Modern Day Pilgrims

An update to this post can be found at the end of this blog post.  No spoilers...but let's just say it's some pretty incredible news.

When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself.- Leviticus 19:33-34

Read the words Plymouth Rock and Ellis Island…what thoughts come to mind?  When I see those two words next to each other, I immediately think of immigrants leaving their home country in search of a better and freer life for themselves and their family.  They gave up everything in order to make a fresh start in America – the land of the free. 

When I especially stop and think about the Pilgrims, I think about how determined they were to escape their home land in order to escape religious persecution in England.  They didn’t agree with the practices of the Church of England and sought to separate themselves from it – an act that was illegal at that time.  Knowing they couldn’t have the freedom to worship the way they wanted to, they fled to the Netherlands…and eventually to America.  Why were they called Pilgrims?  Because a pilgrim is defined as “a person who goes on a long journey often with a religious or moral purpose, and especially to a foreign land.”

Did you know that there are modern-day Pilgrims living in America today?  I am blessed to know one family – Uwe and Hannelore Romeike and their sweet, six children.  The Romeike’s fled their homeland of Germany for America in order to have the freedom to homeschool their children because of their Christian beliefs.  You see, German public schools teach non-Christian material (that we don’t expose our children to in our public school system) to children as young as kindergarten.  Also, it is illegal to homeschool in Germany…an order that Hitler made waaaay back in the WW2 era.  Just recently has it been harshly enforced.  You can hear the story from the Romeike’s themselves by clicking on the video below.  If you already know the story, please continue reading below.

The Romeike family came to America during the Bush administration and asked the country for asylum.  They were granted it.  Victory, right?  Not so fast.  After President Obama was elected and formed his administration, Attorney General Eric Holder decided to rescind their grant of asylum.   The family sought legal counsel and for a while now, their case has been bounced around in the court system…eventually making its way to the Supreme Court.  Today, it was announced that the Supreme Court would not hear the case meaning the last ruling stands…deportation.

In Leviticus 19:33-34, God tells Moses to give this instruction to the Hebrew people, “When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself.”  As believers, we know that His rules and commands transcend time and should be followed still today.  America, we were founded on Christian ideals and principles.  People fought and died to uphold them.  It’s who we are.  It’s part of our heritage.  It’s something we cannot erase.  The sweet Romeike family sojourned to our land because of their religious beliefs like those Plymouth Rock Pilgrims who came before them and up until now, we have upheld this command from God.  But ever since their freedom in America has been taken away, as it has bounced from judge to judge, and after today’s announcement from the Supreme Court, a grave injustice was dealt them.  America, we’ve done these sojourners wrong.  We are not treating them as the native among us.  And we most definitely are not loving them like we love ourselves. 

For the past few years, I have watched the Romeike family become a part of our community and church.  The first time I met Uwe, he played piano for a play at the local community college.  As he and his family began coming to our church, they began to get further involved.  Today Uwe is a deacon and is our church pianist.  Hannelore and her children are a part of our homeschool co-op.  I've gotten to know their oldest daughter as she has become involved in our media ministry (a ministry of few girls, that's for sure).  Their other children have been a part of the children’s ministry.  I’ve even gotten to develop a friendship with one of their youngest as we call each other “Peanut” after bonding over a container of peanuts not too long ago.  If there’s ever a family that embodies Joshua 24:15, it is the Romeike family.  The truly have the hearts of servants.

What can you do?  Pray.  God hears his people when they call to him.  Also, contact your Congressmen/women…it doesn’t matter where you live.  This is a national issue, not just a Tennessee one. 

The Plymouth Rock Pilgrims were given the freedom they sought 200+ years ago, let’s pray that history can repeat itself in 2014.


***UPDATE 3/4/14 - And just like that God answers prayers.  History did repeat itself in 2014.  Today the Home School Legal Defense Association received word from the US Department of Homeland Security that they would grant the Romeike family indefinite deferred action status meaning they will be able to stay permanently in the United States.  For more information see link #1 below.  "The Lord hears His people when they call to Him for help" - Psalm 24:17.  If this miracle doesn't prove this verse, I don't know what does.  I am so excited to see how God uses this family here in the United States, specifically here at my church First Baptist Morristown.  This miracle shows us that God has a great plan for the Romeikes because He has given them a future and an amazing hope (Jeremiah 29:11).  God is good ALL the time and ALL the time God. Is. Good. 


