I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love….neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow…Romans 8:38 (excerpted)

Have you ever noticed how those pesky weeds in our yards are so hard to extract? Their determination to live is so much greater than the nice little bedding plants we find each spring in our local garden centers. And have you ever wondered why an unattractive weed is able to defy heat and drought while those beauties from said garden center sometimes die quickly even if we water them well? The answer is that the weed is native in that location. You didn’t plant it. The wind or an animal deposited a seed that sprouted and instantly set to work putting down a deep taproot in search of water. It began its life facing and overcoming the elements. Your pretty bedding plants have been pampered from their very beginning. The weed will return again if not completely eradicated, whereas the annual bedding plant will only last the season. One has deep roots, the other shallow.

And did you know that some plants once considered weeds have become staples in our garden beds? With looming water shortages and the high cost of keeping our beds moist, many gardeners are turning to native varieties….and, yes, we do have a lot of welcome weeds in our yard. They’re considered native when they have lived and reproduced in a region for a period of time and become acclimated to the local soil, moisture, and temperature conditions. For instance, I can plant coreopsis, coneflowers, and columbines as well as oak leaf hydrangea and native lilies with good assurance of a return on my labor investment. When those roots burrow down deep and create a firm foundation for the above-ground portion of the plant, my beds will be filled with happy, healthy plants that will provide beautiful blooms for many years.  

Don’t go digging from nearby fields and wooded areas without some research though, because some natives don’t transplant well. Their aggressive taproots become severed when dug and those varieties still need to be supplied by a native plant grower or seeds from a generous neighbor. But, when all is said and done, the best path to really healthy, long-lived plants is to use the species varieties or plants that are truly native. Sometimes they aren’t as showy, but they provide very reliable foliage and blooms. Give their roots the home they crave and just be patient. Often the good weeds will crowd out the unwanted ones, but some will always remain aggressive and need to be extracted with a good shovel and a lot of elbow grease.

Sometimes we face worries, usually unexpected and often immediate, that become like weeds trying to invade the soil of our lives. We assess the concern, develop a plan that typically has a short expiration time, implement our plan, and move on. Much like the annual plant that requires lots of short-term attention to achieve good results, these worries have shallow roots.

For example, last Friday we headed out the kitchen door to go grocery shopping and discovered that our garage door wouldn’t open. A quick inspection revealed a broken spring. OK, this situation wasn’t too bad. Our car was in the garage but the truck was out. We still had transportation that didn’t involve manually handling a heavy garage door. It was, however, Friday afternoon and service-related businesses were ready to close up shop for the week-end. We did find a company online that had good reviews and they had a service opening first thing Saturday morning. Of course, I was still fidgeting over whether or not we had made the right decision. Hey, somebody has to carry the worry burden.

Our serviceman called at 7:30 AM on Saturday and said he was on his way. By 10:00 AM, we had new springs and bearings, the door was operating like new. Our worries were just a memory. Shallow roots, remember?

But there are sometimes worries that burrow deep into our souls and, just like those aggressive weeds, their roots sap nourishment from

our reserves of faith and hope, leaving behind nothing but doubts and questions. An errant child who just keeps making bad decisions well into adulthood, a health diagnosis that seems to paint every aspect of life in shades of gray, a long-term loss of income that appears to have no end in sight. Sometimes it’s simply the culture that surrounds us, seemingly void of Godly believers. We find ourselves buried under the weight of our load. And when we try to go it alone, we lack the tools to extract the root causes of our worry.

Just then a hand touched me and lifted me, still trembling, to my hands and knees…and he said, you are very precious to God….Daniel 10:10 Paraphrased

When worries enter our lives, and they will, whether they creep in slowly or descend in an instant, there is only One who can dig out those roots and help us find peace again. I truly hope you know my God, my Jesus.

Hooray! It’s finally harvest time for tomatoes, cukes, peppers, corn and squash…well, the tomatoes do seem to be dragging their feet a bit this year. As you gardeners all know, crops seem to take forever to mature and when they ripen, they all come at once. This is especially true of that rascally zucchini. Thus, many kitchens are filled with the scent of tomato juice becoming sauce or salsa, cukes soaking in the vinegar mix that will soon render them pickles and green beans simmering with new potatoes, bacon and onions. And then, there is zucchini bread! Yummmmmmy!

