Let Christ Join You This Thanksgiving

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I thought I had another week! Somehow that ‘one week between now and Thanksgiving’ is upon us! So, the preparations have begun; for you, too, I presume. If you’re hosting dinner, you’re probably going to spend the next several days cleaning, shopping, decorating, baking, and figuring out how everyone will fit around the dinner table. 

Maybe you feel both excited and anxious when you think about how many people will be gathered. Maybe you also feel a bit tense about one person in particular who tends to be difficult.

Try this: In addition to planning for the usual guests, make room for Christ at your table, too, figuratively speaking. Make room for Christ in your heart, literally speaking. How?

Imagine our Lord saying to you:

I know you mean well. I know the gratitude that’s in your heart for all I have given you. I see that. I see how you want the day to be relaxing and happy, with everyone sharing a day of love together. You want them to know how much you love them, and how much I love them.

Put away your expectations of how the day should go and invite Me in to be present with you. Picture Me standing next to you, and listen to what I whisper in your ear. The loving and insightful thoughts that come to you come from Me. Let Me guide you and your day will contain more love and peace for you than it has in the past. 

I know you’re dreading part of the holiday. I know you have difficulty with that one person. Guess what? She’s having a rough time. It has nothing to do with you. Let Me handle the situation. You were created in Love, in My image, and so was she.

Let My love speak to your heart. Let My love flow from your lips and bring peace to your difficult relationship. This isn’t magic, and years of estrangement won’t evaporate in a day. But I promise you, if you listen to Me and offer My loving words, the tension between you will be lessened. I can’t promise that the other will respond in kind to your attempts. I gave each of you free will. But I do promise that if you offer words of love to the other, you will find more peace in your heart than if you continued as you always have: with fear and dread.

I created both of you in My image. Take a different path – try a different tactic from the usual – and experience My peace.

You are good. So is she.

Invite me in and let me show these truths to you.

“...the image of His own nature He made us.” – Wisdom 2:23

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.” – Psalm 34:18

“Lord, I invite You to join us when we celebrate Thanksgiving.”

Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2023 Gina Bedell     Comments are always welcome! 

Please share this with your friends by clicking on one of the icons below. Blogspot doesn’t have a ‘subscribe’ feature and so I appreciate your help in sharing my reflections. Thanks!

If you or someone you know would like to receive these writings directly to your inbox, please email me at ginabedell1@gmail.com and I will add you to my ‘BCC’ email list.

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P.S.

Pray for peace around the world. Donate toward a cause that tugs at your heart. Take care of those around you; take care of our planet. Pray for the families around the globe whose lives have been torn apart by war and natural disasters.

Much to Share

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Remember when the large Lays potato chip bag had  “Get your own bag” written on it? None of us really bought into the idea that that was a single-serving size! The one-ounce bags are for individuals. The much larger bags have enough chips to feed a crowd; despite the marketing efforts, we know that they’re intended to be shared. 

The same is true of our spiritual gifts: they’re meant to be shared. We may not think of our interests, strengths, and talents as spiritual gifts, but they are. They’re the skills God has given us that allow us to do the things we love to do, as well as the things we have to do. 

Some gifts we use for our hobbies. We thank God for the talents that let us engage in activities we enjoy that feed our bodies, minds, hearts, and souls. We also look for ways to share these talents with others to bring joy to them and benefit our community. 

Some gifts we use at our place of work. We thank God for the skills that let us support ourselves or our families. The Spirit led us to that job based on the strengths He gave us that are suited for that particular line of work. Our work is also where we give dignity to others. In everyone we encounter, we’re given the opportunity to bring out the best in them by letting them know that they and the work they do are important.

Also, we find ways to apply the skills we use at work to serve others or to build up our community in any of a number of ways.

Let’s thank our Lord for the abundance of talents we’ve been given and see them as spiritual gifts. Let’s find ways to share them to bring joy to others – not only with our own family, but also with our community.

“To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.” 

– 1 Corinthians 12:7

“Lord, let me see my talents as gifts from You to be enjoyed and shared with others.”

Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2023 Gina Bedell     Comments are always welcome! 

Please share this with your friends by clicking on one of the icons below. Blogspot doesn’t have a ‘subscribe’ feature and so I appreciate your help in sharing my reflections. Thanks!

If you or someone you know would like to receive these writings directly to your inbox, please email me at ginabedell1@gmail.com and I will add you to my ‘BCC’ email list.

You can also find my posts on Facebook!

P.S.

Pray for peace around the world. Donate toward a cause that tugs at your heart. Take care of those around you; take care of our planet. Pray for the families around the globe whose lives have been torn apart by war and natural disasters.

