Hope. May he surprise you with glimmers of goodness. May your spirits find rest and strength so hope can be discovered, one more time.
Focus Scripture:
Psalm 121
1 I lift up my eyes to the hills— from where will my help come? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. 4 He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. 6 The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. 8 The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore.
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Her days had been long, searching for the promise. She had all but given up hope this would actually happen. She kept pressing forward in life, never giving up on God. He must have a different plan, she must have thought. He may have had other ideas. She couldn’t quite understand it or put it all together. But there was something to all of this. And she remained faithful. That’s who she was, that’s what she did. She was a woman of faith – always had been, always would be. She had the lineage of faith as well. Her name meant something. People knew who she was. She was highly regarded and respected among many. She had married well and she loved God with her all. Yet there was still something missing.
She was getting older. As each year ticked by, she let the spark of a new day fade. It was okay. She was embarrassed. She couldn’t believe it. But it was okay. She would be okay. They would be okay. They didn’t have children but they had each other and they had God – and that had to be enough. They loved each other.
We can miss her in the whole story. She can get lost in the background of it all. Yet she is the one. She is the promised one. She is the one to watch. Her name is Elizabeth. Elizabeth is a descendant of Aaron. She is from the priestly line – from the original first priest. This was her heritage. Faithful service was how she was taught and how it all came together. For her to marry a priest only seemed fitting – the way it should be. Yet, in their faithful service, they still had no children. Their dedication had not given them the one thing they wanted more than all the rest.
That changed, though. There was a change in the air. Something big was about to happen. Anticipation filled the room where the priest, Zechariah, served. Anticipation filled their home as a promise would somehow be fulfilled. Her time was not done. Her life was not complete, not yet. God still had something for her. Elizabeth was needed. She was an important, vital part of God’s ultimate, greater plan. She would become a mother. She would be a mother to someone that would surely change the whole landscape of faith. He would be called and sent by God. He had a mission. Elizabeth felt it. Her life was changing moment by moment as this new baby grew inside of her. Her womb was filled with anticipation and grace. There was more to come. Hope was still to be discovered.
Gabriel brought the news. Elizabeth stayed put. She waited for direction. She looked for the next step. She searched for what God has planned. If he could do this – this whole baby thing – he surely had something incredible ahead. She was to wait. She was to hope again. She was to anticipate the goodness of all that was ahead. God had given her an amazing gift. One of the most amazing gifts came in a visit. This visit brought things into perspective. She was a woman of faith. She got that God was at work. She understood that things were much more connected than she could see. And so this visit was confirmation – times were changing and her baby had something to do with this. Let’s look at just a small part of her story.
Luke 1:39-45
39 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43 And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44 For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”
Mary was at the door – her young cousin, Mary. Mary was so young and Elizabeth so not. Yet, these two women had a connection that would last a lifetime – and beyond. She had an experience that changed everything. Mary walks in the door, Elizabeth can’t calm the excitement of the baby she is carrying in the womb. And Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit. It is Elizabeth that brings the proclamation. It is Elizabeth that understands there is something monumental about this visit – about this baby – about her cousin. There is something so much bigger than any of them could have ever imagined. She is privileged to not only carry a child, but to experience the woman that would carry the Lord. It was more than any of them could explain. They became a comfort, a peace, and a strength for one another. They were at different life stages but going through similar struggles. Mary, a soon to be young mother who was unmarried and inexperienced. Elizabeth had wisdom, courage and strength on her side – but didn’t actually have any children of her own. Both pregnant – both finding their way through unknown territory. Both lean on each other – strengths and weaknesses combine. Hope is finally being renewed. God was up to something big. And their two sons would be the forces behind it all. This is something huge!
In case you had not picked up on it, Advent begins today. The multi week wandering that brings us to the manger and the fulfillment of a promise. Promises fulfilled is what it is all about. Anticipation of the great things to come fill the air. Excitement becomes paramount as new life is apparent. We see Elizabeth today – for her hope and excitement of all that is ahead. We see her for her motherly wisdom and her Godly faith. We see her for all that she is – a child of God, used in a mighty way, to bring life to a promise to come. What an exciting and scary time – all rolled into one.
As we approach this Advent, we are dealing with extraordinary times. Things are out of place. We are not as we ever have been. Caution fills the air. Uneasiness is the sign of the times. We can be easily concerned about all the future holds. Times are not all that much unlike the times of Elizabeth. There is danger ahead. There is more to take in than she could possibly understand. What she can do is hope. She can hope that God is in this. She can hope that God hasn’t forgotten his promises. She can live in a hope of new life. Her hope is not based on her circumstances. Her hope is not based on the powers that be in her world. Her hope is not in those she loves that surround her. Her hope has to be based in God. Her hope has to be focused on God who calls her his beloved. Her hope can only be in God – all else will let her down. There is too much at stake. She can only hope in him.
Where is our hope? What hope do we have? What promises are still being fulfilled all around us? God has not stopped working, even when we miss it all. God is still creating. God is the only place for our hope. He is the only One who fulfills the real hope. May we find hope in HIM today.
