What does Christmas mean to you?

Ah, Christmas!  Sleigh bells, snow covered trees and houses, lighted decorations all over town, Christmas carols singing and playing, Jolly St Nick, Christmas trees lighted with silver and decorated with fancy balls and homemade ornaments, little toddlers lined up to sit on Santa's lap, shoppers rushing to purchase the latest gifts, parties in every neighborhood.  December is a busy, frantic month as we all plan and schedule Christmas festivities.

What is Christmas?  Is it just a time for extravagance or does it have meaning?  How did Christmas become such a huge event when we spend too much money, eat too much fattening food, create a busy frantic schedule, collapse on December 26 and then wish we hadn't bought and baked so many goodies.  

I love Christmas.  I always have.  And I'm guilty of all the above.  But I know why we celebrate Christmas.  Luke 1: 26 "the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.  And he (the angel Gabriel) came to her and said, 'Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!'.....'do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.'"  Luke 2: 7  And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn."

Yes, God brought forth His Son as a tiny baby, born not in a palace like a prince, but in a humble stable so that all would know that Jesus, our Savior, was God's gift to every one of us.

Isn't it amazing that we have added so much more to Christmas with lavish spending, traditions, and entertainment that we squeeze in the celebration of Jesus' birth.  When you study the Scripture rendition of the birth of Jesus you have to be astonished at what God accomplished.  As Mary said, Luke 1: 37 "For with God nothing will be impossible."

First of all, Mary conceived in her womb a baby without any male contact.  Science today would say that's impossible and Mary must have been lying.  But when you study the Scripture you see that Joseph himself states, Luke 2: 5 "to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child."  Joseph was an honorable man and when he said 'betrothed' he meant, engaged, with no sexual activity, until a formal marriage.  In our modern day we forget or ignore Good's incredible presence and power.  God created our world and is still present with us today.

Mary was only about 14 years old and had probably just experienced one menstrual cycle which made her physically able to become pregnant.  Just think......14 years old and here she was unwed and pregnant in the small town of Nazareth bursting with gossip about this 'naughty Mary who must have had sex with someone in the neighborhood'.  A lot to put on her shoulders, but she believed and trusted God to care for her.

And then, the census or 'registration' initiated by Caesar Augustus, the new god-king of Rome, which required Mary and Joseph to travel 90 miles, avoiding Samaria, over dusty, hilly roads with no mass transit or interstates.  Imagine how Mary felt sitting on a donkey for over a week and nearing her due date.

Think of young Mary, birthing a baby on hay surrounded by animals and filth, her first delivery, possibly  alone.  And then the sudden arrival of simple shepherds, lowest class of people, but first to hear the news by heavenly angels, Luke 2: 11 "For to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."  Mary was a simple girl, not wealthy, not a princess, not from a prestigious family, but a young girl who loved, believed and trusted God.

Christmas means one thing.  Jesus Christ is born!  Let us hear thousands of angels praising God and saying Luke 2: 14 "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased."  This is why we celebrate Christmas.  This is why, no matter how much commercialism and fanciful tradition swirl around our Christmas celebrations, God is here pouring out His love on us with His gift of a tiny baby who is our Savior.  AMEN!

Merry Christmas to everyone and a Happy New Year!

LOVE, Janet

"What the world needs now is love, sweet love"

Do you remember that song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David back in 1965?  "It's the  only thing that there's just too little of, What the world needs now is love, sweet love, no not just for some but for everyone."

I thought of that song this week as I listened to the news, heard the members of Congress, heard the reports of empty store shelves, cargo ships waiting to be emptied, the disaster at the southern border, price of gas and on and on. What is going on in this great United States of America?  Here I am, 85 years old, living through WW II, Korean War, Vietnam, the Sixties, economic ups and downs, Cuban Missile Crisis, President Kennedy assassination, 9/11, fifteen Presidential terms from FDR, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, LBJ, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush (41), Clinton, Bush (43), Obama, Trump to Biden,.......and yet never experiencing such governmental breakdowns, confusions and untruths.

