May the sorrows of this year become the fertile ground for the seeds of joy in the new year.

May your trust in the goodness of a loving God grow deeply rooted as you see that He works even the unexpected, difficult things together for your benefit.

May hope shine brightly as you learn to identify the shadows of lies at work in your life and expose them to the banishing blaze of Truth.

May you carry only what is beautiful, true, helpful, and holy with you into the coming year.

May you be strengthened, given perseverance, and equipped with every necessity to endure with grace the path laid before you.

May you remember: in the absence of every tangible thing, in the solitude of your individual path, the Lord God Almighty, the Holy and Righteous One, the Messiah and Redeemer, the Resurrected One in whom you are given life, the Spirit of Truth, the Light in the Darkness walks with you.

“Do not be afraid.”

Enemies on every side? “Do not be afraid.”

Uncertain circumstances? “Do not be afraid.”

Someone speaking lies and poisoning minds about you? “Do not be afraid.”

Curses and the powers of other gods threated against you? “Do not be afraid.”

A task set before you that seems overwhelming? “Do not be afraid.”

Over and over in the Scriptures, when His people faced hardship, hurt, and harm, God reminded them “Do not be afraid. I AM with you.”

How fitting, then, that when angelic messengers announced the birth of Messiah, Emmanuel, God with us, they began their announcement with, “Do not be afraid.”

Finally, the peaceful confidence that had been whispered to faithful individuals could be shouted from the heavens; now every person had access to Good News that there was no longer cause for fear.

Messiah had been born and would complete His purpose. He would topple the powers that held the whole earth captive: lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, pride, self-centeredness, idolatry, death. Everything that causes mankind to war inwardly or outwardly would be conquered. Power and authority would be held in His righteous hand and given freely to those who would choose His Kingdom over their own small domains.

Yet, many of us remain terrorized by already-defeated foes.

Many of us cower and hide when troubles arise, believing that no help will come.

He has already come. He is "God With Us" still.

May your eyes be opened to the freedom that He brings. May your mind be convinced that He is the True King who has overcome every enemy that you face. May your heart bow to Him as Lord so that you may become a citizen of His Kingdom. May your desires derive from what He loves. May you find yourself standing tall, shoulders squared, eyes clear, heartbeat steady, confidence in every line of your being as you face whatever you face this season, knowing that I AM is with you. Do not be afraid.
 
 

Do we miss it when God does the miraculous on a small scale?

It is a season in which we are reminded of vast, sweeping miracles:

               *Angels appearing to a betrothed couple, announcing a pregnancy and encouraging a marriage.

               *Signs in the stars appearing to wise men

               *Angels appearing to shepherds

               *The birth of a Messiah

               *Consecrated lamp oil lasting for 8 days

These are miracles whose stories have been recorded and repeated for generations.

But what about the little ones? Those times when God intervenes by His hand in the affairs of men to make Himself known and to cause us to pay attention, to worship Him, and to understand that we are loved by Him. Are those little ones, well, little?

I’m sure that you have already suspected that I contend there are no little miracles. Every single time that God reveals Himself to us – His care, His character, His plans, His provision – is a BIG DEAL. It’s just that sometimes when He does it, it is on a small scale. We’re prone to missing it. More accurately, we’re prone to dismissing it. Brushing past it as “just” a small thing, “only” a minor moment of a need being met or a protection occurring.

How we miss out by doing that! Rather, we should be examining those little miracles the way a child stoops down to study the tiniest creature on a sidewalk. Marveling at its design. Questioning its purposes. Delighting at its travelling across the child’s path.

So, if you will, in this season of history-making miracles, indulge me as I recount a miracle that is taking place in our household right now. It’s the miracle of the never-ending dish soap.

Yep. You heard me right. I’m not kidding. I’m not being sarcastic or flippant. We have miracle dish soap.

To the left of our kitchen sink sits a 75 oz bottle of Dawn dish detergent. It has about one-half inch of soap left in it.

Before I go on, let me give you some context. This year has been a year of God asking Dan and I to trust Him at levels we’ve never tried before. He led Dan out of his well-paid position at the end of February. He led us into starting a new business venture. He has repeatedly said “NO” when we have gotten scared about finances and started thinking about putting out resumes. He led us to make some significant investments in Trim the Wick and the things He has told us to support. We have had Him reveal the spiritually-justified idol that financial security and responsibility had become in our lives. We’ve repented and actively leaned hard into living in the truth that God and God alone is our source: spiritually, materially, in every way possible. His job is to provide; ours is to be obedient.

We’ve half-joked that “Well, if He’s going to be our source, we’re going to have to learn to expect Him to provide EVERYTHING… because at some point, we may not be able to provide ANYTHING!”

Y’all. He is. Providing everything.

Right down to the dish soap.

That one-half inch of dish soap isn’t anything spectacular. That’s what happens when you use up dish soap; it gets lower and lower until you run out.

Except it has stopped at one-half inch of dish soap. I’m honestly not sure how long it’s been like that; I know that we started noticing it in September. Right before Hurricane Helene hit, I ran to the Dollar Store to pick up a few things “just in case” we lost power (we did). One of those things was a small bottle of dish soap because ours was almost out (about one-half inch left) and you go through it quickly if the dishwasher isn’t an option.

