Proverbs 2

Posted on January 16, 2023 by kathc2

The Benefits of Wisdom

In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, I want to highlight his ministry and mission, particularly as a way of making clear the meaning of Proverbs 2 in today’s world. As I mentioned in my last article on Proverbs 1, when I read Proverbs for the first time as a young woman, it wasn’t always clear to me what the proverbs meant and how I could apply them.

In this article, I hope to show that Dr. King manifestly demonstrates how to apply Proverbs 2 in our lives.

Proverbs 2: 6-8

6For the LORD gives wisdom; 

from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

7He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; 

He is a shield to those who walk with integrity,

8to guard the paths of justice 

and protect the way of His saints.”

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Love is one of the pinnacle parts of the Christian faith. There is another side called justice, and justice is really love in calculation.”

As a Baptist minister and civil rights activist, he played a major role in the American civil rights movement from the mid-1950s until his assassination in 1968. He is best known for his part in the advancement of civil rights using nonviolent civil disobedience based on Christian beliefs.

His life and teachings were highly influenced by Proverbs 2. This chapter in the book of Proverbs encourages the reader to seek wisdom and understanding, as they are more valuable than silver or gold.

Proverbs 2:6 was a guiding principle for Dr. King’s life and work: “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”

Dr. King believed that wisdom and understanding were essential for achieving racial equality and justice. He often quoted Proverbs 2:11, which states, “Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.” He believed that through the use of nonviolence and peaceful protest, the civil rights movement could gain the understanding and support of the broader American public.

He believed wisdom and understanding were necessary for overcoming hate and bigotry. In his famous “I Have a Dream” speech he declared, “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.” This message of love and brotherhood was rooted in the wisdom found in Proverbs 2:12, which states, “Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse.”

Dr. King was deeply influenced by the wisdom and guidance found in Proverbs 2. One of his tenets was that through the pursuit of wisdom and understanding, the civil rights movement could overcome hate and bigotry and achieve justice and equality for all. His legacy continues to inspire people around the world to seek wisdom, understanding and make the world a better place.

Today we can all benefit from Dr. King’s example. How can we apply God’s wisdom and understanding to our lives and to the lives of others? How does Proverbs 2 touch your life now? I’ve found it’s important for me to seek God’s wisdom whenever I have tough decisions to make or when I’m not sure of the right or correct action to take.

“Proverbs 2: 10-11

10For wisdom will enter your heart, 

and knowledge will delight your soul.

11Discretion will watch over you, 

and understanding will guard you”

We can’t ask for more. 

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Nora Review: The London House by Katherine Reay

Posted on January 13, 2023 by Vicki Hinze

Nora St. Laurent’s review of THE LONDON HOUSE by Katherine Reay

The London House by Katherine Reay 

Published by HarperMuse 

BACK COVER: Uncovering a dark family secret sends one woman through the history of Britain’s World War II spy network and glamorous 1930s Paris to save her family’s reputation.

Caroline Payne thinks it’s just another day of work until she receives a call from Mat Hammond, an old college friend and historian. But pleasantries are cut short. Mat has uncovered a scandalous secret kept buried for decades: In World War II, Caroline’s British great-aunt betrayed family and country to marry her German lover.

Determined to find answers and save her family’s reputation, Caroline flies to her family’s ancestral home in London. She and Mat discover diaries and letters that reveal her grandmother and great-aunt were known as the “Waite sisters.” Popular and witty, they came of age during the interwar years, a time of peace and luxury filled with dances, jazz clubs, and romance. The buoyant tone of the correspondence soon yields to sadder revelations as the sisters grow apart, and one leaves home for the glittering fashion scene of Paris, despite rumblings of a coming world war.

Each letter brings more questions. Was Caroline’s great-aunt actually a traitor and Nazi collaborator, or is there a more complex truth buried in the past? Together, Caroline and Mat uncover stories of spies and secrets, love and heartbreak, and the events of one fateful evening in 1941 that changed everything.

