Happy New Year to our faithful readers! With a new year comes a new theme. This year we are excited to delve into the lives of some amazing women in the Bible. And there is no better way to start than at the beginning—the very beginning.

I was barely pregnant when a well-meaning friend gave me some advice. She said, “Krista, remember these five words when you go into labor. ‘I WANT MY EPIDURAL NOW!’” I’m sure she meant well, but in my naïve, pregnant state, I thought to myself, “No way, I’m doing this natural.”

Well, the big day came. I could tell the nurse was reluctant to admit me to the hospital given that my labor wasn’t progressing much, but she showed pity on my husband and me when she saw our eager and exhausted faces. This baby was two weeks overdue and we were ready for our precious bundle to make her entrance into the world.

We had been settled in the birthing room for a couple of hours when I started feeling more uncomfortable. I firmly announced that I was ready for my epidural (so much for the natural route). My husband called the nurse in and she said, “Oh Honey you still have a ways to go before you can get your epidural.”

Suddenly the panic set in. All my hopes for a calm, natural birth were gone. I wanted this over quickly and with minimal pain. But it was not to be. After twenty three hours of labor, critical blood loss, two fainting spells and a difficult recovery, we finally had our Madeline.

During that particular “storm” in my life I remember being angry and bold enough to blame Eve for my childbirth woes. After all God told Eve (and every generation to follow) her punishment for sinning in the Garden of Eden:

To the woman he said, “I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Genesis 3:16

We all know how the Enemy, in the form of a serpent, approached Eve and tempted her to question the commands of God. But why did he approach Eve and not Adam? There are many Bible scholars who have debated this topic. I am not a Bible scholar in the least, but I do have an opinion based on what I’ve read. I believe the enemy chose Eve because of the very purposes she was created; mainly her ability to bear children and populate the earth. Satan went right for the one thing that would strike at that human race before it ever started.

Though I’m not happy with the way things turned out in the garden, I know it was meant to be this way. Sooner or later sin would have entered this world. What I learn from Eve is that we as women were created for a wonderful purpose. As wives, mothers, friends, teachers, daughters and sisters, we are wired to nurture and build relationships. The enemy knows the Godly influence we can have on those around us and that is a huge threat to him. Think about that, we are a threat to the enemy.

In Genesis 3:15 God says this to the enemy: “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head and you shall bruise His heal.”

Do you see the hope in the midst of this curse?  Though Eve would never know redemption for sin in her lifetime, it is her Seed (Jesus) that would bruise the head of the serpent.  It’s time we remember Eve, not for her sin, but for her awesome part in the human race. We are her offspring, redeemed by Jesus, focused on spending eternity with our Creator.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

“Stop, just stop,” I yelled. “Can you girls please quiet down? Mommy is trying to drive through snow and ice and I need to concentrate.” The piercing words rolled off my tongue. I glanced in the rearview mirror noticing that my oldest was hushing her sister. I also noticed the once smiling faces now showed a hint of disappointment.

I maneuvered the car carefully down the street. The outside temperature was barely above zero. What was I thinking going out on a night like this? The weather was one thing to contend with, but I knew that I was in a rotten mood from the stressful day I had just experienced. I was in no way ready to be jolly and spread Christmas cheer while we visited the man in the red suit.

I glanced in the now quiet backseat. Both girls were staring out the window in silence. What have I done I thought? Actually, I knew exactly what I had done. Not only had I robbed them of their joy and excitement, but I had let stress rob me of my joy. I wanted this night to be perfect for my girls. After all I had so many great memories of my childhood Christmases and all the activities surrounding it. For one evening, I wanted them to capture a bit of that magic.

Have you ever thought about how the Christmas season has changed for you over the years? Or why you don’t have the same feelings about Christmas that you did as a child? Have you ever wondered why your hopes about Christmas as a child turned into expectations and needs as you grew older? I believe that if we really examine our lives carefully we will see in some way we have let stress steal Christmas.

Picture with me, a child. This child can hardly contain his excitement on Christmas morning. He is so excited to tear open the brightly wrapped packages under the tree. In his mind he is hoping that Santa came through with his wishes, but he also knows he will be happy with whatever is given to him.

Now picture this child as a teenager. He sleeps in a little longer on Christmas morning because he is older now and the excitement just isn’t the same. He slowly saunters downstairs and sees, once again, brightly wrapped packages. A little more self absorbed this year, he thinks to himself how much he needs that expensive cell phone he asked for, and in some way expects his parents to have given it to him.

Now a grown man he hopes to just make it through Christmas. With a family of his own, a mortgage, a dead-end job and bills to pay, he needs the Holidays to just be over. Stress takes over and joy flees.

Scary illustration? However, it is a true depiction of Christmas for so many. Do you realize that most stress is self-induced? If you really look closely at stress, it’s a feeling. Sometimes it manifests itself in anger, sometimes in sadness, and sometimes just an irritable mood. But I believe most often stress is disproportionate to the actual problem. I was not stressed about the trip to see Santa. I was stewing over all the things I wasn’t getting done, and I almost allowed stress to steal a wonderful Christmas event with my daughters.

