Author: dianafmurphy@gmail.com

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”  Genesis 1:1

Last week I attended a Christmas presentation at a nearby church and the story began with the creation of the world.  How appropriate!  Christmas is about the Creator God becoming our Savior God.  Jesus is the Creator and sustainer of the whole universe and yet He wants to save us!  He gave up Heaven and the Presence of God, allowed Himself to be conceived and nurtured in a woman’s womb, and was born into a family of lowly means.  The Creator depended on those He created to care for His needs, to provide for His safety and teach, train, and nurture Him through childhood.

What’s really amazing is that God had this planned before the creation of the world!

     “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.”    Ephesians 1:4-6

I read these verses this morning and was reminded again of how much God wants us in His family.  Even before He made the first man and woman God had a plan to adopt us as His children according to His pleasure and will.

As we rejoice in the coming of the Savior let’s remember this GIFT was given because God wants us as His children.  Do we want Him?

 

I enjoyed several days with my kids and grandkids here on the farm. We enjoy meals together, many games of Contract Rummy and Spinner, and sharing memories of Dad and Grandpa. Everyone has safely returned home and back to school and work, and Molly and I are slowly adjusting to being by ourselves again.  It was too quiet after everyone went home. Molly had two other dogs to play with and missed them, too.

So, Thanksgiving Day has come and gone but my thanksgiving has not.  I continue to be grateful for life here on the farm. I enjoy the open space and mountain scenes.  I’m thankful for substitute teaching days and the opportunity to touch a child’s life. (And I don’t have to write lesson plans and grade papers!) I’m thankful for the Internet and for a computer to connect with my far-away friends.  And I am most thankful for the Word of God.

     “Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also        supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God” (2 Corinthians 9:10-11).

As I read this passage of Scripture this week I thought it would be a good motto for the new year. (Can another year be ending already?!)   God provides. God increases. I am enabled to be generous only because of God’s generosity and the result is thanksgiving to God.

I also noticed these verses are not just talking about material blessings.  God enlarges the harvest of my righteousness.  May I never forget that God makes me righteous through the sacrifice of His Son and the indwelling of His Spirit!     Thanks be to God for His amazing grace!

I baked pies today-2 pumpkin and 3 chocolate. I baked them for my kids and grandkids. They’re  traveling at this moment to my house.  One family is coming from Virginia, the other from Tennessee. It is now 10:30 at night and they still have a distance to drive.  Their lives are busy and they couldn’t start until late in the day. I’ve asked God to surround both vans with protective angels and bring them safely home.  I’m so thankful my daughters, sons-in-law, and grandkids want to come to my house.

As I walked with Molly today and watched her racing around the fields and leaping in the air I couldn’t help but think how full of joy she must be (if indeed dogs feel joy).  Joy of being free of her fenced area!  I laughed at her antics and was grateful I could laugh again.

As I made the pies and ran the vacuum I thought about the many previous Thanksgivings we had shared with my parents and Wayne’s parents.  I remembered the last Thanksgiving that Wayne’s dad was with us.  He’d been very sick and I think he knew he wouldn’t be around for the next year. He surprised us by telling us how much he loved us and was thankful for us. That was not his normal behavior but how grateful we were to hear his expressions of love and gratitude.   Since that Thanksgiving Day we’ve had to say good-bye to my mother-in-law, and my mother.  I am very thankful to have my 92-year-old dad living nearby.  He will join us for a meal tomorrow.

My thoughts also went back to 2014 when we thought Wayne would be spending Thanksgiving in Johns Hopkins Hospital. The girls had come to see him and then drove on to our home. They would join other family members for dinner. Wayne wanted to come home for Thanksgiving, so  he was discharged late in the day and we arrived home that evening to enjoy a delicious plate of food saved just for us.  So thankful for that memory of his happiness in getting to come home.

God is good and my life is filled with things for which I’m thankful.  I thank Him most of all for providing a Savior and giving us the Holy Spirit to help us on our life journey.  Without God we would be nothing and we’d have no hope. So thankful for hope!

“We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 1:2-3).

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

 

Molly came to live with me a few days ago.  She’s a mix-breed dog and they tell me she’s part cocker spaniel and miniature pinscher.  I don’t see any cocker spaniel, unless it’s her ears.  I started looking for a dog several weeks ago and had completed the application to adopt a dog through Pet Smart. Apparently that’s how shelters do it these days, at least the one in my county.  There was quite a fee attached.  I had resigned myself to the fact that the fee would have paid for much of the vet’s services and I would just accept that.

