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Sea of Red

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While I was shopping, I stepped into the garden center for some potting soil. To my surprise, before me was a sea of red poinsettias that filled the aisles. Typically you see a few white and pink ones in the mix, but these were all bright red. It was so beautiful that it took me by surprise. Since it is our first year spending Christmas in Florida, I couldn’t resist purchasing a small one for my Christmas tree. Even though we had Christmas with the kids and grandkids before traveling south, I feel like something is missing. I have to admit, having the poinsettia on my table has brightened my spirits. Looking at the poinsettia, there is nothing spectacular about it. It is a small one. The pot is just a plain black plastic pot, there isn’t even foil around it to make it more decorative. I take it to the sink for water when needed, and set it back in a bowl on the table. To me it is beautiful and it reminds me that Jesus is a reason for the season. Like my plain and simple pot, Jesus was ...
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After a week of hot dry weather, our cornfield is showing signs of needing much rain. In the heat of the day, the leaves are curling making it look frail and parched. This is a natural response to the stress the heat is putting on the corn stalks. For this to happen a few days, brings concern but no damage. However, if the heat and drought continue, the corn crop yield will begin to suffer. As I walked to the mailbox today, I snapped a picture of the curled corn. We are much like the curled corn. When the heat of life is turned up, we tend to curl up and draw within ourselves. This too is a natural stress response, a way to protect ourselves from pain and suffering. A few days in the heat and stress is no problem for us either, but if it continues, we too will not produce any crop. So how do we prevent this from happening when God allows the heat to be turned up in our lives? Job is a good example of suffering. God allowed him to feel the “fire” of pain and agony when everything was ta...
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Pride Check

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Our new neighbors are just the sweetest and most helpful friends one could ask for. We are still getting acquainted with one another, but they are both kind and helpful, and their children are so polite. He is a very talented free-hand painter for motorcycles and trucks. His truck is absolutely beautiful, and when I complimented his work, his wife said, “Thank you. I am so proud of him.” Those words echoed in my mind for several days. First of all, I thought it was precious that she adored her husband’s talent. Second, it was a reminder that I need to compliment Jim more than I do. I know the Bible warns us about our pride in verses like, “Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” (Proverbs 11:2) , but pride in your spouse is different from being too proud or self-absorbed to need God or others. Dictionary.com backs this up by showing two definitions of the word. a high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherish...
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Hand in Hand I’m not sure why, but Christmas 2023 was an emotional rollercoaster for me. I had so many memories flooding my mind. Not just Christmases from the past, but little tidbits from my childhood and various family members who impacted my life. Rather than celebrating Christmas, I began to feel weighed down. The feeling was all too familiar because I struggled with grief with the loss of my sister. I had a choice to make, wallow in my memories or rejoice in the blessings of growing up in a wonderful family. I chose to get active and pass along some important tidbits of my heritage to my daughters-in-law, so they could teach their children as they grow. Mom was on my mind and how she could make something out of nothing. I found the old Nestea jar that was hers and added some calla lilies and a ribbon to make a vase of flowers for Kim. Then I wrote a letter to Kim explaining why Mom saved and used a Nestea jar from my childhood era. Mom was a child during the Great Depression Era ...
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Rejoice, Reflect, Celebrate

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  Dictionary.com gives the following definitions... Rejoice - to make joyful; gladden Reflect - to think, ponder, or meditate Celebrate - to make known publicly; proclaim It saddens my heart how commercialized Christmas has become, yet I too am drawn into the hustle and bustle of the season. All of the commercials and hoopla draw us away from the true meaning of Christmas. The Christ child, which is why we should be reflecting, rejoicing, and celebrating. So as you step into the final days before Christmas—just pause. Pause for a minute and take a deep breath. Stop all you are doing and let go of the stress and commercialism. Take a few moments to be joyful. Reflect on Christ and His gift of salvation to you. Rejoice in Christ’s birth. “She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger because there was no lodging available for them. (Luke 2:7) Rejoice with the angel of the Lord who declared, “The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lo...
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Meeting the Neighbors

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  We were blessed to purchase a winter home in a wonderful neighborhood in Florida this year. In the evenings I love to walk, and I try to pick a different street so I can meet the neighbors. We were back in town for just a week or so, and I wanted to exchange emails with a neighbor I had met in March, so I decided to walk to her house. When I rang her doorbell, I felt like I had hit the jackpot. To my surprise, several neighbors were sitting at her table playing dominoes. I love to meet new people and was excited as she introduced me to everyone. They immediately began to tell neighborhood stories and made me feel welcome. Somewhere amid the conversation, I mentioned that I was a Christian author and speaker. Maybe it was poor timing, or they didn’t know what to think of me at that point. One of my new friends seemed embarrassed because she had been married four times. I immediately said, “Who am I to judge? I’m on number two myself.” I pray that when I left that evening, none of ...
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Location: Radnor, OH 43066, USA
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Palm Branches

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  The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted, “Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hail to the King of Israel!” (John 12:12-13) . As members of the church waved their palm branches on Palm Sunday, I wondered, “Why do we do this? What is the significance of palm branches today or when Jesus made His triumphant entrance to Jerusalem?” With a little internet research, I discovered some interesting facts about palm branches. They were used for celebration during King David’s time, so the branches were a symbol of royalty. Another interesting tidbit: It takes 30 years for a palm tree to bear fruit and a man couldn’t become a high priest until he was 30 years old. Jesus was 30 when He began His ministry. Coincidence? No, God ordained it, declaring Jesus as a High Priest. Waving the palms in the air and placing th...
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Location: Radnor, OH 43066, USA
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