A Letter From Home

Dear Folks,

I hope this finds you all well. I meant to write yesterday but got a bit busy.  We had a FaceTime call with our daughter, son-in-law and three little ones in Paris. As you can imagine, it's quite busy in their home these days with three little ones under four. Their apartment seems much smaller with Papa working from home, no pre-school for big brother and the twins learning to walk. Most importantly, they are all well, and it was a delight to see their sweet faces.

We have found a new rhythm in these stay-at-home days. I admit, I'm enjoying the slower pace - long walks, phone calls from children and grandchildren, talks with my mom, who is confined to her Assisted Living facility, reading, knitting, and an occasional afternoon movie. I hope to tackle a few projects, do a bit of writing and even get back to my piano. We find ourselves in the "at risk" group - so we need to be very careful.

The sun has made an appearance this afternoon after so many cloudy, rainy, gloomy days. Steve mowed our five acres last week, but after all that good rain we can almost hear the grass growing. I think there may be a mowing day in his future. Everything looks lush and green - that fresh, new, spring green. The wild flowers are glorious. I don't think they got the word that life has taken a dramatic turn.

A sweet friend did a grocery pickup for us today. Our refrigerator was looking a bit bare. That is no longer the case. Everything is replenished, and we are so thankful for her kindness. It's really encouraging to see all the ways people are caring for each other. I have great hope that these difficult days will draw us closer together. I pray that is so.

I managed to break a tooth the other day. It's the one my wonderful dentist has already repaired twice. I knew I was in trouble the minute I crunched down on that carrot. I have tried to be so careful about chewing on that side, but it's my favored side and I forgot! So we will make a quick trip to the dentist tomorrow morning. Goodness!

Please know that we are praying for you. We pray God's protection and provision for you, for grace and strength (and a big dose of creativity) as you adjust to having the kids home full-time and all that entails, and for those who are struggling financially.

I'll write again soon.
With love,
Linda

Hope

Our neighbors’ yards are covered in blue bonnets and Indian paintbrush. We, on the other hand, have this one lone blue bonnet

For three years in a row I have scattered wild flower seeds - all to no avail. Or so I thought.

On our walk today, my husband spotted this one in our front yard. I am thrilled. It’s like a little love gift from the hand of the Father right in the midst of these difficult days.

This one little flower holds within its heart the promise of abundance. In a few weeks it will scatter seeds of its own that will hopefully take root over the course of the next year.

It’s a picture of hope even when it looks like all is lost.

Blessings,
Linda

In Times Like These

In the midst of all the huge things coming at us in what seems like fast motion, perhaps it will help to do a few small things: take a deep breath, cover our loved ones in prayer, light a candle to gently suffuse the darkness and knit a little blanket for a sweet someone.

Blessings,
Linda

Together

The first chapters of scripture introduce us to the God of all creation. We don’t see a God who worked alone, but rather the unfathomable Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - creating from nothing everything that exists. 

We weren’t created to be alone. We were created in His image, uniquely made to be in relationship with Him and with others. 

The perfect fellowship God had with Adam and Eve was broken when they chose to disobey Him, but it didn’t change His desire  to have a deeply personal relationship with each one of us. So He made a way of restoration, one that came at great cost. 

It’s the greatest story ever told, and every word is true. Tragically, not everyone has heard the gospel message. They don’t know this Holy God who sent His Son to rescue them and give them the free gift of eternal life. 

Someone must tell them. Someone must leave the comfort of familiar things and take the message. Those that hear the gentle whisper to go are no different from those of us who serve right where we are. They have a calling, and we have the opportunity to participate in that calling. 

We weren’t created to be alone. We were meant to encourage, love and minister to the people God providentially places in our lives and the ones who are farther away. One calling is no less important than the other. Working together, doing what we were created to do, we come together in one complete whole.

 “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.” I Peter 4:10

A short time ago we said good-by to two of the most precious souls I have ever met as they headed to a land most of us will never visit. They go in answer to His call. They need us to go with them - in the same way everyone called to do something for the Kingdom needs the support and encouragement from others. 

“But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?” Romans 10:14

Blessings,

Linda

All Things Made New

Despair, I think, is the antonym for hope. I have been thinking about hope and as is so often true, I find it wherever I turn. I hear it songs and sermons, read about it in scripture, Bible studies and devotionals.

In Oswald Chambers' " My Utmost For His Highest" he wrote about despair. He used as his example the time the disciples fell asleep in the garden when Jesus had asked them to watch and pray. When they realized what they had done they were filled with despair. They felt, at that moment, they could never make up for what they had done. He wrote:

“The sense of the irreparable is apt to make us despair, and we say˜It is all up now, it is no use trying any more.”

How easily I can identify with such feelings. Whenever I fail to do something the Lord has asked me to do, or done something I know to be wrong I am very apt to sink into despair and have a “what’s the use” attitude. I believe that is just what the enemy of our souls is after. How pleased he is when we give in to despair and allow our relationship to the Lord to suffer.

However, Jesus has a better way. “Whenever we realize that we have not done that which we had a magnificent opportunity of doing we are apt to sink into despair; and Jesus Christ comes and says,˜Sleep on now, that opportunity is lost forever, you cannot alter it, but arise and go to the next thing. Let the past sleep, but let it sleep on the bosom of Christ, and go out into the irresistible future with Him.” Oswald Chambers

The answer is to let the past be washed in the blood of the Savior and to go on to the next thing. That's the glorious work of redemption and the amazing grace of our Lord. He never gives up on us. He is there to forgive us, to pick us up and dust us off and give us hope. The enemy would have us remain under the weight of guilt and shame, unable to muster up the energy or will to try again. Jesus extends a hand of forgiveness, mercy and grace. He makes all things new.

“Never let the sense of failure corrupt your new action.”concludes Chambers.

“Behold, I will do a new thing; now shall it spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:19

Blessings,

Linda