In this rich historical novel from award-winning author Katherine Reay, a young woman is tasked with writing the next chapter of her family’s story. But Caroline must choose whether to embrace a love of her own and proceed with caution if her family’s decades-old wounds are to heal without tearing them even further apart.

NORA’S REVIEW: Readers get to see a more serious side of this author, as she pens an engaging WWII novel. Showing how hope can come out of tragedy, why secrets were kept, revealing a bigger picture neither of them could see. The author gives readers a front- row seat to the adventures these twin sisters (separated for the first time) go on to the London House and abroad, each fighting the good fight seeking to do their part for the war effort. Fast, forward to the future where we meet Caroline Waite, desperately digging to uncover secrets, that will bring healing and hope, to her family, setting them free from the shame and tragedy of the past. 

I enjoyed how this author used diary entries and personal letters between the twins, which helped Caroline and Mat get to the truth that would change everything. The author does an incredible job of whisking readers back in time. Showing one sister mixing with high society in the fashion industry and the other at the London House (family home).

Unlike the author’s other books that were fun, inspirational with flawed, relatable characters, this book has more of a serious tone. It takes readers to places the author hasn’t gone before. For example, we go to a few high society parties (with alcohol etc), where the sister hears designers briefly brag about scandalous designs, and intimate moments. Not graphic but gives readers a peek into that crazy world. This book almost reads as a non-fiction book about WWII very informative, and insightful, with no real spiritual thread like you find in her other books.

This was an enlightening, insightful story that shows a family torn apart and left fragmented by war. I enjoyed this mystery and how Caroline seeks to help her family heal. I also liked the splash of romance with Caroline and Mat as they discover some surprising secrets. Making this an engrossing story start to finish.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have received a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent

TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!

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5 Tips to Finding Books You’ll Love by Vicki Hinze

Posted on January 12, 2023 by Vicki Hinze

Tip 1.  You know your favorite kinds of books.  Look for authors who LOVE the same kinds.

One mistake authors make is to write to the market or to attempt to write what they determine the next “big thing” will be in books.  But after 34 years writing, I can tell you the only books authors should write are books they love.  Why?  Because their love for that book shines through in the story in incalculable ways.  It’s like anything else really.  When you love something or someone, you invest in ways you just don’t or can’t in those you don’t love.  So look for authors who love the same kind of story you love.

 Tip 2. Read the sample of the book before you buy.  

If you’re intrigued, feel a connection, and you want to read on, your odds of loving the book are better than if you find yourself skipping lines or paragraphs or (heaven forbid) pages.  Typically, you’ll have a good feel for a book within the first couple of pages.  Now that isn’t to say you won’t miss some lovely books that take a little longer to get into, but it’s a rule of thumb to gauge your interest and if you intuit the potential for a connection to the book. If so, read on! Odds are better you’ll love it.

Tip 3. Look for books recommended by authors whose work you’ve enjoyed in the past. 

 Generally speaking, authors are selective about works they endorse for other authors.  They agree to endorse books that are similar to their own, or books they’ve read, really enjoyed and deem have merit to their own readers.  An endorsement doesn’t mean the book is like their books, but it does mean it is one they believe is compatible with their readers and their readers will like it.

Tip 4. Consider the reviews on a book with an eagle eye.  

Some books click with some readers and others push one of their proverbial hot buttons.  Unless you share that hot-button, overlook the mention of it.  Seek the reviews that comment on story elements—a place, a personal trait, a situation a character is facing, a character you relate to—you enjoy.  Remember, reading is a personal experience.  An author brings the sum of all in them to a book, and readers read a book from the perspective sum of all in them.  But you can look at specific comments for ones that draw your interest, your attention, and are compatible with those books you love.

Tip 5. Keep an open mind.  

Because of that sum of all in the author, and that sum in all of the reader, it is easy to miss a book you would love.  If you find bits of things or elements that attract you to a book, give it a try.  You might gain some insight, open a new door, see something from a different point of view that proves beneficial to you and you find very enjoyable.

I hope these tips help and you find books you love.

