2019 | Real Life on Rocky Top

The Second Day of Christmas

Dec 15 2019

The Gift of Light

I do not like being in the dark. Ever.

Not in the middle of the night when I wake up unexpectedly–that’s what night lights are for.

Not outside in the darkness–that’s what flashlights are for.

Not when the power goes out–that’s what candles are for.

Not when my life is unclear and I can’t make sense out of anything.

That’s why Jesus came down to us.

In John 8:12, Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”

There are dark places in my life right now, situations in which I do not know the outcome or how God will work in and through that season. In those places I am clinging to the Light because Jesus promises if I follow Him, His Light will shine into those dark valleys.

The Greek word “follow” consists of several different smaller Greek words: together, a way, to move quickly and straight.

When places in my life are dark, I must make the decision to go with Christ, His way, not mine. I must practice first time obedience. When His light shines on an area of my life that needs changing, I must respond promptly. Before He even points me in a direction, I must already decide that I will say Yes and obey Him.

Are you experiencing darkness this Christmas?

Draw close to The Light of the World. Find a quiet place to read His word. Ask Him to shine His light onto your heart and through your life.

Be ready to respond quickly.

Remember, you are never alone in the dark. The enemy may whisper to you, “no one understands or nothing will ever change.” Respond with truth. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5

Every year to celebrate the beginning of the Christmas season Preacher and I have a tree lighting ceremony. We began the tradition when the kids were really little, but have carried it on even as empty nesters. Preacher strings the lights on the tree, we hang all the ornaments, and then we turn off all the lights in the entire house. It is very dark. However, I don’t mind the darkness.

Preacher is with me and I know what is about to happen.

The Christmas tree lights shine as Preacher flips the switch and we stand in awe of the beauty they bring to the once darkened room.

There would be no appreciation of the lights if there was no darkness.

Friend, whatever darkness seems to be flooding your life this season, choose this day to follow Jesus–the Light who overcomes the darkness.

Stand in Awe of His gift: The Light of the World!

The First Day of Christmas

Dec 14 2019

It’s 12 days before Christmas and although the traditional Christmas song, The Twelve Days of Christmas, really begins on December 25^th and ends on the eve of January 5^th, I awoke this morning determined to use my time of rest and recovery in a productive way.

I had surgery a little over a week ago. All the reports have returned good and for that I am so very grateful. But, honestly, I haven’t ever been good at resting. Like many, I’ve been brainwashed by American culture that successful people are busy and rest has no purpose.

So now that all the aesthesia and pain reducing medications have exited my body, I want to humbly share with you twelve truths the Lord has been teaching me as a gift for you over the next twelve days. My prayer is that during this busy season you take a few minutes each day to rest and enjoy His gifts.

Love is the first gift!

In the last few months I have literally heard Jesus shout to me through His word, music and the voices of others. “I love you, Donna Avant.”

The song Good Grace by Joel Houston says “So don’t let your heart be troubled; Hold your head up high; Don’t fear no evil; Fix your eyes on this one truth; God is madly in love with you.”

Casting Crown’s Somewhere in Your Silent Night declares “When your pain runs deep, His love runs deeper still; He has always loved you, child and He always will.”

I tend to think that when life becomes difficult, when I am struggling or hurting, that God doesn’t really love me. I might not say it out loud, but my heart is screaming, “God if you loved me, you wouldn’t let this happen to me.”

I grew up believing I needed to earn love from others. If my grades were good, if I looked good, if I performed well, then there would be love waiting for me. Many call this performance-driven love.

However, God’s love is not based on my performance. His word declares His unconditional love for us in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son……..” God, the perfect Father, gave us His son as perfect love in the form of a baby.

We can’t earn it, buy it, perform for it, or look good enough for it. Love is His gift to us.

Take a few minutes today to just ponder that little baby who was born, fully human and yet fully God.

He is love and He is madly in love with you!

Before surgery, I had to remove all my makeup, nail polish, perfume, and deodorant. I had to literally strip myself bare of all that makes me feel more presentable and even somehow more loveable.

As I laid unconscious on that operating table, I believe, no, I know that Jesus looked down at me with such love. He loved me, Donna Avant, even when I was utterly incapable of performing.

And, He loves you! He always has and He always will!

I’m choosing this Christmas to rest in His gift of love.

Will you join me?

Do you ever feel odd? Out of place? Peculiar?

Jul 10 2019

As I was walking on the property of the Life Action Lodge located in Buchanan, Michigan, I spotted an unusual tree. It was growing sideways, as though it was struggling to reach toward the sky, or as if someone had taken a saw and cut part of it off. What had happened to this tree?

Had it been diseased and someone pruned it?

Had lightning hit causing part of it to fall off?

Had it been overshadowed by larger trees and grown crooked in an attempt to receive sunlight?

Whatever had occurred, this tree was different than all the other trees.

Did the tree know how weird, different, and peculiar it was? Had others stopped to stare at it?

As I finished my walk, all I could do was think about that unusual tree.

Somehow I related to that tree.

God is continually pruning me and there are times when I am not lovely to look at. There are attitudes hidden in my heart that He is continually pruning.

There are circumstances in my life that may make my story seem peculiar to others. Life has happened, sometimes like lightning striking, altering what life once was.

At times I have felt overshadowed by other trees and have had to strive to be in the sunlight.

Yet, the uniqueness of that tree is what caused me to stop, to ponder, and to take notice.

Do you ever feel odd? Out of place? Unusual? Peculiar?

If so, maybe it is that very uniqueness of your life that will cause people to stop, to ponder, and to consider why you are different.

Take time today to thank the Lord for your uniqueness, for circumstances that have come into your life that might cause you to look, act, and live differently than everyone else.

God created us to live in community but He did not create us to live in sameness. He created us to be unique individuals who will cause others around us to stop and consider His glory and wonder in our lives.

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that you should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” I Peter 2:9

Archive - 2019