Consider

Maylou Holladay for the “holiday” J blog

(I really wanted to write about my favorite Christmas present, my son David, but this is what the Lord has laid on my heart for you.)

Because I loved teaching Latin and “anything English,” words are very interesting to me. I suppose one of my most-used is “FOCUS.” A cousin of “focus” might be the word “CONSIDER.” The etymology of “consider” can be two different things, but both emphasize the importance of the word. It can mean to “sit together” or to “intently study.” The second meaning was used by early astronomers who studied the stars, perhaps those very Magi who followed the Star to find the promised Messiah.

God’s Word encourages us to consider...to observe.

Psalm 37:37: “Consider the blameless, observe the upright; there is a future for the man of peace.”

We need to take time to consider why certain friends or family members have peace, have joy. Observe how we can learn from them.  My dear Indiana friend Mrs. Pat Staton and I taught together for years. Our friendship continued after teaching ended and we were miles apart. This past year she went to Heaven to be with the Savior she served for so many years. The Holy Spirit encouraged me to study her life long before she passed away. I could write pages on how she encouraged others. What a great example! I could list so many other precious people who have blessed me. Do you have someone like that in your life?  Watch them, emulate them, pray for them, and thank them!

Hebrew 10:24: “Consider”. . .spur each other on. . .not to aggravation  :) . . . but to love and to good works.  Remember this: YBH? (Yes, but how?) We must CONS IDER the importance of such a task, and then ASK THE LORD TO MAKE US ALERT to ways we can encourage others. . .be outwardly focused.

Isaiah 41:20: This is a verse I often pray for my children and grandchildren: “So that people (my family) may see and know, may consider and understand that the hand of the Lord has done this...” Four important verbs....how do they progress? Think about that! Mediate on those powerful words. Consider what God’s Word is saying to observe as God works. It is more than just seeing what God has done.

Hebrews 12:1-3: (Read this on your own.) Verse 2 encourages us to “fix our eyes on Jesus.” Verse 3 uses our word: “Consider Him.” WOW! Consider Him...not any “him” but JESUS! Why consider Him? You count the ways today in your own life. Why do you need to fix your eyes on Jesus? Verse 3 reminds us that if we will, we will “not grow weary and lose heart.” He is already in 2017. What a Savior!

Sundown

Are you afraid of the dark? I am.

When the sun goes down sometimes I feel anxious, restless, and full of dread. The world closes in on me. Normally, I’m tired, so all the problems in the world loom large. My thoughts turn dark. I feel my life doesn’t matter – that I’m contributing nothing. I feel old. I think of my mom’s death and imagine that’s ahead for me. (I told you it was dark.) At the first sign of dusk, I start turning on lights. I burn candles too. The dark days of winter will soon come and compound my gloom.

Sigh.

Some might think I need mental help, but I decided to examine these thoughts and feelings in the light of day – to take these thoughts “captive” to the Lord Jesus. I wrote them in my journal and asked the Lord for a verse to help me. It wasn’t long before the thought came: “I am the Light of the world.” Jesus’ Spirit lives within me! I’m never in the dark! Jesus has taken control of death and the darkness of sin. He is the Creator of light.

These are the verses He gave me: 

John 8:12, “…I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Another: Psalm 89: 15-16, “Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O LORD, in the light of Your face, who exult in Your Name all the day and in Your righteousness are exalted.”

I must share this one! Psalm 104:1-2, “Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, You are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty, covering Yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent.”

One more (these are so good!): Micah 7:7-8, “…I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD will be a light to me.”

If you struggle with darkness or gloomy weather, turn to the Light. Meditate on His attributes. We all enjoy the sunshine, but the One Who made the sun lives inside us! He is enough.

joyce hague

Have Yourself a Wonder-full Christmas

I have a confession to make: I love to record and watch the cheesy, sappy Hallmark Christmas movies! From what I hear, I am not alone. As I have watched them this Christmas season, I have noticed that many of them have children in them who help the main character see the joy and wonder of Christmas and miracles. Even the ones that don’t have children still focus on the same spirit – usually the main character has to rediscover this spirit. They often start out with a hardened or hurt heart, or perhaps they are just too busy to notice the beauty and wonder of the season. But as the movie progresses, they are reminded to enjoy the season and look for the joy and wonder in it and to enjoy family and friends.

