Do you want to spend more time in your relationship with God but find that your good intentions somehow slip by at the end of the day? If so, you're not alone.  

I promised to set aside time each day but failed to meet that goal. Determined to find a way, I devised a plan: I tracked everything I did each day—and the amount of time spent doing those things—for one week. 

After chores, errands, shopping, and appointments, I concluded the remainder of my time consisted of six things I enjoyed: writing, music, classes, exercise, church, and spending time with family and friends.  (Your list might look quite different, but you get the idea). 

At the end of the week, on a quiet night, I sat at the kitchen table to review my findings. As I suspected, there were gaps in my schedule. That meant I had more time than I realized—time that could be put to good use.

A thought popped into my heart: “How about quiet time with God right now?”  I loved the comfort of my kitchen table, nestled in a corner, where I often enjoyed coffee. Yes, coffee with the King!

Clearing the table, I put down a lace tablecloth and arranged two place settings. A feeling of excitement bubbled inside me. The Lord would not be partaking in the physical consumption of coffee, but He would be with me in spirit. (The coffee was decaf because it was eleven o’clock at night; I didn’t think He would mind!)

His place setting was directly across from me. I poured the coffee, then offered a prayer of thanks.  Then, for the next fifteen minutes, I poured out my heart to my Lord—my King—my Counselor, my Savior. 
 
As I pondered the China place setting across the table with the empty chair, I imagined the Lord sitting there, the brightness of His white linen robe, the warmth of the light shining around Him, the look of love and compassion in His eyes, and the gentleness of His smile.

With no distractions, I attentively focused on my time with Him. It was one of the best “conversations” I’d had with God in a long time.  

That fifteen minutes was paramount to anything else I had done all day. My worries were lessened, my heart lightened, and the cup of coffee tasted pretty good, too.

Our lives are busy. I pray that you, too, find time to spend with God each day—wherever that may be! 
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Photo: N. Johnson  

My Jeep was dusty and dirty, so it was a perfect day to try out the new Auto Spa. The winter sun poked through bright clouds, so I wasn’t worried about inclement weather.
     I turned my Jeep into a narrow lane to enter the high-tech wash. As I approached the entrance, my tires on the driver’s side suddenly dropped downward, but the Jeep continued to lunge forward. I panicked, my knuckles turning white as I put a death grip on the steering wheel and slammed the brakes.
     “Take your foot off the brake!” the dark-haired attendant in the blue uniform yelled, waving his hands.
     “What?!” I felt confused.  
     “Take your foot off the brake!” he hollered.
     I lifted my foot off the brake as chills ran down my neck. I looked up as the technician pointed to the metal track embedded into the concrete. My tires were supposed to drop into the track so the vehicle could be guided through the car wash.
     But that wasn't all. The attendant barked out two more commands: “Take your hands off the steering wheel and put the vehicle into neutral!" 
     Okay, now I get it.
      I let go of the steering wheel and shifted into neutral. I felt petrified when I realized I had absolutely no control over the Jeep. The Auto Spa had taken over. All I could do was sit back and wait. 
     The Jeep inched along into a darkened tunnel. Gargantuan, roaring mop heads descended from a two-story ceiling, circling and pushing against the roof and windows of my Jeep. A thundering deluge of water slapped against the windows as giant roller bristles swiped the exterior sides, back, and front with foamy, white suds.
     I felt trapped, as if I'd been immersed in a torrential rainstorm. Unable to see out the windows, I worried. What if the ceiling leaked? What if the windows and sunroof weren't completely closed?
     I thought about when we used to take our girls to the "simple" carwash when they were young. I'd tell them when the machine was ready to spread the soapy water over the windows, easing their fears.  But if that had been today, at this Auto Spa, they would have been terrified and crying. It even gave this adult mom the shivers.
     I counted the minutes as the Jeep inched along, and finally, the “storm” dissipated. A shower of clean, clear water rinsed the suds and grime away.  As the light of day approached, I sighed with relief, happy to be out of the dark tunnel.
     Although the visit to the Auto Spa wasn’t on my initial plan for the day, I had prayed about God’s guidance. The “storm” at the car wash was God’s way of reminding me to trust him in life’s storms. I needed to put the brakes on my stubborn insistence on controlling things on my own instead of letting God “take the wheel” to guide me.
     The next time I go to the Auto Spa, I’ll be prepared to take my foot off the break and my hands off the wheel. And the next time I go through life’s storms, I’ll let God take care of the controls!  
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"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." - Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

Photo courtesy of Vecteezy.com

“How was your Christmas?” I once asked a friend who had moved away. 