Blessings,

Vicki Hinze

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Speaking with Alexa by James R. Coggins

Posted on January 11, 2023 by jrcoggins

Speaking with Alexa by James R. Coggins

When our daughter told my wife and me that she was giving us Alexa for Christmas, I admit it was the cause of some confusion. Entirely our fault, of course. We’re old and out of touch. Once we had clarified that she was not gifting us with a new granddaughter or a puppy or an endearingly named car, we were still a little mystified.

We finally understood that Alexa is an electronic globe that can tell us anything we want to know and do innumerable other things for us. I was still a bit confused. Did I really need a woman’s voice telling me everything I needed to know? I thought that was covered when I got married.

I had had some experience with Alexa. I mean the electronic globe Alexa in case my wife is reading this and might misunderstand.

You see, our daughter has Alexa. The same Alexa, but not the same Alexa. Apparently, Alexa has been cloned.

I was at our daughter’s house and was quizzing my grandson on the times table. I asked, “What’s six times seven?”

Without hesitation, he answered, “Alexa, what’s six times seven?”

An electronic voice answered immediately. Since Alexa knows everything, the times table should be a piece of cake. She got it right. I think.

I read something about Alexa on the Internet. A man asked, Alexa, why don’t my romantic relationships ever work out?” There was a pause, and then an electric voice answered, “This is Siri.”

Since our daughter is acquainted with Alexa, I thought she might be interested in hearing this story. I went to her house to tell her. I said, “There was a story on the Internet about a man who asked, ‘Alexa, why don’t my romantic relationships ever work out?’”

Before I could finish telling the story, an electronic voice answered, “Maybe it’s because you’re a drug addict or an alcoholic or because you gambled away all your money.”

Alexa might not know everything, but she sure is a know-it-all.

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What are you hoping for?

Posted on January 10, 2023 by Author Mary Alford

A new year always has me stepping into it with a little apprehension. While its exciting to think about what lies ahead, it’s also a little scary. Though 2023 is now in day 10, and is no longer a blank page, there is still a lot more year to traverse.

At the start of a year, many people choose Bible verses. It’s kind of a way of keeping us centered in God and holding onto His words throughout the new year. A reminder of His promises to us.

I chose Jeremiah 29:11 as my verse. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

What a beautiful promise is found in these words. God has thoughts of peace for us if we trust in Him. He wants to give us a future filled with hope.

Isn’t that amazing to realize that the God who created the universe knows each of our thoughts and concerns and He has good plans for us?

Before the end of last year, two words kept popping into my head. I normally choose a word for the New Year, but this year God gave me two. Trust. I want to trust Him more with every decision of my life.

Isaiah 40:31, “Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.”

And the hardest and most challenging word for me to actually do. . .Wait on the Lord. Sometimes,

I think I know His answer and I charge off and do something on my own only to have it fall apart. So, Proverbs 3:5 is a hard one for me. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  

Whenever I lean on my own understanding, things work out badly, but when I wait and trust in God’s wisdom, the right answer will come, even if it’s one that I don’t always understand at the moment.

What about you? Did you choose a verse for the year, or a word. Or are you charging into 2023 trusting God to lead the way each day.

Happy New Year, everyone!

www.maryalford.net 

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My Top Ten by Tara Randel

Posted on January 9, 2023 by tararandel

This is the time of year when folks decide whether or not to come up with new year’s resolutions. They come with good intentions, but honestly, we can start eating healthy, exercising, reading more, or getting into a Bible study any time of the year. Instead, I came up with a list of some of my favorite scriptures.

I’m sure you have a list of your own. And this is certainly not an exhaustive list. The Bible is so rich and full, I could go on for pages. No, these are some of the scriptures I turn to for comfort, guidance, praise or to give glory. This is a sort of starting point today, encouraging all of us to seek the Lord as we journey into 2023.

Here goes!

  1. He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
        I will be exalted among the nations,
        I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10
  • I will never leave you nor forsake you.  Joshua 1:5b
  •  Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9
  • The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
         my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
        my shield and the horn of my salvation.
    He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior—
        from violent people you save me. 2 Samuel 2-3
  •  For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13
  • Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
  • Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30
  • No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39
  • Show me your ways, Lord,
        teach me your paths.
    Guide me in your truth and teach me,
        for you are God my Savior,
        and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 25:4-5
  • Come near to God and he will come near to you.  James 4:8a

I hope you have a blessed 2023!

