From a young age, I idolized the concept of love. I wanted to be the princess being swept off her feet by Prince Charming. He would rescue me from the evil villain and carry me off to his castle to live happily ever after. The reality of my life is much different. 

As I write about in my testimonial blog, Flawless, I was always the outcast growing up – the nerdy, unattractive girl picked last, overlooked, and made fun of by everyone. I dreamed of being loved unconditionally, but instead, married men who demoralized, demeaned, and defeated my belief in the emotion. 

“There are no such things as fairy tales,” my first husband told me as I begged for scraps of affection from him. I made a fool out of myself, hoping he’d grow to love me. As I learned all too well, you can’t change someone who doesn’t have the desire to do so. I grew to fear his violent anger and soon learned to keep my mouth shut.

My second husband linked affection to materialism. Love, in his world, was dispensed through the conditional distribution of objects like food, clothing, and shelter – only given if my performance was up to par. In other words, as long as I kept a spotless house, disavowed friends and family, and worshipped at the feet of his domination, I would be “rewarded” with tokens of goodwill. If I didn’t, food would be removed and I would be locked out of the house.

Neither of these lifestyles exemplified the emotion I searched for. 

In contrast, the Bible uses the term agape to define the type of love we are to demonstrate for one another. GotQuestions.org defines agape in this way: 

“The essence of agape love is goodwill, benevolence, and willful delight in the object of love. Unlike our English word love, agape is not used in the New Testament to refer to romantic sexual love. Nor does it refer to close friendship or brotherly love, for which the Greek word philia is used. Agape love involves faithfulness, commitment, and an act of the will. It is distinguished from the other types of love by its lofty moral nature and strong character. Agape love is beautifully described in 1 Corinthians 13.”

As Christians, we are told to love one another – in fact, the word love is used 551 times in the New International Version of the Bible. A few examples of this usage are listed below: 

• “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13: 34-35)
• “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8)
• “…serve one another humbly in love.” (Galatians 5:13)
• “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)
• “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” (Romans 12:10)
• “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4: 7-10)

In all of the above verses and throughout the Bible, one common theme stands apart – God tells us to demonstrate love just as He did for us. We are never promised that anyone other than our Creator will love us in return.

As counterintuitive as it seems, receiving love should never be our motivation for dispensing the same. We are only told to give agape love to one another. 1 John 4:11 encapsulates this concept by telling us, “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”

God demonstrated His unconditional love for us by providing His Son to be the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Whether we deserve, acknowledge, or appreciate it, Christ took our sins upon Himself so that we could spend all eternity in heaven with Him.

When the Pharisees asked Christ to define the greatest commandment, He didn’t hesitate: “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12: 29-31)

Our directive is simple: we are to love one another unconditionally. No matter how the world treats us, no matter how cruel or neglectful our circumstances are, no matter if or when we are ever to be loved in return, we are to love each other. That’s not always the easiest thing to do. In fact, it may be the most formidable command we are ever asked to follow. 

As Christians, we should exemplify Christ’s love in everything we do. Agape love should emanate from our pores as we enter the workplace. It should fill our speech as we talk to one another. It should be evident in our actions as we move throughout our days. And it should astound others when they treat us poorly. If anyone is ever asked to define us, their most significant descriptor should be that we embody love. 

On Valentine’s Day and beyond, our life’s ambition should be to purposely, adamantly, affectionately love one another. In a world filled with anger, mistrust, and betrayal, we will only make a difference by manifesting Christ’s love. “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.” (1 John 4:11) Go, and do likewise.

Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. (Isaiah 1:18)

After days of rain, the skies cleared this afternoon, allowing the sun to shine down on my screen porch windows, highlighting their blemishes. Over the past few months, pollen and dirt blew through the screens, causing spots to form on the windows as the rains dried. When the days are cloudy, the marks are barely visible, but when the sun is shining, the murkiness is clearly evident. 

