PATHS OF IMAGINATION

My daughter woke in the night with an extremely painful earache. I applied warm, moist compresses to the area, the proper thing to do. As I sent her back to bed, I stayed awake imagining . . . . By the time I was finished imagining, I had my daughter deaf in both ears and enrolled far from home in a school for the deaf.

How silly, I thought, as I awoke the next morning, realizing that my daughter was better . . . not totally deaf.

I began to wonder on what other paths my imagination takes me throughout each day? How about your imagination? Where is it taking you?

We need to commit our every thought into God’s keeping or our imaginations truly will run away with us - far from God.

The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Genesis 6:5

We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle to the knowledge of God and take every thought captive to obey Christ . . . . II Corinthians 10:5

Heavenly Father, I place my thoughts and imagination into Your hands for safe-keeping. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

PROBLEMS IN PEACE

Recently a friend made this statement: “Maybe I just need problems to make me happy.”

I am reminded of a knight from olden days. When he was in battle, he was magnificent - full of courage, riding on his steed to defeat dragons. In peace time, however, he crumbled into a whining baby. As he returned home to his wife and children, he became unbearable. He just couldn’t seem to get his hands around a rake in the garden, on a hammer to repair the roof, or his arms around his family to love them. He fussed and fumed, impatient to be off to the excitement of the battle once again. He needed “problems” to be happy.

What is there in some of us, as humans, which craves the excitement of “problems” but rebels against the peace of ordinary days? Don’t we realize that the times of peace are precious? So precious that the times of peace are used by God to further train us - to make us ready for anything ahead.

May we recognize that both come from the hand of God - times of peace and times of problems.

Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times in all ways.
II Thessalonians 3:16

Heavenly Father, thank You for times of peace which help to balance out the times of problems. Oh, how I need both! Thank You. In Jesus’ name. amen.

SELF-HELP OR GOD'S HELP

The self-help section in bookstores is bulging with books to help us better ourselves. There are books detailing how to start a home-based business, how to lose weight, how to learn the newest computer software, how to learn a foreign language.

Then come the weighter matters such as how to fix the damage to our souls, how to forgive, how to know our personality type, how to deal with stress.

We could spend 24 hours a day reading and trying to apply what we learn. We so much want to be wise, better, healthier, smarter, more loving, kind and forgiving.

Isn’t it good to know that God is at work in us day by day - to make us into the people He created us to be? Yes, He can use self-help books, seminars and workshops to teach us, but our responsibility is to allow God to do His work in us.

God is at work in you . . . Philippians 2:13

Heavenly Father, please continue to work in my life. In Jesus' name. Amen

WELCOME ONE ANOTHER

Many of us, over the years, have been doing better at welcoming people into our homes. Because the Scriptures admonish us to practice hospitality, we have certainly tried.

How are we doing, though, at welcoming members of our immediate family into our homes? When summer or holidays approach and school is out, do we groan in dread of having everyone under foot or do we welcome our young ones home, seeing an opportunity to enjoy the days together? As a husband is laid off at work and is home all day, do we become irritable and voice our dissatisfaction thinking he is in “our space” all day, wishing he would just go away - at least to the garage?

Yes, we may be good at being hospitable to those who drop by just for a few hours or days, but let’s extend that God-pleasing hospitality to those in our own households. Let’s make them feel welcome!

Welcome one another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
Romans 15:7

Heavenly Father, please forgive me for being so inhospitable to the ones I love the most. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

CARE FOR YOUR BODY

A poison ivy rash had developed on my hand which, if treated with a simple application of homemade soap, would stop itching and disappear within days. As time went by and I neglected to apply the soap, the rash became angry looking, spreading up my arm.

One day, while visiting our local library, we noticed that Bill, a volunteer there, had also developed a case of poison ivy. The rash on his arms and legs was blistering badly. Feeling intense sympathy for his plight, I promised to drive home, get the special soap for him and return so that he could immediately apply it. The horrible itching would stop and he would begin healing.

Isn’t it interesting that we jump quickly to help someone else when, for ourselves, we procrastinate, allowing our own bodies to suffer. Certainly, since God has given us these bodies to use as instruments to serve Him, then it is our responsibility to be good stewards of them until He returns.

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? I Corinthians 6:19

Heavenly Father, thank You for opening my eyes to others’ needs. Now please open my eyes to my own needs and show me to be diligent in the care of the body You have loaned me. In Jesus’ name. Amen

LISTENING SKILLS

Late autumn was upon us and so were the sounds of the season.