1) March 4, 2014 HSLDA Update concerning DHS Decision on Romeikes: http://www.hslda.org/legal/cases/romeike.asp?src=slide&slide=Romeike_They_can_stay_Mar_4_2014&pos=1

2) History of Plymouth Rock Pilgrims: http://www.plimoth.org/learn/just-kids/homework-help/who-were-pilgrims

3) For more information on March 3rd's Supreme Court ruling: http://www.christianpost.com/news/supreme-court-declines-to-review-asylum-case-of-german-homeschoolers-115506/

God is SO Good!

“The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.” – Psalm 145:9

Let’s just cut to the chase and get to the point of this post which is….GOD IS SO GOOD.  Many of you have been praying for my dad and our family these past few months (which have seemed like a year) after finding out he had a malignant tumor in his small intestine that had to be removed by surgery.  We have most definitely felt your prayers and words can’t express how grateful we are for them.  They have given us a strength we didn’t think we had, a hope we could count on, and a peace that passed all our understanding. 

Let's track the "God is good" moments, shall we?!

• If you’ve been following on Facebook, then you know that the surgery went exactly as planned and the surgeon was able to remove the tumor as well as affected lymph nodes.  God is good moment #1.  
• During the surgery, the surgeon saw absolutely no indication of any other tumors or cancer in his body.  God is good moment #2.  
• My dad came home after about four days in the hospital and recovered very well at home.  God is good moment #3.  
• Today, he met with the oncologist who would determine whether or not he would have to have chemo.  Based on what the doctor saw via the pathology report, he did not feel chemo was necessary at this time!  They will just keep a good eye on everything by scans and blood work.  God is good moment #4!!!!!!!!!!!   

Do you see a pattern forming here??!?!?!?  God is SO good!

And those aren’t even all the “God is good” moments that are a part of this whole journey!  Ready for this?!  

• The doctor who initially found the tumor as my dad was undergoing a routine test, found it because he didn’t have a lot going on that day and so he looked around a little longer and just “happened” to find this tumor.  If he hadn’t had the time, this would have gone undetected for a year or two more (which means it could've gotten worse).  God is good moment #5.  
• The day of the surgery, during my quiet time as I cried (literally) to the Lord for peace for my dad and strength for my family, the verse my devotional led me to was Psalm 29:11, “The Lord gives His people strength, the Lord blesses them with peace.”  God is good moment #6.  
• That day, as I drove to the hospital, the radio was playing “Our God”….the song that just happens to have the lyric, “Our God is Healer, awesome in power!”  This is a lyric I had been using many times up until the day of the surgery.  God knew the words I needed to hear…and He gave them to me.  God is good moment #7.  
• At that exact same time, as my mom was going into the waiting room, a friend we hadn’t seen in a while (who just happened to be there for someone else) was sitting in the waiting room too and ended up coming back to check on us later in the morning.  God is good moment #8.  
• And after the surgery, so many people sent cards, food, well wishes, and love.  God is good moments #9, #10, #11, #12….and on and on it goes to infinity!

Oh, friends…GOD IS SO GOOD!  The Psalmist was so correct when he penned, ““The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.” (Psalm 145:9).   Daily, I have heeded the words of Psalm 107:1 where he says to “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.”  For all He has done and is doing, He deserves the thanksgiving and praise!  We don’t deserve His goodness and grace and yet He bestows that upon us.  Oh, God, you are SO good and SO great and greatly to be praised!  Thank you for your goodness and your faithfulness, for showing us Your Presence when we need it and your Strength when we feel like we can’t go another step.  May others see through this journey that we have gone on that You are all-powerful and all-loving, and that no matter the situation, You will show them the same love, strength, and peace you have given us and continue to give us.  Only You could heal my dad, only You can speak words of comfort when we need to hear them, and only You could bring an unspeakable peace to our hearts through this journey.  You are so good and I am so thankful that Your mercies endure forever.

God is so good, God is so good, God is SO good…He’s SO GOOD to us!

A Chosen and Priceless Love

“In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the sacrifice for our sins.” – 1 John 4:10

Whether it’s love for a friend, a family member, your significant other, your dog, your car, or your favorite dessert (mine’s cheesecake by the way)…we’ve all experienced some sort of love for someone or something else at one time or another in our life.  It’s an emotion that brings not only joy to our soul but a smile to our hearts.  To love is to show your affection and/or concern for something that you value.  It’s a chosen and priceless emotion…not a forced and insignificant one.

