Diane Mickler's Blog

Let me tell you why you are here. You are here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. Matthew 5:13 from The Message

The dining table at most dinner parties which I have attended, and habitually at my own, are always equipped with salt and pepper on the table. We do it because different people have different tastes, and it is just common sense to provide seasonings. It never occurs to most of us that the hostess might be insulted if those at the table needed extra salt because the conversation around the table usually includes the phrase, “Please, pass the salt.“

Lately, I’ve noticed that restaurants have taken away the salt because of concerns about hygiene and the desire to maintain a cleaner aesthetic look on the table. In order to solve that problem, we have learned to ask for it immediately when our food arrives.

We add salt to food because it adds flavor. I have to say that there are certain foods that I wouldn’t eat without it. Things like fresh homegrown tomatoes, french fries, corn, eggs, and the list goes on just require salt. It is said that as people get older, and their tastes change, the two things they require most in their diet is salt and sweets! I am in favor of both!!

As Christians, it is imperative that we pass the salt to those in this world of today who need to hear about the goodness of God. When we exemplify Christ in our daily lives, the flavor the salt of His word adds to lives can make a miraculous change in those lives.

I think we can pass the salt in several ways. The first is through our words. Jesus said, “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.”

John Grisham is one of my favorite authors, but he has been called, “a straight arrow making his way along a very crooked path.” His novels often depict sleazy lawyers, corrupt politicans, and trigger happy cops, but his heroes are generally the innocent around us or children, such as the 11 year old boy in The Client. He refuses to write anything that would offend his mother or his children. He passes the salt as is instructed in the scriptures. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. Colossians 4:6

Next, we can pass the salt by being preservers in the world of today. One of the most important characteristics of salt is that it is a preservative. Just as salt was used to preserve meat, fish, and other items in years past, we are called to preserve the faith as Jesus taught it. We are here to pass it on, pure and unaltered to those who come after us.

Finally, we can pass the salt by being influencers to others. In most bars and some restaurants, the owners make a habit of providing peanuts, chex mix, or something salty upon which customers can nibble. The reasoning behind that is simple, salt makes us thirsty. The more salt one eats, the more one drinks! Just like the people in a bar or restaurant, once someone has tasted salt, they develop a thirst, and I think that’s what God is doing through Christians. Once others see the reality of Jesus in our lives, they develop a thirst to know more.

The most important thing about salt is that it does nothing if we don’t pass it. If we only share the salt with other Christians, then the flavor will be wasted. If the french fries are already salted, we don’t need to add more; however, if we pass the salt to those who have never had it, what a difference it can make!

Pope Francis said to Christians, “You must be salt and light but never self serving. Salt must add flavor and light must illuminate the other.”

When we pass the salt, we are deliberately seeking to influence the people in our lives by showing them the unconditional love of Christ through our words, and our deeds.

Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you! Galatians 5:1

Our country is preparing to celebrate the 249th anniversary of the freedom that we all enjoy! It’s amazing how all the freedoms for which our forefathers fought and died are still the bedrock of our country even though, we as believers, see religious freedom threatened.

The verse above is a call to action urging all believers to actively embrace and defend our freedom in Christ. It emphasizes that freedom is not just a theoretical concept, but a reality to be experienced and lived. It highlights the truth that Christ brings liberation from sin, and it warns us not to return to legalistic systems or other forms of bondage that would restrict our freedom in Christ.

The song, My Country ‘Tis Of Thee, is a way of saying “My country, it is of You” or My country belongs to You,” reinforcing God’s hand in the establisment of America. Samuel Frances Smith wrote the song which served as the national anthem of America until the adoption of The Star Spangled Banner in 1931.

It is clear that belief in God influenced the first attempt at civil government in the New World. When the Pilgrims landed in America, they came to this new land seeking religious freedom. The Mayflower Compact was their first attempt to agree to submit to a system of laws.

The opening paragraph says: In the name of God, Amen. We whose names are underwritten, having undertaken for the glory of God and advancement of the Christian faith and honor of our King and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in northern parts of Virginia, do by these present solemnly and mutally in the presence of God and one another, covenant and combine ourselves into one civil political body.

In 1775, as the idea of total independence from England was taking root, Patrick Henry made a speech to the second Virginia convention in which he said, There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations. Gentlemen may cry, peace, peace, but there is no peace. The war has actually begun. The next gale that sweeps from the North will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms.