Is this a time we need a total nationwide transformation?  The hatred we see publicly displayed in our federal government is shameful.  Was it always this way or we just didn't know?  Or has this just risen in our day.  I am reminded that history books tell me the hatred and dissension leading to the Civil War was harsh, pitting families apart, leading to a war losing thousands of our young men and ending in a bitter surrender.  History records 625,000 war deaths and 1,500,000 casualties in the Civil War.  Many died, not from combat, but from disease and malnutrition.  The Civil War was horrendous.

I mention that song about 'love'.  Whatever happened to love, respect and common sense?  "What the world needs now is love" was written back in 1965 but certainly is needed today.

What is love?  Is it the sexual urge that we feel toward a person of the opposite sex?  Is it that overwhelming joy we have experienced when birthing a baby?  Is it the deep gratitude knowing our adult children are happily married?  Is it the intimacy with a close friend who knows me, understands me and supports me?  Love is all the above and more.

Love is an amazing power, emotion, and belief.  Where does love come from?  Was love always here in our human senses or was it given to us in a specially gifted way??

God is love.  1 John 4:8 states,  "He who does not love does not know God; for God is love."  Also 1 John 4:16  "So we know and believe the love God has for us.  God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him."  Love is another special gift God has given us.  If this gift comes from God, why don't we express it all the time?  Of course we live in a fallen world and we are sinful people who don't always act in love.  But if we obediently follow our Creator, love would prevail.  Never forget, the most powerful message of love is John 3: 16.

An important display of love is forgiveness.  How easy it is to remember those people who have emotionally hurt us.  We carry that hurt for years.  What about times when someone cheated us in a money scam.  That sure hurt.  There are many unfortunate displays of bad behavior in our society these days.  But how should we respond?  How about 'forgiveness'?  Sometimes that is painful but I know we feel better. I had a situation where a relative turned against me in a financial situation.  At first I demanded my rights but when that proved impossible I had to let things go and forgive the individual.  His response was not good, but I felt better.  We forgive but we don't forget.  And 'forgiveness' is what God wants us to do because 'forgiveness' shows love.

Yes, I am most grateful I know love, have been loved, am now loved, and I myself easily love others.  I am an emotional, sensitive person and I don't mind showing my love to friends and relatives openly and enthusiastically.  Why hold back?  Show love in your expression, your hugs, your approval, your outspoken words of support, your joy, your smile, your laughter.  So many ways to show love and this culture needs an outpouring of love now!  Hum along "What the world needs now is love, sweet love" and your heart will radiate that love to others.

The Sound of Music

Recently I attended a piano concert and heard one man play melody after melody on the baby grand.  As I sat there listening to the chords and notes ringing through the hall, I suddenly realized music is a gift.  Music lifts our spirits, music quiets our anxiety, music sings to our hearts.  Yes, music has been part of our lives since creation and it is a special gift from God.

I am a musical person, learning to play the piano in grade 4 and then becoming a mezzo-soprano soloist singing concerts throughout the US and portions of the world.  Studying music, learning music, performing music fills your life.  When you recognize what key is being played, what instrument is playing, your musical life is enriched.

Where did music begin?  Who sang the first song?  Did Adam and Eve sing to each other?  They loved each other.  Certainly they must have sung sweet melodies of endearment.  When did people discover musical sounds could be produced by blowing into a bone, or a reed or a tube?  When you think of the history of music it is amazing what people developed.  And here we are today with large symphonies comprised of various instruments developed by musicians over the centuries and when they are joined together playing the sounds of the various instruments the music is harmonious, and pleasurable.  Music surrounds us today.  TV, radio, CDs, recordings, cars, stores,   i-phones, everywhere we go we can hear music.  Technology has brought music to us 24/7.

Historians cannot give an answer to "When did music start?".  But if we look into scripture, we see very clearly the history of music.  Genesis 4: 21 states, "He (Jubal) was the father of all those that play the harp and the flute."  Jubal's father was Lamech, whose father was Methuschael, whose father was Irad, whose father was Enoch, whose father was Cain, the brother of Abel, whose father was Adam.

By the time Jubal grew to maturity, the harp and the flute were established instruments of music.  But if people knew how to make music from the harp and the flute, they certainly knew musical melodies.  I think God created music in our hearts from the very beginning.  We experience melodies in our hearts even today.

