I recently heard someone say “Gratitude makes every meal a feast.” It got me to thinking about all the things for which I am grateful. I’ve also decided to make it the topic of this month’s blog.
Let’s start with the basics: What is gratitude? According to Robert Emmons, one of the leading scientific experts on gratitude, gratitude is “an affirmation of goodness.” When we practice gratitude, we acknowledge the good things in the world and the gifts we’ve received in our lives.
“This doesn’t mean that life is perfect,” Emmons says, “it doesn’t ignore complaints, burdens, and hassles. But when we look at life as a whole, gratitude encourages us to identify some amount of goodness in our life.”
For me, gratitude is the feeling of thankfulness and appreciation for the good things in one’s life. Acknowledging life’s goodness that often comes from outside oneself, is a key component of well-being, strengthening relationships and improving mental and physical health, fostering positive emotions and resilience.
Gratitude involves recognizing blessings, both big and small, and can be cultivated through practices like saying “thank you” more often, reflecting on your challenges to see how much you have grown, and journaling leading to a more profound sense of contentment and connection.
The best way to reap the benefits of gratitude is to notice new things for which you’re grateful every day. This is one of the reasons why gratitude journaling works because it slowly changes the way we perceive situations by adjusting what we focus on.
So. For the next 30 days, I invite you to text someone and tell them something for which you are grateful and why? To my dear husband, I feel so grateful that you are in my life because you show me love every day when you make my oatmeal for breakfast.
With a grateful heart, I look forward to connecting with you in February.
“Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy.” (Psalm 107:21-22)
Call me whatever you wish: a sleepyhead, a kipper, consopite[1], or doss. I love sleeping. It’s one of my favourite things in life. Curling up in a ball on my plush bed is fantastic! Sometimes when I am very tired, I wish I could sleep all day like babies and toddlers get to do whenever they so choose.
No matter the season, when lying in bed, I relish the relaxed feeling of my body as I drift into unconsciousness without a care about the next item on my to-do list. In winter, when it’s cold and dark outside, I love cozying up under a warm blanket and feeling like I’m hibernating if only for a few hours.
I’m not a sound sleeper or someone who falls asleep easily at night. So, I struggle during the summer time when it can be unbearably hot to take a break from the hustle and bustle of life and warm my eyes. That’s when I stick to the 3-2-1 rule developed by sleep experts for winding down before bedtime.
Three hours before, I avoid large meals, caffeine, or alcohol (I don’t drink alcohol, caffeine or other stimulants). Two hours before bed, I take no food or fluids. One hour before, no screens. This last one is harder than you think especially if you have a husband that sneaks to get in the last quarter of a football game before bed.
Sleep is good because it’s the foundation of wellness and happiness. According to the Centre for Disease Control, good sleep is essential for our health and emotional well-being, and though the amount of sleep you need changes as you age, getting enough sleep and good quality sleep are vital to good health.
Getting enough sleep can help you get sick less often, stay at a healthy weight, reduce stress, improve your mood, heart health, and metabolism, and lower your risk of chronic conditions like Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke.
Adequate sleep also helps with memory and learning, allows the body to repair and recharge, can lessen the risk of motor vehicle crashes and related injury or death, and improve your attention and memory to better perform daily activities.[2]
Whenever I’m exhausted and away from my bed, sleep feels like a luxurious pleasure I can’t wait to taste again. That’s because sleep has a value that reaches far beyond health – it is God-given. The word of God says “It is vain for you to rise early, to retire late, to eat the bread of anxious labours— for He gives [blessings] to His beloved even in his sleep.” (Psalm 127:2, Amplified Bible).
So, this holiday season, have lots of fun and ensure that sleep is right up there on your agenda. It will add to not decrease from your merriment. Happy holidays fellow hypnophiliacs and sleepyheads and a bright, prosperous 2026!
[1] An obsolete word from Latin consopitus meaning “to put to sleep.
[2] https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/about/index.html
A purse, pocketbook, bag, carryall, clutch, and tote. These are all terms for a woman’s handbag, and the topic of the fourth instalment of Life Lessons from My Favourite Things. I have a sizable collection of handbags but I want to tell you about what I learned about myself from one special handbag, my Micheal Kors tote bag.
Gifted to me as a surprise by my dear friend, Wendy, this bag is amazing and beautiful. When I travel, I can put everything I would normally carry, and some – my wallet, sunglasses, documents, essentials like lip balm, and things I would hate to lose like my retainers, currency, and keys.