1 John 4:10 is pretty straightforward about God’s love, “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the sacrifice for our sins.”  God loves us so deeply and values us so greatly that He sent His one and only Son to sacrifice His life for all of our wrong-doings.  John 3:16a says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…”  God didn’t have to send His Son and Jesus didn’t have to die on the cross, rather they chose to do that for us.  It was a chosen and priceless decision based on an immeasurable love for us.  We are valuable, we are significant, and we are treasured because we are LOVED by Father God and His Son, Jesus!

Through this incredible love, we are even given a free gift of everlasting life with the Father and Jesus in heaven!  (Now how many acts of love do you know of that don’t come with a price tag?)  John 3:16b goes on to say, “…that whoever believes in Him (Jesus) will have everlasting life.”  All that is required to receive this free gift of everlasting life is to ADMIT we have sinned, BELIEVE that Jesus is God’s Son, and CONFESS our faith in Jesus as our Savior and Lord.  For us, it’s a chosen and priceless decision based on a chosen and priceless love.

No matter who you are, what you’ve done, or where you are in life, Jesus cares about you.  He gave His life for you because He values you.  Chosen by God to be your Savior, rest this Valentine’s Day in the simple and precious truth that Jesus, this Chosen Son and Priceless Love, truly loves you.

A Snowpocalypse Neccesity

“I keep the Lord before me always.  Because He is close by my side, I will not be hurt.” – Psalm 16:8

Snowpocalypse 2014 (the name for the South’s crazy snow/ice storm) will be one for the record books.  Kids stuck overnight in schools, interstates turned into parking lots, people welcoming strangers into their homes for food and warmth, and lots and lots of snow and ice…these are the takeaways from these crazy few couple of days here in the South.  It’s been crazy to read all the posts and see all the pictures from my friends in Birmingham/Hoover and Atlanta.  Many people were separated from their loved ones for over 24 hours…how crazy!  I had a good amount of snow and ice where I live too, but I live in an area that sees this kind of weather every so often….Birmingham, not so much.

An interstate in Birmingham....a casualty of the 2014 Snowpocalypse.

I’m sure as many people slid on ice or were stranded on the interstate for 20+ hours God was hearing a lot of these kinds of prayers, “God, stay with me and please don’t let me get hurt!”  David (although he wasn’t in a snowstorm) could relate to these people because he said in his psalm, “I keep the Lord before me always.  Because he is close by my side, I will not be hurt” (Psalm 16:8).  David knew that with the Lord’s provision and protection, everything would be okay.  How sweet it is that as believers in Christ we are able to have this knowledge that our God goes with us, and stays close beside us. 

God is SO gracious to give us the things we need…protection, peace, love, and the list goes on and on; but we must remember that we need to give Him things He deserves too and those include worship, thanksgiving, love, trust, and that list goes on and on.  In fact David asks God for protection and couples that with the fact that he has placed his trust in Him, “Protect me, God, because I trust in you” (Psalm 16:1).  When we place our trust in and give thanksgiving to God, He will give us the protection, peace, safety, and help we need. 

This blog post wouldn’t have been so personal until just a few hours ago, however, as I realized just how much this verse and message means to me today.  On our way home tonight, we crossed an intersection after our light turned green.  When we made it halfway through the intersection, we heard a loud bang behind us.  A car had run their red light and crashed head-on into the car that was directly behind us.  We were literally one second away from being hit and totaling our car.  But, “He [was] close by our side, [and we were] not hurt.”  Thank you, God.  Immensely.

Situations like what I experienced tonight or like the snowpocalypse will arise again in life and we must not let our worries or fears grip us in those moments.  We must remember that our God is before us always and will be close to our side every step of the way.  In those moments, He is all you need.  Believe Him, thank Him, and trust Him.  

David said it best, “The Lord is all I need.  He takes care of me” (Psalm 16:5).  No matter what the circumstance…even a snowpocalypse…He will do just that.

2013 in Retrospect

“For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name.” – Luke 1:49

One of my favorite blog postings each year is this one – the year in retrospect.  I’ve said in previous “year in retrospect”(s) that these are some of the longest blog posts all year, and that is 400% true.  Each year I try not to make them long, but when I write I am long-winded…so I’m not promising anything!  :)

Seriously, though, it is so humbling to sit and reflect on the year and see the successes, challenges, and changes that have happened and how God brought me (and us) through them all.  I love the verse that I opened this blog post with – it is from Mary’s Magnificant and I think this portion especially speaks to my feelings as we close out 2013.  “He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name” (Luke 1:49).  No matter the challenges and changes…He was, is, and will continue to be mighty and HOLY is HIS NAME!  Join me in seeing the mighty things he has done in my life this year…

What Do You Mean “No School”???!!!

