“In every circumstance, give thanks” indicates that there is always something to be thankful for.  A friend posted on Facebook about her appreciation for the sunrise and how beautiful the sky is. What a gift, the sky, and the thankful heart! Sometimes, when circumstances become difficult or relationships feel strained, our eyes can become dim to all the good and beautiful gifts we have been given.

All around my home are pictures that capture a moment in time of loved ones and places I have been.  Just last night, I was remembering my two oldest grandsons when they were young boys playing superheroes. They would jump from one piece of furniture to the next and then run down the hall with costume capes flying as they reenacted the scenes in their minds!  I can see it as if it were yesterday!  Memories are a gift when we take time to remember the good ones without letting the hurtful ones in.  I have many that make my heart glad.

The smile of a stranger. Watching children play in a courtyard.  The laughter of friends. I have always felt that people are the most beautiful thing on this planet. For a short season of my life, I worked as a gate agent for Delta Airlines.  The most rewarding part of the job for me was watching the people.  The reunion of families, the hugs of loved ones saying goodbye, people from every walk of life traveling from one place to another, each beautiful and unique.

This morning, as I look out the window, I recall that this is the longest day of the year. The sky is clear and the freshly mown grass a vivid green, the oak trees in the distance full and lush. Before it gets too warm, I think I will take a drive and find a place to sit by the water somewhere, allow my senses to just take it all in, and fully appreciate this amazing world we live and breathe in.

Thankfulness must be awakened daily. We can’t let our hearts go dark. When my body reminds me that time stops for no one, when my heart is anxious about the unknown, when my prayers become hopes without a rope, I remember, I have so much to be thankful for.

In every circumstance, give thanks…

It’s been hard to write lately, not because of the lack of time or absence of words, but because there is so much on my heart.  I don’t know where to start.  It’s as if there is a mix of deep joy and deep sorrow running parallel in the depths of my soul day after day.  God’s love continues to draw me to a place of unreserved surrender that only increases as I seek to dwell in the midst of His presence.  Yet, amid it all my heart aches for those that can’t see or hear because their minds are blinded by the enemy of their souls.

We live in a world in chaos. Controversial conversations are born from misunderstandings and lies. I feel the rage. Sufferings from wars stemming from the hunger for power are devastating. I hear the cries. Political rivals broadcast their version of truth from every media channel. People respond with actions resulting from hate.

I realize this a unique time of history we are in. Morality is considered by much of society a way of life deemed to be out of sync with rational thinking. We are living in a day when good is considered evil, and evil is good.  Knowing the prophecies in the Bible and watching them unfold before my eyes in rapid succession is mind-boggling. However, I find hope through the words of foretelling. I have read the end of the book.  There will be a day with no more sorrow and no more tears.

Praying for the eyes and ears to be opened, that the blind will see, and the deaf will hear, is my cry day and night. Oh, if they could only see, that the goodness of God sets us free! If only they could hear the truth of God’s good plan for their lives! Jesus tells us unless a man is born again, they cannot understand. One must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. How can I feel anything but sorrow for those who do know there is a better way?

I remember the day my eyes were opened over 44 years ago. It’s etched in my mind like it was yesterday. I was a young mother of two, feeling confused, hopeless and hurting. I was addicted to marijuana and living a lifestyle of seeking fulfillment in all the wrong places. While my children slept in the other room that early spring morning, I knelt in surrender to a God I vaguely knew from having attended church with others and had mostly only read about. I awkwardly spoke the words, “God I don’t know how I can do it; I can’t stop doing the things I do, but if you will have me, I give my life to you.” In a moment, layers of pain, confusion, and hopelessness slipped away!  Tears of joy began running down my face as I experienced what it means to be born again. I felt clean and new. I wasn’t afraid anymore. I knew without a doubt that God is real, and He loves me! My life was forever changed that day. I wanted to tell others about my newfound freedom that they could have too. I wanted others to taste and see that the Lord is good!

