Hope in the Rain

 

Rain is a gift from God.  It waters our crops, makes our grass a lush green, and fills our rivers and lakes.  Lately, in New England, it seems that this is the ‘gift that keeps on giving’.    Especially on the weekends!  Either one or both days of the weekend seems to have drowned out plans for many folks.  Yesterday, I watched our neighbor prepare for a graduation party for her son.  He was the last to graduate high school and she put up the balloons, put out the tablecloths and even put up a tent in case it rained.  As I watched people huddle underneath the tent to gain cover from the pelting rain, it wasn’t long before people were running to their cars to go home.  Plans ruined.

There have been many times in my life where I felt as if I was in constant rain.  Circumstances around me seemed to be constantly drowning out the life I was trying to lead.  Difficulties led to a feeling of pelting rain beating against me.  Although I could see good things around me like the lush grass, I wasn’t receiving much goodness.  The sun wasn’t shining on me, and the weight of non-stop rain led me to look at the negative in everything.  Hope seemed far away.

Hope may have left my heart, but God never did.  He was there, through all the rain.  As I focused on each piece of my life that was going wrong, He was focusing on me – helping me to grow, to learn, to re-direct my life in a way I never would have gone without his intervention.  As the rain was pouring down on me, he was preparing me for the sun.  The sun eventually did shine, brighter than I could ever imagine.  I refer to that time in my life as my “Noah” phase.  The rain came down and flooded me, but God stopped the rain and just like the second time Noah sent out the dove and it didn’t return, hope came.

Friends, I’m not sure if you are in a Noah phase of your life.  Does it feel like the life you are living is filled with clouds and darkness?  Do you feel as if the circumstances of this world are drowning you?  Rest assured that God is with you, caring for you, shaping you, preparing you for the day the sun will come again.  He is there through the rain and is your ark of hope.  Turn to Him for safety.   Know that these days of rain will lead to sunshine – brighter than you could ever imagine.

For those of us living in our sunshine?  Let’s reach out a hand to those who are in their Noah phase.  Grab a cup of coffee and listen.  Make a meal and lighten the load.  Send a note of hope.  Be the sunshine on someone’s cloudy day.  God created us to do good for others.  Take the step of goodness.  It may be the ray of sun that person needs to gain hope!

 Heavenly Father, may we always remember you are there during our ‘rainy season’.  Help us to turn to you for hope, for peace, for safety during these seasons of our lives.  May we know that the sun will come and all the shaping you did to us during the rain will help us to shine brighter.  In your name we pray, Amen! 

Gathering

 

A trip to Europe can be defined by many different sites to see.  Bustling cities, incredible castles, rolling pastures, and beautiful beaches.  Yet, nothing compares to the churches, cathedrals, and basilicas.  During our recent trip, we truly had the pleasure of seeing these magnificent structures, the detailed craftsmanship, and hear the history behind God’s houses. 

We saw many beautiful churches throughout Spain.  Yet the one that absolutely amazed me was the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.  The building began in 1882 and is still not complete.  They are almost there and hoping it will be done by 2026!  This building has the birth and death of Jesus crafted right into the sides of the church.  It is truly breathtaking.  It was glorious.  I wondered if people got tired of working on the same structure, maybe all their lives?  Think about the days you wake up to go to work and you struggle with thoughts of ‘same thing, different day’.  I’m sure those working on a large basilica could feel the same way!

Building God’s house, wherever it may be, is back-breaking work.  Whether it is hundreds of years, and the craftsman never sees the finished product, or whether it is a small church building that can be put up in a few months, the Lord “takes pleasure and is honored”.   The building can be grand and ornamental.  The real church is the people that are inside the structure.  The people who come to walk through the doors, pour out their sins, receive the sacrament of Holy Communion, and worship our Lord. 

It brought me back to the churches I’ve attended and one I considered my home church for many years.  It started in a Fish and Game Club.  There were only a few of us, sitting on metal chairs, but the love of Jesus was proclaimed with glory.  This church was moved to a warehouse that was converted into a church – there was an altar but no chair rail for communion.  Again, the love of Jesus was certainly present.  Eventually, with a growing congregation and the leadership of a wonderful Pastor, this church moved into a beautiful structure.  The day we worshipped in the actual church was wonderful, yet it was just as wonderful as the Fish and Game club.

