A Good Name

Because of my job, I suppose, I get asked to write a lot of recommendation letters. I don't mind doing it; I rather enjoy bragging on people I love, and writing the letters gives me a good opportunity to reflect on what is right and wonderful about them. The problem arises when I know the person isn't a hard worker or hasn't really tried to improve. There have been times when I've handed a sealed envelope to a young person with the admonition, "Now don't you make a liar out of me!" My name is precious to me; I don't want to ruin my reputation, and I sure don't want someone else dragging my name down into the mud with them.

We are told in Proverbs 22 that "a good name is to be chosen rather than great riches." Paul instructed the Thessalonians to "abstain from all appearance of evil" (I Thess. 5:22), and he reminded the Ephesian Christians to "walk worthy of the calling" with which they had been called (Eph. 4:1).

People are watching. This fact has been demonstrated to me on more than one occasion. I have what some consider an odd practice of eating a whole apple, including the core. (My sister does this too and told me that we got it from our dad.) One day several years ago one of the fourth-grade boys I was then teaching approached me during our morning break. "Why do you eat apple cores?" I had never discussed my apple-eating practices with this child; he had just seen me do it.

Now that I teach high school, it is fairly common for a student to remark, "I saw you at Chili's last night," or "I was driving behind you on the way to school." These are reminders to me to always behave myself. The last thing I want to do is to bring reproach on the name of Christ, to cause some young person to throw out everything I've told him or her because of my carelessness or bad choices.

"Mrs. Poff watches this," or "Sherry Poff says it's good" should be a trustworthy recommendation. I want you to know that's my prayer and goal. If you'll pray for me, my friends, I will pray for you.

--Sherry Poff

Hats Off!

Many of us can identify with the expression "wearing many hats." I have the daughter hat, the sister hat, the Aunt Bec Bec hat, the friend hat, the coach hat, the VBS hat, the roommate hat, the orchestra and VOP hat, oh and of course, the many hats I wear at work. Too bad I don't have matching shoes for each of these!! :)
All of the hats I listed are important in my life and valued to the highest degree. There are other hats that I try on occasionally, and even wear for a period of time. I won't mention the hats I wanted to wear that never fit quite right!
I'm looking forward to some future hats. These hats will represent the hats I wore on Earth. They will prove the eternal value of the hats I wear now. They hold royal significance, for they are the crowns that Jesus Himself will give to me. They are crowns of life, glory, rejoicing, and righteousness. They are unfading and incorruptible.
 

^{2 Timothy 4:8}
Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

 When you feel like taking off all of your hats and throwing them away forever, remember the crowns that await you!

~Rebecca Phillips

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER, RIGHT? I APOLOGIZE FOR THE LATE POST. MY WEEKEND PROHIBITED ME FROM GETTING TO A COMPUTER. I BELIEVE YOU'LL FIND THAT TUESDAYS ARE AS GOOD AS MONDAYS FOR CUP OF GRACE! ~ Rebecca Phillips :)

**This week's post is written by a special guest author who requested to be left anonymous.

Our family outings are often spent walking through a local prayer garden, with bronze statues of Jesus.  The statue of Jesus washing Peter's feet often captures my son's attention.  He loves to study the face of Jesus, as Jesus humbly serves His servant, Peter. 

On another outing we visited Veterans' Memorial Park.  My son was taken with the statue of the field medic caring for a wounded soldier.  Later, he referred to the statue of the medic, as being Jesus.  Quickly I corrected him.  However upon thinking on it my thoughts were, "He is correct, that field medic was Jesus!"

Recently life took a very difficult turn, the wounded soldier was me.  As the tears flowed and depression settled in, Jesus showed up. The Jesus that was there looked very average. He was dressed in friends' and family members' faces, He even appeared in some brand new faces. During this time He showed up in so much tenderness and compassion.

Everyone needs Jesus in human flesh at times.  We know the Lord is there; but how sweet it is to have a hug, someone comforting you, or praying for you, someone being Jesus. 

You may never have served in the military.  However, remember we are all in a spiritual battle; we are veterans of war.  No one escapes this life without battles.  May we be faithful to seek out the wounded and be Jesus to those who are hurting.

Isaiah 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shall not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.  


P.S.
We serve a great God,  He answers prayer!

Excuses! Excuses!

Excuses!  Excuses!

I hate teaching!  At least some of the time I do.  And this is that “some of the time.”  Right now I am fed up with students.  I teach on the quarter system so I still have four more weeks of the term.  And I’m tired, drained, and irritable.  I am tired of excuses! 

·         “I didn’t know I had to turn that in.”   (It’s been on your syllabus and class assignment schedule since the first day of the quarter!)

·         “Do I have to do it that way?”  (Yes, you do.  That is why I showed you how.)

·         “I still can’t decide on a topic for the speech.”  (The one that has the outline due tonight?)

·         “The power went off at 11:00 p.m. and I couldn’t take that test.”  (That test was due by 11:55!) 

·         “You’re taking points off because I went over the time limit?”  (Yes, that’s why I gave you a time limit.)

The later in the quarter it gets, the more elaborate the excuses.

            I have suddenly begun wondering if God is just as fed-up with my excuses when I think He’s telling me something He wants me to do.

·         “I’m too tired.”

·         “I’ve got too much to do.”

·         “It won’t make any difference anyway.”

·         “I will feel so foolish!”

·         “I’m afraid.”

·         “I don’t know what to say.”

·         “I don’t want to make him angry.”

·         “I can’t afford to do that.”

·         “I’m afraid they will hurt my feelings.”

I am just as full of excuses as my students are.  And these are my responses to what I think God wants me to do, not just what a speech teacher requires of me.  Does God get as exasperated with me as I get with my students?  I don’t know, but I know I grieve him.   Ephesians 4:30 commands me not to grieve the Holy Spirit, but I do.