I know I need this constant reminder in my own life. I may not usually have a hardened heart or a love of success and money that has distracted me, but I can often get caught up in the mundane details of life or even get distracted by personal desires for comfort and pleasure. But of course, as believers, our reminder runs much deeper than just a child-like wonder of Santa and the ‘magic’ of Christmas, but it is the wonder of an awesome God who sent His only Son to become like us to live as a servant and die a horrible death to save us from the same fate and give us new life – eternal life. This beautiful season is to celebrate the greatest love that any of us has ever known. But the theme of child-like wonder is something very biblical and much needed in our stressed out, busy lives.

Mark 10:14-15 “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

So what does that look like? Well, as is frequent right now, Lee gives me a perfect example. He loves people; he loves to move and play like a wild man. He can be so distracted by people and things that it is hard to get him to eat or sleep. But when his daddy is in the room, he is zeroed in on him. He wants to be in his arms, doing what he is doing, and receiving proud looks from Daddy. It is much the same with us. We can get so distracted by this world – the joys, the hurts, the frustrations, and even the gifts that God gives – that we lose sight of the One who gives us the very gift of life and a reason to hope despite difficult circumstances.

Hebrews 12:1 – “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

I have another confession to make. I have certainly been distracted, frustrated, and tired by this busy season. I have taken my eyes off of Jesus and let the cares of this world overwhelm me. At times, I have also been so enamored with the gifts of God – my husband, my precious little boy, etc. – that I have neglected the giver of them. Perhaps you have had one of these struggles or another one. This Christmas season, let us look around at all the gifts God has given us – His beautiful creation, the fun decorations of Christmas, the gifts we receive, the family we have – and let us praise the Lord and be outspokenly grateful to Him for His provision. Let us look around with the wonder of a child to enjoy the simple and grand joys. Let us give to and love others in the same fashion that God has given to us. Let us delight in the true reason for the season in our precious Savior laying aside His kingdom, His comfort, His Father, and more than we could ever imagine to become a tiny, vulnerable, common baby. He was probably teased and hurt as a child, and we certainly know He was ultimately rejected by those He came to save. He gave His life as a ransom for ours, but thankfully, He conquered the grave and rose from the dead!

Let us fix our eyes on our dear Father and Savior Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Let us surrender our time in this busy season to be a blessing to others – to be Jesus to them. Let us thoroughly enjoy our family and friends and the fun of giving and receiving gifts as well as the food and many other pleasures of this season, but let us do so with our eyes and lips fixed on praising and serving our Savior who gave everything for us. I pray a blessed, relaxing, and wonder-full Christmas for you all, as we serve and praise our Savior!

--Judith Graham

A Christmas Prayer

As I sat down three days ago for some time in the Word, I decided to start with a prayer from the book The Valley of Vision.  This book is a collection of Puritan prayers and devotionals, and as my husband Kelly wrote in the front of the book when he gave it to me as a gift while we were still dating, it truly does “assist me in expressing my adoration to my Savior.” I find that even though on my own I am not able to express myself as eloquently as these Puritans did, my heart feels deeply the words that they wrote, and that I, in turn, pray to God. Though I had put the book aside for a while, I decided to pick right back up where I had left the bookmark. And that was a prayer entitled “The Gift of Gifts.” It is one that I am passing on to you, dear reader.  Can I recommend reading it out loud? Not only is it beautiful; it helps in the understanding of it. May this be our prayer this Christmas season. 

--Amy O'Rear 

O Source of all good,

What shall I render to thee for the gift of gifts,

      thine own dear Son, begotten, not created,

      my redeemer, proxy, surety, substitute,

      his self-emptying incomprehensible,

      his infinity of love beyond the heart’s grasp.

Herein is wonder of wonders:

      he came below to raise me above,

      was born like me that I might become like him.

Herein is love;

      when I cannot rise to him he draws near on wings of grace,

            to raise me to himself.

Herein is power;

      when Deity and humanity were infinitely apart

      he united them in indissoluble unity, the uncreated and the created.

Herein is wisdom;

      when I was undone, with no will to return to him,

            and no intellect to devise recovery,

      he came, God-incarnate, to save me to the uttermost,

            as man to die my death,

                        to shed satisfying blood on my behalf,

                        to work out a perfect righteousness for me.

Oh God, take me in spirit to the watchful shepherds and enlarge my mind;

      let me hear good tidings of great joy,

            and hearing, believe, rejoice, praise, adore,

            my conscience bathed in an ocean of repose,

            my eyes uplifted to a reconciled Father;

      place me with ox, ass, camel, goat,

            to look with them upon my redeemer’s face,

            and in him account myself delivered from sin;

      let me with Simeon clasp the new-born child to my heart,

            embrace him with undying faith,

            exulting that he is mine and I am his,

In him thou hast given me so much that heaven can give no more.         

