Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. – James 5:13b

If you are a music minister or in any other way involved with the music at your church…

Last year, one of the surprising “firsts” for me was hearing the 700-or-so voices of my church singing song lyrics I had written! A few years before, our choir director had made a passing remark about how much he loved the Advent song, “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus,” and that he wished there were more than two verses.

The songwriter in me declared, Challenge accepted! I went home and wrote two more verses.

Jesus’ “coming” has several meanings: His Incarnation (entering the world as one of us), His Resurrection (coming out of the grave), and the still “long expected” Second Coming.

The following verses are the ones I wrote. They are not copyrighted. I am OK with other churches singing them. In fact, I would be thrilled! So, please feel free to use them, or give them to your choir director or worship leader with my blessing.

Come, Thou whom the prophets promised,
Thou of whom the cantors sing.
Come, Immanuel, God, be with us,
Thou our Prophet, Priest and King.
Jesus, Thou art all perfection,
Thou, whose fellowship we crave;
Thou the Life and Resurrection,
Come redeem us from the grave.

Come, Thou King, receive Thy kingdom;
With the angels, split the skies!
Come with clouds and trumpet sounding,
Bid Thy slumb'ring children rise.
Gather in Thine arms so tender
Sinners saved through faith alone,
Through the gates of heav'nly splendor
Unto our eternal home.

One final note: Even though I am not asking for royalties from these verses, if your church uses them, I would love to know about it. I would appreciate any messages in the comments, letting me know in what part of the country (or world!) these lyrics are being sung. It would truly be one of the best Christmas presents I've ever received. ❤
 
Prayer: Lord Jesus, as we celebrate and anticipate Your coming to this world, fix our eyes on the wonder of the Incarnation. Fill us with a joy that overflows and can't wait to tell others the Good News that You love us enough to come and save us. In Your name we pray, amen.

Last week I made an announcement that was “time sensitive,” as Thanksgiving is right around the corner.

(2.) And as Christmas is coming shortly after …

We are finishing up the audiobook version of my book Vision, the second book in my trilogy, Awakening. This has taken longer than the first book, Counselor, because, as some of you know, we are adding music to the Christmas portion of the book, which takes place against the backdrop of a Christmas Eve performance of Handel’s Messiah, and the reading of the story without the music just didn’t sound right. Further complicating the project is the copyright law; the music is hundreds of years old, but most recordings of it are copyrighted and need permission and royalties paid if recorded less than 100 years ago. I obtained a recording from 1918 and borrowed an old record player. The antique could play a record at the necessary 78 RPMs but couldn’t connect to the sophisticated equipment that my recording engineer, Jeff, worked with. Jeff tried playing it with the mic at the speaker but was able to hear the motor in the background! He went ahead and recorded the track, and with its just playing in the background, I couldn’t hear the motor. So, for the time, we “settled.”

Audiobook Update (What’s Taken So Long)

I have since located another recording, and this time it’s not just Hallelujah, but also the four other songs that are part of the story. This record set is only about 65 years old; however, it has no copyright notice on the record, the box, or the literature that came with it, so we can legally use it! After all the hours Jeff had put into adding the old recording of Hallelujah to the mix, I was hesitant to ask him about including the other songs. But when we listened to the four songs on the like-new records, he got excited about adding them, too. He even suggested we redo Hallelujah – an idea I had thought of but wouldn’t have dared to say out loud.

So, the saga continues. We’re still hoping to get the audiobook released in time for Christmas listening. Although not all of the story takes place at Christmastime, the last few chapters, I hope, will get the listener into the spirit of Christmas – the miracle and glory of the Incarnation – as well as the peace of “letting God be God.” Handel’s heavenly music adds so much to the story – the vital, “divine perspective.” I’m grateful to be working with a believer, who shares my vision and (at least from what I see) doesn’t sigh and roll his eyes whenever I suggest one more thing to make it better that’s going to involve more work for him.

Meanwhile, if you would like to (re)read the Christmas Story portion of the book, for your quiet time or with loved ones, here are the links:

Mr. Walker’s Miracle (A Christmas Story)

Mr. Walker’s Miracle (A Christmas Story) Part 2

Mr. Walker’s Miracle (A Christmas Story) Part 3

Mr. Walker’s Miracle, a Christmas Story, Part 4

Mr. Walker’s Miracle, a Christmas Story, Part 5

Mr. Walker’s Miracle (A Christmas Story) Part 6

Mr. Walker’s Miracle (A Christmas Story) Final Chapter and Epilogue

AND FINALLY …

(3.) If you’re involved in music at your church …

Last year, one of the surprising “firsts” for me was hearing the 700-or-so voices of my church singing song lyrics I had written! A few years ago, our choir director had made a passing remark about how much he loved the Advent song, “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus,” and wished there were more than two verses. The songwriter part of my mind declared, Challenge accepted! I went home and wrote two more verses.

