Diane Mickler's Blog

So prepare. Roll up your sleeves, get your head in the game, be totally ready to receive the gift that is coming when Jesus arrives! 1 Peter 1:13 The Message

The two most significant holidays in the Christians’s life are Christmas and Easter. Easter is considered the most important, holiest, and oldest Christian holiday as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after His crucifixion. On the other hand, Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus, and it is the most recognizable, iconic, and popular holiday for Christians.

We spend a lot of time preparing for Christmas. We celebrate, send cards, bake, wrap presents, put on pageants and cantatas, set up nativity scenes, have parties, decorate our homes, visit relatives, and the list goes on. The preparation for Easter might include buying chocolate bunnies, fixing Easter baskets, having Easter egg hunts, and dying Easter eggs. We might attend an Ash Wednesday service, give up something, or do a Lenten devotional, but do we really prepare? The question is, “Why do we prepare so much for Christmas, and prepare so little for Easter?

When we prepare for something, we make ready before hand for some purpose. John Wooden once said, “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.”

The story has been told that Martin Luther King never prepared his sermons in advance, but rather always preached on what the Holy Spirit gave him to say. One day walking into a large cathedral to preach to a huge crowd, he asked God what he was to preach that day. The answer came, “You should have prepared.”

The disciples were asked to prepare or “to make ready” the Passover meal for Jesus. In order to prepare for the coming of Christ, John the Baptist declared that we should “Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.”

Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.” In order to prepare for Jesus this lenten seanson, I would remember three things. First, preparation involves self examination. We should take time to examine our conscience and evaluate the things we have done for the good of others.

Next, we should prepare by examining our prayer life. Do we take time to pray and spend time with God each day? If not, some changes are needed.

Finally, we can prepare by examining our repentance and forgiveness. Are we able to repent of the sins we have commited? If so, are we able to receive God’s forgiveness?

Forty days can seem like a long time to prepare, but when day 41 comes, are we prepared for what is coming. The Bible tells of many incidents where forty days are allotted. For example, Goliath defied the armies of Israel for forty days. The Bible says,”He came forward every morning and evening and took his stand.”

On the threshold of his ministry, Jesus was attacked by Satan for forty days. Noah tolerated forty days of rain, and afterwards,”God gave mankind a new beginning”. After forty days of Goliath’s threats, God gave David a spectacular victory. After forty days of temptation, Jesus returned to Galilee and “news of this spread throughout the countryside.”

On Saturday morning, America awoke to the news of the a new war. The forces of Israel and America have launched a major attack on Iran. It is safe to say that none of us had a chance to prepare for what we have seen and heard. As I write this, the sirens are going off in Israel as they prepare for a counter attack from Iran.

We will most probably be in this war for days, weeks, and even months of warfare. Just like Noah, Jesus, and David who endured forty days of different hardshps, day 41 will come and Jesus will triumph over evil.

In the meantime, our prayer is for God to bless all the military, government officials, and innocent civilians who are in harms way.

As we prepare for the arrival of our Savior, remember the words from the musical, Godspell. Prepare ye the way of the Lord. Make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Stephen Swartz

Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat – I am. Don’t run from suffering – embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Luke 9:43

There are times when we all just need some humor interjected into our daily life. We get so burdened with bad news, health issues, financial problems, the state of the world, etc., that we just need to say I am giving it up for a while and just laugh.

One of my favorite comedies is Doctor Doolittle starring Eddie Murphy. In this movie, the Doctor can actually verbally communicate with the animals and they with him. No one else knows what’s going on, and it gets pretty hysterical. My favorite animal character is the monkey, Crystal, who has a bit of a drinking problem. Every time someone chastises him for it, he throws his little bottle of alcohol down and declares, “I give it up.” Unfortunately, the next day he goes right back to his old ways.

The season of Lent is upon us, and during this period of reflection, repentance, and prayer, many Christians make a commitment to give something up for this forty day period. We might choose different things, but usually, we promise to give up things such as sweets, carbs, coffee, scrolling, meat, cussing, nagging, or several other things. Usually, we struggle to keep our commitment, and more times than not, we just give it up.

