Dear Friends,

Tim and I are so blessed to be the grandparents of three perfect grandchildren (what grandparents don’t think the same of their grandkids?)! Earlier this week they were at our house visiting. Tim and I have 2 cats. One is super sweet - her name is Sweet Pea, the other is Zeke aka to the grandkids...the mean cat! This is because Zeke is yet to be saved…just kidding. Zeke is one of those cats who has a mind of his own, and you never know what he is going to do. He will pretend to want you to pet him, then when you reach down, he jumps at you and either scratches or bites you. The mail man, UPS, and others have all had their encounters by the fake kindness he approaches with. When the grandkids are visiting, we usually put Zeke outside, so we don’t have to worry about anything, or anyone getting scratched. On this day the grandkids were coming in from outside, and the youngest, Elisha, came face-to-face with Zeke. Elisha started crying immediately out of fear of what might happen. All hands-on deck - everyone ran outside and my son, Tyler, asked Elisha if the kitty got him. Elisha said no…but in the moment, he was terrified. All Elisha could think about in that instant was getting hurt, and the need to get away from the kitty, but the kitty was between him and the door. As soon as he focused on what his daddy was telling him, “You are ok, I am with you, everything is going to be alight,” Elisha focused on his father and not the problem. Soon after that he had his composure and refocused on his mission...playing. But to get his mind off of his problem, and to refocus on his plan and mission, he had to trust in what Tyler said and allow faith in his father to be able to refocus. We even gave Elisha some ideas how to overcome his fear with Zeke by clapping his hands or stomping his feet at the cat when he sees him. 

This Sunday I will continue resurrection encounters looking at the two disciples on their journey to Emmaus. We will look at how the current news of Christ had them doubting and in fear, and just like Elisha refocused and was reassured when his father showed up, we can be reassured and live in the promises of the risen Christ. The story continues… 



I’ll see you Sunday. 

He IS Risen!!!