Christmas Contentment

Christmas!  When I was a child one of the first signs of Christmas was the arrival of the Sears catalog, full of amazing things!  I would take the catalog off by myself and page through the wonders.  I circled the things I wanted and even turned the page corner down if something really special was on that page.  I knew it was only dreaming and that was alright.  I knew I would not get anything from those pages.  I don’t remember wanting any of those things so passionately I could not live without it. 

            I do remember one year when I wanted something desperately and made sure my parents knew.  I was thirteen, in seventh grade.  “All of the girls” were wearing blazers and gray flannel stitched-down pleated skirts.  I thought I had to have one.  I was usually not wearing what was “in”, but this time I wanted to belong.  On Christmas morning I opened my packages and there was a beautiful cherry red blazer!  But alas, the next package did not hold a gray flannel stitched-down pleated skirt.  There was a knife-pleated red plaid skirt, beautiful, though itchy, but not what I had my heart set on.  I remember my mother saying she had searched all over for a gray skirt, but just couldn’t find one.  I’m sure my disappointment also disappointed my mother.

            Christmas is a time we sometimes concentrate on what we want to get.  The older I am the less it matters.  I have what I need and mostly what I want in terms of things. However, there is Santa Claus who will bring you what you want.  More importantly, your Amazon wish list will get you what you want. We cannot avoid that emphasis.

As I said, there are few material things I want, but there are things I want that are not found in a catalog. 

            The first thing I want is my son’s presence.  He is far, far away in New Zealand.  He is far away in many ways.  And, oh, I want him home!

             I want harmony in my family, the laughter and love that’s portrayed in all of those sappy Christmas movies that you can find on Netflix.

            I want time.  I want time with my family and time with friends and time to get everything done and time for .  . . .

            I don’t think any of those things are bad; they are even good.  But there are things that are far more important. Do I long for Jesus, for His presence?  Do I long to spend time with Him the way I long to have FaceTime with my sons?  Do I long to see Him as much as I long to see my daughters or my granddaughters?

             What should I want for this Christmas season?  I choose the advice of Hebrews 13:5, “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have.  For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you,’” I will focus on the only One will not disappoint, who can bring contentment. May my focus be on the Savior who is enough!

                                                                        Faith Himes Lamb

Framework

My five-year-old granddaughter loves to put together a jigsaw puzzle with me. The dinosaurs are all over the place; it is a confusing picture, but she really enjoys trying to fit the pieces together. However, she does not yet “get” the concept of outlining the puzzle with the straight edges first. She zealously tries each piece in every possible orientation, tossing it out and trying another as quickly as possible. She looks for the shapes, but not the “big picture.” Without the edges, the separate parts of the picture get WAAAY spread out.

Most of us try to outline a jigsaw puzzle before we fill in the other pieces. Maybe that’s because the pieces with a straight edge are easier to place, but it usually gives us security to know where we are working, relative to the whole picture. If we have no framework, we’re not sure how far up or down or how near or far each particular piece might go. We are literally “lost in space” without the frame. Putting together the inside pieces without setting the frame first would make the game more challenging. In fact, maybe I’ll try it, just for fun. After all, challenge is what games are about, right?

Unfortunately, life can be too challenging. When I was a child, I had the blessing of learning about God in Sunday School. I knew He was righteous and He knew all things. There were often times when I lived with untrue and unfair accusations, when there was no one who believed my honest intentions or listened to my words. I felt alone, lost, and hopeless. But I always knew that God knew the truth and it mattered to Him. That was my great comfort, because ultimately He mattered most. Sometimes that was all I had to hang onto. But it was enough.

What if I had not had that framework into which I could fit my confusing, disjointed life? Many of those scattered pieces made no sense. There was often despair. The only hope came from knowing God’s character. For those who do not know God, the framework for life is not there. There is no sense, no order, and no hope. Every time we can communicate to someone that God is, that He knows them, that He is good and loving and understanding, we build into their lives some of the framework of love, order, and strength that we all so desperately need. Psalm 32:10 tells us, “the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in Him.” Sometimes that is all we have to hang onto. But it is enough.

 --Lynda Shenefield

God Speaks

One of the great things about teaching at Grace Baptist Academy is that the faculty meets for devotions twice a week. It's wonderful time to hear what God is doing in the lives of our teammates and to be encouraged in our work together.

This past Friday, one of the elementary teachers talked about her personal struggles with doubting God's leading in her family's life. But, she said, she had been listening to music in her room after school and heard a song that spoke to her and gave her courage to keep trusting. She then sang for us, and it was truly stirring.