Even though her tomatoes are lagging, much to our delight our very generous, almost neighbor has been sharing from her bounty. Our benefactor is actually the daughter of our ninety-three-year-old neighbor and since she spends a large part of her life taking care of her mom these days she has become our “almost neighbor.” She and her husband have a farm near Pierce City where they work a very large garden. They left the ground fallow last summer and are reaping the rewards for their patience now. They are both very giving people and insist that half the fun of having a garden is being able to share the fruits of their labors with others. Thus we have enjoyed sweet corn, green beans and bell peppers and we hope there will be red ripe, juicy tomatoes in our near future.

Harvest time is great fun and very rewarding……but a lot of sweat equity goes into those veggies in order to reap the current bounty. As stated, soil sometimes needs to rest and replenish. Often it must be amended with nutrients to promote healthy growth. In spring, before anything can happen, the soil must be broken with a tiller, or a tractor and plow in larger spaces. Fertilizer or other amendments are added before seeds or tiny seedlings can be planted. Crops need to be rotated because each one depletes the soil of different nutrients as well as leaving behind various others. By changing the crop locations within the garden space each season, better productivity can be expected.  Plants, like every living thing, need water, especially during dry times, and certainly weeds need to be removed that would choke them out and use up all of the nutrients in the soil.

And even when you do everything just right, our infamous Missouri wind and hail can wipe out the best of gardens and crops. Equally infamous are the insects that feast on all our garden favorites. Gardeners and farmers invest a great deal of themselves into the production of fresh veggies to share or sell. Some years they are highly successful and others….seems like nothing goes right.

And this leads me to ponder how much time we spend cultivating the soil of our lives, what amendments we are adding and just who we’re looking to as our source of life-giving water?  

Jesus is preparing the soil of my life with goodness and mercy. He wants the  fruit of His Spirit in every area of my life.

What is the soil of our lives, you ask? Consider these questions. Who are we listening to? What books are we reading? What movies or TV shows catch our interest? Are we overly worried about how we look, the clothes we wear, the homes we live in, the cars we drive, the jobs we work at? Who are we trying to impress? How are we fitting into our current culture? How many Facebook friends can we boast of and how much time do we indulge in social media? Are these the things we allow to nourish the soil of our hearts? Tough questions, yes? Yet questions we all need to ask ourselves. If we try to nourish our souls with the things in our lives and if we’re spending so much of our lives trying to be part of the world, how can we find time to invest in our relationship with Jesus  and the mission He has extended to us? How can we be Jesus to the world if our greater desire is to be of this world?

Jesus is the spring of living water. He wants me to grow, grow, GROW!

I certainly don’t suggest you give up your home or job or even donate all your possessions to those less fortunate, but I do suggest a sincere heart inventory. If we keep laser-focused on the true Master Gardener of our hearts and souls, He will equip us to fulfill the task set before us. He’ll go with us through the storms and provide a shield against tormentors. He will nourish us with Living Water and grow us into His image.

And here I get to use my very favorite scripture passage in the entire Bible. It truly speaks to me…please let it speak to you.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster,  to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11.

(Quotes, other than scripture, are taken from Mornings with Jesus 2024 and credited to Susanna Foth Aughtmon.)

In recent years, we’ve seen an uptick in home buyers in our town who have no intention of living in the houses they buy. They discover a tired older dwelling, strip out the dingy appliances, cabinets, and bath fixtures, often taking the place down to the studs and opening up undersized rooms to offer a more spacious and open feel. Then they’ll add new paint, shiny appliances, fancy tiles and shower heads along with some tricked out techy features to catch the eye of potential buyers. They’re typically on a short turn-around schedule and some may overlook things like outdated plumbing and wiring that can bring real danger to an unsuspecting buyer. Their end game is to make attractive cosmetic updates on a budget and resell the houses as quickly as possible. Many know what they’re doing and others….maybe not so much. Don’t get me wrong—there are lots of excellent carpenters out there who will do a great job. I’m just saying that we should always remember the old saying, “Buyer Beware,” when making large purchases.

