Year: 2020

Going from 2020 to 2021

~ jesusluvsall ~ 15 Comments

Count me among the cynical when it comes to the holiday of New Years. In previous New Year’s Eve celebrations that I have attended, when the clock hit midnight and everyone else would go crazy, I would have one thought. This changes nothing. The problems and bills I had on December 30 will still be there January 1.

But this time seems different to me. So permit me to share a few reflections.

1st- 2020 set the bar VERY low what with the pandemic, lockdowns, social and political strife, remote learning and all.

So with the bar set so low, any improvement on those issues will make 2021 a spectacular year by comparison. 2021 does not need to do much to improve upon 2020.

HOWEVER

2nd- In the midst of all of the turmoil of 2020, God came through for me in so many different ways. He provided for me through my brothers and sisters in Jesus whether it was money, food, etc.

Personally for me 2020 was no match for Jesus in my life. I guess I could say that Jesus set the bar high as far as what I can look to him for.

Here’s the thing

No bar is too high for Jesus to go over and exceed what we hope for. 🙂

A song that meant a lot to me earlier in the year was rescue by Lauren Daigle. While I was listening to the song back in March one day, I prayed to Jesus and said- “I need you to rescue me again.” And boy did he ever!!! It makes me think of Ephesians 3:20-21

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!

I am sharing the song again today and also a post by a brother in Jesus who shared his experience with getting vaccinated for COVID. He is Pastor Chuck I met through blogger chat.

Pastor Chuck’s vaccination

Best Christmas Gift for Me This Year

~ jesusluvsall ~ 17 Comments

Going into Christmas, I knew it would not be a normal one for me at all. Normally I visit refugee/immigrant families and surprise them with candy and spend time drinking tea or coffee with them.

Photo by Giftpundits.com on Pexels.com

But due to COVID, that was not possible this year. Christmas Eve Service, which is my favorite part of Christmas, was only online for me. Instead of sulking about things, Jesus led me to bless a single mom and her two little girls.

I actually went Christmas shopping on December 23rd. That was way out of my comfort zone but so worth it. But what to buy two little girls aged 6 and 3?

I found two big Minnie Mouse dolls one for each. Then I found some stickers in a box that little girls would like. Next were princess coloring books and of course two boxes of crayons. I gave the gifts to my student from Guatemala and told her to tell her little girls the gifts are from her and not to say they are from me.

Photo by Anthony on Pexels.com

My student is a single mom who lost one job earlier this year due to COVID and found another job. The father is in Guatemala and has nothing to do with the girls. My student works, takes care of her little girls, and studies English to try to make a better future for her and her daughters.

She sent me three pictures of her little girls playing with the gifts. They had big smiles on their faces. Seeing the little girls with the gifts smiling was the best Christmas gift for me this year.

What was meaningful for you during Christmas?

Thank you for reading. God Bless.

Snowy Day and Another Doctor

~ jesusluvsall ~ 23 Comments

We are having our first significant snow of the year where I live. I have to confess to being a bit surprised because so many times in the past the weather people on TV have said my city would have a lot of snow and we only had a little. lol

But a snowy day did not cancel an appointment with an ophthalmologist. It was a non stressful appointment for a thorough eye exam. I thought I might need eye surgery but found out everything is healthy except I now have one more thing to add to my Spoonie list- Sjogren’s Syndrome.

Sjogren’s affects eye moisture among other things such having fatigue. No wonder I have fatigue. Celiacs, Fibromyalgia, Hypothyroid and Sjogren’s all cause fatigue. But Jesus gives me the strength to teach and for ministry.

On this snowy day, I think some of my blogging friends living in warm climates might feel jealous of the snow here. 🙂 lol

If you live in a warm climate, have you seen snow before? If not, do you want to?

Thank you for reading. God Bless.

John The Baptist’s Example of Humility- John Chapter 3

~ jesusluvsall ~ 15 Comments

It had been approximately 400 years since the last time God raised up a prophet in Israel and then suddenly John the Baptist was on the scene. He was baptizing people telling them to be ready for the coming of the kingdom of God. So it is understandable that his disciples, followers, would wonder why someone else was baptizing.

They came to John with a concern in John 3:26-

“Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”

They saw the numbers of people coming to John dwindling as people began to flock to Jesus. They did not understand it was God’s plan. John explained it to them.

 “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less.”

John let them in on what the deal was. John was sent to give testimony about Jesus that Jesus is the Messiah-promised one- from God.

Interesting analogy John used referring to himself as the friend of the bridegroom and those who come to Jesus as the bride. John shared the analogy to let his disciples know that John only had joy over Jesus ministering and baptizing. John was the friend of the bridegroom. He was happy to see his friend, Jesus, the bridegroom come on the scene. The being baptized did not belong to John the Baptist. They belonged to Jesus. John was only there to prepare people.

