Musings from a Pastor’s Wife
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26 NIV
Happy New Year! Thank you so much for going through my journey with me. I pray your new year brings you lots of peace, love, and joy..
Hugs,
Tabetha
John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Trouble, oh we got trouble
Right here in River City!
With a capital “T”
That rhymes with “P”
And that stands for Pool
(Ya Got Trouble from The Music Man)
Raise your hand if you don’t have trouble. That is what I thought, not a single hand. We shouldn’t be surprised by trouble. Jesus told us we would have trouble. Just because you are Christian, does not exempt you from the world. Let’s face it, our world is in a lot of trouble all the time. Marvel and DC together couldn’t produce enough superheroes to save the day.
So what do we do? Do we let our life get swept up and dragged down by the trouble? Do we curl up in the fettle position and suck our thumb? Or do we call on the one superhero that can save the day? Jesus won’t always take away the trouble, but He will provide the peace to get you through it. So take heart! Call on the superhero that has already overcome the world!
Lord, I need a hero and You are the only One that can help! ~amen
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John 14:1
Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.
“Seeing isn’t believing; believing is seeing” (The Santa Clause, 1994). I have to admit The Santa Clause is one of my favorite Christmas movies and this is my favorite quote. I think it is the best description of today’s verse. We don’t see God in order to believe. However, when you believe you begin to see God everywhere. So when our hearts become troubled, and you know they will, just believe.
Do I think believing will turn your world immediately into rainbows and unicorns? No, I do not. I do think believing will give you the strength you need to face anything. I know believing will help you take that next breath, and the next one, and the next. Soon you will be taking one step after the other. You will see a sliver of light over the horizon and before you know it the light will flood your life again. However, to get to this place you need to do only one simple thing. . . believe.
So, if Scott Calvin can learn to believe he is Santa Clause in order to see the magic, can you believe in God in order to see the miracles? I can promise you it is the greatest and most magical thing in the world!
Lord, I do believe! ~amen
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Matthew 11:28
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
I hate to be one of those people, but there are times I am so glad when Christmas is finally over. Don’t get me wrong, I look forward to it every year. I love all the lights, music, movies, traditions, and bright paper packages tied up with string. These are a few of my favorite things. . . LOL! There is something to be said for going back to life and not making sure everything is bought, wrapped, decorated, baked, and sent. I don’t know about you but I am exhausted.
Now I am sure there are several of you that are saying, wait a minute that isn’t the meaning of Christmas. I know, but let’s get real, He is not just the reason for that season. He is there all year long and should be celebrated that way always. Which brings me to today’s verse. Isn’t it wonderful He is there all year long and not just at Christmas? There is always burdens and weariness no matter what the season. Christ is there to always give me rest. When life gets complicated, making you weary and burdened down, go to Him and find your rest.
Lord, thank You for giving me rest when I need it. ~amen
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Psalms 103:1-5
1 Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Well, here we go again. Are you ready to end one year and start the next? Do you have all your plans in place? What about all those New Years’ resolutions? Not to be negative, but how long do yours usually last? Are you one of those who really sticks to it? Maybe you are the one who makes it to February like the average person. You could also be the one who it lasts long enough for you to write it down or say it . . .LOL!
I am going to suggest something a little different this New Year. No, it is not make a resolution to not make any more resolutions. Instead of listing things you hate about your life and want to change, I want you to list your blessings. God has done a lot of things for you over this past year. Take the time to reflect on them and then do the most important thing, thank Him for all He has done! If you still feel the need to make a resolution, how about you start a gratitude log. Find something every day you can be grateful for and then thank God. Keep it somewhere and next New Year’s even you will have lots to reflect on!
Lord as we ready ourselves to begin a new year, I want to thank You for just being in my life. ~amen
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Copyright © 2021 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved
Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
but it is the LORD’S purpose that prevails.
So how are your social media picturesque Christmases going? Yeah, mine neither. You know what? I am not unhappy about it though. Our Christmas was greatly paired down this year. I put up a few decorations that made me smile. I have only made a couple of holiday treats. Our present list included just one thing for each person we thought would make their day. I hand painted Christmas cards because it made me smile. Ok, I have binged on Christmas movies and music, but again it made me smile. You know what? I haven’t felt frazzled or overwhelmed. I have enjoyed the season.