Recently, I was going through my handbag collection, and I realized that my MK bag was totally underutilized. After only a few uses, I had put back into its white dust bag and light brown box. I checked it out to see that it was still in almost pristine condition, and reflected on why this bag which was so important to me still sat protected in my closet.
Why did I put it on a high shelf while my other handbags were on readily accessible shelves?
When I think back, I can remember so clearly that day in December 2022 saying to myself, “this is a pleasant surprise when I collected a large package from an Amazon delivery driver. I wonder what prompted this.” I didn’t have to wait long because Wendy called for the second time to enquire whether I had gotten the package she sent me. You see, she had been tracking it to ensure it was delivered safely to me.
It was very important to her that I got this special gift that she was planning to give me for some time. She shared that our friendship meant so much to her over the years and how I had proven to be a kind, thoughtful, and cherished friend. She also advised that I get a dust bag for the handbag when I told her it came without one.
I remember feeling a tingle in my body and a few goose pimples on my arms as she spoke from her heart. Truly, I knew that Wendy loved me as a friend. Yet, I didn’t think that I was deserving of her largesse. She was just someone with a modest income, and in no sense rich. Yet, she had expended some of her hard-earned money to show kindness to me and to say ’thank you for being a friend’, and I felt underserving of it.
I skimmed the outside and inside of the bag and admired the spacious cavity. Immediately, I saw the magnetic closure which was supported by a metal clasp to keep things safe. The bag could also be configured to a smaller size. I thought, she really had thought about getting me a bag that was not only stylish but secure. Why me, though?
You see, I was never someone who got many dedicated gifts like this one. For the past three years or so, a group of girlfriends had been pooling funds to get each other a personal item for birthdays, and at Christmas, something for our homes. Yet, this gift struck a chord with me. Someone thought I was deserving of something special but I didn’t think so.
As I started peeling back the layers of my complex personality, I realized that I was not good at letting others love me. I was good at sharing my time, talents, and effort with others but I didn’t think I was worth being reciprocated in kind for anything. If someone gave me something, I always felt they would want something in return. Quite honestly by the end of my reflection time, it wasn’t even about the bag anymore. It was about acknowledging to myself that I was, in fact, ‘worth it’.
Lesson learned…by putting myself out there and doing things that I normally didn’t shy away from (mostly thoughtful, kind deeds for others), someone had taken notice and ultimately took the time to say ‘Thank you. You mean a lot to me’. I treasured this gesture so much that I was using the bag sparingly so that the special memory about Wendy’s action would last longer. It was important to me to prolong my MK bag’s lifespan for as long as possible.
While this is certainly not the most expensive bag I will ever own, it certainly taught me a huge and significant lesson about self-worth. I am a complete and worthy individual who deserves to be treated with the same care and attention I give to belongings like my MK handbag. Moreover, my worth isn’t determined by an item’s quality or price tag, but by my own conscious choice to value myself.
I’ve since decided to use my MK handbag more often so it won’t get dry-rotted; and every time I fish it out of its box and dust bag, I remind myself that others believe in me and love me just the way I am. I just need to believe and accept that I’m worth being fussed about at times. Showing love and appreciation isn’t for everyone else, it’s also for me.
So, have you ever thought, “this is too much for me, but just right for someone else?” I think too often as women we don’t always recognize our own value. If you’ve ever felt this way too, I hope this story provides a bit of encouragement to let you know that that you add to the lives of others will at times come back to you… as it should
God, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well (Psalm 139:14, New International Version).
After taking a short break for the summer, I’m back to share the third installment of my series Life Lessons from My Favourite Things.
Open the golden, shiny wrapper and you will discover Ferrero Rocher, a chocolate of chocolates, and my favourite in the whole wide world. I love to pamper myself with them. According to Wikipedia, Ferrero Rocher, a bonbon chocolate, was introduce in Italy in 1979 and in other parts of Europe in 1982. Michele Ferrero, the credited inventor, named the chocolate after a grotto or cave in the Roman Catholic shrine of Lourdes, Rocher de Massabielle. Together with Ferrero, the company name, ‘Rocher’ is the French word for a rock or boulder.[1]
Each Ferrero Rocher ‘rock’ is made up of a whole roasted hazelnut encased in a thin wafer shell filled with hazelnut chocolate and covered in milk chocolate and chopped hazelnuts -a yummy multi-sensory experience. Thanks to its extraordinary taste, and experience and its one-of-a-kind packaging – big golden eggs, bars, and various options of package pieces – Ferrero Rocher is a symbol of celebrations across the world, perfect to show your loved ones how much you care or make moments golden and memorable.
