by Joyce Pelletier
     1 John 3:1 See what love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called ‘Children of God!’ And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. 

     Surprises happen when we least expect it. We don’t know what or when it will happen and sometimes the impact shows up days after experiencing it. I’ve read these words a number of times and each time it’s a different observation than before. The Word does that to us. Each of our days, life experiences are similar, however that brings to mind different meanings. 

     So often in reading God’s word the attention often triggers our experience for a different purpose and sometimes it is something we need to pay attention to. Spring is one of my favorite times of year, and I know I’m not alone. Easter comes in spring. It reminds me that the lack of life in Winter seems to be difficult to understand at times. Yet the new snow storms show something mystical and exciting. Like our neighbors who have two precious little girls, they made a snowman family. They all got involved. It was so enlightening. 

     I’ve been somewhat busy with different things and somewhat stressed. I woke up early enough, but was feeling a bit tired as I didn’t get only 3-4 hours sleep the night before. No question, I was pretty tired. When I went into the kitchen to prepare breakfast for our special pup, Ollie, I went to the window to open the shade  and looked out the window to see six of my Daffodils had blossomed. It was an amazing start to my day. I had no doubt that God wanted me to remember the best day of the year was here and he surprised me with Daffodils. One of my favorite flowers! And, truth be told, there are many flowers that are my favorite. And, after all it was Easter Morning. Perfect timing after a restless night on not much sleep.

​      The picture that I chose to put with my blog is a four foot high stump in the woods, where Maurice was working and I was with him to try and find something he had lost. I stopped and got my phone out and took a couple of shots of this very unusual masterpiece that God somehow put it in that spot where I was standing and amazed at its artistry. I was flabbergasted at its wonder. I discovered a new masterpiece from God, which some may think it’s ugly, and I think it is an amazing creation, by God, and that in itself is beautifully grown.

     I realized, God didn’t just plant it there, it had been cut down, and somehow it grew into its art form that it was. The details remind me of someone holding onto perhaps a bird, or little child, with what looks like bumpers in a specially made nest. I pondered it for a long while and as I write this blog, God put it there to let me know this is the reminder of God’s protection on his creation of me, of you, of every last person on earth. Could anything be more precious?

     Although one person might think this is an odd impression from a dead tree, with this bump and a lump of wood that shows us how God lavishes us with all that we need. If God so loves the birds of the air, he cherishes us with every flaw, or broken piece of who we are. He’s so there to make us whole again. He gives us the gift of a surprise of daffodils, as well as a dead tree with a very unusual image that adds beauty to a daffodil. What a gift! In all this, we can share with anyone how a surprise of spring is a treasure of God. 

     I wanted to include this picture so I could share beauty in strange things of our world. The purpose of this odd sculpture, also has purpose, as do any thing that come my way. I just need to ponder and ask God for meaning. So much like some of the challenges of my day. It is like finding beautiful after a storm. Or perhaps that after messing up a project, instead of tossing in the fire pit, I could contemplate what happened and wonder what the image turned out to be, like a bird with arms holding its new-born chick.

     Lord, I recognize that sometimes things just don't turn out to what was intended, but looking through the heart of God we can see what Romans 8:28 says, "For to those who love God, who are called into his plan, everything works out for good." that as believers we see the creation as made by the creator and then we will see things differently then hope can be restored. Help us to see the beauty of  all that we see and stop focusing on the not so pretty result by trusting God instead. 

By Rebecca Vickery

Have you ever noticed how after you learn a new word, you hear it everywhere?  It’s not as though people suddenly start using the word more often, but because you now understand it, you recognize it when you hear it.  It’s the same way that when you are unfamiliar with an area, you don’t know where you are when you look around.  After a few days of walking the streets, things start to be more familiar.  Then you start to recognize when you get to a part of town from a different way.  The routes connect in your mind.  “Oh, here we are.”  “I know where we are now.”  The lights have been turned on, so to speak.

Before you know God, the things of God are gibberish.  They are city streets that you don’t recognize, and routes you’ve never taken.  You don’t have a smart phone to tell you which way to go and so all of it just looks foreign.  Unknown.  But when you encounter God for the first time, the light goes on.  Suddenly thing that made no sense make all the sense that you could ever need.  His way connects all the routes so that you know which way you’re going.  Eventually it will all make sense in the context of your relationship with God.  

Romans 8:28 says that all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purposes.  That’s a lot of things.  ALL things.  So even when we were walking around in darkness, God still had a purpose for all of it.  I don’t know how to wrap my brain fully around such a concept, but what I do know is this:  God is trustworthy.  He is the thing that makes all other things make sense.  So as a person who believes in Jesus-the way, the truth and the life, I see God’s handiwork all the time.  

