New Birth: New Love - Wendy Macdonald

New birth is all around us during springtime

 and it reminds me of something I appreciate about our Heavenly Father.

While I was recently feeding my newborn grandson a bottle of his mother’s milk, I whispered a prayer he would love the Lord with all his heart, mind, soul and strength when he is old enough to believe and trust in Jesus.

I know more than ever how important it is to believe, trust, and love God if we hope to shine a born-again light to those around us. And I suspect it was a dip in my passion for the Lord that precipitated my latest relationship stumble. For if I loved God more than anything—more than anyone else—All. The. Time.—I would have heeded the warning to bite my tongue when fear riled up my adrenaline.

God’s Spirit is love—not fear.

At first I complained to God about how quiet His whisper was: “Hey, Lord, couldn’t You slap a hand over my mouth whenever I’m tempted to say something stupid?”

But God has given us freewill; we must cover our own mouths.

When we love and cherish someone, we listen to them well. When my grandson makes little noises and looks around the room, I smile, lean in close, and listen. I inhale his delicious newborn scent. Oh, that I would consistently pay attention to the Holy Spirit as devotedly as I watched my grandchild.

But after I stumbled, I went to God and asked for forgiveness. And according to His promises, He forgave me, cleansed me, and used my fumble for the furtherance of His kingdom. Because He is God, and He is the Master of creating goodness from our messes.

When Jesus was mocked by a thief hanging near His cross, goodness came from this situation, too, when a second thief rebuked the first one. The second thief told the first thief they deserved to die, and he said Jesus didn’t deserve to because the Lord hadn’t done anything wrong. Then the second thief asked Jesus if He would remember him when He went to His kingdom.

And here’s where I share the wonderful thing spring reminds me of about God—newness—second chances—a fresh start. Jesus said yes to the second thief.

 He accepted the thief’s confession and profession of faith in Christ. 

The thief was saved from eternal separation from God; Jesus told him he would be with him in Paradise, not because the thief was baptised by full immersion, graduated from confirmation classes, or went forward at a Billy Graham Crusade—he was saved because he trusted Jesus to save him.

Jesus paid it all.

 Jesus paid it all for us too. 

He is the author of a born-again life. 

He’s not going to give up on any of us either. His salvation is an all-the-way-to-Heaven’s-gate rescue, because He’s not a quitter and He’s making something new in each of His followers. He won’t give up because He is love.

I love my grandson—a lot—but our Father loves us even more than we love our loved ones. That’s why Easter happened. That’s why I will keep praying for my family members and friends to know God’s amazing love.

This is love: not that we loved God,

 but that he loved us and sent his Son 

as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 

1 John 4:10 NIV

I’m nosey-to-know what favourite thing Easter and spring remind you of?                  

Fresh Insights into Christmas - Ruth L. Snyder

When has Christ revealed something about Himself to you at Christmas? This is the question InScribe writers are addressing this month in our blog posts.

One thing I appreciate about my relationship with Jesus Christ is that He is always teaching me and giving me new insights in my spiritual life, both through His Word and through life experiences. This year He used the pregnancy of our eldest daughter and the birth of our first grandson to cause me to reflect on the birth of Christ from a fresh perspective.


Although our daughter greeted her pregnancy with excitement and anticipation, she also voiced concern and a need for support. She had many questions and faced many unknowns because it was her first pregnancy. 

The Book of Luke records several reactions Mary had to the angel's announcement:

Luke 1:29 - "Mary was greatly troubled. . . and wondered."
Luke 1:34 - "How will this be?"
Luke 1:38 - "I am the Lord's servant."

It's difficult for me to imagine everything Mary had to take into consideration when she heard the angel's announcement. Not only did she face the usual questions about pregnancy and child birth, but she also faced the possibility of losing her fiance and being publicly shamed. She was a young woman, engaged to be married. If the baby wasn't Joseph's, the natural assumption would be that Mary had committed adultery. Joseph could choose to divorce her and she would face public ridicule and rejection from those she loved. She also risked not having the support she needed for her pregnancy.


I had the privilege of being present for the birth of our grandson. I drove our Grand Caravan 40 kilometers to the hospital, and was greeted by a cheerful receptionist who directed me to the maternity ward. The spotless labor room had a comfortable bed for the mother-to-be and a separate bed for the baby, with all kinds of knobs and switches.  A container of ice water had face cloths we placed on my daughter's forehead. The nurse and doctor were attentive, explained procedures, and provided pain medication. 


Luke informs us that Mary and Joseph traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem, a distance of about 130 kilometers or 80 miles. We are not told how they traveled, but it is likely they made the journey on foot. (As our family went through an advent calendar this year, we discussed whether or not Mary rode a donkey. Our kids insisted she did. We discovered there is no mention of a donkey in any of the Biblical accounts of Christ's birth.) Traveling from Nazareth to Bethlehem would typically be a week-long journey on foot. We are not told how many days Mary and Joseph traveled or where they spent the nights. This type of journey seems incomprehensible to me, even without pregnancy involved. Mary was at least eight months pregnant when she made the journey.

Picture from Pixabay

 "While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn" (Luke 2:6-7).

The Bible makes no mention of anyone helping Mary with the birthing process. Perhaps her bed was a cloth thrown over straw. How long was she in labor? We are not aware if she had any way of reducing the pain. Did Joseph cut the umbilical cord?

Me holding my grandson, Dane.

I am looking forward to watching my grandson grow up. Will he be shy or outgoing? What will he be passionate about? My hope and prayer is that he will come to understand and accept the amazing gift of salvation God provided through Jesus, whose birth we celebrate at Christmas.

Angels by Glynis M. Belec

Apparently when Miss. J was going with Mommy to Grandma's the other day she told her big brother that she saw Baby Jesus on the way! When Amanda told me that, I smiled and wondered what she meant and then I wondered about how Jesus communicates with His little ones. 

     As I think about children and their innocence I concentrate on their faith and how I can take a lesson. They believe without seeing. They pray with purpose and don't fluff up prayers. They show complete trust and they have an innate sense of mercy and grace, even though they don't know what it is.

     I consider the tremendous responsibility I have to teach my children and now my grandchildren about Jesus. Oh how I messed up at times with my own beautiful babies. How I wish I knew then what I know now. What an honour and a gift children are. I wasn't always consistent. I wasn't always right. I didn't always make the right decision. But thanks be to God, He saw fit to send us the best Gift - Jesus. And then He saw fit to forgive and make good things out of my mess-ups. I praise God every day for my beautiful children and then I thank God for giving me a second chance with my grandbabies.

My Miss J, transfixed by Mr. Mouse! Thanks, Amanda for taking such a beautiful picture and for blessing Grandma with such a beautiful granddaughter!

     I am really looking forward to Christmas. I am really looking forward to focussing on the true meaning of this special time of the year and the celebration of the anniversary of Christ's imminent arrival so many years ago. My heart is thankful. My spirit is calm and I look forward to sharing some special times with some special little people.  I may not know how children really communicate with His little ones (I just know He does,) but I am hoping that the next time Miss J visits, she will not only see Jesus on the way to Grandma's house, but she will see Jesus in Grandma. Lord make me a vessel.

May the true Spirit bring you Joy, Peace, Love & Happiness this Christmas.