Just Talk to God

 

This summer in Preschool summer choir, we are learning about prayer. Growing up, the kind of prayer I was primarily exposed to was either before meals or at church in the form of long prayers with big words. As a perfectionist, this perception of prayer led me to think that I needed to approach praying in just the right way. It wasn’t until later in my spiritual journey that I began to view prayer as more accessible, an avenue to come to God as I am and talk to Him about anything and everything in my life.

I think when one is asked to pray out loud, it is easy to fall into a certain mindset of making sure we say the right thing in the best way. But when that is the only kind of prayer a child hears, it doesn’t seem as accessible. It feels more like something for adults who know the right way to do things rather than an avenue of connection to God available to anybody.

In summer choir, we are defining prayer as simply “talking to God.” We are talking about talking to God at any time about anything—whether we are happy, sad, angry, or confused. My goal is to make sure the kids in my class know they can go to God whenever, not just before meals or at church. And that they can talk to God about anything, even if it’s not a “nice” emotion.

I am not one to kneel down and pray for extended periods of time. I applaud those who do; it is an admirable practice. My thoughts have a tendency to wander, and there will end up being twenty minutes of thinking about a variety of other things before I remember that I was praying. But that is not to say that prayer is not a part of my life. I talk to God throughout my day about anything and everything going on in my life. I have thanked Him, questioned Him, and poured out my feelings to Him while at work, in my car, and lying in bed.

This is the kind of prayer I think of when I read 1 Thess. 5:17: “Pray without ceasing.” It does not mean we need to always be on our knees. It means to have an ongoing conversation with God throughout our everydays. We can get so caught up in our lives that we forget to let God be a part of it. We can get so focused on praying “the right way” that we either over-focus or ignore doing it. My encouragement to you today is that praying to God can happen at the grocery store or driving to work, when you’re excited about how life is going and when you’re mad at God.

Just talk to God.

    --Concetta Swann

Reflections on Independence Day

 

Our family is a nerdy bunch. When we go on vacation, we always work in trips to museums, historical sites, and other educational activities. Recently, we visited the Missouri State Capitol and the Lewis & Clark memorial in Jefferson City, MO. On a previous trip to Missouri/ Kansas, Dan and I visited Harry Truman’s home and presidential library, Ulysses Grant’s home, and an amazing World War I memorial. I cannot say that I remember every detail of the many things we have seen and experienced, but cumulatively, they have laid the groundwork for the love I have for my country. It has instilled in me an awe and reverence for those who came before us, those who made a huge sacrifice for the freedoms and benefits I enjoy today.

Those who colonized and settled America faced incredible challenges – hunger, attacks, back-breaking work, weather challenges, sickness, pestilence, and government oppression. The Revolutionary War and its era are sometimes romanticized in novels and movies, but in reality, it was quite ugly. and every man who signed the Declaration of Independence paid a high price for doing so. These strong, resolute men (I love that word – resolute) did hard things – things that took courage and grit. Many who followed them paid with their lives and limbs to keep us free. Mental health challenges followed them for the rest of their lives. These trials should not be taken lightly. I live comfortably because they lived heroically.

I am so grateful and humbled to be an American, but I often feel unworthy since I know that there are many people worldwide who do not enjoy such liberty. Why did God choose to place me here? I am no more important than anyone else. Today, (I am writing this on July 4) I thank God Almighty for creating this country. You know it was a work of God, right? It was an unlikely win. So many came here seeking the freedom to worship freely (among other reasons) and no doubt they were praying the whole way. Our Founding Fathers had a respect for God and His guiding principles. Their words and Scripture are written on memorials all over this land. Their astonishing wisdom and understanding of the fallenness of man are reflected in systems of government they established. They understood tyranny. I believe their acknowledgement of God and requests for His guidance are why we have been so greatly blessed. I know they had shortcomings, as do we, but God used them anyway.

So, I encourage you to give humble thanks to God for leading men and women to found this land and for sustaining them in terrible hardships. Pray for our leaders to follow and obey God’s commandments. Thank veterans and military personnel for their hard work and sacrifices. Pray over our country’s brokenness too. Satan continues to find ways to divide and destroy our people. We have broken families, drug addiction, immorality, sex trafficking, depression, anxiety, suicide, murder, violence, unrest, porn addiction, etc. We deserve God’s judgement, but I am praying for His mercy and for revival. Let us “appeal to Heaven.” 

Independence Day

When we think about the birth

of this great nation,
Congress declared July the 4th 1776
and issued a proclamation.

With this decree, the thirteen colonies
are now free.
We will no longer live
under England's Monarchy.

Five great men
were given the task
to draw up papers
for freedom at last.

Thomas Jefferson,
we can remember.
A founding father,
Patriot and a Continental member.

