I recently finished a novel entitled Gilead, by Marilynne Robinson. In the last pages, she depicts the old preacher who paints a beautiful portrait of the prairie sunrise and sunset with nothing to distract the view. To absorb the beauty of a sunrise or a sunset, one must stay focused as once it hits the horizon it does not take long to disappear. He likens it to a passage of scripture from the book of Job, ‘when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God sang for joy.’ We only have moments to captivate the beauty of such experiences as they last for such a little time.

We will long remember 2020 when COVID-19 took over the world and everything changed. One of the more significant commodities was time. As a result, items such as bicycles, pressure-treated wood, puzzles, flour and yeast, to name a few, were hard to find. Why? There was TIME!

Many of life’s experiences can only be measured in moments.

Missing a moment can be the difference of seeing your child smile for the first time, or the first step on his journey in life.

It is the little things that make special moments. Paying attention and practicing gratitude can give us the most extraordinary moments.

Live for the moment, never a dull moment, just a moment. If we could only have this life for just one more day, one more hour. Moments on mountain tops and moments in despair. Solomon had learned some deep truths about moments … “a time to dance, a time to mourn … ”

There are no ordinary moments.

Moments with God can change the entire perspective of the day. I have experienced special moments with God where I discovered something new about who he was and who I am. Nothing earth shattering. Simple things like seeing him in my flower boxes on my balcony. Listening to the trees clapping their hands in the gentle breeze on my daily walks. Listening to the song, “We Are Standing on Holy Ground”. Waking up to a summer thunderstorm.

There are special moments that should not be shared with anyone, just between you and God.

2020 has given us an amazing opportunity to stop, reflect, prioritize, and become aware of just how fragile and out of our control life can be.

This moment is a miracle and it is always the right moment to do the right thing.

For what is your life? It is even a mist that appears for a little time, then vanishes.” James 4:14

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”  Genesis 50:20 (NIV)

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  Romans 8:28

Joseph’s life experiences in the book of Genesis are an example of how God can work things out for our good. As a young man, he grew up having dreams. At 17 years, hell broke loose on him and he found himself in the hands of strangers who ended up selling him to Potiphar’s house where he also became a victim of unjust imprisonment.

But while Joseph was in prison, the Lord was with him. He showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. God took the disorder sown by the devil upon the life of Joseph to fulfill His purposes through Joseph’s life. All that happened to Joseph in prison was God’s preparation for him to rise up to a higher rank of service in Egypt – an indication of God’s good intention for His people in any crisis including the pandemic we are experiencing now.

It is important to note the following:

1. In every challenging season we go through, God’s good intention is to shape us to become who he intends us to be.The experiences Joseph went through at the hands of his brothers and the Midianite merchants, as well as in Potiphar’s house and even in prison, explain how God uses challenging situations to produce persevering people that have hope in the promises of God.
2. There is no situation that has the power to destroy you.
   We serve a mighty God who will not allow the intentions of your enemies to be fulfilled. He will turn the tables around for you so as to glorify himself through your life.
3. In every crisis, there are opportunities for good.
   Joseph, at Potiphar’s house was raised to be a leader, in prison he was an interpreter of dreams and in charge of other prisoners. During such challenging times, we need to pause, reflect and re-evaluate, asking God to open our eyes to the opportunities that we do not see. There is a miracle in every storm and Christ is in every crisis. God will not lead us to a place where his grace will not keep us. Recognizing these opportunities in a crisis will enable us to be better today than we were yesterday and to be better tomorrow than we are today.

Eunice Monda – Kenya Programs Coordinator

It’s a way of life to wave to my neighbors, or for that matter share an invitation for coffee with them at my kitchen table.  Now it’s all changed because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Let’s go for a walk with the grandchildren to play at the park and swings. STOP!

“Is that you Nellie? I haven’t seen you for awhile, how are you?; Nellie: ”My husband lost his job, my daughter is sick in the hospital, I’m worried sick about her.” Me: “I’m so sorry, I can’t really hear all that you are saying through the mask, and I can’t leave my red circle here to give you my card to call! Are you on Facebook Nellie?” Nellie: “No.” STOP

I have always believed that “Faith is on the other side of fear.” But these continued “STOP-SIGNS?” This brings with it the emphasis on fear.  As Christians, as Christ followers, remembering that it is God who began the good work in us and will bring it to completion.  Hope IS alive! Even when we are bombarded with caution signs at every turn!

