Undivided

"Is Christ divided?"  1 Corinthians 1:13a

Growing up I was never certain which church I'd be attending each Sunday.  With my dad "filling the gap" when Pastors were ill or on vacation, we traveled together as a family and that found us here, there and everywhere.  The denomination might change, but not the message of salvation.

At a very young age I learned about the "body of Christ".  Anyone who knows me is well aware that I am not a "denominational" girl.  If God's complete Word is being taught without apology, then I can feel at home in a variety of congregations.  That's why what I heard recently made me so happy.

Our church building is bursting at the seams.  During our summer Vacation Bible School all our rooms fill and fire regulations dictate attendance. On Tuesday nights our Kids Clubs are met with the same room restriction.  Women's Bible Studies are meeting in small groups scattered throughout the building.  Every nook and cranny is utilized.  Space is a lost commodity.

Recently it has come to my attention that our "overflow" is meeting in churches across the street from our location.  We are situated on "church corner" for lack of a better description.  Baptist, Wesleyan Methodist, Alliance and United Pentecostal mark each direction.  The need for more room was shared and doors were opened.  I can't tell you how this blesses my heart.  This his how it should be!

With Jesus Christ the Head of the church, as believers we are His body...singular. To see and hear us all working together in unity speaks volumes about our relationship with the Lord, as well as declares to a watching world that in Jesus we can all serve beside one another in love.

Christ is not divided, and neither should we be.

The "Again" of God

"...'I will bring them home again,' says the LORD."  Hosea 11:11

Lord, there is still time to intervene.

This morning my heart is with precious friends.  Their 21-year old daughter will be moving out today, deciding to live with her boyfriend.  How did it happen?  When did her heart begin to turn?  She loved Jesus as a little girl.

Another single mom shared yesterday that it was her daughter's 18th birthday.  She hasn't seen her in two years.  The young girl moved out at 16, and in tears this dear mom shared that she has no idea where her daughter is living right now.

A couple in their late 60's continue to cry and pray for the son that wandered from the Lord many years ago.  He is living a life of sin, yet was raised in a Christian home where God was the center.  What caused him to walk away?

My words are few today.  Let's get on our knees and pray.  I'm sure everyone reading this has either heard a similar story, or you've living the painful scenario right now.  Please, let's not stand in a place of judgement over these dear ones...the children or the parents.  We have all fallen.  We all have the same potential to fail.  The same enemy is watching our weaknesses.  The same arrow stands ready to shoot and our armor had better be in place.

Wounded soldiers need help.  Bearing another's burdens means standing with them in the mess.  Let's get in the trenches, providing the safety they need of a listening ear and a heart and tongue that doesn't condemn.

And, dear ones who are weary in this walk, you don't have to carry it alone.  Allow the family of God opportunity to minister to you.  Please, in the comments today, either just write "Praying" or leave the first name of someone who has wandered from the Lord and let's pray for one another.  God is able.  His Word says, "I will bring them home again."

Unrequited Love

I honestly couldn't believe what I was seeing.  I was both stunned and heart-sick at the same time.

The Pastor had just challenged us from God's Word to love one another.  The new commandment had raised the bar.  This was a different measure of love.   It was no longer just enough to love others as we love ourselves (Romans 13:9), but now we are called to love as Christ loved (John 13:34).  This is radical, intentional, sacrificial love.

Drawing the sermon to a close, as an immediate response and act of love, we were asked to stand, reach out and take hold of the hand of the person standing on either side of us while the Pastor closed in prayer.  All across the sanctuary the body of Christ was coming together as one.  Brothers and sisters were uniting in the bond of love.  Until...

In the row ahead of me a precious lady reached out to take hold of the hand of the one beside her.  She was met with a wall.  Not only was a receptive hand not extended in response, but this one to her right, stood untouched, both by human contact and God's Word.  Resistance was written across the body language.  The hand extended was not acknowledged or accepted.

With a pitiful, "I don't know what to do" look, this sweet lady glanced back at me.  She tried again.  Nothing.  At this point I wish I could have grown a third hand.  The Pastor began to pray, and quite honestly I couldn't tell you what he said.  My heart was broken.  Shattered for the dear one who tried applying God's Word, and aching for the one denying His Word.

If seconds after hearing truth, while still sitting in church pews we can remain unaffected, how on earth can we live out God's Word in the world?  How are others going to see Christ's love if we can't even extend His love to those in the body of Christ?  You know what hurts too?  I know both these people.  It was so hard for my mind to wrap around what I was watching take place in front of me.  Have some of us become so set in our ways that even God Himself couldn't penetrate our stubborn hearts?

In absolute stunned silence, I prayed the Lord would take the hand of the one met with unrequited love.   Jesus knows exactly how she felt.  His nail-scarred hands reached out on the cross to take the hand of a lost world.  His hand still reaches out today.  I'm reaching back in response.  How about you?

Celebrating Mom!

"Let's celebrate together!"  Matthew 25:21,23

It's a day of celebration.  My precious mother turns 88 years of age today.

When I think of my mom, so many words come to mind.  Loving.  Prayerful.  Disciplined.  Faithful.  Devoted.  Caring.  Giving.  Self-sacrificing.  Gracious.  Hospitable.  Tender-hearted.  Gentle.  Encouraging.  Supportive.  Godly.

Her life has changed a lot in the past year.  She has gone from taking care of her house with her precious husband for just shy of 70 years, to selling the family home, moving into a long-term care facility and the passing of her Prince Charming.  She has done so with a strength that has been incredible to all walking with her.  A strength that will continue to carry her into this next year of living.  A strength that only comes through her personal Lord and Savior.

Shortly after daddy passed away she declared to me one day, "I am not going to sit here, shrivel up and die."  No, mom has no intention of fading into the background.  She has prayed that the Lord would make her "faithful in the land of her affliction" and is living, as my sister would say, in A.W.E. - "aging with enthusiasm"!

Mom attends exercise classes, Senior Saint luncheons, monthly Mission Circle meetings, as well as most recently registering for 2 hours of weekly Conversational French Lessons.  In addition to all of this, we have joked that the nursing home could retire a few of it's full-time staff since mom's arrival.  She sweetly encourages others who have lost their appetite, to eat.  She looks after some of the lesser needs of the ladies on her floor.  She spends time with those who don't receive visitors.  She often has some small treats that bring a smile to those going through a difficult day. She always shares Jesus in Word and deed.

With the simple act of hiding her face in her hands, daily mom enters her "prayer closet".  Her life may be reduced to one-room living, but from her chair, with eyes closed, she prays for the needs of many, including her own.  Mom has always been a prayer warrior.  As long as I can remember, mom has been rising each morning by 4:00am to spend time with her Lord, studying His Word and lifting her family and loved ones to Him in prayer.  Her days begin and end with prayer.  Unable to kneel, her heart still bows before His throne each day.  It's our heart posture the Lord is most concerned about anyway.

Today will bring mixed feelings and emotion.  Mom's first birthday since the passing of daddy.  A difficult day for us all.  Dad always made every day special and his presence will be missed, but we are thankful for so many memories. Daddy would most often surprise mom on her birthday by scheduling the day off work and taking her out to some grand place for breakfast, then a day of shopping at one of her favourite out-of-town malls.  Although I would never have called my dad a shopper, he adored my mom and enjoyed being with her, even if that meant spending time in and out of stores.  Both my parents are expert window shoppers and holding hands they would spend millions of dollars, mostly on others, as they enjoyed imagining how they would bless friends and family should they have the resources.  Yes, daddy would have made today special.

So, it's up to us daughters!  Keeping up tradition, mom will indeed head out for breakfast and then we will see how she would like to spend the remainder of her day.  No doubt some cake will be involved.  I will celebrate the gift of my precious mom today.

For those of you reading this who are blessed to still have your mom living, as a gift to my mom, will  you contact you mom today and just tell her you love her?  Then, come back here and let us know you did. I will share that blessing with my mom.  If your mom has passed away, would you leave a comment of blessing for my mom today?  She will receive it in honour and representative for the precious life your mom lived.  I know it's not Mother's Day, but let's celebrate moms today!

My sister Japhia is to the left, then mom, my sister Sharon and me.