A year later, that just God who presides over the nations brought the clash of resounding arms in the form of The Declaration of Independence which we celebrate this week!

When the Declaration was publicly read in Philadelphia, the Liberty Bell rang out in order to call attention to the people. Inscribed on the Libery Bell are these words: “Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.” Leviticus 25:10

After the Revolution, George Washington became our first President, and as his first act, he said his oath over a Bible, and his first act as President was to bend over and kiss the Bible. His second act was to lead the Cabinet, Senate, and the House to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church were they had a two hour worship service led by the chaplains of the House and Senate. The first Congress appointed chaplains to provide religious leadership to our soldiers and sailors.

George Washington said, “It is impossible to rightly govern without God and the Bible.” John Quincy Adams added, “The highest glory of the Revolution was that it united in one indissolube bond the principles of Christianity, and the principles of civil government.” To say that our nation was not founded on religious principles is an attempt to rewrite over 200 years of history. Psalm 33 tell us Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.

On this celebration of the birth of our nation, there are three times that I think would be valuable for each of us to remember. First, we must praise God for the things He has done. Next, we should have a reverence for God. Finally, we should remember that a nation whose God is the Lord is a nation who will trust God because it is He and He alone who will give us the victory.

Our Father’s God to Thee, Author of Liberty, To thee we sing. Long may our land be bright, With freedom’s holy light, Protect us by thy might, Great God our King. Our Country ‘Tis Of Thee by Samuel Francis Smith

God Bless America!

Join me in magnifying the Lord and spreading the news; together, let’s get the word out. Psalm 34:3

This week our church is hosting our first Vacation Bible School for children. The theme of this week is Magnify, and it’s such a joy to see children learning that God sees each of us, and that we are called to magnify his goodness to us. It’s funny how much we adults can learn just from studying the literature for the children!

Magnify is defined as making something appear larger especially by using a lens. When we magnify God, it doesn’t mean that we make him physically bigger, but rather that we make Him greater in our lives and in the lives of others. We focus on His greatness and intentionally elevate Him in our thoughts, actions, and affections while encouraging others to do the same!

However, we, as humans, tend to magnify problems instead of magnifying God’s promise. When we magnify problems, we aren’t changing the actual size of them, but rather,we simply make them bigger in our own mind.

The Lord’s prayer begins with the words, “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,” and it ends with, “Thine is the kingdom and the power and glory forever. Amen.” It begins and ends focusing on Him . When you magnify something you enlarge it so that you can see it better and understand it more. When we magnify someone we take our minds off ourselves and focus on the magnification. God would have us concentrate on magnifying His goodness to us.

Yesterday morning, the focus of Americans shifted from everyday problems to the bombing of Iran and the potential ramifications of this. Most of us find ourselves magnifying the event and turning our minds to what it could mean for our country. At times such as this, our job should be to magnify God’s greatness and remember that He is in charge!

Eugene Peterson, author of The Message, says: God raised him from death and set Him on a throne in deep heaven in charge of running the universe; everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. This is not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, and He has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules. Eph. 1:20-23

We can magnify all our situations by gaining a better perspective. We should ask God to help us see situations through His eyes as we recognize His sovereignty and control. For instance, there was a little boy who was dealing daily with a bully who lived down the street from him. He was trying his best to get up the nerve to stand up to the bully, but he was just too afraid and lacked the confidence.

One day his father bought him a telescope, and helped him set it up in the front yard. When his father got home one afternoon, the boy was using the telescope, but he was looking through the wrong end. He was looking through the big side.

The Dad approached the boy and said, “No son, you are doing it backwards. Turn it around, and it will make things bigger. The boy replied, “I know Dad, but right now I’m looking at the bully, and when I look at him this way, it makes him so small that I think I can take him!”

Maybe we need to turn our telescope around because we have magnified that problem long enough! We’ve talked about how impossible it is, how it’s never going to work out, and how we need to just accept the situation for what it is. However, if we turn the telescope around, we will see it from the right perspective. The perspective that says, “Nothing is too hard for our God.” He can handle whatever bully is magnifying the negative things in our life.

We have a God who parted the Red Sea for the Israelites, and if He can do that, He can certainly take our magnified problems and solve them.

Magnify the Lord, not the problems!

When you are in over your head, I will be with you. When you are in rough waters, you will not go down. Isaiah 43: 2-3

The one place on earth that gives my soul and heart peace is at the beach. My family grew up going to the Gulf coast in Florida, and when I go there, it always feels like coming home.