Together these men
drafted the amendments.
Franklin, Livingstone, Sherman and Adams,
united they authored the Declarations of Independence.

Battles were fought,
and blood was shed.
Life was lost,
and men were dead.

"FREEDOM" came with
A heavy price.
War is not pretty,
nor is it nice.

We can thank
the Lord above.
He gave us these United States,
a country we can love.

Men fought for our freedom,
and with their lives they did pay.
That's why we celebrate
Independence Day.

(Debra L. Brown. "Independence Day." Family Friend Poems, June 26, 2019)

  “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” 

Beautiful words from the from the “Declaration of Independence”

 

joyce hague

Our Story

 

This year, in much of my personal reading, I have immersed myself in the eighteenth century, especially the time period of the American Revolution. I have read biographies of John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Alexander Hamilton. As a family, we visited Boston and Philadelphia in May. We got to see and walk around many important sites from this time: the Old North Church where the lanterns signaled how the British were advancing, Lexington Green where the first shots of the Revolutionary War were fired, the location of the bridge in Concord with its “shot heard ‘round the world,” Breed’s Hill where the battle of Bunker Hill took place, and Independence Hall in Philadelphia where we stood in the room in which the Declaration of Independence was signed. These places play important roles in the beginning of our country.  To stand in these spots and try to imagine now, 250 years later, the sights and sounds of that time was surreal. Why? Because I am an American, and those places and the biographies I’m reading tell the start of our story as those who call America home. What happened in the 1770s paved the way for everything that has happened since then.

At the same time, I’m spending this summer studying Acts for my personal benefit but also in preparation to teach a ladies’ Bible study this fall. And this, too, is my story. For my identity as an American and all that ties me to our nation’s history pales in comparison to my identity as a follower of Jesus Christ, a member in God’s family. And Acts tells the story of this beginning: the first days of the church, the gathering of a people who believed that Jesus was the Messiah promised. This is the story of the new covenant and what life for believers looked like following Jesus’s fulfillment of the Old Testament sacrificial system. We read in Acts how the believers gathered, how they handled challenges both inside and outside the church, how they made sure that the doctrine taught stayed pure, and how they spread the good news of Christ throughout the known world. We are inspired by these believers’ willingness to die for a cause they believed in – not the kind of freedom our forefathers in America fought for, but a much more important freedom, a freedom from sin and bondage that Christ had accomplished through his death on their behalf.

The story of our church, Grace Baptist, starts way back in Acts. The early church gathered, so we gather. The early church prayed together, listened to teaching, ate together, celebrated the Lord’s supper together, and so we do as well. We carry on what they began. Let’s learn from their example and continue the mission they received from Jesus Himself... to carry the good news of the gospel with us everywhere we go. And in doing so, may Christ’s church, the global body of believers from every nation and tribe, continue to grow and expand until we finally reach the climax that our story is moving toward: an eternity with God and His people in a new heaven and earth where we will truly be home.

--Amy O'Rear

Collision

 

Sometimes in life there are stretches of time that feel like being hit with one wave after another. The last couple years have been like that for my family. Every member of the Swann family has dealt with health concerns and car troubles of various kinds. We’ve lost a beloved family dog and navigated a confusing job loss. It’s been a lot, and sometimes all I can say to God is “Really?!”

 But God has also brought many good things into our lives through the same period of time. Of course, the most significant thing personally has been my relationship with and recent engagement to Andrew. He has also brought new friends and a new dog into our family. A new job was provided without the need for searching. We have seen great health improvements despite the other health issues. Our family has grown closer as we have navigated all these ups and downs together.

A few weeks ago, we sang “From Everlasting (Psalm 90)” in the morning service, and the lyrics of the second verse hit me deeply: “O God, when joy and tragedy collide / And loss reminds us life is but a sigh / From everlasting, You are God / And all our days are held within Your hands / Your perfect love and favor have no end / We rest within the wisdom of Your plan / Everlasting God.” The collision of joy and tragedy can be such an overwhelming and confusing thing to experience. There can be such a rollercoaster of emotions, and sometimes both happiness and sorrow are coexistent in one moment.

 I love that the Psalms reflect this seeming paradox of life so well. David often begins with crying out to God because of the troubles he is facing but ends with praising God for His faithfulness through it all. I feel this duality deeply, and in some ways I am thankful for it. I am grateful that even though life has thrown some pretty great hurdles into my family’s life recently, God has continued to demonstrate His faithfulness and brought joy in other areas of life. He holds our days in His hand, and His perfect love for us will never end.

 

--Concetta Swann

Some Summer Prayers

 

Sometimes it can be hard to find the exact words to pray. Maybe my mind is distracted. Maybe it’s a day when my heart hurts. Maybe things are really confusing. It’s often in those times that I have to find scripture to pray the words I can’t say on my own.

