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Christmas Wish List, Good All Year – Jo Huddleston
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For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given. Isaiah 9:6

No longer do Christmas trees and Santas wait until the day after Thanksgiving to appear. Store managers figure the earlier we’re tempted with Christmas music and decorations, the sooner we’ll start to purchase gifts.

Speaking of gifts . . . as soon as they can write, children delight in making out lists of what they want for Christmas. Many times those lists get longer or changed every day.

We adults make mental lists and drop hints to our “Santas.” Along with the children, we begin to feel the Christmas spirit as the time draws nearer for opening presents resting under the tree.

Lists of things that can’t be packaged stay in our minds as well. This kind of wish list is good all year and remains pretty much the same from year to year.

Have you ever wished shots didn’t come in a needle or that we still had service stations instead of self-serve gas pumps?

Don’t you wish you’d bought stock early on in Coca-Cola, IBM, or Levi Strauss; newborns slept through the night; paper cuts didn’t hurt so bad; opportunity would knock more often, or louder; experience wasn’t sometimes the best teacher?

Do you ever wish the game of politics wasn’t so ruthless; more money than month occurred instead of the opposite; our mistakes weren’t so noticeable?

Don’t you wish light bulbs didn’t burn out right when you turned them on; you could go back and do some things differently; appliances wouldn’t quit two months after their warranty expires; the check-out line you’re in didn’t move the slowest; shoe strings didn’t break?

I wish violence would be replaced by kindness; paying health care premiums guaranteed good health; words could adequately express the feeling of love; hearts couldn’t break; it didn’t get dark.

I wish responsibility wasn’t so heavy; the world was a kinder, gentler place; TV programming was more wholesome; good outweighed bad; children didn’t have to be sick; grandparents lived longer.

I wish all good dreams came true.

As we compile our wish lists for Christmas, may we remember the words of Dr. Norman Vincent Peale: “The magic message of Christmas is that God gives us so much more than we can possibly give back! He gave the world the greatest gift of all time. ‘For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given (Isaiah 9:6).’”

Do you remember the true meaning of Christmas?

Jo Huddleston is the author of four nonfiction books and the coauthor of an E-book on writing for the Christian marketplace. Her more than 200 devotions, articles and stories have appeared in over fifty publications, including Guideposts and The Upper Room. You may visit with Jo at http://www.johuddleston.com.

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Blessings to Keep – Jo Huddleston
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Enter his gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. Psalm 100:4

I’m thankful for what didn’t happen.

Most people pause, however briefly, to be thankful for their blessings around this time of year. Usually, we even include things we’ve taken for granted all year. But have we ever stopped to be thankful for things we don’t have; for things that didn’t happen?

I’m thankful I didn’t spend time this past year as a hospital patient. I’m thankful I wasn’t in an accident that left me injured, with a long recovery time.

I’m grateful our community wasn’t devastated by a fierce tornado or hurricane this year. I’m glad no trees fell across the roof or through a window, and no power lines lay tangled in the yard. In the past I’ve gone a while without the convenience of electricity, but I’m thankful this year I didn’t have to do it again.

I’m thankful that Santa Ana winds didn’t whip across our state like they do in California, fueling raging fires which consumed everything in their path.

I’m glad my community didn’t have an outbreak of dreaded infection or contagious disease like those that hit some locations. I’m grateful that malnutrition and hunger don’t bring pain to children’s faces in my community like those situations I see on television.

At the same time I’m being thankful for having missed some bad events this past year, I’m also thankful for the good things.

I’m thankful for the privileges I have because I live in America and for the responsibilities those privileges bring to me. I’m grateful for teachers, from pre-school through college, who teach because they love students and want to help each student discover learning.

I’m thankful for my community’s police department and fire department, which provide for the safety and well-being of our citizens. I’m grateful for every health care worker and medical professional in my area who remain dedicated to the health and welfare of their patients.

I’m thankful for all things electronic. They make my life easier and more interesting even though I can’t understand them.

I’m grateful for neighbors who care. I’m thankful for books to read, sunsets to enjoy, and grandchildren to love.

Most of all, as I count my blessings this Thanksgiving, I’m glad I have Someone to thank. Have you taken the time to count your blessings?

Jo Huddleston is the author of four nonfiction books and the coauthor of an E-book on writing for the Christian marketplace. Her more than 200 devotions, articles, and stories have appeared in over fifty publications, including Guideposts and The Upper Room. You may visit with Jo at http://www.johuddleston.com.