"It was quiet,” she answered softly.

But I knew her use of "quiet" was her way of saying her Christmas was a lonely one.     
 
Many people feel alone during the holidays. They might live far from family and unable to visit. Others long for the way Christmas used to be or miss loved ones who are no longer with them. Some don't see their family due to strained or broken relationships.   

Christmas can be overwhelming, but when we feel this way, there are a couple of questions we can ask ourselves: 1) Are we being realistic about what to expect? (life isn't perfect). 2). Are our perceptions clouded by worldly expectations that sap us of time, energy, or money, leading us away from what is spiritual?    

For just a moment, tuck the present moment away. Imagine what it would have been like for Mary and Joseph to make the difficult journey to Bethlehem. It would have been a slow journey (even with the use of a donkey), and not easy for Mary who was expecting. Arriving in Bethlehem, and likely weary from traveling, they expected to find a place to stay, but the inns were full and had no room for them.  

How disappointed they must have felt! They were also far from  the comfort of their own home. Even though Joseph was said to have relatives in Bethlehem, for whatever reason, there was no place for Mary and Joseph to stay (despite Mary's condition). We may wonder if they felt alone because of this?   

Finally, one innkeeper offered them a stable. Imagine trying to get comfortable in a place where animals resided—a far cry from the comfort of a room at an inn. However, the stable provided shelter—and hay for the manger that would be used as a bed for the baby Jesus.      

That night, which we think of as the “first Christmas,” was likely a quiet one. In the stillness, sans crowds, advertisement or fanfare, the Christ child was born in a stable. The impact of his birth has been exceedingly far-reaching: here we are, over two thousand years following Jesus' birth, celebrating Him this Christmas season!    

May your Christmas be one of celebration for God's Gift of Salvation to you, to me, and the world: 
the gift of Jesus Christ.  

Merry Christmas!

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"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." - Luke 2:11-12.

*If feelings of sadness, loneliness, or depression are prolonged or interfere with your daily living, don't be afraid to seek professional help. 
*If you are in need of prayer, contact me, and I will pray for you.
 
Photo courtesy of Vecteezy.com

It’s that time of year again! You’ve collected your family’s favorite recipes, some handed down from previous generations. You’ve double-checked the shopping list and are sure you have all the necessary ingredients.  

Ah! As the aroma of celery, onion, and other spices simmer on the stove, you close your eyes momentarily and take in the delectable aromas. You look forward to preparing the best meal possible for your family and friends.  

Some guests bring their favorite dishes to share, while others bring hearty appetites, ready to indulge in the meal you have worked so hard to prepare.

But sometimes recipes aren’t perfect, and neither are oven temperatures—or cooks. You’re not sure what happened, but the turkey wasn’t supposed to be dry, and the rolls weren’t supposed to turn dark brown on the bottom. It’s too late to do anything about it now.
  
Families aren’t perfect, either. Uncle Buzz had a few too many beers and yelled at Cousin for changing the channel on the football game.
 
Junior didn’t watch where he was going and spilled a can of red soda all over your new carpeting. During dinner, Aunt Rizzi bad-mouthed the meal for not being gluten-free (but she’d never informed anyone prior to Thanksgiving that she couldn’t have gluten).  

But no matter the kitchen glitches, behaviors of families or guests, ingredients in the recipes, or what dishes are served, one ingredient should stand out as the most important on this holiday: thankfulness.

Family dynamics can cause stress for some people. Times change, and relationships can change. Not one Thanksgiving is exactly like the next. Memories and longings can interfere with accepting present situations and circumstances.

However, despite the uncertainties and imperfections, we can do our best to appreciate what we have (and who we have) in our lives (including forgiveness for certain cooks and the Uncle Buzz’s, Juniors, and Aunt Rizzi’s of the world.
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Thankfulness—it’s one thing we can keep at the top of our shopping list.
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“You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” – 2 Corinthians 9:11
“Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of the lips that acknowledge his name.” – Hebrews 13:15

​Photo courtesy of Vecteezy.com