When we were first starting out and had barely any money, I would pray before going to the grocery store.  There was one time we needed to buy a lot of ingredients, and I had taken coupons for everything possible.  I had 18.70 to spend.  We got everything we needed in the cart and it came to 18.65.  I laughed and marveled at God, who would not only take care of it, but leave me a few cents extra.  So I started to recognize that even when it seemed impossible that we would be able to afford what we needed, I didn’t need to worry, because God would take care of it.  Future grocery store visits would be less an exercise in faith, and more a peaceful stride.  “I know where we are.”

The more I knew that God could get me through the little things, the more aware I became that He could deliver me through the harder things.  In Proverbs 31:25, it says of a woman of great worth, “Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the time to come.”  She doesn’t laugh at the time to come because she has grown bitter or resentful.  She hasn’t stored up all her anxieties in her heart.  She has cast them on the Lord.  She knows that it doesn’t matter what she comes up against.  She will be delivered from all of it.  She recognizes that there will be a way even when there seems to be no way, because the One who directs her way will be with her.  

I don’t know how much time it took for me to start being more confident of who God is, and who I am to God.  I do know that I still have so much to learn.  But the more time I spend with God, the more my vocabulary increases.  The more words I recognize in use.  As I continue to move and grow in Him, and see Him answering prayers, I become more inclined to want to bring him those harder prayer requests, those things that are so heavy on your soul that the longer you carry them yourself, the more bent over you are in burden.  I want to laugh at the days ahead.  I want to finally have that yoke that is light and easy.  The only way I can do this is to spend more time with Him so I can understand His ways better. 

Perhaps you’d like to join me in praying for this.  Lord, I know that so many times I have been inclined to stress out over the future.  To be anxious for tomorrow, even though you say today has enough worries of its own.  IT DOES LORD.  Forgive my anxious ways, and help me to trust you today.  Until the day when I may laugh at the days to come, because you will have defeated my unbelief.  LORD, I believe.  Help my unbelief.  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

By Peggy Potter

Come Away my Love, my Fair One   Song of Solomon 2:10

Gary and I , being convicted in our spirits, gave up on all the plans we
made for a September 12th, 2025 Hawaiian-themed wedding. Instead we had on
April 3rd 2025,  in our new apartment together, a quick do it yourself wedding
officiated by a fun, friendly Justice of the Peace named Iris, who was a
bit discombobulated from jet lag from a return trip from Australia less
than 2 days before ! It was certainly a unique, yet sweet and memorable
experience, which did mean a lot to both Gary and I.

Instead of a Hawaiian wedding muumuu, this bride wore dress pants, a
pretty white blouse and a purple vest, as Gary's favorite color is purple.
Instead of a Hawaiian shirt, khakis and sandals, Gary looked breathtakingly
handsome in his dress shirt , pants, and leather jacket. Instead of a church
service with lots of family and friends, our DIY service had 2 in attendance;
my son Rob & his dog Annah.

Instead of a luau reception, Gary and I celebrated our wedding dinner at our favorite restaurant,
the Grand Buffet in Essex Junction. Instead of a beach honeymoon, there was moving, lots of back-
breaking, exhausting moving!  Boxes, storage units, 2 U-Hauls, but thankfully
our Heavenly Father did provide much needed help: Gary's brother Craig & his
Bible-study buddies, my son Rob, along with pick-up trucks and SUV's!

We needed all the help we could get, as I was only able to take a few days off from
work and since Gary had just started his new full-time job, he couldn't get any
time off !  Thankfully his hours made it possible to work on the move, but he
could not get adequate sleep and neither could I, so we were both very sleep-
deprived and tired. Catch us the little foxes (Song of Solomon v 2:15)!

Our fatigue caused us to become a bit short with each other, but praise Jesus
we have enough of His Love and Holy Spirit's wisdom in us both to recognize
the need for forgiveness and love before the "little foxes" could cause serious
harm to our relationship! Praise Jesus, I have learned great patience and understanding through all this.
We celebrate and praise Father God for each little accomplishment and victory !
​
And although it was no beach honeymoon, which may still come in the future,
we "Came Away" (v 2:10) this past Sunday, when we collaborated on a new recipe
for dinner and relaxed that evening by just sitting and taking in a DVD movie
together! That magic moment enabled us to fall in love and feel closeness
once again , praise Jesus !!