Most great memories involve love in one form or another. Love, whether it comes from a pet, a parent, or friend or neighbor, can put wings on your heart. It can lift you up and take you to such heights that ten, twenty, thirty years later, you will still remember how your felt.

Now think about the worst thing to ever happen to you. When my mother became terminally ill with cancer at the age of 50 at first all I could think of was losing her and losing her love. The last year of her life I was taking care of her and three small children while my husband finished college. To say I was stressed would be an understatement, but I made it through. God’s love surrounded me and Jesus carried me through the toughest of times. I can’t imagine going through that without having his hand to hold.

There have been times in my life when I refused to take hold of my heavenly father’s hand. Looking back those years were void of love and it felt like a weighted anchor was attached to my ankles, dragging me down and sinking me deep into a muddy pit of confusion and heart ache.

Listen to part of Paul’s prayer for us and learn what love can do if we let it. Ephesians 3:17-19

And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love, and may you have the power to understand as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullnss of life and power that comes from God.

Get to know Jesus. Learn how much he loves you. Let love lift you higher and comfort you during the hard times.

Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.  Eph 3;20

When I was in high school I had a poster that asked this question, “Will it matter that I was?” While that might not be a grammatically correct statement, it does pose an interesting thought and in some ways it gives the answer to the questions I asked in the first paragraph.

Sometimes we see and hear so much bad news that we become numb to it. Our hearts become hardened and all the problems of the world seem so big and far away that they are beyond our scope of response. But are they?

Is there anything I can personally do about the problems of the world? I can’t stop evil but I hope I never get to the point where I look the other way and keep silent. I can’t grow enough food to feed the world, but I can send money to people who can get food to the huntry. I can’t build shelter for every homeless person but I can contribute (in one way or another) to those who can. I can’t cure the sick but I can help provide aid to those who do.

And I can pray.

Every person in the world asks the question “why?” Sometimes it’s personal as in “Why me?” Other times its more abstract. Remember Job? He wondered many times why he was even born. 

“Why didn’t I die at birth as I came from the womb? Job 3:11

When Jesus was hanging on the cross, he too asked “why?”

At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46

Asking “why” isn’t wrong but I’ve come to believe that if I don’t respond to the question, then I am at fault.

Here are some quotes by some folks you might recognize that echo the same sentiment.

When you find yourself asking why, remember you are not alone. Jesus hears, he cares and he intercedes for you.

While Father’s Day only comes once a year, every day is really Father’s Day as far as God is concerned. Our heavenly father expects us to think of him every day, after all, he thinks of us every moment. He created the world for us. Gave his son as a sacrifice for our sins. Gave us the Bible so that we might know him. Every good and perfect thing comes from him. Fatherhood should be a good and perfect thing, but unfortunately it isn’t always.

We live in a time when the moment of conception may be the only time a man takes part in his child’s life. There are more single mothers than ever before and many of these mothers receive no or little support (financial or otherwise) from the children’s father. Being a father (or a mother) has always meant more than making a baby…it means raising a baby. Being present for illness, doctor visits, skinned knees, parent/teacher conferences, night time prayers, church services, ballgames, learning to ride a bike, and on and on.

This Father’s Day I will celebrate the wonderful man I called “Dad,” John Fulton Bell. I will also go to church and give praise to my heavenly father for all the wonderful things he has done and for all the great things he continues to do in my life and the world around me.

Celebrate your heavenly father by getting to know him better. He knows you. He loves you and he wants to hear from you through his son.

Happy Father’s Day!

Catching lightening bugs (or fireflies) brought back memories of long ago summers spent with my cousin’s at my grandfather’s house. We were always given empty mayonnaise jars with holes poked in the lid. My grandfather had a huge front yard and there was always competition among the cousins to see who could get the most. I remember the feeling of the soft grass beneath my bare feet (this was Kentucky-of course we didn’t wear shoes) and the warm, wet touch of the humid air against my skin. Usually my aunts fed us watermelon later and we’d have a seed spitting contest (outside of course).

Last night’s bug hunting reminded me that often is the simple things, life little moments, that bring the most pleasure and make the best memories.

Have you stopped and given thanks for the simple things in your life lately? Slow down and smell the roses, or catch some lightening bug. You will be glad you did.

