I can’t believe it’s another new year! Everyone says time passes quickly, but the last month sure flew by. After celebrating the holidays and just returning from a camping trip to usher in the new year, I have a few thoughts.
First, I hope 2025 is a fabulous year for all. I don’t make resolutions, but I do have goals I strive to keep each year. This year, my top issues are:
Bible Study.
I love studying the Word and there are so many great teachers out there. This is my time to grow closer to the Lord and I don’t give that up lightly.
Prayer.
I have a friend who will pray on big world issues while I tend to focus on our homeland. Late last year she asked if I would pray for specific topics. It was a very large reaching list, so I asked if we could meet and go over the areas that we feel are most important to each of us. I got a notebook and listed the topics so that when we get together, we can map out our prayer strategy.
Read more books than last year.
I wrote a post in September about keeping track of the number of books I read in 2024. My final count was 77. Not shabby! I ordered a book journal to keep track of the books I read this year as compared to a piece of paper where I tallied the numbers for last year.
Since my daughter has returned to reading, it’s been fun to exchange books and suggest new authors. This year is no exception.
Deadlines.
The first book in my Golden, Georgia series comes out in May. I’m handing in the manuscript for book two in January and I started writing book 3. Altogether there will be four books in this new series featuring estranged sisters who rediscover each other while falling in love.
These are goals I can accomplish. My prayer is that each of you will jot down the things you hope to achieve this year and do it! I’m looking forward to a great 2025!
~Tara
Tara Randel is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author. Family values, a bit of mystery and of course, love and romance, are her favorite themes, because she believes love is the greatest gift of all. Look for her next Harlequin Heartwarming romance, THE SURPRISE NEXT DOOR, available May 2025.For more information about her books, visit Tara at www.tararandel.com.Like her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TaraRandelBooks.
Over the holidays, my wife and I again took advantage of the opportunity to watch two classic movies— A Christmas Carol (the Alistair Sim version released in 1951 and based on the Charles Dickens novel of 1843) and It’s a Wonderful Life (1946). Both of these movies have endured, not only because of their production values, but also because of the themes they addressed. They are profoundly important stories. And they have very much in common.
1. The Message. The central message of both movies is the human obligation to serve and help other humans, especially the poor, including the working poor (Bob Cratchit and the many families housed by the Bailey Building and Loan). It is no accident that both stories were set in very difficult economic times—the aftermath of the Industrial Revolution in England and the Great Depression in the United States.
2. The Villain. Both movies have a central evil character—Ebeneezer Scrooge and the banker Henry Potter. While it might be tempting to view them as representatives of Satan himself, they are, in fact, very human. Both are rich capitalists who oppress rather than help the poor. And yet neither movie is communistic or socialistic in the sense of expecting the government to help the poor. Both applaud free enterprise (especially small businesses such as those owned by Scrooge’s Fezziwig and the small shop owners in Bedford Falls) and personal initiative. The assumption is that it is people who help people, not large institutions.
3. A Christian Worldview. Underlying both movies is a Christian worldview. This is no accident, as both stories were originally created during eras of Christian revival. Dickens wrote during the era of the Evangelical revivals, and It’s a Wonderful Life heralded the resurgence of church attendance in North America following the Second World War. Both movies include mention of church attendance, both take place on Christmas Eve, both include Christian carols, and both recognize the significance of Christian faith. The obligation to help the poor is not just a human obligation but a human obligation imposed by God, the Christian God.
4. Supernatural Intervention. In both movies, things are changed for the better by the intervention of spiritual beings—the ghost of Jacob Marley and the three “ghosts” of Christmas in A Christmas Carol and Angel Second Class Clarence Odbody in It’s a Wonderful Life. However, it is important to note that the alleviation of human suffering does not come directly from this intervention. Rather, the intervention inspires people to help the poor—and the helpers are very flawed and imperfect people at that. This also is in keeping with the Christian tradition. Jesus Christ chose that, after His death and resurrection, His mission would be carried on through His human followers. The Christian church is inspired and empowered by Jesus to continue His work, but throughout history it has been Christians (not angels) who have preached the gospel, fed the hungry, welcomed strangers, clothed the naked, looked after the sick, and visited those in prison (Matthew 25:31-46, John 14:12, Acts 1:1-8).
When so many modern Christian movies offer fluff and fantasy (with the gifts being magically delivered by Santa Claus, relieving humans of any obligation), these two classic movies still resonate. They remind us that widespread human suffering still exists in the world (the poor are always with us) and that it is our obligation, with God’s empowerment, to seek to alleviate that suffering.
2025 is Upon Us. That makes the question, “What will we do with it?”
When the door opens on a new year, new opportunities open, too. Those opportunities usually require action. So what can one do to make this your best year yet?
ACCEPT WHAT IS. Last year is gone. For some it was good. For others it wasn’t. For most of us it was a mixed bag of ups and downs, good and bad times, and it held moments of joy and challenges. How we recall the year depends on our view of its events, what events dominated our lives, and how they impacted us. Our view is rooted in our perception.
Our perception of what happened ranks more significant to us than what actually happened to us. That creates a unique opportunity. We gained wisdom from our year’s experiences and with it, we can look back and reflect on events. Reflection contains a treasure trove of useful information. We can use those insights to develop a plan to make this year better for us. A year when we actively seek the life we most want.
