Well, this Mother’s Day was definitely different! Before Zoom church, we had a Zoom family get-together. Some gray was showing in the parts in people’s hair and my son had grown what he called his Corona beard. So my offspring enjoyed kidding one another. In spite of having to visit through cyberspace, we had fun. That afternoon my girls and husbands brought flowers and gifts and fried chicken for a picnic in my backyard. We placed patio and camping chairs in a big circle properly distanced apart but close enough to visit with one another. I loved it! It makes me so sorry not everyone could have their family together on Sunday. Mother’s Day for some was not as happy as it could have been. Some have lost loved ones, even precious children or beloved grandparents. Some families are estranged for one reason or another. Others are separated because of serving their country in some far place in the world. If you had a happy Mother’s Day, be thankful!

 

Have you read The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis? I asked myself this too, and although I had read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, I realized I hadn’t read the whole series. So now I’m reading straight through all of them for the first time. If you’re not familiar with his children’s stories, you’ll find they’re enjoyable reading for adults as well. There’s enough mystery, battles between good and evil and weird characters to keep everyone’s interest. And Christian values are expressed throughout, including a huge, golden lion that obviously portrays Jesus. I like to read between the lines to discover what Lewis is expressing in his choice of characters and themes. If you want more adult reading, try Miracles or Mere Christianity by Lewis. He’s written more than 30 books and if you’re not familiar with his writings, it’s time to get started! He’s a must-read Christian author.

God’s Holy Spirit caused King Saul to dance around and prophesy. He woke little Samuel with a message for a failing priest. He thundered from Mount Sinai and whispered to Elijah. He appeared as wind and fire to Peter and those congregated in Jerusalem at Pentecost. In the Old Testament he worked with specially chosen individuals but in the New Testament, beginning at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit is freely offered to all who repent and believe. The Holy Spirit is referred to as a comforter, and he is. He communicates love, joy and peace from our Savior to us, as well as gives us spiritual gifts so we can accomplish God’s will. From the Father to the Son, from the Son to the Holy Spirit, from the Holy Spirit to us, God’s love flows as a graceful river that never ends. What’s our part? To join God in his ministry of love to the world!

 

When we, or someone we know, receive answers to our prayers, we marvel at God’s miracles on our behalf. We are grateful but also a bit amazed. Wow, isn’t God great! But, think about it, we call what God does miracles, yet to God they aren’t. They are just as normal and natural to God as any human endeavor we’re capable of on our own. And what about us? Jesus said we could move a mountain if we had enough faith. Peter walked on water until his faith failed him. Doesn’t this show evidence this world we live in is not just rocks and clay and seas and stars. Have we grownups forgotten what it is to look with the eyes of a child? Wonders surround us. We take for granted that every spring flowers will bloom and birds will nest. But why is that? Because God is constantly sustaining his creation. If he weren’t we and everything we know would disappear. God loves his creation and restoration is coming!

As I walked by my kitchen window, I noticed my neighbors were sitting down in the grass having a picnic on their front lawn. My neighbors, an older couple, sat across from a younger family with several children. Grandchildren, no doubt. They were sitting at a safe distance across from each other but still able to enjoy one another’s company. I smiled. A few weeks before my daughters had driven up from their homes in three different towns to visit me, and each other, from their cars, each parked down my long driveway. It makes me sad so many families are separated from their loved ones. I’m sure you’ve seen the photos of people visiting older relatives through windows of retirement homes or rehab centers. When this is over, let’s not ever take our together times for granted. God is in our relationships.

 

As long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to learn more about God. As a child, I wondered about this powerful being who did all the marvelous things I read about in the Bible. Some say look at what God created to learn about him. The apostle Paul did say what God made reveals its Creator (Romans 1:20), but it’s like trying to know an artist by looking at his or her work. You can figure out some aspects of the person’s character perhaps, but it doesn’t really let you know the person. To know someone you have to get acquainted with the actual person and even then it may take some time. And that’s what I’ve learned in my search for God. There’s only one way to know who God is and that’s to go directly to the source, Jesus Christ. He is God. He said, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). And, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58). Whatever we read or hear about who God is, our reference point should always be our living, personal Savior.

 

A tornado was spotted a couple of nights ago a little north of where I live. It’s not unusual this time of year—springtime in tornado alley. My NOAA weather radio sounded off as the storm, which included high winds and large hail, moved through the area. When this happens, I pray the storm will go straight down the Red River, which separates Texas from Oklahoma, instead of through populated areas. You can be sure others were praying the storm would stay away from their homes too. But, the tornado didn’t go down the Red River. It crossed the river and hit a little town in southern Oklahoma, killing two people. These deadly storms remind us we live on an untamed, hazardless planet full of dangers. God’s peaceful kingdom is not fully here. But we can be thankful he will never forsake us through whatever dangers we face. Lord, come soon!

We met at an old Texas barbeque place on Hwy. 82. They’re closed inside but hooked up their drive-in units so we could order from our cars. Not sure how long those old speakers had been disconnected, but they had them back up and running. I hadn’t seen my friends for a month or more, so it was good to have lunch and visit from our car windows. They looked the same except Jerry needed a haircut. I didn’t say anything, but if he can’t find someone to cut it soon, it’s going to be longer than Paula’s. She keeps her hair very short. We got together for B.J.’s birthday, and believe it or not, she made a cake and shared it with all of us. What’s with this baking and sharing your own birthday cake? That’s the second time it’s happened to me this month. Not that I’m complaining. Seeing old friends, sharing a meal, celebrating a birthday together—I hope I never take these blessings for granted again.

 

It’s going on a month now. How are you? As I imagine you isolated as I am from friends and family, I wonder how you’re doing. Are you working on projects around the house you’ve put off? Learning a new language? Reading more? Or maybe, along with your regular chores, you’re working from home and home schooling your children? Perhaps some of you are on the front lines working in essential jobs so the rest of us can stay home. (Thank you!) Whatever your answer, all our lives are dramatically different from what they were only a month ago. I’m not complaining, for many reasons, but mainly because some of my family and friends are facing much worse than being quarantined. As one of those who is healthy, sheltered and fed, I thank God daily for his abounding blessings and mercy. He is not far from any of us. He is right here with us through whatever we are facing. He is love!

 

It was her birthday, but she came around to my backyard with a small chocolate cake, with sprinkles! I was working to get rid of fire ants, which is an ongoing job in Texas. She put the cake on my patio table and we visited at the proper distance. Who makes cakes for the neighbors on their own birthday? My neighbor Sue. As we near Resurrection Sunday, her act of love brought to mind our Savior’s supreme act of selfless love for us. We didn’t do anything to deserve it. We owed everything to him instead. At the very end Christ prayed his Father might come up with another option for him. After all, Isaac was spared at the last second. Jesus had seen crucifixions. He knew what was in store. But when the answer was no, he resolutely went forward to his fate, taking on himself what we, you and I, deserved. Thank you, Lord, for our redemption, our justification and our reconciliation with the Father, gifts so priceless they cost you your life in the most horrible, tortuous, humiliating way possible. Though I’m eternally grateful, it still hurts my heart!