Our lives are often like these dirty window panes. We don’t always see the distortion, and seldom take the time to self-analyze and improve ourselves. It’s only when the Son shines through that we can more readily observe the ugliness that maligns our view and better recognize our need for our Savior’s cleansing touch.  

Recently, a dear friend of mine has been dealing with an oppressive work environment that has left her exhausted, defeated, and physically sick, at times. After months of encouraging her to seek employment elsewhere, she finally agreed, and together, we worked on updating her resume and cover letter. While she knew her situation was bad, it may have been easier to ignore the damage it was causing than to work to correct it.

Change is hard, no matter how desperately it’s needed. We will frequently do almost anything to avoid disrupting our sense of normalcy, no matter how abnormal and unhealthy such standards may have become.

Whether it’s bad habits, recurring sin, or even fear of change that holds us down, we must remember that our Savior longs to bless us and make us clean again. The devil will use every weapon in his arsenal to distort our view and prevent us from living the fulfilled existence that God longs to provide.

Too often, we allow ourselves to settle for the way of least resistance as we hold onto the muck that accumulates in our lives. Doing so keeps us from following the path our Savior wants us to travel with Him. 

I’ve often rationalized bad situations by believing that God chose them for me. The truth is, I paid the consequences of poor decisions by seeking my way rather than my Creator’s. How often do we listen to the voices in our heads rather than seeking guidance from above? Much too frequently, our choices make for a troubled journey rather than a smooth trip.

Life can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to be. By consistently seeking God’s plan and purpose, we can find His peace and clarity in even the most trying of circumstances.

The apostle Peter took a step of faith when he walked out of his fishing boat and onto the rough seas. As long as he kept his eyes on his Savior, he was able to walk on the water. It was only when he looked down at the waves and became fearful that he started to sink. 

It’s easy for us to look at that story and criticize Peter for his anxiety, but we, too, have a tendency to take our eyes off our Savior. We frequently let our fears restrain us from seeking our potential in Christ. Imagine how much more we could achieve if we would only trust His sustaining power to move us forward and into His plans. 

The apostle Paul reminds us, “For the spirit of God does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7) Oh, that we all could be empowered with God’s strength in such a way.

We don’t have to keep looking through dirty windows at a dismal future ahead. With Christ’s atoning blood, we have already been washed clean. It’s our own distorted vision that holds us back. Through God’s grace, we are fully equipped to move forward into a brighter tomorrow.

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. (Isaiah 26:3)

Over the past week, a dear friend and I both faced big decisions regarding our futures. Whereas she had to determine whether to return to her former workplace or choose another, I needed to decide if I should remain where I am or move on. The choices we reached would alter our lives in dramatic ways and were not easy determinations. 

“Pray about it,” I advised her. “And I will join you by praying that God will give you the wisdom you need to make the right decision.”

Even as I prayed for her, I did the same for myself – asking God to guide my steps and show me what to do, as well.

The paths that led each of us to these turning points were craggy and challenging, filled with deep despair and unprecedented uncertainty. In my friend’s case, she had been released from her job ten months ago, during a workforce reduction. After nearly a year without the validation of employment, her self-esteem and security were understandably shaken. 

When her prior position became available, she reapplied for the role. Ironically, she had recently interviewed for a similar position, and both managers wanted to hire her. In the expanse of a heartbeat, she went from not having a job to having to decide which job she should take. 

“When God rains down blessings,” I told her, “He raises you up on the flood-waters. Let all of this serve as a reminder of how valuable you are and that God is in control!” 

For myself, my prayer has always been for God to make His will abundantly clear to me. While following the path I believed He was leading me upon, another option availed itself that made me question if I was doing the right thing.

 I need your wisdom, Lord, I prayed. I need to know that this is what I should do. Grant me your peace as I trust in You. 

After uttering that prayer, I made my mind up to move forward in my decision and not question it. God had provided reassurance to me at each phase in my journey. I felt His presence beside me and knew that He heard my petitions. I believed the devil was taking my eyes off of Christ’s victory in keeping me double-minded and doubtful. 

Determined not to let that happen, I surrendered to God’s direction and thanked Him for guiding me. 

