A New Year

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you,” Isaiah 43:2a

I’m a grocery store cashier and my customers have been asking me if I’m ready for a new year. When I thought about it, I had to say no. But then in my devotional reading of “Jesus Always,” author Sarah Young urged readers to look back over the past year and remember the times when God had been with them in a very real way. So, I thought about it and I could remember a number of times when I had felt God’s presence. Her point was that He would again be with me in 2025. This helped me face a new year that looks difficult.

My brother has cancer. He’s my baby brother, eleven years younger than me. At the beginning of January, he had extensive surgery to remove the cancer. He came through the surgery very well and was able to go home two days early. My family is grateful for these answers to prayer. But he still faces painful radiation and chemotherapy. Isaiah 43 promises that God will be with us in the new year.

Whatever you are facing in the new year, God promises to walk alongside you.

Prayer: Dear God, we are grateful for this new year of life. Thank you for the many blessings of 2024. Guide us in 2025 to follow you. Thank you that you are always with us in good times and bad times. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Nancy Brumbaugh

The Loners

Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Matthew 6:26 

This winter I have enjoyed the Juncos at my bird feeder. Juncos are traditionally called the snowbirds. They are beautiful little bird with steel gray backs and stark white fronts. They live in the Northwoods during the summer and come spend the winter with us. Generally they seem to be loners - visiting the feeder when other birds are absent, or standing on the sidelines of the deck while other large groups are feeding. Quite often, they are on the floor of the deck, eating the left-over seeds others have thrown away. The exception this winter was those two weeks we had extremely cold weather. Those days the juncos joined the other birds in the feeder. When I normally only see one Junco at a time, there were 8 in the feeder amongst the sparrows and finches. It made me realize that in a crisis, they came together to survive.  

When I think about loners in our community, my first vision is of the homeless who chose sleeping in the street or under bridges or some out of the way place, rather than coming to the mission. I have heard these loners say they feel more comfortable outdoors. They don't like the other people at the mission. They don't trust others who might steal from them or attack them so they go off alone. During those 2 weeks of extreme cold, Pastor Tom was on television inviting and encouraging these loners to come and stay warm and be supported at the mission. I wondered how many accepted this invitation despite their prior behaviors. In a crisis, things change. 

I keep my feeders full for the birds, especially in bad weather. Inspired by a recent Bible study which focused on loving everybody, I have put together bags of things for the homeless which they may need. My daughter has dropped these off in areas that she sees the homeless and they have quickly disappeared. My hope is that the loners will feel loved and not alone.  

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us to be aware of others who are alone yet need to know that someone cares about them. Help us to support those who cannot support themselves. Help us be a welcoming community who steps up during crisis times. And finally, don't forget the timid little juncos - keep the feeders full so the loners can eat. Amen 

Nancy Hall (reprinted from April 2024)

Unexpected Insights

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6   

The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand. Psalm 37:23-24   

Call to me and I will answer you and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. Jeremiah 33:3  

Recently my car situation has been in limbo. This has changed everything about my ability to run errands, get to work, and feel independent. Facing this has made me reconsider how much I can "make do" with what I have. This reminds me how creative my brain can be, and I rejoice at its wonders. 

At the end of the summer, one of my cars became disabled, and I was trying to donate it; but I could not find the title in all my moving boxes. It was amazing to me to see how much I had accumulated, and how difficult it was to organize. I saw how debilitating this can become. I also found a lot of forgotten treasures which are so much more valuable than a certified document. 

The search process had been lengthy and fruitless, and eventually I had to procure a duplicate title. Cleaning out the car was a burdensome chore, because there were still vestiges of a trip to Rochester, Minnesota last year when my daughter and I stayed for two months (during which she received her fourth liver transplant). But I realized as I was lugging bags of pillows and umbrellas and scrapers and a shovel and all sorts of human necessities that I need to challenge myself in order to be more resilient. I patted myself on the back as I rested after that chore, and looked forward to the next bit of discomfort that would help me grow. 