You see, we so easily forget what an amazing gift we received a few thousand years ago. Our hopes, expectation and needs can all be met by one person, our Prince of Peace, Jesus. He was not sent to condemn His people, but to save them. He does not want us to live bound by stress, but live free in Him.

There is a set of scriptures that in my mind illustrates the whole point of Christmas. It’s ones we have known and probably memorized since we were knee high. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” John 3:16 – 18

May this Christmas be different for all of us. May our reflection be on the life Jesus led here on earth and the ultimate sacrifice He made so we could be free. May we cling to the truth that Jesus is our Prince of Peace and stress will have no place in our lives this Christmas.

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Colossians 3:12

As we walked into the restaurant for our Thanksgiving meal this year, I could feel the tears well up in my eyes and a lump form in my throat. This was no way to spend Thanksgiving, I thought. Memories of past holidays flooded my mind. I wondered what my family in Arizona was doing at that very moment. Surely, they were enjoying lots of wonderful food and great conversation. Then I looked at my precious girls, and for their sake, quickly pulled it together. They were so happy to be celebrating Thanksgiving, whether it was dining at home with family and friends, or out of town with our own family of four.

We decided a few weeks ago that it would be fun to spend the Thanksgiving break in Colorado Springs. I spent some time online searching out activities we could do as a family, and, thanks to my husband’s business travel, we were able to stay at a nice hotel completely free of charge. Thank goodness for hotel points.

The trip was enjoyable and relaxing, just how we wanted it. But I couldn’t help but miss our extended families for those few hours on Thanksgiving Day.

The restaurant was located in a rundown, older part of the city, and was quite crowded this day. The crowd was a little edgier than I’m used to in my little suburban town. I have to admit that I had some pre-conceived ideas of who would be dining out on Thanksgiving Day. And I think I was right. There were some people dining alone, many elderly people joining their families for a meal, and sadly, I saw one gentlemen clearly conducting business rather than taking a day off work.

I noticed my husband seemed a little distracted and kept eyeing the line of people waiting at the door. Little did I know that the thought brewing in his mind would change my whole outlook on this day and snap me out of my melancholy mood. He suggested we donate the cash to cover a meal for one of the families in line at the door.

We all agreed that it was a great idea, and so we called the manager over to tell him what we wanted to do. We left the decision up to the manager as to which family to sponsor, and we asked to remain anonymous. A few minutes later he came back with a receipt to sign and said it had been taken care of. His eyes welled up with tears as he shook my husband’s hand and said words I will never forget. “What you folks did today made me more proud (of people in general) than I have been all year. Thank you so much for your generosity.”

I don’t share that story to get a pat on the back, but just as a reminder of how a simple act of kindness can do more than we will ever know. As a nation we are facing uncertain economic times this holiday season. I know it is difficult to reach into pockets and even find extra money to give to those in need. Those very thoughts ran through my mind when my husband made this suggestion. But I know his idea was one of a supernatural kind. God placed it on his heart and Matthew was obedient to follow God’s prompting.

My prayer for all of us this season is that our focus will not be on how financially thin we are stretched, or what gifts we won’t be giving or receiving this year, but how blessed we are to worship a God who holds us so close to Him and provides for our every need. There are opportunities all around us to show acts of kindness, whether monetary or not. I pray that we will recognize our Father’s gentle nudging and be a source of hope to those who desperately need it.

One of my favorite Christmas songs is one that was released several years ago by Christian artist Sandi Patti. The chorus sums up this idea of giving:

"And the gift goes on. The Father gave the Son. The Son gave the Spirit. The Spirit gives us life. So we can give the Gift of Love."[1]

[1] By Ron Harris and Claire Cloninger (c) 1983 Ron Harris Music/ASCAP

It was a cold, crisp Colorado morning. I pulled myself out of bed at 6:30 a.m. dreading the task that was ahead of me, but knowing full well I was one of the few, the proud and the brave assigned to carpool duty at my daughters’ school. My children attend a charter school that does not offer bus service, so in order for the morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up to run as safe as possible, there must be a skilled team in place ready to handle any parking lot violation.

I reported to the “shed” at 0745 hours where all the carpool supplies are housed. Quick introductions were made with the rest of the team and then we went about our assigned tasks. Some barricaded one of the entry points; some handed out the bullet-proof vests, I mean the bright orange safety vests; while another handed out the ammunition, okay the hand-held stop signs. In about five minutes we were ready and in position at our assigned posts.

With my sunglasses on, my orange vest fastened and my stop sign in hand, I heard the hum of the first intruder, well at least their car anyway. Soon the parking lot was full of SUV’s, mini vans and a few four-door sedans. The team was doing a great job and everything was running smoothly—except my attitude.

In all honesty, I hate carpool duty. The orange vests match no outfit I own; it is freezing cold, not to mention very early in the morning; and it’s a “thankless” volunteer job, or so I thought. This particular morning though, I would be taught an important lesson.