Here are some examples of ways you can pray through scripture and the promises of God no matter what your summer days may hold.

Father God…

• Philippians 4:8  Please keep my mind on things that are true, noble, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable and excellent. Fill my heart with praise. I want to be consumed with thoughts and truths that bring you glory.

• Deuteronomy 31:8  You go before me. I know you are with me. You promise you will not leave me or forsake me. Though I may feel that from others, I will not fear or be dismayed because of you, Lord.

• Psalm 34:17  Help me with ___________, Father! Please deliver me. I know you hear me and will help me with my trouble.

• 1 Peter 5:6-7 Humble me, so that your name and glory are the purpose for all I do. God I give you this stress and worry: __________________. Thank you for your care. I choose to trust in you beyond anything else I could carry.

• John 16:33  Let your Spirit fill me with your peace that passes understanding. This world does not hold peace, but you do. And I will praise your name forever that you overcome this world. You win.

•  Romans 8:38-39  Thank you that your love never fails, that there is nothing that will ever separate your love from me. I will cling to that promise. If I lose the love of any other, I know that You, my redeemer and sustainer, will always be faithful in love.

• 2 Corinthians 1:3-4  Please comfort me today. Trouble and pain and hurt are weighing me down. You promise not only to comfort me, but also to use your comfort so that I may be a comfort to someone else. Open my eyes to see others who may hurt like I do so that I can offer them only the true comfort that you give.

This is just a smattering of verses you can carry with you where we can see the power of prayer and the power of God’s Word. What verses are you using to communicate with your greatest friend and creator today?

--Sandy Gromacki

Still Storming

         Recently I spent several days with my aunt in South Carolina.  Soon after I left Greenville it began raining.  It was not a strong rain, irritating, but not troubling.  I was headed to my son-in-law's mother's house.  Jan lives just below Atlanta.  Soon after I got to her house we went to run an errand.  By this time the rain had increased to a downpour, making it hard to see.  As we passed a high school we heard a loud scary siren.  I checked my weather app and found we were in the middle of a tornado warning.  A tornado was on the ground just a few miles from us.  We were told to take shelter immediately.  We did not, just kept driving.  We found later that several structures were destroyed.  One father was trapped in the rubble of his house, while his teenage son was thrown three hundred feet.  (That's the length of a football field!)  The son is still in the hospital in critical condition.

    Some storms bring minor damage, a branch still attached to the tree, blocking the stairs from my deck, but doing no damage.  Other storms, like the one in Henry County, destroy buildings and injure people.  I found as I thought about storms, that I had written about storms back in March, so consider this part two.  Why do I feel a need to write about storms again so soon?  Probably because my storms have only intensified since then.  Storms come into all our lives.  Some are minor, some major.  If you are not in the middle of a storm right now, you will be soon

    In the old hymn, "Master, the tempest is raging," one line says, "Carest thou not that we perish?"  Sometimes we feel that we are perishing, even though our storm may not be obvious to others.  In Matthew 8 the disciples were with Jesus in a boat on the Sea of Galilee.  The disciples were fearful, but Jesus was asleep.  When they woke Him, He said, " 'Why are you so fearful, O you of little faith?'  Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm."

    I quote John 14:27 often.  "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."  I know He will give me peace, but sometimes it is hard for me to claim.  Sometimes I fret; sometimes I feel like crying; sometimes I cannot sleep.   Has He not given us specific steps to claim that peace?  Hallelujah!  He has!

    First, Isaiah 26:3 says, "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You because he trusts in You."  Our focus must be on our dear Heavenly Father.

    Second, Psalm 119: 165 says, "Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble."  I must love His word and spend time in it.

    Third, Philippians 4:6-7 says, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."  Prayer with thanksgiving.

    I am going to strive to put these three things into practice.  I need peace.  I am not going to tell you which I need to concentrate on.  I will let you decide what you need.  But I leave you with II Thessalonians 3:16, "Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way.  The Lord be with you all."

                                                                                    ~~Faith Himes Lamb

    

Witness

 

I sit on the upper deck of a rented beach house watching the variety of life around me. It’s early morning (well, early for a vacation day), and brown pelicans glide in silent groups just overhead and out over the water. It’s fun to watch them suddenly drop out of formation into the water where I believe they are catching their breakfast. Yesterday we watched dolphins surfacing briefly out there as they also patrolled the ocean for food.

My granddaughter Marley continually collects sea shells that she lines up on the lower balcony railing and loves to show to anyone who gets near. These shells really are marvels bearing evidence of many kinds of ocean life.

Out on the beach, a woman runs by with a golden retriever, folks are setting up blue and yellow umbrellas, and already a few children are playing in the surf with their boogie boards. And here comes a man walking a black standard poodle.