Jesus’ “coming” has several meanings: His Incarnation (entering the world as one of us), His Resurrection (coming out of the grave), and the still “long expected” Second Coming.

The following verses are the ones I wrote. They are not copyrighted. I am OK with other churches singing them, in fact, I would be thrilled. So, please feel free to use them, or give them to your choir director or worship leader with my blessing. And please, let me know if you do and how it went. I would consider it a wonderful Christmas gift. ❤

Come, Thou whom the prophets promised,
Thou of whom the cantors sing.
Come, Immanuel, God, be with us,
Thou our Prophet, Priest and King.
Jesus, Thou art all perfection,
Thou, whose fellowship we crave;
Thou the Life and Resurrection,
Come redeem us from the grave.

Come, Thou King, receive Thy kingdom;
With the angels, split the skies!
Come with clouds and trumpet sounding,
Bid Thy slumb'ring children rise.
Gather in Thine arms so tender
Sinners saved through faith alone,
Through the gates of heav'nly splendor
Unto our eternal home.

Prayer: Lord, our calendars say there are busy times coming! No matter how full our schedules become, help us always to make You the center of our festivities – and our lives. In Jesus’ name, amen.

In all things give thanks… I Thessalonians 5:18

I attended the same private girls’ school from fourth grade until graduating from high school, and one of the nicest memories I have of my school days is having chapel first thing every morning. Sometimes we would have a speaker, a mini concert, or student talent show, but usually we would just file in and sit quietly while the organist played until all were present, then sing a hymn together and have a prayer. Before I ever developed the habit of having my private morning “devotions,” this was something to turn my mind toward God and (one would hope) get everything else in perspective for the rest of the day. (This was especially helpful during exam week!)

One hymn that we sang several times a year has been playing in my head this Thanksgiving season, and even after all these years, I remember every word of it. The lyrics were pretty non-controversial, lyrics that the Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish girls could all sing together. Even the non-religious ones didn’t seem to have any problem with it. It’s a simple song of thanks with a string of life’s gifts that “help us and delight us.”

Whether you’re especially thankful today or struggling with staying positive, here are the lyrics written so long ago to meditate on for a few moments. I hope they brighten your day.

We Thank You, Lord, for These

We thank You, Lord of heaven for all the joys that greet us,/For all that You have given to help us and delight us in earth and sky and seas./The sunlight on the meadows, the rainbow’s fleeting wonder,/The clouds with cooling shadows, the stars that shine in splendor, we thank You, Lord, for these.

For swift and gallant horses, for lambs in pastures springing,/ For dogs with friendly faces, for birds with music thronging, their chantries in the trees./For herbs to cool our fever, for flowers of field and garden,/ For bees among the clover with stolen sweetness laden, we thank You, Lord for these.

For homely dwelling places where childhood visions linger,/For friends and kindly voices, for bread to stay our hunger, and sleep to bring us ease. /For zeal and zest of living, for faith and understanding,/ For words to tell our loving, for hope of peace unending, We thank You, Lord, for these. – Jan Strother

Happy Thanksgiving, friends.

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. – Matthew 10:29, 31

I didn’t know much about Dora. Her room had no flowers, no cards, and no visitors that I ever saw. It didn’t surprise me that she seemed perpetually sad. Sometimes when I passed her room, I could hear a high-pitched, child-like cry, almost like that of a baby. It seemed whenever I was making my rounds, singing to the other patients, by the time I got to her room, she had cried herself to sleep. So, I would quietly move on, thinking, Maybe next time…

One day she was sitting in her chair as someone from housekeeping was making up her bed. Seeing how hurriedly the employee was working, I decided to wait outside until the patient was back in bed, then come in and see if I could sing her a song.

“Did God answer my question?” I heard the woman ask the housekeeper anxiously.

No answer.

The patient repeated the question.

Avoiding eye contact, the housekeeper answered, “Um … yes, He did,” and hurried out of the room, successfully dodging the obvious follow-up question. The patient looked profoundly disappointed.

“May I come in?” I asked quietly. She didn’t respond, but stared ahead with sad eyes, and I was afraid she was going to start crying again. Cautiously, I tiptoed into the room.

Seeing the name posted over her bed, I asked, “Dora, may I sing you a song?” She nodded absently. I sat, took my guitar, and started playing.

After all these years I don’t remember what I sang to her, possibly “Amazing Grace.” That was a staple then. But after one or two songs, I saw the tears in her eyes, and something told me she needed more.

Impulsively taking her hand, I gave it a little squeeze and blurted, “Dora, God loves you very much.”

She turned her head and stared at me, wide-eyed. “Who told you that?!” she gasped.

I thought for a moment. “He did,” I guessed.

Dora’s countenance was instantly changed, registering relief and a profound peace. A weight seemed to be lifted, and she lay back, closed her eyes, and asked, “What’s your name?”

“Ann,” I said.

Her eyes still closed, she smiled sleepily. In a voice that was barely audible, she murmured, “I love you, Ann.”

Neither of us said any more. Dora seemed to have fallen into a deep, restful sleep. I picked up my guitar and quietly slipped out.

The next time I came to the hospital, I went straight to Dora’s room to say “hello” and tell her I’d be back soon to sing to her again. But her room was empty. I asked a nurse if she had been moved and was told that Dora had passed away.

Of course, I knew where she had gone – to the One who loved her. I silently thanked Him for giving me the immense privilege of being the one to tell her.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You came to earth to sacrifice Yourself to pay for our sins, to show us how much You love us. We are grateful beyond words, but we know there are many lost and desperate people who don’t know that You love them. And, if we don’t tell them, who will? Help us not to be negligent, selfishly keeping the Good News to ourselves. You have already promised to give us the words when the time is right; give us the boldness to speak them, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

[Written last Saturday]

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it. – Isaiah 30:21

My usual earrings are a modest-sized pair of little crosses that on close inspection each bear the word “Faith.” But yesterday I was drawn to another, more flashy pair, even though I was wearing my usual everyday jeans and a long-sleeved gray t-shirt that declared in somewhat muted red and blue, “America Needs Jesus.”

I had my reasons. On my list of mundane errands was “VOTE.” The way I see it, voting early is prudent, in case something “comes up” on Tuesday. (If something had “come up” yesterday, there would have been Saturday and Tuesday; hence my motto, “When in doubt, pick the earlier date.”) So, I impulsively donned these earrings, “just for funsies.”

After voting, my last mundane errand was to pick up a few things at the grocery store. On my way out, I was approached by an attractive young lady who asked what internet provider we use. As it is, we have one for Kentucky in the winter and a different one for Michigan in the summer. Me, I just click on the buttons and use it… Embarrassed to admit I didn’t know, I just said, “We’re happy with what we have, thanks.”

“I like your earrings!” she exclaimed as I started to walk away.

“Thanks,” I said, grinning. “I voted today.” She seemed impressed.

“I’ve been thinking about voting for the first time,” she said.

“Oh, you absolutely should!” I admonished emphatically.

As I walked to my car, I could feel the urging (of the Holy Spirit?) saying Go talk to her! Having just posted on my blog about the importance of voting, I knew I wouldn’t be at a loss for what to say.

When I walked in again, she recognized me and smiled. As I walked up to her, she looked at me curiously and expectantly.

“I just want to tell you three things,” I said, holding up three fingers. I hadn’t mean to get into “lecture mode,” but she seemed to recognize the retired teacher and smiled, ready to humor me.

“I just posted on my blog about this, so here goes …

“One: according to the Bible, whole civilizations have suffered the judgment of God based on the actions of their leaders, which they had no say in choosing. We do have a voice, so how much more are we accountable?

“Two: You may not want to vote for ‘the lesser of two evils,’ but it you don’t, you leave a vote for the greater of two evils unchallenged.” At this point, she said “the greater of two evils” along with me. I knew she was on board, so I continued …

“And Three: If you don’t vote, you forfeit your right to complain.” She laughed and nodded her agreement.

“You’re right,” she said. “I’m going to do some research and vote!” (I was very happy to hear her say she was going to do her homework before casting a knee-jerk vote!) “By the way, what’s the name of you blog? I want to read it.”

I was surprised that she had picked up on that throw-away line at the beginning of my “mini-lecture.” She was about to write it down, but I said, “Here, I’ll just give you one of my cards.” I dug one out of my purse and handed it to her. She took a careful look at it and was curious about the book pictured on the front. I told her it was my book about prayer and the hindrances to it, according to the Bible. She seemed interested.

