Elaine Marie Cooper Author

Historical Fiction That Grabs Your Heart and Feeds Your Soul

Christmas

Is Jesus Really All I Need?

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Today would have been my daughter Bethany’s 35th Birthday.

Today is also the day that I will bring a small gift bag with a toy and gift card for another baby girl born on this date. It has become my husband’s and my tradition. I bring the gift bag to a nurse at a local maternity unit and ask her to give the bag to the first baby girl born on December 12. I briefly tell the nurse why and then when they have a look of compassion melt into their face, I thank them and leave before my tears begin to start.

It is our way of honoring Bethany’s memory every year.

But this year, the sadness seems deeper. It has been a year of more loss: The deaths of my Mom and a friend. And I lost a daughter-in-law to divorce.

It’s not that the year did not have many blessings and I am grateful for those. But during the holidays, losses seem enhanced. They make the cloudy days a bit darker and the Christmas lights less bright.

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So in seasons of pain and sadness, is Jesus really all I need?  Can He really be my comforter and my all in all?

The answer is “yes,” if I have faith and trust in HIS ways and not my own.

We were never promised comfort in this world, nor freedom from pain and heartache. It does not take more than a few moments of watching news to reveal this sad fact. But I know one way to pull out of my own self-wallowing is to focus on others needs. To pray for others like Pastor Saeed who is imprisoned in Iran for his faith in Jesus. To pray for a friend who’s husband died suddenly this year. To pray for a homeless person on the street.

And to pray that God would show me how to make a difference in others lives in some tangible way—to be a blessing to them in their need.

When I bring the gift in Bethany’s honor to the maternity ward, I always pray that the gift card will go to someone who truly needs it. I pray it will bless them.

And I pray that, if you are experiencing loss in this Christmas season, you will keep focused on what is truly important: Sharing Jesus’ love with others.

 

“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter: 1:6-9 NIV

 

 

 

 

The Freedom of Forgiveness

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Forgiveness.

Lately I’ve seen and heard the topic everywhere: On Christian radio, in Hallmark movies, in songs. You will even find it as a frequent topic in my novels.

So why is there so much written and spoken about the topic? Perhaps because it is a universal issue that we all face: Forgiving those who have hurt us.

Last night I had the honor of doing the devotional for a Ladies’ Christmas Tea held through our church. When I was asked to give the fifteen minute talk to the group, I accepted, but had no clue what I was to speak about. I asked the hostess to pray for me to have wisdom and discernment about what topic I should choose. And I prayed. I never take these opportunities lightly.

When I awoke the next morning, it was as clear as the rising sun. I was to speak about the chapter that I had written in a book called Unshackled and Free, True Stories of Forgiveness. The book was compiled by CJ and Shelley Hitz and, although I was happy that my chapter was chosen, I declined to promote it at the time because I feared it would cause pain to someone.

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But I knew now was the right time to share my story. While my narrative is perhaps not nearly as dramatic as those who have suffered serious abuse, I could tell by the response in the dozen or more ladies gathered last evening that it was a timely topic. We all wrestle with forgiveness.

And as the holidays approach and family gatherings are more frequent, perhaps this is something that will touch your heart and help you.

Last night I quoted one of my heroines, Corrie Ten Boom. She was put in a concentration camp in the Netherlands during WWII with her sister, who eventually succumbed to the horrific conditions in the camp. Corrie survived and afterwards, the Lord led her to speak before groups all over the world. Her testimony of forgiveness, even to one of the guards at the camp, is the most inspiring I have ever heard.

When speaking about her decision to forgive, she once emphasized that it is not necessary to FEEL like forgiving, but it is necessary to be OBEDIENT to forgive:

“Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart.” — Corrie Ten Boom

Jesus said, “If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6:14-15 NIV

The Apostle Paul said, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:31-32 NIV

Is there someone you need to forgive today? It’s only a decision away.

 

Unshackled and Free is available at Amazon. Click here.

Featured image courtesy of talented photographer Thomas Deitner