I found out rather quickly that those who have not experienced this new life do not understand. Friends walked away. I was no longer the same person.  I didn’t desire to do the same things I had done before. Jesus became the “One” I clung to and He has never, ever left me.  I truly changed that morning I was born again.  I never went back to being that old person again. She is dead. Am I perfect? No. I make wrong choices just like anyone else, but my heart responds differently.  I see through unveiled eyes. I hear His voice. I know Him. When my actions cause the light to dim and the familiar voice to become faint, I run to Him, and He holds me close. I feel His unconditional love for me. He has never walked away.

The cost of living for Christ has, and never will be, too much for me. Is it hard? Yes. It hurts when people misunderstand. It hurts when others don’t desire your company because of Jesus.  It hurts because they don’t know how good He is.  It hurts because He longs for them to know Him too. In spite of it all though, I can say without hesitation, that He is so worthy! I would give my life to Him again and again.

So, as I walk this parallel journey of joy and sorrow, I will cling to the hope that all will come to the knowledge of Christ, especially those I hold closely to my heart. I find my strength in Him as I sit as His feet and drink of the cup He offers. In it I find a life that is now and forever emersed in the love of a God who sees, and knows me like no other, and still chooses me, again and again.

As I meditate on the coming year, I believe God is speaking to my heart that this will be a year of grace: grace for others, grace for me, grace from God, grace for the people in my life.

Grace – unmerited, undeserved favor.  It’s supernatural, beyond our natural ability.

Without grace we can’t in our natural human responses honor, prefer, and love those who have done nothing to earn our respect or recognition. Neither is it natural to expect it when we don’t deserve it. However, God in flesh, laid down His life, giving grace to mankind, me, underserving, yet now justified by my faith in Him.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but will have eternal life.

I don’t know what 2025 holds for us, for me. Our world, my world, could change in a moment. Experiencing grace doesn’t mean that difficult times won’t come, but with grace, God’s unmerited and unearned favor, I can trust that nothing is too hard for Him. I know He loves me, and that gives me peace and strength to stand strong in the midst of every storm.

I stand in awe of the goodness of God!  Mere words cannot adequately describe what if feels like to know that God sees and cares about every detail of my life. In my innermost being I feel Him.  In my mind’s eye, I see Him. God is Love. Agape love. A love beyond what we as humans can love.

This is why my heart cries out; He is worthy of it all! All my hopes, all my dreams, all my life.  I want to give Him everything, my will, my relationships, my possessions, my heart! And it’s all because grace, the undeserved favor of the Creator of this universe, that sees me.  Nothing is worth more to me than Jesus and His unearned, undeserved, love for me.

2025, whatever it brings is going to be a year of grace. My expectation of experiencing the vastness of this grace, like never before will be a day-to-day wonder! I’m thankful, humbled, expectant, hopeful. The greatest grace of all would be that those in my life that have never tasted of the goodness of God would know just how truly amazing this grace is. Maybe, just maybe, 2025 will be their year too.

Ephesians 3:14-17

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.  I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit. The Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him.  You roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is.

Last week, I began working at an online school as a full-time EL Teacher and Coordinator for 504 Students. I work 9-5 and engage throughout the day with colleagues, students, and families. My days are full, as is my heart.

Why did I walk away from retirement, where I was free to plan with only daily living to consider? Primarily, it was for family.  Yes, there were other reasons, such as wanting to stay active in mind, as well as body, but that too goes back to family. I want to be present, physically and mentally, for them. Having more than enough to give out of love and in times when the unexpected happens is important to me.

Providing opportunities for family and close friends to play together, travel, and create memories does not come without a price. Giving brings me joy! Our retirement budget allows for little of that.  Therefore, all things considered, I took the plunge back into the workforce!

This school and the assignments that come with my job description are perfect for me.  Being a contributing member of a team is fulfilling.  My supervisor and administration know how to create a family atmosphere without sacrificing the deliverance of educational excellence with professionalism. I hope to be an asset to the school and an encouragement to all I engage with daily.

In this season of life, things have become less and less important to me. Making a difference in the lives of others is what truly has value. The day will come when I will no longer work, and will step back into retirement, but for now, I will give my all to my new, and last job.