It got me thinking. How many times do we hear someone say, "I happened to come across this verse in my reading. . ." or "God spoke to me when I heard my pastor say. . . " or "This song has a message I needed to hear"? The common factor in all of these remarks is that the person put herself in a place to hear the truth. She opened the Bible, went to church, turned on the music. Then God spoke.

Most people have struggles and doubts from time to time, and the world makes it easy to let those doubts grow. But God tells us that "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17). We are instructed to gather with other believers so we may "provoke" one another  "to love and good works" (Hebrews 10:24-25). Paul told the Colossians they should teach and admonish one another in "psalms and hymns and spiritual songs" (Colossians 3:16).

We can't make it on our own, and we were never meant to try. I used to hear people say that if you don't want to go to church, it does you no good. Or that reading the Bible out of duty is useless. But being in church and opening the Bible exposes us to truth; it puts us in place to receive the help we need. So come on to church even if you don't feel like it, and read your Bible faithfully. Then wait for God to speak.

--Sherry Poff

One Fall Day

For years now, I get a bitter-sweet feeling in the fall that I haven’t been able to place. I see clear blue skies and breathe in the clean fragrance of crunchy leaves. I delight in squatty pumpkins, scarecrows (that scare no one), and trick-or-treaters lost in make-believe. But there’s always that feeling – somewhere on the tip of my subconscious, sometimes fleeting, but always there. It’s funny how certain things remind us of something else, but we may not know exactly what.

This year, I figured it out.

As a teenager, I wrestled with typical teen issues. I asked, “Who I am I?” “What am I good at?” “What will I do with my life?” I explored interests and hobbies. Like many teens, I felt inferior to my peers. I wanted male attention, but feared it. I longed to be myself, even though I didn’t know who that was! I had many thoughts and feelings to sort out. In the processing, I developed rebellious behaviors and attitudes. I was careful to be a subtle rebel though. I didn’t draw too much attention, but instead ran a quiet, mostly internal, rebellion.

I brought my confusion and bad attitudes with me when I attended a youth retreat at Fort Bluff Camp in the fall of 1983. There we wrapped ourselves in sleeping bags for breakfast and shed layers in the afternoons. We played “Capture the Flag” and other games, but always had time to sit by a fireplace and laugh with friends. Unencumbered with adult responsibilities, I felt happy and free.

In the evenings, we crunched through the leaves to the dining hall for dinner and a spiritual challenge. One night, God used a special speaker to work on my heart. Although my heart was hard at that time, God had given me a hunger for Himself. He had called me to salvation when I was a child. But this was something different. He drew me into a deeper level of commitment – a deeper level of intimacy - and it would be all or nothing. The speaker challenged me to put Jesus first even if I had to stand alone. (That’s a hard thing for teenagers.) My rebelliousness and lying had to end. His Spirit insisted I submit to my parents’ authority and do right when I got home. God’s hand of conviction sat heavy on my heart, and I tried to resist. But when I finally submitted, He forgave my sin and set me free. I think of that every time I sing, “My chains are gone. I’ve been set free.” 

I went back to my cabin that night with a sweet peace I hadn’t enjoyed in months. I experienced the bitterness of sin and God’s disapproval, but also the sweetness of a restored relationship with Him.

Bitter-sweet. And it all happened one fall day.

From Isaiah 61

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
    to proclaim freedom for the captives
    and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
    and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
    instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
    instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
    instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
    a planting of the Lord
    for the display of his splendor.

joyce hague

The Darkness Deepens

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We've all been here before: It's the end of October, days are getting shorter and shorter, and next week is the time change! Suddenly, it will be nearly dark at 5:30. I never get used it. 

But tonight I decided to light a candle, make some tea, and listen to a beautiful song. So I share that song with you. If you don't know the tune, you can Youtube it. Better yet, find a hymnal and pick it on the piano or guitar. 

However you choose to experience the song, I hope you're comforted by the assurance that, in all the changes of life, He who does not change is right there with you.           

     Abide With Me

1. Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
   The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide;
   When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
   Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me.
2. Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
   Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
   Change and decay in all around I see—
   O Thou who changest not, abide with me.
3. I need Thy presence every passing hour;
   What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s pow’r?
   Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
   Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.
4. I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
   Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness;
   Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
   I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.
5. Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
   Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies;
   Heav’n’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
   In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.
6. Henry F. Lyte, 1847

A Mind Set on Things Above

“If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:1-3)

As a young adult in my 20s, one of the first passages I felt the need to memorize strictly for my own sake (not for a Bible class or study) was Colossians 3. It was the beginning of this great and very applicable chapter that grabbed my attention the most. “Keep seeking the things above […] Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.” It was all about perspective, a mindset I wanted to keep in mind daily.