A few tips I find helpful:
1. Review and Refine. Look at what’s in our lives and choose what to keep and what to cull.
That creates change. Don’t get anxious. Yes, change means stepping into the unknown and sometimes we’re more at ease with what we know, but if we get more of what we want—more joy, more contentment, better circumstances, less conflict–then change is worth the temporary unease. After all, we didn’t know anything before we did, right? We learn as we go.
Change can be a pain. Others often don’t want us to change. (They prefer what they know, too.) And change is work. We’re already tired. But riding the same treadmill isn’t going to bring about a different result. If we’re not content or at peace, we’re not going to be content or peaceful unless we change. So we have choose. Either we park and pay (do nothing and pay the price, which is to continue to not be content) or we move and endure (do something and put up with the change conflicts until things get better) and become more content.
Gloss doesn’t change facts. If you want different, you must create different and deal with the pitfalls of refining your creation until you are content. Your changes are your choice. Your choice and your responsibility. Others will accept or reject your changes, and you must accept that is their choice.
Change is one part recognition, one part analysis, and one part action.
You can’t get off the treadmill if you don’t realize you’re on it. Why are you discontent? Take a hard, honest look at your life and peg the specifics. Now focus on solutions. What can you do to make wise, life-course corrections?
Once you know what has you discontent, you’ll know what needs to be done. Nail down the problems and the solutions. Be specific. This is the nature of your life you’re deciding. Choose well to live well.
Remember, you can recognize all the challenges in the world and deliberate on them for a lifetime, but if you don’t actually put a solution to work in your life, you’re not changing your situation for the better.
That means next New Year’s Day you’ll be sitting right where you are this one, complaining about the same things you complained about this year (and perhaps last year, and the one before that). Things could even be worse. So you must act. In short, if it’s broken, fix it.
It could take a couple attempts, a few solutions tried to hit on your “perfect” solution. Some will try one thing, not like the result, and consider that failure. It’s not. You know now that didn’t work. Try something else. It’s okay to not like solutions and keep seeking the right solution for you. This isn’t a one-size fits all bit of business. We’re talking about your contentment. That’s uniquely defined by you, so solutions are unique to you, too.
Many try one thing, don’t like it, and give up or give in—and remain discontent, considering it their lot in life. Who loses in that? Why do these people place so little value on their contentment and peace? Why do they quit and not try again? It’s heartbreaking that they cease trying to go for the gold that could be their lives!
But those who say, “Well, that didn’t work, I’ll try this next.” Those who keep searching will find the perfect-for-them solution. Bluntly put, they try and fail their way right to success.
We’ve been taught that failure is a bad thing. But if you try, you gain something–and knowing what you don’t want/what doesn’t work is every bit as important as knowing what you do want and what does work–then that’s growth. The attempt with growth is success.
Maybe you’re not where you want to be, but you’re closer. You know now these potential solutions you’ve tried don’t work for you. So try others. You dig enough, you’re going to find your perfect solution.
If you’ve been told repeatedly that failure is bad, then consider this your personal license to fail. Go ahead. You keep trying until you fail your way to success.
So review and refine. Look at the past year. Pinpoint the problem points. Seek solutions to neutralize them. Make them assets if you can. Then implement the changes needed. Nurture the good. Cull the bad.
2. Finish. Tie up loose ends to clear a path for new beginnings.
It’s hard to focus on new ventures when we’re bogged down in remnants of old ventures. Some overlap is inevitable, but the less of the old we must contend with in the time where our focus should be on the new, the better our odds are of improving our position and building momentum.
Momentum is a powerful force. We put down a foundation. Upon it, we build. If one section is framed, we’re limited on that one section. If two or three sections are framed, then expansion on all sections is possible. Momentum builds momentum. So the less time we spend in the past (deal with the old and get it done) the more time we have to invest in the future (welcome the new).
Clear the decks–which includes accepting what you can’t change. Don’t repress it, accept it. And then press on.
3. Ask and answer this question: What do you want most?
Do you know? Focus on it until you do.
Answer specifically. When you have, then ask: Why do you want it and what are you doing to get it?
In answering those three questions, you clarify, and that clarity creates and intensifies your determination. You also plant seeds in your mind for your plan of action.
Remember an immutable law that deals with free will. You are free to seek what you will. But you are not free to impose your will on any other. These questions should be about you. Not about anyone else. How you can improve yourself, your life, your future.
If you’re constantly replaying old unworthiness tapes, or you focus on what’s wrong with everyone else, you’re on the wrong track. Respect others and yourself and recognize that replaying those tapes isn’t accomplishing one beneficial thing.
If you need more on this, go into my On Writing blog on my vickihinze.com site and read or re-read Windshields and Rearview Mirrors and Are You a Candle or a Mirror?
Bottom line: Look within. Your answers (and benefits) reside there.
4. Set a goal. Make a plan. I can’t go into specifics here, but if you haven’t read Why We Need a Plan, I recommend it. (It’s also in the On Writing blog on my website. If you’re not a writer, read it anyway. The principles in it remain the same regardless of career specifics.)
