How To Survive The Barbwire's Of 2020 (coming 1/7)

Barb wire: a type of steel wire fencing constructed with sharp edges or points arranged at intervals along the strands. It is used to protect property, An animal or person trying to pass through or over it will suffer discomfort or injury which is especially true if it is electric.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbed_wire

If you have ever lived on a farm, many of you have probably seen animals kept inside of this type of fencing to prevent them from leaving the area that the farmer did not want them to go. As a teenager, we were allowed to roam on my own grandparents land, but we avoided such areas that would have this type of fence, because we knew the danger of trying to get through or over them. 

Have you ever thought about barbed wire though as something that could be used as a metaphor in your daily life? Something that jabs and pricks into your very soul. Something that hurts and sometimes even damages?

Most of us have experienced these injuries in one way or another, at one time or another. 

So how do we deal with them? How do we survive them? Is there a way to overcome them? Is there a way we can even avoid them?

Starting tomorrow (January 7) we will explore some of the above questions to find out what we can do to possibly have a better year in 2020, according to God's word. I hope you will join

Until then,  Have a Happy and Blessed New Year 2020 from my home to yours!

2020 Resolutions, or Goals?

A new year has started. What does 2020 mean for you? What are your hopes, dreams and goals for this year? Have you made any resolutions? How did you do last year with any resolutions you made? Did you see them through?

 Did  you know that statistics have it that just 25% of those that make resolutions stick to them for a whopping 30 days, and only 8% actually accomplish them.

So then why even resolve to do things we think or know we should do, if we end up in that other 22%? And by the way, is there something that we can do instead that would get us farther down the road then that?

The answer is to turn those resolutions into goals. 

Setting goals in steps that we want to take to reach the things that we want to accomplish, is much more manageable then just making resolutions and then not knowing how to get where we want to go.

For example, one of my goals for this year is to work towards paying off some credit card debt. I have 2 that I will be working on and this is how I plan to accomplish my goal.

Pay the minimum monthly payment on one card. On the other card, pay the minimum amount plus whatever extra I can pay above that. Once I pay that card off, I can then use what I had been paying on the second card each month plus its regular monthly payment to work on getting that card paid off. 

This can work on most any kind of debt you have. Doctor bills, loans etc. It may take some time. It may even take longer then a year. But if we work on it, step by step and stay on the course, it will work. 

Another goal might be to work at getting rid of junk and downsizing your home. 

I had faced this over last summer when we were going to move. We wanted to get rid of the things we had accumulated over the years we have been married. Believe me there was lots of it. And sometimes it was hard to know what we wanted to keep and what we wanted to get rid of. 

But God knew we needed help and he helped us make some decisions on that. We started with one room at a time, deciding on what to give our kids, what to donate to the Goodwill, and what to get rid of. We even set the things we wanted to get rid of down by the street and almost everything was picked up by someone that could use them. We really had very little trash to get rid of.

Setting a time of how much to actually spend on it, and doing one room at a time, makes it a more attainable goal so that you don't become overwhelmed. 

Making clear decisions, setting goals for each day to accomplish and then making sure to follow through, was the answer to a house full of things that needed a place to end up. 

God wants us to be debt and junk free. Sometimes, it is not easy. But if we make clear decisions about what we need to do, it can work. And it can be accomplished easier then just make a resolution that ends up in that 22%

These are just two of the ways you can accomplish the things that you want to do. There are many sites that you can go on to find more. Try Pinterest. It is a great place to start.

Above all, keep God at the top of your list. He will help you get those things done even when you wonder how you will ever get through them. I am proof of it, believe me.

Hi Friends. Have a blessed year ahead!

Forgetting Those Things That Are Behind....

...one thing I do. Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God's heavenly calling in Jesus Christ  Philippians 3:14

The apostle Paul had a real excuse to not want to press on to a higher calling. He had been persecuting the Christian Church. Until that day that he met Jesus, and was converted to Christianity himself. After that, he stopped killing Christians and started preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. But things didn't always become wonderful when he met Jesus. In fact, his life probably got worse. He was beaten, robbed and shipped wrecked from all kinds of people in his travels. 2 Corinthians 11:25

So if anyone had an excuse to get mad at God after they had been saved, it was Paul.

Just because we  become Christians, it does not mean our lives are suddenly going to be wonderful. And yet, sometimes that is what we think. But God does not promise that to us. What does he promise?

In the world, we will have trouble. But he tells us these things so that we will have peace in him, and to take heart because he has already overcome the world. John 16:33.

How was 2018 for you?

Peaceful? Happy? Wonderful?....or was it......

Unsettled? Chaotic? Unhappy?