God wants us to gather, to build churches and bring people to His Word.  God delights when we worship Him together, singing praises and confessing sins.  Whether the church is as grand as the Sagrada Familia or a small hut in Zimbabwe, it is about where God’s people gather to worship Him.  That church is always blessed by God!

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the beautiful churches around the world.  They are beautiful and inspiring.  We also thank you for the smaller structures where those who love you and worship you meet to bring honor to you.  May ALL churches continue to receive your blessings.  Amen!

Deep and Wide

 

The ocean is truly amazing.  It can bring stillness and choppiness.  It can bring a sense of calm or panic.  It can be shallow or deep.  During these past two weeks, my husband and I have had the good fortune to cruise and see this ocean water every day.  I enjoy cruising and seeing so many wonderful places by just having to unpack once! 

When one looks out over the ocean, so many different emotions can come over them.  For me, the time at sea brings me awe and wonder.  As I gaze out into the ocean, whether it is on the shores of New Hampshire or in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, I see nothing at the end.  Just water and sky.  This is a bit different when you are in a car looking at the road ahead of you or even on top of a mountain where you can see the forest or town below you.  With the ocean, you only see the horizon and it seems like it never ends.  I can be mesmerized by the sight of it all.

When I have these moments, I can’t help but remember the passage of today.  First, I think of creation and how God put all of this together, just for us!  Then, it’s this passage of how wide, long, high, and deep God’s love is for us.  The ocean is an incredible representation of that.  When I speak to my grandchildren, I will open my arms wide open and tell them, “Babi loves you THIS much,” thinking that it is so much.   I then look at the ocean and see love in a completely different view.

God’s love for us can be difficult to comprehend.  When I reflect on the ways I have disappointed my Lord, I wonder why and how He would still love me, and to love me THIS much!  Yet, His promises never fail, and His love never subsides.  He is always waiting for me when I return to repent with His arms wide open and His love as deep and wide as the ocean.   There is no resentment.  How can I possibly deserve this?  I don’t!  God created me and gave me His promises if I believe in Jesus Christ – and that is something I CAN do!

The love of our Father has seen me through many difficult times in my life.  I am going to go out on a limb and believe He has done the same for you.  Life isn’t always easy; it can be tough and arduous.  There are situations when we may consider that there is no love in our lives.  Yet, God’s love for us is all around us.  It can be seen in the beautiful creations of our world, from the smallest ant to the largest mountain (or ocean)!  It can be seen in the smile of a stranger.  It can be seen in the miracle of birth and even in the sorrow of death, knowing a loved one will see God’s face!  The deep and wide love of God can always be seen in our lives – like looking out over the ocean and feeling God wrap His arms of love around me.

There are times when the struggles of this earthly life can get the better of us and love can seem so far away.  Know that God’s love, His deep and wide love, is always there for us.  Be silent and let God put His arms around you.  Go to the ocean to see how very deep and wide this love expands.  Open your Bible and read how very much He loves YOU!

Heavenly Father, thank you for the deep and wide love you have for us.  This love, so unconditional, can bring us joy during difficult times.  By holding on to our faith in you, may we always know your loving arms are engulfing us, giving us love and life to endure this earthly life.  Amen!

Mother's Hands

 

 

When you think about the human body and how each part has a purpose, hands seem to offer so much.  They are the sign for giving – giving to others, giving to ourselves.  Hands can do so much, yet the hands of a mother seem to be so much more.  I reflect on my mother’s hands and all that she has given to me with those hands.

·       She has prepared countless meals to nourish my body.

·       She has done limitless loads of laundry to ensure I had clean clothes.

·       She cleaned to ensure our home was free from dust and dirt.

·       She has opened her Bible and prayer book to show me what being in God’s word means.

·       She has dried my tears, whether they came from physical pain or emotional pain.

I am not the only one who has received numerous gifts from my mother’s hands.  I think about all the gifts she has given others.  As a teacher, she graded papers, wrote lesson plans, and read tons of books to assist in guiding her students’ knowledge.  She is an incredible friend to those close to her, giving of herself through holding hands in times of turmoil and hugs when life is hard.  Mom was also a Bible study leader for a women’s group for many years.  My mother’s hands have given so much – I am truly blessed.