“I’ve just been into that for a few weeks,” she said.

“You’re a new believer?!” I exclaimed.

“No, I’ve always believed, but I’m wanting to take it more seriously now.”

I asked if she’d like to read “BARRIERS.” She said she’d love to. I told her I might have a copy out in my car, and I’d be right back.

“I’ll be here,” she promised.

On the way to the car I prayed that I would have a copy with me – if it was God’s will for her to have it. It must have been, because I had one copy left. I wrote her a note inside and brought it back. She seemed thrilled and said she would definitely read it!

“Can I hug you?” we both said simultaneously. (If that’s not proof of a “divine appointment,” I don’t know what is.) We laughed and hugged accordingly.

Earlier that day I had been frustrated trying to find the place to vote, since I had never voted early there before, and apparently my GPS had never heard of the building. When I’d caught myself grumbling, I’d given the attitude to the Lord. I didn’t want to show up to vote in a grumpy mood, especially not with my t-shirt saying, “America Needs Jesus”!

Besides, I’d known for a long time that God’s timing is perfect, and when it doesn’t line up with mine, it means He’s up to something! It keeps life interesting, even when I’m just doing mundane things. Which might explain why I sometimes feel excited, but if you were to ask me why, I’d say, “I have no idea …”

I have never been a missionary, never even gone on a mission trip, for reasons I won’t elaborate on here. But that doesn’t mean God doesn’t direct my steps.

(My last three “divine appointments” have been at a gas station, a salad bar, and a grocery store.)

Prayer: Lord, Jesus, thank You for using me, although I sometimes look at “giants of the faith” and envy their platforms. I wonder sometimes, “what if …?” Forgive me for the times I’ve underestimated what You can do with me, right where I am. May I anticipate today – and every day – with the thought, “What if I were to assume I am exactly where God wants me?” Amen!

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. – I Thessalonians 5:18

THANKSGIVING IS COMING SOON!

… and has, in fact, already passed in Canada. I want to be sure my readers know that my first children’s book, “Grumpy to Grateful,” is now available! It was written for kids who are just starting to read “chapter books,” with five short chapters and a generous number of illustrations by artist and friend, Roberta Dills. A while back I posted the chapters in a series of November posts. Feel free to preview a sample chapter, or the whole book:

From Grumpy to Grateful (A Story of Thanksgiving) Introduction

From Grumpy to Grateful (A Story of Thanksgiving) Chapter 1

From Grumpy to Grateful (A Thanksgiving Story) Chapter 2

From Grumpy to Grateful (A Story of Thanksgiving) Chapter 3

From Grumpy to Grateful (A Story of Thanksgiving) Chapter 4

From Grumpy to Grateful (A Story of Thanksgiving) Chapter 5

If you’re ready to order a copy – or more than one – for your child, grandchild, neighbor, or whoever you think might enjoy the story, the book can be ordered from Amazon or Barnes and Noble. And, as always, you are welcome to gather the family around and read “Grumpy to Grateful” right off the blog, as well. Happy Thanksgiving – every day!

Prayer: Generous and gracious Father, You have given us far more than we deserve. And, like little children, we sometimes need to be reminded just how blessed we are. May we have hearts that thank You every day, not only for what You give us, but also for who You are and who we get to be as Your children. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“You are the salt of the earth.” – Matthew 5:13

A couple of weeks ago I posted a piece about the relevance of Psalm 46 to the plight of Israel under attack from Hamas.

https://seekingdivineperspective.com/2023/10/13/though-the-earth-give-way/

Toward the end, I posed the question: If Scripture has prophesied that terrorism and wars will happen, should we still pray against them? Should we still oppose the prevailing evil?

Those of you who responded seemed to share my sentiment, that we can and should pray for the people caught in the midst of these situations. The End Times prophesies were made concerning large groups of people and unspecified times. Although we know there will be many saved and many lost, who knows if our prayers might be instrumental in bringing some individuals from one side to the other? Jesus Himself said we don’t know the day or hour when the end will come. We may not be able to stop the inevitable, but could our prayers postpone it, allowing more time for the lost to come to faith?

When Jesus told His followers, “You are the salt of the earth,” the general understanding is in the sense that salt was a vital preservative in the days before refrigeration. Salt did not make food last forever, but it did prolong its “shelf life.”