On the appointed day for pick up the tow truck did not show. So I still had to plan for uncertainties. And that can be rather freeing. How much does it really matter? Why should I invest too much dependence on things going as planned?

The back-up car needed work in order to be driveable after the first one tanked. The AAA tow truck driver delivered it to a repair place that was different from the one where I had made an appointment. At the end of the day, I called the repair shop only to be told that my car wasn't there. So AAA and I had to call and search a number of nearby places to see if my car had ended up there, since the tow truck driver couldn't be reached. These things can happen, and it makes for more work but it also makes for a good story. Also, the place where my car ended up did a good job of fixing it, and I had it back in no time. I was glad to find a reliable repair place that was within my budget.

 

In the ensuing month, the back-up car developed more issues. One of them involved taillights staying on, and the battery drained. AAA gave me a battery boost and told me to drive directly to the repair place; I managed to find a place open on Sunday, so I felt pretty lucky. But they couldn't actually work on the car until Monday. I hadn't really accomplished what I felt I had needed to do. But the right things happened, only a day later than I had hoped.

 

During this time I was relying on my daughter for trips to and from work. It was nice to have time to talk with her, and I enjoyed looking out the window at the sights I often miss while focusing on driving.  I was able to sip coffee and nibble on snacks.

 

Then more issues arose with the car, and because there was a risk of the engine overheating I was told I shouldn't drive it. At this point, I realized that my '92 Geo Prizm might not be worth the $600 it would probably cost to fix it. I have had to restructure my thinking about continuing to maintain something that doesn't really serve its purpose. The car has no airbags, and doesn't travel well over 45 mph. It doesn't really need my allegiance, even though it reminds me of my mother, from whom I inherited it. 

 

So now I am looking into buying a reliable car. My recently retired friend has been chauffeuring me, and we have had jolly drives reconnecting. When we were in high school, she used to come pick me up and drive me to school. I am reminded of how much I enjoy starting the day with her. She is such a light in my life, and I love being cared for by someone so generous and fun. We always have lots of chances to laugh on the drive, and it is an uplifting way to start and end my day. 

 

Even something as mundane as our transport away from home and back again can reveal something as great as God's presence. I look forward to more road trips with surprises. 

Prayer: Thank you for creating my hands and continuing to hold them. Thank you for giving me eyes, and fresh sights to amaze them. Thank you for interrupting my steps to show me something new about your world and the life you have given me.  Learning new things keeps me alive and present, and newly aware of your grace. Let my inconveniences move me closer to you. Amen.

 

Mollie Manner (reprinted from 2017)

In the Deep Dark Winter's Night

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life." John 8:12

In 2024, when we find ourselves in darkness, we flip a switch and instantly the darkness is gone. But in Jesus’ day when it got dark, it was dark. So, when Jesus calls himself the light it’s a significant claim. Even more important is that Jesus said it at the Feast of Tabernacles when the Israelites lit a huge candelabra as a reminder of God guiding their ancestors through the wilderness. Jesus is showing them that he is their light dispelling the darkness of ignorance and death. Jesus was claiming that whoever believes in Him will enjoy the light that comes from God’s presence and produces life. 

During these winter days when the night’s darkness lasts into our morning routines and reappears before we have dinner, it’s easy to feel like winter will never end.  The darkness brings hours without sunlight when we ruminate about the things we should have done or said when days were brighter.  We cheer ourselves by bringing candles into our homes; light fireplaces to feel their warmth and wrap ourselves in fuzzy blankets to fend off the cold.

As followers of Jesus, we don’t have to suffer through the darkness. Just as we seek the comfort of candles and blankets, Jesus, the light of life is offering warmth and security to us; we simply need to follow him.

Prayer: Let us willingly acknowledge the light Jesus can bring into our lives if we only welcome him.  As we seek light in our physical world, remind us that Jesus is the light of the world and will love and comfort us if we only believe in him. Amen

Carol McClain (reprinted from January 2024)

If we had no winter...

"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome." ~ Anne Bradstreet 

Words from Proverbs

The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. Proverbs 18:10  

Words from Nehemiah