Endless Love
This is our last family trip of the summer.
Going to a wedding out of state translated into a 7 hour drive.
Whether you have young children or adult children, moments like this feel like your whole heart is contained inside the car.
And my heart is full whether my guys are engaged in conversations or on their phones.
Because we are all together.
Looking out the window last night as my husband drove, I took in this gorgeous sky.
And my thought was this: God’s love is endless.
It is not contained by human limits.
It is not contingent on whether we are engaged with Him or distracted by the world.
His love is unfailing.
He simply desires His children to be with Him.
And under the evening sky, for more reasons than I can count, my heart was grateful.
Friends, my prayer today is that you know His love for you has no end.
Just like the evening sky.
Blessings in heaps.
“Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, Lord, preserve both people and animals. How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.”
Psalms 36:5-7 NIV
Share this:
Standing Strong When You Are Falling Apart
“ I am always aware of the Lord’s presence;
He is near, and nothing can shake me
And so I am thankful and glad,
and I feel completely secure.” Psalm 16:8-9 (GNT)The feeling was hard to put into words.
What once stood strong was falling apart.
As I watched the news, there was a sense of grief as I saw how much the church I grew up in had deteriorated.
Bricks were coming loose.
The church was literally falling apart.
If I close my eyes, I can picture myself walking through the wooden doors.
On the right, the nursery where I learned that famous rhyme:
“Here is the church,
And here is the steeple.
Open the doors,
And see all the people.”Straight ahead, the lower sanctuary where my Grandma would attend services once a month because she could not climb the winding staircase for worship each week.
Classrooms for all ages behind the accordion doors that separated the teens from the elders.
The window to the kitchen that went up when classes ended to reveal red punch, black coffee and sugar wafers for all to enjoy.
The narrow back stairwell that was used by the pastor and the acolyte.
So many memories.
This is where my faith was born.
Not the Steeple, But the People
As easily as I can walk through the church in my mind, I know it was not the building that shaped my faith.
It was the people in it.
Aunt Betty in the nursery.
Mrs. Heffelfinger in the primary class.
Mrs Peiffer the choir director.
Chuck, Regina and Kevin, my youth leaders.
And my pastor, Reverend Snyder, who took me through confirmation and shared the gospel so articulately without words by the humble life he led.
This was the great cloud of witnesses who shared their faith with me.
It is the foundation laid by His people that has kept me standing strong when I have felt like falling apart over the years.
Because they pointed me to Him, I know that I am never alone.
Even when things around me are crumbling, like that old church building, I know that I am secure because He has me.
As a wife and a mother, this foundation has grounded me in my moments of doubt and insecurity.
Through a cancer diagnosis, the death of my parents, and the countless other changes since I walked through the doors of that church.
He is the one thing that He remained the same.
I can look back and am aware that His presence has always been with me.
Laying a Foundation for the Next Generation
My deepest prayer is that my children know this security as well.
The one only He can provide.
That they are always aware of His presence.
I have prayed for them to have an Aunt Betty and Reverend Snyder in their lives.
The ones who could help shape their faith and build a firm foundation, so that they will be able to stand strong, even when they feel like falling apart.
And one day, if the church that they grew up in is no longer standing, I pray they will be able to thank God for the people He put into their path that pointed them to Him.
I may never be able to sit in that old beautiful church building again.
But wherever I am, I know that I can always sit in His presence.
Friends, you can, too.
He is always near.
Who are the people of faith that have helped build your foundation, either as a child or an adult?
Share this:
A Ready Heart
Matthew 13:45-46 (ESV) “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”
The pearl was set between two kissing dolphins.
The perfect symbol of love.
During our first vacation together in Hawaii, my now husband and I stopped at an outdoor stand where you could pick your own pearl.
I carefully searched for my oyster.
Did you know that pearls are the only gems that come from a living creature?
I could not tell you what the necklace cost, but to me it was a priceless treasure.
That is what our heavenly Father considers us to be.
A treasure.
So much so that He sent His only Son to pay a huge price for us.
His life for ours.
In the beginning of Matthew 13, we see Jesus addressing the crowds, who had gathered on the shoreline while He was in a boat.
Jesus communicated through parables, weaving eternal truths into earthly stories.
It was through these stories that He helped to prepare the hearts of those who were listening, like preparing good soil for seeds to grow.
His disciples questioned why Jesus spoke in parables instead of just saying what He meant.
But Jesus did not look like or talk like the King that many expected.
His explanation from this version in The Message says this:
“The disciples came up and asked, “Why do you tell stories?”