When I sang vocal solos in my concerts I could feel the message of music singing from my heart.  That is how emotion fills us as we listen, hum, sing or play music.  Music emanates from our hearts so that we communicate the musical message so powerfully.  Who created us with that ability?  Were we born with that or did we 'learn' it.

My parents told me that as a little toddler I would wake early in the morning and be humming melodies.  Not music being played on the radio but melodies that just were created in my heart at a young age.  Where did that music come from?

God is the answer.  When we begin to think of all the detailed intricacies of our growth and development from a fertilized egg and sperm to a 5 or 9 lb. baby born into our world with all the internal gifts of our mind, body and spirit, it is amazing.  God is the ultimate planner and developer of each individual.  Here I am, with a deep love and knowledge of music so that I can identify what instrument is playing, what notes are being played on the piano, and deeply feel in my heart the musical mood.  That is a gift.

May we all experience the joy of music.  Never say, "I can't sing."  Many people say that today because they were off-key in their high school chorus and the music teacher advised them to 'mouth the words'.  So they think they cannot ever open their mouth and sing.  I'm sure God doesn't care if you are in perfect pitch.  Instead enjoy the gift that He has given all of us.  Music is universal......to be loved and enjoyed with all your heart.  Clap your hands, dance to the rhythm, hum or sing aloud, sing with gusto in the shower, sing when you are happy, sing when you are sad.  Let music be part of your life.  Let God's gift forever be heard.  His gift is special.

Are you discouraged like me?

Have you experienced discouragement within the past year?  With all that has been going on in our world, our country, our neighborhoods, our private lives.......certainly we have all felt discouraged.  As senior citizens, we might feel that discouragement hits us harder because of feeling lonely, out of the mainstream, suffering from grief as our loved ones die, experiencing pain, discomfort as we struggle with physical problems, dealing with lockdowns, and federal rules that change almost daily.  All of us in our society have felt deep, serious discouragement this past year.

Many of us are discouraged with our federal government.  Are they truly leading us or are they just mouthing empty promises?  Do they truly know how most Americans feel these days, how frustrated, discouraged and fearful we have become?  As a child growing up I remember FDR as president, but did not even know he was in a wheelchair.  No TV at that time and limited news coverage.  At that time and for years afterward, I trusted the federal government and voted for candidates that 'seemed' honest and trustworthy.

Now I realize how naive I have been.  First of all, I did not really know what went on in Washington. I just put total trust in the government leaders, respecting and honoring their public service.  Politics was something that sounded interesting but not enough to make me get involved.  However, now in 2021, thanks to mass media, we know details of government decision making, the pros and cons of debates, subtle controversial ingredients of House bills and we realize our government is ruled by instances of subterfuge resulting in hidden taxes and promoting certain government priorities that benefit politicians.

As a result, I now admit I am worried about our safety as a nation, I wonder how our adversaries are going to take advantage of us, and most of all, what is the future for my children and grandchildren?

There is a solution to my discouragement.  I believe in one true God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.  Even in these days of our country's weakness, vulnerability, mistrust and confusion, my Lord is in control.  I don't see it, I don't feel it.....but I know He is here to help and lead us.  Hebrews 13: 6  "The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid."  Chapter 9 of the Book of Daniel in the OT is a wonderful example of how believers can pour out their hearts and pray to God.  By admitting our own sin and unfaithfulness, God listens and will heal our land.

How was our country born?  The Declaration of Independence states, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

Our Creator is God Almighty, recognized in our famous Declaration.  Is God ignored today in our government?  Is God recognized with respect and obedience as our Creator?  Almighty God wants every citizen of the United States to enjoy Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.  We believe that and we believe prayer means we talk with God and He listens to our pleas.

Yes, prayer is what our beloved country needs now.  Vista Springs Holland Meadows here in Holland is a facility for senior citizens who require assistance in daily living.  What can senior citizens do in such a time as this?  PRAY!  We residents here have opened a daily prayer time.  We meet for 20 minutes of prayer right before noon dinner.  We are just beginning, small in number, but we will grow as more of us realize the opportunity to talk with God.   We pray diligently that our United States of America will again be the world's leader in freedom, liberty and strength with full respect and faith in our Creator.

WHERE IS TRUTH?

Is our culture filled with truth these days?  Do we hear truth spoken?  Is truth vital for our living?  Do we ourselves speak truth?  Do we believe in truth?

