Easter Dresses

We decorated the cross with flowers
& put it outside after worship.

Yesterday morning I joined with my church family to celebrate Easter Sunday. Part of our celebrations involved decorating a cross with beautiful, sweet smelling flowers....daffodils, irises, tulips and roses  adorned the cross, and transformed it from a symbol of suffering to a symbol of hope. Sitting wide eyed and curious were two little girls that I had brought to worship that day. If you were part of our congregation yesterday morning, it would have been easy for you to spot Romana and Lucita...they were the only little girls not wearing pretty Easter dresses. Romana and Lucita do not own pretty dresses; they have never been on an Easter egg hunt; they have never been to church before; they have never seen a beautiful cross decorated with flowers; they have never been met by so much love...and they have never heard of a man called Jesus. Friends...this is the incredible opportunity that is before us to witness! When we bring a new child to our church, we are bringing them to Christ. Who will you bring this week?
Hillsong Kids: Let the Children Come

Sitting on Hope

Click on this photo to see the goose
hiding at Reeds Lake.

Yesterday, as my husband and I strolled along a boardwalk on the banks of Reeds Lake, we were met by a loud honking. A large goose was complaining about our company and warning us in no uncertain terms to stay away. Sure enough, as we stopped to investigate, we saw what he was protecting. Hiding in the trees, a female goose was perched on top of a beautiful round nest and as she moved, we saw that she was sitting on a large, cream colored egg. Its name was Hope.

For the next few weeks, that scene will be re-enacted down by the lake. With every new passer-by, that male goose will honk loudly while the female will dutifully sit on that egg named Hope. One day, her patience will be rewarded, she will have a beautiful little baby gosling and all her efforts will have been worth it.

Have you ever thought that as you serve in ministry, you are Jesus' Hope? You are His precious nest egg... guarded, protected and nurtured with unending patience, so that you can fulfill your purpose. If you can do that, then what He did for us at the cross will all have been worth it.
A Child's View of Easter

April Showers....

When I was a litle girl, I never understood the purpose of rain. To me, rain was always a nuisance and accomplished nothing more than dishevelled hair and soggy clothing. Of course growing up in England, rainy days were as perennial as the grass. Never did I dare to venture outdoors without my trusty umbrella.
And yet as I listen to the April rain bouncing off the skylights in our home, I am reminded that rain absolutely has a purpose. Rain will replenish and renew our brown grass. Rain will water and feed the bulbs that are hiding under the dark soil. Rain will wash away the dirt from our driveway. Most importantly, rain will be the source of life itself for those living in a dry land.
God's Word has a purpose too. As we share that Word with children, in some mysterious way, and usually in ways that we will never get to see, it will accomplish the purpose for which it was sent. Just like the rain, God's Word will replenish and renew, it will water and cleanse. Most importantly, it may be the source of life itself to a child living in a dry land.
As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and makng it bud and flourish....so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish the purpose for which I sent it. Isaiah 55: 9-11
God's Healing Rain: Michael W. Smith

The Inevitability of Spring...

The American Robin...
a sure sign of Spring.

The other day I went for a walk and despite the cool 37 degree temperature, it was a beautiful Michigan day! The sun was shining, the sky was bright blue. With every squirrel I passed and with every robin I heard, I sensed that a change was coming. I filled my lungs with the cold, crisp air and tasted spring. Even though there were still some pathetic mounds of snow unwilling to relinquish their place on the ground, even though the trees were still bleak and bare, even though the grass was not yet green...I know for sure that one day, spring will make her appearance. On that we can depend. Nothing can stop it. One day, the snow will be gone, the trees will be covered with leaves, flowers will bloom, the grass will be green....and spring will be here. Just like God's promises to us, these things will happen.
What promises has God made to you as you faithfully serve in ministry? Like the inevitabiliy of spring, one day, He will bring them to pass. On that we can depend.
Vivaldi: Spring