Blessing in Disguise

Could It Be a Blessing in Disguise?

Blessing in disguise

When you look back at the past year, was 2025 everything you had hoped it would be?

Were there any disappointments?

Who hasn’t had some, right?

We know that disappointments are just a part of life.

They just . . . happen.

But, have you ever considered that what you perceive as a “setback” may actually be something totally different?

Could your disappointment actually have been a blessing in disguise?

God works in ways behind the scenes that we will never fully know and understand.

That troublesome setback in your life could be a stepping stone to something greater – a deeper more trusting relationship with the Heavenly Father.

You may feel like a trouble-magnet at times, but please don’t ever forget that you are a deeply-loved child of the King.

We can rely on His goodness and mercy to always be there to carry us through any trial.

He has done it before, and He will do it again.

God is faithful.

Look to His Son Jesus, the most perfect embodiment of compassion reflecting the love of our Father.

This love the Father has for us is eternal, just as our praise and worship of Him should be.

David echoes this devotion in Psalm 145. This psalm is a powerful reminder to share our blessings with each other and with the generations to come. 

5 On the glorious splendor of Your majesty
And on Your wonderful works, I will meditate.
6 People will speak of the power of Your awesome acts,
And I will tell of Your greatness.
7 They will burst forth in speaking of Your abundant goodness,
And will shout joyfully of Your righteousness. – Psalm 145:5-7, (NASB).1

Pondering God’s Blessing in Disguise

In a recent blog post I mentioned that I followed the yearlong LIFT Daily Prayer from Pastor Jack Hibbs.

The introduction to the podcast for December 30 really struck a chord with me and I’m happy to share this as an encouragement for you for the year ahead.

As we stand at the end of another year, God invites us to step back from whatever is right in front of our noses and remember His wonders. Over the course of these months, there have been answers to prayer, protections we never saw, “coincidences” that were really His hand, closed doors that later proved to be mercy, and even painful seasons where He was present in ways we only now begin to recognize.
If we were to sit with a blank page and start listing His deeds toward us this year, we might think of a few at first—but the longer we linger, the more we remember, and we soon realize we will never come to the end of them. The problem is not that God has done too little, but that we too rarely stop to see, to name, and to thank Him for what He has done. – Pastor Jack Hibbs2

Thank you Lord for all of your blessings!

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1 Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

2 From Hibbs, Pastor Jack, “Lift Daily Prayer: Too Many Wonders to Number | December 30, 2035. YouTube Podcast.” Web. Retrieved from: https://youtu.be/eSXzUDh7o60

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Welcome 2026

Farewell 2025, Welcome 2026!

Who else is ready for the New Year?

I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to welcome 2026.

New year = new calendar.

Have you bought yours yet?

Those blank pages are just waiting for new opportunities to tell a fallen world about Jesus.

A fallen world – yes, but it’s not hopeless.

That’s where we as believers come in.

God gave us the Holy Spirit to indwell us and embolden us to tell others the good news.

For the grace and forgiveness that God provides for our sins and for His great love that He sent us His Son Jesus, we can say “Hallelujah!” (Praise the Lord!)

This is an older song (one of  my favorites) by Paul Baloche, but I think it is timeless. 

Here is the Christmas version of “What Can I Do.”

Happy New Year everyone from Delight-in-God.com!

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Christmas 2025

From Our Hearts To Yours: Merry Christmas 2025

Just in time for Christmas 2025, I wanted to share this sweet play by some very creative Compassion Kids.

My thanks to Compassion International for sharing this video with the world . . . 

Well done, children. 😊

It’s a treat to witness the spreading of the Good News out of the mouths of our younger generation!

Can you imagine the scene when the lowly shepherds first heard of the birth of Jesus?

10 And so the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army of angels praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among people with whom He is pleased.”Luke 2:10-14, (NASB).

The shepherds didn’t wait, they immediately headed to Bethlehem to see for themselves.