In a world filled with processed foods and obtuse wisdom, this ‘sweet rock’ reminds me many desirable things:
- God’s Word: described as pure, golden, and luxuriously sweet, conveying delight, satisfaction and fulfilment.
- God’s Wisdom: depicted as sweet, and offering hope and a positive future to those who seek for it and find it.
- God’s Presence: a place of quiet rest and a desirable experience for those who love him, want his friendship, and seek live in obedience to his commands.
- Kind and Edifying Speech: sweet words that are like honeycomb’ pleasantness to the soul, a pure heart, and a source of healing and encouragement for others.
- Kind and Caring Actions: Christians are encouraged to show sweetness through actions of kindness, compassion, and love towards others.
- Joy and Pleasure: from being in the presence of a lover that brings pleasure and pleasant conversation.
- God’s Salvation: the sweetest gift of all that’s offered though Jesus Christ which brings us forgiveness, eternal life, and a relationship with God (John 3:16).
- God’s Kingdom: a promised place of sweetness, where there will be no more pain, sorrow, or suffering (Revelation 21:4). This is the ultimate sweetness that we can look forward to as believers. I can’t wait to be there with the sweet Rock of Ages, Christ Jesus, my Lord.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrero_Rocher
This second instalment of my series Life Lessons from My Favourite Things is about rocks. Yes, rocks. According to National Geographic, the definition of rock to a geologist is “a natural substance composed of solid crystals of different minerals that have been fused together in a solid lump.” Based on their formation, this fusion of different minerals assembled in various patterns and textures makes each rock a work of art.
I love rocks. I was one of those children who collected small rocks from a road or country path that caught my eye, drawing me to them. In a weird way, I never grew out of collecting rocks. On many trips, I would set my eyes on a piece of these inanimate, cold fragments of earth whether igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic, and it would become my trip souvenir.
Why do I love rocks?
They have a natural and unique beauty – no two rocks are exactly alike. Their colours, forms and textures hold a deep mystery and create a sense of wonder and fascination. Natural rock formations are among the most beautiful, incredibly scenic places of the world.
Rocks also offer a grounding sense of connection to nature that helps people feel rooted and calm, and can be used as inspiration for art, sculpture, and other creative endeavours. In an almost weird way, I find them calming and soothing, especially the smooth ones that were weathered by water erosion.
Beyond the physical aspects, rocks collecting provides a deep connection to the natural world. Holding these bits of geological treasure in your hands gives you an intense connection to the Earth’s history and a timely reminder of the incredible forces that have shaped our planet over thousands of years.
It seems fitting that I now have a small collection of rocks in a basket in my living room. Finding those rocks was definitely not an easy task, if you are a rock lover like me. I have a few specific criteria for picking my choice rock. It must be the right shape – not too large because I have to take it back home, and have some interest in colour and mineral formation. This criterion helped me pick my most prized piece of quartz that still brings me joy decades later.
Several years ago, my youth group and I painted “Prayer Rocks” as Saturday evening social activity where we wrote down Bible promises to support what we prayed for in our lives at that time. It felt really good to write down words of hope on something so solid that helped them look even more beautiful.
Rocks and stones have been used for as long as time to build foundations and all other types of lasting structures. I have often thought that some people are like rocks, dependable, steadfast, and loyal. Jesus taught his disciples that they would be considered as wise if thy built their houses on the rock, literally and spiritually. When the storms of life come, your house would stand firm, and who doesn’t want that?
As we start spring 2025, I am starting a new blog series: Life-Lessons from My Favourite Things that I hope would take me to the end of the year. To kick of this series, I want to share some lessons about shoes. If you know me well, you’d know that I love shoes: all kinds of shoes – sneakers, sandals, flats, heels, boots; leather, patent, canvas – you name it. You can call me a shoe-aholic.
Why do we NEED shoes or do we just WANT them; or is it both – we NEED and WANT them. I am agreeable to the last option because of a few reasons.
Shoes are needed because they offer protection from the elements: cold, heat, rain, and snow. They also shield our feet from sharp objects and potential injuries like cuts, scrapes, and punctures. We also want proper shoes because they can help prevent fungal infections and other foot problems.
In 2022, to fill global needs, an estimated 21.9 billion pairs of shoes were consumed worldwide. This translates to roughly two pairs of shoes per person on the planet.[1]
Life Lessons from Shoes
Shoes, while seemingly mundane, can offer valuable life lessons about self-expression, personal growth, and overcoming challenges. They can also symbolize our journey, identity, and the importance of taking steps, both literal and figurative, towards our goals.
