Author: Vickie

I hate to get mail back, don’t you? You took the time to write a note or send a card or pay a bill and something was not right with the address. It comes back to you a few days after you thought it made it where it was supposed to go. Now the thank-you is delayed, the encouragement ungiven, the payment overdue.

I’ve done some inviting lately, by what is now known as “snail mail,” to our church’s Vacation Bible School. I’m old fashioned and I like to imagine the excitement on a child’s face when they get mail with their name on it. Something they can hold in their own hands. It made me sad to get some of them back because they couldn’t find those kids at the address I had on file.

To get something back, unopened by the person you intended to give it to, hurts a bit. It hurts to know that you wanted to share something with someone and they either couldn’t receive it or didn’t want it.

When I was in the sixth grade, I saved my money and bought an I.D. bracelet for my “boyfriend.” (Those things were popular back then.) He gave it back, unopened, because he said, “I didn’t get you anything.” That hurt. Sometimes we can just close up and tell ourselves it just isn’t worth the effort anymore.

I think of Jesus and all He offers to us and we either keep the door to our hearts closed or we send those blessings back. “Behold I stand at the door and knock, if any man hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” Revelation 3:20. An invitation to dine with someone is an invitation for friendship or fellowship. The Son of God wants to share Himself with us in a way that nourishes us like no one or nothing else possibly can. And He is not knocking on the wrong door. He says if any man (woman)…

“Behold I stand at the door and knock, if any man hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” Revelation 3:20.

He is not expecting us to give Him anything in return for all He offers us. He just wants a relationship with us that is based on faith. Faith alone saves. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2: 8-9. By faith, we open the door and He comes in, no strings attached.

To say faith is free doesn’t mean that it came without cost. Jesus died for it. He also rose from the grave for it. He paid the price required to settle our sin debt so we could be redeemed and reconciled with God. He did the work so we could be saved from this fallen world and have eternal life.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2: 8-9.

Knowing that I have the gift of salvation, in itself, can cause me to think that I’m safe so why not live like I want to. Live for me. But there is no peace there. Jesus’ love won’t leave you where you are. His love prompts us to desire what He desires. Love whom He loves. Serve where and whom He knows needs served in His name.

If you have even an inkling that God is speaking to you and you ignore it, it is just like saying “return to sender.” And I confess, I have done it many times. I hate to think of how many invitations I have ignored all the time thinking that what I was doing or what I had planned was more important than what He had planned and prepared for me.

I am so thankful that He doesn’t stop when He gets the invitation back stamped “Return to Sender.” He still loves, He still invites, He still is there for me. He gives me another chance and another. As long as I’m here on this side of heaven, He gives me another chance to accept His invitations and receive His blessings when I am obedient. His blessings, which are innumerable. I don’t understand it, but I am so grateful that He doesn’t close up and stop knocking.

Heavenly Father,

Forgive my unfaithfulness. I’m sorry that I have returned many invitations unopened. I’m sorry that I haven’t always listened. I’m sorry that I’ve closed up at times and dared to think that my efforts weren’t worth it. I’m sorry that I have not put You first. Thank You for Your faithfulness to me. Cause me to remember that anything You invite me to do, You will equip me for, and there will be blessings and peace when I obey. For the glory of Your Name, Amen

I didn’t want to do it but, when I started to settle into my comfortable warm couch, a whisper from somewhere said, “What if this is the last one?” Meaning, maybe tomorrow might not come for me. I didn’t feel morbid, just aware that in the blink of an eye sometimes, everything as we know it can change. That thought took me out to the deck and the cool fresh air, the brightening sky. Where I could hear the thrills, the chirps, the drumming, the coos, even the turkey gobbles. A morning feast of sights and sounds. I meet with God in the morning.

Mornings are a gift that God keeps giving. The sun keeps coming up, even when we may feel knocked down and have trouble getting up to witness it. Even when we feel really settled where we are and desire to stay there. Why do things have to change anyway? And why do we have so much stress related to it. Can’t some things just stay the same?

Things can change because the One who holds it all together never does. “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 is a promise you can firmly stand on.  We can deal with change because we have a God that created a dynamic universe and He never changes. He is the true Force that makes and sustains all life. And we have to keep changing and growing in His direction or else.

“Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8

There’s this church sign in Belpre, Ohio, that says “Where growth stops, decay begins.” Summer brings with it some glorious aromas, but decaying roadkill is not one of them. Decay has a stench that is just intolerable to the living. Every cell in our bodies has to renew itself, slough off the dead and make way for new life. There is nothing more positive than accepting the truth that we can keep growing towards the best version of ourselves. And that the best version is the one that chooses to attach closely to the Creator through a relationship with Jesus. This is truly what is the best for us and brings the most glory to God.

“Where growth stops, decay begins.”

How do we do it? How do we keep not merely tolerating change, but embracing it? This may look differently for you than me, but I attach myself to my dynamic Creator by taking the time and making the effort to. There is nothing wrong with it, but “5 minutes with Jesus” just doesn’t cut it for me. It takes time to read His Word, The Bible, it takes time to pray with focus, it takes time to worship and wait on Him. It just takes time. Think of it as an exfoliating session for your soul. When you emerge from it, you walk in newness. And I can’t even begin to tell you how taking that time will be rewarded in many other ways.

The struggles that would have knocked you down and kept you there for the count, don’t have the same effect on you anymore, because Jesus shares the punch. That change in your life, that you never thought you would be able to face, you’re facing it, and oh, so bravely. That new process you have to learn for work; the new definition of family that you didn’t ask for. The diagnosis that threatens to define you as someone less than you used to be. Those aging signs that remind you of the years you’ve journeyed here. Changes can chase us down, but they don’t have to defeat us.

How do we keep handling the changes? By reminding ourselves of the truth that if everything we know and think we have to have to be happy gets taken from us, Jesus will always be with us. He will never leave us or forsake us. Just before the Hebrews 13:8 truth, we read in Hebrews 13:5, “…I will never leave you or forsake you.” That, in itself, will be enough. Because He is enough. And He never changes.

Hebrews 13:5, “…I will never leave you or forsake you.”

Heavenly Father, I know that today will bring about some changes that I may not want to welcome because I just don’t want the stress of them. Cause me to remember that You took on flesh and You know how unwelcome change feels and You will walk with me through mine. I am not alone, and even though I have changeable moods that affect how I handle things, You are always the same. You can always be trusted to be just what I need, when and where I need it. Even if You are all I have, I will have all I need. For the glory of Your Name, Amen

Sometimes we don’t know what’s missing; sometimes, it’s all too obvious. But the way we feel is the same. Something is missing from our lives that we desperately need, and we’d go to the ends of the earth to find it. Where do you go to made whole?

Collectors search antique stores and flea markets trying to find that piece that will “complete” their collection. But, where do we go when something is missing in us? Once again, I am drawn to the account in Mark 5:21-34 of a woman who knew, down deep in her heart, that if she could only touch the garment that Jesus was wearing, “I shall be whole.”

But, where do we go when something is missing in us?

There’s this line in a popular movie, “you complete me.” I’m just telling you, dear sister, that’s a lie. There is no other human being in this world that can truly “complete” you. Mainly because they are human, and all humans are flawed by sin. There is only One, who has lived a completely sinless life, Jesus Christ. And by placing your faith in Him, you can come away with this promise “Daughter, your faith has made you whole; go in peace…”

In the New King James Version of the Bible, the word “well” is used as a more current translation of the word “whole.” To be made well, to have all be well in our bodies and souls, is to be made whole or complete in Christ. This is the missing part, He is the missing part. The answer to all the illnesses, all the relationship difficulties, all the problems in all the world is always more of Jesus. It doesn’t mean necessarily that all the problems will go away, but the Helper, the Keeper, the Strength of our heart will be infused into all those struggles. His strength in our weakness equals all we need to do what perfect love does, “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Corinthians 13:7)

“Daughter, your faith has made you whole; go in peace…”

Letting go of the things that are breaking us opens us up to Him filling the empty spaces of our hearts so that we can be made whole. God can’t pour into us if we don’t pour out to Him. Like the woman in Mark 5, we have to risk it. We have to reach, and we have to obey when we asks, “Who touched Me?” Of course, He already knows, but He also already knows that our response is crucial for complete healing.