Proverbs 31 is a wonderful chapter that highlights the Christian woman.  It gives a great picture of all the traits and characteristics of how a woman can live a life honoring God – and how others should see her as well.  It is a great reminder on all that women do in our lives.  There are certainly wonderful examples of women in the Bible – Mary, Mary Magdalene, Sarah, Ruth, Hannah, Esther, Miriam just to mention a few. 

These cherished women of God have provided a picture to women of today on how to live our lives and what it means to give of ourselves for others.  They show us that not every day is perfect, but in God, all things are perfected.  They show us disappointment and heartache.  They show us joy and happiness.  Reading their stories throughout the Bible provides such inspiration.

I’m sure we can look in our own lives to see wonderful women and the hands that they have given to us and others as well.  Perhaps it is our mothers, aunts, friends, coworkers, or care givers.  The list is endless.  The hands of women provide much to the world through so many different gifts.  Reflect a bit on this, and the hands that have given to you over your lifetime.  These hands, although calloused and wrinkled, have brought much joy.  Today, and every day, let us focus on the women of God’s time and the women of today.  Let us sing praise to all of them!  Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there – especially mine!!

Heavenly Father, thank you for the hands of the women in our lives, especially moms.  Help us to see the goodness they give us.  For women, may we reflect on the women in the Bible for our guide during difficult times.  In your gracious name I pray, Amen!

The Path

 

This weekend my husband and I took a jaunt from New Hampshire to New York for our granddaughter’s second birthday party.  All our children were together, and it was a lovely day.  The weather was perfect and so was the company.  Cake and smiles.

When we left NH, we got in the car and set the GPS.  Amazing how with a flip of a couple of buttons, the navigation system found the best route.  On this day, the route took us through Vermont.  Winding curves and beautiful scenery were all around us.  It selected this way as the highway had traffic of an hour long.  Just like the system stated, we arrived at the exact time it predicted.  Coming home, the system took us a different – more highway this time. 

It made me think of the journey of life.  Many times, I have been in conversations with folks where it is brought up, “Wish there was a GPS for life.”  There is!  Our God and Father gave us the GPS for life, just as it is shared in our verse for today.  As we read the Bible, He clearly gives us all that we need to steer ourselves in the right direction.  He is our path; He is our destination.  Following in His way provides us with the destination of eternal life.

It is not a path that is obscure of trials and tribulations.  Often, the difficulties of life can be attributed to our own exits and detours off God’s path. 

·       We can get impatient with God’s timing and find a detour from His path.

·       We do not like the path God has set for us – we want more!

·       We believe that God ‘got it wrong’ and we are going to show Him how to ‘do it right.’

All the above, and more, can be reasons why our path looks quite different than God’s path.  The best part of this is even though we may take detours, God is always there waiting to guide us back to his journey.  Much like the GPS when it says ‘re-routing’ when we miss the exit.  God’s path may not be how we see ourselves currently, but when we reach some of his earthly destinations, the path becomes increasingly clear.  What we find along the way, like in Vermont, can be breathtaking.

When you feel the urge to take a detour off God’s path, remember that the path He has chosen is the best path for you.  Pray for guidance along God’s path.  Remember, He is always waiting for you at the final destination.

Heavenly Father, thank you for being our GPS in this life.  Help us to stay on your path and when we detour, please provide us mercy, grace, and guidance to get back to you.  In your name we pray.  Amen.

Reset

 

There are two stores that I would prefer never to walk into – a car salesmanship and a cell phone store.  Neither of those places scream “Can’t wait to get something new.”  I know, for most people it can be exciting.  For me, it is as bad as going to the dentist (and for those that know my greatest fear – you get this)!  Yet, there are times when you need to take the plunge.  Yesterday was that day.  In I walk, with my wonderful husband who assists in these trying times, to the cell phone store.  Two hours later, I got a new phone.

Although much of the transfer from one phone to the other was seamless, there were certain apps that needed me to put in my password.  I am hoping there are others who face the same fate as I do when I must remember my passwords.  Really?  Do you want me to remember something I set years ago?  Which leads to the title of my post today – reset.  For many of the apps, I needed to reset my password, and everything was once again at my fingertips.  I forgot the old password and created a new one so I could move forward.