Far too many go through the motions of living without investing in anything that excites them. There’s no passion in their work. That’s a problem and makes for a poor substitute of a life. Don’t get so caught up in busy-ness that you don’t even remember your wishes, hopes or dreams. If you have forgotten them, pull them out of cold storage, dust them off and see if they’re still your wishes, hopes and dreams or if it’s time for an update–or even an overhaul. If it is, do it. You should be excited about your life! Upshot: Don’t drift, design.
5. Try one new thing. You could find a new passion. If you don’t try, you won’t find anything, and you might be missing something that could come to mean a great deal to you. What’s the saddest thing about that? Unless you look, you might never know what it could have meant to you.
I’m reminded of a story I heard about a guy caught in a flood. On three different occasions help came: a neighbor, a camel and a guy in a boat. On each of these occasions the man stranded in the rising floodwaters refused help, saying he was waiting on God to come help him. Well, the stranded guy drowned, met his Maker, and he was angry. He demanded to know why God hadn’t come. God replied that he’d sent help three different times. What exactly did the guy want?
The moral of the story: Sometimes we’re so fixed on what we think opportunity looks like that we fail to recognize it when it comes. Of course, that won’t happen to you if you’re open to new things . . .
6. Nix cranky. Adopt an attitude of gratitude. Of all suggestions, this is by far the most important. It’s easy to fall into a hotbed of negativity or into a bad situation that sucks you dry, sows more seeds of discontent, or steals so much of your energy and focus that you grow inextricably mired in it and lose sight of what’s good and going right in your life.
When that happens, we react emotionally and that’s just not a good idea because our emotions aren’t reliable. We need balance to function with stability.
We all have challenges. No one escapes them. But if we focus only on the challenges (versus on solutions to them and other things) then we’re doomed to a very rocky, very unstable road and that is not in our best interests–or in anyone else’s.
To gain more balance–which leads to more stable, less dramatic (and melodramatic) events that inflict trauma on us (and often on unsuspecting others)–counter what’s wrong with what’s right. Counter the challenges with the blessings. See the good too, and be grateful for it.
Sometimes that’s easier to do than at other times. I overheard a pastor once say, “There are times when the best you can do is to be grateful you’re not like x. (He pointed mid-air and said like him/her–I don’t recall which. But the intent in what he said fits situations and events as well as people.) Be grateful for little things as well as the big ones.
We often learn most from the things we tag as “bad.” Yet even then we all have something to celebrate.
7. Where you focus, you follow. Before you act, you think. And if you allow your thoughts to run wild and unchecked, you diminish the chances of them being productive or in your best interest. Anyone, given enough time, can rationalize and reason himself right out of good sense–and rob himself of accomplishments and even his destiny.
If you spend your time focused on good and constructive things, you’ll be purpose-driven and accomplish. If you spend your time focused on negative or destructive things, you’ll follow that path and purpose and accomplishment (not to mention happiness and contentment) will elude you.
Which will you do? You choose what you focus on and give your energy to–how you spend your life. That’s as it should be. Again, you’re responsible and accountable for it, and you will live with the joy or regret of your choices.
There will always be commitments and gatherings to celebrate. Celebrate them, of course. But also think about your life. So that the quality of your future celebrations and the days in between are more aligned with the life you most want.
Contentment rarely just happens. We better our odds for it by knowing ourselves. Recognizing what we want, taking stock of where we are now and determining what it’ll take to get where we want to go.
Acting on our findings position us for meaningful personal gains. And for that, and so much more, we should be grateful.
As has been my custom at Christmas in recent years, I offer today a couple of my poems. Since no one has time to read blogs at Christmas, it is the perfect time to share poetry, since no one reads poetry anymore anyway. It is my gift to you, either the gift of poetry to read or the gift of time if you do not read. May your Christmas be blessed nevertheless.
The Visitation
It is expected that a doctor would visit an old woman―
but not to ask what she remembers.
You ask now.
You can be sure no one asked me such questions then
or would have believed the answers if they had.
Yet I committed these things to memory,
going over and over them in my heart,
so they are preserved whole,
perhaps precisely for this moment.
I am ready to be delivered of this burden
as I was ready to be delivered of another burden then.
The days are fulfilled for this too.
Do not doubt that the joy of the delivery
overshadows the pain till it is forgotten.
My service done, I can at last be dismissed in peace.
Someone else said that too, long ago.
I can tell you what I know,
what I saw and heard…and felt.
But to understand,
now that takes a lifetime of pondering,
and I am not done yet.
Even now, we can see only the beginning of what was meant.
It is barely morning,
and I will be gone long before it is full day,
but I can see it coming.
Why, I foretold it,
though I did not know then what I was saying.
Sit down and set down what I will tell you,
and you will be writing a prescription for all the world’s ills.
Perhaps your skill may even preserve an old woman’s memory.
I cannot say I was expecting this, but it, too, was planned long ago.
It is expected that a doctor would visit an old woman.
The angels have been part of Jesus’s life from the beginning until the end.
From Gabriel announcing His upcoming birth to Mary to the shepherds hearing the news of the Savior being born in the City of David.