The woman humbled herself. She got down low, and she told Him, in the presence of witnesses, the whole truth. It was her faith that made her well. She was healed of her affliction and received so much more.

This is what I want to remember from her story: that when she was called out by Christ, she came out. Yes, she was afraid. She was so scared that she shook all over, but she did it. And we can too. We can take risks and we can speak out and we can humble ourselves to God, day after day and keep giving Him our hurts and He can keep filling in the broken places because that’s what He does. He completes us, day after day.

She was so scared that she shook all over, but she did it. And we can too.

“Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: Great is Your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23.

O Heavenly Father, I thank you and pray that you cause me to remember your promises. I pray knowing that today is really all I have, and I choose to remember that Your compassion for me is new every, single morning and that You are faithful at every, single moment of everyday. I thank You that when I start to feel the sting of pain from the wounds this world gives me, You are with me and ready to cover them and fill them in with your healing love. For the glory of Your Name, Amen

The Access of “Touch”

It is beyond my understanding how we can just touch a screen and things happen. With the technology of today, I can touch a number and a call is initiated. I can type out a text, with my index finger (because I’m old and I just can’t do the thumb thing), and hit “send,” and a person gets a message from me on their phone! Mind blowing.

It is also beyond my understanding the access I have to Jesus. All I have to do is reach out to Him in prayer and immediately He hears. I base this faith from some scripture I have been studying lately in Mark 5:24-34. There is the account of a “bloody woman.” For 12 years, she had a “flow of blood.” In medical terms we would call this menorrhagia, and we would, hopefully long before 12 years, call our gynecologist and get this taken care of. But she did not have this option. Oh, she tried physicians, “and had suffered many things” due to their inability to heal her based on the modern medicine of that day.

She had a plan, and she didn’t have long to think about it. She heard Jesus was coming through her area, and she had faith in Him. So much faith that she thought “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” Just touch and have access. Access to the healing of her anemic body and soul. And she was right, and was made right, through the power of Christ.

“If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”

Touch technology access may be a relatively new and amazing thing, but it is not as powerful as the touch access we have to Jesus. There are times when I touch my screen and nothing happens. I try again and again and sometimes with profoundly hard touches, and then the screen freezes. Jesus never freezes. He responds, and we can count on that. He gets the message immediately, and He will hold you until He answers. Sometimes it will be immediate, sometimes not, but we have to remember that He always hears immediately. Sometimes we need to ask ourselves if the waiting time is God’s goodness to prepare us for His answer.

The account goes on to say, “Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.” There’s something extra He did. He called her out to confess what had happened. When we reach for and connect with Jesus, He may call us out. He may ask us to leave our comfort zones, to testify of His goodness and risk the consequences. We might have to do a few things “in fear and trembling.” Because it is the least we can do for the great mercy He has shown to us.

“Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.”

Touch works both ways – the person who touches and the person who is touched. Both have a response to give. This is how good news spreads. How others get helped. If we know how Jesus helped us and we keep it to ourselves, we miss an opportunity to grow spiritually and help others know where to go for the help we are truly unable to give. The help and healing that can only come through a relationship with the lover of our souls.

Jesus gave her the most beautiful reward for her obedience in telling Him “the whole truth.” He says: “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”

How are we made well? Where do we find peace and healing? It depends on what the problem is. If it is physical, we have physicians and procedures that are amazing. With today’s technology, surgeons can fix something inside of bodies barely leaving a mark on the outside. But if the problem is with the soul, only Jesus can help.

Risk the throng, like this women did, reach out in faith and you will find Him reaching out to you.

Heavenly Father, I have hurts right now that only you can feel, because You tell me in Your Word that you have been touched with the feelings of my infirmities. I have wounds that only You can cleanse, and dress and completely heal. I reach out to you like this “bloody woman” because I am consumed by my lack of ability to fix my own problems. Thank you for hearing and holding and giving hope. For the glory of Your Name, Amen

Beside the still waters…Psalm 23

My daughter and I were sitting on a park bench beside a still pond. The green grass was like a soft carpet beneath our feet.