This process gently reminded me of the many times I needed to reset my faith.  It was not that I had forgotten my faith, like my passwords, but there have been times I have needed to reset the old way of how I was living out my faith by moving forward in a new light.  There are times in the Bible where this process is referenced.  In my life, it has come with complacency.  My prayers in the morning become stale and repetitive, not necessarily seeking the condition of my heart.  I can walk through a worship service with the proper responses, not soaking in each response of the liturgy.  I sing praise songs without focusing on the words.  When I find myself in those situations, an immense amount of guilt floods over me, realizing that my Lord and Savior deserves so much more from me.

So, I reset!  Like my password reset, I start looking at my faith and reset it to do new things.  When I do this, my faith moves forward in a fresh spirit.  As Isaiah 43: 17-18 says:

“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.  Behold, I am doing a new thing:  now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?”

These words remind me of the power of new!  It may mean I am uncomfortable for a little while, but while I seek new ways, my heart is filled with new things.  I may move to a new devotional – seeking God’s word with new insights.  Instead of worrying that I get the tune right in the hymn we are singing, I may stay silent and read the words of those precious hymns that have so much to say.  I may select a phone screen saver with Bible verses that I have not explored before – finding newness in what Jesus shares with us.

Resetting our faith can have powerful outcomes.  Our minds will be filled with new wonders and our hearts can be filled with the simple faith that God has always wanted for us.  Try pressing the rest button of your faith.  You may be surprised what new aspects can replace old behaviors.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the reset button.  As I explore different ways to explore the gifts of grace and mercy you have bestowed upon me, help me to spring forward in my faith.  In your gracious name I pray, Amen!

Lighthouse Power

 

I have a fascination with lighthouses.  Whenever I travel, they always seem to be on the ‘must see’ list.  When I look at them, I not only see beauty in the tall cylinder, but I also see power and purpose.  I stand in awe thinking about the people who built them, many times having to face some treacherous terrain to get these beacons of light to stand.  Some are short and stout, others are tall and lean, all are beautiful in my eyes.  The lighthouse in the picture, from York, Maine, is one of my favorites.  My husband and I will many times go there and sit on the rocks, breath in the fresh air, and just ‘be’.  Of course, the wonderful ice cream hut a mile or so down the road is a favorite of ours as well!

Lighthouses are built to emit light near dangerous and rocky coastlines, aiding those on the water to navigate their ships along that part of the coast.  They emit a light, day and night, to assist the captains of the ships to steer clear of difficult, dark waters and find a different way.  Lighthouses are also built to sustain the difficult weather that many times aligns with their locations.  The one in York, Maine, for instance, sees many storms, some hurricanes, and in winter our typical nor’easter that can bring impact weather of wind and snow.   Lighthouses are built for the purpose of saving lives – the lives on the vessels who can see their light shine.

Yes, my friends, the parallels are strong between the lighthouse and having our Lord in our lives. Let’s look at a few:

·       Warning:  The light of the lighthouse provides a navigational warning to ships to navigate out of the dark waters.  Our Lord certainly provides that for us.  His light and His Word provide us the navigational warnings necessary for us in this life.  Through the warning light, He can steer us from the dangerous waters of life to safe ground.

·       Strength:  Lighthouses are built for the purpose of being able to endure the storm, no matter how ominous.  Our dear Lord endured the battle of the cross, showing the world His strength to not give in to the perils of this world.  Jesus has certainly provided strength to me during difficult times, knowing that he would always be there for me no matter how difficult the storm gets.

·       Hope:  The lighthouse not only provides navigational direction; it also lets the captain know they are closer to land, closer to a destination.  Jesus provides that hope for us.  When we see and experience Jesus’ light, we know we are closer to Him and closer to the eternal life that will always be ours when we believe in Him. 

·       Salvation:  Saving lives is the purpose of a lighthouse, ensuring ships and those on board are steered away from the rocky coastlines to safety.  Jesus’ sole purpose was to bring the world salvation.  By His death on the cross, those who believe in Him will have eternal salvation.

Perhaps that is why I am so drawn to lighthouses.  When I look at them, I see my Lord and Savior, whose light shines for the world, providing warning, strength, hope and salvation.  I pray our Lord is your beacon of light – a lighthouse in your life.

Dearest Jesus, thank you for lighting our path and steering us away from dark and dangerous waters.  May I look for your light of strength and hope during difficult times as I know you will always be there.  Amen!