God sent Jesus to the wilderness for forty days to teach him how to give up reliance on himself for things such as food, temptaion, and fear. In the Judean wilderness, Jesus fasted for forty days and nights, prayed, and was tempted by the devil. This period served as spiritual preparation for his public ministry, demonstrating his reliance on God, overcoming temptaion, and living among wild beasts. He reversed the failure of Adam and Israel by demonstrating His obedience to God despite extreme physical weaknesses. He was able to give up his own will and lean solely on God.

We tend to make a habit of giving up the same things for Lent each year. In the spirit of creativity, why not try a few things which might allow us to not only be more Christlike, but also, grow in our faith.

First, give up complaining. Rather than complaining when things aren’t to our liking, maybe we should focus on the good in our situations and in other people. This practice will help us cultivate a sense of gratitude and a positive outlook on life.

Next, give up procrastination. Each day is a gift from God. If we focus on diligence and using our time wisely, we will have more time to focus on the important things. We will live each day to the fullest.

Finally, give up worrying. Sometimes we take a situation and “think it to death” as my Mama used to say. We try to come up with different scenarios and solve it by ourselves. Worrying will kill your peace. Pray and leave it to God.

One teacher offered this suggestion for giving up things which tend to weigh us down. “Go to the hardware store and buy a flat patio stone that fits into your back pack, briefcase, or large purse. Then, take a marker and write on the stone all the things which are stopping you from enjoying life. Carry it with you wherever you go – eating, working, watching TV, sleeping, even showering.

Very soon you can feel how heavy it is. It’s hard to get anything done when your muscles are working overtime carrying all that extra weight.

At the end of the second day, sit down with your stone, review the list, and make a conscious decision to give up all those things which are draining you of the life you should be living. Then, go outside and set the rock down beside your front door. Before you leave home everyday take a second to look at your stone…then turn around and deliberately walk away.”

We humans think we have all the answers, but how can we really know what is best for us? We can only judge by appearancees, but God looks ahead to the outcome. It is only when we stop wrestling with our problems and give them up to God that His plans and purposes can be fulfilled.

As we continue through these 40 days, take a moment to look at the things on your stone, then, remember my friend Crystal, the monkey,and go ahead and just give them up!

You’ve all been to the stadium and seen the athlete’s race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You’re after one that’s gold eternal. Corinthians 9:24-27 The Message

This past week has been the week of champions! We watched as the Seattle Seahawks became the champions of Super Bowl XL in a less than exciting contest. If we got bored, the Winter Olympics began, and the race for the gold medal was taking center stage.

The USA, as of this writing, was in third place overall with a total of 17 medals altogether. I am always amazed at the amount of training, skill, and fortitude it takes to be on a championship team. Just making the Olympic team makes them all champions in my book!

A champion is defined as a person who has defeated or surpassed all rivals in a competition, and/or a person who fights or argues for a cause on behalf of someone else.

When I think of a champion, I think of someone, (or a team), which has been tested by different kinds of battles. It could be the elements, the competition, or their own personal struggles. They have made it through the good times and the down times. They have persevered, pressed on, and never quit in their quest for the medal they seek.

Maxim Naumov, the U. S. figure skater whose parents were killed in a plane crash just over a year ago, fulfilled a dream they had shared by performing on Olympic ice. When his program drew to an end, he stayed on the ice, looked up to the heavens, and said, “Look at what we’ve done!”

Is he a medalist? No. Naumov came in 20th in the competition, falling twice, but he gave it his all. Is he a champion? Most definitely. During the interview after the program, he said, “I just feel proud of the journey it took to get to this point. The journey has been indescribable as it involved getting up every day when I didn’t want to and pushing through the difficult times and the uncertainty of it all.” Many of us can identify with this sentiment.

What does it take to be a champion, not only in the Olympics or a Super Bowl, but in our every day walk as a follower of Jesus? I can think of three things, but there are many more.

First, in order to be achampion, it takes a commitment to excellence. The olympic athlete has certain key traits such as unwavering self confidence, deep motivation, resilence, perserverance, and a love for their sport. The Christian champion makes a commitment to their faith, has the ability to focus on the words of God, a loving heart, and so much more.