The ocean there is a beautiful green color, and in the mornings, the waves are normally calm and rolling. Even though the afternoons can bring rough waters, this is the time for riding the waves.

Our mother loved it there, but the one thing that unnerved her was the undertow which could be present on any given day. Undertow is defined as a subsurface current that typically is moving away from shore and occurs under breaking waves. It’s a natural phenomenon where water pushed onto shore by waves flows back out to sea normally beneath the incoming waves. Even though it can be dangerous, it is usally quite manageable if you know what to expect.

Contrast this scenario with the undertow on the western side of Mexico. We had never been there, and even though we were told not to swim in the ocean, Randy and I decided it didn’t look too rough especially for experts!

We waded into the ocean as we always do, and we were immediately knocked off our feet with a current that was so strong it was all I could do to recover from it! That’s when I learned that a riptide is much different than an undertow. A riptide is a powerful surface current that moves directly perpendicular to shore, and one has no idea has strong the current is until you are caught in it! Later we learned that two swimmers had been rescued and recussitated earlier in the same day.

Undertows and riptides are perfect examples of things that happen in life which take us totally by surprise and then leave us, metaphorically,fighting to get back to shore! We don’t know what new experiences, new needs, or changes will come our way in this life. It is full of highs and lows, smooth sailing, or rough waters, and undertows or riptides.

If life were always like calm waters, the boring sameness of it would weigh us down. We need the undertows to invigorate us and make us strong enough to face whatever is coming our way. There’s a certain amount of satisfaction in meeting a challenge and living through it.

The undertows in life might take us downfor a bit, but with God’s grace we can see the undertow as the force that drives us to the throne of His grace and brings the showers of blessings that will follow.

Just like a current, that we can’t see coming, we can’t see what sorrow, loss, or trials are in store for us. We only know that when we trust God to get us through it, the Father comes next to us and leads us to the shore.

When Randy and I emerged from our undertow, we noticed a couple sitting on the beach calmly watching us fight the waves. When we walked up on the shore, the lady said, “Well, thank heavens you made it. I thougt we might have to get our feet wet and try to save you!”

Many of us are sitting on the shore because we are afraid to get into the water. God’s undertows are gracious experiences to help us deal with whatever comes our way.

God leads us on by paths we do not know; He leads us on through all the unquiet years; Past all our dreamland hopes, doubts, and fears. He guides our steps through all the tangled maze, Of losses, sorrows, and clouded days. We know His will is done; And still He leads us on. Nicholaus Zinzendorf

If your child asks for bread, do you trick him with sawdust? If he asks for fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? As bad as you are, you wouldn’t think of such a thing! You are at least decent to your own children. So don’t you think the God who conceived you in love will be even better? Matthew 7:11 The Message

This coming weekend is the time we set aside to gather as families to honor our Fathers. Although, it seems as if we have been celebrating this special day as long as I can remember, it was actually only made official in 1972 when, then President Richard Nixon, signed a presidential resolution proclaiming the second Sunday in June as Father’s Day!

Father’s Day was actually inspired by a woman, Sonora Smart Dodd from Spokane, Washington after hearing a Mother’s Day sermon. She proposed the idea in 1909, wanting a special day to honor her Father, William Smart, a civil war veteran who raised his six children alone after the death of their mother. It’s amazing that it took almost 70 years to make it official.

The celebration of Father’s Day seems to take a back seat sometimes to Mother’s Day. A small boy once said, “Father’s Day is just like Mother’s Day only you don’t spend as much on the gift.” Someone once said that “Fathers spend the first part of their child’s life teaching them to walk and talk, and the rest of the child’s life telling them to sit down and be quiet.” The reality is, where would we be today without our Fathers?

The word father is defined as a man who begets offsprings; a male parent, but a true father is so much more. A true father cares for his family. He attempts to show his children the way they should go in this world. He sets a good example, works hard, and protects his children. He loves unconditionally just like his heavenly Father.

It seems that each of us have or have had different experiences with our Father figure in our lives. No matter whether it is good or bad, I always remember what the Father in the Prodigal son taught us about a Father’s love. No matter what we have done, how we have behaved, when we come home to God there is no condemnation, only love and acceptance. I equate that experience with those of a true earthly Father.

The following story of Fathers is by one of my favorite humorists and authors, Erma Bombeck, and I share it with apologies for some of the changes I made!

