Every car has a rearview mirror. This mirror allows you to see if there are cars around you so you can change lanes safely. The purpose of the mirror is for you to glance at it quickly, observe, and determine when it is safe to change lanes. The rearview mirror is small, and the windshield is large because your primary focus must be on the road ahead. You were never meant to drive forward while constantly looking in the rearview mirror. Doing that will inevitably lead you to crash. At best, you’ll swerve off course; at worst, you’ll cause a collision that affects not only you but those around you.

Life is very much the same way. It is easy to get stuck looking at your past to the point where you end up crashing your future. We all have things in our past that we seem unable to forget. Maybe it’s a poor decision you made, something you should have done and failed; the conversation of what you should not have said; that missed opportunity; or that careless moment, can play on our memory loop.   Sometimes it is not even a mistake you made but something that was done to you. Yet, it can have the same devastating effect. Regardless of what happened, there is something you must understand.

 It is in your rearview mirror. No matter how much you lament over it, there is nothing you can do to change the situation.  Perhaps God is reminding you of something you said or did, but now, you have a chance to learn!  Perhaps to right a wrong!

          So that leaves you with two choices. You can lament, or you can learn.

                                  Are you a lamenter or a learner?

Lamenters look at their past and hold on to it because they either can’t or don’t know how to let it go. Learners take the lessons from their past and use them to make better and wiser decisions for their future. One of these choices moves you forward while the other keeps you stuck.

Friends/ Counselors……..  Friends can walk with you through these seasons of lament and be a significant source of support, prayer, and accountability. They are available to you and you in turn must be the same for them. 

Repentance……..  You really do feel sorry for things you have done or said.  Down deep you know that you have somehow failed in living up to what God asks of you.  You have learned from your past mistakes.  Now it’s time to move on. It’s never too late to say,  “I’m sorry.”

                   Now that’s looking through the windshield!

While Joseph, Mary and Jesus were still in Bethlehem, living with family, strange visitors came calling.  How did they know that this new baby was going to be the Messiah of the world?

                                            Who were these people?

Shepherds were out with their sheep.  Special sheep and special shepherds.  They were probably Levites that served in the temple.  Keeping watch over these baby lambs which were to be used for the sacrificial service.   No blemish must be found on them and they were separated from the regular herd.  Nothing blemished was offered in the temple.  Only the finest was fit as a thanksgiving offering. (See a spiritual connection?)

The Angels appeared to them and told them their Messiah/King had been born.  They were frightened but amazed.  Even the Levities could not keep Torah perfectly.  Therefore, they needed a temple and sacrifices.  Not only for sins but for thanksgiving. 

They were led to the home where they presented this family with their gifts of lambs.  

Before Joseph could take his family back to Nazaret, more visitors came.  This time they were not Jews, but from a far distant place……somewhere in the East, mostly likely Iraq which was the old Babylon.

How would these wise men or seers, know about this Jewish baby?  You must read the Old Testament to find out. 

The prophecy came from Daniel, one of the seers and prophets of the Hebrews. (Daniel 1:17-20) Judah had been invaded and thousands of Hebrews were taken back to Babylon.  Daniel was one.  He proved himself to have God’s wisdom and had predicted a King would arise from amongst his people.  It’s an amazing prophecy and so accurate that these seers traveled hundreds of miles to witness this special baby that had been knew had been sent by God. 

They brought kingly gifts…..each has a significance.  Gold for royalty, frankincense used by the High priest in the temple ( Jesus is our High Priest) and myrrh which was the anointing oil for kings. (Jesus is Messiah/King)     

Such an awesome welcoming committee for this tiny baby.  A baby who would also become our Savior!

                               Are you welcoming Him too?                  

The twinkling lights, the beautiful decorations, the smiling faces around us, are a reminder that God sent His Son to the earth for us. However, for many, the holidays can feel anything but hopeful. Due to financial struggles, family trauma, or health concerns, Christmas is not so merry and bright. 

Just listen to the news.  The dreadful shootings and death make us pause to mediate on just why God allows these things to happen.

 It isn’t God………its people who have no hope or faith.  Christmas has no meaning.  They feel helpless and hatred in their hearts.  They want to cause pain to others.  They want others to share their fears and hopelessness.

More people commit suicide this time of year than any other.  They see nothing for themselves in this world.   They feel helpless and unworthy.  They see no future for themselves.

However, you as a Believer know that you are loved.  Love beyond whatever you might feel!  God so loved the world that He gave his own Son!  That’s what we need to remember. Not just at Christmas but always. 

The Apostle Paul tells us, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  God is the God of hope. This hope is not wishful thinking, but rather, a steadfast promise.

There will be many horrible things that occur in this world, but God is still the Giver of all good things. God Himself will fill us with joy and peace as we trust in Him, and we will overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. We need to hold onto this promise and know that God is good. He will help surround our hearts with the grace of His love and the hope of eternity. 

Regardless of what you are facing this year, bring it to God. Allow His goodness to give you hope. He will wash away any doubt and ensure you are covered with hope, joy, and love.  Don’t doubt His blessings.  He provides grace to give you the steady hope that you need. 

                                                                      Hope is Faith!

