What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. (1 Corinthians 3:5-7)

At the core of my story and everyone’s faith story, is the Holy Spirit. It is God, through the Holy Spirit that calls us to Himself. Paul acknowledged this in Galatians 1:15-16:

 But God chose me before I was born. By His loving-favor He called me to work for Him. His Son was to be seen in me. He did this so I could preach about Christ…

We never ‘bring people to Jesus.’ God does that through us. We participate in this miracle, but we do not cause it. And that is why sometimes it happens quickly and sometimes it takes years, as it did for me – I spent my first 30-some years as an unbeliever. We can’t change God’s timeline. However, it IS necessary for us to do the things that God can use to bring a believer to Him.

They say that statistically, it will take between 7 to 18 times hearing a gospel presentation before a person decides to make a commitment to Christ. It did for me. But then there’s the Billy Graham Crusades and Revivals where people commit on their very first invitation.

Another statistic is that most Christians will make their faith decision between the ages of 4-14. This highlights the importance of VBS, Sunday School and Youth Rallies. But those decisions won’t likely happen in a vacuum. Someone along the way (grandparents, aunts and uncles, parents, friends, etc.) will have planted seeds earlier that finally blossom.

So, don’t be afraid to mention Jesus, and grace and blessings in your casual conversations. Force yourself to ask people if you can pray for them about something in their life. All these things plant a seed of faith that the Holy Spirit can grow.

And this one thing is key, and it’s easier than it seems as long as we don’t put too much expectation on it. Just invite people to the events and activities of the church. Offer to pick them up. Have your kids invite their kids. Make it easy to say yes. Begin with something easy like the Holiday House Bazaar, an ice cream social or luncheon. Ease into a Sunday service.

And here’s the reality from God’s word:

1 Corinthians 1:23-25

 When we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense.

But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.

So yes, someone might snicker, roll their eyes, agree to disagree or even be rude. But what does that matter if ultimately their soul is saved? What does that matter if you’re fulfilling Christ’s Great Commission? Just be bold, God’s got your back.

Now, to all of you whose hearts are burdened by your lost sheep and prodigal sons, or are grieved by atheist friends and family, I tell you…don’t lose hope! Keep casually inviting, keep planting those seeds in little ways wherever you can, and most of all, keep praying. This is a prayer that God absolutely wants to answer. Trust Him to rearrange your loved one’s life into to opportunities and difficulties that will point them to God. He will make Divine appointments for them because He chose them before they were born, and He will keep calling them and knocking at the door of their hearts until they let Him in. It can happen. I’m proof.

PRAYER:

Father God, You see our hearts and You know the desperate longing we feel to bring the lost sheep and prodigal sons in our lives into Your kingdom. Work in their lives and keep calling them. Arrange opportunities for us to share your Good News with others, help us to be bold in our faith. Strengthen us to go out into our community and make disciples, inviting them, planting seeds of faith, and praying for them continually as we trust in You to herd them into your flock. In the precious name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior, Amen and amen.

Blessed to be a blessing,

Jen

Woe to those who make unjust laws,
    to those who issue oppressive decrees,
to deprive the poor of their rights
    and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people,
making widows their prey
    and robbing the fatherless.
What will you do on the day of reckoning,
    when disaster comes from afar?
To whom will you run for help?
    Where will you leave your riches?

Isaiah 10:1-3

Noblesse oblige is a French term generally used to imply that wealth, power, and prestige come with responsibilities. It suggests that privilege must be balanced by duty towards those who lack such privilege. In Luke 12:48 Jesus established the same concept: “...From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” At my Law School graduation we heard a long speech about our obligation to pursue justice and give back to the community now that we had the skills and ability to do so.

But I wonder if my fellow lawyers and lawmakers are actually following these principles. I’m certain many are, but it is troubling to see how often the law is twisted these days for political reasons rather than for true justice. I really believe in the law. Taken as a whole, much of it is a house built upon a foundation hundreds of years old, carefully reasoned out after much arguing and experience. Many Supreme Court Justices have been excellent scholars and jurors who used stringent standards to uphold our Constitution – a Constitution carefully crafted to cover the most important mechanisms of governance and freedom while remaining flexible enough to allow for future contingencies that could not have been imagined by our founding fathers.