One day I mentioned to my cousin that I was looking for a companion dog.  He didn’t know of any, but later that day his wife called me.  Her daughter’s friend had taken in a stray dog and found out she was severely allergic to it.  The dog was free to a good home.  Did I mention Molly is a pup and not yet housebroken?  I didn’t want a puppy to train!  I wanted a furry, loveable, young dog.  I think God knew I needed Molly and she needed me.  I had talked to God about this decision. Knowing a dog would be company for me during the lonely evenings I still hesitated starting the search for one.

So here was a dog. She was lovable and cuddly they said. She didn’t shed too much. She was free. I made the contact and set a time to meet Molly.  I found her to be very friendly and submissive with eyes that melted my heart. So we put her in my car and started home.  She was scared and didn’t know what was going on. An hour and four throw-ups later we arrived at home. Molly lay in the grass recovering from her ordeal while I cleaned the car and washed the soiled towels.  We won’t be doing much traveling.

Molly is very happy to live with me. She has a small fenced area, but loves to race around in the field behind my house, ears flopping in the breeze. When I leave her for a day of substitute teaching I know she will be waiting to greet me on the back porch, jumping up and down with tail wagging.  She doesn’t like to be alone so my dad or sister-in-law will sometimes come to the house to keep her company for awhile.

Molly has taught me that she has much to give even if she wasn’t my first choice. I wonder if I have missed out on some friendship or blessing because I chose not to pursue it. Have I turned away from someone who needed me?  That’s something to think about.

(Molly thinks I’m not giving her enough attention! She hasn’t figured out this writing thing.)

“My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ,

don’t show favoritism” (James 2:1).

Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life” (Proverbs 16:31).

I recently attended my 50^th college class reunion. I think there were about 40 people there and most of us were crowned with gray hair.  Fifty years is a long time and it doesn’t seem like I should be that old. Time seemed to move slowly through some of those years, but as I got older time seemed to move much too quickly. I’ve been thinking about my life and what I’ve accomplished in those 50 years. What did I do that mattered? I didn’t become famous or get my name on billboards.

I married Wayne the year after graduation and, with God’s help, we raised two daughters. I have always said that God filled in the empty spaces in our parenting.  Both daughters are Christ followers and active in their respective church families.  Both are raising families of their own giving me eight grandchildren, one who is already in heaven.

Wayne and I were married almost 48 years before his death.  Wayne was pastor of several churches where I helped with music, teaching children, or leading women’s Bible studies.  Our lives intertwined with many families during their good and bad times. Our desire was to be a godly example of what marriage and family should be. We weren’t perfect but with God’s help we learned and matured over the years. We remained faithful to God and to each other.

I have cleaned my house and prepared meals for overnight guests more times than I can remember. Our lives were enriched by other preachers, missionaries, friends from other countries, and friends who had moved away and returned for a visit. I still enjoy preparing for visitors to my home.

I taught school for many years. Some of those years were full time and other years were spent in substitute work so I would be more available for my girls. I may never know how many children or parents I have influenced with my life. Not all were positive relationships but again, God has been my rock. He has sustained me through the difficult years as well as the easier and more satisfying years.  I have been blest by parents and students who expressed their gratitude for my influence in their lives.

No, I didn’t become a famous writer or win any trophies for being a wife, mother, or teacher, but I have been blest.  My life matters.  Even as I face my life of widowhood God is my guide and sustainer and I know one day He will welcome me into His home if I remain faithful.  Thank you, God!

“…Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).

As I sit at my desk I can see the beauty of the fall season. I enjoy driving through the forested hillsides around my county.  The colors remind me of a calico cat sleeping in the sunshine and I find myself slowing down and watching the trees.  I think about the winter that’s coming and wondering how much snow we’ll get or how cold it will be.  I try not to linger on that thought too long.

The trees are changing colors because they are getting ready for a rest. They’re not wondering about the weather ahead.  So I shouldn’t either.    Rest. Sometimes I don’t get enough. You may have that problem as well. You may be too busy to take time to rest or maybe you have difficulty sleeping, as I often do.  My mind starts reliving the past and/or thinking about the future.  This election season makes us wonder what the future holds.  This morning I found a quote that Wayne had written on his note pad and tucked into a folder. It was what I needed to read.