The God who created us, who called us to follow Him and carry out His will, doesn’t make mistakes. His timing is perfect, and just as Esther was positioned “for such a time as this,” to save her people, we entered this world exactly when our Creator wanted us to. We are likely not going to make the kind of visible impact that Esther did, but we have the secret, unfathomable power of prayer available to us. We have the opportunity to wield this power every day to help hold back the tide of destruction, giving our loved ones and others more time to repent and come into God’s Kingdom.

Another power/influence we have is the opportunity to vote. We should never take this right for granted! There are still many nations whose citizens don’t have the privilege of choosing their leaders.

I recently read a thread of comments regarding the upcoming elections in which one professing Christian had a distinctly cavalier attitude about the country and the world. He proudly proclaimed that Christ was all that mattered, that no candidate was good enough for him, and if America falls, America falls. – “Let it burn!” I cringed to think that someone claiming to follow Jesus would be so dismissive of his country and all the people in it, many of whom are lost souls desperately needing hope in these dark days.

It’s true that we have no perfect candidates, and for this reason many, in the name of Christian integrity, are refusing to vote, declaring proudly, “I won’t vote for the lesser of two evils!”

The mindset seems to be, I can’t save the country, so I’ll do nothing. America may be on the ropes; no doubt she will eventually lie on the ash-heap of history, along with every other great civilization that has ever enjoyed prominence. But that’s no reason to throw up our hands now, say “Oh well,” grab the marshmallows, and “let it burn.”

Maybe we can’t rescue America, but maybe we can buy her some time, time for lost souls to be saved.

We Americans have been given the task of choosing which admittedly flawed individuals are going to lead our nation. Yes, it’s frustrating, seeing the deficiencies of each candidate highlighted and magnified by his opponent, but I am pleading with you who don’t want to involve yourselves to prayerfully consider a couple of things:

1.) The Bible tells the story of Israel and other nations who either obeyed the Lord or, more often, defied Him. Whole nations bore the consequences of the actions of their leaders – leaders they had not had a say in choosing. We, on the other hand, have a voice. What does that tell you?

2.) You may be fearful that if you vote for “the lesser of two evils,” God might hold you accountable for that person’s flaws and blunders. But refusing to vote for the lesser of two evils is letting a vote for the greater of two evils to go unchallenged. Do you think you will escape accountability if the most ungodly are in charge and you have done nothing?

Election Day is fast approaching. If you love the Lord, if you love America,

PRAY.

VOTE.

PRAY.

(P. S. If you don’t vote, you forfeit your right to complain.)

Prayer: Lord, we live in a flawed, sinful world. Every day seems to bring another reason to give up hope. But You are our Hope. Your kingdom is not of this world, and we are not of this world. But You have kept us here to make the gospel known among the nations, for it is not Your will that any should perish. Guide us in our mission. Give us courage and perseverance to carry it out, harvesting every soul within reach, until the very end, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

“Preach the Word; be ready in season and out of season…” II Timothy 4:2

This year our yard, my T-shirt, and the treats we’re giving out all have the same theme:

“SATAN’S WORST NIGHTMARE”

Happy All-Hallow’s Eve, everyone, and remember: Jesus is Lord every day – even October 31.

Prayer: Lord, help us never to shrink from sharing Your Good News at every opportunity. Even now, be preparing every person who will come to our door tonight, looking for something good. May they find Something – Someone – more wonderful than anything they could have imagined – YOU. And may we glorify You always, even when the enemy is working overtime, because we know You are the Victor, now and always, and in Your powerful name we pray. Amen.

This post first appeared three years ago, but I thought it bore repeating. Besides, I am about to take my laptop in for repairs, and I’m told it has to be “sent out” for a couple of weeks. Since my phone is a bit of a dinosaur, I don’t know how much commenting I can do on your posts with it, so please don’t take it personally if you don’t hear from me for a while. Meanwhile, I have an important and timely message scheduled for next week, so please be sure to read it when it comes out! See you (read you) in a couple of weeks. – Annie

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

This is the time of year that brings back some special memories for me, memories of fifteen years of the most ambitious outreach I have ever been involved in. For some background on my earlier dilemma with Halloween, the “AHA! moment, and our humble beginnings, see these earlier posts:

Preview of “Satan’s Worst Nightmare”

Satan’s Worst Nightmare preview #2: A Different Kind of Yard Display

Satan’s Worst Nightmare Excerpt #3: Small Beginnings

Over fifteen years our outreach evolved from a “different” yard display (tombstones displaying Scriptures about resurrection) to a dramatized presentation of the death, burial, and Resurrection of Jesus from Satan’s perspective – “Satan’s Worst Nightmare.” Features included a live band, a large screen displaying song lyrics and scenes from “The Passion of the Christ,” dancers, and special effects such as a strobe light and fog. “Freebees” were added to the candy and tracts – hot cider, hotdogs, popcorn, and most importantly, Bibles.

After we discontinued our outreach, I decided I would at least make use of some of our scenery at our church’s annual “Trunk or Treat.”

In case the concept of “trunk or treat” is unfamiliar to my non-American readers, this is an alternative Halloween festivity for those who have misgivings about “trick or treating” for religious or safety reasons. A group of people gather their vehicles in one location (usually a parking lot) and decorate them – sort of “costumes for cars.” They open their trunks and give out candy to kids who come through. It’s a lot like trick or treating, but instead of going house to house, the kids go car-to-car (or van or truck).

I had never even been to this event at our church, much less had a car in it. I had always been busy directing the final intense rehearsals for “Satan’s Worst Nightmare.” I decided to transform the trunk of my car to show the Empty Tomb, draping the edges of the opening with stone-grey fabric, with “HE IS RISEN!” in sequined letters on a sheet of black cardboard inside. I took the big, round “stone” to lean against one side of the back bumper, and a tombstone declaring “He lives!” for the other.

I dug up one of the angel costumes – a long, white tunic with shimmering silver poncho over the top, silver sash, and a Christmas tinsel “halo.” (To keep warm I wore sweats underneath, so I was quite a chubby angel!) As the kids and parents paraded through, I gave them a jolly greeting of “He is risen!” as I handed out bags of candy and tracts.

One of the tracts was for the adults. It told about historical evidence for the Resurrection, along with an account of how the apostles died, begging the question, If Jesus’ Resurrection was a hoax, why in the world did His followers face excruciating persecution and death without one of them ever breaking down and confessing that it was a lie?

Looking around the parking lot that day, I was a little disappointed to see that most of the hundred or so other cars had secular themes, except for one trunk decorated as “God’s Garden.” This one had a little window just the size of a child’s face and a sign saying “Someone God loves!” A woman in overalls invited the children to peek through the window – into the mirror inside. I went over to express my appreciation of her creativity. She said it was what God had told her to do. I said I had sensed God’s direction for my trunk, too.

What I didn’t tell her was that this day seemed anticlimactic after the intense, directly evangelistic production I had directed for so many years. We had seen so many answered prayers, both providential and what seemed like “miracles,” such as the Bible some Satanists tried to set fire to that wouldn’t burn, or our outreach’s never getting rained out in fifteen years. (There were years it was raining everywhere except the block where we were performing.) I had decided to bloom where I was planted, in this relatively innocuous event. Surprisingly, things did happen later that day that may not have been “miracles,” per se, but nevertheless had Jesus’ name all over them.

The first bit of serendipity was when a woman dressed as an angel came up to my car, pointed a finger at me, and said with prophetic certainty, “The Lord will bless you for this!” I smiled, thinking, True, someday I will know what God is doing right now.

The second touch from God was when they announced the award for the best decorated trunk. (I didn’t even know they did that.) It was a name I didn’t recognize, but the title was “HE IS RISEN!” I was delightfully surprised that someone else had had the same idea, and I looked around to see who it was. Finally I went to the announcer, pointed to my car, and asked timidly if the winner was that car over there, by any chance? Apparently they had got the name wrong, and my car had won! I laughed, picturing Jesus standing there grinning and winking and saying, I was just messin’ with you.

The next little blessing was when I was handed the prize – a gift certificate to the grocery store I went to. Since I didn’t need help with groceries, I asked the Lord who He wanted to have it. He took me back to “God’s Garden” and when I offered the gift certificate to the lady in the overalls, she hugged me and tearfully exclaimed I had no idea what that meant. I learned she had spent her last $3.00 on candy for the kids.

(I also learned the angel lady had told her she’d be blessed for what she was doing, too.)

Happy “All-Hallows Eve,” everyone. Remember, every day is God’s, including October 31.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us for giving the enemy too much credit. We know that You own everything – every day of our lives, every breath we take. Continue to reveal Yourself to us, and open our eyes to Your wonders, great and small, in Jesus’ name. Amen