“…He makes me to lie down in green pastures.”

The wind was making its mark, creating little ripples in this small body of water. I noticed a tiny circle of fluff floating there. It remained still as the ripples seemed to be just under the surface. Like it was held there by something.

“…He leads me beside the still waters.”

Can it be that when we allow God to lead us, the ripples of circumstances in life cannot take us away from Him? We can be held on the surface where there is plenty of air and protection from the undertow. We can be restored from the dehydrating demands of this life by His living water. More powerful than the water that carved out the paths in the Grand Canyon.

“…He restores my soul. He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”

For the glory of His Name, He leads me. I am not here for me. Or you. Or anyone else. I am here for God. And so are you. That’s where the path of righteousness begins; realizing that.

“Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil…”

There is a shadow that can feel like death. When the “normal” changes because something or someone has died and it’s just too hard to get up in the morning. Or too hard to get up and keep up a façade of I’m okay. How can you “fear no evil”?

“For You are with me: Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”

Like the good shepherd never leaves his flock, God will never leave you. He will gently lead and guide and give and give more grace. How comforting to know that the rod is not for punishment but for guidance. For the next step when you don’t know when or where to place it. He knows the future and He’s got you. And He doesn’t care whose watching. Right in front of the enemies of your soul He will feed you, anoint you and fill you with His Spirit. Your strength will be renewed like the eagles.

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.”

Then you will be chased. Not by your enemies but by a God that will chase you down with His goodness and mercy. Not just today, but every day. For all eternity.

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

I want to be like that little piece of fluff. I want to remember that I am powerless on my own, but attached to the water that He gives, I am safe, riding above the dangers that lurk under the surface.

Mother’s Day – The Day That Changes Everything…

She says “There’s so much I should have done differently…” I say, “Yeah, me too Mom.”  Mother’s get on-the-job training. Life-experience in the day-to-day mundane and the frantic times when children get high fevers or hurt. There are no algorithms for motherhood. There are only moments when you try to do what you try to do and hope that love covers it with a blanket of forgiveness.

Proverbs 10:12 reads: “Hatred stirs us strifes: but love covers all sins.”

In 1978, I became a mother. I gave birth to my firstborn and that was all that qualified me to be called a mother. There was a popular song filling the radio airwaves at that time, and one day, as I lay with my newborn, I bawled like the biggest baby when I heard it, because it mirrored the feelings in my heart.

What a Difference You’ve Made in My Life

What, a, difference you’ve made in my life
What a difference you’ve made in my life
You’re my sunshine day and night
Oh what a difference you’ve made in my life

What a change you have made in my heart
What a change you have made in my heart
You replaced all the broken parts
Oh what a change you have made in my heart

Love to me was just a word in a song
That had been way over-used
But now I’ve joined in the singing
‘Cause you’ve shown me love’s true meaning
That’s why I want to spread the news

What a difference you’ve made in my life
What a difference you’ve made in my life
You’re my sunshine day and night
Oh what a difference you’ve made in my life

 This song was written by Archie Johnson and the version I heard was performed by Ronnie Milsap and it broke me. It brought out the deep truth that I would never be the same after this tiny little person was entrusted to my care.

 Those moments happened more than 39 years ago, but I remember them just like they happened yesterday. There are other moments that I’ve tried hard to forget, but can’t. The moments when I completely melted down and in the presence of little fear-filled eyes and confused faces. Because, you see, three more precious ones followed, which I equally messed up on. But the hope that “love covers all sins” is my prayer that none of them are scarred for life.

 Being a mother is beyond hard, but it is also beyond gratifying. And it almost takes being one to understand one. Whether you have given birth or were ushered into motherhood by taking someone into your mother-heart by adoption or the blending of families, you have the awesome opportunity to learn from them a deeper knowledge of our heavenly Father. Children learn from us moms, but they also do a lot of teaching, if we take the time to realize it. I could never have imagined how I’ve broke the heart of God until my child first lied to me. “How could they do this?” I thought. “I have given them everything they have with bushels of love?” Even more heart changing is how quick they forgive the meltdowns and sometimes undeserved disciplinary actions from a truly out-of-control mother.