The athlete and the Christian champions will be challenged in their journey. There will be good times and bad, things that test commitment, and sometimes even a lack of faith. However, if we persevere, we will come out stronger and more committed than ever.

Next, a champion needs discipline. Just as the athlete trains rigorously in order to stay in shape and be prepared, so the Christian has to train themselves to be focused, have self control, and reach their spiritual goals.

Finally, a champion shows faithfulness. The athlete is not only faithful to his/her sport, but also to the team. The reward for their faithfulness can be a medal. The Christian’s reward for faithfulness is eternal life.

Just as the athlete’s training and performance must seem like a marathon, sometimes the marathon of life can be hard and discouraging. We tire of looking for the prize. We get discouraged and overwhelmed. At these times, we need to remember why we follow Him. He is our champion, and He has done so much for each of us.

Our commitment to excellence, discipline, and faithfulness will lead us to victory!

O victory in Jesus, my Savior forever. He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood. He loved me ere I knew Him, and all my love is due Him. He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood! Eugene Bartlett, Sr.

Congraatulations to all the champions!

If I give up everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I do, what I believe, I am bankrupt without love. Love is patient, kind, non-envious,it does not boast, act proud, or insist on its own way. It is not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs, and rejoices in the truth. Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day.; Praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth now, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be cancelled. Matthew 13:4-8 from The Message

The month of love is here, and we are seeing red hearts, red roses, red balloons,chocolates, candy hearts and anything else that can be remotely connected with the holiday. It is a great time for businesses because Valentine’s Day ranks just below Christmas in consumer spending with cards, gifts, flowers, and candy.

I have a doctor friend who has recently announced her marriage to her long time boyfriend after years of being divorced. We began talking about love and what it means in this world of today, and she said, “We all just need to be sure we carry at least a cup of love with us throughout every day.”

Then she posed this scenario to me. “Picture yourself early in the morning in a crowded elevator. The door opens, and a man with a cup of coffee enters. Everyone has to move to make room for him. In the process of shifting, his coffee jostles, and he spills his coffee all down the front of your clothing. What do you say?”

I thought a minute, then said, I guess I’d say, “Uch oh!” She began to laugh and said, “Why on earth would you say that? Can you imagine the curse words, stony stares, and physical reactions that I would expect?” I said, “Well, I thought about it like this: I wouldn’t be going to work, so I would be dressed in my everyday clothes. I probably wouldn’t be in a time crunch because I’m usually early, so I’d have time to rinse off my clothes. But the main reason is, I taught kindergarten for 30 years!” She laughed again, and said, “That’s what a cup of love looks like to me!

A cup of love represents a profound and spiritual connection with someone or something. You have a love that never dies and never stops caring. Couples sometimes use the cup of love at their wedding because it has two handles so they can drink together. God represents this cup of love to us in His constant love and care.

This week the Olympics began in Milan, Italy. Athletes from nations all over the world have come together in search of winning a medal. Many of these nations are not particularly popular with each other in the world of today, but during this time, a cup of love is shared among them as they compete.

Friends can share a cup of love. This week has been unusually full of surgeries and sickness for a few of our friends. Thankfully, all turned out well. Friends came together with a cup of love and provided for those who needed it during these times.

It is especially hard when you lose a sweet friend which we did this week. She was a hundred years old, spry, sweet, active, loving, and Godly. When she went into Hospice and died soon after, I thought of the cup of love we have shared with her over these many years. So many laughs, chocolate chip cookies, and cinnamon rolls were such a part of our cup of love. I realized when she died, that we still love someone when they are gone. Love changes shape, but it never disappears. Love lives in our memory, and it does not end with absence.

Families share a cup of love with each other as well. The members of a family are there during stressful times, times of sickness, and they are there to get each other through the sad times and to celebrate the victories in life. This past week, we have watched as members of the Guthrie family has bonded together to find their Mom, Nancy. People all over the country have offered a cup of love and support for them through their thoughts and prayers.

