At one point when Job is defending his righteousness (Job 29.13), he says, “I caused the widow‘s heart to sing for joy.” It‘s just one of several times when God calls our attention to his concern for widows. 

Since Cornerstone began (nearly five years ago), we‘ve had a weekly Bible study with a group of (mostly) widows at a nearby retirement center, The Villas.  It‘s been a real blessing for all who have been involved in this ministry.

Read this wonderful article that one of our pastoral interns, Christopher Bechtel, recently wrote about the Villas Bible Study for our church newsletter: 

The English poet John Donne opens one of his many sonnets with the line, “What if this present night were the world’s last?” The answer? Picture in your mind’s eye the loving face of Christ crucified; you have nothing to fear. Each of the ten or so ladies and one man who attend the weekly Bible study at the Garden Villas South Retirement Community faces the daily reality that today could be their last.  And each one knows that because Jesus the Christ died for their sins and rose with power to defeat death, death holds no power over them.  They do not fear life’s end because, truly, it is only the end of the earthly chapter that sets the stage for heavenly bliss.  With 80+ years of Christian living behind them, each of these elderly saints, Meredith, Juanita, Elizabeth, and Violet, to name a few, knows the challenge and the joy of trusting the Lord for their daily needs, and as the winter of life grows longer, so does the list of innumerable ways in which they have experienced the sweetness of life with Jesus.

To be sure, none is immune to the pains of life. Ruth P. daily cares for Walter, her husband with advanced Alzheimer’s.  Ruth S’s nearly total deafness often leaves her feeling isolated.  Ruth K., too, struggles to hear well, and arthritis has practically confined her to a wheelchair.  Paul, the lone fellow of the group, lost his wife of 60+ years only a year ago, and each week, without fail, he comments that this or that reminds him of her.  His pain is still fresh, yet with faith in Jesus he perseveres in his frequently lonely life, waiting for the day when again he will see his beloved wife.  But his is a waiting that actively blesses others; as a baker by trade, he brings sweetness to many lives with his tasty treats.  Similarly, Janelle brightens the hearts of many with her ready smile, and with her new husband Charlie (whom she met and married at the Villas!) she is a walking testimony to God’s goodness.

For two years James Q. and I have had the privilege of studying the Scriptures with these fine ladies and man.  We’ve covered large and varied swaths of the Word—Luke, Ezra–Nehemiah, Proverbs, and Philippians, as well as forays into the Prophets for seasonal studies at Advent and Easter.  Today (1/16) we’re diving into Judges, eager to explore and learn of God’s grace from the often ugly history of Israel.  No doubt, as the weeks tick by, we’ll glean much of value and interest for Christian living, but, above all, we’ll find, even from Judges, that the one who trusts Jesus has nothing to fear.  The aches and anxieties of aged life, even death itself, have no power over the man or woman who knows that Christ Jesus died and rose again for him or her.  No matter the season of life, there is joy and hope to be found in Jesus.  My mothers and father in the faith who come to Villas Bible study have repeatedly confirmed this to me, by their lives and their words, by their prayers and their songs.  No doubt James would agree, as would Pastor Lee, Kent & Marj H., Bill & Letha S., Rick & Rebekah M., and others who have enjoyed the company of the Villas saints. If you’re ever free from 3:00–4:00 on Wednesdays come by the Villas and see what’s going on.

Cornerstone continues to enjoy an abundance of new little girls!  With Baby Miriam’s arrival yesterday, this makes four in the last forty–three days.  If you’re familiar with the joy of little girls, you’ll know that this is not considered to be a “surplus” of little girls.  Nor would the words “excess” or “glut” come into play.  One should rather think of it as a “wealth” of little girls.  Yea, even a “bounty.”

As Martin Luther once put it — in his typically reserved and timid way of speaking — “People who do not like children are swine, dunces, and blockheads, not worthy to be called men and women, because they despise the blessing of God, the Creator and Author of marriage.”

C.S. Lewis (who, ironically, wrote some of the most wonderful children’s literature ever printed) confessed his own flaws in this respect.  He once wrote of himself: “I theoretically hold that one ought to like children, but am shy with them in practice.” In another place he wrote: “I myself do not enjoy the society of small children:… I recognize this as a defect in myself.”

But by faith Christians say with Paul that our children are “holy” (1 Corinthians 7.14), and we lift them up in our hands before the Lord and give him deepest thanks.

“And as for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord: “My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children’s offspring,” says the Lord, “from this time forth and forevermore.”
—Isaiah 59.21

Here’s an action shot of a few of the ladies who recently attended the Cornerstone Women’s Retreat.  This year’s topic was “Resting in God.” Kate Q. led the discussion, and I understand it was wonderful.  I — not being a lady — decided not to attend.  But here’s a blurb on the retreat from a recent church newsletter:

We serve a God who rested on the seventh day and set apart one day in seven for his people to enjoy rest.  Jesus promises rest to all who come to him, but so often our lives seem hectic and full of anxiety rather than peaceful and full of Christ’s rest.  Join other women of Cornerstone as we take time together to rest, connect with one another, and remind ourselves of the joy of Resting in God.

Cornerstone is only four–and–a–half years old, but in that short amount of time we’ve been blessed by God to see one of the most dramatic and breath–taking pictures of the gospel lived out in our midst three glorious times. 

The first was when we saw little Jacob (from Azerbaijan) adopted into the home of a Cornerstone family.  The second time was when little Ani (from Ukraine) was adopted into the home of a Cornerstone family.  And just this week, little Ellie (from Guatemala) was adopted and brought into her new home.

Welcome home, Ellie!  We love you already, and we look forward to getting to know you!

A friend of mine in seminary use to tell a wonderful story about adoption.  His father was a pediatrician, and one of his patients was a little boy.  It seems that whenever the doctor saw this little boy, he was always wearing the same shirt — an old, worn, ratty–looking, faded sweatshirt with the word “Wilson” printed on the front (“Wilson” as in the sporting–goods retailer). 

The doctor often noted how odd it was that this boy from a well–to–do family was forever wearing the same old sweatshirt, which eventually began to look much worse for wear.  Finally he asked the question.

Here’s the story the doctor was told: 

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Cornerstone is running a special on little girls this month!  (See two posts below.) Caitlin was born yesterday and is looking forward to meeting her church family.

“Let the little children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.”

—The Lord Jesus, referring to children raised in the covenant of God

Someone once said, “Babies are such a nice way to start people.” And they are!  As Sophia Hawthorne — wife of Nathaniel Hawthorne (the author) — once observed, “How pleasant it is to see a human countenance which cannot be insincere.” She said this while commenting on her infant daughter Rose’s smile.

The next time you see a new human being, marvel again at the eternal, inexhaustible glory of God.  God made humanity in his own image, and we’ve not yet seen all the ways that image can be reflected upon, known, and enjoyed.  He is, after all, an infinite God.

Mike Mason said it best:  “A child is a revelation from God.  Prophets receive visions, mystics ponder the ineffable, great preachers deliver God’s word.  But the greatest revelation comes through flesh and blood.  Every child is a fresh, unheard–of image of God, and children keep coming and coming because the world has not yet conceived of all the fullness of God’s glory.”