As the parking lot became congested, I walked out to the middle of the cross-walk (my post that morning) and stopped the line of cars. I motioned for the students to walk across. But wait, were those smiles on their faces, and I think one of them just told me “thank you?” Surely I heard wrong.

A few minutes later I crossed another group of students, and heard a few more “thank you’s” and saw several smiles. I was baffled. But before long I found myself smiling back and saying, “Have a great day.” Soon the cold air didn’t seem like such a bother, and I actually felt that this was a nice way to start the day. Even the orange vest—never mind, it was still hideous.

After the last cars had passed through and the final group of students were safely in class, I thought to myself how nice this dreaded morning had turned out to be. A simple “thank you” changed my attitude instantly. And it was a group of K-8^th graders that taught me this important lesson.

How often do we forget to say those simple words—thank you? It’s a manner I have tried to instill in my children from the time they learned to talk, but as an adult I know of many times where I forget to say thank you. And even more difficult to admit, I often forget to thank God; the One who knows me the best; who knew me before He formed me in the womb (Jeremiah 1:5); the One who gave His only son to die for me, so that I might have eternal life (John 3:16).

“You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” Psalm 118:28 – 29

I’m glad that we have one month set aside each calendar year where thankfulness is the theme, but shouldn’t it be on our hearts all the time? God is constantly at work in our lives every moment of every day. Though we can never out-give God, we can certainly thank Him throughout the day.

“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

I know there are moments in our lives we feel God is far from deserving our thanks. We cast blame on Him for the circumstances we find ourselves in, but we must remember, despite the trials we endure, we are blessed. Let’s not be forgetful people. God has blessed us in many ways, and He needs to hear our thanks.

I think it’s safe to say as women we often feel guilty that we are not doing enough. And dare I say we use busyness as a measuring stick to compare ourselves to others? I will admit that I do. However, I’m sure someone is watching me and making the same comparisons. My neighbors probably wonder how our garage door stays on the track given how much I open and close it each day because of my coming and going to this and that. I can’t tell you when the hectic life began for me, but I do wonder where in all this I lost the ability of self control when it comes to time.

I am reading a book called, Finding Your Purpose as a Mom, by Donna Otto. This book, among other topics, addresses the very subject of busyness. On how our grandmothers and mothers lived, Otto says, “Time flowed and we flowed with it. People worked of course, but the emphasis was on the doing, not getting it done and moving immediately to something else.”[i]

We have such a timeless example in Jesus during his 33 years on earth. His ministry was about pursuing and building relationships. His focus was eternal. He wanted everyone to come to know him as their personal Lord and Savior. When reading scripture I never get the feeling Jesus rushed from one task to the next. I don’t picture him running from city to city exhausted and out of breath, or rolling his eyes when the disciples weren’t on time. I don’t picture him tapping his fingers and being impatient while buying his lunch in the marketplace of Jerusalem. He understood the concept of balancing time and creating boundaries with people. Jesus rested in the fact that time and order was his Father’s idea in the first place. Even during the throws of a violent storm, Jesus was found sleeping.

“Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, ‘Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!’" Matthew 8:24 – 25

Do you feel that way sometimes? Do you feel like you are drowning in the midst of daily tasks while life moves by at warp speed? We can’t help the tech-savvy culture we live in. The message of our rushed culture is “get it done now,” and we have every tool at our fingertips to make that happen. There is not a lot of room for interruptions, slowing down, or allowing God’s timing on things.

One of my favorite passages is Matthew 11:28-30: “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."

Not only does this scripture bring comfort in the midst of busyness, but it is packed with instructions. “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,” he says. You see Jesus wants us to wear a yoke that is easy and not heavy. He wants us to move along freely in our day to day life, not weighed down by all we have to get done. He wants us to learn from him and then follow his example.

Easier said than done right? The above mentioned book gives great practical advice on how to bring order to a chaotic life, but one piece of advice that really spoke to me was this: “Think about what you are trading off to keep up with today’s culture? Is all the stuff in your life really worth the time you must invest in it?” Donna Otto.[ii]

This topic of busyness is an intimidating one to address, but I have recently come to a point where I am tired of sprinting through my days without feeling like anything I’ve done is for a greater purpose—an eternal purpose. As I’ve grappled with this topic, the words to Chris Tomlin’s “How Great is Our God” song came to mind:

“Age to age he stands. And time is in his hands. Beginning and the end. Beginning and the end.”[iii]

[i] Finding Your Purpose as a Mom p. 92, Donna Otto, 2004, Harvest House Publishers, Eugene OR

[ii] Finding Your Purpose as a Mom p.97, Donna Otto, 2004, Harvest House Publishers, Eugene OR

[iii] www.christomlin.com, How Great is Our God lyrics, Arriving album

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” By far this is the biggest lie ever. I would love to meet the person who coined that phrase, because surely he or she has enough self confidence to endure just about anything. I on the other hand  can be so hurt by words. I feel like such a wimp sometimes. Not only is it words that hurt me, but sometimes it’s the tone in which words are delivered.

