INSPIRASUNS

Today we’re going to spend the day putting away Christmas. Even though there are still a few days of those 12 days of Christmas remaining, we don’t have to have the decorations up to celebrate them.

I must admit, there is a feeling of newness when we get everything put nicely away, do a little winter cleaning, and our home is restored to pre-Christmas order. Please don’t misunderstand, I absolutely love Christmas and all that it brings. However, during the season, there is an underlying truth that soon the decorations will come down, and we’ll move on. So I don’t want to say there is an uneasiness about the decorations being temporary, no, it’s just a knowledge that there will come a time to restore things. I hope that all makes sense 🙂 .

Yesterday, we received an email from the office of our Bishop. It was a pastoral care message that was difficult to read. The 4-year-old son of a woman who works for our diocese went missing on New Year’s Eve day. Unfortunately, they found little Johnathan’s body yesterday near his father’s home. We don’t know any of the specifics, only that there is an ongoing investigation. I share this news this morning for several reasons; first, I ask you to please pray for Johnathan’s family, pray for strength and peace as they deal with this tragic news. Also, please pray for the investigators that God will lead them to the answers they seek.

I also share this story to remind us all that this life is not easy. Bad things happen that we do not understand. My hope is that one day we will be able to ask Jesus why we had to endure the pain. For now, though, I know that Jesus is with us, Father is with us, and the Holy Spirit is in us. God restores us, He heals us, even in the darkest of times. It is so important to keep Him close, every day, in all that we do, and when those difficult times come, we must draw even closer to Him.

The day will come, friends, when we are made whole with those who have gone before. The Lord will restore order in the world, and we will be with Him eternally. May that be a gift we always look to and cherish.

I close with a prayer shared by our Bishop for little Jonathan.
O God, whose beloved Son took children into his arms and blessed them: Give us grace to entrust Johnathan to your never-failing care and love, and bring us all to your heavenly kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Friends, please keep Johnathan’s family in your prayers, and continue to lift prayers for the return of sweet Emily Rea. Thanks so much, as always, for your continued support in this little community.

1 Peter 5:10
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.