Give Thanks

 

Pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. ~1 Thessalonians 5:17-18

Millions of us in the United States experience the wrath of mega-storm, Fern, which brings freezing rain and snow from Texas to the southeastern states and rages up into the mid-Atlantic states and New England, recreating itself into a classic Nor'easter.  I can't recall a winter event of such magnitude in my lifetime, nor one about which we are warned for days, if not weeks, ahead.

I've lived through enough ice storms here in Georgia to never want to suffer those interminable stretches of being homebound with no power and only a fireplace to heat a home.  So, Danny and I do our level best to prepare for the worst and pray for the best.

Our biggest concern is the potential for ice to build up on pine limbs; since pine is a soft wood, and the needles quickly gain weight under a coating of ice, they are the most vulnerable to breaking off the trees with an ear-splitting report like a gunshot.  It's downright alarming!  Those of you who've lived through ice storms know precisely what I'm describing here.

These are some of the items we gather up from various areas in our house in order to be prepared should our power be adversely affected.  Battery-powered lanterns sit on the hearth along with pairs of hand warmers.

Extra batteries as back up for these and our numerous flashlights.

Danny inflates our air mattress downstairs in case we think the danger of sleeping upstairs becomes too real.

He even digs out some ancient, but useable, sleeping bags that are stored in plastic bins in our garage.

Our phones are charged to the max, backup battery packs have sufficient juice, the laundry is caught up for the week, and best of all, I make our favorite oatmeal-raisin cookies, always a source of comfort.

As we creep toward the edge of Fern's arrival in our area, we see a glimmer of hope.  Our neck of the woods is not predicted to get a branch-busting amount of ice!  We take a deep breath and hope this forecast holds true.  And the next morning?  This is all the "damage" I see.

To top it all off, we don't lose our electricity for one moment!  I am beside myself with joy at my first steaming cup of coffee and the hot shower I'm able to take that morning.  And that gives me pause.  Instead of thanking God for the benefits of having running water, reliable power grids, a warm home, and food to eat, how many of us take such privileges for granted?  We shouldn't.  We should intentionally and humbly give thanks to God each and every day for His more than generous blessings.

That being said, I pray for all who have had to face Fern's fury head on, and who still out of power and warmth as bitter cold seeps into our region.  Please feel free to share your experiences and your prayer requests in the comments.  Know that all of you are in my heart, but most importantly, know you are loved by Our Father as His children and His treasure.

And always remember - give thanks!

Amen!

Let the Sonshine In

 

No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl.  Instead, they put in on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. ~Luke 11:33

Light that shines in darkness, Hope that never dies.  Love that conquers all things, Eternal Spirit Rise. ~Cloudia Charters at Comfort Spiral

Our home is surrounded by a forest.  Most of the year, the trees shade us from direct sunlight and our house stays dim inside even on the sunniest of days.  But the incremental transition from the dead of winter to the arrival of the Spring Equinox becomes a showcase for the sun as it runs its course freely shining through the leafless branches.

The front of our house faces east, so those rooms are the first to be illuminated.

The light from our middle room pierces the gloom so fiercely, it casts a sizeable wedge of brightness into our bedroom across the hall.

I'm struck by how the crucifix on the wall becomes its focus, a touching reminder of the One who is the Light of the World.

As the day progresses and the sun travels its course toward the west, how the light gets in changes dramatically.  I'm mesmerized by the designs made on our corner chair and the wall as the light encounters our window blinds.

If I choose to read sitting in that chair at this time of the day, natural light is all I need to see perfectly.  Cozy and inviting, indeed!

The late afternoon, however, tells a different story.  Currently, between four and five, the light coming in through our diamond-shaped window is so extraordinarily bright, I have to cover our printer with a placemat just to keep the glare from hurting my eyes!

There are times when I'll walk down our hallway toward our living area and literally have to shield my eyes with my hand so that I can turn the corner into the kitchen and not get blinded.

Observing this yearly phenomenon gives me pause in so many ways.  I become more attuned to the passing of time, and find myself slowing down to take in each moment gracefully and gratefully.  Seeing so much sunlight, even when the outdoors is about as inviting as an icebox, assures me that warmth will return to the earth once more.

Most importantly, though, I'm reminded of the light of Jesus, the everlasting light He gives us through His Holy Spirit.  We are not to receive that light only to hide it away, but to shine in onto everyone as we reflect the miracle of this great gift we have been given through Him.