You have lights on the eves; the wreath on the door; perhaps a small tree with lots of glitter.   The gifts are bought and now you are just waiting for the Happy Day!! 

One song that might be my favorite is “Oh Little Town of Bethlehem.”  It isn’t a little town anymore. Bethlehem has a long history, but I would like to focus on the event that brings us great joy and for which this city is best known. 

                                                           Jesus’s Birth.

The Romans needed names and taxes.  Every Jew was required to return to the city of their birth.  Hence Joseph and a very pregnant Mary travel from Nazaret to pay this tax. 

 Mary’s baby was due at any time, but this tax was to be paid in person.  So, travel they must!

When arriving in Bethlehem the city was overflowing with people who were required to register and pay their taxes.   The Romans needed funds to keep their armies in Judea, the country of these rebellious Jews!

I suspect that Mary was already in labor when they arrived.  Where could she give birth?  The inns were full and besides money was tight. 

They both had family in Bethlehem.  Life was precious and especially this life!

Joseph probably went to a member of his family.  They would never turn away a young girl in labor.  The family members took them in. 

The houses were long and narrow, and most families kept their livestock in an enclosed area.  Not only for safety but from thieves. 

Since the house was already full of family members, they put Mary and Joseph in the stable area, but it was attached to the main house.  The feeding trough was thoroughly cleaned. Fresh blankets and straw were brought in.

A family member came to help Mary give birth.  They would never leave a pregnant girl alone without help.  Joseph went to be with the men. 

Despite this lowly family and the humble dwelling, this baby was the One chosen by God.  He was not just an earthly child but was divinely conceived in the womb of this special young girl. 
                                                  Read the story in Luke.   Enjoy the Season.   

“And one day, I realized that gratitude is not something we practice once in a while,……it’s a way of living.  It’s waking up and choosing to notice what’s right, not what’s missing.  It’s accepting that storms come to wash the air clean.  It’s believing that every pain hides a purpose and every ending carries a quiet beginning.  Gratitude is like sunlight in the soul.   It doesn’t always change your situation, but it changes the way you see it.  And when your vision changes, everything else begins to heal.”  (copied)

As we hurry through this life, we face problems that make us afraid and fearful.

Life isn’t a big box tied with a red bow that holds everything we have ever wanted. It can be a type of Pandora’s box……that when she opened it all the evils of the world flew out! 

You and I are not exempt. We live in a society where there are more problems than solutions.  We are not living in solitary confinement.  We are a part of what happens around us. 

But you and I are to make a difference.  You and I are called to be disciples and to be disciple makers. 

Those early disciples not only listened to their Master’s voice but were sent out to preach in a hostile Roman world. 

We face a hostile world today.  There is no attitude of gratitude for the many blessings each of us has been given.  It’s always wanting more and giving less.
                                                What’s in it for me? 

But you and I are givers.  You and I make a difference.  We have been blessed to know the One who will make all things right.  We know the storms of life that come will only give us stronger roots.

                                  We have an Attitude of Gratitude. 

                                  Do you enjoy waiting?

Waiting brings frustration and annoyance. This is particularly true as we live in a world of instant gratification. All around us, there is a push to move faster. The motto for all who hate waiting is “We have places to go; we have things to do!” And so we are perpetually on the move, always racing from one thing to the next.

But what about our life with God? Does God call us to rush ahead, to flit frenetically about? 

The Bible speaks a lot about waiting. In fact, waiting is the primary stance of our Christian life. We await the return of our Savior; we await the complete transformation of our lives; we await Christ’s return, wherein everything will be fully and finally redeemed. To be a Christian is to wait.

                                   But this sense of waiting isn’t passive

As Christians waiting means activity.  It means discipleship. It means getting involved with our to-do list for others. 

When we rush from place to place, it’s easy to believe that our life is lived by our own effort and will. We get so busy with what we are doing that we forget to pay attention to what God is doing and His desire for us. 

I don’t believe that waiting for His return just means sitting around, praying and reading our Bibles,

                                 For the Christian, waiting is active.

This activity means getting involved with the world around us and making our presence felt.   Otherwise known as “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)

I love this season of the year.  We wait in lines at the store; we wait at the Drs office; we wait at restaurants.  But here is your chance.  This waiting time might be just the time that God has given you to speak a kind word to the next person behind you; to give a smile to the people at the nearby table; to thank the harried waitperson who takes your order. 

                                 Play the Waiting Game…….Its fun !

So who is the mother of Thanksgiving?  Yes, we all know the story of the Pilgrims sharing their meal with the natives but how did this become a national holiday.?  

                                                We can thank Sarah Josepha Hale 

In 1789, President George Washington issued the first official United States Thanksgiving proclamation, calling upon all Americans to demonstrate gratitude to God for the end of the war and the successful ratification of the Constitution. 

President Washington said, “Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the Providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor.”

Following Washington’s example, Presidents John Adams and James Madison also set national days of Thanksgiving aside during their presidential terms.