I just returned to that passage again this week in a Bible study I am doing on missional motherhood. I realized once again how vital this passage is for my everyday life. How do I set my mind on the things above when the things here on earth take up all my time? My days consist of changing diapers, entertaining and feeding children, putting them down for naps, preparing for my two part-time teaching jobs, and trying my best to stay on top of housework. (Staying on top of housework for me means I stay on top of dishes and laundry. Everything else is bonus.) Oh the earthly things that run through my mind all day long! The ‘To Do’ lists and schedules and meal plans and lesson plans. Oh the frustrations over always feeling like I’m running behind! Can I set my mind on something else? How?

I don’t think this passage is telling us not to think about earthly things at all. That’s not possible. We still have meals to make, jobs to go to, and appointments to keep. What Paul is saying, however, is that there is a mindset that supersedes the earthly things. It is the mission, the goal behind all that we do. And the beauty of it is that this mission gives purpose to the earthly tasks, even to the most mundane. My purpose in life is to glorify God. This is possible even in the daily tasks of doing dishes, caring for my kids, and preparing English and German lessons. I do this as I rely on God for strength, believe His promises for my life, and lay aside my selfish wants in order to serve my family and students as an act of worship to Him. I do this as I remind myself throughout the day that the task is merely secondary. How I go about the task, how I allow the Lord to shape me in the process, how I seek to keep the eternal in mind especially in my conversations with others, that is primary. That is a mind that is set on things above.

So this week, as I go about my ‘earthly’ tasks, I want to keep the heavenly perspective in mind. Everything is infused with purpose. Every toy I pick up off the ground, every conversation I have with my children, every meal I make, every paper I grade. This is what the Lord has called me to, and this is how I give Him glory. As long as I keep this perspective in the upcoming days, my mind will be fully in line with Colossians 3. “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

--Amy O'Rear

ELECTION 2016

            The presidential election of 2016 will go down into the history books as the election where voters cast their ballots against candidates, not for them.  Never have there been two candidates more widely disliked or more tepidly supported by even their own political parties. Many people have stated their intentions to stay home on election day because they don’t want to vote for either candidate.  This election will not be a proud moment in our country’s history.

            This past week my aunts were discussing one of my grandmother’s speaking outlines and I realized that her points made perfect sense for election advice.  Gram said we were to fret not, fear not, and forget not.

            First, fear not.  II Timothy 1:7 says, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound judgment.”  Please notice what replaces the fear.  Those are qualities we badly need during this election.  To continue the thought, the reason we are not to fear is because of His presence.  “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”  (Isaiah 41:10)  We should not fear the outcome of the election.

            Fret not.  I have never seen an election that has had more Christians worried.  Psalm 37 begins with the words, “Do not fret because of evildoers."  Both sides have legitimate reason to claim the other candidate is an evil doer.  Instead of fretting, we should look to Philippians 4:6 and 7 for our instructions.  “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”  Jesus said just before his crucifixion, when He was getting ready to leave His disciples, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”  (John 14:27)  Claim His peace.

            The final phrase is forget not.  We are not to forget God’s role in this election.  Jonah 2:7 says, “While I was fainting away, I remembered the Lord.”  We have forgotten during this election that “The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes.”  (Proverbs 21:1) I would add Daniel 2:21, “He removes kings and establishes kings.”  So who is in charge of this election?

            No one can tell you who you should vote for or who you should vote against in this election.  You must vote your conscience.  But whatever your decision, fear not, fret not, forget not.  God is still on the throne.

                                                                                    ~~Faith Himes Lamb

Treasures

What is more important to you than God?

Though my husband, Paul, grew up in a poor family, by the time he was 17, he thought he had everything a guy could want. His older sister and brother-in-law had a ski boat and gave him water skis and included him on their team of semi-pro water skiers. He had a good job (carrying block for building foundations), immense strength, the fun of skiing, a girlfriend, even God. As a youngster, he had believed in Jesus Christ as the only way of eternal salvation. But, in order of importance, God came at the bottom of the list.

But the Hound of Heaven (see the heartrending poem by Francis Thompson) kept after him, asking for his attention. Resentful, Paul didn’t want to do evil; he just didn’t want to give God the time. He pointed out to himself that he gave God His Sunday mornings, and that was all he was willing to give. God whispered, touched, requested recognition. He reminded, pestered, nagged. Finally, pressed beyond endurance, Paul stood up, shook his fist heavenward, and cried, “God, get off my back and leave me alone!”