See the Blessings

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Our troubles are real: Flat tires, sick kids, broken appliances, and illness, just to name a few. Even technology, which theoretically makes our lives easier, often causes us stress. Sometimes, our problems seem to pile up until we feel buried in an avalanche of headaches.

How do we respond?

One way is to gripe about our situation to all who will listen. We carry a chip of anger and resentment on our shoulder and we’ll spew our problems onto anyone and everyone we encounter. (I’ve said this before, and it’s worth repeating: This is different from the importance of seeking a trusted friend or a licensed therapist who can listen to our struggles, help us find healthy ways to release our stress, and guide us toward a possible solution.)

Another option is to think back to other challenges we’ve faced in the past and recognize how we managed to get through them. Then, we stop the chaos in our minds, take a deep breath, and ask our Lord to help us carry these new burdens.

Imagine Him saying to you now:

Think back to that one major struggle you had. Think back to how you begged Me to resolve it in a particular way. Over time, you did get My answer to your prayer, even though maybe it wasn’t the answer you had expected. I was with you in all of it.

Think back to other difficulties you’ve had and how you found relief from unlikely sources: An acquaintance knew of a medical team that specialized in your particular illness. A stranger stopped to help you change your tire. A friend called out of the blue to relieve you of your stress for a while. People stepped in to help just when you needed it. You got an idea of how to resolve the computer issue. You found a YouTube video that showed you how to repair the broken appliance instead of buying a new one.  

All of these were My blessings. Maybe you didn’t get the miracle you wanted. Instead, the miracle may be the peace you’ve found even in the midst of the struggle. You asked Me for help, and I gave you My peace.

Trust Me. Trust My wisdom: I ordered the seasons, didn’t I? The seasons change, bringing relief from the burdens of the previous season’s weather. You are precious to Me. I’ve brought relief to you during other trying times; I’ll help you through this one, too.

“Thank You, Lord, for helping me to see Your presence in the midst of my difficulties.”

“The Lord has done marvels for us.” – Psalm 126:3

Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2023 Gina Bedell     Comments are always welcome! 

Please share this with your friends by clicking on one of the icons below. Blogspot doesn’t have a ‘subscribe’ feature and so I appreciate your help in sharing my reflections. Thanks!

If you or someone you know would like to receive these writings directly to your inbox, please email me at ginabedell1@gmail.com and I will add you to my ‘BCC’ email list.

You can also find my posts on Facebook!

P.S.

Pray for peace around the world. Donate toward a cause that tugs at your heart. Take care of those around you; take care of our planet. Pray for the families around the globe whose lives have been torn apart by war and natural disasters.

Our Inner GPS

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Taking a road trip has become almost worry-free now that we have GPS to guide us. We’ve learned to trust the GPS’ directions. We’ve also had to decide on which routes to take: some routes are faster, others slower and more scenic; some have paved roads, others include bumpy dirt roads; some take us through construction zones, others avoid them. If there’s trouble up ahead, the GPS will give us the option to take a detour to avoid that area. Also, if we take a wrong turn or miss an exit, it gives us directions on how to get back on course. 

God’s guidance is kind of like our GPS for life. Living in His love is our constant goal; we learn to trust that He’ll guide us toward that goal if we ask Him to. He gives us free will to choose different paths. And when we make choices that aren’t loving, He’ll forgive us and lead us back toward Him and His love. 

To stay on this road of Love, we’ve learned to ask, “What does God want me to do?” We consider this when we’re deciding on significant issues like employment, housing, schools, what to say or do in our relationships, or voting. It also applies to smaller decisions like how we spend our free time. We can look for His guidance even when shopping by examining how our buying habits affect the environment, our community, and the people across the globe who make the items we purchase. 

We pray for clarity in our decision-making. While prayerfully weighing different options, we do our part by learning all we can from credible sources and asking questions from people we respect who don’t automatically tell us what we want to hear. In some cases, there’s more than one acceptable option. God can see the ‘road conditions’ or ‘detours’ ahead in each choice; He’ll steer us toward the better option for us if we listen to His direction. 

How do we know when we’re on the route God wants us to take? God uses our thoughts and feelings to guide us. When we pay attention to the promptings of His Spirit and follow His guidance, we’ll feel at peace with our decision – peace that is long-lasting. If our decision goes against His guidance, we may feel happy briefly but that joy will soon be replaced by more stress and more confusion.

God loves us; He has given us His Spirit to lead us toward everything that will bring us closer to Him. When we follow His lead, His peace and joy will accompany us – no matter where we travel.

“To do your will, O my God, is my delight, and your law is within my heart!” – Psalm 40:8

“Lord, help me to trust Your promptings in my heart.”

Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2023 Gina Bedell     Comments are always welcome! 

Please share this with your friends by clicking on one of the icons below. Blogspot doesn’t have a ‘subscribe’ feature and so I appreciate your help in sharing my reflections. Thanks!

If you or someone you know would like to receive these writings directly to your inbox, please email me at ginabedell1@gmail.com and I will add you to my ‘BCC’ email list.

You can also find my posts on Facebook!

P.S.

Pray for peace around the world. Donate toward a cause that tugs at your heart. Take care of those around you; take care of our planet. Pray for the families around the globe whose lives have been torn apart by war and natural disasters.

See the People

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Growing up in the Cleveland area, where many of my friends’ parents were immigrants, I learned that a friendly question to ask people was, “What nationality are you?” When I was in my 20s I met a guy of Irish descent; I’ll call him Patrick. When I answered this question with “Slovenian” he said, “Slovenian?!? In our neighborhood we used to beat up the Slovenians!!” I didn’t run into him much after that so I don’t know if his attitude toward Slovenians ever changed. I like to think that it did, now that he saw ‘the enemy’ as a real person – me.

As we learn of the horrific events happening in the Middle East, Ukraine, and elsewhere around the world, it’s easy to condemn those who engage in war, especially when they target civilians. Our hearts break for those caught in the middle. We can’t understand how those who want war can see only an ‘enemy’ and not people. And somehow we think we’re innocent of treating those around us any differently.

Are we innocent? Think of Patrick and, truth be told, most of us who hold onto stereotypes and judgments of particular nationalities, races, religions, or any other groups that we attach labels to. 

On the outside we may not let our attitudes show: We don’t bother our neighbors and we’re civil with our coworkers. Yet inside and deep down, we may be suspicious of that foreign neighbor. We may hold unfair and unfavorable opinions of our coworkers based on stereotypes.

So before we condemn all those ‘over there’ engaged in war, let’s take a look at our own hearts and see where our own wars are raging. Let’s dig deep and clean out those fears and judgments. Let’s make an effort to give a little extra of ourselves to those who are unfamiliar to us. Let’s give alms to those people – not money, but our hearts. Offer to those ‘others’ our time and sincere expressions of good will. Offer a friendly greeting to our neighbors and learn about their culture. Make a sincere effort to engage our coworkers in conversation. Let’s be the ones to initiate connections, amity, and peace with those who seem different from us. Let’s see them for who they are: people who are loved by God, just like we are. You’ll probably find, like I hope Patrick did, that the ‘Slovenians’ in your world are pretty nice people after all – just like you.

“Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil. You fools! Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside? But as to what is within, give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you.” – Luke 11:39-41

“Lord, rid me of my judgments of others. Help me see everyone as You see them.”

Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2023 Gina Bedell     Comments are always welcome! 

Please share this with your friends by clicking on one of the icons below. Blogspot doesn’t have a ‘subscribe’ feature and so I appreciate your help in sharing my reflections. Thanks!

If you or someone you know would like to receive these writings directly to your inbox, please email me at ginabedell1@gmail.com and I will add you to my ‘BCC’ email list.

You can also find my posts on Facebook!

P.S.

Pray for peace around the world. Pray for the families around the globe whose lives have been torn apart by war and natural disasters. Donate toward a cause that tugs at your heart. Take care of those around you; take care of our planet. 

Who's My Neighbor?

We see them day after day on the same street corners, holding their cardboard signs asking for help. How do you respond? 

Would you respond differently if you saw Jesus Himself standing there?

Maybe we can’t give to all of them every time we see them. Is that our excuse for not giving to them at all?

Maybe the problem lies in our use of the word ‘them’: We distance ourselves from them.

Consider the Good Samaritan, who cared for his neighbor when others wouldn’t (see Luke 10:30-37). The story reminds us that God shows love, mercy, and compassion to everyone without exception. 

Who’s our neighbor? Everyone, because Christ lives in everyone. We are all children of God. Do you accept that fact? Everyone – including those who don’t live, look, dress, speak, act, pray, believe, learn, or love like you do. 

If we claim to follow Him, we’ll love and show compassion to all people, in concrete ways – in both our words and actions. 

Maybe you justify not giving by thinking, “I worked hard to get to where I am. Why didn’t they?”

Maybe you had opportunities, and they didn’t.

Maybe you had loving parents, and they didn’t.

Maybe you had plenty of food in your home, and they didn’t.

Maybe you attended a safe school that enabled you to thrive, and they didn’t.

Maybe they had a catastrophic and expensive illness or injury, and you didn’t.