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, HER SURPRISE HOMETOWN MATCH, available FEBRUARY 2023. For more information about her books, visit Tara at www.tararandel.com. Like her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TaraRandelBooks. Sign up for Tara’s Newsletter.

Coming in 2023

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Shift by Julie Arduini

Posted on January 6, 2023 by juliearduini

I have a prayer partner and dear friend who was living a comfortable life with her family in October. A week or so later her husband received a job opportunity that was obvious it was something they needed to pursue. They prayed, we prayed, and by Christmas the husband was established in the new job in another state, their house closed in the original state, they moved into their rental and last I heard, found the dream house and the offer accepted.

It was a literal shift from one state to another, one career to another, and much more in six weeks flat.

We laughed when she asked what God gave me for the word of the year and I announced, “Shift.”

A year or so ago I read a prayer article that mentioned the word and it really resonated with me. Readers were encouraged to be ready for God to shift people in a whirlwind to a new location, like my friends, for Kingdom purpose. That the Body of Christ will shift not because God changes, but it’s time to get back to basics. Families will shift. For me, we now have a son that is married and living with his wife. We have a daughter that is living a new life post high school full of opportunities and growth.

And—Vicki asked me to move from my Wednesday slot to Friday.

Shift.

I sense the word will be much more than my life, but something I’ll observe on a global scale. Notice world leaders stepping down or passing away? Remember pre-pandemic how most everyone worked in offices? Now I’m hearing that many are working remote, not because of sickness but they found it worked better. My husband is one of those. It’s a definite shift from how things used to be done.

So here I am. It’s a Friday, and my first post in this slot. An easy shift to make.

Because I think more is to come, I asked God what verse should I pay extra attention to in conjunction with shift.

John 13:7, ESV: Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.”

What a precious verse. For me, I’m always asking questions. I want to know everything, and God doesn’t owe me that. I sense with all the ways shift will most likely take place, this verse will keep me focused on Him and not my questions.

How about you? Does this word speak to you? Verse? What’s your word for the year? I’d love to hear from you in the comments.

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Happy New Year by Vicki Hinze

Posted on January 5, 2023 by Vicki Hinze

Welcome 2023!

A new year affords us opportunities. Ones to shake off the remnants of a hard year. Ones to seek solutions rather than focus on problems or challenges. Ones to seek those windows now open that once had been closed doors.

I’ve long since believed that there are just a few little things we can do that can bring huge results. I’d like to share a few of them with you this morning:

  1. Pray first and not as a last resort. Prayer brings calm, peace, insights and understanding. If we teach ourselves to pray first, we can diminish a lot of chaos that our indecision brings. Prayer also brings clarity, which is quite often a huge obstacle that traps us in doubt, uncertainty, and fear of making the wrong decision. When you pray first, you begin weighing a matter in a different place, a better place.

2. Prepare and expect the best. In the past 34 years of writing and mentoring other writers, one of the biggest challenges I’ve seen over and over again is a formidable challenge, but one that we can resolve. It is fear and doubt that we deserve a good outcome to what we’re seeking. As the old saying goes, “I wish I had a nickel for every time someone has said to me that they don’t deserve this or that they’re seeking.” The truth is we deserve our portion and only God knows exactly what that is. That’s not in dispute. But if we apply His principles to what we are doing, we should then expect the best. After all, He assigned, He determined the portions, and we’re assured there is more than enough. So if we do our part, we can rest in knowing He will do His.

3. Sometimes we get mired down because we overwhelm ourselves in the enormity of a project or a dream or something we’re attempting. A tip is to breakdown the whole into bite-sized bits. What I mean is, set interim goals and markers to measure your progress. Way too often we don’t celebrate the successful completion of the parts. Rather than an enormous mountain, think of your journey on this endeavor as steps. Celebrate the steps. Before you know it, you’ll be encouraged by the climb and move up!

Let’s take on these three as we start our new year.

It helps to remember, you are where you’re supposed to be, doing what you’re supposed to be doing–until you’re not. To be confident of your current position, see number 1 above. Ask and you shall receive (answers). Seek (truth) and you shall find (truth).

We have the master planner to guide us. If only we ask…

Blessings and may 2023 be a joyous year for all of you and yours!

Vicki Hinze

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The Name of God by James R. Coggins

Posted on January 4, 2023 by jrcoggins

When we think of praising the name of God, we often think of doing this verbally, as in the psalms, which were the Old Testament worship songs: “I will declare your name to my people; in the assembly I will praise you” (Psalm 22:22 NIV); “I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands” (Psalm 63:4); “I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever” (Psalm 86:12). We do something similar in church services today. Sometimes we do something similar by posting Bible verses on Facebook or other social media.

We need to think of the issue in larger terms. The name of God refers to “Yahweh,” the name by which God chose to reveal Himself. But the name of God is also the reputation of God. Consider these verses from Ezekiel, written about the Jews after they had been sent into exile in Babylon:

• “And wherever they went among the nations they profaned my holy name, for it was said of them, ‘These are the Lord’s people, and yet they had to leave his land’” (Ezekiel 36:20).

• “I had concern for my holy name, which the people of Israel profaned among the nations where they had gone” (Ezekiel 36:21).

• “Therefore say to the Israelites, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: It is not for your sake, people of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone’” (Ezekiel 36:22)

• “I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Sovereign Lord, when I am proved holy through you before their eyes” (Ezekiel 36:23).

• “I will make known my holy name among my people Israel. I will no longer let my holy name be profaned, and the nations will know that I the Lord am the Holy One in Israel” (Ezekiel 39:7).

• “Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place for the soles of my feet. This is where I will live among the Israelites forever. The people of Israel will never again defile my holy name—neither they nor their kings—by their prostitution and the funeral offerings for their kings at their death” (Ezekiel 43:7)

• “When they placed their threshold next to my threshold and their doorposts beside my doorposts, with only a wall between me and them, they defiled my holy name by their detestable practices. So I destroyed them in my anger” (Ezekiel 43:8).

Consider this similar comment from the prophet Amos: “They trample on the heads of the poor as on the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed. Father and son use the same girl and so profane my holy name” (Amos 2:7).

Consider also these words from the prophet Jeremiah, Ezekiel’s contemporary, who was prophesying in Judah in the last days before Jerusalem fell: “’For they have done outrageous things in Israel; they have committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives, and in my name they have uttered lies—which I did not authorize. I know it and am a witness to it,’ declares the Lord” (Jeremiah 29:23); “But now you have turned around and profaned my name; each of you has taken back the male and female slaves you had set free to go where they wished. You have forced them to become your slaves again” (Jeremiah 34:16).

Regardless of what the people of Israel said they were doing in the temple of Jerusalem, they were not glorifying God’s name. They were not enhancing God’s reputation. Instead, they were profaning God’s name among the other nations. By their actions, they were declaring to the world that God was not all-seeing or all-powerful or holy. They were declaring that God overlooked and tolerated sin, murder, lies, theft, and oppression of the poor.

Similarly, the reputation of the Christian God does not rest on the songs we sing in church or the Bible verses we post on social media. It rests on our actions seen by the people among whom we live. Jesus said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). Later, when the Jewish religious leaders were astonished by the courage and wisdom of the apostles, “they took note that these men had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).  But when church leaders engage in sexual abuse, when they make ridiculous claims in the religious and political realms, when Christians are racist, when Christians neglect or oppress the poor, when televangelists defraud the poor to enrich themselves, we damage the reputation of Jesus Christ. We profane rather than glorify the name of God, and God will not let that continue. That is why judgement begins “with God’s household” (1 Peter 4:17).

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Fresh Starts by Peggy Webb

Posted on January 3, 2023 by Vicki Hinze

A New Dawn climber on the rose arbor in my front yard.

