Life & Death

This month will be one for the books.  A virtual shutdown of our country is at hand as we seek to limit and destroy the virus that is killing us.  Already over 5000 have succumbed to its wrath. A deadly enemy indeed has halted our lives as we knew them.

As we have more time than we’d like to be quiet and unemployed, I am feeling led to write.  I’ve never taken a writing course and am not very good at it. But still I think it’s a worthy endeavor for my own soul and maybe to share with others.  Written words can be powerful and immortal. I hope mine will serve in some way to offer hope in this dark time.

I pray I get to see my grand babies this month.  Ellie is heading to 5 years old in June! And Suzie will be one on the 18th of this month!  Wow! What joy they bring to my heart! What wonder it is to watch them grow and discover this good world God made for them.  They are with their wonderful mom and dad as well as their grandparents an hour from us. Chris, their grandpa, has a heart condition and surgery that was postponed til June due to this COVID season.  

We pray for our moms, Chris, and all those who are older or with health conditions that make this virus especially dangerous.  That they will all be safe and protected from its reach.  

My daughter Mary is in Bolivia where she has taught fourth grade for the year.  They are on lockdown there, only allowed out once a week in the morning. She is on spring break this coming week and will stay with friends for good company.  She could’ve fled home like I wanted, but decided to stay in case school reopens. The airports have shut down and the borders are closed as Bolivia seeks to limit the virus’ access.  So far they have about 100 cases. I pray they can reopen, but if not, I pray Mary can come home.

Death is a terrible thing.  It means separation from those you love in this world.  And it can mean separation from the God who made and loves us as well.  Our sins have caused the biggest problem, so much more than this crummy virus.  After all, this thing is temporary. But death is forever.  

The only way to have true well being in this life and the next is through a relationship with God.  Jesus made a way for us to be reconciled to God. Isaiah 59:1-2 says

“Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or His ear dull that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.”

This chasm was bridged by our Savior’s life, death and resurrection.  

I grew up hearing about this great Savior named Jesus.  I might have heard about him too much if that’s possible.  It’s not! But it wasn’t until I went off to college and was inadvertently in a Bible study mainly because the chocolate chip cookies were so good, that I began to take this gospel personally.  I remember it dawning on me, slowly but surely, that Jesus died for my sins. That He was a personal God who loved me and knew what was best for me. It was truly amazing to be born again.

It still is, it still is amazing to be His daughter.  He speaks to me through His Word, He hears my every single prayer.  He is not just up there, He is right here in my self isolation. Never to leave, to withdraw, to stop loving me.  

He is my source of true joy and peace.  Knowing I’m safe in His Hand no matter what happens.  This is true life and well being.

If you’ve read this far, I hope you will consider opening your heart to him as well.  He is waiting to be your Savior and Lord.

John 1:11-12 says

“He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”

Dad

It was January 30, 2005, 13 years ago, that my dad passed away.  We were with him to send him off. I remember saying to him, ‘it’s ok Dad, you’re about to cross the finish line,” to which he winked in response!  That was a big deal since he hadn’t blinked in a long time.  I was comforted and hope he was too.  He then ceased to breath, giving up the ghost, as they say.  I distinctly remember sensing that his spirit left the room through a specific spot.  That room is still holy ground for me.
I remember walking with dad, about 25 years ago.  My family lived in Maryland and my parents would visit a couple times a year.  We were strolling with baby Caleb and Daniel in tow.  I asked dad a question to test his spiritual understanding.  I said, “Dad, when you die and get to the pearly gates, and Jesus meets you there and asks, “Bob Fantini, why should I let you in to heaven?  What will you answer?? He said, without missing a beat, “Lord, you know all things, you know I’ve trusted in You!”
I was ecstatic!  I knew in my heart he was a shoo-in.  Here was a man who respected and loved God, who sought to follow and obey, but like all of us, he was imperfect.  His faith wasn’t in his good works to save him, but in Christ’s atoning work.  He trusted His Savior to save him.
I can’t wait to see him in heaven.  I love and miss him so much!  He was a great dad.  His love, affection, generosity, kindness and devotion help me to understand my Heavenly Father.

iPhone Blogging

Here I am, at the end of 2017 and remembering I have this old blog.  I hardly ever use a computer or iPad, but desire to write now and then.   I don’t even type (text) with two thumbs on my phone, so I’m quite handicapped according to my daughter’s assessment!
I do have a keyboard that can be used to type on my phone, so there’s that. And I just discovered I can actually publish on my blog from my phone.
All this to say I hope to write more in the new year!
Why? Because life is good, because the Lord is so good, and I want to treasure up His gifts and wisdom and share anything that might bless others.
Happy New Year to all who may see this!

Not My Will, But Yours Be Done

Not my will. But yours be done. Luke 22:42
Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Matt.6:10

Jesus prayed the words He taught us to pray.  He was in the garden of Gethsemane, crying and sweating drops of blood, under such heavy duress we will never experience.  He was asking His Father if there was another way, any other idea He might have, to save people from their sins.  He understood that the Father's plan was to sacrifice the perfect Lamb of God, the God Man: Himself.  He knew all his days led to this most important and costly sacrifice of His body.  His spirit was in agony not because of the physical torture that awaited him as much as the spiritual agony He would endure.  For the Father's will was to crush Him under the weight of the world's sins.  That's a lot of weight.  And this punishment He would suffer would separate Him from His Father for the first time in all eternity.  This is what He agonized over.  And yet, He surrendered, and later cried, "Abba ('Daddy'), Father, why have You forsaken Me?”

Thank God Jesus said yes to God's plan of redemption for us.  This is our way of salvation.  Our gift of righteousness bought with His blood.

