YOUR CHOICES

One year in the Indiana-Michigan area, fierce late autumn storms swept through. One downtown section found itself right in the pathway of a twisting, fearsome tornado. Office workers, realizing that the storm was upon them, headed for cover under desks and tables.

Three women co-workers found themselves huddled under a conference table, clutching each other’s hands. One woman was praying, asking God's help. Another was crying, unable to think clearly. The third woman was using God's name but not to praise Him nor to ask for His help - she was using His name to curse.

When we find ourselves in difficult situations, which reaction is ours? Do we shake our fist in the face of the Almighty in accusation? Or do we cry, tears running down our faces, becoming paralyzed into inactivity? Or do we humbly lift our hearts to God who is the source of all salvation in any situation?

May we discipline our hearts to continually cry out to the Lord, our Maker and Redeemer, for His help in all situations, big and little.

Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving and pay your vows to the Most High; and call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me. Psalm 57:2

Heavenly Father, when difficulties present themselves, please help me to immediately seek Your help, honoring who You are. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

PRAY !

Have you ever been hurt by a friend? A hurt so deep that you knew that the relationship between you and your friend was over? You knew that, in the future, there would be little or no contact. Not from your choice but from theirs.

Your love for your friend is still there but what are you to do with that love? Scripture encourages us to pray for those who despitefully use us. That we can do! If we harbor no bitterness nor hatred in our heart toward our friend, our prayers for them will come from a heart purified by God’s love.


But I say to you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. - Jesus in Luke 6:27-28

Heavenly Father, even though it hurts, I thank You for Your lessons about love. May I be found faithful to continue loving . . . praying. In Jesus’ name. Amen

THE COMMONPLACE

When was the last time you thanked God for:
your sink
-a bolt in your furnace that holds it together
-trees sheltering your home
-the steps up to your porch
-garbage service at your curb
-the quirky little characteristics of your family
members near and far
-your feet
-the neighbors
-work
-your dentist
-the vacuum cleaner
-a trustworthy mechanic
-Monday mornings

Yes, in this world we must cook, clean and work. Yet, if we look carefully, we can see God’s kindnesses to us everywhere - in the most common places of all. God’s glory shines out even in the commonplace!


I will thank You, Lord, in front of all the people. Psalm 108:3

But I will give repeated thanks to the Lord, praising Him to everyone. Psalm 109:30

Heavenly Father, please fill my heart and lips with praises to You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

GOD'S FULL TIME JOB

Have you ever felt like you were God’s full-time job? As you prayed and stormed the gates of heaven with your pleas for help during a certain season of your life, did you wonder when He had any time left over to care for those in Ecuador or those in your neighborhood - not to mention the rest of the world?

Yes, sometimes we seem to cry out to God day and night for His help. And that's OK. He wants us to turn to Him for help, constantly if need be. If our health is in crisis - we can go to Him. When our children need His help - we can go to Him. If our marriage needs strengthening - we can go to Him. Is our neighbor having trouble? - we can go to Him. When our co-worker is faltering - we can go to Him.

God, somehow, in His all-powerful majesty makes time to hear and respond to each cry for help. In fact, He loves it when we go to Him just to be in His presence. He loves His full-time job, don’t you think?

Listen to just some of what God does for each of us in Psalm 103:3-5:

Praise the Lord, I tell myself and never forget the good things He does for me.
He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.
He ransoms me from death and surrounds me with love and tender mercies.
He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagles.

Heavenly Father, I thank You that I am Your full-time job. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

A NEW SONG

Throughout the Psalms we read: “Sing to the Lord a new song”.

How about you, are you singing a new song? Or are you singing the same old songs. Now don’t get me wrong, the old songs are precious and we should continue to sing them as often as possible. Yet what about singing a new song, learning the words, the melody, joining your voice with others? That is equally precious to the Lord and uplifts our own souls to our Maker.

What about your life? Are you singing a new song with your life? Or are you continuing to sing the old song - getting up in the morning, doing the same things in the same ways, not even looking around for something new, fresh and different to learn, in which to become involved or a new way to serve?

Let’s open our hearts to God so we may see the possibility of new songs which can flow, not only from our mouths, but from our souls.

Sing to the Lord a new song. Psalm 49:1

You, Lord, are the Choir Director. Please direct me to the songs You want sung next through me - not only the songs with notes, but the songs I am to sing with my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen

SMOKE

Have you ever been through an unusually fiery trial? Perhaps it was a season in your life of ill health. Or your elderly parents needed extra help. Or your child was ill. Or your job turned out to be a nightmare. We each know the tears shed, the prayers uttered, the struggle, the heartache of such a season.

Did you notice that once the crisis was past you may have felt that the fiery trial left you smelling like smoke? Perhaps you felt as if you needed to withdraw a while in order for the smoke to clear.

I am reminded of the Biblical story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in Daniel 3:8-30. They had been in the fire, literally. What was the result?

“(they) saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke.” Daniel 3:27

Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your kind care of me - even in the midst of the fires of life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

WHAT IS YOUR THEME?

Do you ever listen to yourself? What do you find yourself talking about usually?

The weather? Financial worries? Your family? Problems at work? How your garden is growing? Your latest love interest? The recent woodworking project you just completed? God?

Is your conversation varied and healthy or do you seem to be stuck on a certain theme that runs through your words?

Are your words encouraging and life giving? Or are they bitter? Are they complaining? Are your words thankful? What is the theme that runs through your words?

We know that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks . . . .

Can we say with the Psalmist: My heart overflows with a goodly theme . . . . Psalm 45:1?

What is your theme? What is the theme your heart is speaking?

May I encourage you today . . . this week . . . this month to listen to yourself - the actual words, the tone, the intent and see what is in your heart.

Maybe it is time to go to the Father to have him do some housecleaning. A cleansed heart will result in a mouth that praises Him and which pleases Him.

Heavenly Father, please help me hear what my theme is. If it is not pleasing to You, please cleanse my heart of all sin and nonsense so that my theme can be a good theme, pleasing to Your ears. In Jesus' name. Amen.