We have a new puppy, and a few days ago our dear Chester escaped into the front yard. This new found freedom made several more of my hairs turn gray in about a half-second. He ran across the street, next door, down the street and back. I was chasing after him, which was probably the wrong thing to do. I’m sure he thought I was enjoying it just as much he was. Then he went into the WRONG yard. Now mind you, this yard is not the nicest on the street. Weeds are chocking many trees and shrubs. And the grass, well let’s just say, the many clusters of weeds that give the essence of grass, is thriving. My point, this yard is not well taken care of.

For whatever reason, Chester chose this home to stop and “visit”, and wouldn’t you know the owner pulled into her driveway just at that moment. (Not to be too graphic, but Chester was only watering her weeds.) Immediately she jumped out of her car, ran over to Chester and started yelling to him, “Go home you dog, go home.” I arrived on the scene, a tad winded, and apologized to her for the intrusion. I managed to grab Chester by the collar and forcefully lead him home.

I was so mad, and not just at the dog, though he was now safely locked in his kennel for the night. I was actually a little hurt by my neighbor’s tone. Perhaps you are thinking she is afraid of dogs, but that wouldn’t explain why she flew out of her car and ran over to Chester. Perhaps you are thinking she wants to preserve her beautiful yard, but I already explained that. Perhaps you are thinking she had a bad day and Chester tipped her over the edge. These are all the same thoughts I had.

After I calmed down, the word gentleness came to mind. Sometimes it’s not the words we say that are so hurtful, it’s the tone in which we say them. I can relate to my neighbor. I have many moments where I know the tone in which I speak is out of anger, and gentleness is the furthest thing from my mind.

“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1

Thank you Lord for the reminder you give us in Proverbs. In those moments when we are frustrated, may we cling to these words and speak gently, so as not to stir up anger in someone else.

…so are the Days of our Lives. I know I’m not the only one who recognizes the theme song to the opening of this popular daytime drama. I remember many days coming home from high school to catch up on Roman and Marlena, Steve and Kayla, and who can forget Frankie and Jennifer?

It baffles me how these fictional characters managed prestigious careers as doctors, lawyers and psychologists, yet never went to work. They looked beautiful and glamorous whether they were incarcerated for a crime they didn’t commit, or trapped at the bottom of a thirty foot well. Their lives were made up of one crisis after the other, yet they always seemed to forge ahead no matter the circumstances around them. I’m sure if I had led the life of any one of them I would now be locked up in a green padded room in the psych ward. (Truth be told, we might feel a little better about our own lives if we turned on a daytime drama now and then.)

As I have matured (relatively speaking) I’ve realized that these characters I watched day in and day out in my youth were missing the one thing that could have saved them from many drastic situations. What they needed was a little self-control.

Let’s back track a bit to an ancient soap opera that unfolds in the book of Genesis 39. Meet Joseph, a handsome, strong, and very talented man. He is one of the 12 sons of Jacob, and probably the favorite. This, of course, bothers the other 11 brothers, so out of jealousy; they sell Joseph to slave traders.

Now meet Potiphar. He is the captain of Pharaoh’s royal guard. He is wealthy, with a large home and a wife that has a little too much time on her hands. Potiphar buys Joseph from the slave traders. In time, Potiphar becomes very pleased with Joseph. He could see the Lord was with him and gave him success in everything he did. So Potiphar places Joseph in charge of his household and entrusts him with everything he owns (Genesis 39:4).

Well, as many soap opera storylines go, temptation looms just around the corner for Joseph. Potiphar’s wife has her eyes on the handsome young man. She tries many times to seduce Joseph, but he resists every time.

“My master (Potiphar) has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” Genesis 39:9

Out of anger and spite, Potiphar’s wife accuses Joseph of taking advantage of her. Potiphar believes his wife and Joseph goes to prison.

The story does not end there though. God honored Joseph for his self control and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. In time, the warden placed Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners. And, for real interesting reading, may I suggest you read on in Genesis. This was only the beginning for Joseph because later he would be placed in charge over all of Egypt.

“Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.” 1 Peter 1:13-14

Self control does not happen naturally. It is deliberate. It is a decision to fix our minds on what is holy. As believers we live in tough times. We are constantly bombarded by temptation where we must exhibit an extreme amount of self control. But don’t lose hope. When we are fully submitted to God and release every area of our life to Him, it becomes difficult to lose control.

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” Titus 2:11-13

Several years ago I sat in church and listened as a member of the church board read a letter to the congregation. The congregation sat in silence as the disappointing news was delivered. A staff pastor’s wives had confessed to an extra-marital affair with a prominent member of the church.

You could hear a pin drop in that church as the church body began to process the news they had just heard. I was devastated, almost sick to my stomach. Questions flooded my mind: How could this happen? I thought I knew them? How could these people break up their families like this? Why? Why? Why?