This is the first year I have nothing to post about school.  How weird is that?!  Aside from a April Fool’s joke on Facebook that got out of hand (I said I was going to pursue a doctorate…and a bunch of people believed me…oops), there hasn’t been much mention of school from me this year.  You know what, though?  I miss it!  Especially writing papers….I know, I know, I’m cRaZy!  I guess that’s what keeps me on this blog – the fact I get to write and share my thoughts about things.  Writing papers in seminary, though, was a lot of fun and I miss doing that.  Well, there IS always that doctorate…. :)

Pomp and Circumstance

I heard this tune so much this spring I’m surprised I don’t hum it to this day!  Both of my sisters graduated this year!  Meredith graduated from college at Liberty University and Lauren graduated from high school in Morristown. 

Meredith graduated on my birthday in May and it wasn’t long before she was off to a summer-long internship in the heart of Washington, DC.  It was definitely a memorable experience for her (as far as living & working in the heart of the city­) and we even got to visit her the week of July 4 where we celebrated the nation’s birthday in the nation’s capital…on top of a high rise overlooking the Washington Monument & White House!  Talk about memorable!  This fall she moved back to East TN and is getting her Masters in Accountancy at UTK and has already been offered a job with an accounting firm in Atlanta when she graduates in June.  God is good!

Lauren graduated the week after Meredith and she has spent this semester and next at the local community college in town (following after her sister’s…mine…footsteps).  She even got a job with a local business in town, filing, running errands, answering phones, etc. and loves it.  Next school-year, though, she is off to Liberty University (following after her other sister’s footsteps)!  I’m excited to see how God uses her at Liberty and takes that huge heart of hers and love for those with special needs to make an impact on the world in the name of Christ.  It’s hard to believe that my baby sister is now a high-school graduate, but that’s life!

Graduations all around!

Ministry Life

If you know me, you know my heart-ministry is children’s missions.  I absolutely love teaching the kids about missions and how they can be missionaries in their own lives.  We’ve had fun learning this year about football missionaries, mission trips from our church, and we even created a Lottie Moon Christmas tree!  During the fall, I was privileged to help organize, on the FBC Morristown end, the East TN Children’s Missions Conference.  We had over 300 kids from the area come and we all enjoyed learning more about the journey our missionaries take around the world.  This year, I have heard testimonies from kids of how they have ministered to their peers in times of need and even gone on mission trips themselves!  It’s so rewarding to watch them apply what they are learning in their own lives.  I can’t wait to see how God uses them as they grow!

FBC Kids who attended the Fall Children's Missions Conference

I have also gotten more involved this year with my church’s Mobile Bus Ministry which is basically like a six-week Backyard Bible Club in the Projects area of our town.  I started off a year or so ago as music leader, which is little out of my element as I’m not exactly a leader of music.  I like to sing, but leading singing is somewhat strange for me…basically because I don’t read music.  However this year, I took on an additional responsibility as teacher for the PreK-2^nd graders.  I’ve had SO much fun planning lessons and activities around Bible stories for these little ones.  I truly believe that activities are what help drive home the lessons because those are the things that the kids will go home and talk about.  For instance, when we talked about Jonah, we went “fishing” for words in our story and we were able to remember the story of Jonah by looking at the fish we caught.  These are kids who, without possibly our intervention, will never hear the stories of Jesus & the Bible because they’re parents won’t send them to church.  Our team doesn’t take that lightly and we always strive to show them Jesus each time we come to their neighborhood.

Leading the kids at our Mobile Bus/Backyard Bible Club

Church-wide, we had a lot going on this year in terms of special events.  Our church opened the long-awaited children's building and kids are LOVING it.  We celebrated our 210 anniversary.  We remodeled our Harrell Park property and have a beautiful Pavilion.  Our Operation Christmas Child goal was surpassed exponentially...our goal of 1,000 shoeboxes shot straight up to 1,300!  Even the people at OCC headquarters were shocked when I told them!  God is just blessing FBC Morristown and it's so humbling to be a part of that.