May the joy of that first Christmas be on our minds as we remember The Real Reason for the Season.

From delight-in-God.com, we wish you a joyous Christmas filled with happiness, peace, and love.

Christmas 2025

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Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

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Not Just Any Star

Not Just Any Star, “The” Star

Not just any star

How bright was the Star of Bethlehem?

Have you ever thought about that?

Sometimes I wonder what could come close to it in our modern times.

The first thing that came to mind was a supermoon.

In fact, my husband and I were driving home recently and a supermoon was rising above the horizon.

We couldn’t help but notice.

It was beautiful and full.

It was so big it looked like you could stand out in that field and touch it.

Supermoon

Photo from Pixabay, loggawiggler

. . .  which brings me back to the Star of Bethlehem.

On that blessed night, a multitude of angels praising God announced to the lowly shepherds that the Savior, Christ the Lord, had been born. The shepherds immediately headed to the City of David to see God’s miracle for themselves.

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”Luke 2:15, (ESV).1

In another account, the Book of Matthew describes the magi from the east planning their own long journey to Bethlehem, hundreds of miles away.

The appearance of the Christmas Star rising up in the sky was unlike anything they had ever seen before. This was not just any star, but “the” star.

They spoke with King Herod.

2saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”Matthew 2:2, (ESV).2

We know from the biblical account that God warned them that the jealous and evil King Herod intended to kill the Christ Child.

They decided to make the trip but reject the king’s request for an exact location of the child upon their return.

After hearing the king, they went on their way; and behold, the star, which they had seen in the east, went on ahead of them until it came to a stop over the place where the Child was to be found.Matthew 2:9, (NASB).3

Did you catch that?

“. . . and behold, the star. . . . ”

Not just any star, but “The” Star.

This star from God led them to the exact location where they could find the Christ Child.

Not Just Any Star: God’s Star

The Star of Bethlehem was set into place by God Our Creator to lead the magi to Jesus.

Once they arrived, they celebrated.

When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.Matthew 2:10, (NASB)4

Just as the Star of Bethlehem – God’s star – led the magi to the Christ Child, Jesus leads believers in our fallen world to eternity with Him.

Like the magi in ancient Biblical times, we too have reason to rejoice with great joy.

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Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

2 Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

3 Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

4 Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

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The Divine Trust-Fall

Faith Over Fear: The Divine Trust-Fall

Have you ever participated in a “trust-fall” at your place of work?

A “trust-fall” is when you stand with your back towards a group of coworkers. At the designated time, you blindly fall backwards into the safe and secure arms of your teammates who are ready to catch you.

At least, you hope they are ready to catch you.

Some companies offer a trust-fall experience to promote teamwork within their organizations.

Fortunately, I’ve never had to do it.

That’s a lot of trust to put into a coworker who you know stole your turkey sandwich from the employee refrigerator. 🙂

No doubt, a trust-fall is all about surrendering control and trusting someone else.

If you think about it, our very lives are like a trust-fall.

Our fellow humans will fail us, but by our Sovereign God’s grace, He never will.

This is what faith is all about.

We can trust God completely.

The Divine Trust-Fall

In the challenging days ahead, it’s a comfort to know that God is just a prayer away.

He will be there to guide and lead us, just as a shepherd does his sheep.

God is always with us.

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). – Matthew 1:23, NASB).1

Courageous Faith: The Divine Trust-Fall

How comforting it is to know that God knows every detail of our lives and wants us with Him for eternity.

Trust Him

Trust Him when dark doubts assail thee,
Trust Him when thy strength is small,
Trust Him when to simply trust Him
Seems the hardest thing of all.

Trust Him, He is ever faithful,
Trust Him, for his will is best,
Trust Him, for the heart of Jesus
Is the only place of rest.

Author Unknown2

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Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

2  Author Unknown, Trust Him,. 2020, Bible.org, reprinted with permission.

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