I like to imagine the angels, silent witnesses to the events that would change human history down on earth, watching and holding their breaths as the long-awaited moment happened. A Baby’s cry split the night. Can you imagine the rejoicing that took place in heaven at that time. It must have been beautiful.
Throughout His life here on earth there are scriptures that mention angels. They ministered to Jesus following Satan’s temptation. Luke 22:43 mentions how an angel came to comfort Jesus when He prayed before being arrested and crucified.
Matthew 26:51-54, says, And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear.
Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
I imagine the legions of angels watching and holding their breaths as they waited for the command while Jesus hung on the cross.
And then after His resurrection, an angel asked the women at the tomb why they sought the living among the dead. He is risen!
Throughout each moment of God’s perfect plan of salvation, the angels were present in different ways. Announcing news. Comforting Jesus. Standing ready to defend through each cry from His first cry that ended the silence between heaven and earth. His second cry which tore the veil that separated us from God. And the third cry? Well, that’s the one I’m looking forward to the most. The one that will tear open the sky and finish it all!
Until next time dear friends, from my family to yours, we wish you each a very Merry Christmas!
Tough times have many of us praying for our country these days. That’s a good thing and sorely needed. But we have to keep the nature of things in perspective or tough times will drain us of joy, laughter, and all else that makes life good and beautiful.
A few years ago, I wrote about a specific Christmas where everything seemed to be going wrong, everything was harder. What follows is an excerpt from what I wrote then about Christmas spirit:
After the prayer for our country (which included asking for patience for me; I am in short supply and admit it), I thought back to prior times of fear and uncertainty. To instances where I or my family were in jeopardy. Then I looked to other countries and how much jeopardy they are in right now. Global discord is rife, to be sure.
That brought to mind the real dangers Christ faced in His life. Dangers God knew Christ would face and watched play out, knowing how things would go and end for His Son. How heartbreaking that must have been, to be fully aware and not fearing the dubious or nebulous but with full knowledge. As a parent, the impact is staggering. Yet, God did it. They both did. For the love of us.
It was then, at that moment, that I felt it. That spark of hope and renewal. That spark of faith in the future. Christ was born. Not in a palace surrounded by guards willing to lay down their lives to protect Him. But to simple means and in a time of turmoil. He didn’t just exist in turbulent times, he flourished. Not without incidents or risks, not because His path was smooth and His way clear. He flourished because He believed. His faith, though sorely tempted repeatedly, remained steadfast.
Jesus was falsely accused, betrayed, ridiculed, abused and suffered many indignities and unfair acts. Yet, He persisted and endured staying true to His God and Himself, doing what He believed was right and honored His Father. There is deep dignity in faith.
Again, I paused from the travels inside my mind, and prayed for that for us all. For that dignity in faith. That it would be steadfast and we would have and exercise the wisdom He seemed to innately know that we flawed people must seek. I prayed for it for all, particularly for those I know have been struggling, and that’s when it occurred to me. It seemed so simple then.
When the Christmas Spirit seems elusive, it isn’t it that isn’t at home in us. We are focusing inward on ourselves too intently, shutting the door inside us to it. But when we turn our thoughts and deeds to others, the window opens wide. And the spirit of Christmas floods in.
Christ didn’t have to do what He did for us. God didn’t have to do what He did and does for us. They chose to, not for themselves but for us. I’m sure as certain a perfect parent would spare His child. I’m sure as certain that child would skip the trials and tribulations, too. So why didn’t they? They couldn’t skip the bad stuff and get to the good stuff for us, so they endured, and because they did, we too can flourish.
For me, knowledge of that opens all the doors and windows into the Christmas Spirit.
It seemed a good time to revisit that awakening moment in my life. I hope it brings some peace and perspective to you in yours. And I wish you all many blessings and a very merry Christmas.
Wishing you and yours many blessings and a very Merry Christmas!
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas. My hope is that we all slow down, enjoy precious time with family and friends and remember Jesus being born in a manger for you and me. There is so much about this time of year to celebrate!
Before long we’ll be looking to next year, which is a different conversation all together! There is so much to be excited about and it starts by thanking the Lord for all good things.
Merry Christmas!
Tara
Tara Randel is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author. Family values, a bit of mystery and of course, love and romance, are her favorite themes, because she believes love is the greatest gift of all. For more information about her books, visit Tara at www.tararandel.com.Like her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TaraRandelBooks.
Right at the beginning of creation, God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God “saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness” (Genesis 1:3-4 NIV). This was before God created the sun, moon, and stars (Genesis 1:14-18). This means that before the earth was formed, God’s universe was fundamentally moral rather than physical. Light is good, and darkness is evil. Light represents truth and morality, while darkness represents ignorance and sin.
Light gives clarity and knowledge, while darkness brings confusion and chaos. You can’t see in the dark and don’t know what is going on. Jesus said, “Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going” (John 12:35). In the same verse, Jesus warned people to accept Him while they had the opportunity: “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you.”
Darkness is also depressing. People are more depressed in winter, when days are shorter and days are darker because of cloud. This type of depression is called Seasonally Affected Disorder (SAD). It is treated by “light therapy”— bright light that simulates sunlight. It is no accident that December, the darkest month, is when people put up Christmas lights, to cheer everyone up.
