They were joyful and humble as they ate at each other’s homes and shared their food. At the same time, they praised God and had the good will of all the people. Every day the Lord saved people, and they were added to the group.
—Acts 2:46,47 (God’s Word Bible)
When was the last time you lingered at the table, taking time to “break the Bread of Life” with your family or close friends? My many Plain (Amish and Mennonite) friends view their tables as the most important furniture in their homes, for this very reason.
Treasured fellowship—enjoying a community of believers.
Imagine the joy of sharing God’s faithfulness and goodness, and answered prayer, with others at your dinner table! (No cell phones, please). There is nothing quite like looking into the faces of your loved ones—and others close to you—while eating together.
As the last days of summer wind down, before back-to-school craziness begins, let’s embrace every precious moment. Talk of the Lord while we sit at breakfast, when we go about our day with our kids, our friends, our co-workers, and let’s focus on Him when we tuck the family into bed at night. He is our life, our breath, our very purpose for living.
We’re only given so many precious moments on earth. Let’s savor them, embrace them, and make them count, dear reader-friends.
Have a wonderful August!
Indeed, our lives are guided by faith, not by sight.
—II Corinthians 5:7 (God’s Word)
Reflection:
We are children of the Promise—God’s promise. Think of that! We trust in our heavenly Father, knowing we can focus our eyes (and hearts) on the blessed hope, the reward of the eternal, while looking ahead with joy to the great things God is doing right here in our world. Missions are thriving. Thousands each day are answering the call of Christ in many lands. God is at work in our lives and all around the world, friends.
When things look the darkest, the candle of Faith shines the brightest.
Also, let’s never forget those early "pilgrims" who paved the way for our American liberties more than two hundred years ago, this Fourth of July, and the many men and women who have given their lives, limbs, and minds willingly for those very freedoms.
I wish you and your family an inspiring Fourth!
"The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him."
--Proverbs 20:7
Reflection:
I’m grateful to God for a Dad who loves the Lord. My father is still living…and reasonably healthy for his 87 years. Dad’s a wonderful writer, and I just finished editing his monthly newsletter, which he distributes to his long-time subscribers, as well as to a whole bunch of lively seniors who live in his beautiful complex.
I was telling Dave, my husband, just this evening, that it seems like Dad has been gone from our home for a long, long time, and yet it has only been two months since he moved to an independent senior living complex. He was with us for a full year, after his dear wife (my step-mother) suddenly required memory care for the onset of dementia, following an emergency surgery. It was such a sad and lonely time for Dad, and heartbreaking for this newlywed couple of just 15 months. But my daddy needed a place to stay for a season, and we were happy to open our hearts and home to this gentle and godly man. He called his bedroom his “little indoor Dawdi Haus.” How sweet is that?
I’ll never forget the day Daddy taught me the Greek alphabet to the tune of “Onward, Christian Soldiers,” and I was just a tot. Dad loves studying God’s word, especially in Greek—he is a longtime student of the Bible, and when I’m writing and want to know the meaning of a particular “root word” for a scripture verse, Dad is always happy to look it up. Quite eager, actually.
This is a man who has lived his life sharing his knowledge of the Bible with others—from the pulpit, and from foreign soil. He has led many hearts to Christ through his years of pastoral and missionary ministry. And he and my mother taught my little sister and me to love Jesus at an early age, as well. He has truly passed on the Faith of our fathers, and I’m truly thankful to have the honor of sharing these tidbits with you on this June blog.
Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there…and to the women who love them!
Blessings and love,
Bev Lewis
Congratulations to these 5 winners of signed copies of the novel and Hallmark Movie Channel DVD of The Confession! Thanks so much for participating in this giveaway and being such faithful reader-friends. Email my publicist with your preferred mailing address; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Becca Peterson
Sue Chandler Conley
Margareth Frayne-Sodré
Diane Heggart
Abigail Richmond