In 2013, my husband and I retired and bought a two-and-a-half-storey brick house in Durham, Ontario, Canada. Our seven-year-old granddaughter said, "Grandma, it looks like a haunted house." It did. But the real estate agent called it "a grand old lady in need of being grand again". The "old lady" is in her glory now, having been restored, and I love living in her. It is God's gift. A while ago, I was pondering our age and wondering how much longer we would be able to keep living here. I was talking to the Lord and was not surprised to hear a word from Him. It was a question: "What do you have now that you will not one day lose?" I was stunned! "Yes, Lord," I replied. It was a deep question, and I have been thinking about it ever since.

What do I have now that I will not one day lose? It could be a depressing answer: everything! My husband suggested faith, but I said, "When we die, we won't need faith, because we will have what we hope for. So, what, then? My relationship with God! I suddenly realized how precious that is, and I was ashamed at how little time that I had really invested in it. How amazing it is that I can lose everything and still have everything that I need, because in Him is my strength, my supply. How liberating, especially because I am in a time of loss: my mobility, my independence, my strength, and the activities that I enjoy — although I am hoping that surgery will restore most of those things. I was managing. And then, my laptop crashed with no way to recover the photos and files. So much of my life was gone in a flash. I felt crushed. It was the last straw!

Then, that word triggered a Word: "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair." (2 Corinthians 4:8 ESV). Yes! How blessed that we are to have such a loving heavenly Father Who embraces us in our struggles and comforts our sorrows. Then He reminded me about treasures: the other things that we won't lose that are stored up in heaven for us. So, I am comforted! How great is our God! The things that I have lost are trifles compared to what I have gained through Him!

If you are in a period of loss or of having to let go, may these words encourage you: Earthly things are precious but godly things are eternal. Reflect on what you have now that you will not one day lose. Have you stored up treasures in heaven? It is not too late to start, or to add to what is there. Pray with me:

Prayer: Lord God, my Father, thank You for calling me Your child and for supplying all my need. Thank You for the treasures that I have with You and in You. May I yet add to those treasures today and every day. Glory be to You, O Lord most high. Amen and Amen!

One Sunday recently, our minister spoke on the passage in the Sermon on the Mount that begins, "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life …" (Matthew 6:25 NKJV) and the topic was worry. The message was very much about the things over which we worry. What to do? Turn to God in prayer. It was a good message.

Later, I was meditating on "worry". It's really fear. I am no stranger to fear — I have fears, and they limit me in all kinds of ways. Things happen in our lives. Life is scary. We can get hurt. We can lose things. I lost my mother, suddenly, when I was six. There's a root of fear right there. Fear often makes us do and say crazy things. It can stall our brains, too. The enemy of our souls uses fear as a weapon against us. He raises fears in our minds and stampedes us into panic. So many people suffer from anxiety these days! Wow! Fear.

So, there's some work to do to go back and find the roots of fear in our minds and hearts, and to re-define ourselves and our lives, not seeing ourselves as weak and helpless to cope with life's problems, but in terms of what we are in Christ: I am a child of God. I am precious in His sight. I am forgiven and redeemed from the enemy's hand. Though the enemy may do his worst, "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." (Romans 8:37 NKJV) We need to stop and look fear in the face and say, "Oh no you don't! I am in Christ and 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.'" (Philippians 4:13 NKJV)

If I find myself awake in the night stressing about something, I ask myself, What's the worst that can happen? Can I live through that? Has God got this? Yes. Okay then! This past year, I had breast cancer, COVID-19, and a hysterectomy. God said, I've got this, and I wasn't afraid. I didn't worry. This year, I will have back surgery — hopefully soon. God's got this!

To help raise your faith, there's a great song to listen to:

I raise a hallelujah
In the presence of my enemies
I raise a hallelujah
Louder than the unbelief
       – Jonathan David Helser and Melissa Helser

Prayer: Lord God our Father, thank You for giving us victory through Your Son Jesus. Teach us to walk in strength and victory each day, defeating the power of darkness and fear over us. Amen!

When I entered the grocery store last week, something was different. Not just the lineups, the tape on the floor marking lanes, and the staff who were directing people to the checkout. Not just the empty shelves. It was the silence. Deafening. People were moving like zombies down the aisles, looking at the floor, their cart, the shelf, focused as if bent on a serious mission. No eye contact. No chatter. The air was heavy with worry and fear. It was oppressive.

I don't think that I am an optimist by nature, but the joy of the Lord in my soul is like a cork that bobs up and rides the waves in a storm. My faith in God carries me day by day. What can I do here? I thought. What I always do when I shop: hum a song, talk to people, smile, and depending on the response, comment on God's goodness. By the time I got to the checkout, somehow, the mood had shifted, and people were talking to one another, albeit at a respectful distance, of course. The cashier smiled and even laughed.

On the way home, I thought about the difference that Christians can make in their community by bringing the presence of Christ into a situation. By being who we are in Christ and by releasing joy, hope, peace, love, and faith wherever we are, we make a difference. We are the fragrance of Christ to God and to those around us. This we can do.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we get self-absorbed and forget that You are with us, in us. Help us to live the joy, peace, hope, and love that we have through faith in You. May we be the fragrance of life to those around us, especially in these days when so many are filled with anxiety and despair. We thank You for all Your blessings. They are new every morning. You are a faithful God! Amen.

1 Corinthians 9:19b,22 – I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. (NKJV)

2 Corinthians 4:1,3 – Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. (NKJV)

There are a lot of old sayings in my memory bank that pop up at appropriate moments in my life. It's a legacy from my grandparents, with whom I lived for twelve years. Recently, one came vividly to mind: "Eat what you can and can what you can't."

This year has been "The Year of the Tree Fruit". After several years of nothing, my five fruit trees all bore bumper crops! It has been delightful to watch all that fruit growing to maturity — that is, until the enormity of my task became apparent. First to come was the Yellow Harvest apple tree — applesauce in abundance. I ate as much as I could, froze more than I'll need, and gave away to appreciative neighbours, friends, family, and church family as much as they would take. Red Bartlett and Yellow Bartlett pear trees came next — bushels of fruit. Just picking it all took days! Then the McIntosh apples were ready. My garage was full of boxes and buckets and as many large pails as I could find. I filled even the recycling bins!

The night after picking, I attended a church meeting, and there was some discussion about getting people back to church and attracting new people to the church. The conversation focussed around special events. After 45 years of ministry and many attempts to entice people to church via events, I have come to believe that that is not the answer. The answer is in deepening our own faith and sharing what God has done and is doing in our lives. That is what people need to hear. My comments fell on deaf ears.

As I slept that night, I awakened with dread, and the next four hours in bed were sleepless, being overwhelmed by the work needed not only to deal with the fruit but also to revive the faith in the church and out in the community! At 4:30 a.m., I got up and continued to meditate and pray on the issue. Then it hit me: they are the same — I realized that I couldn't do it all! The fruit was easy. I had enough pear preserves and apple sauce. The rest of the fruit would be given away, and what was only good for processing would go to the farm to feed the deer. Done! But Lord, what about the other issue? Then, I heard in my heart, "You cannot save everyone. Many will not listen. But you can save some. Go to the ones who are seeking Me. Go to the ones who will listen. It is not my will that any should perish, but they are free to choose life or death. I will not impose My will upon them."

This we all can do, with His help and guidance.

Prayer: Lord God, by Your grace and Spirit, help us to share the good news, that those who are seeking may find Your truth and gain eternal life. Amen.

Luke 10:1-3,17 – After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. Then He said to them, "The harvest truly is great but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. … Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name." (NKJV)

John 15:18,20a – If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. Remember the word that I said to you, "A servant is not greater than his Master." If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. (NKJV)

2 Corinthians 4:7-9 – But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. (NKJV)

Because I was an athlete in my younger years, God often uses sporting illustrations to teach me spiritual truths — they resonate with me. I was reminded of one of those when we took the grandkids to the swimming pool during March break. It's a very nice pool. There's a kiddie pool with a hot tub attached. The water is warm for the little ones. It's adults only in the hot part. The big pool has a shallower end and a deep end. There's a slide, a Tarzan rope, and a springboard — lots of fun, for some.