Darkness also represents sin and evil. It is no accident that most crimes are committed at night when they can be kept hidden. John explained: “People loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed” (John 3:19-20). Jesus pointed out to those who came to arrest and crucify Him that they had avoided doing so during the day but did so at night since “This is your hour—when darkness reigns” (Luke 22:53). But God sees what is done in the darkness and will expose it and punish or reward depending on what is done: “There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known” (Matthew 10:26); “Judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God” (1 Corinthians 4:5).
Darkness is negative, not something in itself, but just the absence of light. Therefore, it is not something to be attacked itself; instead, it needs to be replaced by light. Dark deeds need to be exposed. Bad deeds need to be replaced by good deeds. Someone once said, “It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness”; that is, it is better to do even one small positive thing than to focus on criticizing negative things.
It is important to know that God brings light to dark places and to people in the dark:
“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). “Jesus said, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick…For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Matthew 9:12-13). The Old Testament prophet Isaiah said that Jesus would come as light: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned” (Isaiah 8:2). Both Matthew and Luke quoted this prophecy, saying that Jesus was fulfilling it (Matthew 4:16, Luke 1:79).The apostle John said that Jesus “was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made” (John 1:2-3). This means that it was Jesus who said, “Let there be light” in the first place. John went on to say of Jesus, “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:4-5). Jesus spoke even more plainly: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12) and “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness” (John 12:46).
Those who reject God remain in darkness. The Bible says that those who reject God will be thrown out “into the darkness” (Matthew 8:12, 22:13, 25:30). Therefore, there is a big gap between darkness and light, a huge difference between darkness and light, like two separate kingdoms. Jesus came to bring people out of darkness into light, but those who refuse to accept Him remain in the darkness. Paul described this in Colossians 1:12-14, saying that Christians should give “joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Paul told King Agrippa that Jesus had commissioned him to preach to gentiles (non-Jews) “to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me” (Acts 26:18). Paul, in Romans 13:12, taught that it is up to us to choose the light: “The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.” Paul also warned: “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14) and “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them” (Ephesians 5:8-11).
Jesus is the light of the world, but He also said to His followers: “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16). We are to let our light shine, but it is important to remember that we do not have the light in ourselves but we only reflect the light of Jesus, just as the moon does not have any light of its own but only reflects the light of the sun. This is stated in 2 Corinthians 4:6: “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” When Moses came down from Mount Sinai after meeting with God, “his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord.” The other Israelites were somewhat afraid of him because of the glow, and so he would put a veil over his face after being with God (Exodus 34:29-35). The New Testament says this is a metaphor for how Christians reflect the light of Jesus: “We all, who with unveiled faces contemplate [reflect] the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18)
Sometimes, when are here on earth, we have to endure a time of darkness (not just nighttime, but a time when there is evil, confusion, and depression). There is a famous poem that addressed this:
And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:
“Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown”.
And he replied:
“Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God.
That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”
– Minnie Louise Haskins, “The Gate of the Year”
This poem became popular during the early dark days of the Second World War, a very dark time. Sometimes we are in darkness, and then we have to believe that the God of light is still with us and guiding us and protecting us even when we cannot see. Then we are to believe that we are safe in the arms of God, for “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). We can also look forward to the day when we will live with God in heaven: We are told that the city of God will “not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp…On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there” (Revelation 21:23-25).
In all of the Ten Commandments, perhaps the statement that causes the most concern to modern readers is “I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me” (Exodus 20:6). Most concerning is the idea that innocent children should suffer for the sins of their parents. And yet the reality is that sin does great harm to subsequent generations, beginning with the sin of Adam and Eve but continuing even today. In evil societies, it is the children and the vulnerable who suffer the most from those who do evil.
Some might also question how to reconcile the idea of a jealous God with the last of the Ten Commandments: “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor” (Exodus 20:17). The Hebrew word for “jealous” is qinah, which is almost always used in the Bible of God’s attitude toward His wayward people but occasionally of a husband in regard to an adulterous wife. The Hebrew word in the tenth commandment is chamad, which means to “covet, delight in, desire.” The difference is that God’s “jealousy” is based on demanding faithfulness from someone who belongs to God (the Israelites accepted the covenant that God offered at Sinai, just as Christians have accepted a covenant with God through Jesus Christ), while “coveting” is desiring something that belongs to someone else.
But that still leaves us with the issue of God punishing sin to the third or fourth generation. This statement was made to inform the Israelites about God’s holiness and justice. God was telling them that there were very serious consequences to sin and that those consequences would affect not just those who sin but also other people. Later history shows that the Israelites’ sins (idolatry, murder, theft, oppression, sexual sin, etc.) harmed many innocent people. God’s stark statement was meant to shock the Israelites—and also many people today who gloss over sin and don’t take God’s justice seriously.
This statement also needs to be understood in the context of the rest of the statement: “But showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” The point is that God is holy and just but that God’s mercy is even greater, hundreds of times greater. We need to fully understand the seriousness of sin and God’s justice. Only if we do so can we recognize the awesomeness of God’s mercy, for which we should be grateful every day. God’s mercy is marvelous but only and especially in light of God’s justice. If sin were not so terrible, we would not need God’s mercy. This message is repeated often in the New Testament: “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved” (Ephesians 2:4-5); “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3); “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1).