But the law can be a snare too. It can be manipulated to serve purposes other than which it was intended. This is where mercy comes in. If we stick solely to ‘the letter of the law’ without considering ‘the spirit of the law’ we can actually end up with injustice. Mercy and discretion are always necessary to bring about justice. If we go back to Luke 12:48 and look at the previous verse, we see Jesus saying this:

“The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows.” (vv. 47-48)

Hence, even if both servants did (or failed to do) the same action, the one who knew will get the worst punishment, the one who didn’t know receives mercy. We all need mercy at times. Situations are rarely black and white. Human judges have to use their best discernment and intuition, but our Heavenly Judge has ALL the facts and the COMPLETE picture.

Real justice can only be pursued with humility. We are NOT God. We are flawed and sinful, and despite our best efforts, our perception is tinted with our preconceptions, prejudices and experiences. These can be mitigated by staying in conversation with people from many ages and stages and walks of life. Our law is a patchwork of social norms crafted by many different people in many different legal cases argued and decided by many lawyers and judges over time in order to best represent our communal standards. It takes the input of many people from many backgrounds, as well as the humility of lawmakers and judges to create laws that provide the most justice to the most people.

That said, ultimate Justice is not achievable on this side of Heaven. Only God has perfect Knowledge and can dispense perfect Justice. However, we can get much closer to True Justice by following Biblical principals in both the Old and New Testaments. We can and must hold ourselves to a higher, Christlike standard – protecting the oppressed and marginalized with justice, mercy and humility. But also recall that Jesus never ‘demanded His rights’ but always lowered Himself to serve others, even to the point of turning the other cheek, giving up His coat, and going the extra mile.

Well, I got a hammer, and I got a bell
And I've got a song to sing all over this land
It's the hammer of justice, it's the bell of freedom
It's a song about love between my brothers and my sisters
All over this land

Peter, Paul & Mary

Blessings of Liberty,

Jen

Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14)

You never know what you don’t know. As I get older it is increasingly obvious to me that there is much I will never know, at least not until I’m in my forever Heavenly Home.

In Ray Boltz’s song ‘Thank You’, he tells the story of a person arriving in Heaven who is immediately met by people they impacted here on earth. This verse sums up the gist of it:

“One by one they came
Far as the eyes could see
Each life somehow touched
By your generosity
Little things that you had done
Sacrifices made
Unnoticed on the earth
In heaven now proclaimed”

Whether it’s a VBS student, or a person reached by a missionary you supported, or a waitress you prayed with, or the man whose wallet you returned, or a child who received the shoebox you packed as their first Christmas gift ever, you most likely will never know the eternal consequences of the choices you make on earth to be faithful and bold for God.

At Hereford Faith & Life Church we send Love Boxes to college students, Prayer Shawls to those ill or hurting, Shoeboxes filled with gifts to children around the world, money to United Women of Faith missions spanning the globe, UMCOR donations to provide relief in disaster zones, bags of groceries to our needy neighbors through our Food Bank, and the projects from our Missions Fairs. We will never know how far or how effectively those prayers and gifts travelled. We can never know how much they blessed the recipients, perhaps leading them to accept Christ. It’s fair to imagine they might have. Someday we’ll know for sure.

Prayers are every bit as important. James 5:16 reminds us, “…The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” In our Wednesday Ladies’ Bible Study two of the family members we prayed over for years finally came to Lord and accepted Christ.

In my case, my friends and colleagues never stopped praying for me. Many of them continued to talk to me about Jesus and gave me Bibles and Bible tracts and Christian albums. It took decades before I finally gave my life to Jesus, but one of the first things I did after my conversion was use the new ‘social media’ to re-connect with some of those friends and thank them for not giving up on me.

So keep praying. Pray fervently and continually.

No matter your age or stage of life, your shape or color, or any of that, God can use you right where you are to refresh others. Like Jesus at the well, we have the secret to living water – living water that refreshes eternally! They say that “the sin of the desert is knowing where the water is and not telling anyone.” Obviously, in the desert that has life or death implications. But understand – we live in a spiritual desert…a moral and ethical desert. And we know where the fresh, cool, running water of Truth, Joy and Everlasting Life is located. It is a sin not to share it!

