Musings from My Sun Porch

                 As we begin to turn the page on 2024, it’s not unusual to look back over the last 12 months and reflect on both the good and the bad.   For some 2024 may have been a time of joy, but others may be looking forward to turning the page on a year of grief or anguish. I have one friend who got married in 2024, others who welcomed new grandchildren or great-grandchildren, and still others who were blessed with special times with their families.   They can look back on the past year with fond memories. On the other hand, I have several friends who experienced the loss of a loved one in 2024.   Another grieved for her son who is in jail, and still others dealt with persistent pain or unwelcome diagnoses.   For them, 2024 was a year of pain and sorrow that they would probably like to forget. There’s nothing wrong with looking back—unless of course, you are Lot’s wife.   For the rest of us, there are...

                 Most families have at least one Christmas tradition.   Our family is no exception.   One of our traditions when I was growing up was my Mom’s banana cake.   She only made it once a year, at Christmas time, and the whole family loved it—even my Father who was a very picky eater.   Once the cake cooled, Mom would cut it down the middle and then hide half of it.   She wanted to make sure that we would still have some when friends or family dropped in.   We knew better than to search for her hiding place, and she knew that if she didn’t hide part of it, we would eat it all.               When my Mom got sick and could no longer bake the cake, my Dad decided that it was my job.   As my closest friends know, I am not much of a cook—although I’ve seen some improvement since I retired.   That first year was a disaster.   Th...

                 “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light…” (Isaiah 9: 2a NIV84).             As I listen to the news this morning, it is filled with darkness—wars, murder, thievery, crimes against children—the list could go on and on.   Even in this time of joy and celebration, It’s hard not to dwell on the evil that surrounds us. For some, it is not just the evil, it is the grief that becomes all too real as they see the empty chair around the table.               Thankfully, there can be joy despite the darkness that threatens to engulf us.   The words spoken to the shepherds that night so long ago still ring true today, “Do not be afraid.   I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people” (Luke 2: 10 NIV84).            ...

                 “…and the government will be on his shoulders” (Isaiah 9: 6 NIV84). In a few days, we will celebrate the birth of a baby.   At this time of the year, we see Jesus as a small, innocent bundle of joy, much like the babies in our own lives.   Even as the shepherds celebrated the birth of the Savior, the baby lay helpless in a manger.   Just like all babies, He had to rely on His earthly parents for food, shelter, and the basic necessities of life.   In those early years, it was probably difficult for even Mary and Joseph to comprehend how this young child could be the Savior of the world.   Yet, it was all part of God’s plan! As Isaiah wrote the words of chapter 9, the country of Israel was in turmoil.   It had been divided in half, and the Northern Kingdom of Israel was about to be overrun by the Assyrians. The Southern Kingdom of Judah would ultimately succumb to the same fate.   The...

                 “ For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given…” (Isaiah 9: 6 NIV84). At the beginning of time, shortly after God created Adam and Eve, sin entered the world, turning God’s perfect creation upside down.   Every time I think about God’s response to that first sin, I become more amazed.   After all, He is the Creator of all things.   He could have very easily destroyed His creation and started all over again.   However, “throwing out the baby with the bath water” was not God’s way.   He knew that by giving man free will, there would be trouble ahead.   He knew from the beginning that sin would create a great divide that would have to be crossed so that His creation could be reconciled to Him.   I, on the other hand, would have said, “Let’s start this over and see if they can get it right the second time.”   Thankfully, I’m not God! God wasn’t surprised.   He already had a...

                    Did you ever consider whether God grieves?   In recent months, I’ve had several friends who have experienced the loss of loved ones.   Their grief is still raw, but at the same time, they rejoice because their loved ones were believers and are now experiencing the joy of heaven.   Grief and joy filling the same moments seems impossible, but as Christians, we’ve probably all seen these two emotions joined in a way that is beyond our comprehension.                 My friends are facing their first Christmas without their beloved family members.   I’ve been there.   I know that their grief probably comes in waves as their loss becomes a series of firsts.   There’s the first Thanksgiving without them at the table.   There’s the first time they don’t need to buy a gift or have that special dish that onl...

                 Joy to the world!   It’s that time of the year when our thoughts turn to joy.   We remember that baby in a manger, and we can’t help but be overwhelmed with the reality of the sacrifice He made for us.   So, we sing joyful songs, share festive meals, and exchange gifts—all in an effort to reflect our joy.             The problem is that there is no joy for some people.   A friend in the hospital, another in hospice care, others burying loved ones, and still others mourning the recent loss of their loved ones.   Some can’t provide even one gift for their kids this Christmas.   Some may go hungry on Christmas Day.   Where is the “joy” for each of these people?             The truth is that we shouldn’t be surprised when the troubles of this world invade our “joy.” God never pr...

                 Recently, while reading the newsletter of a mission organization that my Church has supported for many years, I saw a picture of an elderly missionary being helped up a wet, muddy mountain road to a church.   He had his arms around two younger gentlemen whose smiles told their delight in the privilege of assisting this servant of God.   The missionary has given his life to serving the Lord.   He has spent years in prison for his faith.   He has traveled to countries where he risked further imprisonment, and he and his wife have served in more than half a dozen countries in their efforts to spread the Gospel.   He is an esteemed servant of God.             Yet here he was relying on the help of others just so he could complete his mission.   He was there to dedicate a new church building, and he wasn’t going to let a little mud or his p...