When I was 5 years old and a kindergarten pupil in Roosevelt School, Ridgefield Park, NJ, I remember being very naughty one day.  I punched a classmate, Barbara, in the stomach!  Why?  I have no idea why, but probably my self-centered immature personality decided to do something wrong that day.  Well, Barbara's mom went to the teacher and reported my bad behavior.  Of course, my Mommy found out and she proceeded to question me.  I stood there very scared and totally denied that I had punched anyone. I recall thinking, Mommy thinks I'm such a good girl, I don't want to spoil that thinking.  I struggled with my denial for two days.  Finally, in tears, I confessed my bad deed.  Mommy took me in her arms.  "Janet, thank you for admitting the truth.  I had a feeling you had done that to Barbara, and I'm relieved you have told the truth.  Never forget, Janet, no matter what you've done, always tell the truth."  Those words have stuck in my mind all these 80 years!  Yes, always tell the truth.

Why is truth important?  Who told us truth is important?  When I think about it, I am reminded we all have a conscience, which, according to Webster's dictionary, "tells us the right or wrong of one's acts or motives".  Therefore, do we want to do right, do we want to speak right?  As a citizen of this USA, as a mother of 4 adults, as a church member, as a neighbor and friend, yes, I want to live right, do right, speak right and tell the truth.  Listen to our conscience to tell us right from wrong.

When we don't tell the truth we mislead our constituents, our families, our neighbors and friends to follow down the wrong path.  Truth is magnificently stressed in the Bible because God wants us to tell the truth.  If we love our families, our friends, our neighbors, why would we want to lead them down the wrong direction in living lives and making decisions.

We also want to know when we hear distortions of truth to be able to have the discernment to know they are lies and we will absolutely not accept them.  Following lies, believing lies, will lead us to destruction.  As we live in this fallen world, we must be vigilant to follow the truth.

Where do we find the 'real' truth?  Who is the giver of 'real' truth?  The Bible and God.  Isaiah 45:19b  "I, the Lord, speak the truth, I declare what is right."  John 1: 14. "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.  We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."  2 Timothy 2:15  Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth."

Where is truth?  Truth is found by listening to God.

Death is part of life

Death entered our family lives again last week when our dear, beloved son-in-law, died from kidney cancer.  We were prepared, we knew, but the shock of finality, of death, is painful and I grieved heavily.    On May 8, 2021 we finally held our Memorial Service for my husband, Dick, who died on May 6 of 2020 at age 90.  Remember, everything was postponed, delayed and canceled because of Covid. But we finally had closure only weeks ago.  Here I am again dealing with the grief that accompanies news of death, especially with a close family member.  This grief is even more painful because our son-in-law was only 55.  He had a long life ahead of him with his wife and family.  But, why do we believers grieve?  We know our loved ones who believe in the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit will live in paradise for all eternity.  Grief is because we who survive will desperately miss our loved ones.  We grieve because of our loss.

Our culture doesn't help us regarding death.  Think about it.  Do we easily have an ordinary conversation about death? Do we ignore death? Do we even deny death?  But death is part of life.  Every human being will at some point die.  Our life span these days can be 90 plus years, but our bodies age, our bodies even decay at some point.  Why do we deny death?  If we know we are going to be in a totally different place some day, don't you think it would be wise to read all about that place, ask questions about that place and totally prepare for death?  But how much time do we take to think about eternity in heaven.

Another problem our culture has these days.  Our lives are being extended.  Medical science has discovered myriad ways to keep us alive.  Over 100 years ago, people just died.  Now modern medicine doesn't let you die. We have availability to purchase tons of pills and medical devices that help us breathe, control our heart rate, clean our lungs, digest our food, help us walk, enable us to struggle living alone, and extend our physical lives for years.  But what eventually happens?  We all die.

Do we then become afraid of dying?  Or do we approach the idea of death legally and responsibly.  If we feel that our culture doesn't want us to die, even if we are comatose, what do we do?  What I did.  I made decisions. I did not want to be kept artificially alive so I signed legal papers to make sure my family and my medical caregivers would know what to do.  We all must be aware that life and death issues must be handled legally and that means signatures.  Our lives have become so complicated we must make decisions now before we become physically unable to do so.

