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I was beginning to think winter was going to for the most part pass us by, but yesterday we got six inches of the fluffy, white stuff. It’s absolutely beautiful in our valley right now, with snow piled on roof tops and tree branches and the brown earth covered in white.

For many of us who live in the Northwest, winter is a mixed blessing. We need a heavy snowpack to ensure our irrigation ditches are filled in the summer. Also, the snow is good for the ski resorts and the local economy in general. At the same time winter comes with some drawbacks. Clearing 6 inches of snow of your car at 6 AM, scrapping layers of ice off windshields, and an icy commute to work are just a few winter annoyances that come to mind.

It would be easy to let these winter hardships blind us to the beauty of this time of year. Likewise, it’s easy to lose sight of God’s many blessings when things don’t go right, bills pile up, or sickness strike.

How we react to setbacks and challenges depends on where we are focusing our attention. If my eyes are fixed on the icy path or the snow blocking my way I may miss the beauty of the sun shining off the snow or a little bird balanced on a snow-covered branch. Similarly, if my focus is on my problems, I may lose sight of my Heavenly Father, the Problem Solver.

What about you? What are you looking at today? Are your eyes on roadblocks or the One who clears the way before you? Are you focused on the troubles in your life or the One who came that you “may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10)?

Today, instead of the dirty, slush covered roads, let’s focus on the beauty of snow-covered fields, And, instead of looking at the problems in our path, let’s “Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.” Psalm 105:4 NIV. If we just fix our eyes on Jesus, it’s going to be a beautiful day!

This last Sabbath, Ana and I visited the Young Adults Sabbath School Class at church (yeah, they even welcome old fogies like me!). We were discussing Revelation and how it can be hard to understand, especially for someone who isn’t familiar with the Bible.

One of the young ladies mentioned a friend who doesn’t believe in much of anything and how he couldn’t understand how she could believe the Bible. One of the other class members said, “Tell him you have to have faith.”

No offense, but I find we Christians tend to use the phrase, “you have to have faith”, as a cop-out when we don’t have an answer. We don’t really understand the subject ourselves, so we fall back on the tried-and-true, “You’ve gotta have faith” defense, nodding with satisfaction at our own wisdom. Meanwhile, the poor person we’re talking to is going, “Huh?”

For many the Bible is just an ancient book with a bunch of worn-out stories. This is why actions often speak louder than words. Yes, we need to share what the Bible says, but how it affects the way we live our lives is a more important witness than any words we use.

Remember the children’s game “Show and Tell”? Too often I get this backwards. I try to tell people what I believe, before I show them the difference it has made in my life. I need to follow the advice in James 2:18 to “show you my faith by my deeds.” In other words, I need to show, then tell!

In this coming year let’s get things in the right order. The Bible says, “The righteous will live by faith.” (Romans 1:17) It’s time for us to “live by faith,” not just tell people to “have faith.” Let’s give people a reason to believe, before we tell them to believe. In other words, let’s show, then tell, not the other way around.

What do you see when you look at the world around you? Do you see the needs of others, the opportunities to make another’s life a little easier, or do your own wants and needs block your view?

My friend, Tim Riesenberger, posted the following story on Facebook a few days ago which made me think about how I see the world. He was kind enough to let me share it with you:

“One day a wealthy Jewish businessman visited a rabbi to ask the meaning of life. He was confused. He seemed to have everything he needed and wanted: a beautiful loving wife, awesome obedient kids, great job, and a secure retirement, but he still somehow felt empty.

“The rabbi took him to a room with a large glass window that overlooked the streets of Jerusalem. He asked him ‘what do you see?’ The businessman told him: ‘I see men, women, and children, some busy with trade, others on their way to some destination, but many are in need, some are desperately poor, others seem lost and alone.’

“The rabbi then placed a very large mirror in front of him. He asked him to look again and tell him what he saw. ‘I see myself,’ answered the Jewish businessman.

“Then the rabbi told him: ‘Both the window and the mirror are simple panes of glass, however the mirror has a very small amount of silver added to the back. All of us in life begin as panes of glass, God has given us His grace to be able to see and meet the needs of those around us. However, it only takes a little silver added to our lives to cause us to be blinded to others around us and only see ourselves.”