When the good Lord was making Fathers He started with a tall frame. A female angel nearby said, “What kind of Father is that? If you are going to make children so close to the ground, why put Fathers up so high?” God smiled and said, “Yes, but if I make him child sized, who would children look up to?”

When God made a Father’s hands, they were large and sinewy. The angel remarked, “Large hands are clumsy and can’t handle diaper pins, buttons, pony tails, or remove splinters.” God smiled. “Yes, but they are large enough to hold everything a child empties from their pockets, yet small enough to cup a child’s face.”

Then God molded long legs and broad shoulders. The angel was aghast! “Do you realize you just made a Father without a lap?” God smiled and said, “A mother needs a lap, but a Father needs strong shoulders to pull a sled, balance a child on a bike, or support a sleepy head after a long day.

When God began work on the huge feet of a Father, the angel could stand it no longer. She exclaimed, “Do you think those big feet will hit the floor when a baby cries or manuver through a child’s birthday party without stepping on the little ones gathered there?” God smiled. “They’ll work – you’ll see. They’ll support a small child who wants to ride horsey, scare off mice, and display shoes that will be a challenge to fill.”

God worked through the night giving the Father few words, but a firm authoritative voice, eyes that saw everything but remained calm and tolerant. Finally, almost as an afterthought, He added tears. Then He turned to the angel and said, “Now are you satiisfied that He can love as much as a Mother?” The angel shutteth up!

Happy Father’s Day to all Dads on this special day. Thank you for the significant impact you have on the lives of your children, grandchildren, and all those who come after. I especially want to thank the fathers in our family! We are so thankful for the love, support, and guidance in all areas of our lives! We love you!

Thank you, Patsy Burberry, for sharing your beautiful painting of a special Father and son!

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His faithful servants. Psalm 116:15

This weekend, we as a nation pause to remember and honor our veterans. It is important for us to remember every veteran-past, present, and future for many reasons but especially because service in the military changes lives. These men and women give the best years of their lives in service to their country. Some give the ultimate sacrifice,but all military personnel sacrifice whether they are stationed during a time of peace or a time of war.

We, as a thankful nation, should never forget to remember those who have made the sacrifice for us and our freedom. Memorial Day is a day to remember those who died while serving our country, but many Americans will be too busy to stop and remember. We are eager to celebrate the holiday, but we forget why we are celebrating!

It reminds me of a story about a guy named John who had a serious memory problem. One day he ran into his friend Bill, who he hadn’t seen in a long time. “Bill,” he said,”do you remember what a bad memory I had?” “I certainly do,” said Bill. “Well,” said John, “I went to a seminar that taught us how to remember things! It was great and now I have a wonderful memory.”

Bill replied, “That’s great! What’s the name of the seminar?” “Well,” John said, “just a minute, my wife went with me. I’ll ask her.” He turned and saw his wife nearby by. Then he turned back to Bill and asked, “What’s the name of that flower with thorns, a long stem, and red blooms?” Bill guessed, “Do you mean a rose?” “Yes, that’s it! Thanks, Bill.” John said, “Hey Rose, what’s the name of that seminar we attended?”

Some people just forget. We get so busy or distracted that the sacrifices made on our behalf just get overlooked. I think the best way we can honor those who gave their life for our freedom is to live a life worthy of their sacrifice.

First, live a life that an American ought to live as a follower of Christ. If we don’t remember, let me remind you that we were founded on Christian principles – One Nation Under God. President George Washington said, “It is impossible to govern the world without God and the Bible.”

Next, we need to be aware of the price of freedom. Many times we take this freedom for granted and mistakenly assume that every country lives this way. We have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, but that’s a rare thing in this world.

Finally, we need to remember that we have an obligation to teach our children and grand children what our freedom cost so many. Many of us have lived through some horrific wars, but most of those that are coming behind us have never been taught the price of our freedom.

Memorial Day is about remembering. It’s about remembering our heritage, our roots, and our heroes.

General George Patton said, It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather, we should thank God that such men lived.

Freedom makes a huge requirement of every human being. With freedom comes responsibility. Eleanor Roosevelt

Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same. Ronald Reagan

It doesn’t take a hero to order men into battle. It takes a hero to be one of those men who goes into battle. Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf

Thank you to all the brave men and women who have fought unselfishly for the freedom of America. God bless you!

O beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife, Who more than self their country loved and mercy more than life. America, America, May God thy gold refine; Til all success be nobleness and every gain divine. America the Beautiful by Katerine Lee Bates

I know what I am doing. I have it all planned out. Plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. Jeremiah 29:11

It is so hard to believe, but the end of the school year is here! Seniors in high school as well as college are celebrating the end of not only the year, but also a milestone in their lives. At this point, many parents,grandparents, teachers, and friends are pondering the words of wisdom they should pass on to their seniors.

We are excited to have another graduate in our family. Our grandson, Cooper, is setting out on his life path this week, and we are among the group of proud grandparents who are looking for words of wisdom and encouragement to pass along to him.

In the midst of World War II, Oxford University asked then Prime Minister Winston Churchill to speak at its commencement exercises. Dressed in his finest suit, he arrived at the auditorium where the service was to be held with his usual props; a cigar, a cane, and a top hat. As Churchill approached the podium, the crowd rose in appreciative applause. Standing there looking very dignified, Churchill silenced the crowd and asked them to be seated.

Standing confidently before this crowd of great admirers, he removed his cigar and placed his top hat on the podium. Then Churchill gazed at his waiting audience which included some of the most noted scholars in the world. With an authoritative tone in his voice, he began with three words, Never give up! Several seconds passed without him saying another word. Finally, he repeated those same three words again, Never give up. There was a deafening silence as Churchill reached for his hat, steadied himself with his cane, and left the platform. His commencement address was finished!

Making it through twelve years of school and looking forward to college involves facing some very real challenges. We can all testify to the continuous challenges that we must meet, but the wonderful thing is that we can meet them with some victories already under our belt.

Just think, we have made it through birth, infancy, pre school years, kindergarten, pre adolescence, teen years, and now graduation and adult years are ahead. So, what advice or words of wisdom do we share with these special graduates?

First, face your fears. Fear of the unknown is always daunting, but the Bible is full of “Fear Nots” for He is with you. God doesn’t give us a spirit of fear but rather a spirit of power, love, and self control.

Next, forget your failures. There will be failures. None of us are perfect, and the only ones who never do anything wrong are the ones who never do anything! When we fail, we have to put those failures behind us, learn from them, and move forward. We should never allow failures to make us quit trying. Paul said, “Forget that which is past and reach out to that which is ahead.” Phillippians 3:12

Finally, follow your faith. It’s easy to become distracted and influenced that first year in college, but remember that there are “a great crowd of witnesses” who have gone before you that are rooting for you. Your greatest challenge will be to follow your faith and know that Jesus has your back! Remember whose you are!

The song The Impossible Dream from the musical Man of La Mancha which was inspired by Miguel de Cervantes’ novel, Don Quixote. The song is sung by Don Quixote to express his quest to achieve noble and unattainable goals. The lyrics reflect hope, perseverance, and the pursuit of one’s dreams even in the midst of overwhelming odds.

The following lyrics to the song can be seen as a metaphor for the faith of Christians who believe in the power of God to make the seemingly impossible possible. It is said to mirror the life of Jesus as He sought to do good despite great hardship, while he fought adversity, and while he strived for seemingly unattainable goals.

To dream the impossible dream, to fight the unbeatable foe; to bear with unbearable sorrow; to run where the brave dare not go. To right the unrightable wrong, to love pure and chaste from afar; to try when your arms are too weary; to reach the unreachable star. This is my quest, to follow that star, no matter how hopeless, no matter how far; to fight for the right without question or cause; to be willing to march into hell for a heavenly cause. And I know if I’ll only be true to this glorious quest, that my heart will lie peaceful and calm when I’d laid to my rest. And the world will be better for this; that one man scorned and covered with scars, still strove with his last ounce of courage to reach the unreachable stars.

To all our graduates, follow your dream and never give up! Congratulations! We love you, Coop, and we can’t wait to see all that you will accomplish!

When Jesus got into the boat with the disciples, the next thing they knew, they were in a severe storm. Waves were crashing into the boat, and Jesus was sound asleep. they roused Him saying, Master, save us. We are going down.” Jesus reprimanced them saying, “Why are you such cowards..such faint hearts?” Matthew 8:23-25

We are all familiar with the above scripture, and the suddenness with which the storm came up while the disciples and Jesus were crossing to the other side after addressing the multitudes. Storms can come up without notice at any time. The sun is out and all is beautiful when suddenly, the clouds appear and the storm follows.