Maybe their poor choices landed them in prison, and yours didn’t. Or you got bailed out, and they didn’t.

Christ is merciful to you. Be merciful to your neighbor.

We can’t know everything about a person’s life, the challenges they’ve faced, the hurdles they’ve overcome. When we see a person asking for help, we have to see first and foremost a person – not a label, and not only the sign they’re holding. See a beloved son, daughter, or friend. See a person with hopes and dreams. See a person whose military experiences left them with nightmares we can’t begin to imagine, someone who’s doing their best to get through another day. 

Love is an action verb. Start with one person. Here are examples of what some people give to those on the corners:

Some give cash.

Some give gift cards to nearby eateries.

Some give prepackaged items like nuts, granola bars, or fruit.

Some give meals purchased at nearby fast-food places.

Some give winter hats, gloves, or socks.

If you’ve thought of giving to a food bank, shelter, or soup kitchen instead of to the people on the street, have you followed through with your good intentions?

When you give, you give hope.

Give without judging. Give with a smile.

Give to your neighbor.

“‘Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?’ He answered, ‘The one who treated him with mercy.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’” – Luke 10:36-37

“Lord, help me see You and love You in everyone.”

Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2023 Gina Bedell     Comments are always welcome! 

Please share this with your friends by clicking on one of the icons below. Blogspot doesn’t have a ‘subscribe’ feature and so I appreciate your help in sharing my reflections. Thanks!

If you or someone you know would like to receive these writings directly to your inbox, please email me at ginabedell1@gmail.com and I will add you to my ‘BCC’ email list.

You can also find my posts on Facebook!

P.S.

We continue to pray for an end to the war. If you’d like to help the people of Ukraine through the Cleveland Maidan Association, you may use either PayPal or a credit/debit card here:

https://www.paypal.com/donate/...

Also, if you’re able to help the people of Maui, here are a few organizations that are accepting donations:

The Hawaii Community Foundation 

The American Red Cross

The Maui Food Bank

Don't Look Back

They say you can’t change where you came from, but you can change where you’re headed.

Now is all you have. It doesn’t matter where you’ve been, or what you’ve done. The paths you walked when you were younger are worn down, trampled by the footprints of the generations after you. You’ve lived, you’ve learned, and you’re still learning on the path you’re traveling now.

Don’t look back. Don’t look back on your accomplishments or mistakes, on the choices you made a day or a decade or a lifetime ago. Don’t waste today dwelling on the victories that are now history. Abandon your regrets; let go of your resentment over how you were brought up. Leave behind others’ offenses against you, as if that gives you an excuse to treat them poorly (it doesn’t). Don’t waste your time revisiting those old hurts. 

Instead, look ahead to where Christ is leading you today, to what He’s calling you to be and do at this stage of your life right now.

“And another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home.’ Jesus answered him, ‘No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God.’” – Luke 9:61-62

If a farmer looks back while plowing his field, the row he’s plowing won’t be straight. Once one row goes a little crooked, each subsequent row will be crooked, and the field won’t look or produce the way the farmer had intended it to. In a similar way, if you keep looking back at your past instead of focusing on your blessings of today, you’ll miss what Christ has in store for you and what He wants to accomplish through you in the days and years ahead.

Keep your eyes on Christ and His promises: His constant presence, His love, strength, forgiveness, peace, friendship, and eternal joy. He’s not keeping track of what happened in your past. Give Him your whole heart today. Don’t wait until you have everything in your life set in neat little rows; that might never happen. Be all-in with Him. Be His enthusiastic follower. Let His love burn in your heart for your neighbors. Follow Christ’s way – loving all people; repaying evil with good; opening your hearts, hands, and wallets to the needy; and trusting that He is always with you and always loving you. 

Leave your past behind you and let Him lead you ahead to experience His love and everything good He has in store for you, today.

“Lord, keep me focused on You and Your promises for me!”

Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2023 Gina Bedell     Comments are always welcome! 

Please share this with your friends by clicking on one of the icons below. Blogspot doesn’t have a ‘subscribe’ feature and so I appreciate your help in sharing my reflections. Thanks!

If you or someone you know would like to receive these writings directly to your inbox, please email me at ginabedell1@gmail.com and I will add you to my ‘BCC’ email list.

You can also find my posts on Facebook!

P.S.

We continue to pray for an end to the war. If you’d like to help the people of Ukraine through the Cleveland Maidan Association, you may use either PayPal or a credit/debit card here:

https://www.paypal.com/donate/...

Also, if you’re able to help the people of Maui, here are a few organizations that are accepting donations:

The Hawaii Community Foundation 

The American Red Cross

The Maui Food Bank