WINTER'S BEAUTY

Greetings in Jesus’ name.
Winter has been relentless in making its harshness known this year. This morning our thermometer recorded a cold minus 2 degrees with a stiff wind that felt like -20º on our skin.

The trees were coated with ice from the tips of their twigs down to their ankles. They shone like diamonds against the sunlight. What a beautiful sight! We have an awesome God who provides us with beauty even in the harshest weather. Even in the harshest circumstances we face.

ETERNAL PERSPECTIVES by Sally Bair


The Strong Heart of a Tree

The wind blows hard and constantly through Iowa—at least whenever I travel through. During my last trip, sustained winds blew 35 mph with gusts to 45-50, requiring two white-knuckled hands on the wheel at all times—hour after hour. I almost expected trees to topple.

Indeed, I find it amazing that the trees on the Iowa prairie—the ones I’ve observed—stand as tall and straight as they do. The branches bend with the wind but the trunks remain steady and strong and unmovable.

A tree’s strength comes in great part from its healthy root system, but also from its inner core called the heartwood. God created the tree in such a way that every part of it has a purpose and is dependent on the other parts. Every living cell helps maintain a tree’s worth. In simple terms, its worth is evident in the oxygen it provides to the air, its shade for protection, and its beauty for enjoyment and fruit for sustenance.

As long as a tree is healthy, the assaults of prairie wind do no harm. In fact, wind serves to make it stronger. Exactly how strong is a tree? The Bible answers this by comparing a person to a tree. “Blessed is the man whose … delight is in the law of the Lord … he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither ….” (Psalm 1:3)

The Living Word, Jesus Christ, makes us as strong as a tree and causes us to produce the fruit of righteousness, peace, and joy. When we abide in Him, the winds of life’s everyday problems and trials cannot topple us. In Him we can remain as strong as a tree battered by Iowa prairie winds.

Trees were strong enough to hold Jesus at His birth and death. Imagine! Jesus was born in a manger made from a tree—a humble bed strong enough to hold the majestic Son of God. And Jesus died on a cross made from a tree—strong enough to uphold the weight of the sins of the world.

Lord, You always look at our heart. Help our faith in You to be as strong and steady and unmovable as an Iowa prairie tree so we can provide the oxygen of Your Living Word to others, protect them from evil and harm, and produce Your fruit of righteousness, peace, and joy. In Jesus’ name, amen.

NEW YEAR GOAL SETTING

Greetings in Jesus’ name! I pray you have a New Year full of good health, joy, blessings, and … peace.

It’s that time of year when we can look back at our previous goals to see what our successes—and failures—were. If you’re like me, you’ll be transferring some of the “not done yet” goals to your new goals for 2011. I do it with my daily To Do lists, why not with my yearly list also? Perhaps you can relate.

Among the run-of-the-mill goals I’ll be setting for 2011 (you know: eat less, exercise more, finish writing my Book Two of the “Ways of the Williwaw” series, write a memoir chapter each week, etc. etc.), I choose to meditate on and seek God’s incomparable peace. Although it comes easier as I grow in the Lord, I haven’t attained all the peace He promises. There will always be glitches that sneak into my day. Peace robbers, I call them, but only when I allow them to steal my peace. I’ve learned, by this time in my life, that the closer I stick by Him, the easier it is to avoid the theft of God’s peace from my life.

May the God of peace sustain you through every day.


ETERNAL PERSPECTIVES by Sally Bair

Peace is a Worthy Goal

I live in the middle of a cedar grove sheltered from the wind and the noise of traffic. It’s so peaceful that people have said there’s “an open heaven” here. I like that description. It tells me that God and His angels surround this place. Perhaps it’s the open heaven feeling that helps me experience such peace here. The subject of peace has filled my mind lately. Peace is part of the Fruit of the Spirit, a biblical description of what the Holy Spirit helps followers of Christ achieve.

A few years ago I made it a goal to spend the entire year pursuing God’s love. Part of my goal was to memorize 1 Corinthians 13 about love. This year I intend to search for Bible references to peace. I already know some. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives ….” (John 14:27) And when Jesus appeared to His disciples after His resurrection, His first words were “Peace to you.” (Luke 24:36) Imagine! He offered them His peace even after they had deserted Him during His terrible suffering and death on the cross.

Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem pointed to peace when the angels heralded His coming. “Glory to God in the highest,” they sang, “and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” (Luke 2:14) Peace on earth? Can that be, with wars and injustice rampant all over the world? Yes, it can be—for those of us who have “inherited the Kingdom of God.”

God’s Kingdom is based on righteousness, love, and joy in the Holy Spirit. That brings great, inner peace which in turn brings peace to those around us. It’s not always easy, especially in the midst of trials and turmoil, sickness and death, rejections and losses. But God’s peace promises to sustain us.

His peace is an incredible gift that tends to spread like ripples on water to our families and friends, our communities and nation, across the seas to other lands. The gift of God’s peace cannot be overemphasized. It’s worth more than the richest gems.

Let’s all “Seek peace and pursue it.” (Psalm 34:14)

Lord, You have promised that if we ask of You, it shall be given and when we seek, we shall find. I ask that all who read these words will seek Your most worthy and blessed gift of inner peace this new year. In Jesus’ name, amen.
sneak into my day. Peace robbers, I call them, but only when I allow them to steal my peace. I’ve learned, by this time in my life, that the closer I stick by Him, the easier it is to avoid the theft of God’s peace from my life.

May the God of peace sustain you through every day.

SUDDENLY IT’S WINTER

As much as I enjoy autumn, my favorite season, I pray for a hard winter before the season changes so I’ll have a good excuse to stay home and write. Without fail, winter appears almost magically and I accomplish lots of writing. This winter came suddenly, in the form of a big storm that brought 10 inches of snow and cold temps. Another little storm is forecast this week. Being at the edge of the famous “snow belt,” I expect even more. That means, of course, that for the next three or four months, I’ll be writing my own snow storms—of words. Some will come in flurries, others in hard-driven blizzards of description and dialog and emotion. I must not delay, for suddenly it’s winter.

Greetings and merry Christmas! May yours be filled with every blessing God has in store for you. Sally

ETERNAL PERSPECTIVES
by Sally Bair

SUDDENLY HE COMES

A woman prays for quick protection when a deer heads toward her car. Suddenly, the deer turns its head with a jerk and runs in another direction. A child cries in the store because she can’t find her mommy. Suddenly, there’s Mommy, ready to pick her up and wipe her tears. All of us have experienced suddenlys in our lives. Some may have been unpleasant, like the boss’s pink slip. But many have brought happiness, such as a marriage proposal, a raise in pay, or an unexpected gift.

Some biblical suddenlys started out with the unpleasantness of fear but turned into great happiness. The group of shepherds outside Bethlehem, for example, were peacefully and quietly minding their own business when, at the sudden sight of an angel, they trembled with fear. What a shock it must have been when “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel ….” Their fear changed to great joy when they realized their Messiah had been born.

Surprise, fear, and then joy came to them suddenly—even as they might have been praising God and anticipating the Messiah’s birth while watching over their sheep before the angels appeared.

The word suddenly appears in the Bible numerous times. The Gospels record Paul’s conversion on his way to Damascus, when a “sudden” light came from heaven. The book of Acts records the dramatic account of Pentecost: “Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came ….” (Acts 2:2) Later, Paul and Silas, while sitting in prison after being beaten by guards, experienced a “sudden,” violent earthquake that shook the prison doors open and loosened everyone’s chains. The suddenness of the experience immediately followed their praying and singing hymns. God’s sudden answers and presence often immediately follow our praise and worship of Him.

The Bible speaks about Jesus’ second return to earth in sudden terms, too. “The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night ….” (2 Peter 3:10)

Paul talks about being prepared—anticipating—the Lord’s return. “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.” (1 Corinthians 15:51)

Lord, as we celebrate Your first “sudden” appearance on earth, we await with joy and anticipation, Your second arrival. Help us to be “steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that (our) labor is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Cor. 15:59) We ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.
www.sallybair.com

Cedars and Spruce

Greetings in Jesus' name. As I write this, the cedars and spruce outside my office window are bowed down with ten inches of new snow. I'll be heading out into my backyard woods this week wearing my new snowshoes. I'll just have to avoid snow down my neck!

Here's my weekly column for your enjoyment and inspiration. Blessings to you as you prepare for the celebration of Jesus' birth. Sally Bair

ETERNAL PERSPECTIVES

by Sally Bair

OUR TRUE HOME

Being home for Christmas may mean different things to different folks. Some of us spend time enjoying family, good food, and gift exchanging. Others like to be out on the ski slopes or simply prefer a quiet day at home.

