Category Archives: Reflection

New Year’s Resolutions for 2013

Christmas 2014: The Birthday of a King

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ISAIAH 9:6 (NIV): “For to us a child is born, to us a child is given, and the government shall be on His shoulders. And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

For the past couple of years instead of exclusively shopping in the stores for Christmas gifts, I have been purchasing almost everything on line. I find it less stressful for me, and I usually find what I want more quickly on line instead of in the department stores. However, there are certain things that I do miss about the “only” store-shopping experience:

The shopping (and of course the waiting in line)….
The Lights….
The Stockings….
The Sights….
And Sounds (Music) of Christmas…

The department stores are filled with all of the above. However, for those of you who enjoy these things, I don’t want to lessen that experience for you. Actually, I went to Walmart the other day to pick up a shipment and had to wait quite a while in line to pick up the two items I ordered on line. I also enjoy getting together with friends for lunch and listening to the beautiful Christmas music coming over the speakers and looking at the beautiful decorations. During the Christmas season, Isaiah 9:6 reminds us of Christ’s coming as a little babe and that He would be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” and so much more. As we remember His birth, let us also rejoice that He died, rose again, and is coming back for each of us.

My heart is saddened by those who would try to take “Christ” out of Christmas because without Christ there would be no Christmas. May He fill your hearts and lives with His wondrous love this Christmas season as you celebrate the “birthday of a King” with family and friends.

Blessings,
Yvonne

Reading for December: “Becoming A Woman of Grace” by Cynthia Heald.

The Attitude of the Beatitudes: Living a Life That’s Full

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Matthew: 5:3-12: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.’

In 1975, I read a book entitled, “A New Joy” by Colleen Townsend Evans, an up-and-coming movie actress at the time who turned author and pastor’s wife. I was immediately drawn to her perspective and definitions as she explained each of the Beatitudes in her own words, and the book left an impression on my life for years to come.

From time to time I re-visit the chapters she outlined in which she defined the meaning of the humble woman, the sorrowing woman, the gentle woman, the fulfilled woman, the generous woman, the sincere woman, the peacemaking woman, the suffering woman, and the salty Christians. Humility, sorrow, gentleness, fulfillment, generosity, sincerity, and peace took on a new meaning in my own life; and as I studied the Beatitudes in more detail, I also became more aware of my own shortcomings in a number of these areas.

However, each day the Lord gently reminds me how I have grown and changed since I accepted Him into my life at the age of 15 and that it is only through His grace that I am saved.

The Lord has truly blessed me and my family throughout the years and recently blessed us with our first grandson who is five weeks old.

His love and mercy endures forever and His love never fails us.

As we celebrate the Christmas season, let us rejoice at the miraculous birth of His Son, our Savior and King. Jesus definitely is the “reason for the season” and He lives within each and every one of us. May He help us to “live the life to which He has called us.”

Blessings and Merry Christmas,
Yvonne

Let Freedom Ring: July 4 (1776), 2014

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This week as we celebrate our freedom as a people and one nation under God, let us remember the words that have been passed down from history as a reminder of our inalienable rights and the pursuit of happiness in this great nation of ours.

Inalienable Rights: “We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Thomas Jefferson, The Declaration of Independence.

History: “Fellow citizens, we cannot escape history.” Abraham Lincoln

Liberty: “A day, an hour, of virtuous liberty Is worth a whole eternity in bondage.” Joseph Addison, from Cato, Act II, Scene 1

Hope To All: “Without the Constitution and the Union, we could not have attained the result; but even these are not the primary cause of our great prosperity. There is something back of these, entwining itself more closely about the human heart. That something is the principle of ‘Liberty to all,’ the principle that clears the path for all–gives hope to all–and, by consequence, enterprise and industry to all.” Abraham Lincoln

One Nation: “One flag, one land, one heart, one hand, One nation evermore!” Oliver Wendell Holmes, from “Voyage of the Good Ship Union”

