Mothers, Moms, Mamas....Family!

Every May we have the wonderful opportunity to express appreciation for our Mothers. It could be a bittersweet time because some of us still have our Mothers and some do not. I am very grateful for my Mother, Jean Stevens and my second Mom, Patricia O’Nery. Happy Mother’s Day to both of you!I love you and I thank God for you! If you no longer have your Mother, I want you to know that you are not forgotten. May God continue to strengthen you and encourage your heart. My goal today is to express my sincere gratitude for my three children: Paul Jr., Jessica and Camilla. God brought our family together. P.J. has two older sisters and they have a younger brother. They make me happy and proud to be a mother/step mom. We have a wonderful relationship and I thoroughly enjoy when all of us are together. Food, family and fun...that’s what we always share. I usually have at least one of them with me for Mother’s Day. Maybe you’re not able to be with your loved ones during this time. Children and parents, be creative. Don’t let the social distancing keep you from showing love to those special people in your life!

Come Near

You and I recognize by now that these are unprecedented times and there’s so much happening around us.  Though we must focus on our physical health and the health of our nation---we can no longer ignore our spiritual health.  These natural bodies are only temporary, but we will live in the spirit forever, eternally, somewhere.  We are in Holy Week, what we Christians recognize and honor as the most important time. We pause to walk in the footsteps of Jesus this week and celebrate Resurrection Sunday.  Yes, the birth of Jesus was very important and set in motion a Divine Plan to save us.  Our Savior was born, and we understand that salvation, redemption and eternal life came when He died on the Cross, was buried, and God raised Him from the dead.  So while we continue to exercise social distancing, let’s find ourselves getting closer to the Cross.  

Come to Christ today even if you cannot go to the church building!  Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Acts 2:21). You may have been distancing yourself from God up until now, come near to Him today. He is Near.

Here's a word about the 'c' word:

So, what’s going on all around us right now? We’re learning how to do our part in slowing down the spread of the Coronavirus. All week long I’ve contemplated what I felt led to share and it’s been confirmed everywhere I turned. Let’s take precaution and prayerfully prepare ourselves. The Christian should never live in fear. I trust that we’re washing our hands and taking responsibility for what is in our power to control. My mind went back to the children of Israel and how they followed God’s instructions (Read Exodus 12). They were spared because they were covered by and protected by the blood on the doorpost. Jesus is the Lamb that was slain for us and His shed blood will never lose its power! Let’s do what we can in the natural and trust God with the rest. Prayer still works. Our children will learn how to walk in faith when they see us doing so. Let’s speak God’s Word over ourselves and our loved ones. I must confess that there was a little concern because I’m a cancer survivor and I’m in the population who have a compromised immune system. I’m speaking Psalm 91, and I’m remembering the words spoken at church this week.