There have been so many beautiful Christmas songs written through the years. O Holy Night, Silent Night, O Little Town of Bethlehem to name a few. And I love them all.
A few years back I discovered a new favorite by singer Faith Hill. It’s called A Baby Changes Everything and it’s told from Mary’s perspective.
The song really got me thinking about Mary hearing she was going to be the mother of Jesus.
Imagine what it must have been like as a teenage girl back in Mary’s time being told she would have a child outside of marriage. By law, she could have been stoned to death.
Yet Mary trusted God.
Luke 1:30-33 says,
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.
He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
Of course she was fearful. She’d have to tell Joseph she was pregnant. Would he believe her? There would be questions from her family and friends. Doubts. Looks from everyone. Would anyone believe her story?
Instead of saying, “not me”, Mary didn’t hesitate. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.
God handled everything for her. He sent an angel to Joseph in a dream to confirm Mary’s story.
Oh, the stories Mary could talk about on how God worked everything out despite the difficulties. Imagine traveling on the back of a donkey at nine months pregnant. Arriving in Bethlehem only to learn there wasn’t any room for them and being forced to give birth in a stable.
Then having shepherds come to see the Child and hearing their amazing story of how an angel delivered the news of the Babe’s birth only to be joined by a host of angels praising God. Can you imagine their magnificent sounds of praise?
Mary must have been stunned and in awe of God.
When the Magi came, she and Joseph and the Baby were in a home. Imagine listening to their story about following a star to the exact location of the newborn King. Receiving the gifts fit for the King.
And then God warned Joseph to take Mary and Jesus and flee to Egypt.
Yes, the stories Mary could tell would fill its own book, and they all started when a teenage girl was visited by God’s angel and told she was the highly favored one. Instead of expressing doubts, Mary was all in.
I loved having Mary’s story come to life in the song, A Baby Changes Everything. It helped me to see the Christmas story from her point of view.
If you get a chance, give it a listen.
As the Christmas season rushes upon us, I hope you take the time to read the Bible’s account of Jesus’s birth and then go back through the scriptures that were fulfilled by Him and see how truly amazing our God is.
Exodus 20 is the place in the Bible where we find the “Ten Commandments.” When we read that chapter, we might find it hard to understand the context. Many of us have known about the Ten Commandments all our lives. We might have read Genesis, as well as other parts of the Bible. But have we ever thought about the context of Exodus 20 or about the people who received the covenant that Moses brought down from Mount Sinai?
The Israelites were descended from Abraham, who had received God’s promise that God would make his descendants a great nation. But the Israelites had been living in Egypt for 400 years, immersed in Egyptian culture. The documents that make up Genesis were available (so Moses could incorporate them into the books he put together for Israel), but it is likely that few Israelites had read them. Even if they had read the documents in Genesis, we should think carefully about how much God had revealed in those stories. They reveal that God had created the world, that human beings are sinful, that God intervenes in human life to rescue and redeem people, and that God had chosen the Israelites as the channel for His revelation and His blessing—but the details were still pretty vague. The Israelites had also learned some of the same lessons through Moses—that God’s name is Yahweh (I Am), that God is very powerful (more powerful than the Egyptian gods), that God had chosen the Israelites to be His people, and that God redeems and saves people (through their deliverance from slavery and through the symbolism of the Passover). But still those lessons did not have all the detail that we have, and it is not clear how thoroughly the Israelites had understood and learned those lessons.
It is more accurate to understand the Israelites at Mount Sinai as essentially pagan people. That is why they could so quickly revert to idolatry and debauchery, worshiping the golden calf. To these people, the Ten Commandments, God’s covenant, would have come as a novel revelation. It is important to understand that what we call “the Ten Commandments” the Bible calls the ten “words” (Exodus 20:1, 24:3, 34:1,28). The Hebrew word is dabar (word), not mitsvah (commandment). Exodus also uses the word beriyth (covenant) to describe what God was offering them (Exodus 19:5, 24:7, 34:10,29). Therefore, we should see this covenant not as rules people must follow but as a revelation of who God is (and by extension who He is calling people to be like). He is the Creator (Exodus 20:11). He is Spirit, not part of the physical creation (Exodus 20:4-5). He is holy (Exodus 20:7). He keeps His promises (Exodus 20:6,14). He prefers life over death (Exodus 20:13). He is truthful (Exodus 20:16). He is just (Exodus 20:12-17) and merciful (Exodus 20:2,6). He can see into human hearts (Exodus 20:17).
How different this is from what the Israelites were used to in Egypt! Egyptian religion taught that there were multiple gods and that these gods were limited in power, part of the natural order, and shaped like birds and animals. Further, these gods were cruel, devious, and unreliable, and they condoned theft, murder, and slavery. We should not underestimate how dramatically different was the revelation of the true God that Moses received on Mount Sinai.
As I was waiting and thinking about what to post today, inspiration, as it always does, struck.
Every year I pick a day between Thanksgiving and December 1 to change out my seasonal decorations. It takes a while to pack away Fall because I have A LOT of decorations. Then I slowly bring out the Christmas collection.
