It’s About the People ~ Five Minute Friday

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“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35 (ESV)

It’s About the People

A week ago today I was sitting on the beach, under my umbrella, watching my young grandsons play in the surf. For over twenty years we’ve journeyed to the same peaceful shore each summer. We weren’t sure we’d get to go in 2020, being what it is, but we were blessed to make it down.  As you might guess, it wasn’t the same as years past, with masks, distancing, disinfecting and the like; but we still had a wonderful time.

“Come follow me”, Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” Mark 1:17 (NIV)

While there, I had a small revelation. My daughter was worried that she wouldn’t get to have her favorite seafood dishes from the restaurants we usually visit. Once there, she quickly went online to see who was offering carry out while adamantly stating that you can’t go to the beach without having fresh fish and shrimp! The boys on the other hand could care less about eating fish, they were all about catching fish. Some people focus on collecting shells; others, getting a tan. But I realized while sitting under the above mentioned umbrella, that for me, my yearly pilgrimage to the beach has always been about the people!

For many years we traveled caravan style from West Virginia to North Carolina with 12 or more of our closest friends. The ocean is my happy place! I do love seafood and finding shells, but it has been the time spent talking about nothing and also having deep, meaningful conversations that were highlights of my trip.  I looked forward to laughter at the game table, songs sung together, and posing for way too many photos with one another.  Friendships were bonded when we’ve grieved with the ones grieving and were anxious with the ones anxiously awaiting news.  And now, sharing this place with my grandchildren is  such a gift! Yes, for me at the beach, it’s about the people and each time we pack up and pull away, I say goodbye to the ocean but carry lifelong memories home with me in my heart.

I’ve pondered this idea (as you know I do) and it’s occurred to me that not just my vacation but my everyday life should be about the people, too and of course, there’s no better example of living for people than the one Jesus sets for us!

“During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, ‘I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.’ ” Mark 8:1-3 (NIV)

“When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.” Mark 6:34 (NIV)

“When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. ‘Where have you laid him?’ he asked. ‘Come and see, Lord,’ they replied. Jesus wept.” John 11:33-35 (NIV)

“But Jesus called the children to him and said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.’ ” Luke 18:16 (NIV)

In these snapshots of His life, we see Jesus engaged in interactions similar to those I experience  during my beach vacations: food, deep conversations, grieving with friends, and time spent with children. Jesus was a people person. But what I’m beginning to understand is that for Jesus, it wasn’t about life long memories, but rather, about life eternal.  Each encounter Jesus had, ultimately pointed others to God. For Him, it was, and is, always about people’s salvation. And the truth is, whether standing on the shore of the ocean or in the grocery line at the store, that’s how we should always be about people, too.

“Then He (Jesus) said to them, ‘Go throughout the whole world and preach the gospel to all people. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved;”  Mark 16:15-16a (GNT) 

Writing this post to the  http://www.fiveminutefriday.com prompt “People”. Click over to read more. As always I appreciate you taking your time to read my wandering thoughts and my pondering. What do you look most forward to on vacation? Let me know in the comments!

 

Share Four Somethings ~ June 2020

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Time is strange when it’s not anchored by a calendar! With nothing to do or plan for, the days seem to pass one the same as the other.  Sometimes I feel like they drag on forever and yet, here I sit, it’s July 1st, and I have no idea where June went! I’m glad to be joining http://www.heathergerwing.com today for her “Share Four Somethings”. Maybe it will help me hold on to June for just a moment more!

Something Loved

I’m a storyteller at heart.  I think that’s why photographs mean so much to me! Each picture evokes a memory and shares a story. That’s why I loved participating in the #junejoy Instagram Challenge this month. Every day there was a new prompt and I looked forward to searching through my many, many, MANY photos to find just the right one. Some, spoke for themselves, and others allowed me to tell the tale. Pictures and words….now that’s a combination I love!

Something Read

One of my favorite things to do with my grandsons is to read them their bedtime stories. We often choose long-time favorites like Dr. Seuss, Berenstain Bears, Ferdinand the Bull, and many more. But, what’s really fun for me is to discover new “favorites” like this one! “I Wonder” is a cleverly written book that asks its readers questions that make you, well…wonder. As much as I love this book, listening to my littles offer their own answers to these whimsical questions is the best part of reading it! Something read with my grandsons always brings me great joy!