Jesus’ encounters at the well, in the markets, and on the road were just everyday encounters like the ones we have. But in short conversations He got right to the point – ‘you’re lost, you need a savior, there’s hope, believe in Me.’ We should be delivering that same message with every Love Box, Shoebox, bag of groceries or flood bucket. We should be delivering that message to everyone we interact with. Let your compassion for the lost overcome your fear of engagement. At the very least we should ‘speak a good word about Jesus.’

PRAYER

Lord, you have placed us on your nurture committee, appointed us as water boys, and made us refreshing teapots in order to serve the life-giving water of Your spirit to those around us. Help us to be bold and kind and compassionate in sharing that water with all of those in need that you put in our paths. In Your precious Name, Amen.

Blessings,

Jen

Isaiah 35

Even the wilderness and desert will be glad in those days.
    The wasteland will rejoice and blossom with spring crocuses.
Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers
    and singing and joy!
The deserts will become as green as the mountains of Lebanon,
    as lovely as Mount Carmel or the plain of Sharon.
There the Lord will display his glory,
    the splendor of our God.
With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands,
    and encourage those who have weak knees.
Say to those with fearful hearts,
    “Be strong, and do not fear,
for your God is coming to destroy your enemies.
    He is coming to save you.”

And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind
    and unplug the ears of the deaf.
The lame will leap like a deer,
    and those who cannot speak will sing for joy!
Springs will gush forth in the wilderness,
    and streams will water the wasteland.
The parched ground will become a pool,
    and springs of water will satisfy the thirsty land.
Marsh grass and reeds and rushes will flourish
    where desert jackals once lived.

And a great road will go through that once deserted land.
    It will be named the Highway of Holiness.
Evil-minded people will never travel on it.
    It will be only for those who walk in God’s ways;
    fools will never walk there.
Lions will not lurk along its course,
    nor any other ferocious beasts.
There will be no other dangers.
    Only the redeemed will walk on it.
Those who have been ransomed by the Lord will return.
    They will enter Jerusalem singing,
    crowned with everlasting joy.
Sorrow and mourning will disappear,
    and they will be filled with joy and gladness.

Most of the prophetic books of the Bible follow a pattern where God calls out his complaints against His people or other nations or both, then gives a terrifying list of His punishments to come but finishes with a refreshing account of restoration for His people if they will turn back to Him. The Book of Isaiah may have been written 2,700 years ago, but God’s litany of complaints against His people sound eerily familiar (check out chapters 32 and 33). Sadly, contrary to the theory of humans evolving towards utopia, it seems we haven’t changed much since 700BC.

I think that is God’s point exactly. Each civilization that rose up thought it was the best ever. But corruption, weakness, or war eventually brought it down. No one has been able to perfectly do the will of God – history proves this over and over. And thus, we are absolutely in need of a savior to rescue us from the terrifying wrath of God. And that Savior has been provided in the person of Jesus, Christ. “With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands, and encourage those who have weak knees. Say to those with fearful hearts,
“Be strong, and do not fear, for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you.” (vv. 3-4)

The news these days is shocking. Sin is abounding and the truth is under assault. It seems to just get more distressing. It’s hard not to think the End Times are near. But rather than being dismayed, we need to cling to the prophetic words of God that show us an ultimate future of joy and redemption beyond our imaging. The Highway of Holiness is ours! “There will be no other dangers. Only the redeemed will walk on it. Those who have been ransomed by the Lord will return. They will enter Jerusalem singing, crowned with everlasting joy. Sorrow and mourning will disappear, and they will be filled with joy and gladness.” (vv. 9-10)

A Christian life, yielded in humility to God, turning from the sin-soaked culture, boldly proclaiming the saving grace of Jesus is ‘quite contrary’ these days. But how does our garden grow? “I [God] said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love...’” (Hosea 10:12) Love, righteousness, peace, all the fruits of the Spirit should be growing in our garden, not just as a blessing for us, but to everyone around us. We can be like Mary, mother of Jesus, humbling giving her future to God. And like Mary Magdalene, faithfully following Jesus in gratitude for her salvation. And like Mary, Lazarus’ sister, sitting at Jesus’ feet soaking in His words and wisdom. Like them, although we seem contrary to the world, nevertheless our garden of blessings will be in full bloom.