This Valentine’s week is a great time to think of ways to share a cup of love with those who need it. God is the very essence of love, and He would have us remember that without love, we are nothing. God is love!

O love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in Thee; I give thee back the life I owe, That in thine ocean depths, its flow may richer, fuller be. George Mattheson

Happy Valentine’s Day!

We don’t know the first thing about tomorrow. We are nothing but a whisp of fog catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing. Instead, make it a habit to say, “If the master wills it, and we are still alive, we will try to do this or that!” James 4:13-15

Ground Hog Day, held annually on February 2, is a North American tradition where the rodent, Punxsutawney Phil, emerges from hibernation in order to predict the weather. If he sees his shadow, supposedly, we will have six more weeks of winter; however, if he doesn’t see his shadow, we will have an early spring. Who knows if this little creature can really get this right?

According to data, Phil only has about a 39% chance of predicting it correctly. It’s rather like many conversations I heard this week about the snow that is coming our way. Some say “yes, we will get it,”some say “no, we won’t”, but who really knows?

None of us know what will happen in this new day, but some people think it would be wonderful to be able to see what will happen tomorrow and beyond. But, who knows? If we were able to see all the blessings and benefits waiting for us in God’s providence, we would waste our days yearning for the future.

On the other hand, if we could see all the trials, troubles, and tribulations awaiting us, we would live in dread of the future and miss or squander the opportunities of today.

Who knows what our health will be. Who knows how our unforseen needs will be met. Who knows where this life will take us. In our life in the ministry, we were required to go where sent, and we were sent to several different congregations. We didn’t know until about six weeks before we moved, where we would be moving, what our home would be like, or what unforseen problems and blessings would await us. Am I glad we didn’t know? Yes! Otherwise, we would have missed the surprise!

The good news is that there are things we do know! We know that God has all the wisdom, skill, and power to weave all our circumstances, good or bad, and allow them to work for our good.

We do know the peace that passes understanding when we let Him take care of all our fears, anxieties, and needs. We do know the love, mercy, grace, forgiveness, peace, promise and power of Jesus. We do know that He holds the future. I love the verse from a song which says, “Many things about tomorrow I don’t seem to understand; But I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand.”

James says that We are just a whisp of fog catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing. In other words, we need to know that life is brief, and we should make the most of the brevity. We need to focus more on what is the right thing to do rather than on what not to do.

We need to know “to do all the good we can, in every place we can, to all the people we can, in every way we can, every time we can, for as long as we can.” copied

Because we know that God is with us in this life, we can look forward with assurance to whatever comes to us. The following poem by Annie Johnson Flint tells it all beautifully.

God has not promised skies always blue; Flower strewn pathways all our lives through. God has not promised sun without rain; Joy without sorrow, peace without pain. God has not promised we shall not know; Toil and temptaion, trouble and woe. He has not told us we will not bea , many a burden, many a care. God has not promised smooth roads and wide, Swift easy travel needing no guide; Never a mountain rocky and steep; Never a river turbid and deep. But God has promised strength for the day; Rest from the labor, Light for the day. Grace for the trials, help from above; Unfailing sympathy, Undying love.

There’s an interesting map on display in the British Museum in London. It’s an old mariner’s chart drawn in 1525 outlining the North American coastline and the adjacent waters. The cartographer made some intriguing notations on areas of the map that represented regions not yet explored. He wrote, “Here be giants,” and “Here be fiery scorpions,” and ” Here be dragons.” Eventually, the map came into the possession of Sir John Franklin, a British explorer in the 1800’s. Scratching out the fearful inscriptions, he wrote these words across the map, “Here is God!”

Who knows ? God does!

It is predicted that Punxstawney Phil will not see his shadow, but who knows?

Wait for God. Take heart. Don’t quit. I’ll say it again. Wait for God. Psalm 27:14 The Message

This past week most of us have adopted the wait and see attitude concerning the threat of ice and snow for our area. The meteorologists are having a field day with all this information, and whether they are right or wrong, most of us just have to wait and see if it affects us.