And He calls us to pray, "not my will, but Yours be done."
What significant plans might God have for your life?  This morning I was
prompted to pray this prayer at 6 am, right when I was about to go back to sleep to catch up on the hour or two I'd missed in the night.  But as soon as I prayed for His will to be done, I was energized.  I got out of bed and began having a very productive day.  The best part was babysitting my precious grand daughter while her mom tried to catch up on much needed sleep.  Ellie and I took a nice stroll around our neighborhood.  So peaceful!

As I pondered the power of this prayer, 'not my will but yours be done', I thought of how amazing it is.  The implication is that we can choose to do the opposite, 'my will, not Yours be done!'.  In fact, this is our natural, default mode.  And how difficult it can be!  Doing life on our terms, in our strength. But if we learn to pray this prayer from the heart, and give God permission to lead us, we can experience peace, power and momentum, as we go with His plan.  And who knows the many things He has prepared for us to enjoy!  And when it's hard, as it will be sometimes, we can know we are smack dab in the middle of His will.  So it will be well with our souls.

Maybe his plan for you or me will be heroic,  but most likely not!   Whatever it may be, let's embrace His purpose for our lives.

Changing Seasons and Priorities

Well here we are, already immersed in the last summer month here in New England, and clinging to it like it's the last.  After last winter, who can blame us?  All right, I know I'm lumping everyone together and some may not agree, but I think most New Englanders would.  You see, last winter was one we will never forget even if we'd like to.  The records were set in snowfall amounts and we thought it might never end.  But lo and behold, the miracle of spring and then summer were indeed performed once again.  This time we only wish for longer than usual as a quid po quo.  But fall has already snuck in the air way too early!  I am believing for a very long summer and then a good bit of indian summer to boot.

The seasons will change sooner or later though, and we really wouldn't want it any other way.  I know there are parts of the country where this isn't so, and I have no desire to live there.  Visit, yes, stay, no.
I can't choose a favorite season because each one has many charms for me.  The winter with it's barren beauty and snow cloaked splendor.  The spring with its budding life to astonish and astound.  The summer with the ocean breezes, fresh mountain streams.  And of course, the fall with the incredible boasting even as the leaves fade and die.  Yes, each season is a gift with many boxes to unwrap.

These weeks before the school year begins (and, yes, we still have a college student in our midst here at home!) always press for reflection and planning before the fall ensues.  What commitments should I take on?  Projects?  Goals?  It begs me to slow down, stop weeding, gardening, running or resting and actually think and pray.  Lord, what is it You're calling me to do and not do?  I don't want to just do anything because I think I should.  What is the Lord saying for this time and season?  I need to seek Him for this and soon!  I've started but am far from finished.

I just remembered a great resource from a very wise pastor's wife, Carolyn Mahaney.  I plan to use this to help me think and pray through my priorities for this next season.  You can find it here as well:
http://girltalkhome.com/blog/Yearly_Planning/

Now I'm off and running, seeking to enjoy and be faithful in these waning days of summertime!

Passing Thoughts

Today is my future daughter-in-law's bridal shower!  Hannah is so lovely and we are thrilled about her upcoming marriage to our son, Caleb!!  This is our first wedding!

Two weeks ago, our son Daniel graduated from Babson College with his MBA!  He is the first in our family to graduate from undergrad and grad studies!!

Last year at this time, our daughter Mary graduated from Bradford Christian Academy. She is our last child to graduate high school and has just finished her freshman year at college.

John, our third son, just completed his junior year at Gordon College.

As I contemplate life's chapters, I'm aware of how fast and fleeting this life is.  My husband Paul will be 50 this September!  Now that's a milestone for sure!  Although we still feel pretty young and even look pretty good, we know that grand-parenthood won't be far off, as well as the predictable aging process!  So much to look forward to, so much to reflect on and be grateful for.

Here's a question for you:  do you know your great grandparent's names?  They were around not that long ago!  I find it interesting that, as much as we're consumed with our dear families, our heritage will not be long remembered.  In fact, sadly, most of us do not even continue to relate to most of our relatives very long after our parents die.  Sad but true.

So my point is, what are you investing your life in?  Are you building something that will last?  Here's a place to start: the kingdom of God. Yes, the Name of Jesus will endure forever and ever, and His family will not perish but only be translated from this life to the perfect one.  What you invest in the work of building His Kingdom here and now will last forever!

Ephesians 3:21 "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

Food for thought..now time to get ready for the bridal shower!!!

Empty Nesting

What happened?

This place used to be bustling all the time.  Quiet moments were few and far between, if found at all.  But now the kids have grown and gone to college and the house is too quiet.  I need to find out how other moms
have navigated these waters.  Sometimes my living room is a lonely room. It is strange indeed. 

Today at Bible Study, the  little children came up from their classes to sing us some songs.  It brought me back to when my little ones did the same.  We have it on video somewhere.  I remember it like it was just yesterday.  But it was a long time ago!  How I love and miss them.  I look forward to enjoying their little ones some day!!

The seasons teach us that there is always change ahead.  I remind myself that the goal was for my kids to grow up, after all!  I am happy that they are all well and forging ahead in God's good plans for their lives.  I just miss the good old days.  I miss the noise, the laughter, the playing, yes, even the fighting a little bit!  I just miss them.  I am thankful they're all close by and come home regularly.  I'm very thankful they'll all be home next week for Thanksgiving!

How I thank God for each one.  For their personalities, gifts and weaknesses.  I pray for them to know and love God through all the blessings and challenges life brings their way.  I pray for godly spouses and children for them.  I pray they'd all be close to home so we can enjoy them!  But with that I add that 'not my will but Thine be done!'