This week, I am reviewing John 1:1-14, and as I whisper the opening words to myself, my eyes fill with tears of emotion. “In the beginning . . .”—before all this activity, before the dogs and the birds, and even the seashells, “was the Word.” Here at the ocean, it’s easier to imagine the formless void that existed before “the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters”(Genesis 1:2).

The John passage goes on to say of Jesus, “In Him was life”—all this life! All the abundance of life forms we see here and so many more all around the world. The summer months particularly put the variety of life on display for us. Maybe you are watching raspberry vines for ripeness and scanning tomato vines regularly for growth. Maybe you just enjoy the bounty of others’ gardens during the summer, but the evidence is all around us that our Creator is imaginative and wise.

The John passage goes on to say “the life was the light of men”—intended to show the way to God and to give us entry into His presence. For me, it’s easy to believe in God at the beach. The vast ocean is such a mystery, but the witness of the dolphins and pelicans shows us that there is life beneath the water.

And the birds, bugs, and plants in my back yard at home also point me to a God who is wise and wonderful. My hope is that I too can be a witness—maybe not as powerful, but possibly as faithful as the waves that continually crash on the sand here at the edge of the continent.

Leaning

 

On a recent Saturday morning I awakened with the song, “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” rolling around in my head. I have no idea why. It stuck there for several hours. The next day during Sunday School, I knew we would be singing that song. I just knew it! What I didn’t know until later was that my husband requested it since he knew it had been on my mind. I thought surely the Holy Spirit was speaking to me as He sometimes does in unusual ways. My curiosity led me to look up the lyrics and the origin of the song. 

In case you have forgotten, the lyrics go like this (don’t rush, take your time):

What a fellowship, what a joy divine, leaning on the Everlasting Arms

What a blessedness, what a peace is mine, leaning on the Everlasting Arms

 

Chorus: Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarm

Leaning, leaning, leaning on the Everlasting Arms

 

What have I to dread? What have I to fear? Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

I have blessed peace with my Lord so near, leaning on the Everlasting Arms

Chorus

 

O how sweet to walk in the pilgrim way, leaning…

O how bright the path grows from day to day, leaning…

Chorus

 

According to hymnal.net, this song is based on Deuteronomy 33:27 (ESV),

 “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.”

Anthony Showalter, a music teacher, received letters from two of his students on the same day. Both of his students shared that they had lost their wives in death. Mr. Showalter’s response to them was short. It was the Scripture verse above, and from this verse he found the inspiration for the first stanza of this song. He sent it to a writer friend, Elisha Hoffman, who wrote the other stanzas.

During some of the darkest hours these students were facing, their teacher had a simple message. Lean on the Everlasting Arms. God is our refuge. The principle was solid many years ago, and it’s solid now.

It’s such a solid principle that even my 6-year-old grandson gets it. He and I were watching a video of the Kentucky tornado that happened recently. It was a bit intense with people whirling around in a car and screaming, so I asked him if it was scaring him. He said no. (Earlier he had told me he was not afraid of something else because God was with him.) I said, “Because God is with you, right?” He said, “Yes, but I guess those people forgot.” Out of the mouth of babes! May I never forget when life whirls me around like crazy! If I do, y’all feel free to remind me!

Now that song will be in my head the rest of the day….and that’s okay.

joyce hague

When Fear Comes

 

When Sherry Poff asked me if I would like to contribute to Cup of Grace, I told her that I was not really a writer. But when I prayed about it, I decided that sharing some of the verses from the Bible that have helped me through my 77 years to trust and live and enjoy my relationship with God might be an encouragement to some of you. So I pray that these verses that I share with you now and then will be hidden in your heart so that the Lord might bring them to mind as the Spirit leads you through all situations.

FEAR: Fear is a very powerful word! It can cause us to feel and do things we should, or it could cause just the opposite reaction in our lives.

I was in Walgreens a while ago when all of a sudden, the lights went out. People just stopped where they were! A woman behind me said out loud, “I’m afraid of the dark; let’s get out of here fast!” A man behind her spoke up right away and said, “Don’t be afraid; God is in charge of my life, and we will all be fine!” Then the lights came back on! We all laughed, but it was great timing. I appreciated tat the man was bold enough in his faith to speak up to others with encouragement.

When I got home, I started thinking about Bible verses that tell us not to be afraid because it is true that God really is in control of our lives. I believe the Bible is the only real truth we have here on earth because it is God’s Word, and so I can trust what it tells me.

I’m going to share a couple of passages that I have memorized, and that I have quoted over and over again when that feeling of fear has come up in so many different situations.

