The Light has come!
     How we love the light! This time of year, we look in awe at beautifully lit displays of Christmas lights that brighten our homes, neighborhoods, and communities. Even a single candle brings light to the darkness.
     Scripture shows Jesus as the Light who has come—for us. In a verse from John 8:12, Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
     Other verses showing the Lord as our light and salvation are found in 1 John 1:5, John 12:36, John 8:12, John 1:4-9, Ephesians 5:8, and Matthew 5:14. And that’s just the beginning of what God’s Word has to say about Jesus—the Light who has come to save us from spiritual darkness. 
     May peace be with you, my friend, and may your heart be filled with the Light and Love of Jesus in this season—and each day thereafter.  
     Merry Christmas! 
  

It was nearly midnight. I was tired and ready to call it a day. Padding across the bedroom carpet barefoot and carrying a water bottle, my foot suddenly landed on a cold, wet spot in the carpet. I didn't think much about it. I must have spilled water.    
     But the next morning, the wet spot in the carpet was still there—squishy, soaking wet—and spreading.      
     I called out to my husband. "We have a problem!"  
     A leak detection company investigated. A faulty pipe inside the bathroom wall caused water to leak into the drywall, beneath floor tiles, and into the carpet. Water traveled to places it never belonged.     
     An unexpected event can turn a typical day into one of chaos. We may grumble and wonder why we can't just have a calm, peaceful day. But just as water can flow into the wrong places, sometimes we look to the wrong places for reprieve. Companies advertise wellness cures—for a cost.          
     To find what our soul yearns for, we don't have to search far. God's Word provides answers. The 23rd Psalm is a beautiful example of balm for the soul. Favorite verses from this Psalm paint serene images: be led to the "still waters" or green pastures. And the comforting reminder that Jesus is the tender Shepherd of the soul.   
     Unexpected life events can be upsetting or traumatic. No one likes change, or the feeling that life is out of control. Yet it is when we travel through the valleys that we often glean life lessons.   
     The "water intrusion" experience has been inconvenient, but hasn't been a major disaster, unlike some who have experienced extreme flooding of their homes or properties.  However, the experience has been a reminder for my husband and me to not take anything for granted—especially our household plumbing. It has also been a lesson in living with less "stuff," as much of our furniture, clothing, and other belongings are being stored in our garage. Fortunately, these changes will only be temporary.   
     For the times in my life and yours when the “waters are not still,” may we turn to the One who is our Help, our Saving Grace, our Consolation, our Salvation: Jesus Christ. In Him, we find true peace—and the “peace that passes all understanding.”
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"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:7
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Photo courtesy of vecteezy.com
 
 
 

     The gardener chooses the pumpkin variety they want to plant, then prepares the soil. By forming mounds to plant the seeds, the roots are forced to search deeply for water, providing strength for the growing plant. 
     Proper irrigation ensures the right amount of water reaches the pumpkin patch, and a keen eye is needed to watch for pests such as the Squash Bug, which can stress the plant and compromise its health. Routine weeding prevents the plant from being robbed of water and nutrients.
     Patience is needed, as it takes 3 ½ to 4 months for pumpkins to grow and ripen. If a freeze is imminent, the crop must be picked right away.
      The gardener makes the preparations, but God provides the ingredients: the seeds, the water, the soil, and the sunlight. He also orchestrates photosynthesis to create the miracle of sprouting and growth. Then the special person who takes an interest in gardening becomes a custodian—or caretaker—of the garden.
      The pumpkin—a symbol of autumn—represents a bountiful harvest and a time when friends and families gather for Fall celebrations and Thanksgiving. The pumpkin often serves dual roles: as an item on a menu or as décor.
      From seed to full fruit, the pumpkin’s tale is just one of many stories of one of God’s miracles of nature.
      As a gardener—or consumer of the pumpkin, you are a recipient of God’s bountiful harvest. Along with family or friends, you are part of an immense blessing—the gathering of God’s people, coming together to celebrate and give thanks!