He replied, “You’ve been given insight into God’s kingdom. You know how it works. Not everybody has this gift, this insight; it hasn’t been given to them. Whenever someone has a ready heart for this, the insights and understandings flow freely. But if there is no readiness, any trace of receptivity soon disappears. That’s why I tell stories: to create readiness, to nudge the people toward a welcome awakening.” Matthew 13:11-15 (MSG)Jesus knew the ones that His message was clear to were those whose hearts were ready to hear.
The ones who searched for Him, like a merchant searching for treasures.
“He who has ears, let him hear.” Matthew 13:9 (ESV).
Each of the parables Jesus shared pointed to eternal value.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” Matthew 13: 45-46 (ESV)
The pearl in ancient times was thought to be one of the loveliest gems.
Surely it made sense that one would want to possess something so beautiful.
Just like the pearl, Jesus is the priceless gem coming from a living God who wants nothing more than to welcome His children into His kingdom.
The way into His Kingdom is through His Son.
The pearl of great value.
If our hearts are ready, we recognize the value of this indescribable gift.
And like the merchant, would surrender all for something more valuable than any earthly treasure.
Jesus gave everything to pay the price for us.
A perfect symbol of His great love.
His Kingdom is precious and worthy of total surrender.
The cost of not surrendering our all to Him is spending eternity without Him.
Is your heart ready?
Father God, we are so grateful for the indescribable gift of Your Son, Jesus. The pearl of great value. Ready our hearts and help us to recognize that the things of this world pale in comparison to Your immeasurable love for us. Help us to surrender our all to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
A little extra : Natural pearls are formed without human intervention. Cultured pearls are created by human methods. They often are substituted for natural pearls because while they still appear beautiful, they cost less. Jesus’ Kingdom is precious and comes at the cost of our total surrender. When have you substituted His genuine love for something of less value because it cost you less?
How easy it is to want the reward that comes quickly or to attach ourselves to what the culture deems valuable. There are times that I do not always want to give up my comfort and control, surrendering all to Him. But I know in my heart that nothing in this world has lasting value or compares to what God has given us.
Share this:
The Space in Your Heart
“Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.” (Romans 12:9-13 NLT)
It’s not about the space you have at your table.
It’s about the space you have in your heart to make room for others.
I was blessed to have grown up in a multi-generational home.
A modest house filled with a blended family, a grandmother and great grandmother.
My great-grandmother slept in a hospital bed in the dining room.
I can still feel myself sitting at the mahogany table and seeing her bed in the corner.
My older sisters and my mother worked hard to make sure her needs were met, even taking turns sleeping on a cot in the living room in case Granny Lyons needed anything during the night.
When Agnes flooded our town in the 1970’s, we took in another family after their place was uninhabitable.
On Vine Street, I learned what it meant to make room for others.
Those memories from early childhood shaped my perspective of what sharing God’s love looked like in practical ways.
Fast forward almost 30 years later.
My husband and I began our search for a house that we could grow in.
Once again I was living in a multi-generational household, with a newly married couple, aging parents and eventually children.
This provision has been more than a roof over our heads.
It has become a classroom of sorts where many lessons have been learned.
Another reminder that God positions us where He wants to use us.
Where He would allow us to bless others and for others to bless us.
This house would become our mission field, a safe haven to welcome others.
To actively share His love in practical ways, just as I had learned as a child.
In addition to my parents, there were a number of family members who stayed with us over the years.
Our friends would often joke, “who is living in the basement now?”
Countless people had the code to our garage to enter whenever they needed.
Birthday parties, holiday gatherings, and even my parent’s vow renewal have taken place here.
God tells us in His word that there is a time for everything that happens.
“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NLT)
While this house has been filled with many beautiful memories, there have been many painful moments here as well.
Three cancers diagnoses under one roof within three years, and the death of my parents eight months apart.
In a place where we had provided for others, we were in a season of receiving and grieving.
When I could not make meals due to my illness, we still gathered around the table with the provisions given by others.
The table symbolized a place of connection and hope.
The spot where there were countless card games, late night talks, and hard conversations.
A gathering place for many and a quiet place to sit alone and reflect.
There were not always enough spots at the table for everyone, but we always made room.
Even if that meant dressing up some folding tables and borrowing some chairs from the neighbor.
Bodies have been nourished with homemade mac and cheese and burgers on the grill.
Souls have been nourished by walking into a safe space and met with open arms.
Each time, my hope is that others feel His love when they walk through the door.
Celebrations of life and baby showers.
Youth Bible studies and sleepovers.
Laughter and tears.
We have made room for it all.
All because He first loved us.
None of it would be possible without Him.