Sometimes we feel like our lives resemble the onset of a storm. Life is cruising along. Our work is good, our health seems good, friends are good, and all seems almost perfect. We feel good about life, no cares, no worries, then out of nowhere, it hits – the most absolutely perfect storm imaginable, and this time, it’s our storm.

We didn’t ask for it, we didn’t want it, but somehow, it found us. It didn’t ask our permission, it didn’t ask if this was a good time, it just came like a guided missile with our name on it, and Boom! We’ve all been there when we find ourselves crying out to the Lord, “Ok, God, this is getting ridiculous!! Why am I being hit with this storm?”

There is a cartoon where Charlie Brown works for hours to build the most beautifully perfect sandcastle ever! Finally, he stands back and looks at it. It is wonderful! Just as he is admiring it, a person walks by and steps on it destroying his masterpiece. Now, he’s standing where his masterpiece once stood wondering, “I know there’s a lesson in this, but I’m not sure what it is.”

Everyone of us has had our own “sandcastles” stepped on and destroyed at one time or another. Every once in a while, we have to back up and say, “Why am I being hit with this storm?” No one is immune to the storms in life, they fall on the good and bad, and the just as well as the unjust.

The good news is that Jesus is in the boat with us. When God is with us during the storm He teaches us a few things. First, sometimes we have to walk alone for a while in the storm. Jesus was with the disciples, but they had to experience the storm to test their faith.

Next, we have to rely on God ‘s help when the storms come. We must live with that sense of dependence on God. Finally, we have to realize that it’s God’s power, not ours that makes the difference in weathering the storms of life.

In 1945, Rodgers and Hmmerstein released produced the broadway play, “Carousel”. The play and subsequent movie portrayed a troubled young man named Billy, and a young girl, Julie, who was devoted to him despite his flaws. The plot follows the stormy love story of the two. In the end, Billy is killed, and Julie’s Aunt Nellie comforts her with these words from the song, You’ll Never Walk Alone by Oscar Hammerstein

When you walk through a storm, hold your head up high and don’t be afraid of thedark. At the end of the storm, there’s a golden sky, And the sweet silver song of a lark. Walk on through the wind, Walk on through the rain, Tho’ your dreams be tossed and blown, Walk on, Walk on, With hope in your heart, And you’ll never walk alone. You’ll Never Walk Alone.

There’s always a lesson in every storm. Just like the disciples in the boat, we are in training for greater things to come as well as things we will have to overcome. When we walk through a storm and question if God cares, we can unequivocably know that He cares about every detail. He is our shelter and strength, and we can fully trust Him during our storm.

Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her. Proverbs 31:28

It is that time of year where we offer our love, thanks, and appreciation to the Mothers in our lives. We all have a mother whether she be biological, adoptive, foster, or just a person who exhibits the qualities of a Mom to us. This year, our extended family is fortunate to be able to welcome a brand new Mom as we celebrate the birth of our niece and nephew’s first baby. Litte Daphne has made her entrance, and she has caused us all to celebrate the joy of new life and motherhood.

When God created male and female in His own image, He made them different and unique. That uniqueness doesn’t make one more important than the other, but it simply helps them to complement each other. And so, within the woman God created the ability to create children, and the deep desire to nurture. When a woman doesn’t have a family to nurture, she often uses that gift to nurture others.

This nurturing instinct explains why long before women were accepted as doctors, they were nurses. Before they were accepted as professors, they were teachers in school classrooms. When someone was needed to hold an office together, women were employed as secretaries. Only later when their full talents were recognized and honored did the world realize that women are both nurturers and intelligent business people.

Erma Bombeck is famous for many things, but she was very sensitive to Mothers. She wrote of mothers who for one reason or another don’t get to fulfill the traditional role, and she wrote of Mothers who have lost a child and the loneliness they feel on this day. She also wrote of the attributes of Mothers. One of the best tributes she wrote is entited When God Created Mothers, and I’d like to share it today.

When God created Mothers, He was in his sixth day of “overtime” when the angel appeared and said, “You are doing a lot of fiddling around on this one.”

And God said, “Have you read the specs on this order? She has to be completely washable, but not plastic. Have 180 moveable parts… all replaceable. Run on black coffee and leftovers. Have a lap that disappears when she stands up. A kiss that can cure anything from a broken leg to a disappointing love affair. And six pairs of hands. “

The angel shook her head slowly and said, “Six pairs of hands – no way.” “It’s not the hands that are giving me problems,” remarked God, “It’s the three pair of eyes that Mother’s need to have.” “That’s on the standard model?” asked the angel. God nodded.

