Fear

It's an interesting day and age we live in. There are wars and rumors of wars. There are friends who are sick and some who have died, the loss of finances and jobs, and even airplanes that disappear. And yet we know that we do not have a spirit of fear. If we truly believe that we serve a God who cares then we have nothing to fear. I stand in agreement with Franklin D. Roosevelt when he said, "The Only Thing We Have to Fear Is Fear Itself.” He said those words in the midst of the great Depression and while facing the prospect of another great world war. Yet he knew that fear itself is our greatest enemy. The Bible says that God has not given us a spirit of fear but one of power, love and a sound mind. In these days of trouble we need power, love, and a sound mind. May we all see the fulfillment of this wonderful promise.

Some like it hot some like it cold.

We are traveling right now, visiting churches that support us and also catching up with a few friends as we go. I love visiting with everyone. What a joy it is to know that we are all part of the great family of God and that we can feel at home wherever we are. It would be easy to assume that people are all the same but when you arrive at someone's house you realize that some like it hot and some like it cold. Some people drink coffee and others tea. Some places are in the city and others are so deep in the country that we need an escort to help us find our way. So many things are different yet there is one constant. The goodness and kindness of our "family" is unending. God, our loving heavenly Father is so much bigger than all of the troubles that go on around us and He has provided us with a family to give us comfort and encouragement. In these days of unrest and fear we should never forget that we have a home and that we belong.

Rest

There is something to be said for taking a day of rest. In our busy days and short nights we "burn the candle at both ends" and "push the envelope". Stress is at an all time high and the need to excel has replaced peace with a fear of failure. God designed a day of rest so we could linger in His peace and find comfort in His all encompassing love. Sometimes the most spiritual thing we can do is to sit in God's presence and just REST.

Playing the Game

Lately I have discovered that a lot of people don't have a clue. Now, I don't mean this to be mean or unkind. It's just that I have noticed that many people feel that life is a mystery and that their life is some kind of game board. They know there is something to be figured out but they don't have a clue. Like the murder mystery board game, they ask, who did it, where, and with what??? The most obvious answer to this riddle is Jesus, on a hill called Calvary, on a cross.

I always thought it was enough to just know that (and it is) however life continues to have mysteries and we continue to look for clues. How do we live? What are the answers to my problems? If we have the answers, and we do, then I think it's time we as Christians started handing our a few more clues.

Air France 447

When I heard about the missing Air France flight I couldn't help but feel a personal connection. Fred and I have traveled Air France several times and so the missing plane is a little close to home. I can't help but think about all of the people who have lost loved ones on that flight. And of course the unknown details must make their loss even more surreal. Life is so fragile and a loss like this reminds us that any one could be gone in an instant. We never know from one minute to the next what the future holds, whether you enter an airplane or just take your car to the corner market. It just goes to show that we need to be ready and confident of our eternal future regardless of what may come our way.

Waiting

When I'm traveling, I can always depend on my sister to be looking for me online. Now she doesn't have a lot of time but she gets up early and looks for my light. When I connect to the INTERNET I look for her light too. For those who don't use chat, we have google chat and when we are online we have a green google light that lets us know when someone else, in our friend list, is online. We finish our little chats by saying, "I'll be looking for you." How nice it is to know that someone is "looking" for you. God wishes for someone to be looking for Him too. Pr 8:34 says, "Happy is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors." I know that waiting isn't always fun but there is a special joy that comes when I have waited for my sister and her light comes on. I think it's that way between us and the Lord too. It isn't easy to wait but when He comes...Oh the joy that fills my soul!

Friends

Remember the old song, "Make new friends but keep the old. One is silver and the other is gold." This week I had the privilege of spending time with some new and old friends. Like the song, I have discovered that both kinds of friends are valuable. Just in the last few days I have talked to friends from California, Seattle, Maryland, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Florida. Some are new and some of these friends go back 35+ years, all of them precious and special. As a person of Covenant I believe in keeping friends, you could say I collect them. Friends make us rich in ways that cannot be measured. Who is my best friend you may ask? Let me answer with another song. "What A Friend we have in Jesus all our sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer." He's the best and I'm willing to share...Blessings...