In acknowledging God’s provision and grace, my spirit was elevated to a position of peace that I had not felt in months. Likewise too, I witnessed my friend’s joy return once she reached her decision, with God’s help. Whereas before we were doubtful, our faith in Christ gave us confidence. 

And why not? Peace can only come with full, wholehearted surrender. Each of us has the power to trust in God, yet too often, we rely on our own strength. How many sleepless nights must we endure before we believe in and obey Him fully? 

Charles Stanley captured this same sentiment when he preached the following about trust: “In God’s almighty, omnipotent hands, He has reached out to you and me and He has given to us every single promise in this Book, and He says they are magnificent promises. That is, every single promise is a mega-dose of God’s grace. Any of you deserve any of it? Not a one. Has anyone ever seen a promise of God that came up short? No. Have any of us ever seen a situation or a problem, heartache, or burden where God was not more than sufficient? No. Has God’s remedy ever come up short? Never.”

Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us that our Creator knows our future and has a purpose for each of us. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

My faith rests in Christ. When the world says I should doubt, God says to trust. When life beats me down, God will always lift me up.

I won’t feel uncertainty if I trust my Creator. God’s grace and provision will always be sufficient for me, and I will forever trust His plans for my life. 

I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night, my heart instructs me. (Psalm 16:7)

I’m a careful decision-maker – especially when it comes to personal matters. I weigh the pros and cons of major decisions long before I have to make them – often seeking others’ advice and praying heartily for wisdom. Ultimately, it is God’s guidance I pursue the most. I’ve made too many bad decisions on my own not to have learned to pray for divine discernment. 

James 1:5 tells us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” 

And so I pray. Give me your wisdom, Lord Jesus. Show me what I should do. 

Over the last six months, my soul has been troubled. As a joyful person, feeling uncertainty in the future has plagued my confidence and disturbed my happiness.

2020 was a challenging year. The economic uncertainty of COVID caused many businesses to layoff workers or close their doors for good. I know full well how blessed I am to still have a job but is it best to have faith that my position remains secure or pursue alternate options in anticipation of another downturn?

And so the prayers began. 

I need your wisdom, Lord, I prayed. Show me what I should do. Lead me where You want me to go. 

Any number of scenarios played out in my mind while I contemplated my next steps. I could stay, stagnate, and stress, or I could pursue my Creator’s purpose for my life. I chose the latter. 

“Give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.” (Romans 6:13)

Serving Christ with my entire existence drives me every day. I wake and listen to sermons while readying for work. I listen to Christian music while driving to uplift my spirit and stay positive in the workplace. I read my Bible over my lunchbreak to grow in God’s wisdom. It is my perpetual goal to be His light and serve Christ by serving others. 

And yet, the disquiet continued. Am I where I’m supposed to be? I wondered. I felt so good about this position for so long, but now, there is unrest. Is God prompting me to move on? I wasn’t sure. And so, the prayers continued. 

“Time and season,” advised one of my dear sisters-in-Christ. “God put you here during the time and season in which He needed you to be here. He will show you what to do next.” 

My greatest desire is to serve and uplift others. I know that. One of the biggest reasons I started this blog is to encourage fellow sojourners by sharing my trials and travels with them.

As David Jeremiah said, “If you don’t discover your purpose and start doing what God called you to do, you’ll miss out – but that’s not all. A lot of other people will miss out because they’re going to miss the blessing of your giftedness. You’ll be depriving them of what God wants to do for them through you. Everybody God intended to be blessed by your life will miss that blessing because you aren’t doing what God created you to do.”

And so my pilgrimage continues. I pray for God’s guidance and seek His wisdom in my journey. I ask Him to guide my steps in the days ahead and show me, with absolute clarity, where I should go. I pursue His purpose for my existence and will trust His direction.

My new prayer is actually a promise: “The LORD will work out his plans for my life— for your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me.” (Psalm 138:8)

I won’t take a step without His guidance. May it be the same for you, beloved. 

