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Day 3     6 a.m.

O thank You, Lord God!

You have eased my heart.

Olin is with You and I will see him again.

You knew his heart.

You saw his pain.

You have been with him throughout his life and You were with him in the woods on Sunday.

You heard his cry, “God forgive me.”

You were with me on Sunday morning.

You are always with me.

You held me close these past 42 hours.

You patiently led me to Your truth and I was able to smile this morning,

to feel the joy of the Lord,

to know that Olin is with You.

God, You are so good to me!

God’s Song For Me This Day

I don’t know about tomorrow, I just live from day to day.

I don’t borrow form its sunshine, for its skies may turn to gray.

I don’t worry o’er the future, for I know what Jesus said

And today I’ll walk beside Him, for He knows what lies ahead.

Many things about tomorrow, I don’t seem to understand;

But I know Who holds tomorrow, and I know Who holds my hand.

Every step is getting brighter, as the golden stairs I climb;

Every burden’s getting lighter, every cloud is silver lined.

There the sun is always shining, there no tear will dim the eye

At the ending on the rainbow, where the mountains touch the sky.

Many things about tomorrow, I don’t seem to understand;

But I know Who holds tomorrow, and I know Who holds my hand.

I don’t know about tomorrow, it may bring me poverty;

But the One who feeds the sparrow, is the One who stands by me.

And the path that be my portion, may be through the flame or flood,

But His presence goes before me, and I’m covered by the blood.

Many things about tomorrow, I don’t seem to understand;

But I know Who holds tomorrow, and I know Who holds my hand.

Reality Moments – when it hits you that your loved one is really gone and your life is changed.

Monday is usually laundry day and as I folded the clothes I realized that this would be the last time I did his laundry. This was the first of my “reality” moments.

I don’t know where this road will take me but I do know the final destination!

Day 2     5:15 a.m.

O God, It hurts!

I need Your hedge of protection, Lord.

Keep me.

Shield me from Satan’s whispers.

Be my defender.

Thank You for Your mercy and grace.

Thank You for caring for Olin.

You were there – even if he couldn’t grasp it.

You were there.

You know his heart.

With all he faced, growing up alone, he would pray, and You heard his prayers.

My life has changed – leaving Missouri – living with the Covid restrictions – watching as the world fall spart – nothing compares to this.

Lord, show me how to live without him.

God is faithful, by whom you were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

I Corinthians 1:9 KJV

God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. 

NIV

God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of His Son and our Master Jesus. Never forget that.  

The Message

O God, You never gave up on Olin.

How he felt never impacted Your truth.

YOU WERE THERE.

The nature of spiritual life is that we are certain in our uncertainty, consequently we do not make our nests anywhere. Common sense says – “Well, supposing I were in that condition . . .”

We cannot suppose ourselves in any condition we have never been in.

Certainty is the mark of the common-sense life: gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life. To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, we do not know what a day may bring forth.

“Believe also in Me,” Jesus said, not – “Believe certain things about Me.”

Leave the whole thing to Him, it is gloriously uncertain how He will come in, but HE WILL COME.

Oswald Chambers – My Utmost for His Highest

You are the Rock on which I stand.

Praise God!

My Song For The Day

Standing on the promises of Christ my King

Through eternal ages let His praises ring

Glory in the highest I will shout and sing

Standing on the promises of God

Standing on the promises that cannot fail

When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail

By the living Word of God I shall prevail

Standing on the promises of God

Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord

Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord

Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword

Standing on the promises of God

Standing on the promises I cannot fall

Listening every moment to the Spirit’s call

Resting in my Savior as my all in all

Standing on the promises of God

O God, You are faithful. Your Word is true.

I am standing on Your promises.

Why do you look for the living among the dead?

He is not here!

He is risen!

Peace be with you!

As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you.

As we celebrate Jesus’ victory on Calvary, we need to ask ourselves – How am I doing with what Jesus asks of me? I heard Ricky Skaggs speak to this and his challenge hit home for me. He spoke of the mission of the church. We are the church and Jesus called us to share His gospel message of love, of mercy, of forgiveness, not just in words but in our actions. He spoke of all that has happened in the world and of how God told us in His Word that these things would happen. So we should not be surprised.

“This has happened on our watch. The churches watch. We’re the strongest, most powerful entity on earth, The Body of Christ. We have a voice. We have authority. We have power that we have not taken because of political correctness, because we don’t want to be some religious zealot. The world is waiting to see us stand up and be who God called us to be.”

Ricky’s message is needed now more than ever. Yes, there are those who don’t want to hear it. They will attempt to silence the message. We must remember that while they may not want to hear it, they need to hear it. They are dying to hear it, dying in their sin because they don’t know Jesus Christ. They don’t know that He wants a relationship with them because He loves them. He died for them.

Do you have that relationship?

Do you know the Savior, Jesus Christ?

If you do then tell somebody.

If you do not, I would like to talk with you.

The Triumphal Entry

The day Jesus entered Jerusalem with welcoming shouts of “HOSANNA”!

And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way;

Others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.

And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying,

Hosanna to the son of David:

Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the LORD;

Hosanna in the highest.

And when He was come into Jerusalem,

all the city was moved, saying,

Who is this?

And the multitude said,

This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.

Matthew 21:8-11

And many spread their garments in the way:

And  others cut down branches off the trees,

And strawed them in the way.

And they that went before, and they that followed, cried saying,

Hosanna;

Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the LORD:

Blessed be the kingdom of our father David,

That cometh in the name of the LORD:

Hosanna in the highest.