The quote is from Lisa Beamer’s book, Let’s Roll.  “The only true security in this life comes from placing our trust in the God who loves us and is in complete control of the events of our lives and our world.” 

I know God is Sovereign and I know He loves me, but seeing that note today encouraged me to trust Him more. I don’t have to wonder and worry about the “what ifs” of this life.  I can be like the trees. I’ll rest and allow God’s peace to wash over me as the trees allow their colors to splash over the hillsides.

Slow down. Enjoy the view this fall.

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust'” (Psalm 91:1-2). 

“But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:44-45).

I think God has been nudging me lately to think more about my enemies and especially to pray for them.  I recently read the above verses in my daily Bible reading and this past Sunday our preacher tucked it into his sermon on Pure Love.  I couldn’t think of any personal enemies in my life, but there are plenty of enemies of my faith.  Maybe, I need to pay more attention to this command from Jesus.

Our cultural norms are challenged more and more these days. Many public and/or political people are expressing a view of marriage and human sexuality that goes against God’s Word. There are those who advocate killing unborn children.  Are these the enemies I should pray for? I think so. These people need prayer and our love and they certainly need God.

I’ve decided to pray often for our Presidential candidates and government leaders already in office. Not all of these are enemies of our faith but they all need our prayers. Those who wish to protect our freedom of religion need boldness and wisdom and those who wish to take away our freedom need the love of God in their lives.

Will you join me in praying for these people?

” If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5: 46-48).

Sometimes my morning turns to mourning and that happened a few weeks ago. I had a pity party.  But as I wrote in my journal that morning Jesus came and took me away from the pity party.  I was surprised by the journey. The following words are from my journal on July 30, 2016.

“Do not fear, O Zion (Diana); do not let your hands hang limp. The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:16b-17).

I pick up my broken heart and listen to the words. I slowly walk to the door and leave the ‘pity party.’  The Lord is here and he wants to quiet me with his love. He rejoices over me with singing and takes great delight in me!

I allow His words to sooth my spirit and I feel his strong arms surrounding me as I walk closer to the sunlight of his love.  Soon we’re walking in his garden of grace enjoying one beautiful sight after another.  He shows me a lovely vine flowing with flowers.  The vine seems to climb over the trellis and higher and higher. It seems to never end.

He shows me his colorful roses and reminds me of the thorns. “I suffered the hurt of the thorns. I took your sins on me and paid for them. I rose again to show you that you will live again, too.”  I reach out touch one of the blossom and bend to smell the sweet scent. The sweetness is so refreshing.

A little farther ahead there are delightful daisies and daffodils. There are pretty petunias and grand geraniums. I’m comforted by their glorious blooms. The lilies and lilacs welcome me into the coolness of forgiveness. I feel the gentle breeze in my face. It’s then I realize he’s carrying my broken heart. I’m walking with a lighter step.

We walk on in his garden of grace. We enjoy some fruit from the trees. It is so good. I want more.  I want more of this love, joy, and peace that I’m experiencing.  What a garden!

Soon we come to a stream. It is quiet here except for the gurgling water as it flows over the rocks. The Lord motions toward a bench.  “Let’s sit here and I will give you rest.”  We sit together and he reaches out his hands toward me. “See, I have engraved your name on the palms of my hands…” (Isaiah 49:16).  It’s then I know. He is enough. He begins to heal my broken heart and assures me that I am welcome to enjoy his garden anytime.

Then he whispers one more thing. “I’m preparing another garden for you even more beautiful than this!”

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:3).

It has rained for two days and we needed it. It’s a wonderful drizzly rain- the kind of rain needed for such dry ground.  I’m sure the grass is praising God as I am. But I’m one of those people who likes bright, sunny days.  Even though I’m thankful for these rainy days I was happy to hear the weatherman say we might see the sun tomorrow afternoon. I love the light!

John begins his gospel telling us about the coming of the Light.  Oh, how our world needs the Light of Jesus. Seeing so much evil around us can be depressing.  John says, “The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it” (John 1:5 NIV).  Jesus told us to let our light shine before men so they could see our good works. My light isn’t very bright sometimes. I let clouds of doubt or discouragement hide it.  Maybe you’ve been a little dim as well. Jesus is the Light of the world! The closer we stay to Jesus the more we will reflect His light. The world needs it.

Dear Jesus, help us shine for You!