About two years ago, I wanted to do something different on my fireplace mantle. Looking through my boxes, I found some houses that I hadn’t been using. I think I was waiting until I decided to construct a Christmas village.
As I stripped the mantle, it occurred to me that sometimes in our lives we may feel stuck, uninspired, or perhaps life isn’t going great. Maybe we’ve let our relationship with God cool off. If we recognize what is going on, we can get rid of the hindrances and allow God to work on us.
Slowly, as we seek God, He can begin to rebuild us. It may take a while. Perhaps it’s done in layers. Each year I fine tune my collection by adding a little more. Imagine what God can do for us if we are patient.
When we get to the point where we feel stronger, it’s like seeing this little village come together. We can finally see what God had been building in us.
In my town, the dimensions are not correct. I haven’t made sure every piece is to scale. I have larger and smaller houses next to tall or short trees. Some characters are bigger than others. Nothing is perfect or shaped exactly as some might think it should be. But when taking a step back, I can see that the changes are just right. It’s like looking at life through God’s eyes.
My wish for this Christmas is that God would speak to each and every one of us. Perhaps we need to make some changes or start from scratch. Allow God the time to speak so we can rebuild the way He sees fit. Then we can be ready for all the wonderful things God has in store for us going forward.
Merry Christmas!
Tara Randel is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author. Family values, a bit of mystery and of course, love and romance, are her favorite themes, because she believes love is the greatest gift of all. Look for her next Harlequin Heartwarming romance THE SURPRISE NEXT DOOR, available May 2025.For more information about her books, visit Tara at www.tararandel.com.Like her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TaraRandelBooks.
I am a writer, editor, and book publisher. Increasingly, however, I seem to be spending my time on other things.
For instance, I recently accepted an upgrade to my computer’s operating system and then spent an entire afternoon trying to get my scanner to work. I ran the troubleshooter, I re-established my printer as the default printer, restarted the printer, restarted the computer, and refreshed everything. Nothing. I repeated all of the steps. Nothing. I repeated all of the steps the next day, and it finally worked.
I have spent more time trying to figure out why our cell phone will no longer upload photos to my computer.
A couple of months ago, we bought a new car. It is an electronic marvel, and we are still trying to understand how it all works. One of the things we discovered is that our old iPod is too obsolete to mesh with the sound system on the new car. I have spent countless hours trying to figure out how to download the 300 plus songs from our old iPod onto my computer and then transfer them to a thumb drive which I can connect to the car’s sound system. So far, I have had only partial success.
Several weeks ago, our dryer developed a problem. The dryer works fine, but after a drying cycle is competed, the drum keeps spinning unless we open the door. After some time researching online, I was finally able to reach a representative of the manufacturer by phone. From the model number, the agent was able to tell me that the dryer is eleven years old and the ten-year warranty has just expired. The agent directed me back to the website to find a list of manufacturer-approved repairmen. I checked them all out and found that the closest one was seventy miles away. After further internet searching, I found a non-approved repairman who was local. He examined the machine and determined that an electronic switch had malfunctioned, that a major electronic component needed to be replaced, and that the component is no longer available. So, we are back to leaving the door open.
A few weeks later, the washing machine, companion to the dryer, stopped working. We called the same repairman, who installed a new pump. He said that the machine was still in good shape otherwise and that it was best to repair it because new machines have far more complicated electronics and therefore break down more often.
Also this month, I called my phone company and reached the automated answering service. After navigating through numerous options, none of which concerned my issue, and being on hold for a while, I finally reached a real person, who started with the usual pleasantries: “How are you today, sir?” “Thank you for being a customer of our company.” “What number should I use to call you back if we get disconnected?” This is the phone company, and apparently even they don’t believe their service is reliable. Then he had to verify that I was me. (Who else would be phoning about a problem with my phone?) He asked me for my date of birth, the last four digits of my driver’s license, my address, and my PIN (Personal Identification Number). I didn’t have a PIN, so he established one for me. Then he explained how I could change my PIN or recover it if I lost it by using the app. I don’t have the app. Now twenty minutes into the phone call, he asked me why I had called. I said I wanted to know why my cell phone bill had suddenly tripled. After he put me on hold while he investigated, he said he would have to transfer me to another department. After more waiting on hold and more pleasantries, a new agent asked me to verify that I was me. I gave the PIN. It did not work, so she explained how I could get a New PIN using the app. I said I didn’t have the app and did not want to change my PIN. Then she sighed and asked me for my date of birth, the last four digits of my driver’s license, and my address. Satisfied that I was me, she asked me why I had called. I said I wanted to know why my cell phone bill had suddenly tripled. After I was put on hold again, she came back on the line and explained that the 24-month introductory rate that had induced me to sign with his company had now expired, I now had to pay the regular rate, and there was nothing I could do about it. This highly efficient telecommunications was able to answer my simple question in only forty-five minutes.
I have two other issues with my phone company’s service, but they will have to wait until I have more time.