Five days later, driving recklessly in a pouring rain, Paul rolled his car off the Missouri River levee in Omaha. His back was broken and his legs paralyzed. It didn’t take him long to see that all of his treasures were lost forever. He had no strength for work or fun; the girlfriend left; the boat and skis were useless.

He refused to make a “foxhole confession” and continued in his confusion and depression. But God kept talking to him. Paul saved up his evening ration of sleeping pills, intending to end his life. But he saw himself standing before God, Who said, with some annoyance, “You’re early!” The excuses he offered did not impress. Again, he heard, “You’re early!” So, he gave up the plan. Months later, still in the hospital, Paul turned to God and said, “I’m a broken vessel. But if You can use me, I want You to.” 

God changed his life completely. He stopped crying about his disability, learned to manage life from a wheelchair, finished high school, got a job, went to college. He took as his own the song, “Treasures,” by Margaret Snell Nicholson, sung to the tune of, “The Unveiled Christ.”

                                                             Treasures

One by one He took them from me,
All the things I valued most.
Until I was empty-handed;
Every glittering toy was lost.

Then I walked earth's highway grieving,
In my rags and poverty;
'Til I heard His voice inviting:
Lift your empty hands to me.

So I held my hands toward Heaven,
And He filled them with a store
Of His own transcendent riches,
'Til they could contain no more.

Then at last I comprehended
With my stupid mind and dull,
That God could not pour out His riches
Into hands already full.

God gave him many more treasures – he married, worked a good job, adopted three children, had “a wonderful life.” But the best treasure has been God Himself. Paul has had the joy of the Lord every day of his life since he gave it to God. He has had many opportunities to tell people of God’s goodness.

For 53 years he has said he is happier now, in a wheelchair, than he was when he was strong and capable and miserable in his rebellion. He loves the Lord with all his heart, marvels daily at God’s written Word, appreciates His large and small blessings. He looks forward to heaven, not because he will be able to walk (self-transportation will probably be much better than that), but because he will see the Lord face to face and be free from the pressures of our sinful nature.

For Paul, God is the greatest treasure. Is He your greatest treasure?

--Lynda Shenefield

Behold the Beauty!

I was sitting on my backyard swing soaking up some morning sun recently, and a little black and white moth landed on the armrest of my swing. He was a lovely, furry little thing--he almost appeared to have feathers--glossy and soft. I remembered a butterfly I had seen earlier in the butterfly garden at school. This fellow was mostly orange on top, but when he settled on a flower and folded his wings, silvery spots on the underside of his wings glittered in the sun. Such amazing detail!

I have a relative who takes these incredible nature pictures. He has all sorts of expensive lenses, and the shots he gets are truly stunning! I especially love his photographs of bugs. Sometimes the tiny critters that appear to be black or brown, when seen up close, actually have incredible blue streaks or green and purple spots. There is a lot of hidden beauty in the world.

How many people get close enough or slow down enough to see all this creativity and beauty? Does God worry that his work is wasted or that no one will notice? Certainly not, but I see in these details a God who loves beauty for its own sake, who is himself so truly beautiful that everything he touches--and that's everything--is rich with color and patterns.

David's prayer as recorded in Psalm 27 was "to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to meditate in his temple." Zion is frequently described as a city of great beauty. Just read Revelation 21 to see how much God values color and brilliance.

Until I get to heaven and see the glory for myself, I'm going to keep looking for the shiny and gorgeous previews God has put all around me--even on little bugs!

--Sherry Poff

Live as Children of Light

Recently while reading my One Year Bible, a verse “jumped out at me.” It is Isaiah 21:11 that states: “Watchman, what of the night?” Or “Watchman, what is left of the night?”

This reminded me that we as Christians must be lights in this dark world. We do not know when the Lord Jesus will return. Our challenge is to “walk (live) as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8) to influence those around us while we have time. Then verses 9 and 10 follow: “(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.”

Because of our ministry, Brant and I travel overseas often – many times to Eastern European countries. Brant always packs his “torch” or little flashlight. He knows that we might sleep in a place that isn’t “en suite” as far as a bathroom is concerned. Sometimes he has stayed in homes where the “facility” was a path out back. His trusty little light keeps him from stumbling or breaking his neck in the middle of the night.