In the early years of my teaching career, the technology of predicting storms was not nearly so sophisticated, so teachers and students had to wait until the morning of a school day to find out whether or not we got a “snow day” at home. It was always a surprise!

The first year of our marriage, Randy and I lived in the upstairs apartment of an old home in Decatur, Georgia while Randy attended Emory University and I taught near by. In January of 1973, a major ice storm hit Atlanta producing some four inches of ice, and we were two of the 300,000 without power.

The storm hit on a Saturday, so Randy suggested that we hop in his VW and set out on an adventure. When I asked “Where will we go on these icy roads,” he replied, “Wait and see!” There was obviously no one else on the road, so we ended up a little while later at Lookout Mountain Park in Tennessee. Not surprisingly, the park was closed, but not to be deterred, Randy was determined that we should get in. He found a six foot wall that looked easy to get over, hoisted me over first, and then he joined me on the other side.

We toured the park on our own! The battle above the clouds was fought here during the Civil War, and we walked in the ice as I listened while Randy described each detail of the battle. There were cannons, statues, historical markers, and monuments. The view of Chattanooga from above in the snow was breath taking. At the end of our adventures, I asked, “Do you think we can we make it home?” Randy replied, “Well, I guess we will have to wait and see!’

A wait and see attitude is defined as a situation in which one is not sure and decides to wait before taking action. It is pretty hard for most of us to wait and see these days. We simply don’t have the patience to sit around and wait for answers to the problems or situations that are weighing heavily on us. We want a resolution, and we want it now!

During the wait and see times of our lives, God uses these periods to build character, strengthen faith, and align us with His perfect timing. He works behind the scenes rather than acting immediately, but while we are waiting to see what happens, He provides us with peace in place of anxiety and a promise that those who wait won’t be disappointed.

The scripture above assures us that those who wait patiently and don’t act hastily will not be disappointed. He works behind the scenes to renew our strength, and He uses this time to help us mature in our faith. To wait and see is not a waste, but rather a time to prepare for what He has planned.

Years ago in Scotland, the Clark family had a dream! Clark and his wife had worked and saved for years to fulfill their dream of taking their nine children with them on a trip to the United States. The time had come, and they had their passports and reservations on a new ocean liner headed to the U.S.

They were so filled with anticipation and excitement; however, seven days before their departure, their youngest son was bitten by a dog. The doctor stitched up the boy, but he hung a yellow sign on their front door as he left. Because of the possibility of rabies, the family was quarantined for fourteen days. They would not be able to make their dream trip.

The father filled with rage and disappointment went to the dock and watched the ship sail without them while shedding tears of anger. He cursed his son and God for this misfortune.

Five days later, the tragic news spread through Scotland – the mighty Titanic had sunk taking hundreds of lives with it. The Clark family would have been passengers on this voyage. The things that sometimes seem hard to bear can turn out to be a blessing.

When we wait and see there are blessings in our patience. When the Holy Spirit guides our lives, the blessings of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control will be evident in our lives! Wait and see!

It appears the meteorologists got close this time!!

The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint. Proverbs 17:27

This past week, Randy and I met another couple in a restaurant for lunch. As usual, the place was crowded and of course, loud!. When we sat down in our booth, I was immediately aware of the two men who were having a conversation behind us. I was aware because one of them was very loud, and he controlled almost all of the conversation!

I quickly deduced that this was a business, probably job interview, meeting because one man asked a question and for the next ten minutes, the other guy answered. He was not able to answer in a few words!

My mind went back to my high school days, my English teacher, and my time on the declamation team there. A declamation is a formal rhetorical speech or recitation usually memorized and delivered with dramatic passion and flair. The goal of the speech is to passionately express ideas and to persuade the audience to connect with your message. We were judged on the delivery of the message and the content.

As a presenter, we got one minute to introduce the work, the author, and the circumstances under which the work was written. When the actual speech began, we were allowed five to seven minutes to deliver around 650 to 800 words. The pace of the speech had to be adjusted according to the presenter.

I figured that this guy in the booth behind me must have spoken at least 1600 to 2000 words just to answer one question! Not only did he lose me, but I’m pretty sure he lost the interviewer as well!

