Julia Hallum

Necessary Pruning

Here in sunny Florida, we had a hard freeze recently. Temperatures dropped below freezing for 8 to 9 hours on three consecutive mornings. This kind of polar plunge is uncommon for our home on the Space Coast. Though the weeds in our yard are still standing mighty and green, a wide variety of trees, vegetation, and grass got hit hard. Things once thriving and pretty now stand dark brown and crispy. Toasted are our hibiscus, snow on the mountains, hummingbird bushes, and banana trees. I can’t wait to take an inventory of what can be salvaged and trim away dead leaves and branches to make way for spring’s arrival. Pruning back what’s not healthy will help them grow and flourish into something vibrant.

Over time, our hearts and minds get brown and crispy from the hurts we receive from others and from things we may unknowingly bring on ourselves. Just as plants damaged by frost and freezing temperatures need pruning, so do we occasionally. Let God tenderly prune you. Ask Him to reveal anything in your heart and mind that keeps you from enjoying His best for you. Let Him gently trim away anything you need to let go of and watch your faith grow like vibrantly colored spring flowers.

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV)

Cold Front Brings Warm Message

My daughter, Ashley, was born and raised in Florida. Temperatures can certainly take a dip in the winter, but seldom last more than a day or two before rebounding into the seventies. But unlike me, she ventured north and now lives in a metropolitan area that frequently experiences cold weather. It occasionally snows there, but rarely in large amounts at one time. Last Sunday morning, almost a foot of snow had already fallen, with more on the way. That much snowfall was a novelty for Ashley… and for her car.

She had parked her car on the next street over from her home, but was ticketed for parking on a snow route; she had to move it. She scraped the snow off the windshield and windows, and her car started fine, but it was stuck. Cold and frustrated, she didn’t know what to do. Someone shoveling outside his home nearby gladly came over to shovel Ashley’s car out. Once out of that parking spot, she carefully drove to the next street over, but ended up getting stuck in the middle of the road. Random passersby immediately came to help. When Ashley finally reached a spot closer to her house, a woman happily stopped shoveling outside her home to clear the snow so Ashley could park.

By the time Ashley was safely parked in a new spot out of the way of any service vehicles, her church’s morning service had already started. Though close enough to walk to her very well-attended church, she knew there wouldn’t be any seats left when she got there. Disappointed and tired, she went back inside her home. As she warmed up, she reflected on the morning’s events, feeling grateful for the neighbors who so willingly and cheerfully helped her. Neighbors were out in full force helping neighbors that snowy day. While Ashley did not make it to her church’s service, she had a warm, front-row seat to God’s goodness. Ashley was meant to receive a different message that morning—one about what it means to show compassion, generosity, and sacrifice to your neighbor.

Just Add Cold Water

For many, the first month after the most wonderful time of the year is the most refreshing time of the year. January often brings a new start, a reset button, and a sense of rejuvenation. It’s a great time to look at the areas of your life that may need a little kick-start.

In 2022, I recognized I had become complacent in my faith, and it wasn’t a good feeling. I wasn’t exactly sure why, but the fire and excitement of being a child of God had dimmed a bit. Even worse, I had let my time spent in God’s Word become routine rather than engaging. It was time for a kick-start.

That kick-start came on January 1, 2023, when I was re-baptized in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, in the very chilly waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The cold water ignited my lukewarm faith, and the fire I felt for God was back. I couldn’t wait to get started on what He had in store for me, whatever it was. One month later, I started writing for His Kingdom.

God’s love for us never fails; it is relentless, unwavering, and steady. Lord, thank You that Your love for me is never routine or lukewarm. Thank You for the refreshment and rejuvenation I can find in Your Word every day.

Smell the Vanilla

One of my favorite smells of the Christmas season is vanilla. Whenever I use it in baking sweet treats, I always take a moment and hold the vanilla extract bottle up to my nose, close my eyes, and breathe in the rich, comforting aroma. It doesn’t matter if fifteen people are coming over for dinner later or if I’ve got all four burners on my stove going. That smell takes me back to when I used to repeat that same procedure while helping my mom cook in her kitchen. It didn’t matter what else was going on; we shared that ten-second pause to enjoy a whiff of sweet tradition and togetherness. It’s a tradition I’ve happily shared with my daughter.

Gifts to wrap, grocery lists to make, decorations to hang, and errands to run make it so easy to get caught up in the busyness of the Christmas season. Many things compete for our attention, and the demands we place on ourselves can crowd out the real reason for our joy – the blessed birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Stop and smell the vanilla. The twenty-five things on your to-do list really can wait. Spending even just a few moments thanking and praising God for the lavish gift of His Son can provide so much more than a pleasant scent; it can bring feelings of warmth, togetherness, and comfort. So, pause for a moment or two, close your eyes, and take a whiff of the extravagant love God has for you.

Fine Dining

We celebrated my husband’s retirement by having a romantic dinner at a fancy, intimate restaurant. I made our reservation several months in advance, since this wasn’t your typical “meat and potatoes” place. The ambience was elegant, and a lady in an evening gown played the harp while we dined. The food was delightful. Each item we ate was adorned with swishes of exotic sauces and edible flowers, and looked like art arranged on our plates. The dessert was almost too pretty to eat. The level of attention we received from the wait staff was top-notch. We couldn’t call this a meal; it was a sophisticated dining “experience,” and I spent a fortune on it. We enjoyed it and were full when we left, but my tummy has been just as satisfied after a meal at our favorite “meat and potatoes” place.

I’m a foodie, and I love that the Bible speaks of God preparing a feast in heaven for His followers. There, I can dine with my Heavenly Father at an elaborate banquet table without worrying about needing a reservation, keeping my elbows off the table, or using the wrong fork. Though I don’t know what the ambience will look like, I’m sure it will be better than anything I can imagine. I know I will be comfortable and welcomed. I’ll be in God’s presence, sitting at a table He prepared for me. Maybe the table will include all my favorite foods. But more importantly, I’m sure to enjoy endless spiritual food, and I will savor every morsel. No meal here on earth could ever be as satisfying.