How many times can I possibly start over? As I headed out for my walk/jog this morning, I couldn’t help but laugh a little – Day One AGAIN. I can’t tell you how many times I have begun the count. I train for something and either the event happens or I get sidelined. So, I start again. In this latest case, I was doing so well at running a little every day. And then…I fell. I fell hard and that took a toll on my body for a few days. I am fine. All heals and I move forward. So I look out at the morning sky and start Day One, one more time. And it is okay.
We have lots of Day One events in our lives. We begin a new health journey – then a holiday comes or a special event or there are cookies in the house. So we start over again the next day. We decide we will make a change for the better that will improve our health. We do so well until we don’t. So we start again, again, and again. We decide we will improve our spiritual health and we begin that journey. Sometimes it takes and sometimes it doesn’t.
Life can feel like a whole bunch of Day One starts. And these can be seen from a couple of different perspectives. It can be completely and utterly frustrating. How many times can we actually mess up? How many times will I get hurt before I just quit starting again? Do we really care about eating well anyway? Why not just give up on this whole journey anyway? That’s one approach – but it sure isn’t all that helpful. It really just digs our hole of despair a little deeper.
Our other option is to look at this as a gift. We get the privilege to start again. We have an amazing opportunity to make a difference one more time. We cannot worry about tomorrow. Past failures are just that – PAST. What we have is today – Day One – and it is good. Day One means we start clean and fresh. There is an excitement that promises are ahead. Possibilities are ever before us. It won’t be easy, but it won’t be accomplished without a Day One. So, get up and get started. This IS a new Day One! And I can’t wait to see what it holds.
May you find joy in your Day One. May you be filled with hope no matter where your journey takes you. May you find peace as you seek to do what is good, right, just, and loving. Now, get up and start your Day One!
Today’s focus scripture is God’s Day One for each of us- and it is quite amazing.
Focus Scripture:
Genesis 2:4b-7
In the day that the LordGod made the earth and the heavens, 5 when no plant of the field was yet in the earth and no herb of the field had yet sprung up—for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was no one to till the ground; 6 but a stream would rise from the earth, and water the whole face of the ground— 7 then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being.
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
There are simple pleasures we miss because we can “buy” it. Last night, we were watching the traditional Christmas movies that bring so much joy. One of the advertisements was for a brand of cinnamon rolls. The instantly brought back childhood memories of Sunday mornings. My mom would pop those in the oven and when they came out, icing would run down their warm sides. It was a big hunk of goodness. Just looking at the commercial made me want cinnamon rolls again (so yes, the advertiser was completely successful). Wendy started to look up recipes for me. As a vegan, it is challenging to find pre-made food that doesn’t contain dairy. The search began. It wasn’t long before she discovered an easy recipe with simple ingredients we had at home. Baking as much as I have lately does lend itself to having the right ingredients. I decided I would get up this morning and make them.
Now, I could have simply gone to the store and bought the product. It would have taken much less time. But I would have missed the simple joys of the process. I would have missed watching the yeast activate. I would have missed rolling out the dough and sprinkling on the sugar and cinnamon. I would have missed cutting them and placing them in the container. But mostly, I would have missed the joy of just seeing it all come together in such an exciting way. I would have missed the process.
There are so many things we can just buy. We don’t have to put much of any effort into anything. Someone else will do all the work for us. But we miss something when we buy it in the store. We miss the experiences that our parents and grandparents had. We miss watching dough being formed right beneath our fingers. We miss seeing the success of something we had a part. I do understand that we are all time crunched. And there are some amazing bakers that are local we should absolutely support. But maybe, just on occasion, we take the time to do it ourselves. We may find simple joys in the process we would have missed. And we may find goodness waiting right around the corner that we didn’t even have to buy.
Focus Scripture:
Genesis 1:29-31
29 God said, “See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. 31 God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
Wisdom often comes when we least expect it. It appears in the simplest of places, people or things. Charlie Brown and his gang have been a source of wisdom for many years, all hidden under the cover of cute, entertaining cartoons. As I watched A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving again this year, I couldn’t help but smile at lessons taught when I pay attention. There is so much good packed in the humor.
Think about it – different people from different backgrounds sitting around one large table. It is filled with good friends, a history lesson, and the best meal the host could prepare. What more could one ask for? At first there is judgment – how could Charlie Brown serve such mess? Where are all the traditional foods? What kind of Thanksgiving dinner is this anyway? They quickly find out, though – Thanksgiving is more than eating, just being thankful for being together is enough.
Togetherness is not something we are able to do much right now. We could be rightfully upset about it. But we can also appreciate the times we do have. The lesson of enjoying sitting around a table becomes abundantly clear when we are not able to gather as we once did. The lesson of family and fellowship shines a little brighter as this has been overshadowed by disease. But this is not the end. There will be times for togetherness.
