My favorite holiday ended with leftovers of love, lessons, and learning. December, you rushed in like the unexpected cold front! Soft falling snow summoned my SURRENDER of SELF. December, what I love most about you is the anticipation in the waiting.
Jesus, without complacency, I long to WAIT WELL.
My soul was warmed by the glow of the hope candle on our first Advent Sunday.
Peace, beyond human understanding, possessed me.
HEAVENLY HOPE! HOPE has a NAME! JESUS! Do you know he wants you to have HOPE for ETERNITY?
Are you living IN WAIT of the next holiday? Fad? Outfit?Vacation? Paycheck? Clean bill of health?
My journey of “waiting” began years ago. It is just like the joyful anticipation of a mother for her little ones. Resembles graceful frolic of a majestic deer and buck with their doe. Mirrors the captivating colors in a rainbow after the storm! Yet, the purpose of that wait has transformed, much like the changing seasons. As I WAIT WELL to celebrate Jesus and his glorious return, I will embrace my countless blessings.
HOW DO I WAIT WELL?
I’ll be prepared-NOT panicked. It’s not lame of me to lament this broken world. I will practice generous love while protecting my heart. Scripture and devotions will be dosed daily. Each day I’ll live with an endearing expectation of his return! I’ll walk in wisdom with others living THE WAY. The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit will keep me harnessed in HOPE.
Jesus, I’ll wait in anticipation with expectation.
Active Waiting.
Active Listening.
Active Obedience.
Waiting Well.
What are you waiting for?
Have HOPE, precious friends. Keep the faith. YOU ARE LOVED. 💚
***Friends, I began this article several days ago. The news of the the devastating fires in California, storms in other parts of the U.S., and other life-altering events, hurt my heart! I pray for relief, assistance, resources, healing, and hope. ***
Snow, temperatures, and my energy fell. The morning light greeted me with new hope and joy-an epiphany. “God, thank you for another day.”
A friend and I were sharing the other night about the “busyness” in Christianity. We even giggled saying, “Hurry, look busy, Jesus is coming!” I spent many years in church, yet, was taught very little about a relationship with Jesus. Traditions, doctrine, and religiosity didn’t direct me when I felt lost. And when I failed. When I hit rock bottom, I MET JESUS. It’s not about denomination or determination of “status” due to doctrine. In a “pop” psychology world that shares, “I am enough!” I can proudly say, without shame, that “I’m nothing without GOD.“
Intentional. Deliberate. Purposeful.Why are we all…here?
…”They talk as if the west wind could really sweep into a human soul; but it can’t. They tell us the ‘beauty born of murmuring sound’ will pass into a human face; but it won’t. Or not yet. For if we take the imagery of Scripture seriously, if we believe that God will one day give us the Morning Star and cause us to put on the splendour of the sun, then we may surmise that both the ancient myths and the modern poetry, so false as history, may be very near the truth as prophecy. At present we are on the outside of the world, the wrong side of the door. We discern the freshness and purity of morning but they do not make us fresh and pure. We cannot mingle with the splendours we see. But all the leaves of the New Testament are rustling with the rumour that it will not always be so. Some day, God willing, we shall get in.”
C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory (1942)
There’s nothing like the light filtering in through the trees on the trail. Often I’ve wondered about meeting other believers in nature. I wonder why we all feel more comfortable HERE? Ah, to be reunited with beauty–the return to Eden.
Faith, nature, and creation. My love for our Creator and nature came natural. How did my faith grow? How does one come to believe? If you’ve read or seen Lee Strobel’s “The Case for Christ”, his name rings a bell. Lee was an atheist and had a career as a legal editor for the Chicago Tribune. When his wife found “faith”, he was determined to poke holes in her belief. He studied at Yale and was used to investigating. Surely, he’d collapse her faith with evidence. Their conversation was captivating (and LONG–I watched it in sessions).
“But real Christianity is considerably different, and those who know it think in totally different ways. They despise all those shadows of Christianity and false imitations of it. They know by experience that true Christianity is a union of the soul with God. It is a real impartation of the divine nature. It is the image of God sketched on the soul. In the words of the apostle, “it is Christ formed within us. In its most complete, precise, and brief definition, it is a divine life in us.”
Henry Scougal
Are your plans based on purpose? Or are you living hour to hour, day to day based solely on circumstance? Christ-in-me gives my plans a whole new purpose!
The media shares about resolutions, styles, and events–another Super Bowl will be held and a President sworn in–gatherings, new wrinkles, and aging skin. I’ll throw on my old flannel and try to hike when I can.
Cling to Christ and love others-my purposeful plan.
Seven beautiful people were tragically killed in a plane crash on Friday afternoon: Kelly Nelon Clark, her husband, Jason, and daughter and son-in-law, Amber Nelon Kister and Nathan Kistler, Assistant Melodie Hodges, pilot Larry Haylie and his wife, Melissa. They were traveling to join the Gaither’s Alaskan Cruise.
Surviving daughter, Autumn Nelon Streetman, and husband, Jamie thank people for their prayers and support for them, their soon-to-be-born baby boy, and Jason’s parents.https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna163931
May we all honor and remember their beautiful music (I’ve listened to them for many years).
In honoring this gifted family, we can pay tribute to those in our lives that have journeyed home~and those that remain in our immediate midst.
The brevity of life braces us for the brutal, breathless, breathtaking, and brilliant.
May melted with makeshift memories, medicines, and mindfulness. June jumped in and jolted me. It’s jam-packed. Will June have me juggling, jotting, and jaundiced (I couldn’t help that ;-)?
Jesus
When asked, “How do you not worry? How do you have faith? How do you have joy?”
“Oh, you haven’t met HIM yet, have you?” I replied.
Experiences like this happen to me frequently while hiking. My sometimes silent sanctuary. The few humans exploring the area acknowledged they knew how loved they were when I asked them. “Jesus, thank you for walking alongside me. Which path should I take?” The birds sang and the wind whispered again. Cool breezes calmed my consciousness. Clarification cleared my confusion.Is that a cross? Later, a cardinal directed me on the path least traveled. “Don’t take your eyes off of me, Karla.”
The peace that passes all understanding. A compassion that is combustible with Christ. Don’t gasp or grimace over guilt. Guilt is Godless. Sorrow is Godly. Can we stop taking trips of guilt? Will we feel sorrow for one another? Worry wastes and brokenness will beg. Jesus will meet you there.
Journey
Do you get caught up in the world’s web? Feelings, emotions, and circumstances will shift, swirl, and spin. Without warning you’re caught in confusion and chaos. To the right you see rubble, to the left you spot loss, and straight ahead is suspicion.
For me? I see forever and I view victory.
pics by K.L. Hale
“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”
C.S. Lewis
Although I’m not living in poverty, my soul is. It’s an emptiness and neediness that Jesus calls, “poor in spirit” (Matt 5:3). Without God, I’m incomplete. Repair is not needed–just restoration and reconciliation. You and I are not “wretched” souls. We have wretched life circumstances and our brokenness motivates us beyond ourselves. Once I thought all was perfect; my awareness was lacking. God IS love. When the dust settles and your heart hurts what will heal? Compassion, love, and grace. You will never be “good” enough. The opposite of bad is not good–it’s love.
“If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.”
C.S. Lewis
“We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.”
1 John 4:16
June
Jeez, June. You can’t jar me! I’ll be in 7th heaven when my favorite 7 humans pay a visit soon. A 60th wedding anniversary by my favorite couple will be honored. There will be family celebrations, a new scan for me, more bloodwork and a visit, and a better prescription to see. June, we’ll be fine. There will be holidays, birthdays, routines, and more–I’m sure the unexpected will be in store. As temperatures rise and attitudes flare, keep us grounded and safe, keep love in the air.
I’m living my reality and truth. God himself is called the “God of truth” (Ps 31:5). Jesus calls himself the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). The Holy Spirit is also called the truth (1 John 5:6).
I’m embracing my imperfection with faith, flannel (not as much with these warmer temps), and fresh air. May truth guide you to a place where love resides. Perfection is not needed. Just faith.