We’ve all been a part of a conversation or presentation where one person seems to take over and dominate. It can be frustrating to those involved because there’s the issue of trying to be polite while finding yourself and others totally manipulated by the person speaking. One almost wants to ring a bell and call “time out”!

There’s a lot of merit in being able to express ones self using a few words. Jesus knew the value of being a man of few words. He taught with powerful, concise words often using short commands or memorable phrases such as “Follow Me”. He got His message across using parables, storytelling, miracles, or asking questions of His followers. He told of God’s love through His actions and experiences. The crowd was always engaged.

With only a few words, Jesus could speak with a quiet gentleness or with an authority that thundered in its confidence. He took the deaf and mute man from the crowd, touched his ears and tongue, and with two words, “Be opened”, He brought healing. Jarirus’s daughter heard the voice of Jesus call her back to the living with two gentle words, “Arise child.” From the cross, Jesus raised His voice and uttered three words, “It is finished.” These few words still ring down to us today.

Modern day has its own share of men and women of a few words. Martin Luther King was a man of few words, and we remember the few words today from his speech, “I Have a Dream”! We remember John F.Kennedy’s few words where he challenged each American to”Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country.”

Oprah Winfrey used a few words when she said, “It is never too late to be what you might have been.” Amelia Earhart said, “Courage is the price that life exacts for granting peace.” We can learn just as much or more from those we know who are adept at being a person of a few words.

Being a person of a few words offers benefits such as an increased impact, deeper listening, and perceived wisdom because concise communication often signals thoughtfulness and confidence preventing misunderstandings and making listeners more receptive to valuable contributions.

There are so many phrases of a few words that offer just what we need to hear sometimes. For example, I love you; I forgive you; Congratulations;Thank you; You did a great job; Thank you for your service; This too shall pass; God is with you; God bless you; I miss you; I am praying for you; God has this; Get well soon; I’m here for you; I’m so proud of you; and You don’t have to do this alone; just to name a few.

The hymn Wonderful Words of Life by P.P. Bliss conveys the message of the power of words in a few words. Sing them over again to me, Wonderful words of life. Let me more of their beauty see, Wonderful words of life. Words of life and beauty; teach me faith and duty. Beautiful words, wonderful words, Wonderful words of life.

This week offers each of us the opportunity to tell others what they need to hear in a few words.

Don’t panic. I am with you. There is no reason to fear for I am your God. I’ll give you strength. I‘ll help you. I’ll hold you steady and keep a firm grip on you. Isaiah 41:10 from The Message

This past week has been a football fan’s dream! Not only, did we have some exciting college games, but the pro games as well. If you know us, you know that this house yells, “Go Dawgs,” but, ironically, we find that these days, the majority of our family now yells, “Hotty Toddy!”

The University of Mississippi football team has weathered a lot this year, and most folks can’t help but admire the strength they have shown during their uncertain times. The players, coaches, and fans were caught off guard when their head coach accepted another position right before football playoffs.

The good news is that this team became an example of how we can turn uncertainty into strength. Rather than throw in the towel, the players bonded togehter, the other coaches stayed to see the team through the rest of their exciting season, and the fans have shown enormous support.

Although their season ended with the close loss to Miami, they have remained strong, committed, and supportive of each other. The quarterback, Trinidad Chambliss, is a strong Christian, and he stated “As Christians, this is how we are called to be, not just in the victories, but in the defeats. It’s not just about putting our arms around each other, it’s also about allowing someone to give us that support without flinching.” It’s about turning the uncertainties in life into strength.

It is impossible to go through life without uncertainties. When we are uncertain about something, we aren’t confident or sure of it. These can be things that are undecided, unknown, or doubtful in some way. If we aren’t certain, it’s usually an uncertainty.

We’ve all been in situations akin to the Ole Miss Rebels. There’s the uncertainty of the consequences of a bad choice, the uncertainty of a j0b loss or financial pressures, the uncertainty of why bad things happen to good people, the uncertainty of a dilemma we didn’t plan, the uncertainty of planning care for a loved one, or the uncertainty of not having anyone you can lean on, just to name a few.