Here are some life lessons we can learn from shoes:
- Comfort and Fit are Important
My love of shoes stems from a desire to wear footwear that fit properly which is crucial for foot health and to maintain overall well-being. We all know that just as a poorly fitting shoe can cause pain and discomfort, relationships that don’t fit our values and goals can lead to unhappiness.
I admit that a few times I made the mistake of buying a pair of shoes based only on looks or appearance without checking to see whether they are comfortable for standing and walking. Similarly, we need to find activities and relationships that fit us well, and surround ourselves with people and things that are supportive and that bring true happiness.
We must also remember that people can appear one way – cool and friendly – on the outside but be different on the inside – prickly, critical, and untrustworthy. Yikes!
- Good Shoe Care Matters
I take good care of my shoes to make them last. I clean and polish them after each season change, especially winter and spring when they get covered by grime, salt, and water. I also keep them in boxes when they are not in use to keep away dust and to maintain the original shine.
In like manner, we should keep cleaning and polishing ourselves both physically and mentally so we could shine, remain desirable, and to ensure our relationships last. So, the next time you feel down and unmotivated, remember this shoe-lesson: Make sure you don’t let the scum from outside rot you out and make you smelly and stinky. Keep wiping the dirt away to remain clean.
Shoes are also a symbol of walking along various pathways as we journey through life. The path we take is often more important than the end goal so we should focus on the process of living, learning, and growing throughout our lives.
- Embrace your Imperfections
It’s odd that we use much of our time to take stock of our weaknesses and imperfections. We think that we are less than or not as great as the person next to us. Then someone comes along and genuinely appreciates us and heaps praise on our heads, and what do we do? We try to push them away with our own negativity.
Likewise, no shoes are perfect. Some shoes are good and some are bad but we wear them, nonetheless. So, just as there are good shoes and bad shoes, we can learn from good and bad people; from good and bad situations; from positive and negative experiences, as well as from successes and failures. So, learn from shoes and embrace your imperfections and learn from your mistakes.
- Stay Grounded
It doesn’t matter whether your shoes are cheap or expensive, branded or local, custom or mass-produced, they always have to remain beneath your feet, and on the ground. In like manner, we should never forget our true place. It doesn’t matter how successful we become; how much money we have, or how famous we get, we must never forget our roots or from where we came. This ensures we stay humble and firmly grounded like our shoes.
- Beware of the Footprints You are Leaving
Just as shoes leave a footprint on the ground as we walk, we leave our own mark on the world in his journey called life. In the book of Ephesians, chapter six, and verse fifteen, the Bible counsels that a Christian must have “feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.”
This phrase, part of Paul’s description of the “armour of God”, is symbolic of a Roman soldier’s equipment, and is used to show how the component parts of the Christian’s spiritual body armour work together.
More especially, the expression “shod feet” means to wear shoes. A soldier’s shoes are designed to grip the ground firmly, even when it’s slippery. Similarly, having the gospel of peace fitted into your shoes allows us to make various footprints: we stand firm in our faith; we share with others the good news that salvation comes only through Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross; and we fight for what’s true and right. However, shoes not only prepare us to share the gospel of peace but show that one is at peace with God.
- Maintain both Sole and Soul
You must have heard the saying, “There is always room for another pair of shoes.” This saying is true for a few reasons: Shoes may wear out failing to provide adequate support and protection. We need specialized ones for athletics and other sporting activities, and for special events like weddings and graduations. We also need different types of shoes for a particular activity (e.g., we need rubber boots to wade through water or mud).
The shoe sole is one of its core elements without which the shoe won’t be able to sustain itself for long. As such, we replace our shoes when their soles fail. Similarly, chapters of our lives end as happens when a friendship or marriage fails or when someone retires from a job or dies.
Learning to embrace the wear and tear of life can build resilience and make room for new beginnings. As souls, we must also take care of our real selves as we live on this earth and to prepare for eternity. To protect body and soul, we must be spiritually strong to face the highs and lows of the Christian life.
Finally, like our shoes accommodate growth with an increase in age and size, we too can grow in Christ through the study of God’s word, prayer, and witnessing. So, don’t rot and die. Abide in Christ, grow, and bear much fruit.
[1] https://runrepeat.com/shoe-consumption-statistics
It’s a really, really nice word. We all talk about it. We want it. We miss it when we don’t have it. We don’t know whether we can do without it. Having it seems normal. Losing it is weird, and even hurts at times.
It’s universal – found in every language, culture, time period, and region of our world. It has many facets. It describes a deity. It’s an emotion, a way of life, and the most important thing one could ever have. What’s that really, really nice word? Well, LOVE, of course, and I think everyone should experience it.