For hospital patients, the homeless, our armed troops, and other unfortunate people, celebrating Christmas means spending the holidays in a home-away-from-home.

Jesus, Himself, spent His first few days or weeks in a homeless shelter. The little town of Bethlehem, not so little then, didn’t even welcome Him into the world. The town was more focused on accommodating the crowds of people who came to pay their required taxes to the ruling, Roman government. Only some country shepherds and wisemen from the east came to honor Jesus at His birth.

The name Bethlehem means “house of bread.” What better home could God have chosen for His Son Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life, to begin His life on earth?

After Jesus’ death and bodily resurrection, the Holy Spirit—the third part of the God-head—came to make His home within those of us who follow Him. The Bible says we followers are His temple—the place where He abides. What better home than in our hearts can we find reason to share the Bread of Life—Jesus—with those in need? They too can find their home in Christ.

When we put the needs of others before our own, Christmas becomes what God intended it to be—a sharing of our “home,” Jesus, with others. With such a mindset, being home for Christmas also becomes a time to reflect on God’s eternal home. First Peter 2:11 tells us we’re “sojourners and pilgrims”, a reminder that this earth is not our home. Rather, we’re foreigners here on earth, traveling to our eternal home, heaven.

Making Christ our spiritual home and our hearts the home of God’s Holy Spirit will make being home for Christmas full of love, peace, and joy—no matter where we spend it on earth.

Lord, we want you to be our permanent, today-and-forever home. Come into our hearts, Lord Jesus. Amen.

www.sallybair.com

Thanks Giving

As we make plans for the Thanksgiving holiday, let's extend our thankfulness into a daily remembrance. We tend to take so many things for granted, so I decided to make a list of some of them and post it on my refrigerator. This daily reminder includes the Bible verse, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

I encourage you to make your own Thanks Giving list. Here's mine:

Thank you, Lord,
...for strength to walk, work, and write
...for sunshine and shadows and the beauty of God's creation
...for family, friends, and even foes
...for encouragement from my readers
...for the freedom to write about Jesus in secular newspapers
...for the freedom to own and read my Bible
...for pastors, teachers, evangelists, prophets, and apostles whom God uses to bring
souls into His kingdom
...for the privilege of sharing God's Word with others
...for Christian fellowship with other followers of Jesus
...for the faith to believe in God's infallible Word
...for the testimonies of other believers
...for the power of God's Word and Spirit
...for His great love, His many gifts and blessings, and His discipline

ETERNAL PERSPECTIVES by Sally Bair

A Grateful Heart
A recent article I read spoke about the physical and emotional benefits of having “an attitude of gratitude” (a phrase coined by Oprah Winfrey years ago, I believe). Even before Oprah’s time, Norman Vincent Peale wrote a book about the power of positive thinking. Many churches criticized his teachings. The truth is, much of the Bible encourages—even commands—us to have a positive, thankful attitude.
Scientists have proven that a grateful attitude causes people to be happier and feel less stressed by raising levels of their body chemicals associated with pleasure and contentment. In fact, our serotonin and dopamine levels elevate even when we only pretend to be grateful.
It’s helpful to write every day what we’re thankful for. If you’re like me, it’s easy to lag behind in that habit when tough times come. A diagnosis of cancer; a divorce; or the loss of a job, our belongings, or a loved one can shift our mental gears into a state of misery and ungratefulness as fast as a blink of the eye.
And then there’s the issue of facing an enemy. How can we possibly be thankful when someone has just given us the royal once-over for something we said or did? Isn’t it easier to respond with a scathing remark or to take offense? Too often, our pride prevents us from responding with love and understanding. You’ll notice that the central letter in the word pride is I. Our selfish feelings and desires often generate stubbornness, anger, and resentment as we face our enemies.
Jesus taught us to love our enemies. A thankful heart helps us do this. Paul wrote, “(We must) give thanks always for all things to God the Father….” (Ephesians 5:20) “All things” includes the tough stuff, such as problems or people. It includes confrontations with our enemies or those with whom we disagree.
It’s a good idea after all to make a daily list of things we’re thankful for. Followers of Christ should daily thank God for sending His only Son, Jesus, to die for our sins. And for His resurrection which gives us the promise of life spent with Him now and for eternity.
Lord, give us grateful hearts for all things every day. Help us to see beyond the tough times into Your perfect will. Give us the desire to follow Your example of unselfishness and forgiveness. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Marketing Update

Greetings, everyone. I'm waiting until this weekend to send my next Eternal Perspectives column, but will update you with news of my recent marketing, etc.