“Has the window of your soul turned to silver glass?
Once only through this life we all must pass.
Can they see the silver that’s blocking your view?
Or do others behold the Savior? The choice is up to you.”

Without Jesus in our lives, “we see only a reflection as in a mirror” (1 Corinthians 13:12), but when His love fills our hearts our eyes are opened and “then we shall see face-to-face.”

I pray that today God will remove “the silver that’s blocking your view” so His love can shine on others through you.

I know most of you probably have your Christmas tree down and your decorations packed away, but in our house it’s Christmas for one more day. Ana is from Puerto Rico and in their culture Christmas lasts till January 6th, Three Kings Day.

On the eve of Three Kings Day, the children go out into the fields and collect grass and straw to put in a little box under their beds. What is the grass for? To feed the kings’ camels, of course.

When the children wake up in the morning, they rush to look under their beds and, sure enough, the camels have eaten all the hay and the kings have left presents for each girl and boy.

I don’t know about you, but I’d love for Christmas to last not just till January 6th, but all year long. I know that’s not possible, but we can carry its joy with us throughout the year if we will keep Jesus always in our hearts and in our thoughts, sharing His love with everyone we meet.

In John 6:37 Jesus promises, “whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” This year, follow the example of the Puerto Rican children and come to Jesus each evening.

I know you don’t have much to give, but there’s only one thing He really wants, the gift of your heart. Give it to Him and each morning He’ll give you the best gift of all – another day to spend with Him!

God bless and remember, with Jesus in your heart it’s Christmas every day!

Ana’s uncle, Angel, recently used the word “sabrosura”, to comment on one of my posts. Intrigued I asked Ana want it means. The simplest translation of sabrosura is “tasty,” but there’s a far richer meaning. It can mean sweetness, delight, savoriness.

As I thought about that, I remembered 2 Corinthinans 2:14-15 which says, “But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.”

The KJV translates the word aroma as “savour”. We are to be the savour of Christ to the world. We are to be sabrosura.

Colombia calls itself the “Land of Sabrosura.” To Colombians, the word speaks of “a vibrant and colorful country where kindness, joy, diversity, flavor, and music come together to make people vibrate with life.” “Sabrosura is the irresistible attitude and optimism that transforms visitors into friends.”

This is what God wants our churches to be like. He wants us to be Sabrosura, irresistible, places where our “attitude and optimism…transforms visitors into friends”, places “where kindness, joy, diversity, flavor, and music come together to make people vibrate with life.”

In 2019, let’s become the Church of Sabrosura, the savour of Christ in our communities. May we, as a church and as individuals, let God use “us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere”, inviting all we meet to “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” Psalm 34:8.

God bless and have a “tasty” Sabbath!

Shopping for cars is not my favorite thing to do. I’m one of those people who can’t just go and buy a car. I have to research about each brand, consider the options, safety features, and customer reviews, and then drive several vehicles, before I finally make a choice.

The problem is there are so many choices out there. I always laugh when a salesperson puts the pressure on me to “Buy Now!” They gravely warn me that this deal won’t last, that someone else might snap up this bargain if I wait. I smile and look at my list and move on to the next dealer. If there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that there is always another deal, always another car.

When it comes to our salvation that’s not true, however. There’s only one option out there – Jesus Christ. “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 NIV.

Don’t waste your time shopping around. Jesus is the best deal you’ll ever find! But, don’t forget, this is a limited-time offer. Jesus is coming soon to take His children home. Make sure you don’t miss out this one-time event. “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.” Isaiah 55:6.

I know if I look hard enough I’ll find the right car. In the same way, God promises,”You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13. This morning, make seeking Him your first priority and when you find Him give your heart. He’s the best deal ever!

I’d planned to write a post yesterday morning, but with all the running around I’m doing right now to try to find a new car to replace the one that got totaled, I just didn’t have the time. I also wasn’t planning on the thin layer of ice that is covering the roads and everything else this morning. And I certainly didn’t plan on 2018 ending the way it did, with my wife and daughter having an accident!

This time of year many of us plan for the coming year, making resolutions and listing the things we want to accomplish. Of course, we can plan all we want, but none of us can see the future. Inevitably things will come up we hadn’t planned on, circumstances will change and we’ll have to adjust.

Thankfully, “The Lord works everything out to its proper end…” Proverbs 16:4 NIV. It’s so comforting to know our Heavenly Father is already planning this next year for you and He plans “to prosper you and not to harm you…to give you a hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

In 2019 I intend to take a little different approach. Instead of trying to plan every detail of my life, just to watch all my plans go up in smoke, I’m going to take Solomon’s advice to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6

This year why not join me and let God plan your days? Start each morning with prayer, surrendering your life to direction. In this journey called life let Him take the wheel, then see what happens. One thing I can promise – we’re in for an adventure! I can hardly wait!

I love New Year’s Day!

I know New Year’s just another day on the calendar, but it feels like a pause in the cycle of life, a fresh new start. All my mistakes, my failures, of the past year are just that – in the past. The future is an empty canvas ready to be filled with hopes and dreams and new adventures. Today I get a new beginning!

The neat thing about being one of God’s children is every day is New Year’s, a new beginning! No matter how badly I’ve screwed up, no matter how disgusting my sin, my God loves me. 1 John 1:9, promises, “if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins…”

And it doesn’t end there! God doesn’t just forgive our sins, but will also “…cleanse us from all wickedness.” In fact, God promises in 1 Corinthians 5:17, “that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person.” We get a new start! A new beginning! “The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”

This New Year’s Day, start your year out right. Give Jesus your heart and get a brand new start!

God bless and have a great 2019!

Well, this is it! The last day of 2018! It’s been quite a year! How was it for you? Good? Bad? In between? When you look back on it, do you feel hope or despair, thankfulness or regret?

Our family ended 2018 with a bang! Literally! Ana and Rishana’s accident two days ago, woke us all up to how fragile life can be and how precious every moment with our loved ones truly is.

As I woke this morning and heard Ana breathing softly beside me, I didn’t think about all the things which went wrong this last year, the mistakes I made, the disappointments and regrets. No, I just lay there thanking God for the privilege of listening to her breathe, that I hadn’t lost her or Rishana, that I get to spend another day being married to this beautiful woman!

Sometimes we let our regrets and disappointments, our mistakes and failures, blind us to what really matters – the laughter of a child, the touch of a hand, the beauty of a new day, and the joy of loving someone and being loved in return. We need to follow Paul’s advice in Philippians 3:13 to forget what is in the past and press on into the future We need to concentrate on the good and leave the rest in God’s hands, looking with hope into the future.

As you close out 2018, don’t end it fretting about the things which didn’t go right, the mistakes you made, the setbacks and disappointments. Instead, “forgetting what is behind”, count your blessings and and with Jesus by your side, “press on” into a brand New Year!

Yesterday, as I was waiting to get up to preach at Cashmere, I wondered what was holding up the rest of my family. They’d all gotten a late start, so I’d headed to church without them. They were going to come in time for the sermon, but they still weren’t there.

Suddenly, Alex burst into the sanctuary, his phone to his ear. He hurried up to the platform and said, “Mom and Rishana have been in an accident! They rolled the car!”

Forgetting all about the sermon I’d so carefully prepared, I ran out of the church, leaving a stunned congregation to fend for themselves. All I could think about was getting to my wife and daughter as fast as I could.

When we arrived at the scene, I saw Ana’s car turned over on it’s side, the roof smashed in and the windows broken out. Ambulances and police were already there, but I couldn’t see Ana or Rishana at first. Running towards the wreck I dreaded what I would find.

Imagine my relief when I saw them both standing, being attended to by the paramedics. They were pretty shaken, but okay. The paramedics ended up transporting them to the hospital as a precaution, but, other than sore necks and backs and a couple scratches, they are fine.

Psalm 91:11, 12 promises, “For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.” I’m so thankful his angels were holding up Ana and Rishana yesterday!

Today, be sure to “make the Lord your refuge…make the most High your shelter.” (Psalm 91:9). He promises, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name.” (v. 14). Truly, “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.” (Psalm 46:1) I’m so thankful we can count on Him!

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll go hug my wife and daughter for a very long time!

God bless, have a great day, and stay safe!