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Back in Business – Jo Huddleston
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And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every work. 2 Corinthians 9:8, NIV

My colorful impatiens wept for attention. The scorching heat had drained the tiny flowers and leaves into withering ugliness. Choking in the high humidity, the flowers begged for their daily watering I’d missed for two days.

I rushed outside to their rescue and let the garden hose’s thin spray gently cool the plant, drench its soil, and soak deep around its roots. I continued until the hanging basket overflowed.

Later I checked on the impatiens. The flowers that had drooped to near death a few hours earlier now perked up like it was the cool of an early spring morning. They’d revived and now displayed vivid colors. They were back in their business of adding beauty to their surroundings.

I was reminded how the same thing can bring us down in our Christian living. If we neglect our commitment to God, even for a day or two, we give Satan the opportunity he’s waiting for to destroy us. When we don’t do daily Bible study, meditate on God, spend time in prayer with Him, we are neglecting necessary maintenance of a Spirit-filled life.

Just as I didn’t care properly for my impatiens, if I fail to tend my relationship with God on a regular basis, I’ll have to start a rescue procedure. I’ll have to renew my efforts and get back in a balanced lifestyle with Christ.

But it can be done. My withering impatiens revived when they received what they needed. They again burst forth, fulfilling their purpose of creation.

Without God’s daily sustaining power, we will fall short of God’s purpose for us. We will wilt when facing temptations and disappointments. We can actively pursue His direction by listening to His voice through the Bible, through prayer, and through fellowship with other believers.

We don’t have to spend our days in wilted uselessness for God. God can refresh us. He still provides our needs daily just as he did for the wondering Israelites following Moses’ leadership. His grace is sufficient for us. Then, like my flowers, we can be back in business with God, living as he intended.

Are you depending on God’s grace to provide your needs? Are you seeking His grace daily?

Jo Huddleston is the author of four nonfiction books and the coauthor of an E-book on writing for the Christian marketplace. Her more than 200 devotions, articles and stories have appeared in over fifty publications, including Guideposts and The Upper Room. You may visit with Jo at http://www.johuddleston.com.

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Shelter from the Storms – Jo Huddleston
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I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm. Psalm 55:8

Our eleven-year-old English shepherd dog, Lady, tries to hide from thunderstorms. She lacks reasoning intelligence to know that she really can’t hide from an electrical storm. But hearing the first faint rumble of thunder, Lady tucks her bushy tail, creeps almost in a crouch toward her doghouse and fits her beautiful big body inside. That is where she feels great safety from any pending harm. Tucked inside her house, she is certain that the booming thunder can’t reach her. No matter how long the storm lasts, she remains there until quiet again prevails and skies clear. And they have to be completely clear before she ventures out again.

Watching Lady’s behavior, I’m reminded how we can turn toward God at trouble’s first nudge. The doghouse gives Lady shelter from the storm. God can do the same for us. He offers us protection and comfort, shelter from the world’s turbulence. The Bible tells us that just as an earthly father provides for his children, God can give us much more.

Do you have a fear that you must hide from? Is there something so big and noisy in your mind that you have to go someplace safe to get away from it? I don’t like the dark—ever—period. But if I leave even the smallest light bulb burning, I feel I’m sheltered and safe. Even if I remain in the same location as I was in the dark, that tiny light relieves my fear.

God tells us that the devil prowls around looking for those he can destroy. When we sense the devil’s threats to our Christian commitment, we can follow Lady’s example: Move away from impending danger; hurry to our Shelter.

What can relieve your fear? Do you know where your Shelter is in times of need?

Jo Huddleston is the author of four nonfiction books and the coauthor of an E-book on writing for the Christian marketplace. Her more than 200 devotions, articles and stories have appeared in over fifty publications, including Guideposts and Decision.
You may visit with Jo at http://www.johuddleston.com/.
Read Jo’s devotions

How Much Do I Have? – Jo Huddleston
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“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37, NIV

Nothing else in the house moved as I stumbled up the hall. I stood half asleep at my kitchen sink. Looking through half-closed blinds, I discovered what had interrupted my pre-dawn sleep. On the deck, several pesky blue jays perched atop my patio table, ready to welcome a new day. Aggravated at them for disturbing me, I pecked impatiently on a window pane. With much fluttering, the birds scattered to nearby trees—all but one.

The lone bird pranced around the table top, tilting his head this way and that, beady black eyes searching for his would-be attacker. I raised the miniblind and pecked fiercely on the glass again. There! He looked my way—he’d found me. He stared at me; I glared at him. Appearing to know my threatening noises couldn’t harm him, he didn’t budge. Then the concert began, his music as crisp and crystal clear as the day’s spring morning. Each warble imitated his previous one.