The amazing thing about light is that it chases away the darkness. We can be sleeping in the darkest room and yet when Brant’s little “torch” comes on at 3 AM, I am sure there is a freight train coming! : )

The verses in Ephesians tell us that we as Christians should walk or live as children of light. What do you think that means? How can we walk as children of light and help to chase away some of darkness in our corners of the world? The obvious answer would be that you need a source of light to be a light. Can we, in ourselves, have the light to dispel the darkness?  Verse 8 answers our question: “You are light in the Lord.”

Moses met alone with the Lord on the mountain and received the Ten Commandments.

The Bible records in Exodus 34:29 what happened: “(Moses) was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord.” Because he had been with the Lord, talking with Him, enjoying His presence, learning from Him, Moses’ countenance was even changed. He reflected the Light that he had encountered.

Daily we should ask God to show us how these qualities of “goodness, righteousness, and truth” can shine as light through us.

A good way to start each day is to meditate on the meaning of Psalm 143:8: “Let the Morning bring me word of Your unfailing  love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul.”

We might feel that our spheres of influence are very small, but one way you and I can live as children of light is through the encouraging words we speak. The Apostle Paul said in I Corinthians 16:24 that his friends “refreshed my spirit.” I am sure they spoke encouraging words to him.

Our light can also help to drive away the heavy sadness in our friends who are sorrowing – through a card or a hug. On any ordinary day, we can have an uncomplaining spirit when we are delayed in the check-out line or frustrated with circumstances at home or work . Most of all, we show that we are children of light when we share the story of Jesus the Light of the world with others. We share with our family and friends that only “goodness, righteousness, and truth” can be found in placing our trust in Jesus Christ. This is truly living as children of light.

So…as Kathy Troccoli sings in one of my favorite songs:

Go light your world... today.

--Maylou Holladay

The Wait

Oh the wait! This week I will have surgery. On that day, it will have been three weeks since it was scheduled – three weeks of thinking about what the doctors will do to me, grieving the loss of my breasts, worrying about those lymph nodes, searching God’s face with pleading eyes.

But today, God reminds me of the butterfly. A caterpillar goes into a cocoon and comes out a butterfly, but first there’s the struggle. The caterpillar twists and bends and wriggles. He works and works to get free, but this can take quite a while. Sometimes he has to rest. The exertion thins his plump body and strengthens his wings. If some well-meaning person were to cut the cocoon open to help him, the caterpillar would emerge underdeveloped, and he would never fly. He would never glorify his Creator in the way he was intended.

“I asked for strength,

            And God gave me difficulties to overcome and strengthen me.

I asked for wisdom,

            And God gave me problems to solve.

I asked for prosperity,

            And God gave me enough brain and brawn to work.

I asked for courage,

            And God gave me obstacles to overcome.

I asked for love,

            And God gave me troubled people who were ready to help.

I asked for favors,

            And God gave me opportunities.

I received nothing I wanted,

            But I received everything I needed.” (Candy Lobb, butterflystory.homestead.com)

Everybody has to wait sometimes. May we embrace the wait – the struggle – while God develops us for His glory.

joyce hague

Speak Life

Proverbs 18:21 – “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.”

Do you realize how powerful your words are? I know each of us has experienced the pain of someone’s harsh words. Hopefully, we have also experienced the opposite: someone’s kind, encouraging, and healing words that came just when we needed them most. I don’t know exactly why, but we as women have often been known for tearing each other down. Perhaps it is a sense of competition. Whatever the reason, we need to speak life into people’s lives and not death. I am thankful that we have a sweet congregation of women, but we do still have human moments of hurtfulness. And even if we are generally pleasant, we can always be more intentional about being specifically encouraging and bringing life to people.

Proverbs 16:24 – “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”

Personally, I could not accept a compliment for years because I truly did not believe the nice things that people would say about me. I had had plenty of people tear me down to the point I began to believe what they said. I remember reading in a psychology class that it takes seven positive comments to combat one negative one. My experience certainly affirmed that for me, as well as for many other women I know. So, let’s look at ways we can bring life to people.

On a daily basis, I urge you to look for ways to compliment or uplift everyone you meet: her scarf, her hair, and other outward things are a good place to start, especially with people you don’t know well. But try to go deeper too. Encourage people in the way they are growing in the Lord, the way they are serving you or others, their kind spirit, etc.

Some people are much easier to affirm and give compliments to. Definitely do this with the people you love most, but ask the Lord to make you sensitive to people who seem a little more prickly and may need to hear positive words even more. Look for people who may be underappreciated or even overly criticized: the waitress that keeps neglecting to refill your drink, a check out person at Walmart, etc.