One pair that sees through closed doors when she asks, “What are you kids doing in there?” when she already knows. Another in the back of her head so that she sees what she shouldn’t, but what she has to know, and of course the ones here in front so she can look at a child when he or she goofs up and say, ‘I understand and I love you’ without so much as uttering a word.

“God,” the angel said, “get some rest, tomorrow…” “I can’t,” said God, “I’m so close to creating something so close to myself. Already I have one who heals herself when she’s sick…can feed a family of six on one pound of hamburger…and can get a nine year old to stand under a shower.”

The angel circled the model of the mother very slowly and sighed, “She’s too soft.” “But tough,” said God excitedly. “You can’t imagine what this Mother can do or endure.”

“Can it think?” asked the angel. “Not only can it think, but also reason and compromise,” said the Creator.

Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger over the cheek. “There’s a leak,” she pronounced. I told You that You were trying to put too much into this model.”

“It’s not a leak,” said the Lord. “It’s a tear.” The angel asked, “What’s it for?” “It’s for joy, sadness, disappointment, loneliness, and pride,” said the Lord. “You are a genius,” exclaimed the angel.

Somberly, the Lord said, “I didn’t put it there.”

Happy Mother’s Day to each and every Mother! It’s a tough job, but somebody’s got to do it!! God has equipped us, and what a rewarding job we have been given!

And in Him, we were also chosen. We were destined to live to the glory of God, His purpose, by His will, so that we who were the first to set our hopes on Christ might live for the praise of His glory. Epheisians 1:11

This past week, the world resounded with shock as we woke up early Monday morning and learned of the death of Pope Francis! Just the day before we saw him ride through the crowds on the “Pope mobile”, touch the hands of many, and give an Easter address in Saint Peter’s Square at the Vatican. He seemingly ignored the advice of his doctors to avoid crowds and rest. Although he appeared visibly weak, his determinationto do God’s will and bless these people one last time was foremost on Easter Sunday. It is reported that his only regret was not being able to wash the feet of prisoners during his final visit.

We make all kinds of assumptioms as to the timing of his death. Many say it was a coincidence, maybe it was fate, or just luck that he died after he had taken, what I call, a “victory lap” on that Holy Day.

We tend to use words to try to explain things we don’t understand, however; there are three words that should never be in a Christian’s vocabulary: luck, coincidence, and fate. We should replace them instead with the word, Providence, which means to see in advance and to provide for. The word generally refers to divine guidance or care, and it usually describes prudence and fore sight. I think God’s providence was at work in his life and in his death.

The Westminister Confession of Faith written in the seventeenth century states: God, the great creator of all things, doth uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures, actions, and things from the greatest even to the least by His most wise and holy providence. Basically, God is in charge – not us!

Many of us can look back on our lives and see the hand of God’s providence in many situations. It could be a road taken, a decision that was made, or even an incident that had the profound hand of providence upon us. Peter Marshall was saved by tripping on a tree root when he was walking near a cliff on a foggy night, Randy changed his life’s path after a near death car accident, and a handful of people stepped out in faith to build a new church. These are situations where we see God’s providential hand.

God’s providence stands over and above our actions. Even Joseph was the recipient of God’s providence when he was betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery. His brothers tried to destroy him, but instead their efforts put him on the throne of Egypt and fulfilled God’s will. Later Joseph said, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result.” Genesis 50:20

Then there is the most heinous act of Judas’ betrayal of Christ which turned out to be about the best thing that ever happened – Christ’s atonement for our sins on the cross.

We, as human beings, have a limited perspective of the providence of God. Paul points out that we know “only in part” (1 Corinthians 13:9). When we get to heaven God may explain it all – or not. Until then we are left to just trust Him.

Often I have not known where I was going until I was already there. I have had my shares of desires and goals, but my life has come to me or I have gone to it mainly by ways of mistakes or surprises. Often I have received better than I deserved. Often my faintest hopes have rested on bad mistakes. I am an ignorant pilgrim crossing a dark valley. And yet, for a long time looking back, I have been unable to shake off the feeling that I have been led. Wendell Berry from his book, Jayber Crow

When we look back over our lives, I think the paths we have taken will be full of the providential hand of God. Rest in peace, Pope Francis, and thank you for being a man of faith and compassion.