Psalm 91. My fifth grade teacher had a huge impact on my life spiritually. One of the things she had us to was to memorize Psalm 91. She told us a story about one of her friends that illustrated how God could take care of us in “scary” situations. I have never forgotten it! Verse 4 says, “He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust.” This friend came home one night and thought she heard a noise in the kitchen. She went in to check and turned the light on and saw a man crouching down on the floor. She was so frightened that all she could shout out was “He shall cover thee with his feathers, He shall cover thee with His feathers, He shall cover thee with his feathers!” Obviously, the man thought she was nuts and jumped back out of the window he had entered. (I am still waiting to use this example! Thank goodness!)

When John and I were engaged, and he was sent by the Army to serve in Vietnam, we chose this psalm to claim. It has been called “The Soldier’s Psalm.” John especially liked verses 14 and 15. “Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him.” I’m so thankful that John came home from the war to marry me!

Psalm 4:8 “I will both lie down in peace and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”

My grandmother, Taddy (Ella Belle Lippincott), quoted this verse to us at night when as children we were afraid of the dark. It had helped her as a child during storms that came. I have quoted this to my own children many times. Hearing the Scripture out loud brings such trust and comfort.

Another time I will share with you some verses that have brought me peace when my fear involved transitions and emotional situations and the worrisome fears that involve our families.  We all are afraid at some time furing our lives, but we can have peace when we sleep and have trust we we are awake because we have the Living God and His word in which to have faith.

--Mary Ramsey

Happy Day, Everyone!

 

Is there a holiday or observance more fraught with emotion than Mothers’ Day? It’s natural to have strong feelings about Mom, whether those feelings are warm and loving, resentful and angry, or filled with contradictions. We all have mothers, just by virtue of being human, and I think it’s safe to say that usually, we love our mothers.

When I think of my own mother, I feel a mixture of emotions: joy for the things I learned from her and the love she always gave me; sorrow that she isn’t still here on Earth to offer more advice and love; and regret for the questions I never asked and the insensitivity I know I showed at times.

I remember long-ago Mothers’ Days when I was a child in the hills of West Virginia. It used to be tradition to wear flowers for Mothers’ Day—red or pink if one’s mother were still living and white if not. Even in that celebratory tradition, there was a touch of sadness for all the white flowers in the room.

And think of the many cards we all made under the guidance of well-meaning teachers. What mom can just throw away her child’s handprint pressed into a piece of clay or a bouquet of flowers printed on paper, no matter how poorly colored? (Maybe you can, and maybe someday I can—but not yet, and my kids are in their forties!)

Scripture is full of examples of mothers—good and bad, but mostly good, I guess. There is, of course, the faith of Jochebed, the perseverance of Naomi, the obedience of Jesus’s mother, Mary, and others. We also have in our personal lives many good examples to follow. If that’s your own mother, you are blessed. If it isn’t, thank God for putting you in a community where you can see faithfulness, perseverance, and obedience lived out in the women around you.

For me, this week has been emotional for more reasons than Mothers' Day. A long-time neighbor pulled out of her driveway early Friday morning to move across the country. While we didn’t spend every day together, she had been next door to me for so long, she felt like part of home. She and I collected one another’s mail when necessary, stood in the road and chatted about gardening and neighborhood doings. I knew where her extra key was, and she could find ours if she needed to. I miss her. Then later on Friday, we had Senior Chapel at GBA—always a time of mixed joy and sadness. It’s the plight of teachers to learn to love young people and then tell them goodbye—over and over. Kind of like a mother.

Of course, I have my own children who love me so well and give me reason to be proud. But I don’t believe it’s possible to think we’ve done everything right, and when children choose things we don’t necessarily approve of, questions and lurking guilt threaten to spoil the mood of the most pleasant times.

Here is my comfort this week: God is bigger than my mistakes. He can work even when I can’t see it. His ways are not my ways, and all his ways are good. He knows what I am going to say before I say it. Nothing takes him by surprise. There is no place I can go—or my friends or students or children can go—to get away from God. (Numbers 23, Isaiah 55, Psalm 139, and others).

So happy day, everyone, whether you are a mom or want to celebrate your mom. Let’s all rest in God’s faithfulness.

--Sherry Poff

Rest

 

There are certain words that can lead to a physical response. I find this true of the word “rest.” It’s likely because I am one of the billions who are desperate for more rest. So when I read it, I feel my muscles relax, my breath slow, my brain calm. It’s something we all desire . . .  more rest.

We are a tired people that live in a hectic society. Finding rest feels counter-cultural. When in fact, God created us to NEED rest. In fact, He talks a lot about it at the beginning of the Bible. I’ve been listening to Exodus and Leviticus while I do the dishes and put away laundry lately. Ironic, I know. And dispersed throughout He calls His people to rest, to sabbath, to do as He did after creating all things.

