Women of Promise

     During this week between Christmas and New Year's Day, I try to set up my planner for the coming new year. Sometimes the planner is an old-fashioned paper calendar and plain old notebook.  Sometimes it is a fancy, shmancy planner with all of the bells and whistles. Increasingly, it is more and more on my phone or tablet as certain apps help keep my spaghetti noodle brain somewhat straight.  I set goals.  I menu plan. I set up cleaning schedules.  I revamp the chore list. I visualize all of the areas that I need to improve. I make lists -- endless lists. 😂 Each year I get excited about all of the great things I will accomplish as I look at the new and improved me that will be if I follow each of these goals out in the coming weeks.       Sometimes some of these goals do actually happen, and I love to look back  at areas of self-improvement.  I have a moment of pride and pat myself on the back.  I may even brag ab...

       One Christmas memory from my childhood is of a particular Christmas cantata my dad sang in.  The title was "Born to Die" and the theme song is burned in my heart and mind to this day. I find myself singing its words many times a year, but especially during the Christmas season. It is a beautiful melody and the words are even more powerful.  As we prepare our hearts this Christmas, I encourage you to take time to think through the reason Jesus came. This wasn't just a vacation from Heaven or a time to check out how the mortals live. This was an intentional and pre-ordained coming of God to earth as a man who was destined to die a crucifixion death. Jesus knew all of this and He knew the anguish and pain that bearing the sins of the world would bring. He knew that He would experience the agony of separation from God as He did this. We know the grave didn't hold Him. Praise God! Jesus defeated death allowing us to live forever with Him! This is the...

      I t is the season of Christmas! What a special time of year as we pause and focus on the birth of our Saviour.  The truly amazing miracle of God becoming man in the form of a baby is worthy a lifetime or more of meditation and praise.  I would love to share just a few random thoughts that have been going through my mind as I prepare my heart for this Christmas season     The gospels tell us all about the life of Jesus as a man. Hebrews tells us why it was important that Jesus, as God, became a man. Hebrews 2:17 tells us:  "He had to be made like His brothers  in every respect so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God to make propitiation for the sins of the people."      In order to be the Savior for humanity, it was necessary that that Savior be a man.  Yet, it was also necessary that he be fully God.  The perfect solution was that God became man.  So Jesus willingly...

     One of my favorite parts of the Christmas season is the music!  Christmas music brings a special element of joy to the season.  There are so many great Christmas songs in almost every style, from whimsical and folksy all the way to classical.  I am always excited for the time when the radio station switches to all Christmas music so that our car rides are serenaded with the sounds of the season.  The familiar melodies are comforting and cheerful, for the most part.  Many of these songs have been ingrained in my mind since infancy and I can't remember a time that I did not know them.  Just like all familiar music, however, I catch myself mouthing and humming along to lyrics that I know like the back of my hand without giving any consideration to what those words mean!  My older kiddos don't always appreciate this overly analytical approach to music that may cause me to nix a song or two from their playlists at times.  However, f...

Does God know our needs?  He absolutely does!        For your Father   knows the things you have need of before you ask Him .   Matthew 6:8b, NKJV In the Lord's Prayer, Jesus guides us to petition our Father for the most basic of human needs:  food.   " Give us this day our daily bread ."   Matthew 6:11.    He knows what we need, but still wants to hear us ask.  By asking we acknowledge that our very existence is dependent on the provision of our Father.  Even if our pantry is overflowing, we know that it is full only because the Lord has provided that blessing.  Even in a state of abundance, the Bible teaches that our attitudes should remain in a state of need. We are instructed to ask for just enough for this day.  Relying on our Father for our basic needs is important for us to recognize that our existence is in His hands.  This leads our hearts to respond in humility, grat...