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity.” –Ephesians 5:15

Change has always been hard for me. Some of my friends constantly rearrange their furniture and their art objects, but I like to wake up every day to the same stuff in the same place in the same house. Those adventurous souls can’t wait to leave home and see new places, try new things. Usually when I travel, I can’t wait to get home. Except when I’m visiting family. Okay, sometimes even then I long for the comfort of my own chair and tea in my own cup. 

Sometimes, though, circumstances force change. The last two years have created an upheaval that is unprecedented in my lifetime. No one has been left untouched. Has it been hard? Yes. Has it often been heartbreaking? Again, yes. 

But in the midst of all this upheaval, there have been opportunities. I was devasted two years ago when my church closed its doors. I thought, “I’ll be back in church in two weeks, singing in the choir, visiting with friends, praising God with song.” But, no. It was a big city church where the leaders decided keeping the congregation safe was paramount. While taking precautions in the face of danger is always wise, it can be taken to extremes. Even after stores were open for business and people were back at work, my church’s doors were still closed. I felt as if my freedom to worship had been taken away.

        “I tell you, if my disciples keep silence the stones will shout aloud.” Luke 19:40

Bereft of a place to worship and the camaraderie of Christians, I went back to the little country church were I grew up. It was built by my grandfather on family land. Through the years, most of my relatives worshipped there and many still do.

This small body of believers surrounded me with love. I was home again. I was worshipping with fellow Christians. A sense of joy returned. And then—opportunities galore. 

The church had left the Methodist conference and gone independent. It was growing like wildfire. The second Sunday I was there, the choir director asked me to join the four or five people who made up the choir. (It was barely a quartet! We now have fourteen.) New families began to pour in, young mothers and fathers with young children. I volunteered to teach the two-to-six-year-olds. Little cherubs. All of them. Boone, who says God is in his heart and Sam, who prays for peanut butter. Mia, who loves making the star that led the Wise Men to Jesus and two-year-old Hank who grabs the plastic ukulele and marches around the ABC rug to sing, “Dee an Wi” every Sunday (That’s the children’s song, “Deep and Wide.”) Every Sunday morning is sheer delight for me!

Soon our growing church saw the need to add a Sunday evening service. Since the Sunday morning pianist and organist were both long distances away from the church, I volunteered to play piano at night. God gave me musical talents and I have used them for His praise in churches since I was eight years old. I could play only two songs then, and not very well. I now play concert versions of the magnificent old hymns like “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.” I post many of my practice sessions on my Facebook page. You can also join us for worship via the FB page for the Church at Andrews Chapel.

https://www.facebook.com/ChurchatAndrewsChapel/videos/510243937790285

Look for opportunities. They are everywhere. 

God is good!

Peggy

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The Beginning by Nancy J. Farrier

Posted on January 2, 2023 by Nancy J. Farrier
Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

On dark nights, walking outside can be a challenge without any light. Even though you’ve crossed your yard hundreds of times and know where every divot or bush or plant is, the darkness makes it seem like a new landscape, one we aren’t sure about crossing. Going out into the unknown can often be as disconcerting as stepping into that darkened yard.

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep.” Genesis 1:1,2 (ESV)

Imagine being there in the beginning of everything. There is complete and utter darkness. Nothing. No direction. No way to tell where to go. Silence that presses in on one. An utterly terrifying prospect. 

And yet, there was hope too.

“And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.” Genesis 1: 3,4

When there was utter darkness and no direction, God had a plan. He provided the light so we would be able to see, to understand which way to go. We were not left in despair in the beginning and we aren’t now either.

The start of a new year can be uncertain. What will be ahead for us? Will 2023 be a year of joy or a year filled with heartbreak? Will there be sickness? New life? Bounty? Scarcity? 

As we take the first steps into the unknown landscape of 2023, remember to allow God to light the way. Allow Him to shine on the path he has for each of us. 

We may be unfamiliar with the layout in front of us but God knows every divot, every turn, every tiny pebble that might be in the way and become a tripping hazard. He wants to guide us. His desire is to lead us in the path He has chosen for us.