Many emotions flooded my thoughts, mostly anger and disappointment at the two perpetrators. Unbeknownst to me this would not be the first time I would sit in a pew and hear news like this. Sadly, it has happened more often than I could have imagined. I know I’m not alone in what I’ve seen. This scenario plays out in churches all over the world.

I need to be honest with you though. Each time I hear of one of these tragic incidences in churches, my faith in church leadership fades just a little. While I think it is a very natural and human response to lose faith in people, it might not be the healthiest of feelings to harbor.

I have heard it stated many times that we are to put our faith in Jesus, not in man. I don’t agree, nor believe that we are describing the same kind of faith. The faith we put in others is more like trust. We couldn’t build relationships without putting some sort of trust in others. On the flipside, we can’t shelter ourselves from relationships just because we might lose faith in someone someday.

“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.” Proverbs 3:3-4

The terrible tragedy in the situation I witnessed years ago was that no one within the church reached out to try and bring restoration to these broken families. When we as sinners confess, repent and are forgiven by those we’ve hurt, miraculous restoration can happen. Perhaps if things had been handled differently by the church leadership, two marriages could have been saved.

Jesus showed us over and over the healing power of restoration through grace. On many occasions He tried to teach the legalistic Pharisees of this freeing concept. On one such occasion Jesus addressed the crowds and warned them,

“But do not do what they do (the Pharisees), for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.” Matthew 23:3-4

Thankfully we have a Savior who longs to carry our heavy loads (Matthew 11:28-29). He does not want us to be weighed down with guilt and shame, but to accept the healing power of grace that He offers. My fellow Christ Followers, let’s not be like the Pharisees, let’s be like Christ and faithfully extend grace to one another.

What a day it had been. A wasted day some might say. A day spent waiting for the phone to ring or even an email. Hours spent fretting about the possible scenarios. Anxious pacing around the living room. Snappy remarks made to one another out of frustration and uncertainty. It all came down to this moment. The moment when we would finally have a purchase offer for our home.

Then the phone call came. We did have an offer! After three months of endless showings and hopes rising and falling with each possible buyer, our realtor shared the news. But instead of being relieved and thankful, my thoughts suddenly turned less hopeful. How could they possibly offer that? Don’t they see the value in this home? They want to move in when? Are they crazy?

Oh the joys of real estate. I’m sure many of you can relate. It’s been said that buying and selling a home can be one of the most stressful life situations. I agree.

I decided to take the kids to McDonalds for dinner. I wasn’t in the mood to cook, nor was I even hungry. Every conversation regarding the offer and the counter offer kept replaying in my mind, but the biggest question was, would this be it? Would we finally be moving?

As I was about to pull into the McD’s parking lot, I felt God lay something on my anxious heart. I realized how I never have an anxious thought of where I’m going to live for eternity. It was a simple and easy decision that I made years ago to accept Jesus as my Lord, knowing that He was giving me this gift of salvation and eternity with Him. There were no counter offers, no closing costs, no home inspections or appraisals—just a simple truth. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift from God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23

Throughout scripture we find snippets of what our home in heaven is going to be like. “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’" Revelation 21:4-5

“It (heaven) shown with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal,” Revelation 21:11.

“The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass,” Revelation 21:21.

Even in the beginning God mentions his work on our eternal home. “God saw all that He had made and it was very good. Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.” Genesis 1:31.

Can you just picture God looking around at His creations, shaking his head and seeing the goodness in all He had made? He was not being prideful, in fact, I see this act as humbling. God built this beautiful home and handed the shiny new keys over to us absolutely free. Isn’t our God good?

Well, turns out our earthly home didn’t sell. We found the beauty that had been here all along. Sure it needed some TLC, but with hard work, we were able to turn it into something good. Though this process was difficult to walk through, I am grateful that I rediscovered the peace and security of my future that only comes from salvation in Jesus Christ.

The day was warm and nice as Prina exited the local mosque and walked across the street to the park. She took a deep breath of the fresh summer air and thought how thankful she was to be living in America.

As she entered the park and walked down the tree-lined path, she reached into her purse and pulled out her MP3 player. This had become one of her favorite pastimes since coming to the States. She loved taking long walks in the park and listening to her native music.

After placing the headphones in her ears, she sensed the presence of someone close behind her. But before she could turn around two men grabbed her purse, tore the headphones from her ears, and pushed her forcefully onto the concrete walking path.

Stunned by what happened, she laid motionless on the path. She could hear the faint sounds of children playing off in a distance, but she couldn’t move. Her head throbbed and she could feel blood trickling down her cheek. Was anyone around to see what happened? Would anyone stop to help, she thought?

There was a man dressed in a suit and tie, sitting at a picnic table. He noticed the young woman on the ground, but hesitated when he saw the native clothing she was wearing. With an aggravated look on his face, he started to walk over to her, but then was interrupted by a call on his cell phone. This was an important call, he thought. Surely someone else will help. And he hurried off with his briefcase in tow.