At one level, we’re all tear-downs…Bob Goff, Live In Grace, Walk In Love

If you’ve watched TV reality shows, you’ll know that the most exciting and fulfilling segment is demo day. Everyone likes the idea of smashing their old cabinets with sledge hammers and tearing out walls for that wide open feeling. The thing is, there’s a lot more to it than slinging heavy chunks of metal at wood and drywall. For starters, is that wall you’re bashing a support wall? Is there power to that wall and have you turned it off? Of course, you say, anyone would think of that….have you really watched these shows?

While renos have been happening all over town, we’ve had a close-up experience right behind us. When we moved here, the home was owned by an acquaintance who subsequently passed away. Two or three families have since rented the home but moved on as quickly as something else became available, because, quite frankly, the home probably should have been a tear-down. We walked through it right after the former owner died and the list of problems was longer than Santa’s Christmas wish list. Our assessment….bulldoze it!

But, little by little, things have been happening. Because the house hasn’t been lived in for a couple of years and there were opportunities throughout that time for critters to find shelter there, I can’t even imagine how many must have taken advantage. It was “fixed up” just enough to be able to get someone to take a chance on renting it. And as each family left, a few cosmetic improvements were made that enticed a new renter. Following the departure of the last family, work began in earnest. Discarded furniture was carried out, carpet was pulled, and all of it burned on a giant bonfire that caught the attention of our volunteer fire department. And then nothing happened for a long while. Occasionally, we’d see a truck or two over there and maybe a big discussion going on, but no forward progress was in evidence.

If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

II Corinthians 5:17

Then one day, I heard a familiar contemporary Christian song drifting on the breeze. A quick search led me to its source, a young man was listening to a Christian station while tearing old siding off the house. He waved and went about his work. Soon new windows were installed and a glance through them revealed bare studs all the way through the once tangled web of rooms. Walls were being removed, floors were bare, wiring and plumbing were obvious by their absence….clearly they were taking that home back to bare bones and starting from scratch. Hopefully someday soon it will make a nice home for someone again. Ultimately, that’s what all these renovations are about.

Have you ever thought that sometimes we humans need to be taken back to a bare bones structure as well. Maybe we’ve forgotten “whose” we are. Maybe life and circumstances have worn us down until we just don’t know where to turn. Maybe we’re way past ready to give up. Are those voices in your head telling you that you’re not worthy?

If the walls of your life are crashing down, maybe God has a renovation in mind.

Bob Goff, Live In Grace, Walk In Love

Just like those tired old homes are given a bright new opportunity to house a growing family, our hearts and minds can also be renewed. And while we should exercise due diligence in our search for the right contractor to restore or renovate our homes, no search is necessary for the One needed to offer spiritual renovation or restoration. He’s right there beside us always waiting for an invitation to come inside. If your soul feels like demo day has taken control, ask Him to rebuild what He created in the first place. He’ll make you brand new again from the inside out.

I can’t. But God can. He doesn’t reform; he restores. He doesn’t camouflage the old; he restores the new. The Master Builder will pull out the original plan and restore it. He will restore the vigor. He will restore the energy. He will restore the hope. He will restore the soul.

Max Lucado, Grace for the Moment Volume I

God doesn’t force us to go places we don’t want to go and no matter which way we turn, we’ll find him already there if we’re looking. Bob Goff, Live In Grace, Walk In Love  

We recently got together with a portion of our family for some reconnecting. We were pretty shocked to learn that our youngest grandson now resembles a man rather than the boy we remembered (we hadn’t seen him in a while) and our only granddaughter, the thirteen-year-old who typically wants to steal the show and believes she knows just about everything, was actually willing to share the spotlight with her cousin.

Our son, and all but one of his family, were in from Texas. They spent some time with our older daughter and her family, seeing a Cardinals game, playing cards, laughing and recalling old times. Then they drove to Montauk State Park for some trout fishing and that’s where we caught up with them. Hiking to the springs, sharing dinner, and reminiscing a bit felt really good. I enjoyed watching my crew walk together, each one wandering back and forth between family members and getting re-acquainted. It was a great day.

After each of Joe’s family had caught at least one trout, they settled in for a good nights sleep before heading off to other wonderful natural attractions in the area and then to their last stop before heading home, the University of Missouri campus in Columbia. Joe graduated from Mizzou and would love to see his baby boy choose to go there as well. Quinn was impressed with the campus but insists that the school he eventually attends will have to come up with a pretty sweet baseball scholarship and he has a few more months to go before recruiters can approach him officially. He’s really good, and that’s not just Grandma’s opinion.

