Wishing you a Happy New Year!

New things are fearful and wonderful.

The precipice of 2008 looms near.

We are about to plunge over the side.

Going back is impossible.

The only course is to go forward.

Not arrogantly.

Not hesitantly. Not routinely.

Prayerfully.

Acknowledging the Lordship of Christ.

Leaning on the guidance of the Spirit.

Step forward into the new year.

Wave a fond farewell to the grandfather called 2007,

and link arms with the bouncing child whose name is 2008.

This gift called time does not linger.

So, join the parade.

The Father walks beside you.

Happy New Year.

Merry Christmas

Remember with me what the season is about. Hear Heaven's heartbeat from a manger. Watch shepherds bow with awe. Sense Mary's devoted wonder. Feel earth's hope arise. And worship with me the newborn King. On the Christmas Day, we celebrate with family and friends, and know in our hearts that Messiah has come. May all your Christmas days be merry and bright.

A Snowglobe World

This snowglobe sits on my dresser year round. When I saw it the first time last Christmas in a store, I knew I had to have it. Duane doesn't have a mustache and we don't ski, but that doesn't detract from the magic. To share moments with someone you love, even if only in the imagination, is one of the gifts of the season. In a snowglobe world, the snow always falls and the scene is always picture perfect. In real life, more often it's rain that falls and if you ever get the scene perfect, you better capture it on camera because it will change....soon! So what. I'll indulge in a little purposeful idealism and enjoy the visions of a magical world that is there any time I give the globe a gentle turn. The snow starts to flutter down and anything is possible. At least it seems that way.

Winter Wonderland.....snow, snow, snow

Well, I got my snow. Quite a bit of it last week. I sat by my front window last Friday, just watching those little bits of white feather down, mesmerized by how they just kept falling, falling. I took my kids out to capture some pictures for Christmas cards. Here is how we had fun that day in our winter wonderland.

Glorious Snow

A winter storm hit the midwest yesterday and is moving east. We had some ice last night. As it fell, it crackled like dropping crystals. I stood for a moment and listened to the soft symphony.

I love snow. We have had a few snow showers so far, but not the layers of white I'm hoping to see soon. To me there is nothing so magical as watching the world don its wintry dress.

Snowflakes in choreographed freefall tumble to the ground together. Slowly the earth covers itself. I look out my window from time to time and am always amazed at how it starts to pile up. How can the sky hold so much whiteness? How could every snowflake that ever fell in every generation, on every continent, be unique in design? How can a human heart stand unmoved in the presence of such greatness?

My soul is on tiptoe. Snow is so ordinary, yet so magestic. Mere moisture in a cloud. But what a transformation as the temperature drops. Out of the frozen landscape of winter comes stark beauty. Our God works these wonders. "He giveth snow like wool; He scattereth the hoar-frost like ashes. He casteth forth his ice like morsels...." (Psalm 147:16-17a) The snowstorms bear His mark. The winter winds are Heaven's breath. And His imprint is in every tiny snowflake.