An elderly couple started to walk down the path and noticed her. But they feared this might be a racial issue of some sort and did not want to get involved. So they turned around as if they didn’t see anything.

Finally, a young mother with two preschool aged children saw Prina on the ground and gasped. She ran over to her, bent down, and told her that she was there to help. She explained that she had left her cell phone in her car, but if Prina felt she could walk, she would assist her to the car.

Prina sighed and slowly stood up. By this time she was bleeding from a deep cut on her forehead. The mother pulled out some tissue from her bag and told Prina to hold it tightly to her head. If it wasn’t for the strong, steady arm of this woman, Prina knew she couldn’t have walked on her own.

The mother motioned to her children to follow closely as she guided Prina to the car and called for help. Within minutes emergency vehicles were on the scene.

Prina gave a statement to the police officer, while paramedics tended to her wounds. With her hand clutching the stranger who had stopped to help, Prina began to cry and thank the woman for all she had done.

Though this story is fictional, it is one that could play out in any U.S. city today. I am not trying to draw any conclusions politically or otherwise, I simply want to share a new thought on an age old story.

After reading the account of The Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37, I think I am gaining a better understanding of goodness—our “fruit” for this month. I believe that goodness is more of an action than a state of being. The woman in the story above, like the Samaritan in the Bible, illustrates that we are to show goodness to everyone, no matter their race, religion, or social status. “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27b

The young mother was able to set aside any issues she may have had with the stranger in need, but the business man and the elderly couple couldn’t put aside their convictions to even help. It saddens me deeply to know there are people in our world who have hardened their hearts to the point of not being able to show goodness to others who so desperately need it.

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3

As the Good Samaritan story concludes, Jesus asks those whom He is teaching, “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The Pharisee (expert in the law) replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10: 36-37

Imagine how different things could be in this world if we would go and do like the Good Samaritan?

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2Chronicles 7:14

It was spring, and the barley harvest was beginning in Bethlehem, as two unlikely women began a journey together across the Jordan River from Moab: Naomi, an Ephrathite and Ruth, a Moabite.

This was a dark time in Israel’s history. People were more interested in pleasing themselves than pleasing God (Judges 21:25). But one woman, a Moabite, would cross racial, cultural and spiritual lines to demonstrate an amazing act of kindness.

Ruth married the son of Elimelech and Naomi. But soon after, tragedy struck this family. Elimilech and his two sons died, leaving Naomi, and her two daughters-in-law, (Orpah and Ruth) widowed. Moab was a drought ravaged land at this time, so after hearing that there was more food and provisions in Bethlehem, Naomi gathered her two daughters-in-law and they set out to return to Naomi’s homeland (Ruth 1:7).

After realizing what she was asking of these young women, Naomi pleaded with Orpah and Ruth to return to Moab. She wanted the girls to return to the land of their people and families. Orpah agreed, but Ruth insisted on staying with Naomi. She replied with these famous and very powerful words:

“Don’t urge me to leave you or turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.” Ruth 1:16-18

It was August of 1997 in a beautiful garden in Southern California. The weather was warm that summer day, as two unlikely families prepared to be bonded by the marriage of my husband and me. The processional started with the band playing “Ebony and Ivory.” I’m kidding. However, the song is quite fitting. I’m ivory in every sense of the word and my Jamaican husband is, well, ebony.

That day in August, two cultures and two races came together to celebrate a marriage and the merging of two Christian families. As I read this account in Ruth, I couldn’t help but think how much Ruth and I have in common, until the part where she is willing to give up everything, including her heritage, to spend the rest of her life with her mother-in-law.

In our American culture “mother-in-laws” are the source of many jokes. I guess it’s one way our culture deals with serious issues, such as blending two families. It’s sometimes easier to make light of situations than face them head on. I can say with all certainty that my mother-in-law does not fall into that category. She is a strong, Godly woman who is a blessing to many.

That said; it would be very difficult for me to give up everything I’ve ever known, leave my family and friends, and move to Jamaica with my mother-in-law. Furthermore, in knowing what I know of my mother-in-law, she would never ask that of me, just like Naomi never asked Ruth to do what she did.

Kindness, at its core, is all about selflessness. The motives are pure. There is no agenda and no strings attached. Not only did Ruth demonstrate a huge act of kindness, she had no expectations of reward.

That spring Naomi and Ruth found a place they could call home in Bethlehem. And people soon learned of Ruth and her act of kindness. Though Ruth never sought to be recognized or rewarded for her kindness, she was. She was greatly blessed. In fact this beautiful story even takes a romantic turn. Look at what Ruth’s future husband says about her kind character:

“Boaz replied, I have been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with people you did not know before. May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” Ruth 2:11-12

Ahhhh, and who says the Bible isn’t romantic?

A few summers ago my in-laws came for a visit from Jamaica. As you can imagine our visits are few and far between given the distance we live from each other. So when we are together, conversations are precious and cherished. This particular Colorado summer day we were sitting out on our deck sipping lemonade when my father-in-law asked me some questions I will never forget.