The Washburn Cultural Center book fair was a blast. I was one of nearly a dozen other authors set up to sell our books. Although the attendance was light, I enjoyed kibbitzing with the other authors, exchanging notes about how we market our books, and other subjects important to writers.

I took a trip to the U.P., where I visited the Calumet Library. I'll be giving a talk and reading there next spring sometime.

November dates are filling up fast. Here's what's scheduled so far:
Nov. 7 Display of my books at my local church during a Harvest Celebration
Nov. 15 Display/reading with other authors at Redbery Books, Cable,WI 1-3 PM
Nov. 21 Talk and reading at the Vaughn Library, Ashland, 10-11 AM
Dec. 5 Book signing, Northern Lights Bookstore, Duluth, 2-3 PM
Dec. 12-13 Signing @ Washburn Cultural Center Holiday Boutique, 10-4 & 11-3

There are lots of exciting venues to explore, lots of interesting people to meet, lots of opportunities for ministry in this new venture. I foresee an important trip to Alaska, and am considering the possible purchase of a small camper. We'll see how that plan unfolds.

Meanwhile, I'm still trying to finish outside projects! With the rain and cold, it's been put on the back burner. Now, come rain or cold, I must get it done.

I wish you happy reading, productive writing, joyful serving the Lord. Sally

Falling Into Winter

Greetings and happy winter to everyone! It was strange to see snow on Oct. 10, and the cold weather is continuing. I and I'm sure many others aren't prepared for winter, considering all the normal outside getting-ready-for-winter chores we usually do. This year those chores may go undone.

Although I'm not on an actual "book tour," I have been making frequent book signing appearances. Especially fun was time spent in Frederic at a signing, when I had a chance to visit with lots of friends from my former days, including the Northwest Regional Writers group which I belonged to for years.

This week I will be giving two talks/book readings & signings at area libraries, so today I'm going to do a practice run with my niece. Hmmm--it's always a challenge to speak aloud to someone you know well who isn't hesitant to give honest critique!

As usual, I include my latest column for your encouragement and inspiration. God's richest blessings on you.
--------------------------------------------
ETERNAL PERSPECTIVES
by Sally Bair

When Good Comes From Bad

In some respects, the animal world isn’t much different from the world of humans. Regarding death or rejection, for instance, some species grieve over loss of their family members. Such as elephants that spend days at the side of a dead or dying relative. The subject of death is not always pleasant. But although we humans grieve with varying intensity and length, we know that sometimes good comes from it.

A woman who lost a child to a drunk driver took on the challenge to bring more stringent laws against drunk driving, and others were invited to join her in a massive campaign called Mothers Against Drunk Drivers. A widow might find healing and fulfillment in volunteering which could result in help for many others. A man who loses his job might go back to school and consequently find a better-suited occupation.

Epidemics bring new cures. Catastrophes bring better warning systems. Inhumane treatment of people or animals brings compassionate help and better laws.

There are countless examples of good coming from bad. The Old Testament tells of Joseph, abused and sold by his brothers and then perjured by a vengeful woman which led to his imprisonment. Because Joseph remained faithful, God eventually brought much favor and riches to him. Another example is of King David, maligned by his enemy, Shimei, who cursed him and threw stones at him. David’s servant insisted the man be killed. But David had another idea.

“It may be that the Lord will look on my affliction, and that the Lord will repay me with good for (Shimei’s) cursing this day,” David said. (2 Samuel 16:12)

If only we all held the same attitude. Such an attitude is filled with hope rather than despair, with love for God rather than “why me?” thinking, and with patience and perseverance rather than futile ideas of revenge or blame.

Death cannot be avoided. Rejection can’t either, in many cases. In fact, death is a type of rejection. But our attitudes can bring good from them. It’s up to us. Rather than wallow in grief forever, like a woman I knew who mourned her husband’s abandonment year after year, we can choose, rather, to love and serve God with willing, joyful, patient hearts.

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Lord, give us the strength and wisdom to look at our problems and “evils” with the hope and assurance that You will bring good from them. In Jesus’ name, amen.