And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you. (Psalm 29:7)

One of my most significant shortcomings is that I tend to repeat failures in my head. “You should have done better. You weren’t prepared enough. You might as well accept defeat.” These thoughts repeatedly play in my mind on a continuous loop once I have committed a blunder of some sort. To overcome this way of thinking, I need to remind myself that such perception comes from the devil rather than from God. Satan loves it when I focus on my haggard humanity rather than Christ’s supernatural strength. 

A week ago, I participated in a test that did not go well. I had previously done better than expected on a similar assessment a few days earlier, which perhaps left me overconfident in this second venture. Everything that could go wrong in this subsequent platform did – leaving me humbled, humiliated, and horrified at my performance. “I should have done better. I wasn’t prepared enough. I might as well accept defeat,” came the recurring mantra in my head. 

A third evaluation will occur this upcoming week, and I must profess to emotions of underconfidence and insecurity. Where I was previously calm and collected, I am now anxious and apprehensive. Nehemiah 8:10, “The joy of the Lord is my strength,” has always been my life verse – but I am feeling neither joyful nor robust. 

Thankfully, God sees me differently. 2 Timothy 1:7 reminds me that “God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” 

Satan, on the other hand, delights in my self-doubt. He enjoys taking my eyes off of God by reminding me of my frailties. Philippians 4:13 affirms that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

I don’t have to be a super-woman to do well. I don’t need to rely on my intellect and superiority to be a champion for God. Such things have never been my forte. I am Christ’s humble servant, and with His help and His power, I will do the best I can then leave everything in His hands.  

Thomas Edison’s teachers told him he was “too stupid to learn,” and purportedly tried 1,000 times to create a successful lightbulb before doing so. 

Walt Disney was told he “lacked imagination and had no good ideas” after failing as a newspaper editor.

Abraham Lincoln grew up illiterate but educated himself so well that he ultimately passed the bar exam. He lost eight elections before becoming the 16th United States president and eventually led our nation through one of the most trying times in American history. 

While my failures may not seem as dramatic as those faced by the above, they could be equally paralyzing if I let them. 

In his book Overcomer, David Jeremiah tells the story of Reese Kauffman, president of Child Evangelism Fellowship. Kauffman had lost four major business accounts before launching his charity and was feeling depressed and defeated. While canoeing one afternoon, he laid out his problems before the Lord and felt his spirits lifted. 

“My countenance changed, and my joy returned,” Kauffman said. “I also realized afresh that it grieves the Lord when we don’t trust him. He has never once failed us. I can’t tell you how many times, both in business and in ministry, I’ve had to metaphorically get back into that canoe and remind myself that whenever I am fretting, it’s because I’m not thinking biblically or seeing clearly.”

As David Jeremiah summarized, “It’s alright to talk to God about your problems. But sometimes, you need to talk to your problems about God.”

And so I shall. I am ready to face this week’s tests and challenges with God’s help, knowing that I don’t do so alone. The joy of the Lord is my strength, and I will face my upcoming evaluations with confidence, knowing that He is with me. My hope is in God, who made heaven and earth. Whatever the outcome, I know He will see me through to His divine will for my life. 

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by shattered expectations – whether encountered in the political arena, the workplace, or personal lives. No one likes to lose, and when we feel defeated, it’s tempting to give up our goals and dreams. It’s simple to sit down and wallow in vanquishment. It’s harder to get up and keep pressing on – despite the obstacles before us. Yet that’s precisely what we’re called to do as servants of the most high God. 

While Christians are concerned about the potential for future persecution in America, we have suffered little compared to those who’ve preceded us in the faith.

• Early Christians were tortured, enslaved, or brutally massacred in the Roman coliseum. 
• All of Christ’s disciples but John were martyred and suffered horrific deaths at the hands of their enemies.  
• The monk Telemachus was stoned to death by patrons of the gladiatorial games when he attempted to stop the fighting. 
• John Huss, a Czech reformer and predecessor of Martin Luther, was burned at the stake for his outspokenness against the Catholic church. 
• Protestants were tortured and burned to death during the reign of Queen Mary Tudor. 
• William Tyndale, who translated the Bible to English, was martyred for denouncing the divorce of King Henry VIII. He was, ultimately, killed by strangulation, with his body later burned at the stake.
• Dietrick Bonhoeffer, a Lutheran pastor who dared to speak out against Adolf Hitler, was hung to death just two weeks before American forces liberated the camp where he was held. 