Tonight I sat in the communion service and examined myself as Paul commanded us to before we participate.  I saw my excuses for what they were—excuses.  I don’t want to be an excuse-maker.  I want to be found faithful, trustworthy.  That is what God requires of me, that I be found faithful.  (I Corinthians 4:2)

Will you join me?  Will you help me not to make excuses?  Will you work to quit excusing yourself?  Can we work together?  No more excuses!

                                                            ~Faith Lamb

EXTREME MAKEOVER – Temporal vs Eternal

Last night the Sharrock Family of Rossville, Georgia was featured on the television program Extreme Makeover Home Edition.  I remember when that is all we watched on the news as they filmed here locally.  I have watched this program in the past and always enjoyed seeing the dilapidated and unfit homes become new and clean, ready for the family to shout “Move That Bus”. Then we would be taken on a virtual tour of each room that had been set up just to the family’s likes and needs. They were no longer burdened by the insufficiencies of the previous home. Friends, family and strangers became ambassadors of good will for one busy week to become the salvation for one family.

Second Corinthians 5:1- 5 says, “For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.  For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked. For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life.  Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge.”

If you continue reading chapter five of second Corinthians, Paul encourages the believers of the church in Corinth to always be of good courage. We prefer to be absent from the body and present with the Lord, but regardless of whether we are at home or absent we are to be pleasing to the Lord.

So when I put this into context concerning me and my earthly tent, dilapidated and unfit, I long for my dwelling in heaven. Instead of “Move That Bus” I want to cry out to the Lord “Take Me Home”.  But I am an ambassador of Christ and God is making an appeal through me on behalf of Christ for the salvation of others.

Tina Laubscher

Words of Love

Sunday morning--Mother's Day--on the way to church, Larry and I were listening to the radio. A man was talking about his mother---sweet words of appreciation about how she always got up early to make breakfast: bacon and eggs during the week and either pancakes or waffles on Saturday and Sunday. He said, "No one had to tell her to get up early. She did that because she loved her family."

Well, friends, I have to tell you something about me. I do not like getting up early to cook breakfast. I sure hope that's not the only measure of love for one's family! I am going to fail! I am grateful that my sweet husband likes cereal. When the kids were home, they knew that Mom would eventually get up on Saturday and cook breakfast (I actually specialized in muffins and eggs) but if they woke up hungry, they should just get a bowl of cereal and be patient.

Happily, there are other ways to show love. I was especially stirred by Michael Loftis' evening message when he was with us. He was talking about the influence of fathers, but it spoke right directly to the teacher as well as the mom in me. I took some notes. Here are the three things a dad/mom/teacher/friend can say to encourage:


1. It can be done. What wonderful words those are. When we feel like quitting,we all need to believe that our goals are possible.

2. You are not alone. This is a powerful truth. I am reminded of Ecclesiastes 4:9 & 10 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help him up.
3. I believe in you. We all need someone to believe in us, to tell us that we have value, that God can use us.

Don't you want to be that person for someone in your life? I do. I am asking God to show me who needs to hear these messages. I am so very grateful for those who have been there in my moments of disbelief and discouragement. Amy Wright, whose beautiful funeral service was on Tuesday, was that kind of encourager for friends and family. Several stood and gave eloquent testimony to her influence in their lives. I hope and pray that some day there will be folks to stand and say similar words about each of us.

--Sherry Poff

What the H_ _ _ is Going On?

DISCLAIMER: I hope you don't find my title offensive, but I find Hell offensive, and therefore, could not address the topic any other way. The Lord laid this on my heart this week, and I had to obey Him. Please know that my mother raised me well and has washed my mouth out with soap for words you'd laugh at! I hope you'll read on to see that it is a taste of Hell that has made me long even more for the feast of Heaven!

Death. Destruction. Devastation. Fear. Pain. Separation. Sorrow. Tears. Hell on Earth. These words are just a few that come to mind as I reflect over the events of the last couple of weeks. I have shared these feelings with my family members as we received news of the shocking murder of my father's sister, my Aunt Marcia. Within our church family we have all felt this burden in the last week even more heavily as many lives were shaken by the effects of record-breaking tornadoes. Many have experienced extreme loss. We are grieving with our sister and brothers, Kathy, Paul and Bradley at the homegoing of Amy. These events have stirred us deep within. We have tasted Hell, and it leaves us preferring the taste of soap.

The prophet, Joel says, "...Indeed, the Day of the LORD is terrible and dreadful who can endure it? (Joel 2:11b)" If you have felt the depths of despair, as I have, then you know in a small way what Hell will be like for eternity. Often, we talk about the blessings in life that leave us with a little taste of Heaven. But it is a call to repentance and urgency that we must also experience tastes of Hell.

My heart is heavy, as many of yours, and as the people to whom Joel prophesied. I encourage you to read the book of Joel today. It's only three chapters tucked in between Hosea and Amos. The people had experienced great loss. Joel pointed out to them that their devastation was just a glimpse of what the day of the Lord would be like. He calls them to repentance, and then he tells them about God's great desire to restore, heal and shower with blessings. You will LOVE chapter 2 especially!

I like what one teenager wrote on his Facebook wall this week: "We might not have electricity, but we still have Power." Oh that we might grasp, as this young man did, that though we grieve, we still have hope in the One whom even the wind and waves obey (Luke 8:25).

I hope now you see that the only way to understand what is going on around us, is to acknowledge that it is, indeed, a taste of Hell. May these events draw you to your Maker, urge you to tell others and stir within a deeper longing to be with Him in Heaven!


~Rebecca Phillips