And I pray for grace to ride the wave of this new season of my life.  To make the most of all the opportunities God gives to me.  Making wise use of my days and evenings.  I love to cuddle with my honey when he's home, enjoy hospitality more than ever, and  am even trying my hand at some sales opportunities with the bakery.  I continue to volunteer at the Pregnancy Care Center which is chuck full of divine appointments.  I want to be a useful tool in my Master's hands, making His great gospel known to others through my words and deeds.

  Isa. 46:4  "Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you.  I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you."

Don't Stumble Unawares

"We're not unaware of the enemy's schemes." 2Cor. 2:11b

Or are we?  If we are unaware of his schemes, we may be unwitting instruments used in his schemes.  Something to ponder. 

The context of  this verse is Paul's urging the church to forgive someone who had caused grief.  You see, the enemy's schemes are often quite simple and repetitious:  divide and conquer.  Sowing seeds of distrust and disdain. The disunity of the Body of Christ renders us weak and ineffective.  Our witness to the gospel is undermined by this scheme of the devil.  Remember Jesus said that all men would come to know Him by our love for one another?

We must put on humility, forgiving where necessary, asking forgiveness when we give offense.  Offering comfort and love.

"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness , and patience, bearing with one another and,if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.  And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony." Colossians 3:12-13

My Thoughts and Prayers for the Families in CT

All the tinsel,
all the toys
are empty to compare
with the treasure of life that's born,
and the grief that we now bear.

How could it be that just this day
they hugged and kissed goodbye,
not knowing it would be the final time
to hold them oh so tight?

O Lord, please send your Spirit down
to comfort those who mourn,
the ones in shock and disbelief
from whom these precious lives were torn.

You who give your only Son
who wept, suffered and died.
You know the darkness and the pain
and collect each tear that's cried.

Baby Jesus, help us see
the precious gift you are;
the hope wrapped up you offer us
of life beyond the stars.

A life that's free from suffering.
The life You bought at Calvary.
That spans into eternity;
away from all this pain and misery.

Come, Savior, Come and make it real
to hearts in darkness and alone.
Show them your love and set them free
to hope in the eternal Home.

The Light of the World

     It's wonderful to be together, to celebrate the Light of the World!  What a gift light is!!

  Could you imagine what it would be like to wake up tomorrow morning to find that the sun had burned out and our days would be dark as night?  Awful thought, huh?  The days are short enough in the winter.  How we treasure the sunshine we get to enjoy!

    Sunlight is the fuel of life, providing energy for every life form..  It warms and brightens our days and our moods. It helps us to see clearly.  My house looks pretty clean when it’s dimly lit.  But bright lights expose the mess.  I’ve learned  that I now need my glasses to clean thoroughly these days!!

       Recently Paul and I flew over SuperStorm Sandy on our way to a conference. It was amazing to look below us and see the ominous, dark clouds, and see the brilliant sunshine above.  The people on the ground below were completely separated from the beams of sunshine and many were suffering the terrible effects that storm brought.  In the same way, our sin separates us from a holy God and hides his face from us. Without Christ, we are all  in spiritual darkness.

  But the promise we celebrate at Christmas is that God who said, 'let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."

  The Christmas lights we enjoy can be a reminder of that first Christmas, when the Light dawned..  Isaiah prophesied 600 years before Christ’s birth:

 "Behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.” (Is. 60:2)

It was a long, dark wait for that promise to be fulfilled. but finally the birth of Christ was announced:  “The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” (Mtt 4:16)

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)  

.

This world is filled with light and darkness, physically and spiritually.   The blessings can be unspeakable and so can the misery.  This was not God’s original plan!  He made us to enjoy a relationship with Him and one another that would be complete joy.  But sin entered the scene when Adam and Eve chose to disobey God, and the rest is history. Poisoned by sin and alienated from God,with broken relationships and broken hearts, the human race has wandered ever since, seeking fulfillment in everything but God.

In this dark world, God offers us light.  Ps. 119 says: “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”

The mystery of Christmas is revealed in the gospel of John:  The  Word became flesh and dwelt among us.  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

I don’t know where you are in your journey.  Maybe you are suffering depression or some other sickness. Our church is filled with many health challenges, so we can relate.  Perhaps you are lonely or grieving the loss of a loved one.  Or maybe you’re just uncertain or fearful about your future..  Whatever darkness you may be experiencing, I pray God's light would shine into your life and give you hope, healing, and guidance.  Most importantly, I pray you would receive the gift of forgiveness He offers to all who acknowledge their need.  Jesus paid the penalty for our sins.  He made us, loves us, and is calling us to trust Him even now.  He can dispel the darkness with His pure light. Our sin which is like a huge storm cloud, separating us from the light of His face, can be completely swept away by the power of His forgiveness.  He guarantees a lasting hope that is not based on our circumstances or our performance, but on  Christ’s life, death and resurrection.

His desire is for us to let Him into our lives.  To open our hearts to the Light of His love.  That may sound intimidating to you, and so it should!  It’s one thing to dim the lights and hide, but to let the Lord shine His light into the closets of our lives means being willing to confess our sins and let Him in.  This reminds me of an old booklet I have called, “My Heart, Christ’s Home.”  Here’s a passage:

“One evening I invited Jesus Christ into my heart. What an entrance He made! It was not a spectacular,emotional thing, but very real. It was at the very center of my life. He came into the darkness of my heart and turned on the light. He built a fire in the cold hearth and banished the chill. He started music where there had been stillness, and He filled the emptiness with His own loving, wonderful fellowship. I have never regretted opening the door to Christ and I never will - not into eternity!

He has said, "Behold I stand at the door and knock: if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3:20). If you are interested in making your life an abode of the living God, let me encourage you to invite Christ into your heart and He will surely come.”