And on the cloudy days, when the sun goes into hiding, we can maintain faith that the Sonshine is continually upon us, and we can reflect His light with the strength, confidence and joy we experience in His presence.

Amen!

Light of the World

 

And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.  God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. ~Genesis 1:3-4

I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen; not only because I see it, but by it I see everything else. ~C. S. Lewis

Do you choose a word for the year, or does the word choose you?  I'm an avid believer in the latter.  My first whisper of inspiration comes from this exchange between long-time friend and fellow blogger, Jean Wise, and myself in the comment section of my post Shine the Light.

Jean:  I have been pondering the light this Christmas season.  Light/dark.  God's light even in dark.  Christ's light in our hearts.  Lighting our way.

Me:  That's such a beautiful gem to be focused on in this season of light, Jean.  When I read your words here, I got the first inkling of God's nudge toward my word for 2026 - could it be "light"?  Wow, my friend, I can't thank you enough!  Earlier today when I was wondering how the Lord would let me know what He wants me to choose for my word, I felt a sudden overwhelm of peace as if He was whispering that all will be revealed soon.  Wow, wow and wow!  I could never imagine that the "light" would shine so soon.

Still, this one conversation isn't enough to convince me that "Light" is my word for 2026.  I give it grace (last year's word) to dwell in my heart and mind as a potential candidate for such a prestigious role.  I'm allowing time and space to either confirm this choice point me in another direction.

The start of the new year finds me reading the Bible from beginning to end once more, and embracing a new (to me) devotional book, My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers.  Obviously, the above scripture from Genesis leaps out at me as God both creates the light and declares it "good."  Then, the January 3rd entry of Chambers' devotions contains this statement:  The only possible way to have full understanding of the teachings of Jesus is through the light of the Spirit of God shining inside us.  Further confirmation, to be sure.

But it is on the following Sunday that Pastor Jared's sermon seals the deal.  To paraphrase, he is speaking about how Christ's light empowers us to change, making visible all those things we would rather not see about ourselves.  Jared urges us to not be content to hide in the shadows.  If we allow the light of Jesus to shine on us, in us and through us, He will renew us and inspire us as He pulls us out of the darkness into the dawn of a brand-new day.

I'm thrilled for this affirmation and actively anticipating the myriad was that "Light" will bless me in the coming year.  And with God's help, I pray that I will bless others as we celebrate Jesus, the Light of the World, together.

Amen!

Doing a New Thing

 

Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.  Behold, I am doing a new thing; not it springs forth, do you not perceive it? ~Isaiah 43:18-19

Happy New Year!  Welcome back, faithful friends, to Meditations of My Heart.  My prayer is that we well all grow closer to the Lord as we embark on yet another year together, seeking His truth and leaning on His promises.

Many of you who read my blog also follow the delightful writer and blogger, Victor Moubarak, who posts regularly at Time for Reflections.  Victor pens Christian-themed posts as well as some that showcase his unique, God-threw-the-mold-away sense of humor.  He has also published a plethora of books that I encourage you to check out on Amazon.  On a personal note, my favorite character in his novels is Fr. Ignatius, a loveable Catholic priest who selflessly serves his parishioners living in an economically-challenged town in Northern England.  The dilemmas and predicaments Fr. Ignatius faces in his role as shepherd of his flock are memorable, enlightening and sometimes even downright dangerous.

This year, I'm happy to announce, Victor is doing a new thing!  He has created a forum entitled The Christian Lounge which has just been launched.  The stand-out feature of this blog is that not only are you invited to read and comment upon the entries posted there, but may also submit your own short articles (500 words or less) on what living the Christian life means to you.  As Victor states, you can write about anything on Faith, Trust, Beliefs, Worries, Fears, Sin, Forgiveness, Marriage, Divorce, Heaven Hell . . . the list is endless.

He further notes that you can ask relatives, friends or even your pastor to submit articles, but be sure to include the name of the person so credit can be rightfully given.  All denominations are welcome to join in the sharing of your thoughts about how Christianity has both changed and enhanced your life.

Interested?  Simply email Victor at enquiries@holyvisions.co.uk and make sure to include your email address so he can get in touch with you.  Another perk?  Joining the group costs nothing!  How's that for a good deal?

I would add, too, that since I'm not on social media and many of you are, please take a moment to share this blog with your friends on Facebook, X and Instagram.  And if you do choose to join The Christian Lounge, feel free to promote that website, too.

Victor sincerely hopes that you will Come and join this adventure of spreading God's Word together as a community in order to honor and serve Him.

Amen!