Mark 11:8*11

And as He went, they spread their clothes in the way.

And when He was come nigh,

even now at the descent of the mount of Olives,

the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice

for all the mighty works that they had seen;

saying,

Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the LORD:

Peace in heaven, and glory on the highest.

Luke 19:36-38

On the next day much people that were come to the feast,

when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,

took branches of palm trees,

and went forth to meet Him,

and cried,

Hosanna:

Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the LORD.

John 12:12-13

Father God,

Your people were expecting a conquering hero,

a king who would throw off the yoke of Roman rule

and make Israel a great country once again.

They greeted Him with shouts of acclamation.

In less than one week those shouts of acclamation

turned to

CRUIFY HIM!

Father God,

You sent a servant leader,

a suffering savior,

One who was willing to die

that we might receive eternal life.

Jesus came

to serve

to suffer

to save

PRAISE GOD!

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing where he went. 

Hebrews 11:8

Today is the first day of 2024. I have heard many comments and read social media posts of those expressing their relief to see the end of 2023, inferring that next year will be better somehow. Will it? Nothing has changed except the date on the calendar.

Our world is still in chaos. Russia is still attacking in Ukraine. Terrorists still seek to wipe Israel off the map and the present conflict has revealed a level of antisemitism that I wouldn’t have believed if I hadn’t witnessed the protests and heard the comments reported. Japan suffered an earthquake today. Home prices are on the rise with higher interest rates, discouraging home buyers, this also means pressure on rentals increases. The cost of living is outpacing the higher wages.

So what will this new year bring?

I have no answers but I know the ONE who does.

The scripture reading talks of Abraham who left his home and all that was familiar to go, not even knowing where it was that God was leading him. I like the way Eugene Petersen describes it:

By an act of faith,

Abraham said yes to God’s call to travel to an unknown place that would become his home.

When he left he had no idea where he was going.

By an act of faith he lived in the country promised him, lived as a stranger camping in tents.

Isaac and Jacob did the same, living under the same promise.

Abraham did it by keeping his eye on an unseen city with real, eternal foundations –

the City designed and built by God.

Are you walking into 2024 with God or are you traveling under your own power?

God has a plan for your life.

He doesn’t promise that it will be easy but He does promise that it will be worth it!

I don’t know what this year holds but I began the year the way I intend to live this year,

living each day to the fullest,

doing whatever God calls me to do.

For today that meant planting some ginger.

I’ve never grown ginger before but I planted two pots and I’ll watch and wait to see if this is successful.

It also meant dehydrating my carrot crop!

God blessed me with an abundance of carrots this season and I wanted to try out my new dehydrator,

so there will be plenty of carrots to add to my soups and stews this winter.

Let me leave you with these words from Oswald Chambers:

Have you been asking God what He is going to do?

He will never tell you.

God does not tell you what He is going to do; He reveals to you Who He is.

Do you believe in a miracle-working God,

and will you go out in surrender to Him until you are not surprised an atom at anything He does?

I have learned that for me simpler is better, so I hold on to the traditions that bring me joy and I let go of those that cause me frustration. I don’t decorate a tree but I do place wreaths on the front and back door, the Advent wreath remains on the table until after the Epiphany, there are flowers: Christmas cacti, amaryllis, and poinsettias, and the cards we receive are kept in a basket to read again and again during the season.

I no longer try to find the “perfect” gift and instead I opt for making memories. We rent a box at Shorebirds stadium and host our family each year to a Sunday afternoon ball game. Shopping Done! I also spend some time making cookies to share with family and friends. For those who cannot participate in the ball game I find something that will bring them joy and that we can experience together or something they need. I keep it simple because it truly is the thought that counts!

While others are quickly cleaning up the clutter after December 25^th, I am enjoying my Advent wreath. I burn it every day during the twelve days of Christmas, sometimes in the early morning darkness before the sun rises and sometimes at night after cleaning up the kitchen when I take time to say “Thank You God” for the day has given me.

My wreaths are still on my doors, the flowers are blooming (hopefully), my Christmas cards are still in a basket where I can read through them as I take a moment in my day to sit with a cup of tea and think of each one and what they mean to my life.

Tomorrow I will take my daughter-in-love to a museum and enjoy lunch.

On January 6^th my family, (as many who can), will gather around our table for an Epiphany dinner. We will remember those who are no longer at the table. We will laugh and maybe wipe away a tear as we share memories of holidays past and plans we have for the time God gives us.

During the weeks of Advent I focus on His coming, both the first time as a tiny baby and the second as the King of kings and Lord of Lords. But beginning on Christmas Eve my focus shifts to what am I doing to live out what Jesus means to me.

In the culture of today we are encouraged to spend money we do not have on things we do not need, all to impress people who really don’t care. I encourage you to take a stand. Choose what traditions bring your joy and concentrate on those things. Spend time with family and friends, do something that will bless them – write a note, make a phone call, bake a special treat, or just sit and visit. Ask God to direct your thoughts and your actions and you will be surprised what you can do!

P.S.

Each gift that I have received this Christmas was special. Each one reflected that the person knew me, knew my heart and that is worth more than anything to me. But there was one gift that puzzled me when I first opened it but when I plugged it in and saw the lights and heard the carols the joy bubbled up and it has been on everyday while I’m working around the house. I find myself singing along to JOY TO THE WORD as prepare a meal, I was my dishes, sweep the floor, whatever it may be, it is made better by this silly Santa truck!

Merry Christmas!