Something Treasured

We’ve just returned from our annual pilgrimage to the beach. When we first began talking about making the trip, I didn’t think it would happen. Mostly because I’m a Nervous Nellie and was apprehensive about traveling out of state (or anywhere for that matter) with everything going on in the world. But, after a lot of prayer and seeking wise advice, I found no one who supported my worry and so I decided to pack up my concerns as I packed the suitcases and we set off on our adventure. Oh, how thankful I am that we did!

We’ve traveled to the same wonderful spot for over twenty years now. And while this trip wasn’t quite the same as we’ve been used to (masks, take out, crowds) my soul was still refreshed by the rhythm of the rise and fall of the sea; and, in a place where many memories have been made with our kids, we now have made new ones with our grandkids to treasure.

Something Ahead

Do you find it hard to make plans these days? I find myself saying, “if this or that doesn’t happen” or “let’s tentatively set”. It’s as if I’m protecting myself from being disappointed if things don’t work out by just not really planning anything because honestly, who expected to be in the situation we’re in now?  I’ve sensed a change in the last week or so though. I’ve begun to think about the possibility of finally visiting my mom in Michigan. We haven’t been together since October and I’m ready for some mother-daughter time for sure! OK, I haven’t written anything on that blank calendar page yet, but I am looking ahead and hoping that by taking all the precautions necessary, we can safely be together very soon!

Well, there you go: June in a few paragraphs. I’m praying that July brings us all peace, health, and things to write on our calendars! I’d love to hear your “Four Somethings”. Share them in the comments so I can learn what your June was like. As always, I so appreciate you stopping in! God Bless!

How? ~ Five Minute Friday

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“Jesus said, ‘You’re asking the wrong question. You’re looking for someone to blame. There is no such cause-effect here. Look instead for what God can do. We need to be energetically at work for the One who sent me here, working while the sun shines. When night falls, the workday is over. For as long as I am in the world, there is plenty of light. I am the world’s Light.’ ” John 9:3-5 (MSG)

How?

How’s it possible to love
When there’s so much hate?
How can one voice be heard
Above all the angry debate?

How can healing begin
After so much pain?
How will understanding ever come
When it’s all so hard to explain?

How might common sense
Replace all the fake news?
How can believing the best
Not the worst, be what we choose?

How can one person
Make a difference today?
How, is the question,
The only answer is to pray!

How can this world
Find a way that is new?
How? By seeking God first, then
Letting His light come shining through.

“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill.” Matthew 5:14 (MSG)

Adding my poem to the other selections at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com where we’ve written to the prompt “How”. I don’t know about you but there seem to be so many unanswered questions in the world today. God used this prompt to remind me that “I” don’t have to have the answers because HE IS the Answer! My prayer is that we cling to Him and together shine His Light everywhere we go! Thank you so much for stopping in.  I pray you find a little encouragement when you do.  You are truly a blessing to me! 

 

In The Bag

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“I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4 (NLT)

In The Bag

Many years ago, I found myself with a group of fifth graders and their teachers at Environmental Camp. It was something this “stay inside, comfort zone loving, faint-hearted” girl was not at all prepared for and much to my dismay, my fun-loving, push-the-limit supervisors were very much aware of it! Even so, challenges were met, tasks accomplished, and conditions endured that I never thought possible. But, the real test came with the arrival of a canvas bag!

Being placed in the front row, should have alerted me that something was amiss. While the students listened attentively to the presenter standing in front me, I scarcely heard a word.  Instead, my eyes were fixed on the large, squirming canvas bag that lay at his feet. The longer I sat and stared, the faster my heart beat, the more difficult it felt to catch my breath, and as the guest began to untie the rope that held the twitching bag closed, I wanted nothing more than to escape; but there I was, face to face with fear!

As you might have guessed by now, the Herpetologist had pulled an enormous Boa Constrictor from the sack. As he spoke about the winding creature he held; he moved so that he strategically stood where the reptile and I were literally cheek to scaly cheek. My stomach in knots, beads of sweat on my forehead, and screams building in my throat, I sat frozen in my chair. Hearing snickers from the back of the room and feeling all eyes on me, I was determined not to give those who plotted this plan, the satisfaction of seeing fear get the best of me!