During the Civil War, due to the persistent campaign of one woman, Thanksgiving formally became a national holiday. In 1827, Sarah Josepha Hale, a magazine editor and author of the “Mary Had a Little Lamb” nursery rhyme, began a campaign to establish a national Thanksgiving Day holiday in the United States. As a widow and mother of five children, Hale wrote, “Thanksgiving Day is the national pledge of Christian faith in God, acknowledging Him as the dispenser of blessings.”

For 36 years Sarah relentlessly pursued the idea of a national holiday.  She published editorials, wrote newspaper editors, ministers, governors, and presidents requesting they set a day aside.  Finally, President Abraham Lincoln, on October 3, 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, granted her request by proclaiming the last Thursday in November as a national day of Thanksgiving.

Many of the homeless and those without families, can be thankful for the gift of others who are giving them a tasty meal.  A time of prayer and fellowship to follow.

So, when you gather around your table, even having a bowl of soup, remember to thank God first and then to remember Sarah Josepha Hale for making this a special time to remember our great country and the woman who made this possible. 

                                Thanks Sarah…………your loving memory is a blessing for all of us.

There are times when we find ourselves closer to God.  Not only in prayer but when reading scripture.  The words seem to sink deep within in. They take on a more spiritual dimension.  Not merely words but the Holy Spirit seems closer.

There are other seasons where we are in a spiritual desert!  Prayers only reach the ceiling.  Nothing is right. 

In those times there is no cheerfulness that marks our days.  Rather, we feel as if God is far away.  The Father who we felt by our side is distant. We feel lonely. 

 David, a man described as being a man after God’s own heart, felt the loneliness.  Many of his Psalms express his fear of God forsaking him. He was in a desert of loneliness.

When the Hebrews left Egypt, they were forced into crossing the barren desert.  Even though God was leading they complained.  The desert seemed endless.  Would they ever reach the land that God had promised them?

We are all on a spiritual journey.   We are crossing our own individual deserts.  We complain. There is only desert around us.  We are no better than those who had left Egypt and faced the desert of loneliness. 

Every one of us has an “Egypt.” These are things that hold us captive, patterns we can’t seem to break.  Burdens that weigh us down.  

But the good news is that God still leads you and me through that desert and out of our Egypt.

He opens the way to freedom, and to new beginnings. Our desert wanderings are transformed into joy. He is liberating us from our desert wanderings and refining us to be His disciples.

He will not leave us or forsake us. He is the good shepherd who leads us through the desert places in our life.
                                We will wander no more!

I know many of you reading this have times of sorrow, anxiety, and depression. It might be a reflection on your past life. “I wish I had done that; I I wish I could do it over; It is too late to say I am sorry; Can they forgive me? “
It might be none of the above.  You are faithful, you have devoted friends, or family, you have nothing that will harm your relationship to the Lord. Yet you suffer from a feeling of sadness.

You have prayed that the Lord will forgive you for not having more faith.

                                  It is not your faith. 

Some well-meaning friends tell us if only we had more faith, everything would right itself.  Not true!

Jesus himself experienced times of depression and sadness, yet He knew the Father loved Him.

The Father loves us and yet He sometimes lets us go through periods of depression. 

Not many of us will share our feelings with others. We fear they will only give us a pat on the back and affirm that things will get better.                                         

      Sometimes they do not get better. At least for the moment.

We are blessed living in a time when there is medication that can help us. Do not be ashamed when you visit a psychiatrist.  They can help. We do not mind taking medicine for our physical problems but something about taking “brain medicine” seems that we are lacking in faith.                                     

                   Sometimes we feel we are in a pit and cannot crawl out.

David, Jeremiah, Daniel…..many heroes, felt sadness and depression.  They cried out to God.  

He knows our sadness and depression.  He knows our faith.

He provides Drs who care for us. God is not against taking medicine to help with our depression.  He has provided humankind with knowledge to help us with proper care, both physically and mentally. 

                      God loves us right where we are.

                    That helps to make a sound mind!

I received a bad report from my Dr.: my best friend just died; I am overdrawn at the bank; I feel lousy.

It’s not always chin up and be in good spirits.  We live in a fallen and broken world in which joy can easily elude us.  Our minds, bodies and souls are at war with the chaos around us.  We all struggle to hold onto joy as we move through our days. 

Remember the old hymn about counting your blessings?   “Count your many blessings, name them one by one, and it will remind you of what the Lord has done. “

Sometimes, we must press the pause button ….., slow down, and declutter the spaces in our lives to see the simple blessings we’ve been given.  We must mindfully direct our hearts, souls, and bodies toward the good and beautiful around us, to push back the cloudy shadows of the darkness that cover our eyes. 

We are told to live intentionally.  How is that done?  Start with the little blessings.  The sky is blue, the postman brought a new magazine; I got a message from an old friend; my kids just sent a picture, I hear a bird singing, that first cup of coffee in the morning!

Each item is so simple, but they are each packed with promise and joy to make each day meaningful. 

Many times, we are simply overwhelmed with life. We must step back, pause, say a prayer, be aware of small blessings; then move on.

Investing in my own wellbeing becomes a part of investing in family, friends, faith and the future.

Joyful living takes nothing for granted and aspires us to see the One who made it all and give Hm thanks for all He has done.

                                               Now that is Joyful.