 My relationship with God grew because He was gracious and allowed me to be the mother of four unique little humans. Motherhood does that. Whether you’re mothering fur-babies or grandbabies, whether your caring for your unborn by caring for yourself, or in the thick of toddlers and teenagers, it’s always the caring that changes you. And to know Whom to cast your cares on when you just aren’t enough to do it right.

 “Casting all your care on Him, for He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

 Being a mother drove me to Jesus. I grew up a goal-setter and held high standards for myself. I always tried to discover what it would take to meet my expectations and I would work hard to get there. Motherhood threw me a curve that on my own I could never connect with to hit that ball out of the park. I needed wisdom and understanding on a whole new level. And friends, I found it in God’s Word and in prayer. I filled many journals with my thoughts and feelings and prayers.

 From this place I offer some advice. Pray for your children. Pray for your children. Pray for your children. Realize the privilege you have to truly make a difference in their lives. Because, O my goodness, what a difference they have made in yours.

Shifting Burdens…

I learned a lot about shifting burdens the other day. My brother needed an apartment change, and, after many months of prayer, he had a moving date. So the available family gathered. And the only way this worked was to transfer burdens to one another. Consider the numbers. How could an 82 year-old man plus two middle-aged women have moved the household possessions of a 55-year-old brother into his new apartment in one 8-hour day? Don’t they have businesses that do this? It was a miracle!

Now, there was prep work. Brother does what he can to get ready. One sister goes the day before and cleans and helps pack up clothing and anything else that would not be needed overnight. Mom does what she can packing up and carrying items to the top of the stairs for younger legs to carry down and then up again. Prayers were prayed for a swift, safe move and dry sky overhead. (The most important prep work by the way.) Each and every one answered with grace from a loving Heavenly Father.

Thinking on this today, when the sore muscles hit – how burdens have to be shifted to get anything done. To even live day-to-day without being crushed by the weight of life in this world, we have to give it up somehow. As Dad, sister and I carried furniture down a skinny deck walkway and brought it gingerly down the deck stairs, we had to communicate with each other. We had to sometimes say, “rest it here,” “watch your fingers,” “give me more weight, I’m okay.”

Jesus says: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

If your soul, your heart, your thoughts and feelings have you weighed down to the near-crushing point, listen to Jesus. He wants to say “rest it here,” “give me more weight.” In The Message, Eugene Peterson paraphrases the above scripture like this,

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

I’m not sure about you, but really, everyone has “stuff” – burdens that can weigh heavy on hearts. Moving-on days that loom ahead bringing a sense of dread. Change can be scary, and not knowing if there will be enough help can cause anxiety. Take heart! This is the exact place we need to be for God to show up!

2^nd Corinthians 12:9 says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

Only when we see that, in and of ourselves, we are not capable enough to handle the demands in this life, does faith win.

I have to confess, I had very little faith that our small crew would be able to accomplish this move without someone breaking a leg, or voicing words that could break a heart, but we were fine. What’s so loving, among many things about Jesus is that He honors little faith. Any amount of faith in Him will grow into miracles.

1^st John 5:4-5 says, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” To be an overcomer, we need to shift our burdens to the only One who can carry them for us and give us true rest.

What burdens do you need to shift to His shoulders today?

Try again…

I hope you never tire of my little people stories. Being a grandma is one of my favorite things. The things I’m sure I experienced with my own children, I get to experience anew with these sweet grandlittles.

Lilly girl, two-and-a-half, is learning an amazing amount of new skills. When she was at my house the other day I pulled out a candy bracelet/necklace kit I bought on clearance after Easter. She tried and succeeded about half of the time to get the plastic string through those little holes. The fun part was watching the little tongue she had to stick out while she concentrated! When she’s not tired, she tries and tries and says out loud “try again.” I love it when she watches me fail at something and reminds me to do the same – “Try again, mamaw.”

I can’t even describe to you how much fun it is help two to four year-olds learn how to use scissors in Sunday School. Believe me, there is no such thing as completely safe, safety scissors. When a pre-schooler gets started and they see that they are actually cutting their paper, watch out. No finger is safe. Sorry, that was what my Pastor calls a “rabbit trail.” Or maybe “squirrel,” if you’ve ever watched “UP.”