United: “A song for our banner! The watchword recall, Which gave the Republic her station: ‘United we stand, divided we fall!’ It makes and preserves us a nation!” George Pope Morris, from “The Flag of Our Union

Think Anew: The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew, and act anew. We must disenthrall ourselves, and then we shall save our country.” Abraham Lincoln

Diversity: “If we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity.” John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Courage: “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself–nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror.” Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Determination: “America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination, and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand.” Harry Truman

Principle: “Americanism is a question of principle, of purpose, of idealism, of character; it is not a matter of birthplace or creed or line of descent.” Theodore Roosevelt

Vigilant, Active, Brave: “We are not weak, if we make proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power…The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, and brave.” Patrick Henry

Duty Bound: “The strength of the Constitution lies entirely in the determination of each citizen to defend it. Only if every single citizen feels duty bound to do his share in this defense are the constitutional rights secure.” Albert Einstein

“Let There Be Peace On Earth”, written by Sy Miller and Jill Jackson, serves as a constant reminder to us all that “peace on earth” should begin within the hearts of each one of us.

“Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me. Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be. With God as our Father, brother all are we, Let me walk with my brother in perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now. With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow: To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally. Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.”

May God be our guide as we live in peace and harmony with our brothers and sisters and God Bless America!

Blessings,
Yvonne

One Day At A Time: Do Not Worry

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A few weeks ago during one of our many snow storms for this winter, there were only a few people in attendance at our church that particular morning, so my husband suggested that we all go to breakfast at a local restaurant. While there, the topic of living one day at a time came up. When we live one day at a time, we are living in the present moment. We can not undo what happened in our lives yesterday and we can not control or worry about tomorrow–we can only live one day at a time.

Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV) says: “Therefore I tell you: do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body; what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all its splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith. So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

There is a beautiful song that has been recorded by such artists as Merle Haggard and Cristy Lane, which depicts a prayer to the Lord to help us to take one day at a time:

ONE DAY AT A TIME, SWEET JESUS

VS.1: I’m only human, I’m just a woman/man
Help me believe in what I could be and all that I am.
Show me the stairway I have to climb
Lord, for my sake, teach me to take one day at a time.

CHORUS: One day at a time, sweet Jesus
That’s all I’m asking from you.
Just give me the strength to do every day what I have to do.

Yesterday’s gone, sweet Jesus
And tomorrow may never be mine
Lord, help me today, show me the way one day at a time.

VS.2: Do you remember when You walked among men
Well Jesus You know if you’re looking below, it’s worse now than then.
Cheating and stealing, violence and crime
So for my sake, teach me to take one day at a time.

This song is a reminder that we need to pray and ask God to help us live in the present–one day at a time. May the Lord bless you as you seek Him daily for His direction in your life and help all of us to stop worrying and begin trusting Him for all things.

Blessings on you,
Yvonne

A Prayer For Valentine’s Day

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This Friday many individuals will celebrate Valentine’s Day with a special, gift-giving remembrance(s), such as a dinner and movie, flowers, candy, a coupon book filled with “love notes and promises”, special books, and so forth. When I think about Valentine’s Day, I immediately think of my spouse and wonder what I can buy him that would honor him on this special day, and/or wonder what he, in turn, will buy me. It seems that this is such a big part of our culture, but what if I don’t receive any gift except “I love you” from that special loved one? Would that be enough? Of course! That, in itself, is a “special” gift.

The Word of God is filled with many scriptures regarding love. Let us examine two wonderful passages that not only talk about God’s love, but which also gives us guidelines about how we should treat one another.

I Corinthians 13:1-8; 15 (NIV):

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

“Ephesians 3:14-23 (NIV):

“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, and I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge–that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

This, indeed, is what love is all about–even on Valentine’s Day.

Give someone a hug and tell them that you love them for this is truly a special gift given to each and every one of us from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Blessings on you,
Yvonne