The Bible gives us proof that heaven will be a glorious place.  Jesus has gone before us to prepare a place.  How wonderful, how glorious.  Jesus said, "Let not your hearts be troubled, believe in God, believe also in me.  In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And when I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, that where I am you may be also." John 14: 1 - 3.  Also, Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me." John 14: 6.  Yes, Jesus emphasizes that belief in Him is critical for all of us to enter heaven.

Why should we worry about death, why should we be afraid of death, and why should we ignore talking about death?  When we believe in Jesus as our Savior, Redeemer and Son of God let us rejoice that our eternal life after death will be with God in paradise.  We rejoice that our beloved Dick and son-in-law are in heaven now living with our Creator and Redeemer in the glory of the New Jerusalem......"The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it.  The Lamb is its light." Revelation 21: 23.  AMEN!

I LOVE AMERICA!

I'm sure we all remember Kate Smith singing with her rich voice, "God bless America", written by Irving Berlin.  How many glorious times do we remember that song being sung at sporting events all across the USA.  Yes, a song that made us proud, a melody that made us rejoice as we stood together at various events with our friends and neighbors of different backgrounds, our hearts rejoicing in our free country. That song still makes my heart sing.

Our country went through some tough times back in the 40s when we fought in World War II.  But as dangerous as those times were, we never lost our patriotism.  I was 5 years old, in kindergarten that Monday morning in December when Miss Wilkins, my kindergarten teacher, read the New York Times announcing the start of the war with Japan attacking Hawaii.  I still remember sitting very quietly on my kindergarten chair carefully listening to the news.  All I remember is that I felt scared.  What did this mean for my family?  I began to worry about my older brother Donald, my parents, my Dad who worked at Ford Motor Company in Edgewater, NJ. across from Manhattan, on the Hudson River.  In fact, Easter Sunday 1945, my Dad had to work!  I remember how shocked I was that he should have to be at Ford Motor Company helping to manufacture jeeps instead of attending church on that special day.  Hawaii was a long distance away and yet I wondered.  When would the war end?

Then I remember neighbors, young high school graduates, without hesitation signing up to fight in the war.  It was as if everyone in my town of Ridgefield Park, NJ wanted to somehow be on the fighting front lines of the war.  Collections of scrap metal, women gathering together sewing bandages, men volunteering to be "air raid wardens", blackout drills in the dark nights of winter.  Each citizen wanted to volunteer to do something to protect our country and fight the enemy.

I also remember the "Gold Star Mothers", women who lost their sons fighting the war in the Pacific and Europe.  The US was truly facing a huge world war with two fighting fronts, one against Japan and one against Germany.  A lot of men, young and middle age, fought in the war and died.  My backdoor neighbor had a small banner in her front porch window that was decorated with four gold stars.  My parents told me she had lost four sons in the war.  I remember feeling so badly for her family.  Whenever I thought about her loss I grieved.

The United States showed incredible strength, unity and patriotism during 1941 through 1945.  Everyone was proud of America and voiced their pride.  At the end of the war, I remember my Dad grabbing several New Years' Eve horns, putting them in our hands and walking us up and down Grand Avenue as we shouted, "War is over!".  Neighbors opened their doors and cheered with us at the glorious news.  Peace had returned to America.

As we heard Kate Smith singing again, we all joined in......"God bless America, land that I love, stand beside her and guide her through the night with the light from above.  From the mountains to the prairies, to the oceans white with foam, God bless America, my home sweet home.......God bless America, my home sweet home."

Here it is, 2021 and we are living in troubled times.  Are we united in pride for this America, "the land that I love"?  Are we united in praying to God to continue to bless America, "stand beside her and guide her through the night with the light from above?"  Are we united in love for the varieties of backgrounds we all come from, since we are a land of immigrants?  Are we united in love for all the varieties of skin color we proudly have because we are all related as brothers and sisters, descendants of Adam and Eve?  Do we rejoice in this land with its God created beauty "from the mountains to the prairies to the oceans white with foam?  Do we thank God for "America, my home sweet home"?

Let us not forget this America, that we have a gift of freedom, that we have a God who watches over us, and that we have a government that is accountable to the people.  May we remember the greatness of America in these turbulent times of 2021.