Gift Yourself with Silence This Christmas

December 3, 2024 by 2 Comments

Do you have your own name written down on your Christmas list? If not, put it at the top right now. I’ll even make it simple for you and tell you what to give yourself.

 Gift yourself with silence. That’s right—the glorious life-giving gift of soothing silence.

You see, the gift of silence took me by surprise one November morning years ago. Not long after the hubbub of school-and-work traffic had ceased, I went out to fill the birdbath with fresh water. As the sun proclaimed its brilliance, the night’s heavy frost still glittered on the ground.

Happy to be out enjoying a few minutes in the beauty of God’s world, I sang as I worked. But soon I realized my voice was the only sound I heard. I stopped and listened to the quiet.

Pure silence met my listening ear. No wind, no birdsong, no car humming down the street. Not even the rustle of leaves. It was as if the earth was holding its breath.

With fresh eyes I looked around our yard, delighting in the frosty beauty of the cold fall morning. First one leaf and then another drifted to the ground without a sound, as if following the cues of a conductor. But this was a silent symphony in a soundless sanctuary. Oh what peace. Oh what comfort.

The comfort and peace we find in silence can heal, can’t it? Silence refreshes and restores. This is never more true than when we use such moments to take a deep breath and commune with the Father. We need silence—especially silence with our hearts turned heavenward—but many times we don’t recognize our need or take time for it. And taking time for it seems especially challenging during an already busy Christmas season.

Let’s not wait for the moments of silence that surprise us. Let’s seek out silence. Let’s make time for it, especially during the Christmas season and other busy seasons of our lives. Let’s enter into a soundless sanctuary and wait for the silent symphony to begin. The Conductor stands ready to give the cues. Won’t you accept his gift of comfort and peace along with me?

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.” John 14:27 NIV

*How will you make time for silence this holiday season? I’m so looking forward to next Christmas season when my Christmas devotional book will be available to help lead you into moments of silence and peace. Can’t wait to share it with all of you!

*The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter with a giveaway in every regularly scheduled issue, comes out in early February. Sign-up is free! Temporary problem with Life Notes sign-up. To sign up, just contact me.

*For info about my book Mother of the Bride and also my Wedding Inspiration cards, check out my Books/My Work page.

*Photo by Roberto Nickson on Unsplash

Filed Under: challenge, Christmas, comfort, Gift, heal, holidays, life, music, nature, peace, refresh, silence, surprise, time, worship Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Take Time for Wonder

November 19, 2024 by Leave a Comment

Years ago I invited extra beauty into my life by putting a birdbath and birdfeeder in our backyard. Since my office window provides a perfect view of that portion of our yard, I’ve enjoyed moments of wonder ever since that I would never have spotted otherwise.

I took the above photo of a cardinal that first November and was thrilled to capture the shot. In my experience with photographing birds up to that point, I’d found that male cardinals didn’t sit still for long—at least not long enough for me to get a shot centered and focused.

Since then, I’ve also spotted a few new-to me birds, saw a huge bird land in our yard (probably a hawk of some sort), and enjoyed watching not only birds in the birdbath but also  caught squirrels and a cat drinking there as well. I even captured a shot of a squirrel trying to get in on the action at the birdfeeder. I also managed to thwart a neighborhood cat’s attack on one of the unusual birds that visited our yard one summer.

But I wouldn’t have seen any of these wonders or enjoyed their beauty if I hadn’t taken the time to look. I glance out my office window several times a day just to see what special treats God might have waiting for me right under my nose.

Sometimes I’m so busy I’m tempted to ignore anything going on outside of my current task. I’ve stayed at my keyboard or dashed in and out of my office, not taking the time to slow down and savor beauty, not taking the time to try to capture some great photos. I wonder what I’ve missed during those times.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to miss the beauty. I don’t want to miss God’s blessing. Join me, won’t you? Let’s take time for wonder.

“Many, LORD my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare.” Psalm 40:5 NIV

*What wonders have you seen lately?

*The new issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter with a giveaway in every regularly scheduled issue, came out earlier this month. It’s not too late to receive it. Sign-up is free! Temporary problem with Life Notes sign-up. To sign up, just contact me.

*For info about my book Mother of the Bride and also my Wedding Inspiration cards, check out my Books/My Work page.

