May is one of my favorite months of the year. The promise of Spring is usually finally realized. Yet the weather is not as hot and humid as it gets later in the year. The school year is ending but vacation season, when so many are away from the church that attendance suffers, has not yet begun. Flowers are blooming and all of creation seems to be praising God.

However May is special for two important events that happen during the month. The first is Mother’s Day. The second Sunday of May is the time set aside to honor our mothers. As a child, I remember getting ready to go to church on Mother’s Day and going out to what we called the “Bubby Rose” bush and picking one of those red flower to wear. Red was the color you wore if your mother was still living and white was worn if she was deceased. I remember feeling really sad when Daddy wore a white flower after Grandmother Gregory died. A mother’s or grandmother’s love is very special.

Another childhood memory is tied to the date May 10th, for mother would never let us go barefoot until that date. Even though I resented it then, especially during those hot days of late April and early May, I came to realize that mother really had my best interest at heart. Often we resent the limitations God places on us without realizing that God has our best interest at heart as well. It is true that a Mother’s Love is the closest thing on Earth to God’s love.

So this May 13th take time to let your mother know how special she is if you are fortunate enough to still have her. If your mother has passed away, take the time to honor her memory.

The second important event is May is Pentecost. This is the birthday of the church. The Holy Spirit filled that Upper Room and changed a group of frightened powerless disciples into the mighty Church of Jesus Christ! With the fire and power of the indwelling presence of the Spirit they were bold enough to change the world. Heat what even those who opposed them had to say: “Those who have turned the world upside down have come here too.” [Acts 17:6 N.K.J.V.]

What a wonderful testimony! How it puts us to shame! Maybe the church needs to wake up and realize that he Holy Spirit can give us the power to turn our world upside down for Christ. Let us claim that power, not just of Pentecost Sunday, May 20th, but each and every day of the rest of our lives.

Richard

“And the one who was seated on the throne said, ‘See I am making all things new.’ Also he said, ‘Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.” [Revelation 21:5 N.R.S.V]

January first begins a new year. For some people this is a major event. They celebrate New Year’s Eve. Many do this by making New Year’s resolutions, most of which are broken by January second. For others it is just another day, no different from December 31st or January 2nd.

For most of my life I found myself numbered among the latter group. The only real significant New Year Day had for me was that it marked, back in the day, the end of college football season.

However, this New Year has a real meaning for me. 2018 will be the year I take Retired Status with the Holston Annual Conference. Having reaching the mandatory retirement age, I have no choice in the matter. So in effect, this will be a new beginning.

John’s vision found in Revelation 21:5 has God promising to make all things new and assuring us that that promise is true. While we usually do not think of this promise except at funerals and those rare times we think about the end of time, I submit that God can and will do a new thing in our lives and in the life of our church beginning this year.

So make a New Year’s resolution to develop a closer walk with God, to deepen your spiritual life and to support your church with more of your money, time and talents than you ever did before. Another resolution I want you to make is to help keep me focused the first half of the year and if I start acting like a “short-timer” call me on it!

God gives us a new year, let us make the best of it!

-Richard