In America, tolerance seems to apply to everything but Christianity. Most attribute the start of the decline to be the removal of prayer from schools in 1962. More recently, we’ve seen massive lawsuits awarded against those who dared pray in Jesus’ name, crosses removed from areas where they were formerly erected as sacred memorials, and nativity scenes banned from the public square during Christmas.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, “Drag Queen story hours” are celebrated in children’s libraries, teens are afforded abortions without parental consent, and pastors have been arrested or threatened and fined for holding church services during COVID restrictions. 

But does this mean that Christians should be discouraged? Certainly not. Times of testing serve to strengthen the mettle of our faith and force us to dig deeper into our Christian values. Just as the death of Christ and his disciples did not abolish Christianity, neither should any opposition in today’s society keep us from holding firm to our beliefs and values. Now is the time to strengthen our witness and bolster our resolve to remain true to what we believe. 

“So that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:7)

Jesus called His followers to stand firm in their faith, despite any obstacles against it. We don’t have to win by worldly standards to be victors for Christ. The world can do nothing that God, Himself, doesn’t allow. His Word and His approval should be all we worry about. 

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5: 11-12)

Now is the time for boldness in our testimonies. We can’t give in to fear of persecution or isolation. The “Cancel Culture” may threaten to remove our social standing, but what is that in comparison to approval by our Creator? 

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28)

As Christians, it’s long past time to put on the armor of the Lord and stand firm against the “flaming arrows of the evil one “(Ephesians 6:16). 

Be strong, beloved, and stand firm in your faith. The time to prepare for battle is before it is upon you. Stay rooted in God’s Word. Stay true to your convictions. And never waver in your beliefs. 

God is in control, and He will equip you for the fight. No matter what skirmish you may lose today, never forget that “The LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.” (Deuteronomy 20:4)

Your own ears will hear Him. Right behind you, a voice will say, ‘This is the way you should go.’ whether to the right or to the left.” (Isaiah 30:21)

2020 was a rough year for everyone. There’s no doubt about it. No matter what part of the world one lives in, everyone everywhere was touched by the COVID pandemic in some way, shape, or form. We all learned, anew, the frailty of our safety, security, and subsistence. Everything we believed in, hoped for, dreamed of, and saved for has the potential to be lost in a single, unexpected, irretrievable, uncontrolled moment – everything, that is, except for God. 

Nothing that happened last year caught our Creator by surprise. He knew what would happen in 2020, as He does what will occur in 2021 and all the years yet to come. As Hebrews 13:8 tells us, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” In a world filled with anxiety, tension, and insecurity, that thought gives me great comfort. 

On New Year’s Day, my brother asked me if I had any New Year’s resolutions or if I even believed in such things. I told him that I didn’t, per se, but that my prayer is the same as it always is – for God to make His way known to me in the days yet to come.  

I often wish that I could know, for certain, what God would have me do with my life. I strive to serve Him but know that I usually come up empty-handed. I pray for wisdom and discernment but still struggle for confidence in the decisions that I make. I weigh the pros and cons of both sides of a matter before determining what path I will choose but still wonder, at times, if I am making the right choices. Can any of us ever know for sure if we are doing the right thing? 

One of my favorite reads in 2020 was Pastor David Jeremiah’s book, Forward. In it, Dr. Jeremiah writes the following: 

“You’re traveling an appointed way filled with promise and productivity. Everything in your past has prepared you for what’s next, and every promise of God will provide what’s needed. This is no time to let anxiety, apathy, or anything else hamper you.” 

Easier said than done. We are all human, and the world is an uncertain place right now. 