There are many times I wonder if God sits in Heaven, looking down, and giggling at all my over-the-top plans. Does He smile and say, “Good try little one, but that will not work out. Don’t worry though, I have got something better in mind.” To be honest, His plans don’t always feel better in the moment, but eventually, I can see where life made more sense His way.
So take a few moments this Christmas to breathe and check-in with God. Your life doesn’t have to look like those perfectly staged Christmases on social media. It just has to make you smile knowing God has a plan no matter what is going on around you.
Lord, thank You for being in control, especially when I am out of control. ~amen
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Copyright © 2021 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved
Isaiah 25:1
Lord, you are my God;
I will exalt you and praise your name,
for in perfect faithfulness
you have done wonderful things,
things planned long ago.
At the risk of sounding like Mary Poppins or Polyanna, there really are blessings all around us all of the time. We just need to open our eyes and hearts.
There is an old saying that has been quoted in several ways and accredited to a multitude of writers. It goes something like this, “I was upset about having no shoes until I met a man with no feet.” The point is there are always people who have less and we should find the blessings in what we have.
I could fill books and websites galore with the wonderful things God has done for me. I know He is my God and I do exalt Him and praise His name. He planned long ago for me to be born and has so many more wonderful things for me to experience in my life. I know there are many storms still heading my way, but the one thing I am very thankful for is the family and friends He has placed around me to weather the storm with me. What are you thankful for today?
Lord, thank You for the many blessings I have and are yet to come. ~amen
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Copyright © 2021 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved
She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.
Matthew 1:21 NIV
I am not sure why when I read this verse, I always read the last word as self instead of sins. I know I am my greatest enemy. I know the other verses in the bible that talk about fighting our flesh. I am my biggest critic, hater, persecutor, and any other nasty thing you can think of. I mean, let’s get real. There is nowhere I can go to get away from myself. I even have to take myself to the bathroom. . . LOL! The good news is, we don’t have to be our worst enemies.
Jesus came to pull us out from under all that beating ourselves up. We make mistakes, we own our mistakes and we move on with our lives. Jesus died so we could experience grace, not condemnation. All that forgiveness of others and loving them unconditionally goes for me too.
There seem to be a lot of regrets that come with this time of year. Cut yourself some slack. Give yourself some grace. Remember, Jesus came to save you from yourself!
Lord, thank You for being my best friend and reminding me to love myself. ~amen
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For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”
Habakkuk 2:14
How will the earth be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord? Umm. . . By you and me! We are in charge of filling the earth. It is our actions and words the spread that knowledge. We must share with others.
One of my favorite songs, from Newsboys, is Shine. The words are
Shine!
Make them wonder what you got.
Make them wish that they were not
on the outside looking in.
It is based on Matthew 5:16, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
As you look at the pretty lights shining this season, remember you need to shine bright too. It is your job to be the light in the wilderness that leads people to Christ. So, go on! Let’s put your sparkly on today and SHINE!
Lord help me shine to fill the earth with the knowledge of Your glory. ~amen
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Copyright © 2021 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved
Matthew 2:13-15
13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”
14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
Sometimes God uses the least most expected ways to help you. Egypt was not exactly high on the list of favorite places to visit for the Jewish people. Throughout history, they didn’t exactly have the best of relationships with each other. Yet, God chose Egypt to protect His son. Maybe it was because He wanted to hide Him in the least likely spot to look. I really don’t know. All I know is I have found many times in my own life where help has come from the strangest places.
I can tell you of two dear friends of mine that I would have never ever have dreamed would be my friends. Not that I had anything against either of them. We just didn’t exactly start on the right foot. People I trusted in my life didn’t exactly make it easy at that time either. However, God knew I would need them in my life. Boy did I ever and still do! I guess what I am trying to tell you is to keep your minds and hearts open. What may seem like an Egypt in your life, may really be exactly what you need.
Lord, show me the way you want me to go and people I need to meet. Even if it is through Egypt. ~amen
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Copyright © 2021 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved