Looking for Lucy

Over the past several months, I have been researching my family history. While one side of my family’s genealogy had been extensively written by my father, another branch was yet-to-be discovered. Starting with some notes and letters left by my grandparents, followed by much searching through England censuses of the 1800s and other on-line websites and resources, my father and I unearthed quite a substantial family tree. We found old photos, interesting newspaper articles, military service records, and grave stone inscriptions which helped to bring to life the bare facts of our ancestors’ lives. Of course, we do not know their personalities or how they handled life’s blessings and challenges, but we do read history books and historical novels to get the general impression of daily life back then. Requiring great detective work, thinking out of the box, and utilizing persistence and patience, I have enjoyed the journey back in time. Although I did not want to study history in high school, due to its focus on memorizing dates and names, I am, however, very interested in how people lived! As my father and I are now reaching the end of our project, we remain challenged to satisfactorily discover all the basic facts of one of my great grandmothers. We are looking for Lucy!

While Lucy is part of my earthly heritage, some time ago, there was someone in my spiritual heritage for whom I was searching. Although I had found him once, I lost track of God and when I realized he was missing I started looking for him in all the wrong places. Self-help books, new age philosophies, science, and nature – my search was never satisfied. Then I realized where I could find him – in his very own book, the Holy Bible. He had wonderfully inspired his story (2 Timothy 3:16) to be written by people so that we may know all about him as well as know him through and by what we read in the Bible. So many things we learn about God including:

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” Genesis 1:1.

“For God will break the chains that bind his people . . . For a child is born to us, a son is given to us . . . These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His ever expanding peaceful government will never end. He will rule forever with fairness and justice . . . the passionate commitment of the LORD Almighty will guarantee this!” Isaiah 9: 4-7.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the World to condemn it, but to save it” John 3:16.

“Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me,” spoken by Jesus in John 14:11.

“And in the future you will see me, the Son of Man, sitting at God’s right hand in the place of power and coming back on the clouds of heaven,” spoken by Jesus in Matthew 26:64.

Well, I could go on, but I recommend that you discover God for yourself by reading the Bible. Ask God to enlighten you as to his true wonderful nature. I never tire of meeting God when I read the Bible – he always amazes me!

In my search for Lucy, I sent a letter of inquiry to a name and address in England that might be of my second cousin. Not knowing if I had the right address or how my letter would be received, I was thrilled when they sent back a kind response and a photo of my great grandmother Lucy. Now, I can see her likeness, but I still do not KNOW her. By contrast, as I read God’s Bible, I not only see his likeness through the word pictures presented there, but also, through his very own Spirit’s presence within my being, I actually KNOW God! This is certainly far more exciting!!

Lord – thank you for the Bible and for sending me your Spirit so that I may know you personally. Thank you that you are not only part of my history, but also you are part of my present and future. Amen.