Be quite contrary!

Jen

And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. (Matthew 23:9)

Let’s be real – people are a disappointment.  Even the ones you really love and care about. There’s a reason ‘love one another’ is the second Great Command – it’s important, but it’s hard – we have to be reminded to keep at it. Even parents disappoint. Commandment #5 reminds us to “honor our father and mother” because it’s a challenge sometimes.

My dad, who I idolized, eventually disappointed me. I certainly disappointed him. And I, in turn, have been enlightened as to how I disappointed my own children.

It’s an inevitable situation because A. people are unique and will often act in ways that we don’t like or expect, and B. lacking humility, we pridefully expect people to act in a way that makes us happy. It’s a recipe for ruffled feathers.

Ephesians 6:1-4 instructs us:

“Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.”

If children are obedient and respectful, parents will have no reason to provoke them to anger with punishment. Conversely, if parents teach their children discipline and responsibility in the Lord, kids should have no reason not to honor and obey their parents. Then again, we all have our emotions and bad days when respect and responsibility go out the window or we stubbornly want what we want, forgetting that it isn’t about us.

When these times come, whether between parents and children, friends, coworkers or church members, here are some verses to guide your reconciliation:

Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:1-2)

“If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive. Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive.” (Luke 17:3-4)

Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable.  Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good. (Romans 12:17-18, 2)

Parenthood is a tough job. What makes it, and life in general, easier is to have the guiding principles of our Father in Heaven to help us. No matter whether your earthly father disappointed you or was absent physically or emotionally, you have a perfect Father in Heaven who loves you with an everlasting love and wants to give you an abundant life of holiness and service, teaching you to walk in Truth. This is what we should want for our children (and the world). This is living our best life – no disappointment in that!

And parents, here’s a life verse for you if you don’t already have one:

Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love. (1 Corinthians 16:13-14)

Blessings,

Jen

And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” Matthew 19:4-6

Marriage is hard. It has a lot to teach us about ourselves and our relationships with God, other people and society as a whole. God created it to be that way. That’s why the relationship between God and His people is described as a marriage throughout the Bible. It is the core of the relationships that make a family, a society, a nation, and the world. But with the percentage of first marriages in the US ending in divorce at around 36% (and higher for subsequent marriages), it seems we might not be learning the lessons as well as we should.

Like our relationship with God, marriage requires total commitment. Jesus wants to be the Master of our entire lives, not just bits and pieces of it. We give up our own life to live in obedience to Him. Marriage requires the same kind of commitment. We can’t be married part-time any more than we can be Christians part-time. The commitment is to stick it out and work through whatever comes your way. Christians face these challenges in their faith and churches too. This is the quality of faithfulness.

Marriage also requires selflessness. Jesus asks us to die to self. Marriage is a great training ground for that. We should understand that we must be submitted to each other, and are no longer free to live, spend and do whatever we want, whenever we want without thinking of our spouse. It requires letting go of selfishness, control and free-will, and increasing humility, self-control and cooperation. These are great qualities for Christians.

Similarly, marriage requires sacrifice. Ephesians 5:25 puts it this way, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” Jesus’ sacrifice was total. We married people can get to feeling resentful about things from time to time. But Jesus didn’t resent us. He got frustrated with us occasionally, but He still gave all of His time, effort and love to us, even when knew it would mean suffering. We need to be willing to suffer for Christ, and for our spouse when necessary. Of course, the sacrifice and selflessness is for both spouses. And it is great training for parenthood!

And we can’t forget the lessons in forgiveness. Hey, we’re human. We will not always live up to Christ’s standards. Some days, our worldly old selves will rear their ugly heads and words will be said, actions taken, trust broken, hurts inflicted. Can we learn to let it go and graciously forgive? How many times did Jesus say we must forgive? How much has He forgiven us? Marriage is a bootcamp for the elite course in forgiveness. But it is perhaps the most Christlike quality, and one of the hardest to master.

