Love Archives - The Ultimate Gift

December 25, 2024

The Ultimate Gift

Considering the name of my blog, it wouldn’t seem right to allow Christmas to pass without a word from me. After all, Jesus IS the ultimate gift. In the wee hours of Christmas morning, I’m feeling too exhausted to write, yet too wound up to remain silent.

From One Extreme to the Other

What a difference a year makes. This time last year, I was in bed recovering from my initial cervical spine surgery. It was the quietest Christmas that I ever recall. I watched enough Christmas movies to exceed my life’s quota all in one month! This year I felt like I couldn’t have possibly packed another thing into December. Thankfully there were precious celebrations of the season with friends and family to break up that lengthy list of tasks that come with preparing for Christmas.

Singing and Ringing

Music played a big role in making this a December to remember. It was an honor to play a beautiful Christmas medley with the handbell choir early in the month. The following week, my church presented a Christmas cantata for the first time since 2019. What a joy it was to sing in that again after the lengthy layoff!

Words are Powerful

The Christmas Eve service last night felt like the grand finale. I recently admitted that I do not pay a whole lot of attention to the words I’m singing. Songs in my digital library are generally there because I like the tune. And just when I admitted that publicly, the words in the choir music suddenly started jumping off the page. They have moved me to the point that I get too choked up to sing at times. It happened again last night when the choir sang a beautiful anthem titled “Behold Our God.”

To cap it off, my pastor delivered a powerful message that everyone needs to hear, using a ladder as a prop. We strive to be closer to God, to reach the top of the ladder. But life happens, and no matter how hard we try, we can’t earn our way to the top. Good news—God knew that from the start and had the perfect solution. His name is Jesus. Love came down to us at Christmas. There is no greater gift!

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

Matthew 1:23 NIV

Merry Christmas!

Charter Oak Church
Christmas Cantata ’24

May 19, 2024

Unfair Trade

Have you ever been involved in an unfair trade? All trades are not even. As a child, I learned that lesson firsthand. I collected baseball cards as a kid. My cousins from New York did as well. I always looked forward to their summer visits and the opportunity to “play” with our collections.

An Uneven Trade

One particular trade we made stands out from the rest. My cousins offered me 100 cards for ONE of mine. That didn’t quite seem like a fair trade. I was shocked that they would propose such a trade as I clearly was getting the better end of that deal. After all, 100 > 1. How could I possibly turn that down?

The Trade of All Trades

Did you know that God makes some unfair trades? It’s true! In fact, He is the author of the most lopsided trade in history. God gave us something priceless, Jesus, in exchange for something worthless, our sin, to give us the right to become part of His family, His children. Why would He do that? Because of love!

Reaping the Benefits

That trade is a done deal; however, to become His child and experience the abundant life that comes with that position, God requires something of us. He simply asks us to receive Jesus Christ as our Savior from sin and to fully trust that He alone is the way of salvation. God offers salvation to anyone who will receive it from Him.

“But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.”

John 1:12 NLT

What a deal! And it was all made possible by an unfair trade.

Shortchanged

About that unfair trade I made with my cousins–it turns out that they were the ones who got the last laugh. I did get 100 cards in exchange for my one. The problem—that one card I traded away was Roberto Clemente! Ugh….

December 24, 2023

Merry Christmas

This gift perfectly fits the size of every heart. — Jesus–the Ultimate Gift

Though not up for writing much at this point, it wouldn’t seem right to let Christmas pass without a word. With every writing, it is my desire to remind myself and each one who reads it that Jesus truly is the Ultimate Gift. He perfectly fits the size of every heart. You can be assured that He is your source of peace, hope, joy and love.

Update

I am in the early stages of recovery from spinal surgery (laminoplasty). I will admit that I was at peace AND scared half to death all at the same time leading up to the surgery. As promised, He was right there with me every step of the way. And still is as I make my way back. I’m discovering the road to recovery to be a long and winding one but am so very grateful to be on it.

A Different Christmas

Getting ready for Christmas by December 13 was no easy task, but, in His strength, I reached my goal. It seems so strange spending the days leading up to Christmas resting rather than going 100 mph in fifteen different directions. I’ve actually watched some Christmas movies this year rather than just talked about it.

Timing

In some ways mid-December is the absolute worst time to schedule a surgery, but in other ways it was absolutely the perfect time. During this Advent season, I’ve been reminded nearly every day through various readings that Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and the Prince of Peace. I’ve not only read about it, but I’ve also experienced it firsthand, before, during, and after surgery. I’ve been in His hands all along and there’s no better place to be.

Jesus–the Ultimate Gift

I pray that you too would experience all the benefits that come with receiving the Ultimate Gift. Jesus came so that we would have LIFE and have it in abundance (John 10:10b). Enjoy that life and thank God for this indescribable gift (2 Corinthians 9:15).

Merry Christmas!

May 9, 2023

Exceeded Expectations

Now that my daughter’s wedding is in the rearview mirror, I’ve been pondering just what to write about it. The title came to me this morning while I was walking and talking with God and sums the day up pretty perfectly—exceeded expectations.

Read the following passage about a lame man who experienced a result that far exceeded his expectations:

“Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.”

Acts 3:2-8 NIV

The lame man expected coins, but instead, he gained the ability to walk. That turned out better than he ever expected. That’s how I felt on my daughter’s wedding day!

The Hurdles Fell

If you follow my blog, then you already know that my mother and the father of the bride both had to clear some significant hurdles with their health to even get to the wedding. Then there was the weather! With an outdoor ceremony planned, we were watching the forecast closely. Three days beforehand, the wedding day forecast for our part of the Sunshine State did NOT include sunshine. In fact, it looked more like a total washout. But then it changed…and for the better! It improved to the point that it became worth the risk to hold the ceremony outdoors as planned. I’m so glad we did as the rain stayed just to our north and we made it through the whole day without a drop of rain. Yes, even the weather exceeded expectations!

A Day to Behold

Since this was my first (and last) rodeo as mother-of-the-bride, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Multiple people encouraged me to soak up every minute and I took that advice to heart. It was the most amazing day, from start to finish! I find it hard to put into words. You may remember “Love is in the Air,” a song from the 70s by John Paul Young. Indeed it was! I think every square inch of Cross Creek Ranch was saturated with love. Naturally, it oozed from the bride and groom, but it didn’t stop there. To share that sacred day with so many who are near and dear to my heart was incredibly special. I’m still flying high nearly two months later! It was everything I could have hoped for and more. Like the lame man, I am praising God for an outcome that far exceeded my expectations.

In Other News

And while I’m on the subject of exceeding expectations, how about those 1st place Pittsburgh Pirates? The Buccos gave their fans an April to remember winning 20 of their first 29 games. (Let’s not talk about May)

Praise the Lord

God is in the business of exceeding expectations. Exhibit A – Jesus!

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV