December 19, 2017

Greetings My Friend,

The winter weather is weathering out there. I am grateful we are in Virginia, the lower portion of the state where we get winter although it is not as long, does not stay on the ground as long and warms up sooner. We still get deep snow and it is generally gone within a few days where as in Michigan many winters the first snow comes in November, stays on the ground until March. With Christmas right around the corner, I am relearning the need to move at my pace, to do what I can as I can. I learned the hard way that Christmas is about Jesus, about His love for God to obey and trust Him to enter into our world, our life to live, die once for all and rise again. It is much more fun to think about a tiny baby in a manger which is where the cattle feed. Through the years we have a romantic view of Christmas, all the presents, the snow with all the lights, a warm fire and merriment. As a lot of people I have been caught up in getting the presents together, the wrapping, baking cookies, preparing for the meals, the home and come Christmas morning, I am exhausted, tense and no where in my thoughts is there room for baby Jesus in my heart. As I sat pondering what was on my heart what to write a song came to me by Hezekiah Walker called "Do you Know Him?" "I know a man from Galilee if your in sin he'll set you free. He's the one that will save your soul. Heal your body and make you whole Oh, do you know him?" That tiny little baby grows up becomes a beloved Rabbi (teacher) not only for the Jewish people but for all people of every nation and tribe. He has brought healing to my heart and He is able to bring healing to anyone who is ready to confess they are a sinner with a true repentant heart. I have lived with decades of pain and abuse. For 20 years God has been bringing me tiny step by tiny step to a wholeness I have never known. Before I truly gave my heart to Jesus, I thought if I said the sinner's prayer, that very moment my life would be made whole and I would have financial blessing, blessings from my children and life would be good. The reality is our walk with Jesus is day to day, moment to moment. After I said the sinner's prayer, I began a journey of learning exactly who Jesus was, praying with tears in my heart about the pain I felt from the hurt I had experienced in life. Years later when I looked over my life I saw that Jesus was watching over me as a child, when I married my first husband causing me to faint and vomit at the alter. Later I saw Jesus speaking to me through a radio show host after I went back to my ex after a nasty night of abuse telling a listener to get an education before she left her husband. I did that, I was able to support myself when the divorce did happen 20 years later. Twenty years of hugs, reading the Bible, praying and growing is how my faith journey has developed and my love is much like my new husband's love, I am more in love with Jesus today than that first day when I gave Him my heart. I am grateful, thankful and now I can't see baby Jesus without Easter, the cross. The years God has allowed Junior and I to be all alone at Christmas has opened my heart, my eyes to the true gift of that tiny baby in a manger. My biggest gift I want to give others is not presents but the biggest gift of all, Jesus my Savior, My redeemer, my comforter, my strength, My All in All. May God bless you make His face shine on you. Love Janet