The Election That Isn’t…..

…..yet.

7:20 a.m. Tuesday

We went into this General Election full of optimism. We stood in lines, waiting to vote. Some of the lines were very long. We got free ink pens. We got free candy for the grandchildren. We got a sticker stating that we voted. But the priceless gift was the freedom to express our preferences for a few elected officials, including our president, and some legislative matters.

But that was Tuesday.

Today we collectively have heavy hearts.

We’re not screaming at the sky or shouting our displeasure. We pray and talk in hushed tones – as we do when there’s a ten pound weight in the pits of our stomachs. The feeling reminds me of how we feel when we get bad news at the doctor. Bad news spelled with a C. It’s not the same feeling as when we have a benign toothache or a broken arm. It feels like cancer feels, when you have no idea what life will be like in the future. Or if you even have a future.

Our daughter, my husband and I have all had cancer.

This election has morphed into a big C word. We don’t know what the future will be like, or if we even have a future.

BUT LET ME TELL YOU THE GOOD NEWS!

When Charles Wesley wrote the overflowing feelings in his heart the day he wrote those words, he was overjoyed and nearly speechless with the awesome glories of our God and King, and he tried to put down on paper how God’s glory works in our lives! “Jesus! The name that charms our fears. That bids our sorrows cease, ‘tis music to the sinners’ ears, ‘‘tis life, and health, and PEACE. (Caps are my emphasis.) He breaks the power of canceled sin, He sets the prisoner free; His blood can make the foulest clean; His blood availed for me. Glory to God and praise and love, be ever, ever given by saints below and saints above, the church on earth and heaven.”

My brother or sister, my dear reader, this – this is what is really going on in America this week! The GLORY OF GOD is on full display in the quietness and confidence that all is well in the places that matter the most – which is in our hearts. The church on earth and in heaven is at PEACE. And it feels a lot like how I’ve felt when someone in our family has cancer. We don’t know what the future holds or if we even have a future. But that’s ok because we know the God who lives within us and is our future! He is our Comforter. Comforting us in our times of uncertainty is what He does! And He always does His job well!

God Bless America!

And for a bonus today: follow this link to hear a beautiful couple singing what is really on my heart, and let it be yours, too.

Blessings,

Jewel

Looking Back

Looking back is easy.

But looking back too much can be bad for you, especially as a parent.

Do you have adult children? How about adult grandchildren? If so, you know how full your memories are of days gone by when they were yours to care for, teach and train. You may also know, now that they’re adults, the tricks memories can play on you, accentuating your mistakes as a parent and forgetting the things you got right.

It is tempting to dwell on parental failures in introspection, even when our children grow into well-grounded adults, but when they flounder and fail to make the grade spiritually, morally, or economically, guilt can become a parent or grandparent’s monkey on their back.

Regret is a good thing if it changes bad behavior, but can quickly turn into poison when it takes over our minds and spills over into our relationships.

God has an answer to guilt.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

If God does not condemn us then neither should we.

My siblings in 1973 or so.

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“For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭3:20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Blessings dear parent,

Jewel

The Light-filled Room

“And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.”

‭‭Daniel‬ ‭12:3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

What more can I say?

See you in the light,

Jewel

Two Getaways

“Continually get away from pettiness and paltriness by getting into St John 13.” Oswald Chambers

Taken on the Brooklyn Bridge, NYC

St John 13 relates the story of what is known as The Last Supper. It is a sad portrait of the evening before Christ’s crucifixion. As the narrative progresses from pettiness to profound sorrow my eyes welled with tears this morning when I read Jesus’ words to Peter, telling him that he couldn’t follow him to the cross immediately, but at a later time he would. (V. 36)

Peter boldly declared that he would go anywhere with Jesus, to which Jesus brought him back to reality by saying that before morning dawned Peter would not only not follow Him, but actually deny knowing Him three different times!

Instead of supporting His Lord during His greatest hour of torment and anguish Peter made a terrified getaway.

Taken from the same spot as the first photo, but in the opposite direction.

Later, Peter, indeed, followed Christ to his own crucifixion, after much persecution for the sake of The Gospel. During his last year’s he wrote these courageous and triumphant words,

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭4:12-13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Once again Peter made a Getaway, but this time he triumphed over fear and courageously got away into the glory and joy that the suffering with Christ brings.

I’m sure the words that Jesus spoke that long ago evening at The Last Supper concerning His impending suffering and the glory it would bring Him, still rang in his ears, but unlike that long ago night before the horrendous crucifixion of Christ, they now made sense.

Central Park, NYC

Peter’s secret to following Jesus to the cross was this:

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5:6-7 ESV

And then Peter disclosed the final Getaway:

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5:10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Be alert!

Be encouraged.

Be safe.

“…knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.‬‬

“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!

And at the very last, Peter announced the Great Final Getaway:

But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.”

‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭3:3, 9-13

Sincerely,

Jewel

All photos were taken with my iPhone in NYC in 2013.

Till The Storm Passes By

I’ve watched the storms on the news, seen the radar images and satellite photos, read about how God miraculously protected many in the outer islands who got slammed by Irma first, and now tonight am watching Florida being chewed up along the western coastline. There are no words.

But there is a song, written many years ago by Mosie Lister, that has been ringing in my mind. I keep catching myself humming it and sometimes break out and sing the words.

“‘Til the storm passes over,

’til the thunder sounds no more,

‘when the clouds roll forever from the sky,

Hold me fast, let me stand,

In the hollow of Thy hand,

Keep me safe ’til the storm passes

And there are Scriptures that also keep coming to my mind.

Go HERE to listen to Mennonites singing the Mosie Lister song.

Be strengthened.

Be comforted.

Be safe.

❤️🙏❤️🙏❤️

Jewel