One day, while hoeing my garden plot, my daughter yelled, “Stop!” I kept on hoeing. She yelled at me again to stop but I kept right on with my work, thinking she was worried that I was going to hurt the plants as I swung that hoe.

Suddenly my daughter took matters into her own hands, reaching down to rescue the largest grasshopper I’ve ever seen. I was so glad, then, to stop.

I wonder . . . why hadn’t I heeded when my daughter yelled “Stop” the first and then the second time. Why did I stop only when I could see the reason why.

Do we often ignore God’s words, failing to heed and obey until we can see clearly the reason why? I hope not. Our heart’s desire should be to obey just because He is God, not needing to know the reason behind His directions.

Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down; and if He calls you, you shall say, "Speak, Lord, for Thy servant hears." I Samuel 3:9

Heavenly Father, please help me to hear Your voice and obey even if I don’t see the reason why. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

LISTEN TODAY

Have you ever held a job or been involved in volunteer work which, you felt, the Lord was drawing to a close for you? Yet you hated to leave...people were relying on you, the work was enjoyable, the hours were perfect. Yet God’s still, small voice kept urging you to withdraw.

We are usually great at putting ourselves into action when we think we have a go-ahead from the Lord. Some of us, however, are a little slow at listening to God when He says “Stop!”. What a familiar scene it is, though. As we continue to ignore God’s “Stop,” our days become busier and busier. Our stress level continues to increase. Only then do we realize that something is amiss. Finally we decide to listen to God’s insistent voice.

Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today when you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.... Hebrews 3:7-8

Heavenly Father, please open my heart to listen more closely to You, especially when you say “Stop!” In Jesus’ name. Amen.

BODY STRESS

Have you ever sat down to relax, read a book and found that your entire body is tensed up? You consciously try to relax but find all of the day’s stress is stored in your body.

Have you ever wondered what that stress is doing to you? How it affects your heart and mind? How the surges of adrenaline affect blood sugar, blood vessels and nerve fibers?

God, who created us, knows what He is talking about when He urges us not to be anxious about anything!

Have no anxiety about anything, but by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6

Heavenly Father, please remind me - often - to talk with You about everything. AND to relax. You are in control of EVERYTHING! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

LIGHT

The leaves fell off the trees. No longer was the house shaded, the rooms dark and cozy. Now every nook and cranny was exposed to the sunlight blasting through the windows.

Cobwebs and dust suddenly appeared out of nowhere. It could be seen that the kitchen floor needed a good scrubbing. Even the plants needed their leaves washed off.

As the light came pouring through the windows, I knew exactly what two friends of mine meant when they commented on how clearly they could see now that their cataracts were removed. The colors! The light!

All of a sudden I, too, could see clearly. And this is how God sees us - clearly, every nook and cranny. He sees not only my outward actions but my inner thoughts, attitudes, motives and purposes.

As we clean our homes, may we also spend some time seeing what God sees in us - our thoughts, attitudes, motives and purposes. May we correct what needs correction but also let us allow ourselves to see and be thankful for the goodness God has placed in each of us - if we allow Him entrance.

But when anything is exposed by the light it becomes visible . . . . Ephesians 5:14

He (Jesus) is the sole expression of the glory of God and the Light being, the out-raying of the divine. Hebrews 1:3

You have loved righteousness - You have delighted in integrity, virtue and uprightness in purpose, thought and action. Hebrews 1:9

Heavenly Father, please shine Your light upon me at this season of my life. Let me see myself as You see me - that You love me, that You want the best for me. In Jesus' name. Amen.

WHAT ARE YOU NURSING?

Every day you visit it. Take care of it. Feed it. Plump and fluff it. Morning, noon and night your thoughts drift back to it. You feed it some more. Your thoughts keep returning to it.

What are you nursing? A grudge.

Someone has wronged you. Someone has hurt you. Something unjust happened to you.

And you are stuck. Stuck nursing it and thereby keeping it alive. The more you think about it, the bigger it gets until it becomes like a patient who malingers - it just won't go away no matter how hard you try to banish it (while at the same time nursing it).

How many grudges are you nursing? Isn't it time that you saw the grudge for what it is - a parasite draining the very life of God out of you.

Did God intend that we live in such torment? NO!

What's the antidote for a bad case of the grudges that you are tired to death of nursing?

You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. - Jesus in Matthew 5:43-45

Heavenly Father, please empower me to DO what Your Word tells me to do so that I can walk in the freedom that You have for me. In Jesus' name. Amen.