John acknowledged a truth that all who follow Jesus need to come to embrace- He must become greater and I must become less. To follow Jesus, we need to do so in humility before him. He is the Lord of Lords. He is our Savior and our creator. Out of joy for who Jesus is and what he has done for us, we realize he is greater and humble ourselves before him.

Thank you for reading. God Bless.

My New Adventure with My Microwave

~ jesusluvsall ~ 32 Comments

For years I have extolled the virtues of using the popcorn setting on a microwave. It is such a convenient and easy way to use the microwave. I just press popcorn and then start and it cooks for 2 1/2 minutes. If more time is needed, I just repeat the process.

Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

Yesterday I noticed another setting on the microwave I bought about 3 years ago. It said- Baked Potato. I thought perhaps that could be a good one to use thinking that it takes longer to cook a baked potato.

But alas when I pressed baked potato, I realized that I would need to somehow enter the time to cook. That severely complicates things.

So I will continue to only use the popcorn setting for my microwave and extoll the virtues of doing so. It really is the easiest way to go.

P.S. the microwave in the picture in this post is not my microwave. Best not to scare my readers with a picture from my kitchen 🙂

Thank you for reading. God Bless.

Music Mondays-Agnus Dei/King of Kings ft Brooke Ligertwood, Jenn Johnson and Chidima Ubah

~ jesusluvsall ~ 7 Comments

As we come to the end of a year of trudging through life during a pandemic with all of the hardships it entailed, this week I have one main goal in mind-REFOCUS with Jesus.

Yes, a new year is coming soon, but as 2020 showed us, nothing in this life is certain.

But Jesus is the King of Kings. I love the lyrics-“in the darkness we were waiting without hope, without light, Til from heaven you came running, There was mercy in your eyes.”

This week while I have downtime my desire is to focus on Jesus. He is eternal. He has mercy in his eyes. He is hope and light.

I love this recent collaboration on Agnus Dei/King of Kings. I hope it blesses you.

Thank you for reading. God Bless.

2020- Goodbye or Good Riddance Tag

~ jesusluvsall ~ 11 Comments

Here we are. The last Sunday of the year and the last week of the year. I have always been a bit cynical about the holiday of New Years. The problems I had on December 30th are still there waiting for me on January 1.

But this New Year’s Day is one that I will be glad to say goodbye to the previous year. 2020 has been a year like no other year in my life. Life changed for everyone because of a virus. People have suffered all over the world, lost loved ones, lost income, and more.

Photo by Vie Studio on Pexels.com

Yesterday morning I asked some blogging friends while we chatted, 2020 good bye or good riddance.

For me it is a mix of both. Because of all of the suffering and hardship I tend to have sentiments of 2020- Good Riddance.

Yet I also realize that when life changes, there are good things that can happen too. For me it all came through my relationship with Jesus.

1-Jesus helped me in so many ways. He provided for me through his people when finances were affected. Friends also brought me food.

2- Jesus blessed me with new opportunities such as teaching a bible study online, and learning new tools to use such as Zoom.

3- I met new friends I would have never met such as my friends in Blogger chat on Saturday mornings.

So for me it is a mixed bag. I am grateful for the blessings Jesus gave me, but I am also glad to see 2020 go away. I also do not want to sugar coat 2020. It has been a rough year in many ways for all us.

The way the 2020 Goodbye or Good Riddance Tag works:

Share the link to the original post- 2020 Goodbye or Good Riddance

Use any appropriate photo you like

Share your thoughts about 2020

Tag whoever you like.

Thank you for reading. God Bless.

If they wish to participate, I am tagging:

David

Charity

Beverley

Rene

Dawn

Ryan

Viv

Ruelha

Michelle

Christmas- Angels Amazed

~ jesusluvsall ~ 11 Comments

Several years ago I wrote a drama monologue from the perspective of the angel Gabriel and what he must have thought to see Jesus born as a baby. The piece began with Gabriel looking down at the manger and then coming down to check it out and being stunned by the scene. Think about the angels who had served Jesus since He created them. They had not only served Him over the centuries, but had also seen Jesus in His glory in heaven. They had seen Him as He really is in the fullness of His glory.

Photo by Francesco Ungaro on Pexels.com

The bible says in I Peter 1:12 that the angels long to look into things pertaining to our salvation. They long to understand God’s love for us and to comprehend the plan of God. I think about how the angels must be amazed by God’s love for us especially since they have never sinned against God. How they must be in wonder over the love God has for us.

Then ponder the fact that the angels who had worshiped Jesus for countless eons, witnessed Him being born as a human baby. Jesus was sent by the Father because as the bible says in John 3;16, “For God so loved the world, He gave His one and only Son so that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” How they must have marveled at the sight of Jesus the Son of God laying in a manger which was a feeding trough for animals. One day Jesus was on His throne in heaven and nine months later He was a newborn human baby  in a stable surrounded by animals. It is incredible enough for us to ponder, but think about the angels who knew Him in all of His glory in heaven. No wonder the bible says they long to look into the things pertaining to our salvation.

Thank you for reading. God Bless.