Each time he chirped, the little bird quivered from the black collar across his throat to the trembling tip of his brilliant blue tail feathers. Every inch of the bird moved to produce his melody. This little bird put all his body behind each note—he gave it all he had. I forgot the blue jay’s peskiness, enjoying instead, my private recital.

Watching from my quiet kitchen, I thought about the tremendous effort the little bird displayed. He certainly didn’t go about his singing in a halfhearted way. I wondered if Christians could measure up to the blue jay. Are we as committed in our efforts of praise and worship? Then I pondered, “How much have I given? Have much do I have?”

It makes no difference how much we have. Jesus demands our all when we accept Him as our Savior and Lord. All we have. We must give all we have, in loving and serving God. Whether in our jobs, raising our children, church work or leisure time, God demands from Christians a 100 percent effort. Like the little blue jay on my deck with only one song to sing, we must give it all we’ve got.

How much have you given? How much do you have?

Jo Huddleston is the author of four nonfiction books and the co-author of an E-book on writing for the Christian marketplace. Her more than 200 devotions, articles and stories have appeared in over fifty publications, including Guideposts and Decision.
Read Jo’s devotions
You may visit with Jo at http://www.johuddleston.com/.

Camera Ready – Jo Huddleston
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“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” Proverbs 4:23, NIVMy eyes serve me like a camera, clicking away. Each evening my mind develops the snapshots and I discover my day’s mood stamped across them.

On stressful days, it’s obvious my impatience has spread intimidation across my sweet child’s face. Pictures taken on difficult days reveal a loving husband, now reserved, letting me pour out my frustrations on him simply because he’s there. Images from these warped days unveil store clerks, bag boys and even neighbors perplexed at how to handle me. They withdraw from my nearness, uneasiness lining their faces.

My mind’s screen displays people whom I hurt this day. Oh, I didn’t bring them physical pain or even verbally insult them, but my attitude quenched their happiness like water splashed on a campfire.

Confronted by my camera’s disclosures, I declare my shame before God. Sleep overtakes me as I seek God’s forgiveness for not being His approved witness today.

After such an imperfect day, I awake the next morning asking God to cleanse my heart, knowing it’s the wellspring of life. Scripture reminds me diligence is necessary in the housekeeping of my heart, because what starts from within will affect every aspect of my life. It’s essential for me to search my heart and clear out dust balls of negative thoughts—to replace them with wholesome thinking about things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely and admirable.

Maybe today I’ll see my child’s bright eyes that, yesterday, clouds of my impatience darkened. Today I’ll speak more kindly to my husband and see his relief as I hold my tongue. Perhaps my smile will signal store clerks, bag boys and neighbors they don’t have to cross to the other side of the street when they see me coming. Tonight, before I surrender to sleep, I’ll thank God for loving me no matter what my mood. God knows and tests my heart. His unconditional love can equip me to meet every day. God’s joy can make me camera-ready so that my daily pictures will please Him.

Are you camera-ready? God can help you maintain a clean heart and attitude pleasing to Him. What will the photos of your daily life reveal?

Jo Huddleston is the author of four nonfiction books and the coauthor of an E-book on writing for the Christian marketplace. Her more than 200 devotions, articles and stories have appeared in over fifty publications, including Guideposts and Decision.
Read Jo’s devotions.
You may visit with Jo at http://www.johuddleston.com/.

Follow the Leader – Jo Huddleston
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“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.” John 10:14, NIV

“Let’s play ‘Follow the Leader’ and I’m the leader!”

I watched as smiling neighborhood children hurried to line up behind Emily. She had called the game first, appointing herself as leader. Whatever the game, Emily usually emerged as the leader. The amazing thing about Emily and her games: other children were content to comply with her rules. They never tried to replace her and take over her leadership post. The other children seemed happy to follow her leadership without question. If Emily’s friends didn’t have a leader for their game, it would go awry and the children would probably break up into disorganized play, all teamwork forgotten.

Jesus told the disciples in Luke if they would follow Him they had to deny themselves daily. In Matthew, Peter speaks for the disciples when he tells Jesus they have obeyed and left everything to follow Him. When we accept Jesus Christ as Savior, we will display this follow-the-leader attitude; we will be content for Him to be our leader.

In the parable of the shepherd and his flock in the book of John, Jesus teaches that sheep follow their shepherd “because they know His voice.” He says sheep won’t follow a stranger; rather they will run away from him because they don’t know the stranger’s voice. Mark tells us without a shepherd, sheep will fall into disarray and become scattered about.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He knows His sheep and they follow Him. Christians know Jesus Christ as the genuine shepherd whose direction they follow. A committed Christian won’t follow the wrong leader.