NOTHINGNESS OR EVERYTHINGNESS

Years ago my family and I lived and worked in a living history park. It was our job (and pleasure) to help bring life to a dying park.

Our dreams were big and by the time we were done, there was a log home brought in log by log, a land office, a mercantile, theatre, demonstrations gardens of herbs, vegetables and flowers. It was a thriving place filled with music and people on event days.

Then something happened and the 'powers that be' decided to take the park back. Concerned that could happen, the volunteers had made everything portable - ready to move at a moment's notice. They didn't want their good hearted hard work confiscated and used for other purposes.

Now, years later, I returned to walk through the park. It was like we had never been there. The carefully restored buildings were gone. The herb garden is no more. The flower and vegetable gardens have returned to carefully mowed lawn. There isn't a trace that we had been there.

Yet within us we know what remains. Friendships were forged. Diligence was learned. Hard work was practiced. Life lessons were noted. Memories both good and difficult remain. Those qualities that God was working into our characters are within.

For this very reason make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self control, and self control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brother affection and brotherly affection with love. II Peter 1:5

Heavenly Father, though nothing may remain as tangible evidence of what we have done in this world, please create the inner character within us which was Your intent from the beginning of time. In Jesus' name. Amen.

THE ELIJAH EFFECT

Maybe someone else has coined that phrase, but that's what I experienced this week. Have you?

It had been a full six months of working and writing. Then another two weeks of intense polishing each word. Than a weekend finishing. I was tired, but since it was a work week, it was time to work.

I began to wonder WHY I felt so horrible - the sparkle had gone out of my life. The week before I was so excited about the project I was working on and my life. Now I just wanted to sleep.

It seemed to go from bad to worse as the week wore on. One night I just gave up and was in bed by 9:10 pm. How unlike me. What was wrong with me?

As I woke on Friday with a work day stretched ahead of me, depression nagged at the edge of my mind. And, if you are anything like me, I hate to be depressed - it makes me depressed! Then it was like God was gently reminding me of the Elijah Effect.

After Elijah (read I Kings 19 in the Old Testament), had tremendous victory and run a day‘s journey, he sat down under a tree and wished he were dead. (I could identify, can you?) What did God tell him to do (as we often tell ourselves) - snap out of it, don't be such a wimp, get up and get moving.

No, God told him:
Arise and eat. I Kings 19:5

God knows we are but dust. Now if only WE will realize it.

Heavenly Father, thank You that You don't expect me to be super human - You expect me to be me, learning and growing at the pace You want me to learn and grow. Please help me, when I stumble into those moments of the Elijah Effect in my life, that you will remind me that I am to rest, to eat, to be restored. In Jesus' name. Amen.

I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU

I know, I've cut off the scripture mid-sentence but sometimes maybe we should look more closely at what is being said.

Normally when we think of this scripture, we see

"I will never leave you or forsake you." Hebrews 13:15.
That is comforting for an eternity!

Yet when I read that today, right this minute, I see only the first part -
"I will never leave you . . . "

For me, right now, that means He won't leave me as I am. God's intent is that I become more like Jesus. To have His mind on things matters. To have His attitude toward people and circumstances and to have His actions in everyday life.

He will never leave me stuck in selfishness, rebellion, anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, hard heartedness and/or hard headedness. He won't leave me there. He will send circumstances, people and His very own Spirit to change me into being who He created me to be - filled with all that pleases Him.

What is He speaking to you about today, What is He not leaving you in?

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me so much that you won't leave me, ever. In Jesus' name. Amen

FINISHING

How are your projects coming along? Are they each in a stage of incompleteness? Are your quilts still waiting to be put together? Are your woodworking projects still in pieces? How about that scarf you began to knit? Or the basement you were finishing? Are there books half read, lost under the bed? We have so many good intentions but somehow, we find ourselves stopping mid-course, not finishing what we started to do.

How about your spiritual life? Are some of the areas God has been revealing to you incomplete and unfinished?

How about loving others? Is it intact or in shambles? What specifically is He directing you to do to finish your projects well?

Joy - is it overflowing in your own heart and to others consistently? Yes, sometimes we are sad in this world, but is there a deep joy because you are getting to know God better and better and because He knows you?

Is peace within you and surrounding you like a warmly knit cloak? What do you need to do to finish that project well and wrap yourself in it every day?

Patience - I think we can all work on that project! One irritation at a time.

Kindness - oh, that one needs work especially in the small corners of our lives.

Goodness - through and through. Not just when others are looking.

