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: , , , , , , , ,

God Hasn’t Forgotten You

May 21, 2024 by Leave a Comment

Long term trials have a way of wearing us down—in more ways than one. Whether it’s ongoing illness, unemployment, marital problems, teenage rebellion, or any number of other anguish inducing situations, we soon grow weary physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. We eventually wonder if God has forgotten us, don’t we?

If today you feel that God doesn’t hear your cries anymore or that he doesn’t care about you, remember that he loves you so much he sent his only Son to be your Savior. Take heart with these words of encouragement from my poem “Trust in Him”–

“And when you finally feel
Like God has forgotten you,
He’ll show you he hasn’t—
Trust in him.”

Father, show the weary and hurting your love!

“I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands.” Isaiah 49:15 NRSV

*How has God shown you his love in the midst of a long-term trial?

*The current 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.

*Photo by Evie S. on Unsplash

Filed Under: burden, comfort, depend, encouragement, faith, faithfulness, help, life, love, poem, stress, time, trust, unfailing Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

A Grandmother’s Prayer

May 8, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Since we often think about both mothers and grandmothers during the Mother’s Day season, I’d like to share a bit of my heart as a grandmother with you today.

I became a grandmother a little over three years ago, first to a set of twin boys and then nineteen months later to another set of twin boys. Yes, you heard right. And yes, we are incredibly blessed!

As with any grandmother, my joy-factor skyrocketed to a new level when our little loves were born. I’ve thoroughly embraced my new status and want to be the best grandma I can be. And the best way to express my heart’s desires as a grandmother is to share what I’d like to say to the Lord about the new role he’s entrusted to me.

And so I give you “A Grandmother’s Prayer.” It’s not so much a prayer for grandmothers to pray for their grandchildren, rather it’s a prayer for grandmothers to pray for themselves. I hope it will bless you—and that even if you are not a grandmother, you will be able to make it your own in some way. May it inspire prayers from your own heart’s desires!

A Grandmother’s Prayer

Oh Lord, what a gift you’ve given to me, what a trust. The chance to be a loving grandmother to precious and dearly loved grandchildren. My heart leaps and sings for joy just thinking about it. Thank you for this awesome privilege.

I pray, Lord, that my sweet grandsons will never question my love for them. May they always know how crazy I am about them and that I’m in their corner. And more than that, I pray that my love for them will be a picture of your unconditional and unfailing love. May my love and presence in their lives be one of the things that draws them each one to faith in you.

Help me, Lord, to be a winsome example of how to live a life that honors you and encourages others. Whatever happens in my life, help me conduct myself in a manner worthy of you. (Philippians 1:27) And from that, Lord, may my grandsons see traits and qualities they adopt and develop in their own lives.

Finally, Lord, remind me continually that time is short and that these little ones will grow up in a flash. Help me to be an involved grandmother who invests my time, attention, and affection in the precious grandchildren you’ve given to me. Please bless me, Lord, with year upon year of making memories with them and with watching them become men who love and honor you.

All this I pray in your name, Lord. May it be so!

“I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.” Psalm 89:1 NIV

*How can you pray for one of your heart’s desires?

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

*The new issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter with a giveaway in every regularly scheduled issue, came out last week. It’s not too late to receive it. Sign-up is free and to the right! (If you’re on a mobile device, scroll to the bottom of the screen and click View Full Site to find it.)

*My daughter Kristin’s photo

Filed Under: blessing, faith, faithfulness, family, joy, leadership, life, love, memories, prayer, time, trust Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,