When each partner in a marriage, each member of a family, each part of the church body is fully yielded to Christ, with humble hearts of service, not big heads of ego, committed to following God’s commands, God’s call and God’s will, marriage, like our faith, will become much easier and full of joy rather than frustrating and full of resentment. That’s because God desires to bless us, and one of those blessings is showing us how to live the most joyfully abundant lives we possibly can. We live that life by following in our Master, Jesus’ footsteps and becoming more and more like Him day by day (seeing Him more clearly, loving Him more dearly and following Him more nearly 😉 https://youtu.be/zWAqW5D5kZo?si=OTmn2UyTxiRaqXLh) That’s what True Love is all about.

With love,

Jen

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ (Matthew 25:21)

Well done!

Isn’t that what we all hope to hear? I, myself, am very fond of a gold star. But I wonder if that’s really in my future. In a Bible Study we recently looked at these passages:

If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames. (1 Corinthians 3:12-15)

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10)

These are hard teachings. I would prefer to meet Jesus, be in awe, and proceed directly to the Wedding Banquet. But apparently there will be a little detour to our life’s ‘after action review’ at Christ’s Judgement Seat, where we will be given the opportunity to justify our decisions and works here on earth. I would like to be like the first servant who invested wisely and got a good return for the Master. I’m a bit more concerned I will be the one who built on Christ’s firm foundation with mud and straw and gets to the Banquet table smelling like smoke. This is no small thing. As Christians our actions, or lack thereof, have eternal consequences. It’s heavy for us everyday believers, but much more profound for those who take on the responsibility of leading the flock.

To the elders among you…Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. (1 Peter 5:1-4)

Not only are Pastors called to lead and inspire respect in accordance with God’s high standards, but they are also required to teach, rebuke, and nurture their flock’s souls and faith. It is a high calling, and they will also be held to a higher account:

Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you. (Hebrews 13:17)

Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. (James 3:1)

Can you imagine standing before Christ to give an account of your actions…as well as the actions of your family…and your church…and their families? Baptizing, confirming and marrying all carry this higher standard. In America, we tend to think of ourselves as ‘lone rangers’ who are responsible for ourselves and few others. Responsibility shifting has become the national sport. However, though we may escape legal or financial responsibility for those around us, as Christians we should not think we will escape spiritual responsibility. It’s difficult to imagine getting so intrusively involved in one another’s lives but that is part of the deal: to be accountable to and accountable for the lives of the others around us. To be a pastor, then, is to be the patriarch of a very large and often unruly family.

As children of God’s unruly family, we also have responsibilities to those God appoints over us:

Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13)

At least that one is not such a hard ask.

And to you, Pastor Bill Thomas, thank you, for loving, encouraging and empowering us over the last fourteen fun and faith filled years to find faith and life in our Risen Savior, Jesus Christ, as well as find purpose in serving our community and serving each other - our church - our family in Christ. We will miss you and your sincere guidance. We will miss your pushes for us to think bigger and dare to imagine more than we could ever hope or dream because our God is a God of miracles, good gifts and plans for a hope and a future. Rest assured that as we move into the next chapter, you will never be far from our hearts.

Wishing you only good works and blessings,

Jen

Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures;
yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow,
    for they quickly pass, and we fly away…
Teach us to number our days,
    that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90:10,12

I’ve been going through 14 years’ worth of photos lately. The Bible says where your treasure is, there your heart is also. I think that also applies to photos. I’ve been amazed at how many of my photos are of our church, services and events. I knew that the life of the church was important in my own life, but looking through these photos puts an exclamation point on that. And if you include the photos that other church members have been sending me, you see how the church has been present with us from birth to death and everything in between.

I see baptisms of kids now approaching their teens. I see confirmations of kids who are now adults. You can watch the kids growing up through Preschool, Sunday School, VBS, Basketball, POW, Rock Retreat, mission trips and Graduate Sunday. You can see adults become new members, get married, and baptize one baby, another and another.

As I gaze at the faces remembered fondly in my heart, I see people who have become like family, members who have moved away, members who have moved on and members who have passed on into Jesus’ arms. Hairstyles get longer and shorter and move from blonde and brown to white and gray.

As the years pass before me in the photos, every season and holiday are present: Valentine’s Day events, Mardi Gras Pancake Suppers, Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, Easter, Pentecost, 4^th of July Parades and Picnics, Back to School, the Church Picnic, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Advent and Christmas.