Gentleness - not just for babies but for all mankind.

Self control - that one needs stitched up and hammered down into place consistently.

It takes effort to complete any project, especially projects of the soul.

Let's look at some of the soul projects which God has been nudging you to perfect in obedience to Him. Let's finish well.

So dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Doing this you will never stumble or fall away. And God will open wide the gates of heaven for you to enter into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
I Peter 1:10 & 11

Heavenly Father, please help me to finish all things well which You have given me to do. In Jesus' name. Amen.

WISDOM BUILDS

We’ve all seen it. The perfect job . . . or so it seems. Salary plus bonuses, a company car, retirement benefits, life, health and dental insurance are offered. On top of all that, it is a job we know we would really enjoy doing.

Then we begin to count the cost: long days away from home, evening meetings, weekend seminars. A tremendous amount of time and energy . . . all in pursuit of what?

At home there would be less time for the family gathered around the dinner table each night. There would be less time to be still before the Lord in prayer and reading and in song. Less time to keep the house a home.

Is the perfect- sounding job worth the trade-offs or is it a lure into another place?

Only as the Lord directs should we make changes in what He has already given us to do.

Carefully...prayerfully....

Wisdom builds her house.... Proverbs 14:1

Heavenly Father, please show me clearly, day by day, how to wisely build my house to Your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

BEING IN LOVE OR ACTING IN LOVE

Everywhere we go we see it - a young man and young woman teasing one another, flirting with one another, enjoying each other's company. They find great joy in being together and what they feel when they are together. They find that it is fun, that it is exciting, all the world looks rosy. They declare they are 'in love'. That may be true. Yet are they ACTING in love for one another?

Are they talking with one another, listening to one another, really caring about what the other is thinking, concerned about the other's well-being? It seems easy to be 'in love' because being 'in love' feels good. Yet it takes a maturity and conscious deliberate effort to ACT in love - you know, the deep abiding kind of love which can last a lifetime.

What about our relationship with God? Are we 'in love' with God - are we thankful for and do we enjoy His Presence in our lives? Is there a sense of adventure as we walk together? Do we look forward to getting to know Him better every day . . . every minute?

Does our being 'in love' with God progress to the next stage - ACTING in love toward Him and toward those He sends our way? Are we drawing close enough to hear His Word which are His words to us? Do we desire to listen to His thoughts and intentions for us? Do we conform our life to His preferences for us since He has our best interests at heart?

Read what God says about acting in love:

Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends . . . . I Corinthians 13:4-8

Heavenly Father, in Your love please draw me close to You. Please teach me how to love You in a more mature way - like a child. Then please help me love those You send my way with Your pure love. In Jesus' name, Amen.

PREPARING THE SOIL

All summer, my daughter's task on a nearby friend's farm was to keep a certain field tilled - the soil loosened and ready for planting in the autumn. Nothing would be planted in the field until late August, but the field had to be kept in readiness.

Saturday after Saturday from March through August, my daughter could be seen for hours, driving the tractor back and forth with the disc attached, keeping the soil soft, preventing the weeds from taking root. By the time August arrived, winter wheat seeds were finally placed in the ground. Within days, healthy green shoots appeared. Eventually a harvest would yield wheat for consumption.

Our hearts, likewise, daily need to be kept softened by God's Word and by obedience to that Word. By reading His Word every day, our hearts will hear, heed and stay on the correct path He has chosen for us until we safely reach Home.

And other seeds fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold. Matthew 4:8

Heavenly Father, please prompt me daily to come to hear Your Word to me. Please keep my heart softened and obedient to what You tell me. I want my life to yield a harvest which is pleasing in Your sight. In Jesus' name. Amen.

WISDOM IN CHOICES

*** PLEASE NOTE: This begins the second year of Reflections being offered. Beginning this week, you will now be be receiving one Reflection per week instead of one daily. Please take time to read your weekly Reflection prayerfully and let it 'last' for the week. Let's put the principles we read into action.

WISDOM IN CHOICES

What choices will we make each day? At home, how will we choose to act in love toward those with whom we live? At work, how diligently and carefully will we choose to do that project? At our place of worship, how will we choose to serve and honor others?