I pray we all walk into the New Year hand-in-hand with God, unconcerned about our future. Totally trust in Him.

“In him was life, and the life was the light of men.The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:4, 5 (ESV)

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Poems for a Busy Time by James R. Coggins

Posted on December 28, 2022 by jrcoggins

No one has time to read blogs in the busy time around Christmas. It is appropriate, then, that today I post some poems since no one reads poetry either.

Seasonally Affected Disorder

Our Christmas cactuses

have glorious practices

in November,

but are bereft,

have no blooms left

come December.

A serious dereliction,

a complete contradiction,

like a Christmas tree

without ornamentation,

it’s a misrepresentation

of botany.

Echoes

Christmas colors mark the sign:

“Discount book sale, $9.09.”

Unforeseen ironic twist:

Wal-Mart’s profits swell from this—

A Christmas Carol, Dickens’ tale,

And Bob the clerk rings up the sale,

Who must increase his meager pay

By taking shifts on Christmas Day.

The next in line is pushing near.

Bob turns away and doesn’t hear

Charles’s echoes in the mall:

“It’s just business after all.”

To Seek a Better King

A couple of thousand kilometers

these pagans travelled,

several million footsteps,

taking months.

But the priests of the household,

who had studied their whole lives to be ready for this,

couldn’t be bothered to spend an afternoon checking out what they had heard.

God does not send stars and signs

to those who aren’t willing

to follow.

After All Expectation

(Genesis 35:16-20)

The birth came late

but far too early,

falling a few miles and many years short

of the destined nation.

She cried out that the birth brought only sorrow.

The father spoke of a prince coming,

but she could not see it.

They buried her beside the road to Bethlehem.

For those not Home for Christmas

In the season of joy,

pain and grief return for those no longer here.

The loss does not grow less with each passing year,

but is seasoned with peace

as the separation recedes in the past

and the distant time of reunion draws near.

On a journey going Somewhere

Christians

zipping down the high way,

carelessly

tossing prayers out the window

and starting fires.

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The significance of the wise men’s gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh!

Posted on December 27, 2022 by Author Mary Alford

By now, Christmas 2022 is over, and the presents are unwrapped. I hope each of you had a wonderful Christmas!

From scriptures we know that the wise men visited Jesus after his birth though we don’t know how long it was.

Today, I thought I’d share with you the significance of the wise men’s gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

The wise men were astrologers and the star they spotted was an astronomical sign that signified the prophecy of the Jewish king’s birth. They came bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Unusual gifts for a baby but very significant gifts for Jesus.

Gold was indeed a gift fit for a king. Frankincense was a symbol of holiness and righteousness. The gift of frankincense to the Christ child was symbolic of his future priesthood, setting him apart from a typical king. And Myrrh was used as a perfume, anointing oil, medicinal tonic, and as a key ingredient in the mixture of spices used to prepare bodies for burial.

Each gift from the wise men not only proclaimed Jesus’ kingly status, but also his future priesthood, and spoke of Jesus’ humanity and the way he would save his people—by dying for them.

So, even though Christmas is over, I hope you’ll remember the gifts brought by the wise men to honor the King, the High Priest, and the One Who Died For you.

Wishing you each a Happy New Year!

All the best. . .

Mary Alford

http://www.MaryAlford.net



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Christmas Blessings

Posted on December 25, 2022 by Vicki Hinze

A special prayer today seeks blessings for all of you and yours:

If you are joyful, may it fill you to overflowing.

If you are mourning, may it fill you with comfort and peace.

If you are ill, may your health be restored.

If you are content, may you be grateful.

If you are facing challenges, may your focus be on solutions and they become apparent to you.

Whatever you most need, that is our prayer for you today…

Blessings,

Vicki (for all of us at Christians-read.com)

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Celebrating Christmas by Peggy Webb

Posted on December 22, 2022 by Vicki Hinze

“Do not be afraid; I have good news for you.” Luke 2:10

Many years ago, I decided to simplify Christmas. I made the holidays about understanding the deeper meaning of the season and celebrating the love of family and friends instead of the trappings. 