Here are three good reasons why you should allow yourself to love and be loved.
- Connecting with God
God is love. To love is to know God and to have a connection with him. His love is the foundation of every relationship and the reason we can love others. The Bible teaches that our ability to love comes first from experiencing God’s love. This love is not just a feeling but a commitment – a sacrificial, self-less love, divine love that was manifested in Christ. Our Saviour demonstrated this great love on the cross when he gave his life for us. As we connect with him and receive this love, it fills us and overflows into our lives, allowing us to love others in ways, we couldn’t do on our own.
- Connecting with Others
This may seem trivial, but love has been the key to the functioning of society for the last 5000+ years. The ability to make loving, intimate connections with another person; the importance of touch, and to have that fondness returned is dynamite, literally. From the warmth of neighbourly relationships to the kindness of strangers, love manifests itself in diverse forms, shaping our well-being and contributing to our overall life satisfaction.
Whether you celebrate Valentine’s Day or prefer to skip it, research shows that love can have real, measurable effects on your mental and physical well-being. Its many benefits include increased life expectancy, lower blood pressure, reduced cardiovascular disease risk, decreased anxiety, and stress. Love and strong social connections have also been shown to reduce feelings of loneliness and depression while increasing happiness and a sense of belonging. The upswing in positive thoughts is also noticeable and that itself makes a big difference. Who doesn’t want all of this? I know I do.
The bottom line is if you truly want to lead a healthier life and enjoy all the mental, emotional, and physical benefits that healthy relationships provide, it’s important to nurture connections that make you feel secure and supported—whether they are romantic or not. So, go ahead and make those connections. You need them.
- Connecting with Yourself
Love isn’t just about romance. It’s about remembering to be kind to yourself. From personal experience, I can tell you that it’s incredibly hard to find love without loving yourself, and even harder to keep it. Loving yourself means that there is self-acceptance, self-forgiveness, that you are patient with yourself, especially when you make mistakes. Loving yourself means being less needy and less demanding in a relationship, leading to healthier relationships which blossom into even greater love. So, love yourself. Embrace the red and pink hearts, the love poems, the cards, and of course, the (dark) chocolate. It will open your heart’s door and be a magnet to even greater love – all around.
Finally, know why love is important. Love God. Love others. Love yourself. Your life will be much richer, I promise.
A few weeks ago, we ended our journey through 2024 and crossed over to a new year, 2025. In this month’s blog, I’d like us to think about this concept of crossing over – moving from one part, side, or year to another – by looking at a fascinating story found in the third and fourth chapters of the book of Joshua.
Historical Background
1. The nation of Israel had spent 430 years in Egypt. For some of those years, during the time Joseph, Jacob and Rachael’s son was alive they enjoyed peace, but several years after Joseph’s death, they were enslaved in Egypt. (Gen. 15:13).
- Through Moses, God delivered them from the Egyptians and after the Exodus, they crossed the Red Sea on dry ground to continue their journey from Egypt to Canaan.
- They spent some time (about a year) at Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments (the Law). Then they headed to Kadesh Barnea to enter the Promised Land; but 10 spies after scouting the land, convinced Israel that the inhabitants of Canaan were too strong for them to conquer and they should therefore, return to Egypt (Num. 13:25–33).
- Because of their unbelief and disobedience, they were banned from entering the Promised Land. A two-week flight turned into 40 years of desert-wandering and eating manna until every person 20 years old, and older had died (Num. 14:20–25).
- Then, after 40 long years of desert living, and some 500 years from the time God promised the land to Abraham and his covenant descendants, the time to cross over had come. Joshua and Caleb were more than 80 years old standing alongside a new generation of faith to take the Promised Land.
- There is only one last obstacle, the rushing Jordan river swollen with spring rains, and overflowing it banks.
There are a several lessons from this Bible narrative of Israel’s crossing over the Jordan river into the Promised Land. I’ve chosen five of them to share with you.
- First, we must let God take the lead.
Joshua 3: 3-4 says, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before.”
God commanded that the visible symbol of His presence and His character – the ark of the covenant – would show the way they must go by leading the way through the crossing. His people were to follow it. By leading with priests carrying the ark instead of soldiers, God declared that the key to Israel’s victory in the Promised Land would be essentially spiritual, not military. Only as they followed the representation of His presence would they be successful. The same goes for us. We don’t know what 2025 holds so we must follow God’s lead. Resist the urge to take matters in your own hands because you have never been this way before.
- Second, there must be strict adherence to the conditions God sets.