I looked around at all the different kinds of people using the pool. Little ones are in the kiddie pool, learning to enjoy the water. But a nine-year-old, who should be taking his swimming test, is there with his little brother. He doesn't like the colder water and the other kids splashing around in the big pool. Grandpa is in the hot tub keeping an eye on them. He's not a swimmer and likes the heat also. Older kids and adults are in the shallower end playing around. Some are working on their skills, but some just don't swim well. Noodles, flutter boards, and balls to toss are their fun. Then, there are teenage girls, who can swim well, but are sitting at the deep end, feet in the water. They are talking and prefer not to get their hair wet. Then, there are the keeners, going down the slide, swinging on the swing, doing flips off the springboard, and diving for rings. They are making the most of their experience!

It's kind of like the church. What? Some never darken the door. Some dabble. Some tread water. Some keep a presence but don't get involved. Some are in there with their whole hearts. Yes, I see it. Then, the Lord showed me that the big pool, the kiddie pool, and the hot tub are safe places, like the church building. The real challenge is in the open water. I felt the fear that I had known as a child, swimming in the lake. Something brushed by me in the water. The unknown. Am I safe? Going out into the world with the gospel? Scary.

I've been pondering this ever since. The real challenge is to take our skill, our faith, out into our community and to be God's presence there. But will we? Will we conquer our fear and go out with His Spirit to fulfill our mission in our own communities?

Prayer: Lord, we like to be safe. Sharing our faith with people can be scary. We don't know what their reaction will be. And this is something that we aren't skilled at. Help us, Lord! Teach us. We know that You will be with us. Grant us courage to be faithful in this mission to share You with our community, no matter what the cost, for Your glory's sake. Amen.

But while I was stripping paint, I had a lot of time to think, and, sometimes, that can be productive. God usually has some lessons for me to learn in the things that I am engaged in. For example, it's too bad that the need for stripping "the accretions of the ages" in our lives weren't as obvious to our eyes as the old paint! With the psalmist, I asked:

Psalm 139:23-24 – Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (KJV)

I was also asking God, what is in my life that shouldn't be? How do I strip away things like pride, fear, self-centredness, and criticism? I try to keep my heart right with God, but sometimes, things creep in that I don't even see. Others are not always willing to point out our faults, partly because we are not always ready to accept them graciously, and partly because they don't want to be accused either. We don't have enough love for that.

Proverbs 6:16-19 – These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren. (NKJV)

We often excuse our sins as being no big deal, but God wants us to tell ourselves the truth. He is in the business of renovating us until we shine. There's an old children's hymn, "When He cometh", that refers to His people as shining jewels and bright gems:

When He cometh, when He cometh
To make up His jewels …
They shall shine in their beauty,
Bright gems for His crown.
       – William O. Cushing

Malachi 3:17a – "They shall be Mine," says the Lord of hosts, "On the day that I make them My jewels." (NKJV)

What is the cry of your heart to God? Can you pray like this:

Prayer: Lord, show me what needs to be stripped from my life and lead me in the way everlasting. I ask You for the grace and strength that I need to persevere, until I shine as a bright gem for Your crown. Amen.

What do you want? What a good question! In a course I once took, it was one of the most important questions: Why are you here? What do you hope to gain? What do you want? Many of the exercises that we learned were to help us to attain what we wanted. But we had to identify it. In today's passage, blind Bartimaeus had no trouble identifying what he wanted: to see.

I have to chuckle when I read the following passage about two disciples of John the Baptist:

John 1:37-39a – When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?" They said, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?" "Come," he replied, "and you will see." (NIV)

John had just pointed to Jesus as the Messiah, the One that they had been waiting for. Two of John's disciples, friends, saw that Jesus was going somewhere and they were drawn to Him. So they were "tailing" Him. When Jesus turned around and asked, "What do you want?" they were at a loss for words! I imagine them flustered at being found out — embarrassed, perhaps. "Where are you staying?" What kind of answer is that? I also imagine Jesus smiling at their discomfort and graciously inviting them: "Come and see."

What do I want — really want? Not a new pair of shoes. From the depth of my heart and soul, what do I want? When we sweep all the demands of everyday life away, what is the cry of our hearts — our longing? I want You, Jesus. You. That's it. That's all. That's enough. You are life. You are Mercy. You are Truth. You are Love. You are Eternal. You are all I need. When I am fulfilled in Him, all those other demands are silent. Paul knew that. He wrote:

Philippians 4:11 – I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. (NIV)

Wow! So, what do you want?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are all we need. In the midst of our busy lives, Help us to stop and reflect on what we are truly wanting, and to see in You the fulfillment of all our desires. Amen.