As we look forward to better times, may we not forget the lessons we are learning through these challenging times. May we not forget how much we long to sit at a table and simply enjoy the company of one another. May we not forget how much family and fellowship mean to us. May we strive to spend more time with those we love whenever we have the opportunity. And may we not take simple gifts for granted – living grateful every single day.
Focus Scripture:
Acts 2:42
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
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Our phones and computers almost demand upgrades. They seem to crash and act up if we are not willing to comply. Alerts flash on our screen demanding our attention. Sometimes, we don’t want to upgrade. Sometimes, we like the way things already are. We know how the system works. We like how our phone operates. We don’t want more features or whatever special items they are taunting us with. We simply want it to stay the same. Except, this isn’t an option. You will upgrade or they will shut you down.
When we finally press the button and the update takes place or we finally buy the upgrade, there are many things we will find frustrate us. Where is THAT button I always use? Why does it make me do this NOW? Why am I required to do this when I never have before? We can get frustrated. But inevitably, there are always little things which we enjoy, that we find we are really excited to see. So there are positives and negatives. We just wish we could have it the way it was before the changes.
I feel like this about Thanksgiving. We are forced to upgrade. We can’t help it. There isn’t anything we did to make it this way. And, it is not all bad. There are some really awesome new features. But we really just want it the way it was. We move forward with what we have, though. This Thanksgiving, I received a special gift – the upgrade I didn’t know would happen, but was glad to see the result.
My Grandma is no longer able to cook like she once did. She is an outstanding cook. Her cakes, pies and goodies are so good your stomach growls just walking in her home. She has cooked these sweet treats for longer than I have been alive. The memories of her goodies lining her spare bedroom is one I will always treasure. But that isn’t where we are now. I have a Thanksgiving tradition of eating an entire Sweet Potato Pie that she makes every year. Note: Don’t judge my tradition and I won’t judge yours. The Pie is amazing and I devour it annually (often I get one at Christmas too, but that’s my business). At lunch not too long ago, Grandma broke the news that she would not be able to make my pie. In my usual stubbornness, I told her she was wrong and there would be pie. She proceeded to tell me why she was right – I interjected with a solution. She would supervise, tell me the ingredients, and I would be her hands. And that’s exactly what we did. I have a Sweet Potato Pie this Thanksgiving. But even more important than the pie, I spent time with my precious Grandma, soaking up her wisdom of cooking. Thanksgiving 2.0 isn’t all bad.
This Thanksgiving, you may find a lot looks different and you don’t like it. But find the treasures hidden in the upgrade. They are always there, even if they seem minor. We might find that the gifts of Thanksgiving shine a bit brighter in the most unusual of times.
Happy Thanksgiving to YOU! I am grateful for you. I appreciate your time to read the Devotion. It means more to me than you know.
Blessings to you all.
Focus Scripture:
1 Thessalonians 5:18
18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
I had someone tell me yesterday that the word of the year is ‘pivot’ due to all the changes we have to accommodate. This is even more evident as we head into Thanksgiving. I hear the lament of so many, and I am with you. Thanksgiving is not as it should be. People should not gather together – something that this holiday is built upon. It is not safe to sit around the table – the basic premise of it all. It seems out of sorts, even uncomfortable. One approach is to buck the entire system and do it anyway. The problem is that people’s lives could be at stake – for a meal. This hardly seems logical, even for Thanksgiving feasts. Another option is to scale it down and cover it up. Have fewer people over and wear masks as much as possible. Or we could simply eat at home with the people we see all the time. I must say none of these options are particularly appealing. They are frustrating. Plans change and we don’t like it.
We could sit around ticked off all day today, tomorrow, and for a while. We could complain on social media about how mad we are. We could take out our frustrations on the leaders that are trying to keep us safe. We could kick, scream and throw a tantrum (I see some of y’all do that on social media – it’s ugly). OR…and get this…we could simply GIVE THANKS. I know, it may sound corny. But is the food all there is to this holiday? Is the fellowship all this holiday is really about? Maybe this year is a reprieve where we can reconsider what it really means to give thanks. Maybe this year we roll with the punches and come out stronger, more appreciative for the time we have been given. Maybe, we simply live grateful.
Living grateful is not as simple as it seems. Too often, we are driven by greed or selfishness. We live in a constant state of want. Even when we try to think of others, we are met with comparison and envy. To live grateful means we simply look at all we have been given and find a point of contentment. Wherever we are and whatever we have, to be content. When we reach a point of contentment, we begin to find we can give. We can serve. We can help others. We can give thanks. We don’t need any more than what we have. We likely don’t even need all we have. When we live grateful, our perspective begins to shift to helping others rather than taking something for ourselves. We begin to be thankful for the simplest but most precious gifts in our lives. And in turn, we give.
Rather than complain, may we give thanks. Instead of whining, may we see all we have. Instead of yelling at others, may we express thanksgiving. May we give rather than take. May we love rather than hate. May we find contentment and share with others. And my we have an outstanding Thanksgiving – living grateful.
Focus Scripture:
Philippians 4:11-13
11 Not that I am referring to being in need; for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
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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