While the miracle of crossing the Jordan River was wholly God’s, it was performed upon the fulfilment of certain conditions by the people. They were to sanctify themselves. Because this would be a spiritual battle, Joshua required Israel to make spiritual preparations in order to be successful. That means they were to separate themselves from common and filthy things to focus on the LORD, and to see what wonders the LORD would do among them.
Today, though we know that our battles are spiritual, we have become ultra focused on the physical. We seem to be more concerned about what is on our plates than what is in our hearts and minds, but God has not changed his requirement. He is still saying to us “Be holy for I am holy.” A few weeks ago, I ‘googled’ what is the opposite of holiness? You know what I found? Worldliness. So, if God is calling us to holiness, then we must shun worldliness.
Israel was also required to move in obedience to God’s commands concerning the crossing. They were to set themselves in array (group themselves in a certain manner), with the priests leading, keeping 2000 cubits, some 1,000 yards (1km) behind the ark. This was for at least two reasons. (a) To respect the holy nature of the ark of the covenant, and (b) To make it possible for all Israel to see the ark – to see that God was in it. We too must keep our eyes on Jesus in 2025.
Although Christians are not called to carry out the same physical acts like Israel, spiritual preparation is necessary for any life of ministry and service. We must make every effort to do so. As with Israel’s preparation, crossing over from sin to victory involves hearing and believing God’s Word and the discipline of obedience to that word.” There is no other way to move forward victoriously.
- Third, spiritual leaders must be faithful
Look at Joshua’s step of bold faith in verses 7 and 8 of Joshua chapter 3. “Then Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, “Take up the ark of the covenant and cross over before the people.” So, they took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people (Joshua 3: 7-8). God told Joshua to command this radical step of faith, and Joshua sent the priests to walk across a swollen Jordan River, not because of foolish presumption, but as a man led by the LORD, and because of his experience. He was one of only two men who remembered the similar work God did in Isarel’s crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 14).
Like Joshua did for Israel, leaders must encourage and instruct God’s people to hear and obey His words. The work of ministers and leaders is to hold forth the word of life, and to take care of the administration of those rules, orders, ordinances which are tokens of God’s presence and instruments of his power and grace. Though miracles may excite men, they cannot work faith in us, for “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
I must add that Israel followed the priests as far as they carried the ark, but no further; so, we too we must follow our ministers and leaders only as they follow Christ.
- Fourth, expect God to work in brand new ways for you in 2025
Notice that God’s work of stopping the flow of water at the Jordan River so Israel could pass through was similar to what He did at the Red Sea (Exodus 14: 21-22), but not the same.
The waters at the of the Red Sea were divided (Exodus 14:21-22) n contrast to the waters of the Jordan River which were cut off upstream, leaving a dry riverbed that was passable for Israel. From generation to generation, God’s work is in some ways the same and in other ways different or brand new for his glory, and as evidence of his faithfulness.
The waters of the Jordan stopped flowing the moment the priests’ stepped into them. God required the priests to take a step of faith, and then He acted. In the same way, God often asks us to take a step of faith before He moves. What step of faith do we need to take in our lives today as we face 2025?
As Israel crossed safely, the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the river. For most of the year, the Jordan River was about 100 feet wide and only 3 to 10 feet deep. However, when the more than 3 million Israelites crossed, it was at flood stage, overflowing its banks. It’s said that the body of water that piled up would have been 20 miles (32 km.) long, 2 miles (3.2 km.) wide, and around 120 ft. (37 m.) high. What a faith-boosting experience![1]
Joshua 4:24, says “He [God] did the miracle at Jordan so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.” Readers, I assure you that no enemy can overcome God’s mighty power, and he wants to reveal this power to you in 2025.
- Fifth, memorialize your miracles
When the entire nation had finished crossing over the Jordan river, God ordered Joshua to set up a memorial. One man from each tribe was ordered to collect a stone from the bed of the Jordan river from the very place where the priests’ feet stood firmly and Joshua used these stones to set up a monument of remembrance at Gilgal, the place where they lodged that night.
The memorial was to be a sign among the Israelites so that when their children asked in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ The adults could tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. Do we have memorials of our victories in Jesus, and do we share the significance of those victories with our children?
When God works miraculously for you, do what Israel did: find ways to memorialize the miracles for our children’s sake.
Reflection
As I close this blog, I want to ask what is the main point of Israel’s crossing of the Jordan? The point is that Israel was called to cross over from wilderness living to the Promised Land, a land of freedom and prosperity. To do this, they were to fix their eyes on God and his presence, follow Him, and trust him to take care of them as he did the flood waters of the Jordan river.