I wanted to share a small story, with a BIG emphasis on the words, “Hope is on the other side of fear.” Much like crossing a bridge, it’s a step of faith, letting go and putting our full trust in God.

My daughter in law was in a lot of pain at 1:40am, our son called us and we went to their home. Oh, I forgot to mention we live next door. The paramedics came with full PPE, we followed safe distancing, and their many protocols (they are heroes). At 2am she was transported by ambulance to the hospital, about 25 mins away. At 3am baby Claire Corina Margaret Mueller was born. She was prematurely born, just over 4 lbs, 5 1/2 week’s early, a beautiful little girl.  Born during one of the world’s pandemic, unrest, and most fear-filled ages we have seen.& Here she is, in my arms at 2 months, she weighs well over 10 lbs, a bouncing healthy baby sister for our granddaughter Evelyn. We have all experienced “Joy” in the midst of much pain, uncertainty and even the possibility of baby not living through her time at McMaster Hospital.

(Again, our Hero’s) But God!

Here’s the good news today…He has you, He’s got this! I want to leave you with some research work, these scriptures were given to you, for encouragement, hope and sustaining power through all of life’s difficult challenges.  Women Together is a ministry that prays! We have seen the results for ourselves.  Let your new way of life be filled with Hope, God-Centered truths from the Bible and embrace the confidence that you are in the palm of His hand, no one can snatch you from that place. When Life Happens, “You are not alone.

Stacy Mueller – Certified Life Coach, Cancer Coach Practitioner, Nurse

North American society just now seems permeated with division, strong opinions, disrespect for one another. A person who desires to stay engaged and informed in our democratic way of life, is easily swept up in all of this. This can be true for Christ-followers as much as for the general populace.

I’ve recently become increasingly puzzled that friends in my Christian circles have come to very different conclusions about current events than I have. How can they not see what seems so obvious to me?!

I’ve tried to understand the other viewpoint. Then something else is said, or done that reinforces my original opinion. Sigh…

So my opinion hasn’t changed.

BUT!

SO WHAT?!

My assignment as a servant of Christ is not to convince others that they’re wrong about the current political/social climate. I need to stop giving this so much mind-space, emotion-space. I need to focus on the assignment I’VE been given by my Master.

Among other things, that includes:

• loving my neighbour as myself,
• thinking about what is true, honest, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, worthy of praise
• remembering that righteousness and justice are the foundation of God’s throne (Psalm 97:2)
• remembering that He sends the blessing of rain on both the just and the unjust. (Matthew 5:45)

In these days of deep divisions in our society, what is the effect on church congregations? on family groups? Can a Republican and a Democrat work together in the Kingdom of God? A Conservative, Liberal, NDP supporter? A black and a white? Can they worship together in the same pew? Can they even have family dinners together?

Since the First Century, God has emphasized the absolute importance of unity in the Body of Christ. Throughout my lifetime of involvement in the Canadian evangelical scene, I’ve experienced deep deep sorrow in times of ‘church splits’. During mission trips to several parts of the world, I’ve grieved over the lack of co-operation & mutual support among bodies of like faith.

Paul teaches us,

For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:26-28)

Think of these very disparate groups working together in the Kingdom, worshiping together, sharing authentic heart-felt friendship & love together:

• Jew and Gentile – very different worldviews, attitudes, cultural practices, family practices, and on & on.
• slave or free – possibly slave-owners and slaves working together, worshiping together in the church?!

Yet Paul says,

There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Perhaps to us today, he would say, “There is no longer Republican or Democrat, Trump lovers or Trump haters, Conservatives or Liberals, Blacks and Whites. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Christ broke down the wall of partition between us. Let us not rebuild that wall. “Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility, (the middle wall of partition KJV) toward each other was put to death.” (Ephesians 2:14)

So I pray, “Lord, please help me remember to focus on your assignment for me,. Please help me be an instrument of your love, your peace, your patience and compassion, your care.And when I get taken up with defending my assessment of people or situations, please help me quiet.” myself in your better way.

The better way:

In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, …slave or free. Christ is all that matters, & he lives in all of us. … you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness & patience…. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. … As members of one body you are called to live in peace.” (Colossians 3:11-15)

(*unless otherwise noted, all Scriptures are from New Living Translation, 2nd Ed)