 Even as I write this, I am day dreaming about taking a nap. I believe that Satan loves to sink us deep into the lie that resting should make us feel guilty, judged, wrong, when in fact resting is OBEDIENCE! I love this *convicting* quote from Elisabeth Elliot: “Rest is a weapon given to us by God. The enemy hates it because he wants us to be stressed out and occupied.” When do I most often take my eyes off God and focus on my own issues? When I’m stressed out and relying on my own strength.

What do we do when we see our toddlers and young children breaking down in tears and arguments and a fiery rage? Send them to bed! We know they need rest. I think about this verse a lot: Psalm 30:5. It says, “For His anger is but for a moment, and His favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes in the morning.” There’s a lot we can dig into here, but one of the thoughts and truths I’ve seen lived out in my own life is that those days that are heavy and hard and exhausting sometimes are easily answered by sleep, waking up refreshed and renewed with new mercies. Why? Because God created us this way.

 Our God is a restorative God. That’s another word that gives a sense of relief - restore. He restores from dark to light, from sin to salvation, fear to peace, tiredness to rest. We see His goodness and mercy in all of these.

 We find our dependence upon God in our need for His rest. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 “But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

I know, my friend, you are just as tired as I am. Life is tiring, busy, hectic. It takes a lot of the Lord’s strength to stand against that societal busy-ness and find your time of rest. He promises peace and rest that we need. How can you do that today?

--Sandy Gromacki

Open My Eyes

 

“Your physical eyes can be wide open even while the eyes of your heart are sadly blind.”  This statement comes from Paul David Tripp’s daily devotional, “Everyday Gospel”.  I was a day behind in my daily devotions due to a hectic schedule earlier this spring, and this was the devotional I read the Sunday morning that we had a joint service with the Spanish church.

I love and am often amazed at how God will take something I have studied either in my devotions or my lessons for our ladies’ Bible Study and reinforce it with Pastor’s messages.  This particular devotional was reinforced in my mind by Pastor Yensi’s illustration of his mother’s blindness and how she used her sense of touch to help her “see” and “feel” Yensi and his siblings grow.

The more I thought about Pastor Yensi’s illustration, this devotional became so much more meaningful to me.  As Tripp mentioned in his devotional, our most important sight doesn’t come from our physical eyes, it comes from our heart.  You see, through using other senses that God had given her, Pastor Yensi’s mom could “visualize” her children growing because she had use of her sight previously.  It’s a scientific fact that when one loses use of one sense, the other senses take over and help to compensate for that loss.

Nothing can accommodate spiritual blindness!  In Deuteronomy 29:3-4, Moses, as he was preparing the nation of Israel to enter the Promised Land, reminded them of their physical sight and the warned them of spiritual blindness. He said, “You have seen all that the Lord did before your eyes in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, the great trials that your eyes saw, the signs, and those great wonders. But to this day the Lord has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear.”

Moses was telling the Israelites that they had seen and experienced with their physical eyes all that God had done for them to bring them to this point, but they had not grasped or understood the true spiritual significance of all that God had done for them with their spiritual eyes—their hearts.  They had seen God’s love and power but were blind in their understanding.

We, too, can see and be blind at the same time. “Apart from an act of divine grace opening your eyes, you can look at wonderful things in creation but not see the glory of the one who has designed those things and set them in place.” (Tripp) We can read the Scripture, listen to messages, and study the Word all we want, but if we don’t seek with our hearts, God’s message, we become spiritually blind.

Living on top of a mountain has really given me a great appreciation for all that God has given us through His Creation. I enjoy the wildlife: deer, opossums, rabbits, birds (different varieties), wild turkeys, fox, bobcats, obnoxious geese, to name a few.  But what I love most is going out on a clear night, turning off all the lights, and looking up at the millions of stars in the sky.  I am reminded of how God told Abraham that he would multiply his seed like the sand in the sea and the stars in the sky. I am so thankful that I have the eyesight to experience that wonder and understand the Sovereignty of God.

Years ago, we would sing the hymn, “Open My Eyes.” May that be our prayer today.

Open my eyes that I may see
Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;
Place in my hands the wonderful key
That shall unclasp and set me free.

Open my ears that I may hear
Voices of truth Thou sendest clear;
And while the wave notes fall on my ear,
Everything false will disappear.

Open my mouth and let me bear
Tidings of mercy everywhere;
Open my heart and let me prepare
Love with Thy children thus to share.

Open my mind that I may read
More of Thy love in word and deed;
What shall I fear while yet Thou dost lead?
Only for light from Thee I plead.

Chorus:

Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready, my God, Thy will to see;
Open my eyes, illumine me,
    Spirit Divine!

Bonnie King

Eucatastrophe: A Sudden Joyous Turn

 

Have you ever thought about what that Sabbath day between Jesus’ death and resurrection was like? The disciples had shifted the whole trajectory of their lives because of Jesus—leaving behind their past lives to follow someone they believed could change everything. And now he was dead. What must they have been feeling as they went about observing the Sabbath? Devastated would be an understatement.