PS.  I have to share one more thing.  After writing this, I opened up the Devotional Journal I use daily and the heading for today was "The Blessings of Aging".  No one can ever convince me that God is not 100% aware of every moment of every day!  That is not a coincidence!  Can't wait to share that with my mom :-)

Guide Us With Your Grace

Well, a little change of pace today.  First, if you haven't read yesterday's incredible story about a little girl named Grace and our amazing God, click here: "Saving Grace"  It's too great a story to miss.  Do you need a miracle?  God is still doing miracles today!

Friday night my husband and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary.  The actual date was almost two weeks ago, but our tickets for the Josh Groban concert were this weekend.  We had such a wonderful evening out together.

I have always enjoyed Josh Groban's voice, even when I can't understand one word he's singing.  Italian is such a romantic language. 

Just in case you aren't familiar with Josh, enjoy the video below. Josh and Celine sing a duet of "The Prayer", written by Canadian composer, David Foster, the man who first "discovered" Josh at the age of 17.  Enjoy!

Saving Grace

"If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven."  Matthew 18:19

It was less than a month ago I received the first email.  A friend had forwarded a prayer request regarding a precious little girl named Grace.  Only 7 years of age and diagnosed with a malignant form of cancer called "Ewings Sarcoma".  Only 1 in 2,000,000 people develop this type of cancer.  By the time Doctors were able to confirm her condition it had already metastasized to various areas in her body, including her clavicle (collar bone), ankle, heel, toes, and under her left arm, as well as some other potential places.

The message contained a request to help cheer up Gracie.  "She loves rainbows and dolphins, friends and family, special cards, glittery girl things, and the colour pink.  She also loves Jesus with all her heart."

Folks responded from all around the world.  There was an outpouring of gifts, cards, letters, emails, phone calls and prayers.The support and encouragement received was a testament of God's love.  Although feeling total devastation at times, and running on very little sleep, the Lord was holding this dear family as they walked this difficult road.

This past Monday I received an update that more biopsy results would be read at the end of the week.  Grace's mom was encouraged by a friend to pray the tumors down and out.  Believing in a God who answers us when we call to Him, we were all asked to stand with this family, asking God for a miracle for Gracie.

Many began calling on the Lord to remove the tumors and restore health, that the Lord may be glorified through His healing of this little child.  Grace's parents recognized that the healing might mean heaven, but they were confident God would heal Grace.

Last night I received an email from my friend who knows this family personally and has been forwarding the updates to me.  All she wrote in her message to me was: "Well Joy, you will enjoy this!"  I knew instantly!

With enthusiasm and a heart already thanking and praising the Lord I began to read evidence of what my heart already knew.  This precious family had just received a phone call from the pathologist at Sick Kids Hospital.  They had the most recent biopsy results and all were NEGATIVE of any cancer!!!  In fact, as Grace's mom writes, the pathologist "cannot detect the problem at all.  PRAISE THE LORD!!!"

Grace's mom then continued to share how just recently she and her husband had been called to take some very radical steps of obedience to follow Jesus.  She describes both she and her husband as having been "intellectual Christians", studying God's Word with their minds, but not applying it to their hearts.  In April the Lord deeply convicted Grace's mom to quit attending law school and stay home full-time with her children.  Next came a move from the United States to Canada.  She and her husband began studying God's Word, repenting and obeying Him in radical ways.  Does God honour obedience?  Most definitely.

Skeptics may say that Grace never had cancer at all.  Some may claim the original test results were wrong.  Friends, this was a little girl who less than a month ago couldn't walk normally because of a large tumor on her ankle.  A little girl unable to swim because of the golf-ball sized tumor on her clavicle.  Today...Grace is running!!  Praise the Lord!  This is a miracle.  God's healing in Gracie's life.

I cannot say it any better than Grace's mom:

"We have seen many children in severe health situations while we were at the hospital.  We also have family members who are experiencing life-threatening disease, and we have friends, and friends of friends who are experiencing life-threatening cancers and disease.  Dear friends and family - by no means are we beneficiaries of a 'special' grace from God, and others are not.  We believe all prayers of healing are answered.  We believe that some prayers are answered right away, some take time, and others will happen on resurrection day.  However, everyone who prays for healing in His name will experience it at a time appointed by God alone.  We cannot even begin to understand His almighty works and ways, and why He does things, but what we CAN do is glorify Him in our lives, every day, all day!