A couple of days after the washing machine broke down, the dishwasher kept shutting off. Apparently, the highly sophisticated electronics in this marvellous machine have gone wonky after only five months. I phoned the store where we bought the machine. Since the machine is past the store’s 90-day warranty, the store referred me to the manufacturer. I reached a manufacturer’s representative by phone, who wanted to know the serial number of the dishwasher and a lot of personal information about me. He finally agreed to send a repair person within a week or so. He said he would send a confirmation by text. I said I don’t do texting because my cell phone is too expensive. So, he said he would send confirmation by email. When I received it, the email said, in part, “We know your time is valuable, so please help us help you! Take a moment and upload to our website a photo of the bill of sale and a picture of the product tag containing the model and serial number.” To send a copy of the bill of sale meant that I would have to use my scanner to import a copy into my computer. Fortunately, I had spent a whole afternoon getting my scanner working again, and I could do this. To send a copy of the product tag meant that I would have to use my cell phone to take a picture of it and upload it to my computer. As I have already stated, my cell phone will no longer upload photos to my computer. However, I was able to spend more time trying to troubleshoot this problem. After a while, I received a message saying that I would have to upload an app to my computer using my cell phone or take a picture of a QR code. I don’t do apps or QR codes, and even if I could, I couldn’t upload the app or QR code to my computer because my cell phone no longer communicates with my computer. I finally dug out my old digital camera, took a photo of the product tag, uploaded it to my computer, and sent all the required documentation to the company that is promising to fix my dishwasher.
I am a writer, editor, and book publisher. But I think I am beginning to understand why I haven’t written or edited much of anything lately—except for this blog.
Isn’t it wonderful how modern technology saves us so much time!
Have you ever heard someone talk about how your perspective changes depending on which word is emphasized in a sentence? I’ve heard it done with questions and the result can be very interesting. For instance, if you ask – Did she steal the bracelet? – and stress a different word each time, the whole focus of that sentence changes.
I have been doing something like this with phrases from the Bible. I am not changing the focus of the sentence, but instead gaining a deeper understanding of the meaning of the phrase. I find it a fascinating way to study, although certainly not the only way. I don’t do it all the time, but once in a while.
Let me share the process with you. For this example I’ll take the first phrase from the 23rd Psalm, The Lord is my Shepherd, a beautiful statement and one that we’ve said so many times we can forget to plumb the depth of the scripture.
THE Lord is my Shepherd – The is an article used as a function word before a noun. THE and not “A” tells me a lot. This is THE Lord. He is not one of many but the only one. “Now see the I, even I, am He, and there is no God besides Me…” (Deut. 32:39 NKJV) The One and only God is my Shepherd.
The LORD is my Shepherd – LORD or Jehovah, Eternal God. “And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” (Ex. 3:14 NKJV) God exists through time and for all time. He is the Alpha and the Omega, beginning and the end. (Rev. 22:13) I have trouble wrapping my head around Jehovah, the eternal God, and I am awed that He would choose to be my Shepherd.
The Lord IS my Shepherd – IS, one of my favorite words to ponder. IS means present tense or happening right now. This phrase doesn’t say He “was” or He “will be” my Shepherd, but He IS. Right now. This very moment and every moment. Such a powerful meaning that gives me such comfort.
The Lord is MY Shepherd – MY is getting personal. I love it. God is a personal Shepherd to each one of us. God is omnipresent, able to be there for each person. Proverbs 15:3 tells us, “The eyes of the Lord are in every place…” He can be there for each of us as our personal Shepherd. I love this, and love taking the time to consider what this means to me.
The Lord is my SHEPHERD – A SHEPHERD cares for sheep. The Bible tells me I am one of God’s sheep and He is my Shepherd. A Shepherd is available to his sheep. He cares for their needs and makes sure they are met. He sees that they remain healthy. He keeps away predators. What a promise. What a word to ponder. In John 10:14, Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.” All I need I find in Jesus. He provides and He protects.
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD. Such a simple phrase. So easy to read it quickly and not consider the true depth or meaning in the words. Yet, when you stop and think about each word in the phrase, these five words shine with God’s glory.
I don’t always do this exercise in my studies, but I’ve found it an interesting way to focus on a scripture portion and get more meaning than when I read quickly. I hope you’ve enjoyed this and will try it on your own.
People sometimes rebel against moral codes such as the “Ten Commandments” (Exodus 20:1-17) and ask what gives Christians the right to tell people what to do. The answer is that Christians do not have that right. But the real question is what gives God the right to tell people what to do. The answer is that God created human beings and therefore has that right. Further, there is the answer given at the beginning of Exodus 20: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” God had just freed the Israelites from slavery. He was leading them to a Promised Land where they would enjoy prosperity and blessing. He offered them a covenant, an agreement (which we call the Ten Commandments). Under this covenant, the Israelites would agree to worship God and obey Him and God would agree to be with them and bless them and make them significant. They did not have to accept this agreement. But if they did not agree to the covenant, God would not be obligated to bless them. Left on their own, the Israelites would be in danger of falling back into slavery and suffering.
Today, in the modern world, God is offering us a new covenant through Jesus Christ. Jesus died on the cross to free us from the penalty for our sin and the bondage of sin. Under this covenant, God asks us to worship and obey Him. In return, He promises to be with us (in the form of the Holy Spirit) and to bless us and make us significant. We also do not have to accept this covenant. We do not have to do what God tells us to do. But, left on our own, we will inevitably fall back into sin, the bondage of sin, suffering, and death.
Christians Read 