 In his song “God Rested” for the Resurrection Letters Prologue, Andrew Peterson captures the feelings that must have been going around:

 “So they laid their hopes away

They buried all their dreams about the kingdom He proclaimed

And they sealed them in the grave

As a holy silence fell on all Jerusalem

But the Pharisees were restless

Pilate had no peace

And Peter's heart was reckless

Mary couldn't sleep”

The disciples didn’t remember that Jesus had already told them he would rise again. At the very least they didn’t believe it was possible. As far they knew, their hope was buried along with his body. But the Pharisees remembered his words. They didn’t believe, but they suspected that Jesus’ followers would try something to deceive the public into believing. The disciples weren’t waiting expectantly by the tomb, but the Pharisees convinced Pilot to station guards there.

“God Rested” ends with the line “and all creation waited,” and the music does not resolve. There is tension there, just as there must have been that Sabbath two thousand years ago. What do you do with your life when the object of your faith is just gone?

And then the greatest event in all of history occurred.

J.R.R. Tolkien coined the term “eucatastrophe” to refer to “the sudden joyous turn” in a great story (“On Fairy Stories”). The eucatastrophe is the event that happens to turn the tide when all hope seems lost. The eucatastrophe of the world is Jesus’ resurrection.

Can you imagine the disciples’ bewildered joy as they began to understand what had happened? Their hopes and dreams were not buried after all. In fact, Jesus was bringing about something even greater than they ever could have imagined!

Near the end of The Return of the King, Sam Gamgee awakes to see Gandalf after believing him dead. “Is everything sad going to come untrue?” he asks. How deeply we long for the answer to this question to be yes! And because of Jesus’ resurrection, it is. Our hope is not buried in the ground. Death has been defeated, and one day, we will be united with Christ, and there will be no more tears or pain.

He is risen! He is risen indeed!

 

--Concetta Swann

Flow

 

From the book, “The Powerful Purpose of Introverts” comes the concept of “Flow.” It is when you become so engrossed in an activity that you lose all concept of time. “Flow happens whenever we are absorbed by what we’re doing, using our God-given strengths, and feeling both challenged and capable at the same time.” Marcus Buckingham, researcher says, “It is one of the most important signs that you are living a strong life.”

I love getting lost in my devotional time, hearing God’s voice, and following rabbit trails in an unhurried manner. I also enjoy long days when I’m able to take my time exploring the world of herbs, natural health, or whatever else interests me in a meandering manner. I learn so much, and it refreshes me.

One day my daughter and I went to paint pottery. I really got in the zone that day! We were there for hours and didn’t even realize it. I was shocked once I noticed how long I had been there, and she was late for work!

I recognize that many would find these flow opportunities a luxury due to a demanding work schedule or caring for children or other family members. I too have experienced that. If that’s you, ask God to show you how to work this into your life. It’s important for your mental and spiritual health. (Introverts especially need this selfcare.) There is no shame in accepting help from others so that you can refresh yourself. You cannot pour into others if your pitcher is empty! Maybe you don’t have hours to spare, but even a few minutes can make a difference. Here are some ideas:

My daughter makes her children go to their rooms for an hour each day for quiet time. If they don’t nap, they can read or play quietly. Use this time to refresh yourself instead of doing chores.

Leave a few minutes early for work and read a book (or whatever) in the car. For several years, my car was my prayer closet.

Get up earlier. I know, I know, who wants to give up sleep? I have found that I am not super productive in the evenings anyway because I am too tired, so going to bed earlier just makes sense. Then getting up earlier isn’t so hard.

Limit your time on social media. You might say, “but that IS my flow time.” Maybe. Or the blue light might be disrupting your deep, refreshing sleep. Or social media might keep you agitated and angry. That’s not rejuvenating.

Book a babysitter/ caregiver to make time for flow. It’s okay. No need to feel guilty.

Use a vacation day for flow. Who says you have to go on a trip?

Tack on an extra hour to allow time to sit in a park when you head out to get groceries.

Say no to less important activities. There are many good activities we should decline. Otherwise, we run ourselves ragged with no margin. In my youth, I experienced a lot of piled on guilt if I didn’t participate in everything at church. The Lord has taught me to shrug that off and choose the more important. (Gasp! You can pray about that!)

I wish you great mental, physical, and spiritual health (they are interconnected)! I’d love to hear your ideas for finding time for flow. May the Lord bless you.

joyce hague

Are You Just Talking, or Are You Responding?

            Have you ever been in a conversation with someone, and as you were talking, you had the sense that she wasn’t really listening to you? Then, as soon as you finished speaking, this person immediately started saying something that had nothing to do with what you had just told her?  It probably seemed to you that she was just waiting for you to finish so she could tell her own story. This is not true friendship or good communication, is it?