On the other hand, our older daughter’s son, Kannon, received a great scholarship to Mizzou for his pole vaulting skills. He’ll participate in their decathlete program and has a difficult learning curve ahead because he’s not competed in about half the events. But he’s a tough, all-around athlete so I have every confidence in his ability to succeed. The really nice caveat to both stories is that the boys are really good, dedicated students. Each is capable of extra scholarship awards for their academic credentials.

Two young men, one heading off to college and the other involved in the selection process, and parents who are anxious for their sons to begin this new phase of life but concerned about their response to the culture that will try to tempt them to be untrue to themselves. And I can tell you, this Grandma is plenty concerned for their safety in this crazy world we live in.

Parents everywhere will be saying goodbye to adult children heading off to college dorms or apartments. Life will change dramatically for both parent and child. The daily contact will be replaced by phone calls, text messages and visits on weekends and holidays. The transition can be difficult unless we keep in mind:

Our children are ours, and not ours. We guide them, we don’t control them. We cannot save them from the world and certainly not from outrageous fortune. We try to help where we can, including savoring their successes, but we can only do so much. Then we do what parents have done since time began: we pray. Mark Collins, Walking in Grace 2024

We’ve raised them to be independent beings, always in the knowledge that they were only on loan to us for a while. Imagine that, God trusted us with His own creation and now it’s time to let them fly.

Kannon heads out to Mizzou early to train for his track and field events, so I texted him a few days ago, texting being the chosen method of communication with our grandchildren, and offered him a few pearls of Grandma wisdom. They seem appropriate here as well….feel free to share them with your students:

Lord, You love us as Your children, have mercy on us as parents (and Grandparents)—imperfect vessels of Your perfect love. Mark Collins, Walking In Grace 2024

This past Sunday morning we were cruising down a back road toward church and I was babbling on about someone who just needed to make some adjustments to the way they’re doing things. After all, I probably know more about the issues they’re facing than they do, don’t I?

And suddenly, a tiny voice inside my head said, “Mind your own business, Marcy.” Really, Lord? I’m older, I have much more experience and, obviously, I know more about how they should live their lives than they do.

And, like a flash of lightening, I recalled that just a couple of weeks ago, pastor Dennis used that less than pleasant phrase, mind your own business, in his sermon. What’s more, he claimed it was in the Bible. It got a pretty good chuckle out of the congregation, myself included, and then it escaped my mind as quickly as it had entered. That is, until the next morning.

You may recall my writing about a sudden Sunday morning power outage which caused some detours in my usual routine. I always read my devotionals on my iPad, and that works fine, even when our electrical sources fail, because they’re downloaded, no internet required. My verse of the day, however, is delivered by e-mail and it hadn’t reached my iPad. I gave it no more thought and continued stumbling along without power, forgetting completely that my phone had a signal.

The next morning, when my e-mail came up, the previous day’s verse popped up also and what do you suppose it said?

“Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business…” I Thessalonians 4:11a.

Apparently, I needed a reminder. In recent days…OK it was weeks, I’d been covertly critical of family members and neighbors about some of their habits. At least, I had the good sense not to let my thoughts take voice, except for a few minor infractions, but who am I kidding. Our God knows every thought, no matter how fleeting, that crosses our minds. And those thoughts hurt Him just as badly as our spoken words and misplaced actions.

I encountered Pastor Dennis in the Commons area on Sunday morning and shared the whole story with him and we exclaimed, once again, how our topics are so often the same, though this time I was a little slow on the upload. We had a good laugh at our own expense, and I moved on into the sanctuary for the last service.

But the thought kept nagging at me…I had been mentally hard on those around me in recent weeks. When Pastor Sarah prayed before serving Communion, she touched my heart, and I knew it was time for me to bring this bad habit of mine before the Lord. I needed to lay this burden on His altar and leave it there, but then, there’s my other bad habit. That one would be picking up those worries I leave behind and stewing over them some more. I know better, but I can’t seem to do better. I’m trying, Lord, I really am!

So, when you finish reading, I’d like to ask a favor of you. Would you please pray for me. I need all the help I can muster to curb these nasty habits and leave them where they belong….in the very capable hands of my Lord.

