Hope Unwrapped

 Hope Unwrapped

This Sunday is the beginning of Advent which is a preparation for our Christmas Season. In many churches candles will be lit to celebrate different themes. Hope, love, joy, and peace. Today my mind went to the HOPE that we have as Christians.

One of the technological wonders that we enjoy these days is Facetime. It of course is being able to talk to people face to face on our phones. Happy faces crowd the screen telling of the newest game or toy they have or even a tour through a cleaned bedroom could be on the agenda. At the bottom of the screen is a little symbol that you can use to turn your screen in another direction. Many times little fingers have interrupted my struggling saying, “This button Grandma.” Indeed the screen was focused outward. Oh, it was wonderful for viewing new Christmas decorations, an updated view of Illinois weather, including snowdrifts, or the ten-foot-tall corn outside our door. An amazing thing to say the least.

Sometimes we even Christians can direct too much focus on the world outside with the sin that steals and destroys lives. Unfortunately, if we tarry there too long it can change our whole perspective on life. We turn the camera of our eyes to the hopelessness of the world instead of the hope of God which can lead to a joyless heart. We can forget the promises that are ours who believe on the Lord Jesus. The world does not give us hope but usually just the opposite. I love Psalm 42:11 that says, “why my soul are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? PUT YOUR HOPE IN GOD, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

My favorite verse on hope is in Romans as it sustained our family through difficult times. I like to call it Larry’s verse.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in faith so that you overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

Jesus, himself told us that we would have trouble in this life but by no means should we live in hopelessness. He is our HOPE.

As hearts hope this Christmas for all kinds of things including peace on earth, no more hurt and sorrow or even a superhero game, may we be filled with the joy that only hope in Jesus brings.

 

Find Us Faithful

 I am not a singer but boy do I love to make a joyful noise unto my Lord! The strains of old vocal cords cause an occasional crack in my voice that can cause the dogs to howl but still, I reach for notes that I shouldn’t attempt. This morning I sang ten Christmas carols all in a row that my dear husband had to endure. Full force, “O come all ye faithful”, “Angels we have heard on high” and “Silent Night, Holy Night”, echoed throughout the house. I’m not sure about my husband but I was truly blessed. I love everything about Christmas including the happy music, but as I listen to the lyrics, my heart was blessed. As I finished, “Ten of the Most Popular Christmas Carols” one of my favorite songs came up and I just had to sing it too. “Find Us Faithful. I thought it a suitable song to end with since our faithfulness is rooted in the Christmas songs I had just sung. Angels singing, the holy baby Jesus coming to earth one silent night. O come all ye faithful!

Across the country, the “Nihiser” Thanksgiving will be served with homemade rolls, sweet potato casserole, and of course noodles. Christmas trees will be cut down and decorated or as with us be taken out of boxes to grace our living rooms. Many traditions will be observed in each house of my children and grandchildren that have come down through the years but as our footprints are followed will we be found faithful to the Lord. As each one wriggles their feet into the prints left behind will the perfect fit lead them to our Sovereign Lord?

 

O may all who come behind us find us faithful.

May the fire of our devotion

Light the way.

May the footprints that we leave,

And the lives we live

Inspire them to obey.

O may all who come behind us faithful.

I love the stirring words that precede the chorus about those who’ve gone before us. Those who have encouraged us when we were weary and cheered us when we had lost hope, reminding us of God’s sustaining grace within our hearts. Great clouds of witnesses they call them, those who line the road on which we walk as pilgrims. So let us run the race not only for the prize but those who’ve gone on before. Let us leave to those behind us, the heritage of faithfulness.

The last part of the song hit home with me since we have been looking to downsize and leave our home. Because of this, we have gone through a lot of our things and laughingly say we are saving the kids from having to go through all our junk.

After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone

And our children sift through all we’ve left behind

May the clues that they discover and the memories they uncover

Become the light that leads them to the road we each must find

Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful

May the fire of our devotion light the way

May the footprints that we leave

Lead them to believe

And the lives we live inspire them to obey

Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful.

In fifty years will “Mom’s Rolls” or “Noodles by Mom” show up on tables across the country as they do now? Years have a way of changing things including favorite dishes but if God tarries, will He be glorified by those who have come behind us? Come All Ye Faithful!

As Feathers Across The Generations

 I have a cup that says, “I’m a writer, what is your super-power?”  Sounds like a confident writer doesn’t it? Well, let me tell you, I am not always confident. Sometimes my fingers dance across the keyboard with haste and purpose, but sometimes I start cold with only a thought, an idea or scripture to lead me and I never warm up. Writing is much like carefully placing your treasure for others to see but not having the slightest idea whose eyes will see it.

Why do I do it? Because I love it and because I believe I have been called by my gracious God to write. I take no credit for the gift He has given me. Whether a million people read what I write or no one but me, I will still praise Him for His favor. And so I write!