*My photo

Filed Under: beauty, creation/creative/creator, joy, life, miracle, nature, new thing, time, treasure, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Unexpected Opportunities: Seize the Moment

November 5, 2024 by Leave a Comment

Unexpected opportunities can sure mess with our schedules. A moment packed with potential presents itself, and we’re met with the dilemma of either staying on task or pulling away and taking advantage of the opportunity before us. Which will we do?

More and more I’m learning to seize the moment before it disappears. Whether it’s taking time to take photos of beautiful birds at the birdbath or feeder or putting my work on hold to offer some encouraging words, to help someone, or to take time with our kids and grandkids, I’m learning to set aside my agenda and give attention to the things God brings before me.

I admit I feel guilty and frustrated many times when I don’t get as much done in a day as I’d hoped to. But we type-A, goal-oriented people need to learn that God’s plan is sometimes different from ours—and his is better.

Let’s be ready to accept the gifts of potential-packed moments God sends our way. Let’s take time to unwrap them. Let’s seize our opportunities.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV

*What unexpected gift of opportunity have you unwrapped lately?

*The new issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter with a giveaway in every regularly scheduled issue, came out yesterday, but it’s not too late to receive it. Sign-up is free! Temporary problem with Life Notes sign-up. To sign up, just contact me.

*For info about my book Mother of the Bride and also my Wedding Inspiration cards, check out my Books/My Work page.

*My photo

Filed Under: advice, balance, blessing, encouragement, Gift, life, opportunity, time, trust, work Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

A Special Touch: The Kiss of God

October 15, 2024 by 2 Comments

Special touches from God—those moments that fill and warm the heart. Those moments when we feel his presence so vividly. Our spirits long for such moments, don’t they?

I think God may give more special touches than we recognize. We may know we’ve been touched by joy or peace or contentment. But sometimes we fail to recognize the Giver of these good gifts.

Let’s not miss him. Let’s not miss the kiss of God.

The Kiss of God

Sometimes it catches us
completely unaware,
other times it answers
our longing.
The kiss of God
a balm so sweet,
the touch that washes us
in his love.
The warmth of spring sunshine
on our skin,
the liquid life-giving drink
to a dry desperate earth,
the word that refreshes
a parched soul.
Forgiveness given
and arms extended,
a moment of comfort divine,
needed words received
at just the right moment,
it’s more than coincidence—
it’s the Lord.
A touch from him
to savor forever,
the moment we’re changed—
the kiss of God.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights . . .” James 1:17 NIV

*When have you felt the kiss of God?

*The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter with a giveaway in every regular issue, comes out in early November. One lucky subscriber (new or current) will receive a $15 gift card to Starbucks and a signed copy of my book to use personally, give as a gift, or donate to a library. Sign-up is free! Temporary problem with Life Notes sign-up. To sign up, just contact me.

*For info about my book Mother of the Bride check out my Books/My Work page.

Photo by Anton Darius on Unsplash

Filed Under: blessing, comfort, encouragement, faith, fellowship, Gift, giving, joy, love, peace, poem, refresh, touch, treasure Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

The Power of An Encouraging Word

October 1, 2024 by Leave a Comment

We all go through them. Periods of discouragement. A day, a week , a month when we feel like we’re not making any headway. We wonder if what we’re doing is making a difference. We may even contemplate giving up.

Different things cause discouragement for different people. For writers, discouragement tries to move in for various reasons. Maybe it happens when a rejection letter comes or when our newsletter readership doesn’t grow or—oh, the horror—declines. It can also happen when book sales disappoint or when we’ve put our words out there but then don’t hear any feedback from readers. The list goes on.

One of these things alone may not send us spiraling downward, but let the blows come one on top of another, and you may find us in a corner clutching our blankies.

You know what can change our whole outlook, though—writers as well as everyone else? A simple word of encouragement or appreciation. Such a gesture boosts our spirits and provides the renewed energy we need to keep pressing on. Such a gesture makes all the difference. There is power in an encouraging word.

Who can you encourage today?

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV

*How has someone encouraged you recently? 

*The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, comes out in early November. One lucky subscriber will receive a $15 gift card to Starbucks and a signed copy of my book to use personally, give as a gift, or donate to a library. Sign-up is free! *Temporary problem with Life Notes sign-up. To sign up, just contact me.

*For info about my book Mother of the Bride check out my Books/My Work page.

*My photo

Filed Under: Above and Beyond, blessing, cheer, disappointment, encouragement, Gift, joy, life, refresh, thanks, writing Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,
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