These uncertainties in life sometimes allow us to forget our God given strengths and just say, “I’m done!’ The best news is that God replies to us, “Good, now I can begin.” He begins by offering reassurance, His presence and strength, and HIs support during times of fear and adversity.

In the above verse from Isaiah, God promises five things to those who face uncertainties. First, He says I am with you, and that promise is His personal, constant presence removing the need to fear loneliness or abandonment.

Next, He says, I am your God, and that promise emphasizes a special covenant or relationship which assures us of His personal care and ownership.

His third promise says, I will strengthen you. God promises to provide us with an inner fortitude and courage, and the ability to overcome difficulties and prevail.

He says, I will help you. He promises divine assistance and intervention to help His people at their point of greatest need.

Finally, He promises to uphold us with His righteous right hand. God is reminding us that He offers us powerful, just, and faithful support by holding us up and not allowing us to fall.

In this game of life as in the Ole Miss situation, there are victories and losses, ups and downs, good times and bad, and times to celebrate and times to mourn. Rather than leaving the field after the loss, the team stood shoulder to shoulder as their coach praised them all for their resolve, loyalty, accountability, pride and identity. A time that began with uncertainty began a time of strength. It can be that way for us as well.

The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent. There will always be trials and tribulations in life, but God will carry you through every storm in your life and give you strength to make it. copied

May the God of peace, who brought again our Lord Jesus from the dead, equip you with all you need to do His will. Hebrews 13:20

Today we are five days into the New Year of 2026! We are on a new adventure, and every day will bring something new. The very essence of an adventure is that we don’t know what’s going to happen, so how can we possibly be prepared or equipped for it?

A wise person once said, “Life is a continuous process of getting used to things we hadn’t expected!” Sometimes we find ourselves in predicaments without an apparent answer. We have problems with no apparent solution. We are on an adventure, and we realize it when we are not equipped to handle it!

When we are ill-equipped, we don’t have the necessary skills, qualities, resources, or equipment for a particular task or situation. Essentially, we are unprepared or inadequate to handle whatever it is.

Randy and I were fortunate to spend some time last week with some friends at their lake house. We came prepaared for everything we thought we would need on our adventure; however, we learned that one isn’t always as prepared as you think you are!

It was New Year’s Day 2026, when we loaded up Randy’s truck to set out on our adventure. Everyone was ready, and we piled into our respective vehicles. Randy got in, pressed the start button on the truck, and there was no response. He realized he didn’t have the key fob, so he went in to retrieve it! After an exhaustive search ( which included everyone looking through everything), we realized we were ill-prepared to remedy this situation at this time.

We finally transferred all of the items, to another vehicle and went on our way, but everyone was obsessed with how to get that truck started without a fob. Improvisation is part of the adventure, so we began to do just that! When we are ill-equipped for whatever happens, and we improvise, we are making the best of whatever situation with what we have!

Should we have brought our spare fob? Yes, but we didn’t. Should we have it towed to a dealership? No, too much money. Should we go home and get the fob and drive back? Yes and no, but only if it is the last resort. The final decision was since we had three cars that would crank, we would take the paper work to the Ford dealership the next day and have them help. Improvisation for folks who were ill-equipped.

As we were settling down for the Sugar Bowl, Randy left to change clothes, and when he came back, he had found the fob in one of his pockets. Problem solved, and we watched a great game even though we were ill-equipped for the ending, but that’s another story!

Our story is a minor irritation compared to those of us who have experienced instances of being so ill-equipped for the situations facing us. This past year, there are those of us who have suffered the loss of loved ones, those who feel the helplessness which comes with the sickness of a child, those who deal with the everyday stress of sickness, and those of us who feel lonely and abandoned.

God offers us a new year in which we can feel our strength being renewed as God prepares us to mount up and soar into new dimensions of His love and His plans for us. We are assured that we can walk in bold faith into this new year with God by our side. God has taught us a lot about how to handle blessings as well as trials.

