Daddy's little girl.

As a kid growing up, Father’s day was always hard from me.  While other kids were happily making macaroni cards and writing out redeemable coupons for car washes, I would do the same, but knew that my dad would never get it.

My parents were divorced when I was quite young and my father was absent for the better part of my life.  I don’t have memories of sitting on my “daddy’s” lap while he read me a story or going to baseball games or looking up to a man that I thought was my hero.  My father was simply not that person.

Because of decisions my father made, life was not easy for my mother and me.  For a single, immigrant mother, providing for a young daughter was difficult, so  I acquired the responsibility to work at an early age.  

As I got older my relationship with my father changed. I had opportunity to meet him more frequently but our times together were stilted and awkward.  

I remember as a young woman and young Christian mourning the daddy I would never have. I remember a pastor saying to me,

"God is your Father.”

I thought the man was out of his mind.  

I replied, “No, God is not my father.  God is God and my father is … well, he’s neither.”

I went home discouraged, lonely and completely misunderstood.

That night I grabbed my Bible and allowed the pages to fall where they may. The pages fell open to Psalm 68 (honestly, I can’t make this stuff up).  I read these words:

Sing praises to God and to his name!

    Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds.

His name is the Lord—

    rejoice in his presence! 

Father to the fatherless (Psalm 68: 4-5 NLT)

It was just a coincidence and so I flipped the pages of my Bible again and there in John 16, Jesus says:

"For the Father himself loves you dearly" (John 16:27  NLT).

With tears in my eyes, I cried out to God.

And in my spirit I heard “Mona, I am your Father. I will never leave you and never forsake you.  You are my little girl and I have always been there for you. I was there when you sang in the choir and I was there when you were the lead in the musical. I was there cheering you on.  When you are lost in indecision, I guide you.  Your earthly father may have let you down but I have always been there and I always will be.”

Today, Father’s Day does not have a sting. I am grateful for the strong, loving, kind men in my life.  Dear men that have guided and loved me.  I am grateful for the man I married and the amazing ‘daddy’ he is to our children.  And I am grateful that I have a heavenly Father. For that I am immensely blessed!

*******************

Join us this Sunday, as we conclude our series entitled WE're Different!  In honour of Father's Day, I have a little gift for all the men (young and old).  

Please Come!

Offering my mite.

Have you heard the story called “The Widow’s Mite?” 

If you’ve been in church long enough, you may have coloured pictures of the scene in Sunday School, or heard sermons that pointed out the virtues of the widow who gave all that she had. 

As I have read, taught and preached on this story, it is clear that Jesus views the woman’s sacrificial giving in higher esteem than the contributions of the rich.

But as I heard the story again this week, I had an “ah ha” moment.

Just imagine with me. 

This poor widow making her way to the temple.  I imagine her wearing her well worn woollen garment and a scarf that covered her grey streaked hair.  Perhaps she was contemplative as she walked on the dusty road.  She had earlier looked into her little money pouch only to find two small coins.  Not once did she wonder how she would buy wheat for her next meal.  She knew God would provide. God always did. She slipped the two coins into her pocket and as she walked she felt the metal against her fingers.

I imagine her shuffling through the busy streets of Jerusalem, people everywhere but no one takes notice of her. She keeps her eyes down as she climbs the steps of the temple. As she stands in front of the offering receptacle, she takes hold of the coins from within her pocket and places them in the container. 

At the very same time, Jesus was sitting opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury (Mark 12:41).

Jesus watched as the poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents (Mark 12:42).

What Jesus does next is what I found interesting.  

Jesus said absolutely nothing to the woman.  There was no praise. No, “You go girl”. No, “I am so proud of you!”. No accolades or applause.  

Instead Jesus used this as a teachable moment for his disciples. He called them to Himself and said, 

“Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” (Mark 112:43-44).

As the poor widow turns to leave, I imagine a smile coming over Jesus’ face.  I imagine he even laughs to Himself as He thinks about what she will find in her little worn money pouch the next day.  God blesses His children.

So this was the profound “Ah ha” moment for me.  Maybe you’ve already figured this out, but this is what God showed me this week.  

I, as a follower of Jesus, have to endeavour to do the right thing all the time. It doesn’t matter what others say, or don’t say, do or don’t do.  It doesn’t matter if it goes against the norm or might look ridiculous.  I must do what God has called me to do. I must be faithful to who God has called me to be.  I serve an audience of ONE.  And in my obedience and faithfulness to God, I will be blessed.  And so will you!

I look forward to worshipping with you on Sunday as we continue our sermon series entitled,  We're Different!

Be you!

The other day I fell upon this scripture.  I’ve read this verse before but for some reason it has stuck with me all week.

It is from Job 37:5-6: 

"God’s voice thunders in marvellous ways; He does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’”

As I’ve been reflecting on this verse I’ve felt a freedom and grace wash over me, and (perhaps) here’s why.

God says to the snow, "Fall on the earth." That’s it. Just do one thing. Just fall. And then God says to the rain shower, "Be a mighty downpour." 

God says, “You’re rain … so rain. You’re snow … so snow”.

God doesn’t tell the snow to thaw and become rain, or the rain to freeze itself into snow. God is essentially saying: Do your thing. Do the thing you love to do, do what I created you to do!

I love the simplicity of it. 

I don’t know about you, but there have been times when I’ve twisted myself into knots thinking that I needed to act a certain way, or even try to be someone else.  I mean really… are Presbyterian ministers even supposed to know what Manolo Blahnik’s are? (yes, pretty shoes). It’s hard trying to fulfill the endless list of qualities and capabilities that I thought would make me feel loved, appreciated or happy. It’s an exhausting way to live. I know because I’ve done it.

We are being reminded that we are to do what we love, to do what we are created to do, and to it in the way we are created to do it. That is FREEDOM!  

The snow is only created to fall. The rain is only created to pour down. And you were only created to be who you are!  

So, be you!

And in all you do bring Glory and Honour to God!

*******************

This Sunday we welcome Carl Nash as our guest preacher. Carl is the Ministry Director for Youth Unlimited (Toronto Youth for Christ).  He is a passionate communicator with a heart to see young lives transformed by the power and love of God. 

Join me as we welcome Carl and gather around the table for Communion.

You will not want to miss this Sunday!  

Please join us and as always, bring a friend!