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” –
1 Chronicles 16:34

​Photo courtesy of Vecteezy.com/Ikrom Ma-Ela
From my blog post of 10/28/20 - N. Johnson 

[Following is a reprint of a blog I posted in 2023. You might think of other words that could be added to this list. Feel free to leave comments! God's Blessings - Nancy Johnson]
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"Jesus: Who You Are to Me"   
An Alphabetical List
 
A Absolute, Able, (The) Answer, Almighty, Abundant, Accepting, Anointed,  Alpha & Omega, Advocate, Alive, Apostle, Atonement, Advent, Agape, Author of Salvation, All-Knowing, Ancient of Days, Agnus Dei, Authority, Awesome, Ascended into Heaven on the third day.
           
B  Bridegroom, Beautiful, Believing, Beheld, Beloved, Bold, Bread of Life, Branch, Blessed, Bearer, Brother, Brethren, Banner, Balm, Bearer of sin, Born of a virgin, Benevolent, Bountiful           
 
C Christ, Counselor, Cross-bearer, Comforter, Courteous, Consoling, Courageous, Caring, Caretaker, Communicator, Crucified, Confidant, Carpenter, Cleansing, Compassionate, Confiding, Considerate, Changeless, Crown of Glory, Chosen      
 
D Desire of all Nations, Destiny, Defender, Dayspring, Died for us, Deliverer, Door of the Sheep, Dwelling place, Divine, Discipleship 
 
E  Engaging, Eternal, Everlasting, Eminent, Extraordinary, Esteemed, Evangelist, Elect, Excellent
 
F    Fearless, Favored, Faithful, Forgiving, Foretold, Future, Friend, Freeing,
Fountain of living waters, Fortress, First and last, Foundation
 
G God’s Son, Glad, Glorious, Glorified, Good, Good Shepherd, Great, Generous, Gracious, Genuine, Governor, Gift, Guide, Guardian, Gatekeeper 
 
H Humble, Healer, Helper, Humane, Humanitarian, High priest, Holy, Honorable, Honored, Horn of salvation, Heir of all things, Hallowed, Hiding place, Heavenly host, High tower.  
 
I Immanuel, Ideal, Instructor, Infallible, Inspiring, Insightful, Immaculate, Innocent, Intercessor, Immortal, Incarnate
 
J  Jesus, Jehovah Girah, Joy, Jubilation, Judge
 
K  King of Kings, Kingdom, Kindred, Kindness, King of the Jews, Keeper  
 
L Lamb of God, Lord of all, Light, Love, Loving, Life-giving, Living, Living water, Listener, Lion of the tribe of Judah            
 
M Magnificent, Messenger, Master, Mediator, Messiah, Morning star, Majesty, Man of sorrows
 
N  Near, Nazarene
 
O  Overcomer, Omnipotent, Omnipresent
 
P Pacifist, Patient, Present, Persevering, Perceiver, Prince of peace, Powerful, (Our) Promise, Pure, Peaceful, Paschal Lamb, Preacher, Physician, Prophet, Provider, Passionate, Powerful, Perfect, Praised
                
Q Qualified, Quick to understand 
 
R Radiant, Radical, Rabbi, Redeeming, Righteous, Revelation, Rock, Relentless, Resilient, Real, Resurrected, Revelator, Root of David, Ransom for many, Refiner, Refuge, Reward, Revered, Rose from the dead.  
 
S  Strong, Sweet, Savior, Salvation, Sacrificed, Slain, Son of Man, Son of God, Spirit, Sinless, See-er, Sword-bearer, Shepherd, Sharing, Sought, Sanctified, Sincere, Spotless, Shield, Shelter, Song, Strong tower, Steadfast, Sun of Righteousness, Servant
 
T (Of the) Trinity, Truth, Teacher, Trusting, True vine, True light, Treasure, Triumphant, Transfigured  
 
U  Upright, Unequaled, Unparalleled
 
V Valiant, Victorious, Valued, Virtuous, Virgin birth, Very present help in trouble, (The) Vine    
 
W Worthy, Wonderful, Welcoming, Warrior, Witness, Word, (The) Way, Well of living water, Wise
 
X  Of the Cross
 
Y  Yielding, Yahweh
 
Z  Zealous
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Blog post from 2/7/23 - Nancy P. Johnson  
Photo courtesy of Puwadon Sang-ngern, Vecteezy.com