Ladies, the Savior is interested in a relationship with us more than anything else. Just like we aren’t ultimately satisfied with stuff at Christmas or any time. It’s relationships that matter. God created us for a relationship with Himself.  He sent His Son on a  mission to reconcile us to God!  When we receive Him as our Savior, He forgives us and adopts us into His family forever.  He promises to never leave or forsake us! There’s simply no greater need we have and no greater joy we can experience than this!

I was blessed to grow up knowing about Jesus from my wonderful parents and church, but it wasn’t until I became a young adult that I began to grasp the significance of God’s love for me and my need for Him.  Away at college, with the innocence and security of childhood long gone, I realized just how much I needed forgiveness and guidance. One of my favorite verses meant the world to me at that time:  Proverbs 3:5&6:  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” The light began to dawn while reading passages like this one. I had known about Jesus but hadn’t trusted him with all my heart.  I began to take His promises personally.  

Like this one:

“Yet to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God!”  

Like a Christmas present given to us by God, He offers the perfect gift  of His Son to us. To receive and believe Him is what we’re called to do.

We must become like children to grasp the wonder of Christmas. The amazing truth that God did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us, and will graciously take care of us..
He is more thoughtful than we ever imagined Santa to be!!  And thankfully, He doesn't count our sins against us!  Childlike trust in His love and care empowers our  faith.  We love Him because he first loved us.

Jesus said about us:  “You are the light of the world.  A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Hiding a lamp under a basket would be like hiding our Christmas lights! Jesus has shone his light into our hearts and calls us to let His light shine through our lives. Like the moon, which has no light in and of itself, but reflects the light of the sun, we reflect God’s light as we allow Him to shine through us as we seek to be a blessing to others.

Now I must admit that one of the reasons we have this Tea is to shine the light of Christ. He is the greatest gift!  Our precious Savior, the Light of the world,  who came and pierced the darkness of this lost and broken world to rescue us from sin and separation from Himself.  He lived the perfect life we’re incapable of and died the death we deserved in order to offer us forgiveness and the hope of eternal life. A life that starts here and continues in the new heaven and earth, where there will be no more darkness at all.  No more sin and suffering!

May we remember that this life; this valley of the shadow of death, is just a part of the journey, not our final home.  One day soon the heavenly city will appear.  The end of this age is described in the gospel of Mark, “the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven..then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory..”(Mark 13:24-26)

This world as we know it will pass away and usher in the new. The future home for all who believe is described in the last book of the Bible, Rev. 21:23-24  “And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.  By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day-and there will be no night there.” May we set our hearts on the lasting hope we anticipate there!

Finally, let me close in prayer with this familiar blessing from the Bible:  “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”

Of Mac and Marriage

I was thinking about an analogy for the debate regarding the definition of marriage.  It goes like this:

Imagine Steve Job's invention of the Macintosh computer.  It's a different baby than Windows in more ways than I understand.  Suffice it to say that the Mac is not a Windows, although it can function in much the same way.

Now imagine with me the reality that God invented marriage and declared it to be a union between a man and a woman.  This is clearly defined in his holy Word.  Now fast forward to this generation and the desire to change the definition of God's creation.  It's like calling a Mac a Windows.  Call it what you will, it is not the same thing!  Steve Jobs might just turn over in his grave!  Out of respect for him and due to the legal rights of his company, this redefinition would not be possible.  In like manner, try as we might, it is not possible to redefine marriage since we didn't make it up to begin with.  This will only lead to more confusion in this already mixed-up world of ours.  Apples are apples, after all.

Encourage!

Hebrews 3:12 “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you and evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.  But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today”, that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”


Hebrews 10:24 & 25 “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”


I love these verses.  They are certainly sober warnings, but they also contain great promises for productivity.  The first is more negative: be careful to look after one another because you will be tempted and tried and need to stay strong by being reminded of the great and precious promises of the gospel.  The second points the way to fruitfulness: through regular fellowship we are strengthened and encouraged to keep our love and our pursuit of good works strong.

We need each other.  That’s why God gave us the church.  We are the body of Christ and relationships are not optional.  The fellowship is not about the coffee and donuts!  It’s about putting courage into each other-that’s what encouragement means.  And how we need it since we are swimming against a very strong current of sin within and without.

Are you your brother’s keeper?  Sounds like we’re supposed to be!

Loneliness

Loneliness reminds me
that the party in this life will not last,
that when I go, it will likely be alone,
that changes are constant and one thing remains:
My Lord is always by my side.

Loneliness reminds me
that laughter and tears are all a part of life,
that solace is found in a constant Friend,
that busyness is not always best.

Loneliness is a friend because
it teaches me to go to the One
who knows me best,
loves me most,
counts the number of hairs on my head.

Loneliness is not chosen,
but sometimes given
to tutor and train me
and prepare me for the Day
when all this world will be swept away.

Being alone is not lonely,
Feeling alone is.
Because of our Savior’s pledge to
never leave or forsake us,
we are never truly alone.

So remember the gift
of constant companionship He offers
to all who would have Him.
And embrace your loneliness
in His arms.

Let Him hold you and love you
as only He can do.
Let Him whisper sweet somethings
into the very heart of you.

His words are a treasure and
His promises a firm foundation
to build your life upon.
So when the winds and the rains come
when the storms are in full force
you will be fortified and ready
to face them.

With the Lord at your side,
with His words in your heart,
you can be strong and
 face the giants in the land.

So loneliness is a friend
calling you and calling me
to come and meet the One
who can fill our soul’s emptiness
with His fullness.

Come now, forlorn soul,
and enjoy fellowship
with your faithful Friend.

He Holds It All Together

Col.1:17 “And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

Do you ever feel like you can’t hold it together?  Like the wheels are spinning out of control?  If not you personally, maybe those you love or the church you belong to?  I’ve been there and am often aware of frailty and weakness inside and out.  How on earth are we going to do this thing?  How can we make it happen?  