Now it can be hard to know whether or not you’re just beating a dead issue that you really should just leave alone, or just keep on trying, isn’t it? Maybe the next time it will work and you’d be stopping right before victory. When I’m in the heat of the moment, the hard, sweaty work of something I love and my mind starts thinking, “this is it, the last time I try this.” But then I rest and see the fruit of the effort and think “well maybe one more time.”

There has to be a cut-off point, or a try-again place, where you’re sure which action to take. I think I found it in this scripture, Luke 5:1-11. There’s a beyond-amazing exchange where Jesus tells his disciple, Peter, to try again to catch some fish. Peter and his fishing business partners had been out all night. With no success. Jesus asked Peter to try again. “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” Peter responds, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.”  The reward for obeying Jesus and trying again comes: “And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.” The result, “So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.”

Meditating a little on this scripture gave me an answer to my question. If the Lord has asked you to do something, if His Word talks to your heart and tells you this thing you struggle with is your assignment, He will make sure you have the “net.” He will provide the “deep” and the “catch.” If I think I have said yes to God, if I have tried and tried and experienced failure after failure I have to ask myself, “Am I doing this on my own, or is this even a place where God has put me?”

There has to be a cut-off point, or a try-again place, where you’re sure which action to take.

To answer that last question, I go to another place in scripture where Jesus teaches about fruit. Matthew 7:15-20, teaches the importance of looking at the fruit of the work. “Every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit…therefore by their fruits you will know them.” Do I see good things for God come as a result of where I’m at or what I’m doing? Am I toiling and toiling with nothing to show for it but disappointment? There has to be good fruit; you need the fruit of peace in your heart, when you are not seeing the results of your efforts. You also need to have the fruit of patience as you gently serve between the now and the not yet.

I know this passage in Matthew is primarily focusing on the tree, or the person that is bearing the fruit. Could it be that judging our own efforts by the fruit that they cause us to bear in our lives, can give us an answer of whether or not we should keep trying? But before you get concerned that I am taking things out of context, let’s consider another scripture that teaches about fruit.

Do I see good things for God come as a result of where I’m at or what I’m doing?

Galatians 5:22-23 describe the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. All of them, together, are the fruit. If you do not experience these in the effort, of that thing you are trying over and over again, it could be that you need to do some self-examination: consider the motives of your efforts, or maybe God is asking someone else to fill that place you are striving for in your own strength.

Timothy Keller, Pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, in his sermon series on Fruit of the Spirit, (February 18, 1990), speaks of the Fruit of the Spirit as one, as being singular. “All these things, love, joy, peace… are aspects of the whole” teaches Keller. You can’t leave one or the other of them out and experience the fruit. To have love without peace is no good. To have joy without kindness also disqualifies the believer from possessing the fruit of the spirit. Keller also mentions that in Jonathan Edwards’ book “Religious Affection,” he wrote, “the only way you can really be sure that a person’s love, joy, peace, patience, kindness… is not counterfeit, is that they happen altogether.” They are all to grow together.

How the effort affects me is crucial to understanding if I am to keep trying this “thing” over and over. Is it beneficial to my character? Does it cause the fruit of the Spirit to grow together in my life?

“the only way you can really be sure that a person’s love, joy, peace, patience, kindness… is not counterfeit, is that they happen altogether.” Jonathan Edwards

Believe me, I am preaching to myself. Just some thoughts I have been struggling with lately, and I pray if you, my dear reader, have them as well, that perhaps it might help you seek Jesus more so that your “catch” will break your “net” as you try again.

Looking Back…Looking Forward

I went for a drive yesterday. In a melancholy mood, I had a desire to see the house where I grew up. I wanted to see the front yard where I learned to ride a bike and got going too fast and crashed. I wanted to see the split rail fence where I tried to pretend I was an Olympic gymnast and fell and hurt my shoulder, and nearly ruined my first solo performance in my ballet recital that year.

I wanted to trace the lane that looped my neighborhood where I trekked with my siblings on trick or treat nights. I wanted to visit where it dips downhill and one time a bigger kid on a bike ran over little ole me. What followed was my first experience in an emergency room and stitches. I could almost taste the sweat on my upper lip when I remembered how hot and humid and downright uncomfortable those masks were that we all wore. What did they make them out of anyway? It had to be something toxic.