Are you playing “Follow the Leader” by following the world? Or are you really following our heavenly Leader? Will you follow Him without question?

Jo Huddleston is the author of four nonfiction books and the coauthor of an E-book on writing for the Christian marketplace. Her more than 200 devotions, articles and stories have appeared in over fifty publications, including Guideposts and Decision.
Read Jo’s devotions
You may visit with Jo at http://www.johuddleston.com/.

Remembers to Forget – Jo Huddleston
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“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Hebrews 8:12 NIV

Scrapbooks usually contain no tokens of bad memories; we save only good mementos. In a thick book with sturdy, blank pages, we collect a lifetime of pleasant keepsakes. In hindsight maybe some of the things seem silly, but nevertheless they were important enough to us at one time to treasure them away. Later we’ll drag out the old scrapbook and delightfully relive our good times through its pages.

Sometimes, however, when we mentally review our life, we dwell on regret and self-reproach. In our mind we’ve filled volumes with past sins. Beyond yellowing photos and newspaper clippings in a tattered scrapbook, our mind’s eye recalls the ugly grievances we try in vain to forget: rebellion, disobedience and bargaining we slung in God’s face and our lack of praise, thanksgiving and faithfulness toward Him. If we have repented and been forgiven for these and other sins, we create our own guilt when we choose to remember them. Doing that only helps Satan’s mission to make us feel guilty.

God says when He forgives us for sinning, He also forgets our sin. He separates us from our sin as far as the east is from the west. Why can’t we be as kind toward ourselves? Because it’s not easy for our human mind to react that way. But that which is not easy for us, God’s holy nature accomplishes.

We build scrapbooks like God treats sin: we keep only good memories. With God’s help we can live in the same manner. We can release our forgiven sins and forget them. God has.

What better example for living than God’s could we have? Will you follow God’s example? Will you try to remember to forget your forgiven sins?

Jo Huddleston is the author of four nonfiction books and the coauthor of an E-book on writing for the Christian marketplace. Her more than 200 devotions, articles and stories have appeared in over fifty publications, including Guideposts and Decision. Read Jo’s devotions

Jo Huddleston
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Jo Huddleston is the author of four nonfiction books and the coauthor of an E-book on writing for the Christian marketplace. Her more than 200 devotions, articles and stories have appeared in over fifty publications, including Guideposts and The Upper Room. You may visit with Jo at http://www.johuddleston.com/. Read Jo’s devotions
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Behold His Glory — Jo Huddleston
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“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” -Psalm 19:1, NIV

A brand-new Christian at age fifteen, I’d never attended a sunrise church service. Indeed, I’d never seen a sunrise. The Great Smoky Mountains provided me the opportunity.

Our group of sleepy pilgrims met an hour before the sun’s scheduled appearance. In the predawn haze we hiked a short distance down the road before crossing an open field. We left an irregular path of footprints on its dew-bathed grass. The group followed our guide as the terrain steepened.

Making our way up the narrow trail, we reached a clearing on the hilltop. After a short time of devotion, we silently awaited God’s colorful creativity. I’d heard others praise this moment as a unique, transforming adventure. I waited expectantly. I wasn’t disappointed.

God’s paint brush moved with flawless perfection. He streaked the sky with startling pinks and flaming reds to announce the day’s impending arrival. Yellow and orange spilled from His palette and flooded the landscape. The regal fireball peeked above the distant mountain’s outline.
Instantly my worldly concerns vanished and I experienced genuine renewing of the mind. I keenly felt the Lord’s presence and identified with John when he wrote “The word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory.”

I witnessed one of God’s great and glorious miracles of renewal that early morning long ago. Since then I’ve been privileged to enjoy other sunrises from mountains to seashores. But if I’m never blessed with the sight of another one, I won’t feel deprived. The memory of seeing my very first sunrise remains as detailed as if it happened this morning. Recalling that memory draws me closer to God and the knowledge of His omnipresence to sustain me.

Have you looked for the artistry of the Master—allowed Him to share His work in you? Seek after Him.


Jo Huddleston is the author of four nonfiction books and the coauthor of an E-book on writing for the Christian marketplace. Her more than 200 devotions, articles and stories have appeared in over fifty publications, including Guideposts and Decision. You may visit with Jo at www.johuddleston.com.
Read Jo’s devotions
Jo’s book is Shade of Gray: America’s Cloudy Moral Climate
and is available at Amazon.com