The good news is we don’t and we can’t!  This verse came to mind as I reflected on the last ten years which contain the sum total of our church’s history so far.  God has not only held it together, He has built it.  We certainly played our part, with His empowering grace. But, just like our faith, it’s a gift from God.  Not from ourselves, so that there’s no room for boasting.

It is good news, very comforting and encouraging to really think this one over:  IN HIM all things hold together.  Coming apart at the seams seemingly?  Run and hide in the One who keeps it all together for us!

Ten Years In

It was ten years ago we took the plunge and planted King of Grace Church.  What an amazing ride it has been!  God has faithfully kept us and grown us into a wonderful community of believers intent on knowing the Savior and making him known.  I want to reflect on some of the lessons learned and glorify the Lord.

When I say ‘a ride’ I mean it!  The early years were a roller coaster ride!  The ups and downs of church planting were enough to do me in.  I had to learn to fix my eyes upon the Savior in order to stay relatively sane.  If I focused on such things as numbers I was sure to be as unstable as they were.  

I have seen God’s faithfulness proven again and again.  He has always been there, each and every time we have gathered together.  Whether the small and precious gatherings for care group (which are still, by the way, the heartbeat of our church), or the Sunday worship times.  His Presence has met and nourished and encouraged and propelled us forward to this day.  He is the most faithful one and the Head of our church.  

He promised to provide all our needs and has done so without fail.  Whether it’s just enough to pay the bills or the need for a worship leader, He has answered every time.  Of course we prefer the cushioned life, but have learned that He often does not!  He is jealous to show us that indeed He is the only Portion we need.  We can trust in Him to provide in unexpected and unforeseen ways.

Church planting is not for the faint-hearted.  But if God calls, He will enable you to step up to the plate if you’re the pastor, or cheer your man on if you’re the wife.  He will help your kids enjoy the ride as well.  Our four kids have grown deeply in the Lord through trusting Him, serving Him and watching Him come through.  They have never suffered want and have enjoyed serving the Lord in so many ways that simply would not have been possible without the church plant.

As we celebrate this tenth anniversary, I must give honor where honor is due.  It just so happens to be to my husband, so please excuse me.  Paul has poured out his sweat and tears (thankfully no blood!) to love this church with all his might.  I have seen God meet him and enable him in astounding ways to serve faithfully the precious people entrusted to his care.  I get to see him at home and am so thankful that he is the same man who walks into church.  His passion is Jesus and all he wants to do is be faithful.  His comfort zone was engineering, but he enjoys the grace and pleasure of God in preaching and pastoring.  He is also an amazing husband and father, always keeping his day off for the good of his own soul and ours.  

After parenting, church planting has been the most challenging thing we’ve ever done, but also the most rewarding.  What a privilege to serve the Lord and watch Him build His church.

Thank you Sovereign Grace Ministries for sending us and serving us to this day!!!

Motherhood

Motherhood

No higher honor than to nurture and bring forth life,
then to nurture that life to maturity.
No greater joy than to see that life flourish
in a relationship with its Creator God.

No deeper love than that of a Mother
the one who bore you, who bears your burdens,
and holds you always in her heart.

No words can speak her love,
No one but a mom can quite understand its contours.
This love is a life of concern that does not wane with time.
Day after day, her whispers of prayer do not cease.

The gift of a mom is of incalculable worth. 
She is the beauty and grace, sweetness and wisdom
that God bestows upon His creation.

Thank You Lord for my wonderful mom and for making me a mom as well.
No greater joy, no deeper pain can be felt than that of a mom's heart.

'There's no such thing as "now" '

That's what my son Daniel stated to me last week.  He went on to prove it in our conversation since as soon as I tried to say now was now it was no longer so!!  It's true in a way, isn't it?  Now is so very fleeting.  Yesterdays, on the other hand, keep piling up before our eyes.  Regrets, memories, good and bad, stay with us.  But the present flies by into the past in the blink on an eye.

James 4:14b captures the essence: "What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes."

Yet it is not meaningless, no, not at all!  We have the challenge from scripture to make the most of every opportunity given to us to do good.  To live in the center of God's will is the best place to be.  There we can have peace and the satisfaction of knowing that, although our lives are like sand through an hourglass, each moment is redeemed as we commit our way to Him with the heart of Mary:  "I am the Lord's servant, may it be to me as You have spoken."