The interior may still have old linoleum flooring in the kitchen and Harvest Gold tiles in one of the bathrooms, but there is a table for all who enter to come and sit for a while.
And even when we did not have enough room at the table, we have always had enough love in our hearts to make room for others.
Where can you make room for someone today?
How can you really show His love to those around you?
Invite someone to your table.
Even if you have to borrow some extra chairs.
Share this:
A Father for All
A friend recently posted that the pastor of her church had passed away.
It wasn’t until we spoke that I understood how much this person meant to her.
She described him as someone who was like a father to her, and a grandfather to her children.
A deeply felt loss.
He was like family.
In His word, God tells us that we are His children.
His sons and daughters.
“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are…”
1 John 3:1 (ESV)
His love for us is so great, that He did not want to spend eternity without us.
That would be a deeply felt loss.
Because we are His family.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16 (ESV)
My friend shared her story about someone who was like a father to her.
A relationship that had an impact in her life.
Sharing our stories about the One who is our Father makes Him real to others.
If someone who doesn’t know God sees Him working in our lives, it opens the possibility to them that He can work in theirs, too.
This is not just a relationship that can impact our lives.
It is the most important relationship we will ever have.
How is God showing up for real in your life?
Friends, share your stories.
Make Him real for someone who doesn’t know Him.
He is a Father for us all.
Share this:
Encourage
“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near.”
Hebrews 10:24-25 NLTShare this:
Are You Ready?
The word is everywhere.
Local news, national news, social media.
It seems like everyone will be impacted.
What am I talking about?
The winter storm that seems to be affecting over half the country.
Now, living in the northeast, we tend to be a little more prepared for these storms, unlike our friends in the south.
But this storm has everyone talking.
Even those of us here in the north are getting prepared for the snow, ice and extreme cold.
In addition to stocking up on the usual bread, eggs and milk, water and rock salt are flying off the shelves.
My husband and I just left the store with extra batteries in case the lights go out.
Many people are concerned about losing power.
Going down my mental checklist of what I needed before the storm starts, God put a different message in mind.
Wouldn’t it be great if My Word was everywhere?
Local news, national news and social media?
Because everyone will be impacted.
I am coming back.
Unlike the uncertainty of the storm, this you can be sure of.
Why do you prepare more for a snow storm than you prepare for heaven?
Friends, we have an idea of when the storm is coming this weekend.
But we have no idea of when He will return.
“So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” Matthew 24:44 (NIV)
Even though no one knows the exact day of His return, just like with the weather, there will be signs.
“You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God.” 2 Timothy 3:1-4 (NLT)
How do we prepare?
If we stay connected to the Source, we should have nothing to fear.
He provides everything we need.
Worried about water?
He is the Living Water.
“Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” “But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? 12 And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?” Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” John 4:10-14 (NLT)
No bread left on the shelves?
He is the Bread of Life.
“Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35 (NLT)
Worried about the lights going out?
He is the Light of the World.
“Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” John 8:12 (NLT)
Friends, just like preparing for the storm, we should be preparing for His return.
Are you ready?
Share this:
When Less Equals More
We are an elite group.
That description is not because we are rich or famous.
Most of us come into this group with no special skill set.
We are more “jack of all trades, master of none” if you will.
Our training did not come through classes or lectures, but more from watching the models around us over the years.
Many times we cry through the tests, thinking we have the right answer only to find out the question was different than what we prepared for.
All of our time is consumed by being the best, only to find out with each passing year we return to novice status.
This seems glaringly obvious now.
It’s like starting a new job at the bottom when you have 18 plus years of experience.
Mothers of adult children, welcome!
And if you are not one, I promise that someone in your circle is.
We recognize each other now not by the Froot Loops in our hair or the stains on our shifts.
Playdates are in the rearview mirror.
No longer are we dropping our kids off at the front door, but watching them on Life360 to make sure they made it back safely to their apartment.
Instead of wearing our kids jerseys at sporting events, we look back on the Memories we posted about their first hit or dance.
There is a quiet recognition that we are in a season of less.
Less in person communication, more one word texts or requests for the Disney code that was just sent to you.
Less moments walking in the front door after school, more times walking in for a short visit just to do laundry.
Less advice being asked for about this problem or that one, more wondering if you ever taught them enough to live on their own.
Less time in their world, more time alone in ours.
Figuring out who we are in this season of life.
Our title has not changed, but our role is drastically different.
If I am being honest, I am not always handling this new role well.
Maybe I am not alone here.
But I know that God is trying to teach me something in this season.
Even though sometimes I cry through the lessons.
Here is what I am holding onto in this season of less.
Less equals more now.
- More prayers.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11(NIV)
This verse hangs in our home.