It wasn’t until 2010 that I began to write as I sat outside in what I fondly call my prayer chair after my retirement. That is where I heard the Lord’s voice, not audible, but in my heart, as I read scripture, prayed, and sang songs to my loving heavenly Father. Many of the words fell like feathers on my soul as I waited quietly in the early morning. Words given to me by my Father were scribbled down on a yellow notepad to later be fully written as a devotional thought.

It was said among family members that my paternal grandmother, who I never met, wrote many things including spiritual songs and poems. I would love to have some of her writings even the chicken scratchings as I call my rough draft. Though I’m told my grandma Neva, short for Nevada had a hard life, working the family farm, she wrote from a heart of gratitude and praise to God. She and my grandfather Thomas died while my dad was a prisoner of war in Germany. What anguish she must have felt with three sons fighting in the war and one captured and held prisoner for twenty-six months. I’m sure her writing reflected her broken heart.

Maybe my grandmother read of the love written throughout the scriptures, as I have, and just had to write it down. Zephaniah might have bolstered her, as she was told that her God delights, even greatly delights in her. In his love, he rejoices over her with singing. It could be she knew heaven was near for her and wrote of He who sits on the throne in Paradise. Perhaps Isaiah encouraged her with the thought of increased strength for the weak. Could she see in her heart the renewing that would cause her to mount up with wings like eagles? I read a few days ago in Daniel 12:3 that those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever.

 As I look deep into the night sky is my grandma Nevada shining for all to see? Did she lead many to righteousness? It will be grand to find out when I see her in heaven. A delightful thought that like a feather lands gently on my soul.

Nevada Hendren Tyson

February 24,1876-December 30,1943

Light Your Candles And Celebrate

 

I love candles, I love the smell and the ambiance they create. But the fact is I wait for special occasions, like company coming or welcoming my kids when they come home to enjoy the extravagant treat. I sometimes have had to dust off the tops before I could indulge in the dancing flame that flows from the colorful wax. Much time goes by as they lay in wait for that grand occasion.

Because our grandparents were married 100 years ago this year my cousin, Sharon decided that we should have a reunion to celebrate that occasion. I had wonderful talks with this friend leading up to this gathering about everything from our sometimes checkered ancestry to what is important in life. In many conversations, we would finally conclude that we should do what makes us happy in the now and not wait because we never know how much time we have. Her beautiful flame flickered brightly in my life as it always has as she used her many years of living to bring understanding to us both as we took on the cares of the world. As I look back on the last couple of months and the meeting of hearts that took place, I witnessed her flame burst forth in love as we talked about life, death, and what the bible says about heaven. The glorious ambiance that enveloped us both could only be God-given. We shared concerns as well as a love we had for our Savior. We laughed about times gone by and was hearkened to joy by the thought of our Lord. A few days ago this beautiful flame went out here on earth but I’m sure it burns brightly before the throne of our Father.

This morning as I stumbled down the stairs in the black of night for my quiet time with my precious Lord, my mind went to Mary Sharon Ryan my life-long friend the precious blessing the Lord bestowed on me. I lit candles because as my sweet cousin would say, every day is a special occasion and is worthy of celebration. In my mind’s eye, I see her flame reflecting on the streets of gold as she entered the City. I hear the Lord say, ”Well done my good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord.”

As for me, I no longer say, “Whoever dies with the most candles, wins” I pledge to light those candles in celebration of yet another day God has given me to tell about His unfailing love. Then someday, I will join her in that wonderful place the Lord has gone to prepare for us and my forever friend and I will talk for all eternity.

Mary Sharon Ryan

1940-2021

Hallelujah, she’s home!

Kick The Tires

 We have gone through one of the craziest times in our married lives for the last six months. It all started when we decided to sell our beloved home to downsize. Selling our house proved to be no problem but finding another one has been seemingly impossible. We have viewed big ones, little ones, some in perfect condition and some unlivable without lots of work and money. Our agent grew weary, I’m sure as we toured many houses only to hear, “No, not this one.”

Larry and I differed greatly in our approach to the process. I walked in and mentally began to arrange my furniture in the new abode. It was also important to me to find ceilings tall enough to hold my 12 foot Christmas tree so my eyes were always to the ceiling. Unless it was a glaring problem, I usually felt confident we could fix it. But as I meandered through with glowing confidence that this could be the one, I hadn’t noticed that my sweet husband had slipped outside to see the foundation, eyeball the roof, and survey the property line. His keen sense of smell could tell him immediately if there was a water problem and while I looked for space for my Christmas trees his eagle eye looked for signs of water damage.

Today, November 7, 2021, we have been married 52 years so I should be aware of the many ways he has taken care of our family as well as me. He has always protected us when we might be looking at the wrong things like Christmas trees when we should look at the big picture. God in His graciousness has given this man the strength of wisdom and self-control that has served us through all of these years. While during this process I have, more than once, stomped my foot at the “no not this one” my heart is confident that my stubborn husband will always “kick the tires” so to speak as he raises a prayer to God his constant guide. How can a girl fight that consistency and love that has been the staple for all of these years? Even through the difficulties of house hunting, I love this man with all my heart and trust he is led by an all-knowing God. Happy Anniversary my sweet husband.