Janet Benlien Reeves

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More Than a Sweet, Children's Story

A chaplain our family knows once said, “The Bible is not a cute little book with cute little stories that give us moral messages.” Though our family already knew this, I appreciate the reminder every year. It's a thought worth deep consideration at Christmas and all year. The story of Jesus’ birth is not only a sweet Christmas tale to share with our children. It’s also the story of an actual event, one with eternal consequences for all humankind. Just as the pilgrims really came over on the Mayflower and President Lincoln really did give the Gettysburg Address and Sacagawea really did help Lewis and Clark, God really did become man. Mary and Joseph were real people with real emotions who surely experienced a strange combination of wonder and fear and confusion and delight. The angels really did appear to the shepherds in the fields at night. Those shepherds really ran to find Jesus and told everyone all they had seen. The Magi really did follow the star to Bethlehem where ...

Turkey Tradition

One of our family’s most sacred Thanksgiving traditions is giving the turkey the right to determine dinner time. I honestly never know when that bird will be ready to eat, so I tell people to come early and prepare to stay late. Note: please do not respond with advice. Our turkey comes out just right every time. I’m not going to mess with this. But I am going to take notes this year and post them here to review next year just in case I glean some new insight. I used to refuse to cook turkeys on Thanksgiving. First, I don’t love turkey. I prefer ham. Second, turkey can be such a chore. But some people in my family (Mom, Daughter) must have their turkey. Thankfully, I discovered an amazing recipe about fifteen years ago that has revolutionized the whole process.* The mystery of when the turkey will be done is its only drawback. This recipe is worth navigating that challenge. Step 1: Forget to start thawing the turkey four days before Thanksgiving. (This wasn’t part of the original...

Thanking Our Creator

I just spent part of my morning wrapping Christmas presents for someone I haven’t even met yet. Her name is Ava. She will be born in February. She is my granddaughter, and I adore her. I cannot wait for her to begin revealing what she is like. Will she have blue eyes like my son? Will she want to wear her hair long, short, or with a purple stripe down the side? Will she love riding roller coasters like I do? Will she have a musical bent, enjoy playing sports, be introspective, take charge of her world? I will have to wait for each joyful discovery. But God already knows her. As King David wrote in Psalm 139:13-14, NIV, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” God is knitting Ava together right now. She is already wonderful. I know that full well. She is one of God’s wonderful works. Genesis 1:1, NIV says, “In the beginning God ...

Trusting God's Rescue Plan

"W hen you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” –Isaiah 43:2 Have you seen the following scenario on television or in movies, perhaps in a western or a dramatic horse story? The hero’s barn catches fire, putting all the animals at risk. The hero and his family or employees rush into the barn to get the animals out, but the panicking animals refuse to be led through the smoke or flames. They’re too afraid. To get the animals to safety, the people must cover the animals’ eyes, so they can’t see. Then the people can lead the animals out of the burning barn. It’s a common storyline, I think, but people sometimes act the same way. They resist the firefighters who are trying to get them to safety, feeling less at risk in their little, yet untouched, corner of a burning building than walking through smoke and flames. T...

God's New Work

Stories of how God has helped others realize their dearest dreams encourage me as I reach for a new dream. I am not going to name it because I am still striving to define it, but I’ll write more about that in a future post. For now, I will tell you that it has to do with reaching some of my writing goals. A few days ago, though, I encountered one of those success stories of God helping one of His children realize a long-held dream. I discovered the story because I had seen reviews of a new author’s first novel online a few years ago and added it to my TBR. Then, a few weeks ago, I saw reviews of her second novel which reminded me I still want to read the first. I moved that novel to the top of my list and then looked to see if our library had it. Somewhere in the process, I discovered that before she wrote either of these books, this author wrote a book on prayer. * I purchased it to read right away—and did so! I was surprised to discover that the author had self-published this 38-...

Halloween Prayers for Our Neighbors

One of the things I enjoy most about Halloween is getting to greet all of our neighbors right on our own doorstep. Throughout most of the year, our quiet neighborhood is, well, quiet! We might get to wave at a neighbor or two when taking out the trash, picking up the mail, or taking a walk, but that’s about it. On Halloween, though, the neighbors all come out and visit each other. I get to greet the children, tell them how cute or scary or beautiful or funny they are, and give them candy which brings smiles to their faces in exchange for the smile they put on my own. I get to say Hi to all their parents and wish them a happy evening. I get to laugh as our dog attempts to go home with every child who comes to the door. (She just wants to join in the fun!) Halloween may be known for the scary stuff, but I think it’s just a great opportunity for everyone to be extra friendly! As we greet trick-or-treaters this evening, let’s remember to whisper brief prayers for them, t...