Greatest Gift

From Ladies' Christmas Tea 2011:
 What is the greatest Christmas present you’ve ever received? I don’t have anything that amazing, but I do remember a gift Paul gave me our first Christmas together after we were married. I’d always wanted to learn to play the piano and a friend had given me some lessons my senior year of college. But then Paul and I got together and I got a bit distracted and the lessons fell by the wayside! Paul surprised me with a beautiful keyboard with all the bells and whistles. It had the different settings like grand piano, clarinet. and even disco! It was a great blessing.
As I’ve reflected on what makes for a great gift, I think it’s the ones that express love, that meet a need or desire, as well as those homemade gifts that have something of the giver in them, that mean the most. I’d like to propose to you that God gave us the greatest gift that first Christmas, one that truly has something of the giver in it, perfectly expresses His love, and fulfills our deepest needs and desires.
 Let me try to explain: First some Scriptural background: Gen. 1:1-2 “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light, and there was light.” And on the passage goes, with God creating everything by His Word. Each day heralded another command that His creation be designed. The mountains, and seas, the animals, and flowers - all the beauty we see around us God spoke into being! And, fortunately for us, on the sixth day, He made mankind. He said, “let us make man in our own image, after our likeness. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them.”(Gen.1:26-27) (Now this was long before the first Christmas, but it sounds very similar to passages in the gospel of John and the book of Colossians: (John 1:1-4) “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ..All things were made through him, .. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (v.14) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (Col 1:15-19) “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were made, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, --all things were created through him and for him. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.”
 The Word that existed in eternity past, God Himself who created all things, came wrapped up in a baby that first Christmas! The term ‘the Word’ conveys the notion of divine self-expression or speech. I would say this gift of Jesus truly had something of the Giver in it!!! God’s very essence indeed! God also expresses His perfect love and meets our greatest need in this gift. Why did He God give us Jesus? John 3:16 explains: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” Our greatest need is not material (as pressing as these can be), but spiritual. You see, soon after God had finished his amazing creation, the perfect harmony Adam and Eve enjoyed with Him and each other was destroyed by sin. Ever since the fall in the garden, mankind has been exiled from God, because the holy God cannot dwell in the presence of sin. This disease of the soul has infected all humanity. Our sins, whether many or few, whether acknowledged or denied, have separated us from God and effect all our relationships. I must admit I can easily go from being good to being more like the grinch in the course of a day. Selfishness and pride rear their ugly heads.
Paul sent me these true , humorous accounts of the Christmas spirit gone bad: ‘ Although most people don't know what to do with their tree once the celebration is over, a woman in Victoria, British Columbia, had an idea. She was arrested for beating a man with her Christmas tree. The incident was sparked when the man grumbled that the load of gifts in his arms was heavier than the tree she was carrying.’ and another one: ‘When her Jensen Beach, Florida, apartment complex held a Christmas-lights competition, Donna Simmons-Groover was a winner…briefly. One of her neighbors, incensed at losing the contest, ripped down part of Donna's winning display.’ Unfortunately we witness the plague of sin in our own lives and hear it broadcast on the news every day, and usually it’s not very funny, is it?
 But there is good news! Good news of great joy, as the angels announced that first Christmas! God wasn’t satisfied to condemn us to everlasting separation from Himself. Like a mother or father for their children, he longed to be with us. His love compelled Him to send His Son on a rescue mission for us. He sent Jesus, born of virgin Mary, miraculously transported from heaven to earth that first Christmas. Christ came and lived a perfect life of obedience to His Father and took upon Himself the punishment our sins deserved in order to provide forgiveness and reconciliation to our Father in heaven. His death and resurrection have purchased this gift for us! We now have this invitation to be reconciled to God through the Savior of the world. John 1:12 “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” This is truly the best gift you will ever be offered! But a gift offered does not guarantee a gift received, does it? One could choose to reject the gift, thinking they have no need or desire for it. I pray that you would receive the gift of Jesus for yourself if you haven’t already. If you’re not sure whether you have, let me ask you a question: Can you put our name in the blank of this promise? “For God so loved (your name) that He sent His Only Son for (your name) that you would believe in Him and not perish but have eternal life. “
 This gift not only has something of the Giver in it, perfectly expressing His love, and meeting our greatest need, but it also fulfills our deepest desires. We are all made with desires for true, unfailing love and for purpose and security. God made us, He knows us more than even our spouse or best friend could. He understands us better than we do!! And the amazing thing is that He loves us, warts and all!! We don’t surprise Him with our weaknesses and failures. In fact, He sees every day before it comes to be and knows every word we’re going to speak before we speak it! That’s a lot of words, huh, ladies?!! (Psalm 139:4,16)“even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether, in your book were written all my days before they come to be.”
 He loves us perfectly based on Christ’s performance, not our own. He has made us uniquely with a specific purpose in mind and He promises to provide all we need to fulfill His plans. He satisfies our desires with good things. I’m not saying life will be easy, no, this is not heaven yet, and there is suffering. In fact, I was thinking about how Mary and Joseph’s lives became more complicated and challenging when Jesus came into the picture!! But He comforts us in our trials , and uses them to teach us to trust Him, to set our hearts on heaven, and to make us more like Him. To top it all off, He grants us unending companionship with Himself! We can talk to Him anytime and He is always listening! He showers us with grace and mercy every single day. He promises never to leave or forsake us! At death we will NOT part from Him! He will carry us from this world to heaven.
 Do you see why I think this gift of Christ has all the earmarks of the best gift ever? He was God’s perfect way of expressing Himself and His love to us. He meets our greatest need, and fulfills our deepest desires. We were not meant to travel this life alone, ladies. The greatest blessing and the ultimate purpose in life is to know and enjoy a relationship with our Creator. And when we know Him, we will bring that blessing to others. The material gifts we give and receive are nice, but honestly they don't last and I don’t remember them for long. In fact, that piano keyboard I told you about became a toy for my kids and eventually got broken. I still haven’t learned to play!! But this gift of Jesus will never be forgotten and will not pass away. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever!

Hospitality

From a Ladies' Breakfast last spring:

I wanted to take a little time to talk about the gift of hospitality since I believe we as women play a key role in the administration of this gift. To practice hospitality is a command in Scripture, given in both Romans and 1Peter. That’s how important it is.
I think you’ll agree that hospitality is a strength in our church. My purpose is to only encourage that we continue to excel more and more in this gift.
So what exactly is does it mean to practice hospitality?
The command in the original language contains expressions like ‘Strive for, pursue with eagerness or enthusiasm, seek out opportunities to offer generous, cordial reception of guests, offering a pleasant sustaining environment.’
My earliest memory of Christian hospitality occurred during my freshman year at college. I was in the process being drawn to Christ through the love of new friends and was invited to a family’s home for dinner. It was nothing fancy- assembly line style. I don’t recall what we ate but I do remember this joyful, welcoming family, relaxing, and watching a ball game on TV with us. The love displayed in this family captured my heart and inspired me to trust Christ for my future family.
1Peter4:8-10 “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
Hospitality opens the door for us to use our gifts to bless others. For example, prayer, encouragement, evangelism, and discipleship are all effectively done when we invite one another into our lives and homes.
Interesting that the command says to offer hospitality without complaining. Why might complaining be a temptation in this context? Could it be because we're called to share our most precious possessions: our family, home, finances, food, privacy and time? Hospitality can be sacrificial and hard work! It is an opportunity to lay down our lives for others. But the rewards are great. Through hospitality we provide friendship, acceptance, fellowship, refreshment, comfort and love in one of the richest and deepest ways possible.
The ministry of hospitality was a prominent feature in the picture of the early church. One of the key factors that helps explain the rapid expansion of Christianity was the love displayed among the first Christians. In an ancient Latin Christian dialogue entitled ‘Octavius’, the pagan Caecilius criticizes the Christians because “hardly have they met when they love each other, indiscriminately they call each other brother and sister."
The first Christians referred to one another as brother or sister-this reference is used 250x in NT! Of all the images used to describe the nature of the church like the body, bride, temple and flock, by far the family is the most frequent. Sadly, by the end of the 3rd century, such endearing terminology began to disappear.
We’re brothers and sisters not because we share similar ideas, interests or circumstances, but because we share the life of Jesus through our spiritual birth. We have the same Father in heaven, the One who loved us so much he sent his Son to save us from our sins! Remember what we were before we knew the Lord: Eph. 2 describes the before and after scenario: we were "separated from Christ, strangers to the covenant promises, having no hope and without God in the world.' (Eph.2:12).
"But now in Christ you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. He himself is our peace who has made us one. Through him we have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined and held together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit."
Jesus' death on the cross paid the penalty for our sins and his resurrection has opened for us eternal fellowship with God and with fellow believers! In Christ, we have an unbreakable family bond. No wonder God calls us to practice this gift of hospitality, to build us up in our faith and unity. Our fellowship is a foretaste of what heaven will be like.
The Puritans who settled America brought this understanding of community with them. John Winthrop, first governor of MA Bay Colony wrote, "This love among Christians is absolutely necessary to the well being of the body of Christ, as the sinews and other ligaments of the natural body are to its health...Thus stands the cause between God and us; we are entered into covenant with Him for this work..for this end we must be knit together as one man..we must delight in each other, make one another's condition our own, rejoice together, mourn together, labor and suffer together, always having our eyes on our Commission and Community, as members of the same body. So shall we keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace...We shall find that the God of Israel is among us, when He shall make us a praise and glory, that men of succeeding plantations shall say, 'The Lord make it like that of New England.' For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill..." (The Light and Glory).
What a legacy! Sadly New England is far from this picture and influence on the rest of the country. If anything we're known more for our rugged individualism (remember where the revolutionary war began!) . But I believe the vision and prayers have not perished before God and that today there is a quiet revival as more and more churches are being planted and the gospel is spreading.
I love how John Winthrop put it: 'having our eyes on our community and our commission.' We don't want to fall into laziness as we enjoy our community, but must remember there are more people to invite in to the fellowship we share, and ultimately to the ultimate party we will enjoy in heaven!
“Christian perseverance is a community endeavor”, so let’s consider how we can use this gift of hospitality to spur one another on in love and good works. We have many great examples around us to follow.
Rom.16:1-2 “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchrae, that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.”
Phoebe was evidently a new comer who served the church. We have our own Phoebe in Lauren Cranmer. Lauren has left family and friends to serve our church and has been welcomed especially by the Haavisto's where she is living and enfolded into their family. May we embrace her and care for her as well.
I have many experiences on the receiving end of hospitality. Dinner with many of you, either in your homes or out to eat; we've enjoyed deepening friendships. And care group at the Kings' and the other host families. The labor and rewards of hospitality are clearly seen in these contexts!
There's just something about being in someones home that helps deepen our relationships. You see the taste and personality of a family in their home. "Women really do have an instinctive capacity to form relationships and to cultivate a sense of family." (Susan Hunt) And what better place to cultivate friendships than in our homes. Another great quote: "What a queer way we womenkind have of confiding in each other with perfectly reckless disregard of the consequences! It is a mercy that men are, for the most part, more prudent, though not half so delightful!" (Elizabeth Prentiss)

One family that has blown me away with their pursuit of hospitality is the Gennells. They invited our family for dinner soon after they started visiting KGC. We are one of many families who have been blessed by their generous gift of hospitality.
I want to encourage you that this gift can be given on Sunday mornings right here as we greet one another and welcome our guests, which, by the way, you do so well already. We are blessed with this beautiful family home to use for hospitality, with teas, showers, prayer meetings, play groups, and the list of ideas is virtually endless!!
To help spur us on, may I remind you that whatever you do to the least of these, you do to Jesus. This is a helpful reminder for me when I am battling my natural desire to stay in my comfort zone and only engage people who are like me.
The command doesn’t require gourmet meals, meticulous homes, or perfectly godly families. It's not about that. It's about being like our Lord, who invites us to open the door and enjoy fellowship with Him. (Rev. 3:20)
I'm so thankful for that first experience of hospitality I had when I was so young and struggling to understand the Lord. If it hadn't been for this family and the other Christians reaching out and expressing God's heart to me, I do not know where I'd be today.
Some ideas:
Pray for the Lord's direction in our pursuit of this gift and command.
Set goals: specific people to invite over or out, schedule dates.
Don’t forget the widows, students, guests and new members among us.
Be open to inviting new guests to join you for a meal once in a while after church. (this gives us the opportunity to "entertain strangers, for by doing so some people have entertained angels without knowing it" Hebrews 13:2) We may not ever get to host angels, but we will do have the privilege of honoring the Lord by loving and serving His precious children.