I was disappointed when I couldn’t find our old house. I drove past where it was supposed to be twice, and it wasn’t there. Or maybe it was, but just remodeled so much I couldn’t recognize it. My dad built that house for his growing family in his mid-twenties. I was sad that it was just gone and would never be there for me to see again. Gone were the windows I watched my reflection in. The porch where I sat with my baby dolls. The back yard that held the big silver swing set, also built by my dad, that I fell off of and nearly bit my tongue clear through. The bedroom where I held my Bible and tears hit the cover and forever stained it, reminding me of the time I first trusted Christ. Gone, it was all gone.

“But as it is written, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 2 Corinthians 2:9

Why was I doing this? I kept thinking, ‘what if my car breaks down, how am I going to explain to people why I was where I was?’ I think God wanted me to remember some very important things from my past yet impress upon me just what is really THE most important thing to remember. He is preparing something very special for all of us who love Him. There is absolutely no comparison between what’s in our future and what might be in our past. My parents prepared things for me. They made sure I was cared for. They provided a home, complete with things to entertain me and give me a happy childhood, and I am so grateful.

Time that is spent is gone, there’s no getting it back.

“But as it is written, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 2 Corinthians 2:9. The scripture goes on to say that the deep things of God are revealed “through His Spirit.” Deep things. Forever things, unlike anything we have seen or thought of before.

We have to live in the present and keep looking forward to the future. History is just that, history. It is good to study and learn from it but we can’t go back there. Time that is spent is gone, there’s no getting it back. The regrets I carry are only redeemed when I remember the mistakes and purpose in my heart to not repeat them.

A little less melancholy, I headed back to my current “temporary” home. I thought about how the memories of places we’ve lived can make us want to go back to them. To re-live them somehow. Not that I really wanted to be that young girl again, but I longed for a simpler time when the worries and cares of my today didn’t exist.

Just like the sunrise heralds the promise of a new day, we can look forward to a new opportunity to give God glory and praise. And look forward to the promise of what He has already prepared for you in that day. Go ahead and say “Good Morning” and mean it.

Whether your childhood memories are good or bad, it really doesn’t have to affect your hope in the future. Right now, God is preparing something so amazing for us, far above any of our greatest imaginings. If we could see it, we wouldn’t really need faith. Remember “…hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?” Romans 8:23.  It is our faith that will keep us balanced as we keep our eyes fixed on Him, “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…” Hebrews 12:2.

There just aren’t any earthly homes as perfect as the place where God dwells. As our Savior, He dwells in you and me. “Jesus answered and said to him, If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” John 14:23. And the plus is, He is preparing another place for us. That is enough to keep me looking forward. Join me?

Ladies, would you like to be reminded how special you are? Would you like to spend an afternoon hearing that God had perfection in mind when you were created? Have you realized that the only thing in all of creation that God said was not good, was when he saw that man was alone and that woman was His answer to fix that? (Genesis 2:18)

You are better than loved when you are beloved. The definition of beloved is “greatly loved, dear to the heart.” More than that, we are called the Beloved. That is our endearing name in scripture, given to us by God, Ephesians 1:6 says “to the praise and glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.” We’re in! In that family of which He calls His Son Jesus, “my beloved Son.” (Luke 3:22 and 9:35) Ladies of the church, you are beloved, and you are The Beloved.

You are invited to celebrate this truth together, Saturday, April 29, from 4-6 pm at Bethel Lighthouse Church. There will be a light meal, speakers, scriptural nourishment, a fun water color painting lesson and handcrafts for sale that will benefit Lily House in the Dominican Republic. Nathan and Erica Jude began this ministry to rescue woman from sex trafficking in that region.

There is absolutely no charge and we would love for you to come and bring along a friend. Ladies of all ages, churched or unchurched are welcome.

Bethel Lighthouse Church is located on Washington County Road 126, just of State Route 676 at the forks of Lane’s Farm Market. For more information call or text Vickie Hendershot 740-525-2514.