This morning I spared with God.  It happened just after I had finished my telephone devotional time with about 25 other believers from 6-7:00 a.m.  As I lay in bed at the conclusion of prayer time, I turned on my TV to listen to the early morning news.  The first report given was a weather update on the first big snowstorm descending on the upper northeastern states.  I heard the weather announcer say something like this: “Reports are coming in that due to the heavy snowstorm and the automobile pile ups on the highways, the delivery of the Covid-19 vaccine might be delayed.”

WHAT? I exclaimed as I sat up in bed.  No, my Lord, no!  How could You do this?  You just unshackled the government, endowed scientific and medical minds to perfect the vaccine, empowered the regulator committees to approve the vaccine, and harnessed the transportation systems to deliver the vaccine to the first defenders, nursing homes and critical masses.  Now look what You have gone and done! Manufactured more delays. What’ssss Up!

By this time, I was under the covers hiding…expecting God to zap me at any moment.  I glanced to my right and to my left to see if the strong presence I was feeling was to become a live aberration and Jesus Christ Himself would appear with a rod in His hand.  I stayed hidden under the blanket for a while, eyes wide open, nervously unsettled, listening for a squeak in the floorboards, expecting a soft breeze to flutter through my bedroom from the closed windows…and then I regretfully and quietly whispered an apologetic prayer.

“Forgive me Lord, for I have sinned. I changed lanes.  I forgot this was a one-way street.  And You and You alone have the right of way.”

After sliding out from under the covers, I immediately grabbed one of my devotional books and turned, without faltering, to pages 152 and 154 of Susie Larson’s devotional book entitled Blessings For Women (Sub-titled, ‘Words of Grace and Peace for Your Heart’). There I discovered the following 2 verses:

“The Lord gives his people strength.  The Lord blesses them with peace.”  Psalm 29:11 NLT

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up in honor.”  James 4:10 NLT

That’s all the Holy Spirit conveyed to me.  That was His complete conversational message. Thus sayeth the Lord…He did not scold me are zap me dead.  He just commended me for returning back into my own lane and allowing God to do His thing.  Once again, I was reminded that God and God alone is in control of this pandemic business, and it ain’t over until He says it’s over. Amen!

Scripture Lesson: “But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me, my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. Psalm 3:3 KJV

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At first, I didn’t realize what was happening to me. I did not know that God was in the mix. But when I finally sat down at my computer last night to write my weekly blog, I heard His voice loud and clear. “It’s not about you, my child, it’s about Me!”

Right then and there, our conversation started…

“What’s that you said, My Lord?  Were you talking to me?  Wait.  Wait.  Let me get my head on straight.  I hope I haven’t kept you waiting too long.”

To be honest, I had not prayed like Jabez.  You know that guy in the Bible who prayed for God to enlarge his territory.  But I had been thinking about and agonizing over those families the news commentators were highlighting in stories about the loss of jobs and empty pantries, and homelessness.  I had asked the Lord to search my heart and show me where I could tighten my belt and dig a little deeper to share some of my blessings with those in need.

The first thing the Holy Spirit did right after Thanksgiving was to urge me to start getting ready for Christmas.  I had no idea why.   So, with little thought, I went to my rented storage room and began to pull out storage bins filled with brand new gifts I had received over the years and brand new items I intended to give away but never did.  My eyes got big.  My heart started pounding.  I was surprised at the ‘stash’ I had collected over the years.

Next, I uncovered bags of brand new Christmas wrapping paper, tissue paper, ribbons and stickers and gift boxes in all sizes.  In the corner of the closet were some never-before-used Christmas tree ornaments and lights.  Good googly-woogly I thought, I can start a Hobby Lobby Store with all this stuff.  “Those are not your thoughts,” I heard a small voice in my head say.  “That was Me,” said the Lord!

It took me several trips to cart all that stuff from the storage unit to down the hall to my apartment.  But with a great big smile, I managed it.  With every step, I was thinking, I know what I am going to do.  Since Covid-19 has all of us seniors pinned down here in our apartments, and nobody is going out to do much shopping, I’ll hold a flea market sale in the lobby and turn ‘trash’ into a ‘treasure’ for someone who can appreciate shopping in safety.

In the ensuing days, I heard that my church was also sponsoring a clothing drive for all ages, including furniture and small household items.  They were also collecting on behalf of Mission Arlington.  So I also joined their efforts because Mission  Arlington would be providing a truck to come to the church after the clothing drive to receive everything.

May I suggest, the very next time you handle a rubber band…stretch it…look up…and say…”Lord, do me like you did that blogging lady.”  You too, can make somebody’s day.

Scripture Lesson: “She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.” Proverbs 30:20 KJV

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Legend has it (according to Google) that in 1670 a choirmaster named Mr. Schildhaus, who conducted young singers at the Cologne Cathedral in Germany decided to entice them to remain quiet during the Living Creche ceremony (dialogue only, no singing) by awarding them with a stick of homemade sugar candy. On a whim, and in honor of the occasion, he bent the candies into shepherds’ crooks. To learn how the crooked candy cane gets filled with a peppermint stripe, click the website below, next click the peppermint picture, then watch the 2 minute Youtube video.

https://www.history.com/player/21088928?autoplay=true

THERE IS NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN…

Well, I had a short conversation with the Holy Spirit and He revealed to me that human beings are not the only ones who use a cane for correction and sweet morsels to pacify. He reminded me of something God set in order before the beginning of time.

For it is written in Exodus 30:23 (RS Version) the manner in which the Israelites should atone for their sins against God. The statute explains how the Israelites were to take their finest spices and perfumes (including cane) and mix them with olive oil and anoint Aaron and his sons and consecrate them so that they might serve God as his priests. God himself refers back to this particular form of atonement when he reprimands his people Israel when they were unfaithful:

“You have not brought me your sheep for burnt offerings, or honored me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with offerings, or wearied you with frankincense. You have not bought the sweet cane with money, or satisfied me with the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened me with your sins. You have wearied me with your iniquities.” Isaiah 43:23-24 Revised Standard Version

So, during this Yuletide Season, let us all remember how closely connected our dear Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is aligned to the Evergreen tree (they nailed Him to a tree); to the newly born (the manner in which He entered the world and the state we must become (as a little child) to receive all of His glorious wonders); the elaborate gifts (we were bought with a price); His journey into Egypt (our life of darkness prior to seeing the light); His journey out of Egypt and baptism into His ministry; our journey out of darkness and baptism by the gift of the Holy Spirit readying us for discipleship; and finally the sweet aroma of the cane preferred by God as an atonement for disobedience; and our penchant for the taste of sweet peppermint to remind us that Jesus is the reason for the season.

ALLOW GOD TO BLESS YOU WITH MORE AND MORE OF HIM…

Finally, my friends, my prayer for you today is that you all rediscover Christmas anew. When you dress up in your ugly Christmas sweaters, be reminded to unravel the ugliness that is harbored deep down in your souls. Also, when you wrap those Christmas gifts to send to loved ones, remember to also wrap hope in sunshine and allow your message to penetrate somebody’s dark cloud of despair. And last but not least, when in that shopping check-out line, look backwards into the basket behind you, lift out an item and ask if you can be a blessing today with God’s goodness (even if it means you putting something of yours back on the shelf). Become a candy cane with a sweet aroma and a sweet taste in the mouth of someone to lift the spirits of a total stranger. Amen!

Scripture Lesson: Isaiah 9:6

Click http://www.tgifmasterminds.wordpress.com every Friday for a new post from The Master’s servant manager…Me!