Truth be told, this wasn’t the first time I’d been consumed by fear, and sadly, it wasn’t the last, either. Fear has camped out with me for as long as I can remember. It’s difficult to think about the many times being afraid has kept me frozen not just in my chair, but in life. Maybe you can relate. How many times have we let fear wrap around and hold us back from meeting new people, responding to a need, experiencing adventure, following our dreams, and so much more? And now? We find ourselves sitting face to face with a time when every newscast, case update, restriction, symptom, and distanced day leaves us open to fear slithering in, making our new found, smaller lives feel even more constricted.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t like dwelling in small, tight places, however, when we’re in fear’s grip, it can feel as if there’s no room for anything else. And guess what?  Feeling confined and believing there’s no way out is all part of the serpent’s plan! BUT…here’s what I’m learning: Fear can’t trap us because we have an Escape, One who is with us always, and wants the best for you and me!

“When hard pressed, I cried to the LORD; he brought me into a spacious place. The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.” Psalm 118:5-6 (NIV) 

When we fix our eyes on God and lay our fears at His feet, He not only frees us from their grasp, but He also brings us into a “spacious place”. A place where our hearts beat to the rhythm of His peace, we can breathe deeply in His Spirit, and where with his help, we can finally put our fears back “in the bag” where they belong! 

I was honored to write this post as part of a series called “Praying Big Prayers to Our Amazing God” at    http://www.faithfullyfollowingministries.org

Each post in the series is based on a prayer prompt from the new book “#Instaprayer” by Kelly O’Dell Stanley. I encourage you to click over for 14 days of insight and encouragement!

I hope you know how much I appreciate you and the fact that you take time from your busy day to stop in here! God Bless Each You!

 

Born Again ~ Five Minute Friday

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“But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Sprit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:11b (NIV)

Born Again

I cry over many things but a pile of laundry? Yep, this one recently did me in. Tractors, police cars, and Paw Patrol reminded me that those who were wrapped in and tucked in are back home and I’m here, left to neatly fold and put away the precious memories until next time.

Now, I know that home is where they are supposed to be and that I can’t be with them in every part of their lives, but there’s no doubt that they’re woven into every part of mine! With the arrival of each grandson, I was born into a new life too! First, I entered MiMi life and then emerged into MiMi of two life, and soon with the birth of a new little one, I will begin anew as MiMi x 3!

Becoming a grandparent is transforming! Things I once deemed important now hold little value. I’ve developed a new level of commitment as I attempt to keep those mistakes made with my own children from being made with theirs. From the moment I encountered each perfect little person, I was forever changed. And now, a love like I’ve never experienced before fills a hole in my heart that I never even knew I had. It feels as if I’ve been born again!

There are many things in life that like grandparenthood, offer us a new beginning: a move, a job, a relationship, parenthood, even a world-wide pandemic. BUT, there’s none more important and life changing as new life in Christ!

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.”
 2 Corinthians 5:17-18 (NLT)

Becoming part of the family of God offers the greatest transformation! When we encounter Jesus, the perfect sacrifice, we are forever changed: our sins are forgiven, we are empowered with the Holy Spirit, and we receive eternal life! And like my experience with becoming a MiMi, becoming a Christian causes us to look even more deeply at what we’ve made important in our lives and gives us a new desire to reprioritize them and to move forward leaving the mistakes of our past behind. We are, without a doubt, TRULY born again!

“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation,”
1 Peter 1:3 (NLT)

“For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.” 1 Peter 1:23 (NLT)

The MiMi love that fills my heart is overwhelming; but God’s love for us?

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NIV)

God’s love is overwhelming too, but it’s also overflowing: streaming from the holes in Jesus’s hands to filling every part of us: heart, mind, and soul! Have you accepted the gift of being born again in Jesus? I pray you have! If you haven’t, this is a perfect time to begin anew!

“And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.”  Acts 22:16 (NIV)

 Writing today to the prompt “Born” with the other gifted writers at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com I am grateful for your presence here. I hope this finds you safe and well. I pray that we will all soon be living lives on the other side of the uncertainty of these past months!  God bless!

 

 

I’m Not Normal~Five Minute Friday

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“No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” Matthew 5:15-16

I’m Not Normal

Left-handed I am,
In a right-handed world.
Straight hair is “it”.
Mine is permanently curled.