Last November, I began sending out monthly meeting recurrences for 2021, and my boss told me she appreciated this reminder of future events. “I’ll be happy when this year is over,” she told me. “I’ve had enough of 2020.” 

But how would a new calendar change anything, I wondered? How different is any day from the next, let alone January third from December third? Can switching to a new year modify anything other than our viewpoint? 

The truth is, the only thing we have control of in life is our perspective. The loss of a job, for example, can bring worry and trepidation or determination and hope. It’s all a matter of our perception – or, better still, our faith and trust in God’s provision. 

“I focus on this one thing: forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” (Philippians 3:13-14)

I have no idea what changes this new year will bring to my existence, and I fully accept that my life in 2021 could change in a moment, just as it did in 2020. 

What I do know with absolute certainty is that God will be with me every step of the way. I pray that He will guide my actions and show me whether I should move to the right or the left, as the prophet Isaiah foretold. 

With each passing day, I pray that I will become bolder in my faith and testimony, strengthened by my Creator, who loves me unconditionally. I can’t be sure that I will always make the right decisions, but I can affirm that I will keep praying over my choices, weighing the consequences, and asking God to give me the discernment to know which way I should go. 

As David Jeremiah explains, each new day brings promise and possibility when we surrender our will to God’s. “When you seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, your future is always unfolding at the speed of grace. God is waiting to use you now more than ever, and your life is far from finished. It’s just beginning.” 

While 2021 remains unknown, I take strength in the promise that God is always with me. Nothing will happen this year that I can’t face with my Creator by my side. I serve a risen Savior, and I will always love and follow HIm. “Show me Your way, o Lord; teach me Your paths.” (Psalm 25:4) May it be so for all of us – in this year and all the days of our lives.

https://youtu.be/cLsp5BA-v8M

The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7)

Christmas is a memorable holiday for my family. We savor our gifts – all the way down to the wrapping paper. Some of the gift-wrap is so exceptional that we often take great strides to open packages carefully enough that we can reuse them again. This year, my brother, fully aware of this custom, started opening presents with an exaggerated response of, “My, what lovely paper! Wherever did you find it?” As we all laughed, I repeated his phrase with each new package opened. 

Over time, this theme became a bit of a calling card for me. Throughout my life, appreciation has formed the foundation for my being. I’ve often told others, “I appreciate life, all the way down to the wrapping paper.” I notice the littlest things God created – from the various hues that color the sky at sunset to the intricate patterns in flowers and the chattering noises that squirrels make when they chase each other in trees. Such things always make me smile. 

But what do I see when I look in the mirror? Too often, I judge myself harshly. I worry that my hair seldom looks the way I want it to or that my frequent smiles have left permanent crinkles around my eyes. Deeper still, I compare myself to others in fear that I can never measure up to the beauty, intellect, and expertise I see in them. Society has convinced women, in particular, that we can never be too thin, too fit, or perfect enough to compare with the standards we see in movies, television, and magazines. 

God’s standards, however, are quite different than ours. He created everything to be exactly the way He wants it to be – from the intricate markings on colorful parrots to the skeleton-less blobfish – and He doesn’t worry about our wrapping paper. He perceives our innermost being then considers our character and conviction to be of far greater value than anything the world may judge us by.

When God sent the prophet Samuel to anoint the next King of Israel, Samuel saw Jesse’s oldest sons’ strength and appearance and felt confident that one of these young men would be selected by His Creator. Samuel, however, held a perception of what a king should look like that was far different than God’s.

God wasn’t impressed by the physical traits of these eight men and considered only their hearts – hearts He knew were far from Him. It wasn’t until Jesse brought his youngest son, David, to meet with the prophet that God directed Samuel to mark David with His favor. “The Lord said, ‘Arise, anoint him, for this is the one!'” (1 Samuel 16:12).

God saw past David’s ruddy complexion and simple, shepherding profession to the soul of one who sought only to honor and worship his Creator. David is referred to as a “man after [God’s] own heart” (Samuel 13:14) – not because of his appearance, but because of his faith. 