As we have crossed over into 2025, we too are in the last leg of our journey through the wilderness ‘en route’ to the promised land or heaven itself. The challenge is we often find ourselves being stuck in “wilderness living.” No matter what we do and no matter how many times we “recalculate the route”, we seem to be right back where we started.
Perhaps we are experiencing a lack of fulfilment in our relationships, health, career, or purpose. Maybe we have given up hope of things ever changing for the better, and have decided to tread those same well-worn, familiar paths of bitterness, hopelessness, cynicism and defeat.
I would like to urge you to pray that God would lead us to a place where we can spiritually cross over from the wilderness of defeat, disobedience and sin to a life of victory, obedience, and holiness in Jesus.
[1] Using the geographical layout of the land from where Israel camped [Adam] to the crossing of the Jordan site.
“After coming into the house, they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Matthew 2:11, King James Version.
Growing up, Christmas was a huge production. One week before the big day, we’d “break up” the house by disarranging everything. Then, we’d clean the walls, windows, floor a everything in sight. A bit of painting following together with varnishing of the wooden furniture. On Christmas eve night, we “put away” the house for Christmas, that is, we cleaned up the house, put the furniture back in its place, order, hung lights and new curtains.
“Putting away” was an all-night, labour-intensive affair that usually ended in the wee hours of Christmas morning. When everyone got up on Christmas morning, the living room was spic and span, bringing a deep sense of satisfaction because we did it. We got everything ready for Christmas, on time. It was magical.
One thing was different to what we now see. Each person – parent and child – had a small gift in the gift corner because we didn’t have a tree or stockings. The reason: we were a large family and money was relatively scarce. We just couldn’t afford anything else. The outcome: we spent the Christmas season stress-free and guilt-free. What a gift in and of itself!
Now that I’m grown and have my own family, I do things differently. “No breaking-up” and “putting-away” of the house. It feels silly to have the house in disarray for weeks and leave so much to do at the last minute. My Christmas house decorating is usually finished by the first week in December. That way, I can enjoy the fruits of my labour. A Christmas tree, a wreath, and few lights are all I need to get into the Christmas spirit.
These days, with my daughter all grown-up and out of the house, I struggle with something different: I want to avoid excess.
My husband and I have most of what we need, so we (mostly me) have a new way to Christmas shop, including gift-giving. We follow a simple rule: Give each other something that’s practical, that’s needed, and will be used. When we started, my husband tried it, and it didn’t go so well. He gave me a gift card to a spa forgetting that I don’t like to be touched, especially by strangers. It took me two years to drum up enough courage to visit the spa, and when I went there this year, the spa service had been discontinued. Be careful about the gift cards you give. You don’t want to waste money.
Talking about wasting money. It is so easy to do this at Christmas-time. We try to please so many people- friends, family, church members, and wind up spending so much money needlessly just because, we want to appear generous. The truth is, we must not put this kind of pressure on ourselves. We are the only ones hurt in the process.
There is a better way. I follow it and it works. I make a list and plan what I am going to buy long before I actually go shopping. Then I set a “hard” budget that feels right for me, and stick with it. When I do shopping, if I didn’t plan for it, it doesn’t get bought. Having a budget doesn’t mean cutting out the fun; it just means focusing on what matters most to you and your family.
We also give our daughter a single gift from both of us, though she gets two cards. I listen to what my husband talks about and get it for him. After three and a half decades of marriage, surprising him for Christmas is not high on my agenda. For young family members, I like to give books or craft materials to promote learning.
I like to give cards so I usually buy some for friends and acquaintances. I get specific ones for friends, and boxed one for colleagues and acquaintances. Time-permitting, I sometimes throw in a few home-made cookies, and a pack of favourite teas or hot chocolate to say I care. We talk a lot about service and helping others, and yes, I try to give a gift to one or two seniors at church, and neighbours along with cards.
You can also donate to local charities or volunteer to share Christmas meals to the needy. This can bring so much joy, and it’s a lovely way to connect with the community, and spread kindness, especially to those who may be spending Christmas alone.
So, this 2024 Christmas, do your best to conserve and save money. Have a happy minimalist Christmas. We really don’t know what 2025 will bring. Something tells me that “challenging” might be a good word to describe it.
Simply put, purchasing power refers to the financial ability to buy a certain of goods and services with an approved currency unit. During my childhood, the world was completely different from today. When you wanted to buy something from someone or somewhere, you either paid by cash or wrote a cheque. If you couldn’t pay with cash or a cheque, you could also go to a bank and mortgage something of value to get a loan to pay for the product.