Just like with the children of Israel that wandered through the desert and from time to time turned away from His statutes and His commandments, and worshipped Baal, etc., let us remember that they had to TURN AWAY from the idols in their lives, and follow Him, to experience temporal and eternal blessings!  The promised-land for them was Canaan, and the promised-land for us is Heaven.  So today, whatever is blocking us from a deep and true relationship with God, let us turn away, and follow Him!  Let us take up our cross, and follow Him!  Let us also be burden-bearers and help those around us!"

To anyone who wants to explain this away, here's the answer: God answers prayer!  Miracles happen!  God is alive!  He is the same yesterday, today and forever.  Grace may have been 1 in 2,000,000 but we have a God who denies statistics and I thank Him for His saving grace.

Forgotten Treasure

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."  Matthew 6:19-21

Turning into the driveway, instantly she noticed.  The side-door to her home stood ajar.  That's strange.  Had she left in such a hurry that she forgot to lock it?  No, she could almost feel the key in her hand as she had turned the deadbolt, securing the door.  Was that today?  Did the memory return just from repetition?  Maybe she had forgotten this one time.  Certainly she had enough things on her mind these days.

Running up the steps, swinging open the screen door she hollered in, "Hello".  Habit birthed the cheery welcome, because truly she did not expect or want a reply.  Her eyes suddenly fell to the lock laying on the tile at the feet.  Lifting her view higher, the splintered door took her attention.  Before another thought crossed her mind she was back down the steps and locked in her car.  Someone had been in her home.  Maybe they were still in there.

Summoning her husband home first, her next call went to 911.  The operator asked a series of questions.  The police were on their way.

Fearing the intruder might still be in her home and possibly watching her, a shiver ran up her spine.  She drove and parked in the neighbour's driveway.  Distance provided a buffer, but also a blindfold.  Her view of the house was blocked by the garage.  Oh well, at least she felt safer.

When the police arrived the canine unit was dispatched and a thorough investigation of her home was conducted.  Whoever had been there moments before had left, most likely after she drove next door.  There were things that gave the police evidence to believe that the intruder had been in her home when her cheerful greeting echoed through the halls.

The rooms on a whole didn't appear much different.  Drawers were open.  Lid off the cookie jar.  Boxes emptied of contents.  Mattress uncovered and moved.  Although much more damage could have been done, the unwelcomed visitor had left with all her jewelry, a small amount of cash and a camera.  The jewelry box also contained precious treasures.  Old photographs.  Newspaper clippings.  Irreplaceable value, yet no doubt tossed away thoughtlessly by one who didn't appreciate their worth.

Friends, we have been given a treasure worth far more than gold.  How careless are you with God's Word?  I will always remember a seminar on different religions that I attended.  The speaker shared the importance the Muslim's place on the Koran.  When not being read it is respectfully placed on a high shelf of importance.  The speaker said that Muslim people are astonished at the way Christians handle their Bibles.  We place them on the floor.  We toss them into our cars.  We might even set a cup of coffee on the cover to keep from marking a table.  Not only that, but if we truly believe it to be God's Word, how do we go from day to day without touching it...reading it?  Where is our reverence and longing for God's Word?

I'm not suggesting we idolize our Bible, but do we treasure it?  Have you ever seen someone who receives their first copy of the Scriptures?  When it's placed in their hands, they realize the pearl of great price that has been handed to them.  It's not the Book so much that causes the enamoured response or the tender hold, but the Author.

What defines riches to you?  This burglar departed with perishable trinkets while leaving priceless treasures.  I'm not saying this home is filled with items of great monetary value, but what this intruder really needed was left behind.  A Bible in almost every room.  The wealth that could have changed a heart forever.  The promise of mansions, streets of gold, salvation, forgiveness, acceptance, love and one day living with the King of Kings.

The thief last week no doubt wanted gold and cash.  Quick commodities.  Material items of no eternal significance.  Although it has left my sister and her family shaken, they are secure in Christ.  We are all now praying for the one who's life has been reduced to theft.  Reminded of the thieves who were crucified with Jesus.  Reminded of eternal treasures.  Reminded of the priceless value of God's Word.  Reminded that only in the Lord do we find security and safety.  There is no greater joy than knowing Jesus, and once He is believed and received, He is a Treasure that cannot be stolen.