Thank you, Lord, that while I grow and make mistakes, you will always remind me that, of course, you still love me. Nicole Garcia, Walking in Grace 2024

As a mostly self-taught artist, I’ve spent significant time studying works of a variety of different types of artists, and it has become obvious that the mind can use the hand to create many different emotions with just a few pen or brushstrokes. A painting or drawing can display anger, or it can express joy. It can evoke disgust or cause a giggle to erupt. Through the lens of these visual snapshots, we can learn much about the artist. Is this person one who thrives on controversy or one who is led “beside peaceful streams?”

With God in your world, you aren’t an accident or an incident; you are a gift to the world, a divine work of art, signed by God. Max Lucado, In the Grip of Grace

And just as an artist can evoke countless emotions in a visual image, so can a few well-placed instigators among a crowd create a wave of dissent using just a couple of taunts. Soon those nearby are joining the chant and in very short order, the entire crowd is whipped into a frenzy. As the instigators steal away under cover, the mob grows and grows until there is no controlling it. It happened in Jerusalem to Jesus. It can happen anytime, anywhere with a minimum of planning and provocation.

Most of the crowd is probably made up of hard-working ordinary people who get carried away in the moment. Many didn’t come to that place or that time to find themselves in danger from law enforcement or elements of the crowd. And everyone of them is redeemable if they choose to be. You read that right…if they choose.

The best example I know of radical change is the Apostle Paul. By his own admission, he was one of the most aggressive persecutors of Christians in his day and yet after being overwhelmed by a light so bright that it brought him to his knees and left him blind, he heard the voice of Jesus and turned his life around. We all have that choice. Our encounter with Jesus may not reach the level of Paul’s but there will be a time of reckoning for each of us. Some will never accept the Word of God because they choose not to, but others are redeemable just like Paul. Our job is to stand up and, as Pastors Dennis and Sarah are telling us each Sunday this summer, act out the truths we hold dear regarding the reality of the need for Jesus in this hurting world.

What makes us special is…the signature of God on our lives. We are His works of art. We are created in his image to do good deeds. We are significant, not because of what we do, but because of whose we are. Max Lucado, In the Grip of Grace.

Sunday morning, a phrase in Pastor Sarah’s opening prayer really caught my attention. I can’t quote her exactly but it essentially said we all need to fall on our knees asking for redemption before we can raise our hands in praise to God. Paul was our example and I can think of no better one to follow.

Back in 1965, the writing team of Burt Bacharach and Hal David put together a song that became a top-ten hit. Bacharach, however, was uncertain about the timing because we were in the midst of a culture struggle over differences of opinion regarding the war in Vietnam. Oddly enough, that environment softened a bit with the leading words to their song: What the world needs now is love sweet love …. It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of.

A truer statement was never made. And the word love finds its most profound meaning in the name of Jesus.

We are tasked with bringing a little Jesus into the lives of everyone we encounter, our words and actions should reflect His image. Some may see H is light and come to redemption, others may not. We can encourage an environment of love and grace, but they will have to choose, and eternity is a very long time.

For the Lord is the spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom…And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. II Corinthians 3:17-18

If We Let it

By: Marcy Barthelette

I awoke with a start to total silence, disoriented for a moment, then I heard our neighbor’s generator kick in and I knew….our power was out! A dozen snapshots flashed through my brain in an instant. Why is this happening now rather than during our storm of a few days ago! How long will it last? It’s Sunday morning and we need to get ready for church. But I can’t see a thing in my bathroom. I need the battery powered lanterns. And the hair dryer won’t work! It’s best to grab breakfast at a fast-food restaurant on our way, rather than opening our refrigerator. Did some foreign power hack our system? OK…maybe that’s a little “out there” but in our current world it is certainly not beyond the realm of possibility.

We want certainty, but the only certainty is the lack thereof. Max Lucado

Let’s face it, we all have a tendency to want or need to control everything around us. I’m one of the worst, but I’m here to tell you that there is an order to this world that is always controlled by God. We can often convince ourselves that we did it our way, but if we’re honest, we didn’t.

We can’t take control, because control is not ours to take. Max Lucado

I recently referred to my journey in writing as having begun on a very structured plane. I tended to work several weeks ahead and that may have been a carry-over from my advertising days when everything was accomplished on deadlines set weeks or months earlier. Lists and outlines were the meat of my playbook in those days. There was lots of advance prep for holidays or special events and that still holds true. I can’t ignore Lent or Advent, but I must admit to overlooking some of the one-day holidays now that I’ve adopted a new and more spontaneous approach to writing.