Back then, I thought I understood a bit about what Revelation 13:17 meant regarding restricted purchasing power. Based on historical records, those who lived in the 1940s, during World War II, had a small sample of what will be experienced in the near future when there are strict limitations on purchasing power.
Through an enforced rationing system, federal government restrictions in the United States were placed on consumer products and people could not buy much of stuff like gasoline, oil, tires, shoes, sugar, meat, coffee, and a host of other items without federal government ration stamps.
Conversely, people could not sell goods without permission from the federal government. Price-fixing was done for both buyers and sellers, and there were very stiff penalties, including fines and imprisonment, for violators. Yet, a large black market sprang up and flourished illegally reducing the sting of the restrictions.
Today, we are living in a completely different age. Cash and cheques have largely been replaced by cashless substitutes and online trading. I saw this firsthand on my recent vacation to the United Kingdom. In many train stations, there were no human attendants selling tickets, only machines that gave instructions about how to get them using your credit card or in London, your Oyster card. No cards, no service. Only cash, no service.
The situation was the same when I went to a tourist attraction or even the supermarket or pharmacy. The words ‘Card Only’ or ‘We are cashless’ greeted me. Through these experiences, I am beginning to see how easy it would be to out an embargo on purchasing power as predicted in the Bible.
In Revelation chapter 13, the Apostle John records an interesting and important prophesy about the closing moments of history. Two beast powers emerge to persecute God’s remnant people. The first, a hybrid beast, rises from the sea or populated areas according to Revelation 17: 5. This beast is made up of parts of three unclean animals in Daniel 7 implying that it is a successor of those animal kingdoms: the leopard, the kingdom of Greece, is strongly influenced by Greek philosophy; it has feet like a bear, Medo-Persia, pointing to the influence of Persian religion, Zoroastrianism and, particularly, Mithraism on it; and its mouth is like a lion, reminiscent of Babylon’s power and arrogance, especially that of King Belshazzar who succeeded King Nebuchadnezzar.
The second is a lamb-like beast which arises from the earth that will speak with intolerance like a dragon. Talking about what is generally believed to be the United States of America, the Bible says: “And he [the lamb-like earth beast] exercises all the authority of the first [sea] beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first [sea] beast, whose deadly wound was healed” (Revelation 13:12).
Notably, the earth beast, also named the “false prophet”[1] will serve the first or sea beast which receives the power, the throne and the dragon’s [Satan’s] great authority. Driven by the devil’s wrath, both beasts will seek to harm the remnant, followers of the woman described in Revelation 12:17, “who keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus.”
Continuing the divine prediction in Revelation 13:17, John states that there will come a time when the earth beast will issue a decree that “… no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” This suggests there will be a time when purchasing power will be fully restricted based on religious allegiance and will be directly related to “worship”, not of God but of a beast power.
Put plainly, very soon, a civil power will launch a global effort to persuade and force the world to worship the first (sea) beast by forming an image to it and then calling the world to worship that image. Through miraculous signs (Revelation 13:12), this civil power will convince most of the world to worship the sea beast thereby hoping to establish a religious monopoly.
Concerning this end-time prophecy, the inspired writer Ellen White notes: “In the last great conflict of the controversy … those who are loyal to God will see every earthly support cut off. Because they refuse to break His law in obedience to earthly powers, they will be forbidden to buy or sell.” The Desire of Ages, Ellen Gould White, pp. 121, 122.[2] Satan says … “For fear of wanting food and clothing they will join with the world in transgressing God’s law. The earth will be wholly under my dominion.” Prophets and Kings, Ellen Gould White, pp. 183,184.[3]
We are clearly living in the time of the end (Daniel 11:45). Today, many are fearful, and trying to figure out what is happening in our world: Collapsing economies, non-stop wars and natural disasters; moral decline, diverse diseases; and dangers on every hand. Many, godly and worldly, believe that a terrible catastrophe is coming but God has not left us to wonder in ignorance.
The Bible provides us with a bird’s eye view of the future typified by persecution, a death decree, and the great time of trouble but in the end deliverance by a God who keeps His promises. So, let us loo to the future with confidence knowing that Jesus is coming soon to take us to heaven to be with him eternally. Remember, He who promised is faithful.
(Unless appearing in quoted references or otherwise identified, Bible verses are from the New King James Version.)
[1] See Revelation 16:13; 19:20; and 20:10.
[2] https://www.ellenwhite.info/books/ellen-g-white-book-desire-of-ages-da-contents.htm
[3] https://www.ellenwhite.info/books/bk-pk-contents.htm