I woke this morning to a crisp 52 degrees outside.  It was only two weeks ago that the air was thick with humidity and warmth from the sun, early morning to late evening.  The season has changed. I feel a change has happened in my heart today as well. My expectations, hopes for the future, and overall sense of well-being are distinctively different.

There are four seasons in life, just as there are four seasons on Earth.  Each with cloudy skies, storms, and fair days. We can learn much about our lives by looking at nature and the cycles of the seasons with changing patterns in the landscape and atmosphere.  Through them all we experience storms that come and go leaving behind either destruction we labor to clean up or the refreshing smells and sounds of nature rejoicing after the rain.

I have kind of been in what feels like a dark and threatening storm lately. One that has lingered for more days than I would care to count. I’ve been inside per say, watching and waiting for it to pass.  Today, it feels like the storm is gone. Just as this new season is breaking in the natural, a new season of morning has broken through my lingering night.  I see blue skies in the horizon clear and far!

The time has come for me to come out of hiding in my shelter of seclusion from the elements and determine to walk boldly in what lies before me.  What do I see on my horizon? My heart tells me it’s a season of ease, with work that is rewarding, and dreams fulfilled. Days of grace without fear of the future await me. The rain has passed, the sun is shining, and the future is bright.

We are promised in scripture days of refreshing.  Psalms 84:6 says, “When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs, The Autumn rains will clothe it with blessings”. There’s no doubt that storms will again come, some may even change my landscape, but for now the forecast is fair with calm winds. My heart rejoices!

Therefore, I start this day, this Autumn, with peace, expecting good things, a season of blessings. Now time for me to go find that favorite sweatshirt that has been hanging in my closet all summer and take a walk in my neighborhood before work! I will walk with my eyes wide open, looking for the good, and basking in the blessings of refreshing!

Forgiveness is the undeserved grace given to an individual or group of people for an offense that caused hurt or trauma to our lives.  Often the act of one person can cause offense for a larger group of people in which individuals are unjustly judged as though they are the one at fault. Forgiving others even of their assumptions that may be derived by other’s actions is one of the greatest forms of this powerful act. Forgiveness is not just for the offender, but for us. When we hold on to hurt, it can quickly go from offense to bitterness, anger, and even rage.  Many times, the offender is not even aware of our pain or feel no responsibility for it.

Then there is the receiving of forgiveness from others when we have done or said things to hurt someone intentionally or unintentionally. When we are forgiven it humbles us, especially when undeserved. Our hearts are thankful and the weight of the consequences of our actions is lifted.

Whether we are forgiving or being forgiven we should not interpret forgiveness as trust.  Forgiveness is given. Trust is earned. For a person to be considered trustworthy, especially after an offense, it takes time.  Trust is a character trait that is proven by the consistent actions of reputable traits or values that we esteem noteworthy.

You may ask, how can we just forgive or be forgiven? The greatest example we have to learn from is the forgiveness Christ offers us, and the trust we can have in Him who has an unreputable record of trustworthiness. He who is often falsely accused, judged by the opinion of others, blamed for acts He did not do, and often a scapegoat for things we do not want to take responsibility for, forgives “everyone” who asks.  And He takes it a step further and has already paid the price for any, and all, offenses we have ever done. In addition, offers the gift of salvation and eternal life to all who believe.  We can trust Him. He has proven Himself trustworthy with an unreputable reputation of doing what He says.

Our response, humble gratitude.  Therefore, If Christ has forgiven us, can we not forgive others?  By His grace, we can. And when we do, we are truly set free.

Colossians 3:12 -14 TPT

Be merciful as you endeavor to understand others, and be compassionate, showing kindness toward all. Be gentle and humble, unoffendable in your patience with others. Tolerate the weaknesses of those in the family of faith, forgiving one another in the same way you have been graciously forgiven by Jesus Christ. If you find fault with someone, release this same gift of forgiveness to them. For love is supreme and must flow through each of these virtues. Love becomes the mark of true maturity.