Merry Christmas to all of you! May Christ be awakened in your heart no matter what this season has brought. He is worthy! Worthy to be praised!

Advent Quote from my Devotionals:

I have had a bit of a tussle with patience these last few weeks. Finding myself growling behind my teeth when things aren’t going as planned. For instance: both at work and at home the mouse of my computers has been glitchy and slow. Grrrrrrrrrrrrr!

I’ve been sighing and frustrated with drivers and getting stopped by lights. And still God is gracious and gave me one morning where every light I hit was green all the way to where I was going.

Quote that caught my attention:

Something cool:

One of the white flowers from my mother in laws memorial service started turning pink. She loved Lillys. She lived on Lillian Lane; her grandmother was Lillian. and her dog is Lily. I think this is just a love note for my husband.

Thoughts I am thinking: Some seasons just feel like drudging through. It is kind of odd and sad to feel that way during the holidays. Everything feeling like you are trying to just pull through the swamp of sadness. Being with pleasant people is a major plus. But for my family (my husband, his sister, and his brother) it’s been a rough go this year. We lost their mom at the beginning of December. His sisters, husbands, uncle passed away this week. His brothers, wife’s longtime friend passed away the week before that. It certainly feels like a sad Christmas. But we keep walking…

Something Interesting: We just hit the darkest day of the year. The winter solstice was this past week. Everything has been dreary and foggy for days. But that also means that every day will bring a little more light going forward.

A little encouragement: Circumstances bring highs and lows… and we certainly know how to focus on the lows and minimize the highs. But if we can learn to flip that. Focus on the highs with gratitude and remembrance. And minimize the lows through forgiveness and grace. This is what I am working on in this season because to be honest with so much pain, sorrow, and sadness people are raw, unfiltered, and sometimes kick sideways in their struggle to integrate and process.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2 Corinthians 12:9

The Lord gives us grace and it is sufficient – it is enough for us! We are able in that grace to allow the power of the Holy Spirit to hold our tongues when we want to fight for our rights, especially when others have kicked sideways. Our broken and hurt hearts also wanting to yell out, “I didn’t do anything to you!” Yet, we are able to hold our peace. Let the moment pass. To give a soft answer to their harsh word. Honestly, I don’t know how to do that. I am a quick tongued kind of girl that can outthink and out talk another…But God does know how… and as my flesh loses its mind on the inside when there is injustice against me. By the power of God, I yield. In my weakness, His power rests here, holding my tongue. Thank you, Lord. Then as a let each thing go through prayer to my Lord instead of taking matters into my own hands. His blessing comes…when I hear, soft hearted, caring moments, when words fall like balm, “I am sorry I wasn’t very kind yesterday.” And it all falls away in His grace.

This world tells us, “Don’t let people treat you that way!”

But in reacting we often just end up being as they are.

I choose (and don’t always succeed) to walk out the word of God.

• Proverbs 16:24 – Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
• Proverbs 15:1 – A soft answer turns away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
• Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
• Proverbs 12:18 There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Thanks for Listening,

Starla