Ladies' Christmas Tea Talk

Here's the message I shared at our first annual ladies' tea. I went off script a bit, but God helped me! We had 80 ladies in attendance, about half were guests!

It is wonderful to be here with all of you! To slow down and enjoy this special time with friends & family. Thanks to all of you who prepared the delicious food! I also want to thank the ladies on the planning team who made this event possible: Micki, Leslie, Barb, Lauren, could you please stand up? Thank you!!

I want to take a few minutes to reflect on the best Christmas gift of all.

Matthew explains in his gospel: "All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet (Isaiah:) “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel.”

Immanuel means “God is with us”. God Himself came wrapped up in a baby. He was not content to remain distant from us; He stooped down to live among us. He gave us Himself!

I've known about Him since my childhood, thanks to my devout parents and regular attendance at church. I knew He was real and was there, kind of like a neighbor I’d drive by and wave to. A comfortable distance. I took for granted His presence and promises, but I didn't really take them to heart.



I was a typical high school teenager- cheerleader and social butterfly. I went off to college and it was there that a couple of friends invited me to a bible study. I honestly wasn't interested, but they made great chocolate chip cookies and were so nice that I decided to attend. We studied the gospel of John. I got a bit uncomfortable when I read that Jesus said, "If you love me, you'll obey me." Oops! I really believed I loved God, but thought he'd understand that girls just want to have fun. I hadn't connected the dots that obedience is what proved my love to Him. I didn’t know that He took my sin so seriously.

I knew that I was a sinner-I'd lived long enough to figure that out! I realized that my sins actually separated me from this Holy God. But then there was the good news, that God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. He was showing me this Christmas gift, the Savior of the world, the Savior of me. I was beginning to take it personally. It’s like the most amazing gift exchange: Jesus taking my sin and dying on the cross to pay its penalty, then rising again and offering me forgiveness and reconciliation to God. The Holy Spirit was at work!


I had a choice. I could keep trying to figure out life on my own, going my own way, or give my life to Him. It dawned on me that he knew what was best for me and I didn't. The longer I waited, the more miserable I felt! The parties and boyfriend weren't satisfying this new longing in my heart for Jesus, in fact they were bringing me further away from His embrace. I wanted to please him but couldn't on my own. He was calling me to confess my sins, turn away from them and receive His mercy. I'm so glad I did!


Since that time, some 26 years ago, I've had plenty of ups and downs, many sins and failings, but thankfully salvation is a gift that was given to me and earned by Christ. His mercies are new every morning, and that's because I need them! Jesus is truly the best gift I've ever received. The more I get to know Him the more treasures I discover in Him!


He speaks to us through His Word. He hears and answers our prayers. He provides our needs. He keeps His promises to strengthen and guide us. His Presence brings comfort and peace through all the changes and uncertainties of this life. He never changes. The more we trust in Him, the more peace we have. He will never let go of us once we’ve given our heart to Him!



Rev. 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me."



Matthew Henry, a pastor who lived a long time ago, wrote:

“ Christ is graciously pleased by his word and Spirit to come to the door of the heart of sinners; he draws near to them in a way of mercy, ready to make them a kind visit. [2.] He finds this door shut against him; the heart of man is by nature shut up against Christ by ignorance, unbelief, sinful prejudices. [3.] When he finds the heart shut, he does not immediately withdraw, but he waits to be gracious. [4.] He uses all proper means to awaken sinners, and to cause them to open to him: he calls by his word, he knocks by the impulses of his Spirit upon their conscience. [5.] Those who open to him shall enjoy his presence, to their great comfort and advantage. He will sup with them; he will give fresh supplies of graces and comforts, and thereby stir up fresh actings of faith, and love, and delight; and in all this Christ and his repenting people will enjoy pleasant communion with each other. Alas! what careless obstinate sinners lose by refusing to open the door of the heart to Christ!”

May we open our hearts to Him who gave His very life for us. He is always inviting us to spend time with him. Immanuel, God is with us! He has all the time in the world for us, ladies, do we have time for him?



The longer I live the more I understand that time is a precious gift. We live each day choosing how we will invest this gift. It's a challenge to redeem it and not waste it. Sometimes it takes a crisis of health to help us to stop and savor the gift of time..



That happened to me in 2002. We were blessed to move to Haverhill, near my whole family. My dad was very sick. He'd had a stroke and was diagnosed with Lewy Body disease, a dementia similar to Alzheimers. His life, which had been so full and strong came to a stand still. My mom, brothers and sister rallied around him, determined to keep him home We took turns caring for him. I remember he'd light up when I arrived, squeezing my hand, whispering my name and saying "I love you." He couldn't say much, but that was more enough for me!

That 3 1/2 years was so precious to me. The things that would’ve distracted me in ‘ordinary’ times just didn’t matter as much in that season. It was an honor and privilege to serve to the man who had given so much to me. There was also a satisfaction in knowing that Jesus said that whatever we do to the least of these, we do to Him.

I miss him so much but am comforted to know that he’s in heaven waiting for me.

God has not left us as orphans. Jesus said before ascending to heaven, " behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." He had explained to his disciples that it was better for them that he return there so that he could pour out the Holy Spirit upon His children.



The Holy Spirit is God’s Presence in us!! Christ in all believers, the hope of glory!!

He’s given to cheer and to guide us. To comfort us, teach us and to help us to fulfill our calling; empowering us to be His hands and feet in this world.. He is still Immanuel, God with us.

There was no room available for baby Jesus in Bethlehem that first Christmas. Business was booming for the inn keepers, but they missed the opportunity of hosting the birth of the King of Kings! God was whispering, ‘be still and know that I am God!’ but only a few heard. May He give us ears to hear and faith to receive him into our hearts.

In the hustle and bustle of this season and of this life, may we stop and enjoy this greatest gift: Immanuel, God with us!