Where He Is The Light

My home has been here in South Carolina for a month or more with my daughter’s family.  I cried thinking about leaving them and the blessing it has been to share their lives for these weeks.  A true privilege for a grandma that lives twelve hours away. 

My home in Illinois is what I would call my true home.  That’s where the rest of my clothes are, my church family and mostly my husband, the love of my life.  I have missed him so much.  I miss things like the migrating birds that have finally made it back from their winter homes and the new blooms on our pear tree.  This year I will enjoy two springs since here in South Carolina, trees, bushes and flowers are in full bloom and the temperature out on my daughter’s patio, I’m sure is near eighty already.  

As precious as my home is, it does not compare to my heavenly home.  The one the Lord is preparing for me.  I read a wonderful thought the other day that explained that if we thought of our most wonderful, happiest and most satisfying moment and multiplied it times a million that it would not even touch what is waiting for in heaven.

People, half kidding and half serious have said “When I get to heaven I’m going to ask God why this happened?”  Others have said, “God has some explaining to do”!  If that celestial place is anything like we think, we won’t even remember what we were going to ask Him.  We will forget with that first breath of paradise!  

No.  I’m not home yet!  If they don’t cancel my flight for the third time, I will go back home to Illinois tomorrow but I don’t know when I’ll get to my true HOME!  As I sometimes experienced homesickness for Illinois and my husband while I was here, I sometimes get homesick for a place that has no sickness, sadness or even tears only shear delight.  But mostly I get lonely for my Savior who I long to see face to face.  and a place where there will be no need for light because HE IS THE LIGHT!

Revelation 21:23 New International Version (NIV)

23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.

The Faith of a Child

Worship From Childlike Faith

I have been in South Carolina with my daughter and her family for about a month and most of that time one or both of my granddaughters slept with me.  Most of the time it was wiggly and giggly but I enjoyed every minute, even the kicks in the middle of the night or Evie’s flailing arms.  Evie would always request snuggles, at which time she would most times go right to sleep.  Last night my Jenna read from her little pink Book of Devotions for Girls to her sister and I.  Her voice was soft and reverent as she read the verse of the day and continued to read the thoughts of the author.  I don’t think it coincident that the scripture she read was meant for such times as these.  It was concerning the importance of praying for our leaders.  This little one, who seems wise beyond her years, spoke truth.  Yes, I had my own little worship session!

I urge, then first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
1 Timothy 2:1-2

A good lesson for us all in these trying times.  How appropriate these verses are in these crazy times.  Even at her young age she seemed to grasp the urgency of these petitions to our Savior.  After reading the bible verses from 1 Timothy, she prayed a prayer that would rival most adults.  She prayed for our country and its leaders, for people hurt by the virus and a special prayer of protection for her mommy who is receiving chemotherapy and is vulnerable to any infection.  In her heartfelt prayer she didn’t forget to be thankful for her family, for her home and even thanked the Lord for her warm bed.

How many of we adults remember to be grateful to our Heavenly Father for what He has blessed us with even in these difficult times.  As we all weather this current storm may we put it the right perspective and with childlike faith be grateful for all we have.  May we be thankful for our homes, our health and warm beds to cuddle up in at night.  Let us live peaceful lives in all godliness and holiness and pray for everyone.

I love you, Jenna!

The Year Of Jubilee

I am sitting on the porch at my daughter’s home in sunny South Carolina where the weather is wonderful today.  My heart rejoices at the birds singing, the butterfly’s return and the green grass.  Spring has sprung!  It’s funny how God’s creation just keeps humming along even when we humans, God’s children, are not.  The world as we know it, has practically stopped due to the Covid 19 virus.  Schools are closed, businesses shut down and grocery shelves are empty, ravaged by the desperation that has overtaken this frightened country and the world.  Money, careers and influential people do not matter at this point.  Money is of no value when you want to buy the items once in abundance but now sparse or nonexistent, careers have come to a standstill, and that client that was so important just a few weeks ago is huddled just as you are in his own home.

Inside, my granddaughters play games and look forward to going for a bike ride with their dad.  My beautiful daughter listens contently from the other room to the chatter and relishes the familiarity of it and the comfort it brings.

I was intrigued by some verses I found in Leviticus today.  Part of it sounded like what is going on now in the country and in the world since the Coronavirus has hit us.  
The scripture about this special year was intriguing.   It was the Year of Jubilee.  The Lord had commanded that they count off forty-nine years and on the Day of Atonement in the fiftieth year they should blow the ram’s horn loud and long throughout the land.  They were to set apart a year as holy, a Year of Jubilee.  In this time, according to the ancient book, they were to proclaim freedom throughout the land for all who live there.  In this year of Jubilee, they were not to plant but to eat just what the land produces on its own.  They were to depend on the Lord to supply their needs.  They were not to take advantage of their neighbor and were to forgive debts owed to them.  This was a time to reflect on their life and their God.
I wonder, as we sit in our homes awaiting an end to this very troubled time, if we as a nation look to God.

When we can no longer plant new crops, make new business decisions or buy and sell are we willing to eat what the Lord provides in this season of rest?  How many of us remember how to rest from the demands of this harried world?  Could this be a time to forgive others for debts, for things done to us in the past?  Perhaps this is a time to reflect on a debt you owe someone else?  Most importantly it’s a time to realize the debt that Christ paid for us and the freedom we receive when we ask him into our heart.   In verse 10 of chapter 25 it says “Set this year apart as holy, a time to proclaim freedom throughout the land for all who live there.”  

Instead of the year of Covid 19 let us declare it to be the Year of Jubilee!  Let us use this year to grow closer to our Maker.  This could be a time to read His word more, pray more and love more.  A time to forgive and ask forgiveness.  A time to depend on the God of the Year of Jubilee!

“Set this year apart as holy, a time to proclaim freedom throughout the land for all who live there. It will be a jubilee year for you, when each of you may return to the land that belonged to your ancestors and return to your own clan. This fiftieth year will be a jubilee for you. During that year you must not plant your fields or store away any of the crops that grow on their own, and don’t gather the grapes from your unpruned vines. It will be a jubilee year for you, and you must keep it holy. But you may eat whatever the land produces on its own.”
‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭25:10-12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Awakened By My Creator

In these days of retirement, I usually pass up those devotional readings that address “slowing down” because, though I do keep busy, I am not rushed like I was when I worked as a Respiratory Therapist in the hospital or a busy mom juggling the lives of my household.  Many of you are there now.  Many years ago after I retired, I asked the Lord to wake me up when it was time to be quiet with Him who gives light to me. He does wake me , usually way before the sun comes up.  I wake with a hunger in my soul to spend time with my God.  It has become such a pleasure that I can’t wait to begin.  As I start my coffee, I pray the Creator of the Universe give me His thoughts for my day.  I plead for a comforting word in my time of distress.  If I am bothered by an important decision I need to make, He sends His wisdom.  I wish I would have started much earlier in my life though I’m sure it would have been more difficult to set aside time with He who knows how many hairs on my head.  If I could give a lifetime of mornings, I could never repay Him for His amazing, unfailing love!