Night owl, no doubt
I’m no early bird.
Rule follower, too
Which some find quite absurd.

Those “Goody-Two-Shoes”,
They are just my size.
And for playing it safe?
I’d surely win the prize!

I’ve never felt normal
Somehow always out of place.
“Maybe”, they’ve said,
“You’re from outer space.”

It took many years to
Learn “they’re” not wrong.
I Do have a home in the Heavens
Where I truly belong!

When saved by His grace
We’re not meant to fit in.
Being different from the rest
Shines a light upon Him.

No, I’m not normal
But see things in a new way.
The world may not accept me
And that’s really okay.

So, if you too are feeling
Set apart like me
Rejoice in knowing
It’s how God’s planned it to be!

“Don’t be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to Him.” Romans 12:2 (CEV)

Better late than never! I’ve been struggling with the prompt “Normal” this week and this is finally the result. I’m joining the other writers (just a few days late) at  http://www.fiveminutefriday.com
I hope you and yours are safe and well. I greatly appreciate you taking your time to stop in. God Bless You! 

 

 

A Mother’s Refrain

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“Children are a blessing and a gift from the LORD.” Psalm 127:3 (CEV)

A Mother’s Refrain

There is no song so beautiful
No tune as pure and sweet.
A rhythm written lovingly
Echos her heart beat for beat.

It’s sung when they are tiny
Rewritten as they grow.
The lines are full of hopes and dreams
And love that overflows.

The verse not often spoken
But plays softly in her soul.
Composed of failure and success
A chorus of life made whole.

She lifts her voice in thanksgiving
When she sees all they have done.
And sings of them as always
Though they’re thirty-five and thirty-one.

This melody so enduring
Tells her stories of joy and pain.
Truly the greatest hymn ever written
None other than a Mother’s Refrain.

Offering this poem today as part of http://www.fiveminutefriday.com where the prompt is “Refrain”. There are many meanings for the word and I’m sure just as many different writings for you to read if you click on over. Once again, I thank you for being here with me.  I pray you are well and safe. God Bless!

Share Four Somethings ~April 2020

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“Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church-a love marked by giving, not getting. Ephesians 5:25 (The Message)

Something Loved

This month I am my something loved! Whether it’s a note left by the full coffee pot when I rise each morning, a bottle of my favorite Dunkin Donuts Iced Mocha Coffee tucked among the groceries (not easy to find in our store), or beautiful spring flowers gathered precariously from the hillside and brought home: I feel loved! 

Because of his offer to do all of the grocery shopping so I don’t have to go out, the prayers said holding hands at the table, and words he’s spoken to encourage my lagging confidence: I feel loved! 

In our almost 37 years we’ve had many ups and downs, but through it all we’ve learned a valuable lesson, one that we’ve been reminded of in these last few weeks: the importance of showing how much we care for one another! And that’s what we try to do. This month as we’ve spent more time than usual together, I’m reminded what a gift God gave me when He plopped me right in the living room of a young farmer so many years ago! There’s no doubt: I AM loved!

 

“Therefore, we never stop thanking God that when you received his message from us, you didn’t think of our words as mere human ideas. You accepted what we said as the very word of God-which of course, it is. And this word continues to work in you who believe.” 1 Thessalonians 2:13 (NLT)

Something Read

Oh my goodness! This study has come at just the right time with just the right words I need! Here’s the thing, under normal circumstances I wouldn’t have been able to join in.  Originally, the ladies at Faithfully Following Ministries had planned to study Gideon locally, in North Carolina, where I do not live. But, because of social distancing, they were unable to gather so decided to offer it online. Lucky me! And on top of that, unexpectedly, the publisher has offered the usually costly videos that accompany this study to everyone for free! Everything came together and now we’re about half way through the study. Have I learned so much already! I’ve added it as another “Pandemic Positive” on my list!

 

“I will remember the works of the LORD; yes, I will remember Your wonders of old. I will reflect on all You have done and ponder Your mighty deeds.” Psalm 77:11-12 (BSB)

Something Treasured

As I wrote in my last blog post, I received a note from my mom in which she included two letters I’d written to her in 1985 right after our county was ravaged by a deadly flood. Reading them took me right back to that scary, uncertain time and reminded me of all the emotions that accompanied that devastation. Unexpectedly, those letters have been an encouragement to me in this crazy time we’re in. They showed me first of all, how much better off I am now than I was back then. Rereading them has also helped me remember how God saw us through that time when we didn’t have any idea what the other side would look like. That’s why I’m treasuring these letters today; because, they reassure me He is at work, seeing us through this pandemic, too! 

