Friday, April 24, 2020
Encouragement
Life has not gone exactly as planned the last several weeks
for anyone, us included. And to be honest, life has been a little discouraging.
I have had times of struggling to be joyful. Have tried to be thankful each day
for our blessings. But some days have just been hard. From time to time during
the past few weeks I’ve mentioned to God how I really could use some encouragement.
Wasn’t sure what that looked like or could be. But just needed a little something.
Just one thing. Just one bit of encouragement.
One day this past week as I was starting to head home from the
church office, Matt texted me. He sent me a photo. I started tear up. A friend of
ours stopped by. She dropped off a beautiful potted flowering plant. There was
a note, too. Just two sentences. But one word was underlined in the note and it
stuck out to me. “Encouragement.” Wow. I just couldn’t believe what I was
seeing. There is no possible way that she knew I had been asking God specifically
for some encouragement. I was humbled. Thankful. I pulled over at one point and
just sent a message to this friend to let her know how much that meant to me
and why. We had a sweet exchange about it. And I was even more thankful to be following
such a great and personal God! Only He could have orchestrated this.
Life is hard. But God is good. He knows us well. He knows our
needs. And He will provide—whether it’s a big need or just using someone to
bring a little of much needed encouragement. He knows. He hears. He cares. He
will help us through. Praise Him!
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies?[b] And not one of them is
forgotten before God. 7 Why, even the
hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many
sparrows.
Luke 12:6-7
Saturday, April 18, 2020
Hidden stream
Sunday, April 12, 2020
Saturday, April 11, 2020
You looking at me?
Anticipating Heaven despite the fog
Two months ago, life was "normal." We were all busy with this and that. We attended movies, concerts, sporting events, went out to dinner, etc. Sunday mornings church goers were able to attend church. Wednesday night youth group and children's activities were in full swing. No one could have predicted that now we'd be dealing with a ban on any gathering of 10 or more people. And the date of when the bans of activities and closing of businesses, schools and when churches can meet together again seems to keep getting pushed off more and more. It's almost like the Tom Hanks' movie "Money Pit." Every time the repair men were asked how long a project would take the answer was always "two weeks."
But sometimes I think we feel like we are in a fog. We don't know when this "fog" of the pandemic and virus will lift. No idea when life will be back to normal.
I find myself, along with members of my church family, longing for the day that we can meet again for church services and activities. I cannot wait until the "fog" lifts and churches are full again on Sunday mornings. What a wonderful day it will be when we can finally have fellowship together! When we can sit under one roof and not watch the sermon on line. But we can be together to encourage each other, learn together, and continue to grow together. I can only imagine how much rejoicing there will be when that day soon comes.
But as much as we are longing for the time when the safe at home order is lifted and we can get together as a congregation, I wonder how much more am I looking forward to Heaven? Am I anticipating my heavenly home as much as I am anticipating getting together here on earth? As exciting as it will be to once again resume church services and activities, how much more exciting and rejoicing will there be when Christ followers finally make it to our final destination--Heaven! There will be no more fog, no more virus, no more bans on gatherings of 10 or more. All will be right. All will be perfect. And we will be with our Savior!
"When we all get to Heaven
What a day of rejoicing that will be
When we all see Jesus
We'll sing and shout the victory"
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