I have been convicted by people I know who go out of their way to compliment someone doing a normal good job or excellent job at serving them, even calling their manager over to praise them. So often, managers only hear complaints, as do the people who work for them. Taking that extra minute or two to praise someone for excellent service makes their day and their manager’s. Sometimes this may even open the door for an opportunity to witness to someone, or at least give them a positive experience with a Christian.

Proverbs 12:18 – “There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”

Think about this proverb for a moment. You have the power to wound someone deeply or bring healing to someone. Many people are walking around with invisible wounds, resulting from people being critical, just plain mean, or even the deepest abuse. Every positive, affirming word you speak could impact another person more than you can possibly imagine. So, let’s speak life! I pray that you experience someone speaking life into you this week, as well as your speaking life to others.

--Judith Graham

A Check, a Billboard, and the Sweet Assurances of God

It was late spring 2005. I had been struggling in my walk with the Lord. I had watched God do incredible things in the lives of those dear to me but felt that I myself was overlooked. I prayed for weeks for God to make Himself real to me; I wanted to see Him do something great and powerful on my behalf. He did not come through in the way I was praying, and I felt discouraged. Doubts crept in. Did God care about me, too? Was He involved in my life? A comment from a dear lady in a completely different context reminded me of truth, “Amy, it’s not about you.” No, it wasn’t about me. In my desire to see God do something great for me, I was more concerned about my own desires than God’s will being done. I repented. 

A few days later, at an elementary spring concert, the principal announced that a number of us teachers would be going on a missions trip (our first) to Togo, West Africa to train teachers. She gave the names of those going on the trip, mentioning that we would need to raise around $2500 each. A parent of one of my students came up to me immediately following the concert and handed me a check. I was grateful; I hadn’t even sent out the first support letter yet. I opened the folded check, expecting to see maybe $100, but instead saw the number 2,000 written on it. Yes, 2,000 dollars! I began to cry. I tried to refuse such a large sum; she, in tears as well, insisted. I knew immediately, that this check was not just the huge sacrifice of this sweet lady, but it was the Lord showing me His power, love and care for me in His way and in His time. This was my Ebenezer moment, when God worked in such a powerful way, that I needed to set up a “stone” (or in my case a journal entry) to remember this moment. It was God’s assurance to me in response to my doubts, “I love you. I care about you. I’m involved in your life, and I am still the God Who does exceedingly beyond what you could ask or think.”

Fast forward ten years to the fall of 2015. I was on interstate 75 South, heading to my grandmother’s house in Cedartown, Georgia. I had planned two days prior to drive down this day to visit my sweet grandmother who would likely not live much longer. Yet now this day had turned out different than expected.  My grandmother had passed away the morning before; I was driving down to see my uncle and aunt, to be with family in a time of mourning. As I drove alone in the car, questions assailed me. Can I really believe that my grandmother lives again? That I will see her one day? That eternity is real? That God is real? Again, doubts crept into my mind. I already tend towards doubt. I doubt whether or not I locked the door, turned off the stove, made the right choice, and so on. But this doubting was much more serious than that. Was my grandmother, whose body I would see a few days later at the viewing, really alive? Could I believe the teachings of Scripture? Was God in fact real? (Can we be this honest with each other, ladies? These were the thoughts going through my mind.) 

To counter these doubts, I went over the defense of God’s existence in my mind. I said to myself, “OK, Amy, list out the evidence of God’s existence.”  I went over the witness of creation itself, the sense of right and wrong that each of us are born with, and I had just gotten to thinking about the witness of the disciples as they gave their lives for what they had seen (the risen Christ), when I looked up at a billboard. The words on this billboard were the following: “There is evidence for God.” The word ‘is’ was underlined. Once again, God’s assurances met me in the midst of my doubt. This was another Ebenezer moment -- a moment in which I knew that, more than a billboard to a lost world, this was God speaking to me. He knew I would be driving down I-75 that day and He knew the thoughts that would be going through my mind on that specific stretch of the interstate. And He said, “Yes, Amy, I am real. I do exist; and I care enough about you to have someone post this billboard on the interstate for you.”

No, God does not always work in those kinds of miraculous ways in my life. In fact, it is very rare that such dramatic things happen. Many times my questions are unanswered or I don’t hear God’s voice. But, it is in those times, that I can go back to my Ebenezer moments, my “stones of remembrance”, and remember that God is real and that He cares.

What are YOUR Ebenezer moments? Do you keep track of them? Do you remind yourself of them in difficult times? The Old Testament is full of commands to remember what God has done in the past. May we remember; and may those memories give us assurance when times are hard.

--Amy O'Rear