Inspirations

       Thinking back upon this year, it has been a year of ups and downs.  Most years are that way.  There were tears shed, and many laughs. While I couldn’t have predicted some of the things that happened this year, none of us can.  One thing I do know is that God was good and faithful, he always is.  As we look forward to the beginning of a new year, we can face it with confidence, joy, and peace because we know that whatever happens this year God is already there, and nothing that will happen this year can surprise him.   We can be sure that the year will bring both blessings and trials.  In fact, we can be sure that the year will bring both.  So, as we waltz into the new year, lets let God lead.   He knows the year ahead and the curves it will take, and he loves us more than anyone else.   We can trust him with each new year and each new day.

We wait in  hope  for the  Lord ;  Psalm 33:20 Christmas is always an exciting, joyous time.  I love Christmas! Yet at the same time, I know that, at times,  it can also be stressful and sometimes depressing.  Sometimes, in the craziness, we need to regain our hope. Hope is certainty mixed with anticipation.  The Jewish people at the time of Jesus' birth were anxiously awaiting the messiah.  They were hoping he would come, yet when the angels heralded his arrival, only the shepherds came to worship.  The rest?  They saw the star and maybe even saw the angels.  However, I suppose they were too busy to bother with a star shining brightly in the sky, the angels in all their glory, and a tiny baby in a manger.  They were busy with work and the cares of this life pressed in around them.  The could not concern themselves with an insignificant baby.  For them, that day was like any other.  They were looki...

When I first bought our house twenty plus years ago,  we had a relatively large back yard.  Now, however, the yard is much smaller.  Why?  Did I plant trees?  No.  Did I add a pool or pond?  Nope.  I didn’t even make a pretty Garden.  So, what did happen?  Well, about thirteen years ago, I took a job in a local store.  I worked much of the time,  and so mowing the lawn became everyone’s job.  The problem is that when other’s mow, they don’t like to mow the corners.  It was a small thing, and at the time, it wasn’t worth the fight, so I let it go.   As I was looking at our yard,  I realized that all those years  of not mowing the corners had taken its toll.   What I’m understanding is that it is incredibly easy to give up the edges,  but it’s super hard to take back the corners....