Entrance of new Children's Building at FBC Morristown

Another area of ministry I am involved in at church is the media ministry, specifically in the area of multimedia screens.  It’s interesting to observe how strongly screens are used and depended upon within a worship service.  We’ve done so much more in that area this year and our services have really benefited from that.  Our Living Christmas Tree, Spring musical presentation, community-wide Disciple Now, and the inclusion of our new contemporary worship service – each has come with it new opportunities for screens as well as the media ministry.  This ministry is another part of my heart and I have enjoyed growing in this ministry and helping people worship through media.  I could spend a lot more time right here, but I think I’ll save those thoughts for a 2014 blog post!

Work, Work, Work

Aside from ministry-work, my job keeps me very busy.  It just so happens, though, that my job is the same place where I do my ministry work!  Yeah…makes for an interesting life, that’s for sure!  BUT, it’s work for the kingdom and for making sure our congregation is well-informed and understands what is going on.  I do the graphic design for the church-wide publications as well as prepare all the screen stuff for my volunteer-self and workers on Sunday.  While I am part-time, this job keeps me pretty busy and most of you know that because the place where you see me most often is at the church!

As far as catering, I haven’t done as much of that this year as compared to previous years as the catering company now runs the local community college’s campus café during the week.  I have, however, been a part of helping to cater various special events and weddings which are always fun.  Although, it is work, it is fun work and I really enjoy being around the people I work with.

The Legacy of “Mighty” Joe Young

“We’re not put here to stay, we’re just passin’ through!”  I can’t tell you how many times I heard my grandpa say this over my 26 years of life.  In May his health declined very quickly and in June, my sweet grandpa (or as I call him “Pa”) passed through this life into the joy of heaven.  There’s really not a day that goes by that I don’t think of him or some funny saying of his.  I miss him, but I know that I will see him again and I have all hope and trust in that.  Pa was a unique character…he definitely was a jokester and loved to laugh…and make us laugh.  He also loved his family and over his 96 years of life, watched many of his family and friends pass into heaven.  I know when he entered heaven, there was a huge group of people waiting there for him…and I’m sure the smile on his face was gigantic!   I’m so grateful for these past five/six years that he lived in the same town as my family.  He wasn’t sold on the idea initially, but I know over time he was grateful for the move too as he realized he could spend more time with us.  The memories we made these past years are so sweet and precious and I will never forget them. 

Many of you know that he and I shared a special connection in that we celebrated our birthdays together as I was born on his 70^th birthday.  Now, he and Lauren have a special connection in that on her birthday, he celebrated his heavenly birth.   How poignant it is that he was born and died on his granddaughter’s birthdays.  These will be days that we will celebrate not only our lives, but also his life & legacy and now his ETERNAL life!

Me and my grand"Pa"

Prayers, Please

As with every year, pray for me as I continue to seek God’s direction for my life.  He has great plans for me, that I know, and I await Him to reveal those plans to me. It's been exciting to watch God piece together my life so far and I can only dream of the masterpiece He has planned.

Also, we recently found out that my dad has an early-stage tumor in his small intestine.  He will have a scan soon to determine if there are any more tumors in his body and then surgery to remove the one in his small intestine.  Please pray that the scan will show nothing and, should he have to have surgery, that it will go well and the recovery will be quick.

And the Word of the Year Is…

For the past few years I have tried to encapsulate the year with a word and over the past few weeks, I have really been trying to think of a word that I would associate with this year…and a couple of days ago it came to me.  PEACE.  Throughout this past year, I have had questions and uncertainties and even loss which should cause me to go into complete meltdown and anger because to this day there are still uncertainties and questions and the loss of my grandpa as he isn’t here anymore.  But through it ALL, there has been peace.  Not peace in the form of rest & relaxation, but peace in the form of the feeling that everything is going to be okay.  That only comes from one person…Jesus.  And He promised that, “My peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27).  I am so undeserving of His gift of peace, but He gives it and He loves me and He has everything under control.  I’ve just got to continue to have faith and trust and always remember that He is working everything out for my good.

I’m taking peace with me into 2014 and praying you will take it with you too.  Have a blessed 2014 and may your resolution for this New Year be what mine is every year...living each day for Jesus with a servant’s heart.

Joy is HERE!

“And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with great joy.” – Matthew 2:10

During this time of the year, we hear the word “joy” tossed around…a lot.  Like the phrase “Peace, Love and Joy to You and Yours!” or when we sing the carol “Joy to the World.”  The dictionary defines the word “joy” as a feeling of great happiness.  When I stop and think about experiences or situations (or people…my grandfather’s initials were J.O.Y.) in which I have felt or seen joy, I simply can’t help but smile and I’m sure it is the same way for you too.  I suppose “joy” is used a lot at Christmas-time because we typically associate feelings of great happiness with the Christmas season.

