My car lights automatically go off as the countryside comes alive with light. The horses and cows are already grazing, thankful for those early warming rays after a cold night.  A new day dawns, reminding me of the astounding, radiant light brought by our Savior into the dark abyss of this evil world. A light of mercy, grace and forgiveness available to all. A new dawn! A new beginning!  That’s what he offers. Good news! That’s the gospel message we’re to share with the world in this New Year!

When my neighbor answered the door, I said, “I didn’t know you had put in a little pond.” “What?” my neighbor responded. “I heard gurgling water and thought you had added a small pool in your backyard.” “No, we haven’t,” she said as she looked across the yard. Her husband heard us, came and looked and then had to admit he had left some water on in the back for more than a week. After he turned it off, he said, “You earned your pay today!” I laughed. Unknowingly I gave them a better Christmas gift that day than the little one I had in my hand. God works in interesting ways!

As I settled in for my flight, a man took the middle seat beside me. He was coughing the familiar Covid cough! I put my mask on. As we buckled in, he leaned over and said he wasn’t contagious, his cough just hadn’t gone away. I commiserated but kept my mask on. Who knows if he were telling me the truth. I was wary of Covid and of flu infections in the closed-in space anyway. The only one I want to be infected by is Jesus. Yes, Jesus is contagious! The closer our relationship with him, the more we will be like him. And, then we will be contagious as well! Let’s be contagious like Jesus!

Is there someone you’re not happy with right now? They’ve disappointed you in some way or maybe even hurt you deeply. Or, like me, you’re disgusted with some of our politicians or media stars and their antics. The tyrannical leaders of some countries live in luxury while their people starve. What’s not to hate! While abhorring the evils in this world, let’s not forget God sent his Son because he loved the world and all the people in it. People of every color and religion, atheists, murderous hateful people, all people. Thank you, blessed God, for your mercy and for a love for us sinners so great you gave the most precious gift of all, your Son.

He was expected to come in a blaze of glory amid a host of sword-waving angels, but he didn’t. He came as we all did, as a tiny baby, helpless and vulnerable, totally dependent on his parents’ care. He came not as a fierce avenger but as a shepherd who diligently watches over his flock and gently holds them in his arms when they are hurting. He came to save not destroy. His own refused to recognize such a man as their Messiah. How much more today do we need to view him as he is, the Savior of all, not a vengeful, angry god like the gods of the Greeks and Romans. May we, as his followers, not condemn but love our neighbors, no matter who they are. Jesus does!

Remember the story of the talents in Matthew 25? After looking up what a talent was worth, anywhere from $30,000 to $40,000, what those men were given, even the one who received only one talent, was not a measly amount. As you know the first two were wise stewards but the third didn’t invest his, he buried it out of fear. Did this fearful steward really know and trust his master? The word talent today has a different meaning. We think of talents as special abilities or proclivities, but the parable of the talents still speaks to us. Are we using the talents we’ve been given? How well do we really know our Master? Are we afraid or do we trust him to be a good Master who is always with us and rewards us when we serve him?

Though we set aside a special day each year to be grateful, it’s never not the right time for gratitude. I’m thankful for so much, but especially thankful for you who read these words of mine every week. Why share them if nobody wants to read them! There’s no fun in that. I may or may not know you personally, but I always pray what I write will touch your heart in some way. Thank you for continuing to read Briefly Speaking. I wouldn’t write it if it wasn’t for you. My thanks to you and may you have a most happy, joyous Thanksgiving!

Lord, we are your beloved children. You reside in us and we reside in you. Our sins are forgiven and forgotten. Our eternity with you is guaranteed. You don’t need our works or our help in any way. Nothing we can do will make you love us any more than you already do. Help us to relax and just be who we are in you.

Do you ever find yourself a bit concerned when you finally meet with God the Father, his judgment may not be as merciful as his Son? That he might set up something like a PowerPoint slide show revealing all your sins for everyone to see, even the deepest, darkest secret ones. What a nightmare! It would be for me anyway. What a blessing to know God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are one Triune God. Jesus said when you see me, you see the Father. “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me, has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life” (John 5:24, NIV). Jesus took all our sins upon himself and volunteered to be judged in our place. We have nothing to fear. What a loving, merciful God we serve!

My youngest daughter read my tale of woe about my dead computer mouse and rushed me over a live one on the same day. I’m mouseless no more! You may think this is a lot to do about nothing, but with several deadlines to meet, I did not need the frustration. I needed a mouse. So ask, and you shall receive. Or in this case, receive even before you ask. Isn’t that God’s way so many times.