When my children were small, I started the tradition in my family of always gathering around the breakfast table on Christmas morning for the reading of the birth of Jesus in Luke, Chapter 2. I made sure we chose Angels from the Salvation Army Christmas tree and carried food and gifts to the needy in my community so my children could experience the joy of giving to those less fortunate. And we were always in church where I played piano, celebrating His coming with pageants and songs of praise. 

“All at once there was with the angel a great company of the heavenly host, singing the praises of God: ‘Glory to God in highest heaven, and on earth his peace for men on whom his favour rests.’” Luke 2:14

In spite of my efforts to keep the focus directed toward Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, the greatest gift of all, the holiday season always became stressful. Why? Because I let the pressure from others in the family push me toward the commercial falderol and the idea that every Christmas activity had to revolve around a particular date.

For too many years, I let myself be swamped by an avalanche of decorating, special baking, parties, shopping, and gift wrapping. As my children grew up and moved with their families to far-flung places – Florida and New Hampshire – and I obviously couldn’t be in both places at one time, Christmas also meant many treks to the post office to mail gifts that might not fit, couldn’t be swapped and might not suit in the first place.

The “good news” and “the splendour of the Lord” (Luke) had become lost in frantic activity. It was “high time,” as Mama used to say, for me to do some soul searching and make changes.

And so, many years ago when my grandchildren were small, I chose the second week in November to celebrate Christmas in New Hampshire and somewhere in the ballpark of December 25 to celebrate with my family in Florida. Not only did I change the date, but I ditched the whole commercial idea of Christmas, and transformed it to leisurely time to enjoy family and to celebrate with them the true meaning of the season.

Armed with sweat pants and sleep socks to ward off the chill (I consider any state north of the Mason-Dixon line to be bitterly cold in winter), I would board the plane alone in Memphis and walk into the arms of my daughter, my son-in-law, and three of my beautiful grandchildren in NH. “Christmas with Gigi” (my grandchildren’s name for me) meant special time spent together making sausage balls and Mayan hot chocolate from scratch (recipe below), trekking the mall arm in arm until we found exactly what my NH grandchildren wanted, then racing home with my grandson to “drive” the Mario Kart on his new Wii, taking my teenaged granddaughters out to dinner and hearing their hopes and dreams, walking with them to piano and voice lessons, gathering around the piano and singing with them, worshipping with them at church, and going to their church’s wonderful Giving Fair, where money for gifts purchased goes to charity.

Christmas with my son, my daughter-in-law, and my grandson in Florida typically meant—and still does–a leisurely drive to the Panhandle for a very laid-back holiday filled with love, laughter, worship, treks to the beach, and lots of good eating. Both my children are wonderful cooks, so I get to sit back with a cup of coffee and wait to see what delicious treats they’ll put on the table. My daughter-in-law and I will have “girl time” getting our toenails done. My son and I will read the Bible and pray together, sing together while he plays guitar, and laugh uproariously over a Pink Panther re-run. This year, the grandson who took me out into the backyard when he was four to show me the rocket ship he’d built that would take us to the moon will show me his new house in Florida. He grew up to be an engineer. No surprise there! 

For me, Christmas is love. 

As promised, here’s the Mayan chocolate recipe: For one cup, melt three squares of Lindt Chili Dark Chocolate in one teaspoon of water over low heat. Stirring constantly, add a sprinkle of cinnamon, an extra dash of red pepper (optional) and either sugar or Splenda to taste. When the chocolate is melted, slowly add approximately six ounces of two per cent milk. Stir constantly until the milk has heated through. Do not let it boil. 

Pour the Mayan hot chocolate into your favorite mug, top with miniature marshmallows, put on your favorite Christmas CD and let the joy and comfort of the Good News overflow your heart. 

I will be singing the Christmas cantata in the little country church my grandfather built, teaching the Littles to love Jesus at Sunday School, and then playing the piano for evening services.  Then, of course, I will write.

God is good!

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