He asked me what I felt were the greatest qualities each of my children possess and what is one characteristic for each that I would want prayer? I was quick to name their greatest qualities. This is their grandparents, mind you, and I’ve earned some bragging rights. But I was also too quick to think of characteristics that I fear may become an issue for them in the future.

My oldest daughter Madeline, who is seven-years-old, is probably one of the kindest most considerate children I know. But it is this very quality that brings me heartache and stress sometimes.

Last week was Field Day at her school. I came to walk around with her to a few of the events. One such event took place in the gym. Each child was to pair up with another child and TAKE TURNS pushing each other on a scooter up and down the gym floor. I watched as Madeline did all the pushing. Not to mention, this girl was a tad heavier and rounder than my skinny, light-weight Madeline. I saw Madeline ask for a turn, but it was not meant to be. This girl was not going to give up the scooter rides. It took all I had to not go and give that child a piece of my mind, but I knew this was one battle I needed to let Madeline fight.

Well Madeline didn’t fight it. The whistle blew and it was time to move on to the next event. I was certain that Madeline would be upset for not getting a turn, but instead she came running toward me, all smiles, saying how excited she was to go and get a snow cone at the next station. Not only that, she enjoyed her snow cone and some great conversation with “scooter girl.”

Now some of you may think I’m dealing with a “doormat;” someone who never stands up for themselves. A few years ago, I would have agreed. In fact, that was the prayer request I gave my father-in-law that day on the deck. But, thankfully, I have seen Madeline grow into a stronger, more confident girl.

My father-in-law gave me some great advice that summer day. He told me to not see this characteristic as a weakness, but as kindness. Sure I need to instruct Madeline on standing up for herself, but never to the point of squelching that amazing attribute. Couldn’t we use a little more kindness in this world anyway?

In the book, “Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World,” Joanna Weaver writes, “A product requires a process. Becoming like Jesus requires a process as well…..Christianity is a process not an event. It is a journey not a destination.”[1]

So often I wait to become the woman God wants me to be. I almost think it will be a magical transformation. Poof, here I am, “Miss Fruits of the Spirit” has arrived. Reading those words gave me so much perspective. “It takes a process to get a product.” Most likely I will never arrive at super-Christiandom, but I’m not worried, as it’s the refining process that draws me closer to Christ-likeness.

“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6

God has begun a good work in all of us and someday we will all arrive and be that complete person in Christ. For now, it is a constant refining process. But hold on for the finished product.

“To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy.” Jude 24

[1]Joanna Weaver, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, (Colorado Springs, CO: Waterbrook Press, 2007), 215-16. 

Uggh, the “P” word. Yes, we all knew the time would come. The fourth word on the Fruits of the Spirit List (Galatians 5:22). It’s here, our month long look at patience. Funny how it falls in the same month as Mother’s Day?

There is nothing more challenging to me than the virtue of patience. It wasn’t something I thought too much about until I became a mother. And then it all became very clear. God gave us children so we could learn patience…

I am so thankful and blessed to have two amazing daughters. They not only teach me about patience, but so many other important lessons. They are a joy to my husband and me. As with any mom though, there are those moments where I feel my patience is tested beyond anything I can handle.

Recently my youngest daughter Isabelle (pictured here) turned five. This is a milestone in her young life and she makes sure everyone knows it. In fact, just this week as I sat down to write this devotional, I made it very clear to Isabelle that I needed a few minutes by myself to work on the computer. I told her that after I was done we would go to the park. But, the park had a condition. She could not ask me when we were going, or how many minutes it would be until we left. (Believe me, this child can talk incessantly to a wall, and ask 25 questions in three minutes.) She had to trust that we would leave for the park in 30 minutes.

She accepted the condition with her usual statement these days, “Five years-old, remember?” Can you just see it? Her hands on her hips, her head cocked back and a look in those beautiful eyes that says, “Mom, I’m five, surely I can handle this condition.” Can you just sense the sarcasm? I could feel the hair rising on the back of my neck, but I took a deep breath and typed away—well I kind of pounded.

A few minutes later the non-verbal communication started. Sighs and moans could be heard from the end of the hall, as well as, stomping feet. It was all Isabelle could do to not ask when we were going to the park. You may wonder who is struggling with patience here. Well, to make this clear as mud, I think we both feed off of each other. Isabelle is just plain impatient when she has to wait for something, and I feed off of her many emotions and become impatient with her.

Impatience is a real emotion. We all face it from time to time, and some of us more than others. But it’s not experiencing the emotion that’s the problem, it’s how we react in those moments.

“Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.” 2 Timothy 4:2

In context (II Timothy 4:1-3) Paul is expressing to Timothy the importance of preaching the gospel so that it can be spread to the whole world. This is the most important job the Church has been given. It may not always be easy to take a stand and tell others about Christ, but Paul wanted Timothy to encourage the Church at how important it is.

I once asked my mom what resources she and my dad had for parenting when my sister and me were growing up. She said that she mostly turned to the Bible. We are blessed with many wonderful books, conferences, classes, etc. these days, but sometimes I find the best resource to be the Bible.

