Pastor Claude Thomas Weblog

Author: Pastor Claude Thomas

Our youngest son did his doctoral work in the United Kingdom. He, his older brother, and I went on a visit to check out the school and where he and his family might live.
While in London we saw Les Miserables. My wife had seen the play in London a year or so earlier. The play is amazing! And of course seeing the play in London added to the whole experience. One of the most moving feature characters is a single. She was in a desperate situation. She could not keep her daughter and earn money to take care of her. So, she let her daughter lived with a couple. And she gave her all for her daughter’s future. The scene of her ultimate sacrifice and death for the future of her daughter had my whole row in tears! It is always an inspiring play.

Another single mom challenges and inspires me! I find her in the pages of Scripture. Her name is unknown to me. But her character and commitment is forever set in the pages of the Bible. Bible students know her as the widow of Zarepath (1 Kings 17). She was in a most desperate situation. She and her only son were facing starvation. They were running out of food. A drought had covered the entire land and there were no crops or food.
In the middle of that horrible situation, God did a miracle as she responded to the word of the prophet Elijah. The meager amount of food she possessed was multiplied because the prophet showed up and she responded to his word.

I cannot help but think of the single moms and children of this world who are experiencing hunger at this very moment. How can we show up? Can we make a difference in their lives? We can show up and make a difference by partnering with organizations like Feed The Children, Inc. For more information how you can make a difference contact Feed The Children, Inc. at www.feedthechildren.org.

Author: Pastor Claude Thomas

A proud father stands waiting. He comes here every day. He seems to absorb the view. From where he stands, he can see for miles. He inhales the beauty of the view, but there is something else in his eyes – he seems to search.

He watches with a frown of intensity as the sun hangs directly above his head.
As time passes, his shadow grows longer but he keeps his vigil. He is tireless and persistent, his sharp eyes scanning the horizon for a sign, a picture – A boy. His boy!
Once full of life and dreams, the broken boy now limps upon the horizon. His pride is broken, his will is shattered. He wearily travels toward his former home, where he knows there is a gracious father who would at least let him return as a servant. His belief in his father has brought him home.

The father races toward his son as if his very life was hanging in the balance. The eyes that once pierced the horizon are now full of tears as he sees the familiar face of the son he loves. They embrace, father and son, with the knowledge that all is well and all is forgiven. (Luke 15)

Have you ever known that kind of love? Have you ever believed in someone so much that you knew that the love was without conditions? You can.

God loves you so much that he stands waiting for you to come home. You need not take the time to even dust yourself off – you must run to your forgiveness, flee to the compassionate embrace of the one who loves you most of all.