Bøker av Carole Bystrom

"Be not afraid; for behold I bring you good news of great joy which will come to all the people; for unto you a son is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you; you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger" (Luke 2:10-12). Two thousand years ago, people were busy with their own lives, caught up in the frenzy of taxes and tributes in very troubled times. Had it not been for the angel's heavenly announcement or wise men from the east following a brilliant star in the heavens, few would have noticed a weary young mother and her precious newborn asleep in a lowly stable in Bethlehem. As it was then, so it is now. In the flurry of joyous celebration and increased responsibilities, the real meaning of Christmas is often swept into a corner and buried under a pile of beautiful boxes and bows, often lost in a procession of parties and presents. Remember Christmas is a collection of poems enhanced with a few often forgotten Christmas carols reminding us to, "Stop! Look! Listen!" All of creation is calling us to remember. Just as it was so long ago, the angels are rejoicing, praising God, calling us to join the chorus. "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased' " (Luke 2:14). As it was in the beginning, so it is today. God's love never changes. Merry Christmas!

In the midst of our sorrows, we often feel life spinning out of control, certain God has abandoned us. We cry out unto the Lord and wonder why He seems to have turned away. We rationalize His silence by looking at our own failures, but nothing is further from the truth of God's unconditional love. No matter how hopeless and alone we feel, God always has a plan. In the end, nothing is a coincidence. "For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope" (Jeremiah 29:11). The noise of our fear, anxiety, and despair drowns out His tender words of comfort, leaving us in dark, lonely valleys. Even so, while we muffle His voice, He is still there, quietly revealing His faithfulness. He longs to lead us out of the darkness and set our feet on new mountain tops. Be still. Watch. Listen. The melody of His love echoes in the beauty of His creation. Jesus gently reminds us, "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet, I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these (Matthew 6:28). Even the smallest flowers sing His praise. Iris in the Snow is the true story of how God is always working to help us rebuild our lives and shows how He reveals His sacred presence. In this case, it is through one beautiful flower, an iris. Whether a single, unexpected bloom in the middle of winter or in a whole spring bouquet, the iris bursts through the mud, lifts its voice, and joyfully proclaims, "God is here. He loves you." Believe. Only believe.