The Bible says a lot about planning- when we can. Yet, on the other hand, we must be flexible and spontaneous because life has many surprises to which we must adjust. There are times when we find ourselves ill-prepared for the predicaments, tragedies, loss, sorrow, sickness, and heartache which seems to have no answer. Yet, with God’s help the answers come as long as we do not give up and keep trusting Him.

This new year brings a new beginning, and a new time to reflect on things we gained from the last year. Hopefully, many of us have grown and learned through the blessings and the trials.

Our scripture tells us that God will equip those of us who feel ill-equipped if we will just be patient and do His will.

O God our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come; Our shelter from the stormy blast, and Our eternal home. Under the shadow of Your throne, Your saints have dwelt secure; Sufficient is thine arm alone, and Our defense is sure. Issac Watts

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Phillippans 4:13

Christmas has come and gone. The gifts have been opened, the meals and sweets have been consumed, the decorations will be put away, and we find ourselves on the brink of another new year. This year, I have resolved to make things better this year than last even though last year was good, it wasn’t without its struggles. In short, I will look to Isaiah as he reminded us, Remember not the former things nor think on the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing or in my words, I will make things better.

This past Christmas, as in most Christmases before, the question I ask my family more than anything else is, “What do you want for Christmas?” I get the usual “Oh, I don’t need anything” or “Anything will be fine” answers. This year Randy got specific and asked me, “Do you want jewelry? Do you want clothes? Do you want some money for a massage?” My answer was a definitive”No, I don’t need anything.”

A few days later, my phone dinged with a message from our credit card company informing me that someone had used my card at a place called Heli Atlanta. Of course I immediately thought it was a scam, but upon confronting Randy, I found out it was my “surprise”Christmas present. It turns out that thanks to Dave and Donna, Randy had been put onto this idea for Christmas. We were taking a helicopter ride over Atlanta! I was mortified as I get motion sickness and was dreading it.

However, we did indeed go and do our helicopter ride, and it gave us a whole new vision of this city and the beauty that we can’t see when we are caught up in our own small world. The lights, the sights, the places that we never imagined were so huge, and the traffic!! It made me realize how many things in life we might miss because the things that have happened to us in past years keep us from moving forward and making things better.

We are much like the two hunters who ran into a bear so big that they dropped their rifles and ran for cover. One man climbed a tree while the other hid in a nearby cave. The bear was in no hurry to eat, so he sat down between the tree and the cave reflecting upon his good fortune. Suddenly, for no apparent reason, the hunter in the cave came out, almost ran into the bear, hestiated, and then ran back in! In a minute, the same thing happened again. When he emerged for the third time, his companion in the tree called out, “Woody, are you crazy? Stay in the cave til he leaves.” “Can’t,” panted Woody, “there’s another bear in there!”

Sometimes we feel like no matter wherever we go to try to escape problens, there’s always a new situation, problem, or crisis waiting. We want to make things better, but we can lose our direction. So, how do we make things better in 2026?

First, resolve to make things better in 2026 by forgiving whatever grudges we might have against one another. A grudge is defined as a deep ongoing resentment that we cultivate in our hearts against someone else which leads to unforgiving attitudes and/or actions. Grudges can destroy families, friendships, and even churches. When you hold a grudge against someone, you hurt yourself as much or more than you hurt that person.

Next, we can resolve to make things better in 2026 by forgiving ourselves for past failures. The new year is a good time to stop torturing ourselves for things we did or did not do and stop being chained to them. Christ’s forgiveness allows us to forgive ourselves and put failures behind us.

Finally, we can resolve to make things better in 2026 by taking time to speak with our Lord. In this New Year, turn the tv off, turn the computer off, stop scrolling on your phone, stop texting, and spend five minutes with God. We can spend time with Him while we are cooking, while we’re driving, or when we are in the shower! We can tell Him things we’d tell our friends, our neighbors, or our spouse. Thank Him for His blessings! Surely, we have five minutes to spare.

Will this New Year be just a calendar changing event for us, or are we ready to make it one to celebrate by resolving to make it better than any other year of our life?

Happy New Year! Make it the best!