Monthly Archives: May 2010

Edna had all the wrong cards in life.  I did not hear much of her younger days other than that they were abusive, her marriage less than ideal.  Her husband died of cancer, her daughter committed suicide and her son is in jail.  She did not endear herself to others and lived a lonely life.

I crossed her path when her son began to come to church.  Unfortunately his addictive nature and habits overtook his searching.  In the midst of this I met his mother. 

She never attended church.  She had lived enough of life to be suspicious of others.  She tended to reject a God of love.

These last few weeks, as she lay in hospital dying of cancer, I talked to her of heaven.  Not a lot.  At first she scoffed. 

I’d like to say that she came to see Jesus as the doorway to heaven.  I’m not sure.  Perhaps I was not as direct in speaking to her as I would have liked.  Perhaps I thought she had more time.  Perhaps I cannot change a person’s mind. 

Only God can.

Only God can touch the deepest, inmost parts of a person.  The closest I come to that person’s inner sanctuary is by prayer to God on their behalf.  And so for these last few days I  have been praying.  

For Edna, that she would come to Jesus, the doorway to God and to eternal life.

Edna died yesterday.  Her time for decision is past – those prayers are finished.

But a new prayer has been birthing in my own heart.  God is giving to me a greater desire to tell others about Jesus.  God is calling me to have more God-chats with others.  God is pointing out to me that, while I cultivate a relationship with others, I need to be simple, direct and understandable as I talk to them of God and Jesus and life.

From Edna’s death I sense a Spring of new life emerging!

What an enjoyable 24 hours!  Just outside Outlook is a home that housed seven senior pastors. 

We slept, laughed, prayed, learned, interacted, ate and were refreshed.  In the end  the networking enhanced our ministry.  And as we work together there is an opportunity to pray for each other, to support each other and to just be to each other Christ’s ambassadors.

I suppose our monitors for computers are getting fairly sophisticated.  In past years the real problem was that any image remaining for an extended period would “burn” the image on the monitor.  So the screensaver was the salvation of those early monitors – at least, that was the intent.  The original screensaver was a blank screen!

Not to be outdone, pictures and animation was added as screens became able to withstand the “burn” time.  Audio was added.  Of course, one of the other intents of the early screen saver (privacy from those who just “popped into your office”), was now complemented by a full video presentation which distracted your visitors.

Today I was viewing a screensaver on my wife’s computer that takes the pictures you select and continuously plays them across the screen.  I’ve glanced over once in a while and just enjoyed myself.  Of particular interest was a recent picture which was of my mother, myself, my daughter and her daughter.  There is a legacy there which I appreciate. 

Now, you are just going to have to imagine that.  Since you are reading this, your screensaver hasn’t kicked in yet!

I see “providence” as coming upon a fresh stream in the midst of a forest when you least expect it.  The water flows cool and clear, the vegetation is sparkling green and the sunlight is unexpected.  When you arrive you are surprised.  You drink of the stream and you are refreshed.

Nothing you did prepared your for this refreshment.

Yesterday I was wondering about a talk I would give to our youth group.  I’d been asked to give a devotional a few days previous.  My schedule was such that I had no squeeze time.  And yet, in my regular routine God squeezed in a chapter from a book I was reading.  Exactly the content that would suit where our youth group has been venturing.

Then, during the day I was involved in a community committee.  One of those efforts that are helpful but can be an expense of time for which the debit on your resources sometimes outweighs the credit to your purposes.  The meetings went well.  In fact, as a committee we congratulated ourselves on our accomplishment for the day.

But the greatest providence was on the way home – a drive with a portion of the committee to return to our hometown.  In the car the conversation soon turned to God.  Now, remember, this is a “non-church” group.  We ranged from a discussion on the devotional for the youth to faith, belief, church, friends, backgrounds, God . . . In an hour’s time I had been refreshed!

Not expecting the opening in the forest, I just sat back and enjoyed!  Sometimes I wonder if God puts experiences in our way just to make our jaws drop and our senses tingle.  And then, we head back into the forest – intent on the path in front of us, and waiting to see what lies around the corner!