Look Beyond the Pane

I’m looking out the window – the snow is settling on the branches of the pines, there’s a little hint of sunshine on the trees across the drive. It’s a beautiful winter wonderland. But what if, when I looked out that window, my eyes caught the smear on the inside and the dirty spots that are definitely there. What if I couldn’t get past that window pane? I would never be able to see the beauty that lies just beyond the glass.

What if a moving song was sung by a less than splendid singer? If her voice cracked a bit on the high notes and there were a few fumbles for words, what if I couldn’t look past the delivery to be moved by the message? I would never know what was in the heart of the song writer. I might miss something that could be of great comfort or inspiration to me.

What if I met a person of great wisdom, but would not listen to his sage advice because he appeared to be somehow very different from me, or if he was a bit intimidating? I would never hear or learn what God had in mind for me to heed.

If we look out the window and think – “that’s a dirty window pane,” we’ll never really consider what’s on the outside. If we look at a rose and worry about the prickly thorns, we’ll never be able to smell the beautiful fragrance.

Looking beyond the glass, looking beyond the messenger, looking beyond the comfortable, all of these things make life an adventure.

Let’s start this new year by looking beyond the window panes, and see what exciting things God has planned for us.

Look beyond the window glass.

Yes, look beyond the pane.

Look beyond perfection’s loss, you’ll see what’s there to gain.

Look beyond the prickly thorn and smell the crimson rose.

Look beyond the differences.

Watch as excitement grows.

Love, Diane

What Will You Do With Jesus Now?

Christmas is over and we've begun a new year.  There are so many things to think about, so many things to do and to plan for.  We have memories of 2011, both good and not so good, and we have memories of Christmas past.  Was God in the forefront of your celebrations.  I hope so.  But now what?  Sometimes it's much easier to put things into words if I rhyme them, so would you take a look at the last chapter of my little Christmas book.

Another Christmas has come and gone, let us talk of what we’ve seen.

The angels sang of Jesus birth

announcing peace to all the earth. 

The shepherd bowed then at the sight.

They found the Child that wondrous night. 

He came to earth as Mary’s Son, the promised, long awaited One. 

We heard of Jesus wondrous birth, and sang of glorious peace on earth.

We praised the Baby in the hay and paused to celebrate the day

and now we pack it all away. 

With trees and lights and treasures fair,

we put the crèche with Jesus there. 

For one more year we put away the trappings of that special day.

But, if we take God from his manger bed, and see the holy life He led,

and watch the Son of God and see Him die upon that cursed tree.

Christmas might be just the start

of Jesus living in your heart.

Ask yourself this question; has this Christmas changed my life? Has this Christmas changed me? Has this season of concentrating on the birth of my Savior made a difference? 

Tomorrow, when I start to “undecorate” my house, I will not be putting Jesus away for another year. This year, as I looked at Christ’s birth in a different way, I found so much more about God to worship and to love. He will not be living in a box in the attic; he will be living in my heart.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.  (Galatians 2:20)

God bless you dear friends.

Diane