If it has been a bad year for you, it can get better. Sometimes it depends on our attitudes, Are we grateful to God, giving him thanks for the blessings we do have, like the apostle Paul. Or do we sit around feeling sorry for ourselves, or begrudging the fact that if God really did love us, he would not put us through the troubles we find ourselves in.

The bad things happening in the world or in our own families even does not have to define us as unhappy people, Tomorrow can start us off on a year long search for those things that God wants to teach us. And during the process, we can have the joy of the Lord, which is our strength. (Nehemiah 8:10.) Because in the long run, that is really what he wants to give us. His strength to get through whatever it is that we are going through.

Start off the new year right. Spend time learning the things of God. Teaching them to your families. The eternal lessons of life, are more important then anything that comes in whatever is second in our lives. When we get that into our spirits, we can begin to get that peace that only Jesus can fully give. And God will help us find the answers to those things that may be making us unhappy and depressed. He has the answers that we need. We just have to look to him for them.

Have a Happy and Blest beginning to the New Year, Friends.

How To Have The Peace Of God

Christmas Day is over. The excitement has settled down. The stress of the holiday season is over. At least for the most part since there is still the New Year that people look forward to as well. And until that is over, the kids are home from school.

What ever you are feeling, whether still stressful or relief, Jesus is not just the reason for the Christmas Season. He is the reason for every season. We can find rest in him for our weary bodies. For our weary minds.

If we bother to sit down and take the time to find it.

Remember the quote, "Wise men still seek him." It is for for every day of the year.
55:6 When we meet with Jesus everyday, we can expect to find him and the rest he promises to us. As a start I give you a couple of those promises to think on for this moment.


I said, "Oh that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest." Psalm 55:6

 Come to me all you that 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. My yoke is easy and my burden is light. Mathew 11:28-30.


In peace I will lie down and sleep. For you alone Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8

The Lord replied, "My presence will go with you and I will give you rest." Exodus 33:14

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Isaiah 26:3

I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.  John 16:33



Have you ever wished you could have the wings of a dove, or even a butterfly so that you could just fly away and shake the troubles off them? I think most of the human race has felt that way at some time or another.

Well, we don't have the wings of the doves or butterflies. But we have something so much better. We have (or can have) the promises of God that gives us that peace when we trust in him. But to have that, we must know Jesus first. And then, we must learn from him and spend time with him. That is the secret to shaking the troubles of this world off our minds. And how much better is that?

If you don't know Jesus, you can today. You can right now. Just pray this following prayer. It doesn't matter where you are, or what you are doing. God will hear you, if you sincerely want Jesus in your life today.

God loves you and may his blessing be in your life today and always! Until next time...

A Different Kind of Birthday Party

Happy Birthday Jesus!

While we know that December 25th was probably not the real birthday for our Lord, Jesus Christ-we can agree that his birth was unlike any other that was, before or after. He was conceived in the womb of a human woman, by none other then the Holy Spirit. His father Joseph was what we would call today, his step father. They were good people that kept the law and yet, they were people that loved God. Had he been any other kind of man, he would have undoubtedly put Mary to death. Which he could have done, as that was what a man could do if he found out his intended was with another man. 

They could not find a place for her to have the baby, and so Jesus was actually born in a barn. A barn with probably only straw for bedding, and a animals trough for a bed.There were no balloons, streamers, or cake for his birth. Most of those in attendance were the animals whose home he was sleeping in. 

Imagine that. The long awaited King of the Jewish people was born in a barn full of smelly animals. 

The pictures we see, the Christmas Cards we send,  and the living nativity displays shows us not much of what really went on that night. Yes, there is Mary and Joseph, baby Jesus in a manger, and animals standing around looking on. But they don't really tell us that he came to earth and did not  allow himself the grandeur  of what an earthly king really was. And then to grow up to do what he did for the world. Really. What kind of king would do that?

But he did it. He did it all. For you and me. For the world. And even for those that refuse him or just plain don't believe in him. He did it for them too. 

Today as we celebrate Christmas with our dinners, gifts and families, let us remember that had this event not happened, we would not be celebrating it at all. Jesus was born long ago, and he died a violent and cruel death so that all these years later, it could still have an effect on those of us that believe in him and ask him into our lives. 

May your day be blessed as you spend it with your families and friends.

A Christmas Appeal

As some of you know/remember, we have relocated from our home state, to one that we have only been to for times of vacation when we visit our kids and their families that live here. It has been part out of necessity because we are getting older, but also part of a desire to be around our family. It will be the first Christmas that we will have been able to spend the holidays with them, in quite a few years. Our daughter and son both met their spouses here and ended up marrying them and beginning their lives here.

I was up early, as I usually am everyday of the year. And I was putting the finishing touches on the gifts of two grandchildren. (I have 4 here, and actually have 9 total) All of my grandchildren are special to me. However, these two particular ones came to us from a different family in which they eventually ended up in foster care. My son and his wife not being able to have their own, adopted them a year ago. For about a year or so, they have began to see what having real holiday celebrations are like. 