September.

October.

November.

Now, halfway through December.

That same one-half inch of dish soap is still washing our dishes.

We aren’t deliberately being sparing with it. We’re using it normally… it just stays right there! Our little miracle. Our big, daily reminder from our Father that He is our source.

I don’t know what little miracles are happening in your life, but I do know that God is constantly doing things to reveal His love to us. If you’re not seeing it, maybe slow down a little. Deliberately examine what’s going on in the small, daily moments of your life. Be like that child examining the minutiae around yourself. I’d be willing to bet that you’ll find a place where God is revealing Himself to you through loving care, provision, protection, or direction.

When you find where it is, take the time to marvel. Stand in awe of Him. Allow your one-half inch of dish soap to be a cause for worship. 

We had the joy of catching up with our eldest son recently. Our calls aren’t frequent, but when we get together, it’s an event. We get the video chat going, whatever device we’re using gets set in the center of the household action, and it’s as much like living life together for a couple of hours as it can possibly be. Our kids who live at home drift in and out, stopping to say "hi" or have silly sibling moments; we carry on folding laundry or watching a football game or whatever life looks like at that moment, and we include one another.

This time, life looked like Dan and I having just had a planning meeting for Trim the Wick. Our heads were full of ideas for upcoming teaching and business plans. We were brimming with the overflow of what God was pouring into us in the way of direction and clear purpose for the coming months. As we shared some of that with our son, he noted how much fun he was having “watching us grow and develop into this thing.”

I’m not sure if I can fully express what it meant to have our son tell us that he is still watching us. He is still looking at how we continue to grow, still taking note of lessons that he can take away from our lives (even though we do give him cause to shake his head at us from time to time). He’s rooting for us and taking joy in our growth even as we have done for him. It has taken me a bit to process the honor that he paid us in that statement, the encouragement that what he sees in our lives is a net positive, and the responsibility that remains on us to grow and lead well no matter the ages of our kids.

It brings to mind Paul’s letter to the Philippians, where he sets himself as an example to be followed while simultaneously stating that he hasn’t yet fully attained the perfection of faith that he seeks to walk in. In chapter 3, Paul writes that he “press[es] on toward the goal for the prize…” and encourages all the mature believers to “hold true to what we have attained.” (emphasis mine)

There are many things in our spiritual walk, family, business, and community lives that are yet imperfect. They are areas that we continue to grow into, praying and seeking God’s refinement in our lives. Yet those things that we have learned well, the lessons that have taken root and are growing fruit in our lives, set not only a foundation for ourselves but a pathway for others to follow toward their own growth.

Y’all, you may be in a messy time in your life. God may be correcting some things. He may be opening your eyes to a new direction He’s called you to walk. He may be asking some things of you that both excite and intimidate you. Wherever He has you, lean into it. Press on. You aren’t a completed work yet, for sure, but you also aren’t as unfinished a work as you once were. Hold tight to what you have attained and keep moving forward.
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Somebody in your life is watching, too.
 

There’s been much said of spiritual warfare of late. Battles seem to abound on every side and believers are warring with praise and prayer, wielding their weapons with what skill they have.

Yet, I have heard many express that they are beginning to weary. Starting to feel the weight and the exhaustion. Looking for moments of rest but finding that in the quiet spaces they are hearing the weakness of their bodies, the worries of their minds, or the doubt and fear the enemy is whispering.

I’ve been there myself lately.

And the Lord did as He often does with me: He gave me an earworm of a song on repeat. It’s simple. I learned it in Sunday School when I was very young. You may know it:

I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart.
Where?
Down in my heart.
Where?
Down in my heart.
I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart.
Where?
Down in my heart to stay!

v. 2: Peace that passes understanding
v. 3: Love of Jesus, Love of Jesus

The first 3 verses lay claim to the Truth of God’s promises for my individual life. The Joy of the Lord is my strength. (Nehemiah 8:10) As I cast my cares on Him, His peace that passes all understanding will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7) Nothing – death, life, angels, powers, principalities, things present, things to come – can separate me from the Love of God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:38-39)

I love the progression, though. As I remind myself of the Truth, as I allow my mind to be renewed by the washing of the water of the Word, I find my spirit strengthened. Rest and restoration begin to flow into my mind and my body.

And then, with all the fierceness of a confident child who knows they have the backing of someone bigger and stronger than themselves, I can sing verse 4:

And if the Devil doesn’t like it he can sit on a tack.
Ouch!
Sit on a tack.
Ouch!
Sit on a tack.
And if the Devil doesn’t like it he can sit on a tack.
Sit on a tack to stay!

It’s okay to admit the frailty of your flesh, the sorrow of your soul, and the weariness of your spirit.
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Allow yourself to be renewed and refreshed, and then take up your armor once more. Your enemy is an already defeated one; the victory has been won in Jesus’ finished work and resurrection. We have only to stand firm in the Truth, keep walking forward, and remind ourselves and the enemy exactly where he can take his attacks!