Tag: delight-in-God.com

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.

# # # 

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 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.

Share

Veteran’s Day 2025

Remembering Veterans Day 2025

Veterans Day 2025

With a heart full of gratitude, we here at Delight-in-God.com would like to express our deepest thanks to all of our veterans, past and present.

The courage and selfless dedication of these brave men and women are a testament to their love of country and commitment to our nation.

And on this special day of gratitude for our veterans on Veterans Day, I am also thinking about my hero Dad.

I miss you every day.

May we always cherish the freedoms that these heroes defended to protect our way of life.

R E S P E C T.

Veterans Day thank you

Share

Expect The Unexpected

Expect The Unexpected: Guaranteed

If there’s one thing we can count on in life, it’s to expect the unexpected.

One day all is well, you wake up the next morning, and life takes an unexpected turn.

Here in our neck of the woods, it’s severe weather season again.

Fall is upon us and as the temperatures start to “fall”, (couldn’t resist!) the weather can be unstable.

I’ve never been a big fan of thunderstorms and Texas is one of the states that gets big ones.

Expect the unexpected

Lightning?

I can remember when I was younger how my dad and I would stand on our back porch during a storm.

He would hold my hand as we watched the lightning storms roll in across Pensacola Bay.

A great memory for me, but now I’d rather stay inside away from the windows.

Several days ago in North Texas, we had a huge lightning storm.

I was already counting in my head: “One, one thousand; two, one thousand . . . ”

How many miles away is it?

It wasn’t too long before we heard another very loud crack of lightning – louder than the rest.

My husband and I stopped what we were doing and ran outside to our garage to check the attic for flames.

There had already been news reports of homes catching fire about 15 minutes from us.

The lightning struck close alright.

We were spared, but our next door neighbor didn’t fare so well.

That huge “bolt out of the blue” fried their electronics. 

Thankfully, no one was hurt, but what a scare.

Expect the Unexpected, But We’re Not Alone in Life’s Storms

Life will throw us curveballs – guaranteed.

We have to expect the unexpected. Sometimes it’s good news, and sometimes it’s bad.

By the grace of God, in those moments of fear, disappointment, and frustration we can trust that God will walk through it with us, whatever “it” is.

So many Bible pages serve as reminders that God is with us, even during times of trouble.

At times like that, battered and beaten by the storms of life, many turn to the Psalms and read the experiences of men and women of God who have gone through exactly the same struggles and the same pressures. Somehow this speaks to their need, gets hold of their hearts, helps them to know that at least they are not alone in this struggle, that others have had it before them. – Ray C. Stedman, Christian pastor.1

One of my favorites is Psalm 23 which I’ve committed to memory.

“The Lord is my Shepherd . . . “

All this to say that we can expect the unexpected, but we can also expect the most unimaginable wonderful and beautiful gift of God’s grace in our future.

We have a Savior and, one day, we will meet Him face-to -face!

 # # # 

1 Source Credit, Article by Ray C. Stedman (Christian pastor and author – 1917-1992).  “The Pressure Of Problems.” Courtesy of raystedman.org. para.5. Web. Accessed 2nd November, 2025. Retrieved from: Obtaining God’s Help

Share

God Cannot Lie

This Is What God Cannot Do 

God can do everything, except . . .

Wait – did I blow your mind?

“Except” what?

Is there really something God cannot do?

As Christians, we know that God created and is sovereign over everything.

His almighty power is evidenced throughout the entire Bible.

When you look up at the night sky, full of celestial beauty and wonder, what a comfort it is to know that God created those stars and named them one by one.

4 He counts the number of the stars;
He gives names to all of them.
5 Great is our Lord and abundant in strength;
His understanding is infinite. – Psalm 147:4-5, (NASB).1

His power is unlimited, but yes, there is actually something that God cannot do. 

Care to venture a guess?

God cannot lie

God Cannot Lie.

He cannot lie, and He will not lie . . . ever. Nor will He ever break a promise He has made. 

Speaking a deliberate falsehood is sin; a human trait and a direct product of our fallen nature.

What then is our hope in today’s sinful world?

Actually, it’s “Who.”

Our Hope is in Jesus.

There is no other person living or dead to whom we should offer our prayers.

We can rejoice that He is faithful and true.

From the beginning of the Bible’s opening pages to the Book of Revelation at the end, God is a promise keeper.

Psalm 136:7-9

When those around us disappoint, we can trust in and give thanks to the One who never breaks His promises. 

# # #

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.

Share

Thank You Isn’t Enough

Because Thank You Isn’t Enough

There’s a little sign that sits on the desk in my home office.

It says just one word,  “Grateful.”

There’s not much to it really – I bought the little piece of wood at Hobby Lobby, and then simply painted it.

Artistic-wise, not much of a masterpiece, right?

But, the meaning of the word “grateful” for me is far more precious than I can describe.

I am so thankful to God for sending us His Son Jesus, and I’m so grateful for His work in me.

Looking back, I remembered I wrote a poem about gratitude to God several years ago.

I will link it here.

Thank You isn't enoughThrough the good times and all of the challenges we face in this life, God has a purpose for them, even though we don’t always understand the “whys”.

Paul addressed the following verse to the Romans, but like all of Scripture, it carries God’s message through the generations. 

God is Sovereign.

His character never changes.

Through our beginning as babies in the womb, through our end (and of course everything in between), God has a purpose for our lives and for our good.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. – Romans 8:28, (NASB).1

For all that God has done for us, it seems that a simple thank you isn’t enough.

That’s why when I heard Tasha Layton’s song, “Thank You Isn’t Enough,” bells started going off.

Okay, I have to share this one!

It’s hard to pick a favorite verse in the song, but here’s mine:

Got a resurrection story
One I gotta tell
How Jesus changed my life
And I’m still overwhelmed – Song lyrics, “Thank You Isn’t Enough.”1

What an amazing song to remind us of God’s faithfulness.

# # # 

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 Song lyrics to “Thank You Isn’t Enough” featuring The Choir Room, courtesy of AZLyrics.com.

Share
1 2 3 4 … 6