There are lots of photos of our good works as well: Small Groups preparing meals, Preschoolers bringing their collections to the Food Bank, Church clean ups, hundreds of Christmas shoeboxes, blessing Prayer Shawls, filling Love Boxes for college kids, working at First Fruits Farms, Mission Fairs, the Holiday House Bazaar, the Yard Sale, the Christmas Tree sales, Flood Buckets, countless Advent Missions donations, recognizing outstanding women with a UMW pin, and much more.

And of course, in the fine Methodist tradition of “if we ain’t e’t, we ain’t met,” there are dozens of photos of Pancake Suppers, Christmas Dinners, Soup meals, 5^th Sunday Lunches, Ice Cream Socials, Brunches and Tea Parties. We’ve enjoyed an impressive number of speakers and performers, hosted retreats, lock-ins, and workshops, and held Hymn Sings.

And almost as numerous are photos of the extreme talent our congregation possesses. From the tiniest tots singing at the Christmas Tree Lighting, to musical masterpieces performed at the Hanging of the Greens, to singing and dancing at VBS, our kids are stars! We have also been blessed with fine actors in the numerous Performers of the Word productions, as well as the adult Easter plays. And what would a holiday worship service be without the Handbell Choir or a Cantata? Not to mention the weekly praises sung by our Worship Team and Chancel Choir. And so many photos of the artistic talent! From sets, props and costumes, to banners and VBS décor, to all the handiwork for sale at the Holiday House Bazaar, our members really bring their ‘A game’ to church activities.

In some ways 14 years seems like just yesterday. Each photo brings back a familiar memory. But in other ways it seems like another lifetime ago. So many people have come and gone, the children have grown, others have been born. But every photo represents a faithful servant of God, participating in the life of the church, working side by side, enjoying fellowship, and instructing and encouraging others with their words and actions.

Having a church family has been true blessing in my life. I could never regret the time and effort it has taken. I hope you feel the same. Truly the church has saved my life, both spiritually and physically by giving me direction and values and a whole new, talented family of brothers and sisters.

On the other hand, like sand through the hourglass, time is slipping away. I feel convicted and emotional realizing how precious the moments are, knowing that I have not lived each one to the fullest. It reminds me of one of my favorite Chris Rice songs that frequently passes through my thoughts:

Teach us to count the days

Teach us to make the days count

Lead us in better ways

Somehow our souls forgot

Life means so much

Every day is a gift you've been given

Make the most of the time every minute you're living

Trying desperately to count the days and make them count,

Jen

Mothers. Many of us have had complicated relationships with our mothers. We hoped for ‘June Cleaver’ but maybe it was more like ‘Peg Bundy’ or even ‘Joan Crawford.’ Of course, as I learned pretty quickly after the birth of my first child, mothers are just humans. Moms are faced with all the daily nonsense the world throws at all of us but are expected to nurture their families and guide their children into adulthood with grace and wisdom. It just doesn’t always happen that way.

For me, part of the problem was that I did not grow up in a Christian household and had no role models for Christian motherhood. If you did, trust me, you had a wonderful blessing. Christian motherhood is truly the ideal. And I am very grateful that Lord Almighty gave us a full chapter in Proverbs to show us what a godly wife and mother looks like. It has been a guide for me and will bless anyone who reads it and lives by it. I’ve picked a more modern translation so that the meaning might sound more relevant to today’s moms.

Proverbs 31:10-31 (The Message)

A good woman is hard to find,
    and worth far more than diamonds.
Her husband trusts her without reserve,
    and never has reason to regret it.
Never spiteful, she treats him generously
    all her life long.

She shops around for the best yarns and cottons,
    and enjoys knitting and sewing.
She’s like a trading ship that sails to faraway places
    and brings back exotic surprises.
She’s up before dawn, preparing breakfast
    for her family and organizing her day.

She looks over a field and buys it,
    then, with money she’s put aside, plants a garden.
First thing in the morning, she dresses for work,
    rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started.
She senses the worth of her work,
    is in no hurry to call it quits for the day.

She’s skilled in the crafts of home and hearth,
    diligent in homemaking.
She’s quick to assist anyone in need,
    reaches out to help the poor.
She doesn’t worry about her family when it snows;
    their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear.