 

“Children are a blessing and a gift from the LORD.” Psalm 127:3 (CEV)

Something Ahead

As an ole retired teacher, my heart has been heavy thinking about all the students who are out of school, especially the Seniors and the very young children. Keeping my two and four year old grandsons entertained is challenging under the best of times, but now their mom and dad are trying to work full time from home too. Needless to say, it’s rather stressful! So, I’ve been trying to help out (long distance) a little. I must admit it’s been fun for me to search out and mail activities for the boys to do.  I’ve even found a few that we’ve been able to work on together via FaceTime. Those are my favorite, of course! The most recent is this little greenhouse we made. Now, even though theirs hang in a window four hours away from mine, I’m looking forward to all the discussions ahead that the three of us will have as we watch our beans sprout and grow! I’m not sure though, which are growing faster, the beans or the boys!

Well, there you have it! My Four Somethings for the month of April and while it’s been an unusual month, I have been blessed in many ways! How about you? What are your Four Somethings? I’d love for you to share them in the comments.  I hope you know how much I always appreciate you being here with me and if you’d like to read what others have found their Four Somethings to be, just click over to http://www.heathergerwing.com God Bless you and be well!

Backward Perspective ~ Five Minute Friday

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”I will remember the works of the LORD; yes, I will remember Your wonders of old. I will reflect on all You have done and ponder Your mighty deeds.” Psalm 77:11-12 (BSB)

Backward Perspective

There is much suffering surrounding us today. Many face physical and mental health challenges, financial difficulties, exhaustion, and even death. We are a world that is grieving what has been and the unknown yet to come. I’m so very grateful that for now, my family and I are well and adjusting to this new way of life as best we can. My heart aches for, and my prayers go out to those who are in the midst of much more agonizing situations.

There’s no doubt that living in a very rural area has protected me from many of the effects resulting from this pandemic. That being said, it hasn’t stopped me from at times, becoming overwhelmed by worry and allowing my fears to carry me away into a wave of panic. My thoughts have swirled around the safety of my friends and loved ones, the well-being of my daughter who’s expecting, the miles that separate me from my children, mom, sisters, and grandchildren, the growing case numbers in our state and country, and wondering what our future will look like. The list goes on and I’m sure you could add to it! Under the best of times, I have to fight the current of worry and fear, and in these worse times? There’ve been days when it’s felt as if their weight may just pull me under.

Luckily, this week I’ve had a change of perspective and it came in an unexpected way. Opening my post office box, I was surprised to find a note from my mom. Inside the envelope I found she’d enclosed two letters I’d written her in November of 1985, days after we’d experienced a deadly flood. (She’d been “isolation cleaning” and found them tucked in her desk.) As I removed the pages from the envelopes addressed in my own handwriting and began reading the raw, emotional words within them, I was transported back to a devastating time in my life. Those were days where it was hard to speak because there were no words and nights where the only sound was the raging river that made its way where the road once had been. No electricity. No water. No heat. No communication. No way in and no way out. Everything had changed overnight and there we were: isolated.

So how did reliving those heart wrenching, sorrow-filled, scary, uncomfortable months change my perspective? First of all, it reminded me how much better off I am in isolation now than I was back then. Even with the restrictions, I have everything I need right at my fingertips! More importantly though, looking back has helped me remember that as difficult as that time was, we saw God at work in many unexpected ways and received blessing upon blessing in the midst of all the challenges.

Sometimes, a backward perspective can help us move forward.

As funny as it sounds, those words I wrote thirty plus years ago helped me realize that I. Am. Here! Even though the flood of 1985 was something we never expected to experience and at the time, couldn’t imagine what life would hold in the future, I’m now living that future. I made it through! And that, my friends, gives me hope for today! I pray it brings some to you, too! Yes, life changes, but I’m learning that remembering God’s faithfulness in our past can help us trust in His unchanging love now and in whatever the future holds.

I’ve decided to keep my letters where I can see them for a while so that if I find myself beginning to sink back into worry or fear, they’ll prompt me to change my perspective, stand firm, and remember, “I am here!” Thanks be to God!

“Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me.”
Psalm 103:2 (NLT)

Today’s prompt at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com  is “Perspective”. I don’t know about you, but I need to change mine more often than I’d like that’s why I think these old letters have made such an impact on me.  If you’d like to read what others have written on the subject, just click over and enjoy! Please know that I am so grateful for your presence here. If you have a prayer request please leave it in the comments and I will be honored to pray for you. God Bless and stay safe!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Other Side

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“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

The Other Side

One of my favorite projects I did with my Second Graders was our Life Cycle of a Butterfly unit. Each Spring, the children, my husband, and I would set out on a hunt through the tall Milkweed stalks hoping to find a treasure trove of Monarch Caterpillars. Usually within a week, my trusty, large, glass pickle jar was full of leaves and the emerald colored caterpillars who ate them. With hand-made journals out on our desks, we’d watch closely for changes throughout the day and then, record all our observations.

One of the most fascinating behaviors I noticed over the years was the closer each caterpillar came to the stage of becoming a Chrysalis, the more they would struggle! Hanging upside down, their rippled bodies would writhe back and forth, swinging side to side as if they were actually fighting against what they were going through. We’re like that too, aren’t we? Changes in our lives can cause us to also struggle and fight. Right now, we’re wrestling with this new, unfamiliar stage of pandemic life.

The fact is, in order for a caterpillar to become a chrysalis, they must let go of who they’ve been and enter into a confined, limiting space. They don’t understand it, don’t know for how long, and have no idea how it will all turn out. In many ways, we find ourselves in exactly the same position.  It’s difficult to understand all that’s going on and to accept that our boundaries are much smaller. Our where, when and with whom have been greatly constrained. We’ve also been comfortable with defining who we are by the jobs we do, activities we’re involved in, the achievements we’ve made, or what we see in the mirror. But now, living a “cocoon-like” life has each of us questioning all that and maybe we’re even finding ourselves squirming a bit! We ask, who am I really? How long will this last?  What will life look like when we make it to the next stage? We’re left hanging, waiting for the answers.

I wish I could tell you that I know what comes next, but of course, you and I know that I can’t; but, I DO know where we can find some much needed encouragement for such a time as this. It’s been recorded in God’s Word!

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”  James 1:2-4 (NLT)

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” Romans 5:3-5 (NLT)

“And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.” Romans 8:17-18 (NLT)

Finding joy, clinging to hope, and waiting for glory to reveal itself in times like we’re in doesn’t come naturally. Honestly, I fling back and forth! I might do well one day and then swing backward the next. Maybe you can relate! So, let’s return to my butterfly project for what I pray will be a little more reassurance for us all. Time passes and after spending what seems like an eternity suspended between who it was and what it’s becoming, the chrysalis becomes dark as night; and just when you begin to think it didn’t make it, out from its confinement emerges a beautiful, bright orange butterfly!

Yes, things for us feel upside down and dark right now and there’s a real chance we’ll have to let go of life as we’ve known it.  But, here’s why I think this old school project has come to mind again at this time.  It’s reminding me and I hope you too, that God has a plan! A perfect plan where His amazing transforming power takes any struggle we face, and in time, makes it beautiful on the other side!

“For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!” 2 Corinthians 4:18 (NLT)

This was always a miraculous Science lesson I loved sharing with my Second Graders. How God-like that now in this place and time, years later, it’s a miraculous Life lesson He loves sharing with you and me!

Let’s pray together:

Heavenly Father,
We come to you in the midst of a difficult and challenging stage of our lives. There are many burdened with grief, illness, fear, worry, and so much more.  Be with us LORD as we struggle. Help us to look to You and trust the promises given in Your Word. We know You work all things for good. Remind us of that when we so easily forget. Thank you for the blessings that we can see coming from a changed world and for your grace, peace, and love that are always with us. Let us share those with others, being Your bright light in a dark world. And finally, please enable us to take our eyes off our present situations and look forward to the other side where Your glory outweighs all our troubles.
In Jesus name,
Amen

As always, I am grateful for you taking your time to stop in here. I wish I had more wisdom and insight to offer you. Please know that I’m praying for our world and if you have a specific need and feel comfortable leaving it in the comments, I will be honored to pray for you. Stay safe and be well, Cindy