When I am worried about my sons, I hold onto this.
Inserting the names of our children in this verse as we pray is the reminder that God not only has good plans for us, but also for our children.
- More gratitude
.
“Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from Him.” Psalm 127:3 (NLT)
Our sons and daughters are a gift from our heavenly Father.
God knew exactly who He was choosing to be the mothers of our children, in every season of their lives.
He chose us.
Even when we are feeling unsteady, that is something to be grateful for.
- More trust.
“This is how God showed His love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him.” 1 John 4:9 (NIV)
This verse not only reveals the love the Father has for us, but also emphasizes the fact that He understands more than anyone the act of letting a child go.
When I start to worry about sending my sons into the world, I remember that God sent His only Son out of the comfort of His home into that same world.
And He was with Him step of the way.
Even when we let go, He never lets go of our children.
Or of us.
Even when our roles change, He remains the same.
In this season of less, I need more of Him.
Wishing you many blessings this Thanksgiving, whatever season you find you find yourself in.
He is with you.
Share this:
Share Your Stories
Share this:
Being An Encouragement When You are Feeling Discouraged
Your joy is your own; your bitterness is your own. No one can share them with you.”
Proverbs 14:10 (GNT)
It has been a minute since I have written anything.
Being completely transparent, I have felt pretty discouraged lately.
Many thoughts and ideas have come and gone, but I have struggled to get them from my head onto the paper.
How can I be an encouragement to others when I am feeling discouraged?
Just like a slow drift away from the shore line, I have felt myself moving further and further away from where I want to be.
More importantly, where He wants me to be.
Maybe I am not the only one.
Whether it is a series of small changes or one large shift, sometimes it can feel like we are treading water and no one seems to notice.
And even though our minds are racing to get back to the shore, our bodies feel paralyzed to move.
But God.
When it feels like no one understands, He does.
Insert our recent Bible Study on the book of Proverbs.
One verse in particular challenged me and left me with questions.
Here are some different translations for Proverbs 14:10 –
“The heart knows its own bitterness,
and no stranger shares its joy.” (ESV)
“The person who shuns the bitter moments of friends will be an outsider at their celebrations.” (MSG)
“Only the person involved can know his own bitterness or joy— no one else can really share it.” (TLB)
“No one else can know your sadness.
Strangers cannot share your joy.” (ICB)
“Your joy is your own; your bitterness is your own. No one can share them with you.” (GNT)
That singular verse sparked much discussion.
Don’t we share in the joys and the sorrows of our friends and loved ones?
Certainly a stranger cannot share in our joys.
If we do not stand by someone in their troubled times, it makes sense that we should not share in their celebrations, right?
As our group dug deeper into these translations, we came across some commentaries that made sense.
Simply put, no one knows us like God.
Not our friends, not our family.
Even the people closest to us cannot know how we feel all of the time.
Even when we are feeling adrift.
Only God fully knows the depths of our pain and the fullness of our joy.
Some friends come to us in our youth, others as we age.
Family members play different roles in different seasons of our lives.
A parent brings us through childhood, and if we are fortunate sees us becoming an adult.
A spouse or a child will only have known us in our later years.
But God has been with us each and every moment.
He has been with us from the beginning.
God reminds Jeremiah that He knew him before he was born.
“The word of the Lord came to me, saying,
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1: 4-5 (NIV)Luke reminds us that God notices everything about us, even down to the hairs on our heads.
“What’s the price of two or three pet canaries? Some loose change, right?
But God never overlooks a single one. And He pays even greater attention to you,
down to the last detail—even numbering the hairs on your head! Luke 12: 6-7 (MSG)
God does not need Life 360 to know where we are. He knows our every move.
“You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.”
Psalm 139: 1-4 (NIV)
Every. Single. Detail.
Going back to Proverbs 14:10, the wisdom in this verse can be summed up in this quote:
“Each man is a little world in himself, which God only fully sees through and understands.” Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament
Disappointment is born when we expect others to fully know us like our Creator does.
How many times have you felt overlooked or unseen by others?
How many times have you looked to others to fill a void that only He can fill?
Friends, I don’t pretend to fully know your joys and sorrows.
But I know what it feels like to be discouraged.
The greatest encouragement comes from knowing the One who created us and spending time in His presence.
Even when you feel like no one notices, God always does.
No matter how many times you feel adrift, He knows exactly where you are.
When you are feeling discouraged, you find encouragement and hope in His Word.
And if you are like me and need that reminder, grab a sister or brother in faith to talk with and pray.
To the sister who sat across the table from me and listened to my heart, I know that He was speaking to me through you.
Blessings in heaps.
Share this:
