The trees outside the kitchen window stand tall and bare, almost in quiet reverence. Their empty branches give evidence of seasons, and they testify to the reality of death.
For all of us, so much has died this past year – previous patterns of life, plans . . . people.
But for the believer, death always – always – gives way to life.
Our God says to us, “‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live’” (John 11:25).
Our God says, “‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit’” (John 12:24).
Ours is the God who “turns a desert into pools of water, and parched land into water springs” (Psalm 107:35).
Ours is the God who “bestows on them [His people] a crown of beauty instead of ashes, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor” (Isaiah 61:3).
And isn’t that what Christmas is . . .
the sacred celebration of the Glory of Heaven stepping down into the gloom of earth, wrapping Himself in our brokenness and providing a marvelous, miraculous exchange – our darkness and our death for His Light and His Life? Our barren and desolate places for His abundant and full table?
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil. My cups runs over” (Psalm 23:4-5).
We do not have to be on the other side of the valley to feast at His table. Our Good Shepherd prepares the feast in the presence of our enemies – in the midst of the valley of shadows.
And shadows can be scary. But we do not have to fear. Instead, we can feast in the face of the unknown. We can experience abundance as we pull our chair up close to the table of our Faithful Provider. He has made room for us there. We have a place at His table.
We receive guidance and comfort there. “Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”
We experience God there. “For You are with me.”
God with us. That is, indeed, Christmas.
So, we do not have to wait for a new year . . . tightly closing our eyes, pinching our lips, crossing our fingers, and blindly hoping that everything will just magically reset with the turn of the calendar – all “disruption” disappearing and “normalcy” returning.
We can still feast, even if nothing changes. We can still be full, even if all around us looks bleak and barren.
We can know that above all of these confusing circumstances and below the surface of all of this cloudy uncertainty:
God’s infinite wisdom knows all things.
God’s infinite kindness is working all things for good.
God’s infinite love is making all things new,
specifically and especially for those who have placed their hope and trust in Christ;
for those to whom He is Beloved Father, the Good Shepherd;
for those whom – through the blood of His Son and by the power of His Spirit – He calls beloved children, the sheep of His pasture.
So today, right now, we can confidently take heart and continually hold to Hope. Because God is working, and God is winning, and God is with us.
And ours is the God who prepares tables and sustains life and brings comfort in even the most empty and desolate and broken places.
” . . . . I, the LORD, will hear them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. I will open rivers in desolate heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. I will plant in the wilderness the cedar and the acacia tree, the myrtle and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the cypress tree and the pine and the box tree together, that they may see and know, and consider and understand together, that the hand of the LORD has done this, and the Holy One of Israel has created it.” Isaiah 41:17b-20
an open journal 
Katie I needed this today do thank you for sharing! You are such an inspiration!!
Love and Blessing to you and David snd your precious family!
Mimi Martha
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Thank you so much, MiMi! I was unable to see comments for a long time on this blog, but I have recently found them all 🙂 What pure JOY to hear from you! We love and miss you so much! God bless you, dear sister!
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oh my goodness! Girl it is good to hear from you. I read all you blogs and you are such an inspiration! I love you and your precious family so much. When you have time, bring me up to date on what’s going on!
sending love and prayers! Mimi
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Thank you SO MUCH, sweet MiMi! You are too kind to continue to keep up with us, to love us and to pray for us. Do you mind sending me your email address? I will catch you up on family details that way. LOVE YOU
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Oh, thank you SO MUCH, sweet Mimi! How precious you are to keep up with us, to read our words here, to continue to love and pray for us . . . what a PRICELESS GIFT! We love you, dearly!
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Your writings are always beautiful and touch my heart. Praying that you are feeling better. Still miss all of you so much!
Love,
Linda
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Thank you so much, dear Mrs. Linda! I was unable to see comments for a long time on this blog, but I have recently found them all 🙂 We always appreciate your encouragement and love and prayers. We love and miss you always.
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Praying for you and yours dear one to feel 100% better and have a blessed Christmas! Much love! Susan Skelton
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Thank you so much, Mrs. Susan! I was unable to see comments for a long time on this blog, but I have recently found them all 🙂 We appreciate your love and prayers so much! We love and miss you! God bless you!
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So glad you are transferring your beautiful words and thoughts from random scraps to the virtual ‘pen and paper’. Godly gifts are often meant to be shared and I am thrilled you are sharing yours. ❤
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Thank you so much, Bonnie! I was unable to see comments for a long time on this blog, but I have recently found them all 🙂 I appreciate your gracious encouragement more than you know… I love and miss you! God bless you!
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I’m so glad you said that about not having to wait for a new year to experience God with us. I’ve been a little irritated at the idea that just finishing 2020 will offer some kind of re-set. 😊
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Thank you so much, Lynn! I was unable to see comments for a long time on this blog, but I have recently found them all 🙂 I’m SO GLAD 2020 is years behind us know! I love you ❤
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Thankful for this encouragement, Katie. Miss you and love you ❤️
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Thank you so much, Melanie! I was unable to see comments for a long time on this blog, but I have recently found them all 🙂 I appreciate so much your gracious words! I sure love and miss you, too, and would love to hear how life is going. God bless you, dear sister ❤
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I was reading your beautiful words this morning and it happens to be Valentine’s Day. I’m sending you and your beautiful family my love. I hope this will be a special day for all of you.
Love, Miss Linda
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Oh, dear Mrs. Linda! What a delight to hear from you. Our hearts ache for you as you continue to grieve and to move forward by God’s grace. May He continue to carry you with His love and peace and comfort. Oh, how we love you so much.
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