As we move into a new year, it is my greatest prayer that God will see my heart and guide me in the path that I should follow. I continually strive to let go of worldly expectations and remember that it is only my Creator’s perception that matters. After all, it is not my wrapping paper that God sees, but my heart of compassion and service. 

Each of us has but one life to give to our Creator. Our most significant accomplishments are those we enact for His benefit. May we all live our lives in light of that truth and never forget to love, honor, and worship Him in the days, months, and years ahead.

God sees your heart, beloved. Use it for His service.

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Matthew 2:11)

There’s a reason why Christmas is the “most wonderful time of the year,” and it has nothing to do with presents. During the holidays, the whole world seems to take on a bright, happy glow. Between the festive decorations that adorn people’s homes and the colorful keepsakes that festoon our Christmas trees, there is something merry and bright everywhere we look. For me, though, more than the festivities, food, and family, it is the birth of my Savior that causes my heart to swell with joy and adoration. 

Every year for the past eight years, I’ve been blessed to spend Christmas with my beloved family in Colorado. As much as I enjoy the walks my mother, brother, and I take together in the crisp, cool air and the jubilance I feel as we laugh together, it is the power of presence that makes this time so precious. The greatest gifts are always those that are intangible. 

This principle was exemplified by the gifts presented by the Wise Men or Magi to Jesus. More than simple offerings, their presents demonstrated a unique understanding of the Christ child.

The gift of gold was given in acknowledgment of Christ’s lordship. Such a treasure was only provided to royalty. For the Magi to present this gift was to concede his royal governance over their lives. 

Frankincense is a costly resin used as a holy incense in religious ceremonies. Far from common usage, frankincense was burned by priests in honor of a deity. One would hardly provide such a gift without recognition of its devout symbolism. 

Myrrh is a spice used in biblical times as an anointing oil or perfume, used to prepare the deceased’s body for burial. While we can’t be certain, perhaps the Magi chose this gift in recognition of Jesus’s impending death and resurrection for all of humanity. 

In combination, these royal gifts present a depth of understanding of Christ’s royalty, deity, and purpose. Would that we all had such wisdom in our perception of Jesus. 

What gifts do we now offer our King? We don’t need to see Christ to worship at His feet and acknowledge His divine lordship over our lives. God doesn’t ask us to present costly gifts to Him. He only asks that we love, recognize, and accept Him as our Savior. When we do so, we are receiving the greatest gift that has ever been given to humanity – the gift of eternal life, paid for by the blood of Christ. How could we ever provide anything less than our own lives in return? 

Years ago, I wrote a poem entitled “The Greatest Gift.” While it’s too long to share in this forum, I end with the final stanzas in summation and remembrance of this very thing. 

Should I bring you more frankincense, myrrh, or pure gold, 

Like the Wise Men once brought you in stories of old? 

I can’t bring you riches, in full or in part. 

What I can give you, freely, is my servant’s heart. 

I bring you my soul, Lord, so use me this day. 

You determine my path, and I’ll do what you say. 

This Christmas, I give back to the Potter my clay. 

Lord, mold me and use me, dear Father, I pray. 

This Christmas, I give my heart, soul, and life to Jesus. He is my everything, and I give all I am to Him, today and every day. My life, after all, is the only gift I can present that is worthy of my King. My prayer is that you, too, will do the same. 

This Christmas, give your life away to Jesus. It is the most significant offering you will ever give in return for the most incredible gift you will ever receive.

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. (Psalms 90:14)

With twelve days left until Christmas, we all should admit that no amount of pipers piping, milking maids, or golden rings will ever make us happy. Well, okay. Many people would be quite content to find five golden rings under their Christmas tree, but my point is, material happiness never lasts. The only real and lasting happiness we will ever find comes from the intangible, indescribable gift of knowing Christ as our Savior. 

We all have memories of special Christmas gifts we received, growing up. For me, my favorite Christmas presents were my Fisher-Price toys. How I loved adding a new item to my collection each year. I had the house, garage, school, barn, hospital, village, airport, and even the castle – complete with a horse-drawn carriage and dragon. While it may seem strange to play with a castle alongside an airport, in my make-believe world, it was perfectly normal. I delighted in setting everything up on our living room floor and combining everything together. Such memories are treasures to me.

I will never forget the year that I “happened” to find my Fisher-Price Village before Christmas. As jubilant as my initial discovery made me, I soon learned that anticipation is part of what makes the season so magical . That year, I vowed to never again look for gifts before Christmas. To this day, I’m a stickler for waiting to open presents until December 25th. 

Nowadays, I enjoy doing and giving to others much more than receiving gifts. One particular enjoyment I have each December is serving as a Bell Ringer for The Salvation Army. 

This year, with COVID, we were given masks to wear as we stood by the kettle. Since I was outside, I hoped to get away without covering my face and did so for the first half-hour of my duty. I was having a grand time until the store manager came out and sternly told me I needed to put on my mask. 

“Even though I’m outside?” I queried. 

“Yes,” she responded. So much for smiling my good cheer as I rang my bell. 

I put on my mask but doing so seemed to tangibly cover my joy. The provided face-covering was tight and made it hard for me to say “Merry Christmas” and “God bless you” as shoppers entered and exited the store. No one can see my smile, I thought. How can they tell if I’m happy? 

Determined to “smile” through my second bell ringing experience, I wore a mask I had purchased at the start of the pandemic. The pink face-covering boasted a white-lined smile. They may not see the real thing, I mused, but at least there’s a smile on my face. 

My happiness demonstration overcome, my next difficulty proved to be a missing bell, since the store was unable to locate the iconic symbol. As the first Bell Ringer of the day, I set up the kettle and puzzled over what to do. It’s hard to be a Bell Ringer without a bell, after all. 

It doesn’t matter, I thought, I have my music, and that will be enough. I always bring a Bluetooth speaker to this activity and tune my phone to “Rockin’ Holidays Radio” on Pandora. The music is my way of adding to the atmosphere and spreading holiday cheer. This time, standing still without a bell didn’t seem to be an option, so I tentatively began to dance along to the music. 

To my delight, people responded to my smiling face mask, peppy music, and silly dance moves as time progressed. I lost my previous inhibition and became caught up in the atmosphere as people started dancing along – commenting that I was getting them in the holiday spirit. “I really like how you changed things up with your music and dancing,” one woman commented – causing me to broaden my smile, behind the mask.  

Another passerby asked me where my bell was. To my shrugged shoulders and uplifted hands, he responded, “You are the bell! Keep it up!” I was more than happy to oblige. 

Way too often, we consume ourselves with the things that we don’t have – Christmas gifts we didn’t receive, a missing bell, or other tangible items we’ve convinced ourselves that we need when we really don’t. How much more satisfying would our lives be if we stopped to thank God for all the blessings we do have? Good health, sunshine, laughter, and love – such things are priceless and provide longer-lasting joy than any material items can provide. We are blessed beyond measure and need to remember the bounty that God has bestowed upon us. 

Right now, approximately 4,600 homeless people are living in Savannah, praying for overnight shelter in a facility that The Salvation Army or other organization can provide to them. Tomorrow morning, they will be asked to leave for the day while the facility is cleaned. Many of them may eventually move to live beneath bridges or in one of the homeless communities around our area. These individuals don’t have the peace and comfort of knowing where their next meal is coming from, let alone where they can lay their heads for the night. 

I have a home, food, job, good health – and more blessings than I deserve. How trivial it seems to fuss over a little thing like a missing bell while collecting money for the less fortunate.  

There is much for me to be grateful for this Christmas. Most of all, I am loved by a God who is slow to anger and perpetually willing to forgive me for my foolishness. I have true satisfaction in Christ, and there are 10,000 reasons for my heart to sing – and dance – through the holiday season and beyond.

Visit The Salvation Army’s website to learn more about their ministry and consider giving to the Red Kettle campaign, as you are able to.