Each and every day is a gift. We can’t choose everything about the way we spend our days because we have responsibilities, but for those moments that we do get choose shouldn’t we spend them focused on “now” rather than what comes next?

In Phil’s blog, The Phil Files, recently he wrote about a woman who suddenly died and he talked about the importance of “Give us this day,” in the Lord’s prayer. We are not to worry about tomorrow’s bread, only this day. Like Phil I’ve lost many friends and family members suddenly.

My father passed away in 1995. I kissed him goodbye, told him I loved him and left on a trip. That night he died of a massive heart attack. I am forever thankful that I took the time to stop and tell him one more time that I loved him. We have no assurance that we will see the sun rise tomorrow, so shouldn’t we stop and enjoy the sunset of today? 

Rushing and being in a constant hurry keeps us from enjoying the moment. Ghandi once said, “There is more to life than merely increasing the speed,” and he was right. Slow down and savor the moment. Let God take care of what comes next.

But back to my friend’s daughter. This young lady is only 22 and just graduated from college. She’s beautiful inside and out but her spirituality is amazing. At a time in her life when most of her peers are worried about clothes, cars and the opposite sex, she is focused on what really matters. She’s a Christian and has been to China, Africa and South America sharing her faith and love of Jesus with others.

To say I am proud of her would be an understatement. She is a role model for so many (including me) and her life is a reflection of the love of Christ.

I know the children of Peru will benefit from her presence there this summer and I pray daily for those children and for my friend’s daughter.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.

 Have you always walked a straight path? I haven’t. At times my path has gone uphill and other times downhill. I’ve hit potholes and taken curves so sharply I thought for sure I’d never get back on the straight and narrow, but somehow I managed to hang on and survive. Looking back I know now that part of the problem was that I wasn’t acknowledging God, I was depending totally on myself to get myself out of the messes I got into. I was leaning on my own understanding and doing what I thought best, now what the Bible said is best for me.

I still make mistakes. I still don’t always leave the “I” out of it and trust in “him.” But I am making a conscious effort to try harder and because of that my path is straighter and my life is easier, more peaceful and I am blessed by his goodness and mercy.

Trust and obey

For there’s no other way

To be happy in Jesus

But to trust and obey.

How many families are remembering and mourning this Memorial Day? I don’t know, but Jesus does. He understands the ache in our hearts and the tears on our cheeks. He has gone to prepare a place for us where there are no more tears and only joy. A place where there will be no Memorial Day again ever. Instead of Taps the angels will be sounding the trumpets to call the saved home.

For those of you who are reading this who have a son or daughter in the military, please know that folks all across our country are praying for your children, that they will return safely home to you. For those of you who know someone who has made the ultimate sacrifice for their country please know we are praying for you, that God will comfort you and keep you in His care.

We remember. We care. Our thoughts are with you.

Maggie is the first person my granddaughter looks for when we get to church. She comes and gets Abby and walks her to class. She plays tag with her in the church yard and always gives her a big hug when they have to say goodbye.

On Sunday nights the younger children say Bible verses they have memorized. Abby watches Maggie say her verses with obvious adoration. It’s easy to see that Abby looks up to Maggie.  She watches her every move and is greatly influenced by her actions.

No matter how young or old we are we influence those around us. We may not even be aware that someone is watching us. We may not realize that our actions may cause someone else to succeed or stumble. Which will it be? Will we be a good influence on others, or will we be a discouragement?  Will we lift others up? Or will we drag them down?

Think about Jesus and imagine what it must have been like to live when he did. Imagine seeing him heal the lame and making the blind to see.  Imagine watching him reach out to others, even those who other people shunned. His life was a perfect example of how to live for others. He didn’t seek riches or glory, but lived a simple, humble life.

Sometimes it is easy to forget that our lives influence others. We forget that little children, neighbors, and co-workers, are watching everything we do. If we call ourselves Christians then we are following Christ and if we follow him, let us pray that we are living the life he would have us live. A life like his, pure, simple and consistently thinking of others before ourselves.

Maggie is a wonderful influence on my granddaughter. I hope and pray that others can see Christ living in me as clearly as I see him living in Maggie.