            This was the analogy I heard author and bible teacher Nancy Guthrie give in a recent podcast I listened to. She was talking about prayer, and how our prayers can be very similar to this listener in the above story. God speaks to us primarily through His Word. We read it in our daily quiet times with the Lord, and we hear it preached and taught and sung. Yet, when we pray, we come with our own lists instead of responding to what God has been saying.

            There is nothing wrong with a prayer list; I often use one myself. But am I also taking the time to respond in prayer to what God has been saying? Or is my prayer very one-sided? How can we do this better and not be like the friend who just wants to speak her own concerns? Here are some thoughts I have. I’d love to hear yours:

-- When I hear the Word preached or taught, I can respond in a prayer to the Lord. What is He saying to me? What do I want to say back to Him? What do I want to praise Him for based on what I just heard? What sin should I repent of? What can I give thanks for? How do these truths speak into what is going on currently in my own life or in the lives of those close to me?

-- When I spend time in the Word and then pull out my prayer list with my items to pray for, I can begin by dialoguing with the Lord about what I just read before I start bringing my requests to Him. What stands out to me? What am I confused about? Where am I challenged to walk differently, convicted of sin, or in awe of God? Furthermore, can my requests somehow tie in with what I just read? For example, “God, you are the same Lord who helped David trust you when his life was sought by King Saul. Help me to trust You today in my much smaller issue of [fill in the blank],” or “Lord, You say in Your Word that You are a fortress and refuge. Please be that refuge for my friend ___ today who is facing ____.”

-- I can let the songs I sing or hear sung become true prayers rather than words I simply think hold great truths. I can let the truths of those songs be avenues of worshipful prayer.

-- God also speaks to us of His glory in the beauty of His creation. As I notice a beautiful sunset, a field of sunflowers, or the night sky, I can respond to the Lord in worship.

            May we be women who bring our needs and the requests of those we love to the Lord, but may we also be women who listen to Him speak and respond appropriately. In doing so, our relationship with the Lord will be strengthened as we grow in our knowledge and love of Him.

--Amy O'Rear

Trusting God Alone

 

With every new year there comes a need to make new resolutions, new plans, create new habits, goals, and the list goes on and on.  We often take our personal plans, ideals, and thoughts for granted and assume that they are good.  The problem we create is that we often forget to include God’s will in those.

Back in January, I started the new year with a new devotional, and I have really been challenged to keep God in the forefront of my day.  Throughout scripture, numerous times we are commanded to “Wait,” “Come,” “Rest,” “Trust,” etc.  We know most of those verses by heart.  In fact, many of us will use some of these verses as our “Life” verses, yet . . . we fail to truly understand the depths of their meaning.

The devotional I am reading this year again helps me read through the Bible in a year.  It is Everyday Gospel, by Paul David Tripp.  I’d just like to share a few of his insights that have really encouraged and challenged me.

• 1.      “We are often tempted to try by human effort to accomplish what only God can do . . . God will not turn from his promises even when we are unwilling to wait . . . his timing is always right . . . rest in the surety of the promises of the Lord.”
• 2.     “So much of our fear, discouragement, anxiety, and worry is the result of underestimating what God is willing and able to do . . . We are limited human beings . . . what appears to be completely impossible is quite possible with our Lord.  His strength, his understanding, his compassion, and his grace are infinite.”
• 3.     “There is nothing that God has promised to do or that we need him to do that he is unable to do.” (my favorite!)
• 4.     “God’s promises are not limited by human weakness or the passage of time.  Don’t give way to fear; God will do what he has promised to do.”
• 5.     “When life seems to make no sense, we are not without hope or help because we are the children of God.”
• 6.     “God’s covenant promises do not mean that our lives will be predictable, comfortable, easy, or trouble free.”
• 7.     “God will interrupt moments in our lives to recapture our hearts, to strengthen our faith, to bless us with his grace, and to instill in us, once again, our identity as his children.”

I could go on and on but wanted to share these encouraging words. Our year is still in the early stages, and we have already seen so much take place that might cause us to question what is happening in our world and with our church.  But we need to be constantly aware that the Creator who redeemed us and has promised us eternity with Him is in control.  We have nothing to fear but have so much to be thankful for.  All the insights above covered portions of the lives of Abraham and Jacob.  Look at the covenant God made with Abraham and carried it on through Jacob and the generations following.  There were moments in their lives when they could have questioned God’s plan and promise, but God revealed His fulfillment at just the right time.

It's been 5 years since we lost our facilities, “but God” is using this delay for His glory.  He has blessed our church in so many ways these past 5 years and although we have probably all wondered “why so long?” we can rest assured that God’s timing will be perfect.

Keep the faith in God’s plan, trust Him, and continue to wait patiently.

 

--Bonnie King