Partnering with God

After meeting every Saturday morning for over two years, our small “Backyard Church Zoom” came to an end last fall. Life had gotten busier and most of us had once again become involved in our various churches, volunteer work and other activities.

When many churches were closed due to the outbreak of COVID, our pastor encouraged the congregation to form backyard churches. It turned out to be an exciting adventure, providing many opportunities for new friendships and spiritual growth.

People around the neighborhood were the first ones Al and I invited to meet in our backyard on Saturday mornings. Of those folks who dropped in, our neighbors, Jim and Sue, became regular attenders; and soon they in turn invited another couple whom they had met through church.

 Before long, there were seven of us who looked forward to it every week, including a friend of ours from church as well. We grew close to one another, supporting and encouraging each other throughout the pandemic.

Eventually it got too cold to sit outside, so we decided to meet on Zoom . That enabled people who lived out of state to become involved too. Al’s sister and niece joined us from Ohio, along with two other friends. And Sue also brought in her sister, Marge, from Illinois.

We met at 9:00 a.m., but Marge had to be ready at 8:00 a.m. being in another time zone. Even so, she was often early, taking the opportunity to chat with Sue, Jim and some of the others a few minutes before Al and I managed to turn on the computer! Marge usually appeared on the screen wearing one of her signature hats and bubbling over with joy.  

A retired Elementary school teacher, she was always willing to share something that had inspired her the week prior to the Zoom, whether it be one of her favorite songs, a special hymn or a devotional that she had read.

Although our group has officially ended, she still keeps in touch…and is as encouraging as ever! Recently she sent us a story about a happening at “Acorn Acres,” a large tree farm in northwest Illinois, where Marge and her husband Jerry have lived the last 48 of their 53 years of married life.

Jerry owns and operates a sawmill on the property, in addition to caring for their tree farm. According to Marge, one day Jerry encountered a problem that stopped the operation of the sawmill:

 “Whenever he (Jerry) comes inside, we talk about what he has been doing outside. This time he couldn’t get the carriage to work on his sawmill and essentially could not get his logs sawed.

Then he said, ‘I’ve tried everything and I don’t know what else I can do.’

 So I said, ‘Have you tried prayer?’

 We both stopped and prayed together.

‘Gracious Lord, we know that you are always here with us at Acorn Acres. We know that you are even a better mechanic than Jerry. Please help him to fix his sawmill.’”

“Jerry relaxed, then headed outside. When he came back, he was a happy guy. The sawmill was fixed! All he needed was a screwdriver and a hammer! He looked up and noticed sawdust that was stuck behind a metal box. He knocked it out and the carriage began moving again.

Jerry is very talented and is a hard worker. He is even better when he partners with God.”

Marge is right! We become our best selves when we partner with God. Jesus knew this and encouraged his followers to go to the Father for help, no matter how great or small the need.         Wisdom? Guidance? Direction? Strength? Healing? Love? Extra Patience? Other?? Through the power of the Holy Spirit, God graciously answers our cries for help. 

 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in Heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”  (Luke 11:9-13 NIV)