She makes her own clothing,
    and dresses in colorful linens and silks.
Her husband is greatly respected
    when he deliberates with the city fathers.
She designs gowns and sells them,
    brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops.

Her clothes are well-made and elegant,
    and she always faces tomorrow with a smile.
When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say,
    and she always says it kindly.
She keeps an eye on everyone in her household,
    and keeps them all busy and productive.

Her children respect and bless her;
    her husband joins in with words of praise:
“Many women have done wonderful things,
    but you’ve outclassed them all!”

Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades.
    The woman to be admired and praised
    is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God.

Give her everything she deserves!
    Adorn her life with praises!

I have met many Proverbs 31 women in the all the churches I’ve attended, as well as in many workplaces. I thank you all, because over several decades you became like a mother to me, modelling behaviors and instructing me lovingly on SO many topics. I pray that I can continue that legacy. If I bless anyone in even a fraction of the way I’ve been blessed by these impressive women, I would be deeply honored. And this goes for the younger Moms as well. I am humbled at the excellent job they are doing with their families, even as I recognize the weariness I sometimes see in their eyes.

Mothers mold the future. Their diligence, kindness and compassion set the course for future generations. They are the first Bibles for their children and have the honor of introducing them to our Friend, Jesus, and his teachings. It’s a responsibility and a blessing. Adorn them with praises!

A daughter of God,

Jen

“Consider how the wildflowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! (Luke 12:27-28)

The news is depressing, and the world is going to Hell in a handbasket. But is it really?

“The negativity bias is a cognitive bias that results in adverse events having a more significant impact on our psychological state than positive events. Negativity bias occurs even when adverse events and positive events are of the same magnitude, meaning we feel negative events more intensely.” (https://thedecisionlab.com/biases/negativity-bias)

Our brains may be wired to process negative information more intensely than positive information, but that doesn’t mean we can’t become optimists…or even just realists. But it takes effort…what the cool kids call ‘intentionality.’ Being intentional is really the ‘secret sauce’ to life – the ultimate hack – that moves us from existing into truly living, from being blown around by the wind to building on a rock.

Considering the circumstances

“How’s it going?” “Okay, considering the circumstances…” You’ve heard it. You’ve probably said it. And likely you were referring to something specific in your life that wasn’t going well. But then it grew in your mind and colored your entire existence – your mood, your physical feelings, your perception of life and the future. But negativity bias is throwing your focus out of whack. It’s important to consider reality – the Truth.

The Bible and more recently, psychologists, have identified two great ways to counter negativity bias: meditation and focusing on the positive.

Meditation in the Bible is more than just emptying our brains of stray thoughts, it is considering the Holy Scriptures: what they mean and how we should be implementing them in our lives, as well as deep gratitude to God that He has provided them to us.

At night I remember my music; I meditate in my heart, and my spirit ponders. (Psalm 77:6)

Obviously, this will take some time – that’s the intentionality part. But only in the quiet times can we ever hope to hear God’s still, small voice whispering to us the answers and the wisdom that we seek. God has something for you in His Word today, search it out. This is also an excellent time to search your own heart and see if there are issues there to be addressed.

Focusing on the Positive is essential for good mental health these days. It is an intentional, daily affirmation that there is always, always something to be thankful for. God thought so, too, when he inspired Paul to write:

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8)

Negativity bias will always try to pull our focus to the dark side. But seeing the world correctly requires us to focus on how we interact with others, how much we value ourselves and how we worship Him. Like Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13, we might have ‘everything’ but if we don’t have love, we have nothing. Consider love – giving it, showing it, encouraging it, growing it. Consider, too, that we were bought at a high price, and our lives are no longer our own. We are now servants of others, on behalf of Christ, humble and peaceable with no thought of any reward but heaven – less of us, more of Him.

To consider what is true, noble and right, here are some thoughts to get you started: God is in control of this world right now; the Earth IS beautiful - experience it with your senses; God cares about our every need and we can trust Him with them; people are never our enemy; if this dying world is beautiful, how much more beautiful will Heaven be; the clock is ticking and lost people need Jesus as their Savior today.

These are the daily practices that keep negativity at bay, strengthen our faith, and allow us to sing, “Whatever my lot Thou hast taught me to say, “It is well, it is well with my soul!””

Have a great day, considering,

Jen