The thing is that when I adhere to a strict calendar of events, I may miss opportunities to hear the Lord whisper new ideas or challenges, ones that may be relevant to someone out there I don’t even know. Maybe someone needs to hear a particular message. Maybe another needs comfort or perhaps even courage. If I constantly rely on my organized thoughts, I may walk right past a road sign pointing me in a new direction God chose for me, one that may be more meaningful or exciting.

The simple truth is that a novelist doesn’t know how a story will end when it’s just beginning. Characters are developed, a setting is determined, an opening scene sets the wheels in motion, but the story develops in stages and builds to a surprising climax if well written. In essence, the same is true with a short article. It may stem from just a few words expressed by a friend, the pastor offering a sermon, or a deeply moving song lyric. Those words blossom into an idea that when given enough freedom and solid traction, can take off on a journey the writer never imagined in the beginning. And like the writer, we just have to open our minds to letting go of the uncertainties in our lives and accepting the fresh opportunities.

Don’t let an unknown ending keep you from beginning….uncertainty is God’s way of inviting us to join Him. Bob Goff, Live in Grace, Walk in Love

Oh, and that power outage I mentioned gave me time to wander out to the deck on a beautiful morning, with none of my devices, and soak in my surroundings. The sun provided just the right temperature, the flowers showed off their colors and swayed gently in the breeze. The birds were singing, a squirrel chattered, some bunnies hopped (our back yard has become a wildlife sanctuary since the huge dog behind us left), and it couldn’t have been a more perfect start to the day. An hour later, silence once again caught my attention. The generators were off, I glanced inside and saw fan blades whirling on my living room ceiling. My respite ended and life was back to normal. I’m glad I didn’t miss my opportunity to revel in the incredible beauty of God’s creations by clinging to my uncertainty of a little thing called electrical power.

My eyes are fixed on you, Sovereign Lord; in you I take refuge. Psalm 141:8

(All Lucado quotes are taken from Anxious for Nothing and reprinted in You Can Count on God.)

Creator God, You “call us by name, and we are Yours.” Ken Sampson, Walking In Grace 2024

Some years back we attended a much smaller church than today, one where everyone knows just about everyone else. I recall a short story from that church that has left a large impact on my life. It reached my ears from the Sunday School teacher who had asked each of her students who was their favorite adult in our church. One girl had indicated that I was her favorite. I was quite surprised because I’d had little interaction with her but also because she didn’t live in our town. Her mom had grown up there but then moved away as an adult. So the girl didn’t attend school with any of the church kids but her family came back to Grandma’s church on Sundays. I could always see that felt a little like she was on the outside trying to fit in.

My puzzled expression brought a quick explanation from the teacher. This lovely young girl liked me because I knew her name and called her by it whenever I saw her. It was as simple as a name.

Recalling names has always been easy for me, except now that I’m getting to that “senior moment” stage. Throughout the years when I worked, I was always in the position of needing to call people by name. It made my work a lot easier and the people I encountered regularly appreciated being recognized. My mental Rolodex (contacts folder) was extensive. It even went so far as voice recognition, so learning the names of all the kids in our small church was a no-brainer. I just had never realized how much it would mean to this one girl.

Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine. Isaiah 43:1b

There are countless voices in our culture today that are clamoring for our attention and that of our children. Who do you want your children to hear? The pedophile who roams the internet in search of prey? The human trafficker lying in wait on the dark street corner? The drug dealer who might just slip something into a soda in the hope of gaining a regular customer? The kid around school who always has great ideas about how to have fun? The passengers in their car who dare them to go beyond the speed limit or do some crazy stunt with the car? The rock singer whose lyrics teach hate? I could go on and on, but I think you likely get the message. Wouldn’t you rather your kids hear the whisper of God offered through people of faith?

Jesus whispers (your name), the world screams. Which do you hear? Max Lucado

And which voices does your child hear? But, lest we forget, kids are not the only people who respond to name recognition. Adults are equally pleased when we take the time to notice who they are rather than what they are.