And I am glad that this year, I am able to be a part and share in it with them as well as my daughter and her family too. 

And yet, when I was working on their gifts this morning, my thoughts went to the three grandchildren that I left behind when we moved. If I was still there living there, I would  be doing this kind of thing for them. And I have to say, , it made the tears flow. 

Why? Because, their dad is not speaking to my husband and myself. In fact, he has not spoken to us for at least two years. He (their dad) has cut us off from most of our contact with the boys. And it has been very hard for me because I love them so deeply that is has almost been like a death of someone I love so much that I grieve for them often. I am allowed email contact from them and a occasional video chat. And I can send gifts.

My appeal to any of you that are separated from any of your loved ones is to please forgive them and try to restore your relationships for those that have hurt you, or that you have hurt. 

We all make mistakes. I have made many. More then I have even realized. I guess we hurt people sometimes without even knowing it. And we should be able to say we are sorry if we have.

Jesus was born to save us from our sin. But he also came to set the captives free. When we allow ourselves to be bound up by forgiveness and hate, we are not free. We are allowing ourselves to be held hostage or to hold hostage those people that we have those we have hurt or been hurt by. 

I know. It is not easy. Especially when the other party does not want to have anything to do with us. We can only do so much ourselves. But even when we do what we can do, that can unlock much of the burden that we do have. And in the mean time, we can pray for God to restore our relationships in his time and in his way.  And trust him that he knows best. There may be something that we are to learn from what we have been through. Or for the other  person too. We don't have the big picture, as God does.

My greatest gift I could receive this year, would be a call from my son and his family wishing me a Merry Christmas even if there are no "I am sorry" from my son. Just hearing his voice again would be the ultimate gift and is something that I long for. The tears would flow, but they would be happy ones.

Please. Please. If there is someone in your life that you have not spoken to for whatever reason, please give them a call this Christmas Day. They may be sitting on the other end of their phone, waiting for you. Believe me. I know.

And remember, Christ forgave us first. Do we have the right to withhold it from others?  And yet sadly, sometimes we do.

Tips for a stress free Christmas:

If you have children or just have a big crowd coming over tomorrow, get to bed early. You will probably need it. I hear ya out there, duh. lol)

May God continue to bless you today and always!

Wise Men Still Seek Him

Their names were Gaspar/Caspar, Melchior and Baltthasar/Balthazar. It is assumed that there were three because of the three gifts that they took to give the baby Jesus.  Gold, incense and myrrh  Mathew 2:11. (An interesting combination of gifts, they were to give to this child. I heard a message from a pastor on a tv program just yesterday, about why these gifts might have been given. Maybe I can try to find more about it and share it with you later this month.)  Anyway,  it has been believed that there were only three kings that visited Jesus and his parents, but the Bible really does not say one way or another.

It is also been said, that the three wise men had visited Jesus in the barn the night of his birth.  However, Mathew 2:11 also says that when they visited him, it was not in a barn, but a house that they went into and there they fell down and worshiped him and opened their treasures and offered them to him.

They had come hundreds of miles from the east to find him. Probably from Persia or modern day Iran. (interesting huh, with all that goes on in that country yet today). They were directed by what they called "his star"  (Mathew 2:2), the "Star of Bethlehem."


Herod had told them that when they found the child, they were to tell him where he was, so that he could worship him too. However, Herod did not want to worship Jesus. He believed that Jesus meant to overthrow Herod's own government and he could not let that happen. And so, his evil plan was to kill the Christ child  but God had other plans. He warned them not to go back to Herod, and so they left Judea and went another route.

Herod's plan had been  thwarted by the Almighty whose plans were not to be interrupted by the likes of an evil king or even the devil himself. The baby Jesus would grow up to accomplish what his Father sent him to do. He died on the cross for your sins and mine, and rose from the grave that was meant to hold him. But praise our God, it couldn't and because the wise men-however many there were-obeyed God and disobeyed Herod, the baby Jesus grew up to become a Savior to you and me.

We don't have to be wise. We don't have to be kings. We don't have to be rich, famous or special. All we have to do is seek him, and that makes us wise as those men that traveled hundreds of miles to worship God's Son.


Tips for a stress free Christmas

Enlist the help of your family and don't try to "do it all'  yourself. Make things fun. For Thanksgiving this year, my 12 year old granddaughter helped by making each one a name sign and put them where each person would sit. I made sure she knew I had noticed as well and told her how pretty they were. She was happy that I took the time to recognize her work.

Hello Friends. Well, Christmas morning will soon be here. I pray that you are getting to that time as stress free as possible. God bless!