Joy can most definitely be used to describe the feelings of those individuals who were a part of the First Christmas.  I have no doubt in my mind that both Mary and Joseph were filled with great joy at the birth of Jesus.  Joy that not only was the baby was born healthy, but also great joy that this baby would be the Savior of the World!  Remember what the angels told them?  Gabriel said to Mary, “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1:31-33).  And to Joseph the angel said, “And she [Mary] will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). 

The shepherds were filled with joy at the news of this newborn King (okay, after they shook off the initial shock from seeing the host of angels).  The angel even told them that the news they were delivering was of the happy kind, “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people!” (Luke 2:10).  And so excited and happy were the shepherds at actually finding out for themselves that this news was indeed true, that they told everyone they came in contact with (Luke 2:17)!

And last, but certainly not least, the wisemen were filled with joy after finding the Christ-child after a long and arduous journey to Bethlehem.  As they followed the star over great distances, upon arriving in Bethlehem, they noticed that it “stopped over the place where the child was” (Matthew 2:9).  They knew that because it had stopped that their journey was over, their quest complete, and that they had finally found the King they had waited so long to worship.  Matthew 2:10 tells us, “When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!”

I know that for some at Christmas, joy is the last emotion you want to be feeling this time of year.  Feelings of loss, regret, guilt, worry and sadness creep in this time of year and joy doesn’t even make it on the list.  For me, this Christmas is the first Christmas without my grandfather, who we would spend time with each Christmas at his assisted living home.  Also, my dad is facing a surgery soon that no one anticipated a couple of weeks ago.  It’s hard to have joy when a piece of you is missing or when you are worried about something in the coming year. 

Then I stop and think about these wisemen.  The Bible doesn’t say they had seen Jesus and then were filled with joy.  They were filled with joy BEFORE they saw him!  They were filled with joy because they knew the star signified that he was there! 

Joy should fill our hearts this Christmas because we know that Jesus is here!  He promises to never leave us or forsake us, to give us peace, to comfort us…and the list goes on and on!  His promises and the other things He has told us through the Scriptures aren’t to fill us with questions or concerns, they are to fill us with hope and joy!  “I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy.  Yes, your joy will overflow!” (John 16:11).  No matter what you are facing this Christmas…or into the coming year, know this…Jesus is HERE.  He longs for your presence.  He awaits your worship.  He wants to fill you with His joy.  No matter the circumstance.

Like the wisemen, we haven’t seen Him yet!  Like the wisemen, we follow the light (of the Word) in order to guide us to Him!  Like the wisemen, one day, as believers, we will get to worship at the feet of Jesus!  Now THAT’S something to have joy about!  

Joy to the world, the Lord is HERE!

A Sweet Peace

“…Have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." – John 16:33

Fear and nerves can be powerful emotions.  They can grip our minds and make us feel edgy, tense, depressed, and sometimes even angry.  How do we push these negative emotions away?  How do we find a way to be calm?  How do we find a sweet peace?

Jesus tells us in John 14:27, “My peace I give to you.”  That simple phrase alone should cut down all fear and anxiety.  He GIVES us His peace.  We don’t have to win a contest for it.  We don’t have to take a number and He’ll get back to us.  We don’t even have to pay for it.  He just gives it to us.  If you ask me, that’s mind-blowing! 

When we need peace, we simply ask Him for it.  Paul tells us in Philippians 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  He’s ready, waiting, and willing to take all our fears, worries, anger, and frustration and in return give us a calm and peaceful heart.  All we have to do is tell Him.  Again, mind-blowing!

I can’t tell you how many times I have called to my Jesus for peace, and time after time He has given it to me…no matter the place or the occasion.  It’s a crazy feeling because while I should be scared out of my skin, my heart instead feels calm, cool, and collected.  And just like Paul says, that TOTALLY surpasses all my understanding.  It is then I know, however, that He has heard my prayers and petitions and has given me that sweet peace I need. 

Unfortunately, trials and sorrows will find their way into our lives, Jesus said so in John 16:33; however, He promises to be there to give us His peace.  So…if you’re in a scary or frustrating situation, coming out of one, or are about to enter one, I want to leave you in this post by echoing the words of Paul in 2 Thessalonians 3:16, “Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!”