And I find this scripture so applicable for correcting children. One, we are to preach the Word. What better opportunity do we have to tell our children about Jesus than in the moments of correcting them? Secondly, we are to always be prepared. There are seasons of a child’s development and some seasons are easier than others, but we are instructed to be prepared all the time. Thirdly, when it comes to rebuking and correcting we are to do it with patience. That’s not easy, but with practice it is possible.

I have found that when I humbly come before the Lord and confess my impatience, my spirit is calmed and I am given a new outlook on the situation. This is especially true when dealing with Isabelle. It is so easy to roll my eyes and plead with God to deal with her, but in reality it is me that needs to be dealt with. Once I am calm and patient, the careful instruction I need to give Isabelle flows from my mouth.

Thank you Jesus for your gentle reminder about the importance of patience with children.

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things.” Luke 10:41

Those words literally jumped off the page at me. How could I have missed it all this time? Through the years I’ve heard many teachings from the story of Mary and Martha, but this time the statement Jesus made to Martha pierced me. I felt as if I was the one hearing these words from my Savior.

I love the idea of peace. In fact I long for a peaceful life. Worry, in my mind, is the furthest thing from peace, yet it’s something we all experience to one extreme or another. According to the National Institute of Mental Health web site, over 40 million Americans suffer from anxiety disorders, meaning they are “filled with fearfulness and uncertainty.”

Though many of us don’t fall into the category of a disorder, it is believed that one in four Americans are chronic worriers. The Bible warns us many times not to worry. But is that a command, or just good advice?

Matthew 6:25a “Therefore I tell you, do not worry.” It doesn’t say try not, it says do not. That sounds like a command to me. Phrases like this appear all over the Bible. In fact “fear not” is stated 350 times in the Bible.(1) I believe the scripture emphasis on worry is because God knows worry hinders our relationship with Him. The focus becomes on the circumstance rather than Him.  The good news in all this is that each of these commands against worry is followed by promises when we obey.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” Matthew 6:25 -26

“The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?’ Psalm 27:1

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

Don’t you love how our Lord draws us into the protection of His peace? "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

It was not peaceful for Martha that day in Bethany. She had 13 plus visitors to prepare for, not to mention one of them being Jesus. She felt overwhelmed, exhausted and certainly irritated at Mary for choosing to visit with Jesus rather than helping with all the preparations. But when Martha complains to Jesus about her sister’s lack of help, she gets a surprising and convicting response.

Luke 10: 41-42 "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

You see peace comes when we draw close to Jesus. He would much rather have us sit at His feet and listen than focus on our worries and circumstances.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.” John 14:27

(1) Joanna Weaver, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World (Colorado Springs, CO: WaterBrook, 2007), 40

I just returned from a spring break getaway to Arizona to see my family. One thing I was looking forward to on this vacation was going shopping. What’s a vacation without a little shopping? Thankfully, my husband and I were able to steal some time away to go to the mall while Papa and Grandma watched our daughters.

My husband’s shopping list contained one item—sunglasses. Not that you can’t buy great shades in Colorado, but there’s just something about the Arizona desert that creates a desire for a nice pair. As we browsed a few stores, we came to a vendor who was selling sunglasses for a great price. I couldn’t refuse the deal myself, so I found some I liked, but sadly mine had a very tiny scratch on them. So the sales associate made a deal with us. She said she would give us two pairs for the price of one. I reasoned with myself that the scratch was hardly noticeable, and this was too good a deal to pass up. So I am now the proud owner of some very cool shades, with a minor flaw in them.

I am convinced that we all see things differently. I found those glasses and was able to look past the flaw, while someone else could look at the same pair and move right on past them in search of something better. We all wear lenses. Lenses are our window to the world, our perception of how things are. As we wrap up our series on joy, I can’t help but wonder if the lenses I look through impact whether I see joy.

Through our devotional writings this month we have all offered different insights and perspectives on joy, but one underlying theme remains—true joy is found in the Lord. What if we removed God from our lives for a moment? What would we see? Let’s put on the world’s lenses for just a second to see what is revealed?

First, we have to go back and define our very existence. Among many other worldly questions, why are we here? What is our purpose? A godless world would suggest that our existence is futile. In a nutshell, we are here for no good reason. When we dismiss God we have no purpose.

“So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.” Ephesians 1: 18 – 19

This scripture so clearly sums up what a godless life would look like—a life without purpose or joy. Thankfully we don’t have to wear the world’s lenses. We can wear our own God-given lenses and see things with a Godly perspective.

Even though I try desperately to always wear my Godly lenses, I so often let the world’s views on things filter my lenses; fear, rejection and bitterness to name a few. I’m certain I have missed seeing joy due to those filters. The answer for removing those filters is simple, but not always easy. We must pursue God and allow Him to teach us how to see through His eyes.

“Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” 1 Corinthians 13:12

What has clouded the way you see? Are you missing out on knowing joy because of your lenses?