So, what’s in a name? Well, ask yourself that the next time your server says, “My name is _____ and I’ll be taking care of you today. Memorize that name, at least for the duration of your meal. Use it often and by the time your check is delivered, you’ll find you’ve made a new friend, one you may never see again, but your effort to know that person, even a little, may have been just the lift he or she needed.

When a cranky store clerk or a stressed-out fellow business conference attendee wears a name badge, make note of their name and strike up a conversation. These may not be long term relationships, but you never know who may have needed some positive re-enforcement at that moment when you chose to recognize their humanity.

And when you have a kid encounter, make a point of asking for a name, then memorize it so that when your next encounter happens, you can begin the conversation by addressing him or her properly. Watch out, you’re likely to be rewarded with a great, big smile.

Most importantly, God never forgets any of our names. He has them all written on His heart and He never, ever forgets one of His children.

God calls out our names. Listen for His voice and be like it too. Speak of love and beauty, trust and acceptance, grace and forgiveness—and you’ll be the voice people are longing to hear. Bob Goff, Live in Grace, Walk in Love

What kind of voice are you in the lives of those you encounter?

For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them. Matthew 18:20

I was twenty-eight years old and seven months pregnant when we lost my dad. It was heartbreaking to realize he’d never see his new granddaughter and she would never know the love he would have showered on her. Just as heartbreaking was hearing my mom lamenting that she would most miss the long talks the two of them shared in the evenings. It stands to reason that she would search for something to fill those lonely evenings when she came home from the busyness of her secretarial job to a much too quiet house, and one that likely didn’t feel much like home anymore.

She found her answer at her church by joining a quilting group, whose members welcomed her with open arms. Though she’d never made a quilt in her life, it was a natural fit. During my childhood years, she had made all my clothing and she did it on an old-fashioned treadle sewing machine. Many of you may be unfamiliar, but the machine is foot-powered by a swinging treadle near the floor, which transfers the energy by belt to a wheel near the top of the machine. There’s a certain rhythm to the process that I could never master, but mom, on the other hand, couldn’t make the transition to an electric machine. As I grew up, she grew away from sewing,

But it’s much like riding a bike. The skills you develop lie dormant somewhere in the back of your memory until one day you call them up again; think of it as downloading a folder from the cloud. Even when Mom used her treadle machine, there was a certain amount of the prep and finish work that was accomplished by hand. There was a lot of patching done in those days, as well, so she was no stranger to needle, thread, pin cushion, and thimble. She felt right at home cutting colorful patches from all kinds of leftover fabric, outgrown clothing filled with memories, or combinations of new fabrics, and then hand stitching them together to create dazzling patterns. Her first experiments were small items such as potholders or wall hangings, but eventually she was making full sized quilts, and they were lovely. I still have several and others are scattered among family members.  

Think about the anatomy, if you will, of a quilt. It begins with a top that is artistically pieced to enhance the chosen color palette and an intricate design. Under the completed cover goes a lofty batting, today’s choice is polyester, that provides lift as well as warmth on a cold winter night. Lastly, the quilter adds a backing that is color coordinated to the pieces in the top design. Ideally, the three layers are then attached to a wooden frame where they can be stretched and held tautly while a group of quilters gathers round the frame to add tiny hand stitches in a specific pattern throughout the quilt. The quilting pattern adds stability to the filler and another layer of creativity to the overall appearance. The more stitches a quilter can place onto her needle at once is a good indicator of her (or his) expertise. Obviously, the quilters must be in tune with one another to avoid making mistakes.

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12

The strength, comfort, and utility of a quilt can be used to illustrate The Holy Trinity. Just as the quilt gains its qualities from its three layers, so The Holy Trinity provides for us from three sources. God the Father, Jesus the son, and The Holy Spirit embody everything we need to live life in the way we were created to live. There is always strength in numbers, whether in reference to a rope made of multiple strands twisted together or the people in our lives who support us when we stumble and things get tough. Having an extra level or layer of strength makes any job or trial easier and we can rest assured the Father, Son and Holy Spirit never leave our side. Just as those women in my mom’s quilting circle propped her up when she needed a new spark in her life, so can your church family help you through difficult times. The church is the living hands and feet of The Holy Trinity.

The strings that tie us to the people we love are the ropes that pull us up when life gets hard.

The most beautiful view in the world is the sight of the faces who show up for you no matter what.

Bob Goff, Live In Grace, Walk In Love