C.S. Lewis, the explorer of Narnia, had this to say about choices: " . . . every time you make a choice you are turning the central part of you, the part of you that chooses, into something a little different from what it was before. And taking your life as a whole, with all of your innumerable choices, all your life long you are slowly turning the central thing either into a heavenly creature or into a hellish creature; either into a creature that is in harmony with God, and with other creatures, and with itself, or else into one that is in a state of war and hatred with God, and with its fellow-creatures, and with itself. To be the one kind of creature is heaven; that is, it is joy and peace and knowledge and power. To be the other means . . . eternal loneliness. Each of us at each moment is progressing to the one state or the other." I couldn't have said it better . . . .

Teach us to make the most of our time, so that we may grown in wisdom. Psalm 90:12

Heavenly Father, please empower me by Your Holy Spirit to choose those things which please You and draw me closer to You day by day until my days are filled with those things which bring glory to Your Holy Name. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

REDEEM THE TIME

Have you ever had a season in your life in which, no matter how hard you tried to banish them, your thoughts were filled with anxiety . . . anger . . . jealousy . . . envy . . . or maybe
even bitterness? You tried and tried to be rid of those thoughts and all of the resulting emotions. Nothing seemed to work. Then one day, becoming concerned for your thoughts, your health, your spiritual well-being, you decided to do whatever it took to be free from those crippling thoughts.

You went to your heavenly Father, asking for His light on the entire situation. Quietly you waited . . . Then you began to see the absolute waste of time and energy it had taken to dwell on those things causing the anxiety . . . anger . . . jealousy . . . envy . . . or bitterness. You determined to put it all behind you by asking God’s forgiveness.

You asked forgiveness for that specific sin which wanted to choke out your life. You turned to Scripture to see what God has to say in regard to positive action you could take.

. . . who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for Himself a people of His own who are zealous for good deeds. Titus 2:14

Heavenly Father, please redeem me, purify me, make me Your own. In Jesus’ name. Amen

DO WE NEED SIGNS?

When life is going smoothly, we humans tend to follow Jesus quite easily. He is so good to us. We live in a comfortable house in a nice neighborhood. Our cars are relatively new and still shiny. We feel well. Our children are doing well in school. The job market is relatively stable in our particular profession. Our retirement fund is building. All seems “right with the world” as they say.

When life gets a bit rough, however, what is our attitude toward the Master, then? The roof begins to leak, ruining the walls and carpeting. A deer runs into our car, putting a nice dent in it. The children are squabbling. Our good health seems to be slipping away. Even our job seems uncertain from day to day.

Do we, like some in the New Testament, follow Him only “because they saw signs”? Let’s hope not! Let’s pray that we remain loyal to our King no matter what happens with our outward circumstances.

And a multitude followed him because they saw the signs . . . . John 6:2

Heavenly Father, I thank You for the “good” times and the more difficult times. I know that You are in control of each . . . for my good. Please give me the courage to continue to follow after You no matter what. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

HEAL US, O LORD !

When my daughter had her four wisdom surgically teeth removed, I found myself asking the Lord to help her in the healing process. For the first couple of days after the surgery, her mouth was painful. Thus, she had difficulty eating. Her face was swollen. The possibility of infection loomed. Thus, asking the Lord to aid in her healing process became my plea day and night.

As I was asking the Lord to heal HER, I found myself asking that God would heal ME!
My heart longed to be as spiritually healthy as possible in my walk with God on a day to day basis - living closely with Him, listening to His voice, obeying His directions. In this world of sin and darkness, our spiritual health is of utmost importance. May we ask God to heal US!

Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved; for Thou art my praise. Jeremiah 17:14

Heavenly Father, please show me how to be spiritually healthy from the inside out. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

BEING KING

Have you ever done something in your life which seemed to spiral of control? You just wanted to go about your life quietly obeying God at home, at work and in your community. All of a sudden you were being pushed into notoriety. You felt as if someone was trying to make you King or Queen for the Day and you didn’t want any part of it.

Perhaps you were your district’s leading sales person. The local newspaper wanted to interview you. Your company wanted you to travel around the country giving speeches regarding your success. The powers that be also wanted you to do television appearances. Yet all you wanted was to care for your family, concerned that the notoriety would change your priorities in ways which you didn’t want them changed.

You prayed, asking God what He would have you do? You listened carefully for His counsel. You wanted to do that which would be pleasing to Him. On one hand, you wanted to live a quiet life at home. On the other hand, God had given you a special ability - shouldn’t you share it with others?

What a dilemma. The wrong decision would propel you into a life you didn’t want to live. What to do???

Then you read John 6:15, and it all came together - a clear answer from God’s Word to your heart: “Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the hills.”

If Jesus didn’t want to be made King for the Day, it’s OK if we refuse, too.

Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your Word where I can go to get clear direction for any of life’s perplexities. Please remind me again and again that Your Word is there for me to read and heed. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

VACUUM CLEANERS AND EARTHQUAKES

After a great deal of traffic through our house on the weekend, the floors needed a good cleaning. Out came the vacuum cleaner. After an initial pathetic dying sound, it was silent. I started to fuss and fume, envisioning the dirt getting deeper an thicker by the minute.

Remembering that someone had given us another vacuum, I trotted to the garage to
gather it, wondering if it would work. YES! In fact, it was a much nicer vacuum than the old one - much easier to use and with good suction, too. How like God, I thought, to take away one thing and replace it with something better. Our part is to keep our hearts open to the possibilities God wants to offer us.

I envision the apostle Paul and friends in prison. All of a sudden an earthquake struck. How would they respond: “Oh no, now what . . . we are already in a tight spot . . . and now an
earthquake on top of it all”? Or because they were already in tune with God, did they look around, sensing that God had sent that earthquake just for them - to give them something better?

May we, when difficulties appear, be found already in tune with God. May we look around to see what God is doing, then proceed with praise for Almighty God who has it all under control.

But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and every one’s fetters were unfastened. Acts 16:25-26

Heavenly Father, please show me how to keep my heart in tune with You so that I am ready for anything which comes my way. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

DIFFICULTY UPON DIFFICULTY

Have you ever experienced a difficult stretch of road in your life, hoping that things would begin to level off eventually? Then, instead of getting better, life seemed to become more and more difficult as the days, weeks and months marched by. You rested in the fact that God loves and cares for you and is in control of every detail of your life. You also knew that all of the difficulties were for your good. Yet still the difficulties continued.

Do you know how the most exquisite china is created? It is not only put through one
firing, but two. That second firing brings out even more beauty than the first firing. So, the next time things seem to go from “bad to worse” as they say, don’t despair. We can continue to trust in God’s wise judgments concerning us. He is allowing just what is needed to bring out the brilliant colors in our character. The process is painful but the eternal results are magnificent. In the world’s eyes it is called from “bad to worse” - in the light of eternity we are going from glory to glory.

For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all
comparison because we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen . . . .
II Corinthians 4:17-18

I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Romans 8:18

Heavenly Father, I thank You that You are working in my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen

LIKE WATER

Have you ever had a drink of water from a country well on a hot summer day? Did you taste how cold it was? It came from deep below the earth, flowing unseen, yet ready to refresh and restore the partaker. It seems not to be influenced in the least by the heat and humidity on the surface of the earth. It just keeps flowing, pure and steadily.

Isn’t God’s love to us that exact same way? Perhaps unseen at times, perhaps hidden. Even in difficult times His love is there, flowing to refresh and restore us as we need it.

May we partake to quench our thirsty souls.

...but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water, welling up to eternal life. John 14:14


Heavenly Father, thank you for your pure love which overflows to me constantly. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

WHAT'S CLINGING TO YOU?

Recently at a second-hand store, we purchased an old piece of buckskin to make a woodshop apron to protect our clothes while working. By the time we arrived home, our clothes were covered in small pieces of buckskin. Tremendous effort was needed to get those little pieces off. They wanted to cling to us so desperately.

How like the sins of the world those little pieces are. As we walk through the world, the world’s values, characteristics and attitudes try to cling to us. This little upset, that little sharp word, this little grumbling, that little attitude of discontent. All “small” things, to be sure, but as they begin to cling to us, how unclean we become, full of sin.

There is a solution! Just as we had to put the buckskin away, we also must lay aside all of those “little” sins which so easily want to cling to us. After all, in God’s eyes there is no “little” sin - all sins are equal. We must lay them aside after asking God’s forgiveness and then keep on following after Jesus, clean and whole.

. . . let us lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us . . . .Hebrews 12:1

Heavenly Father, I thank You that You want me to be clean and whole in Your sight and that You have made abundant provision through Jesus our Lord. In His name. Amen.

LOOK AWAY

Have you ever gotten up in the morning feeling thoroughly depressed ? You may not know why you are down in the dumps. You just are. All day you attempt to shake the feelings of gloom and doom but you find your emotions are sunk in the Slough of Despond. By evening you are thoroughly disgusted with yourself and your blue feelings.

Then you decide to walk outside in the fresh air. You begin to look around. The summer blooms of Purple Loosestrife reveal a magenta masterpiece. The sugar maple leaves are beginning to be tipped with red and gold. Honking Canada Geese overhead signal a change of seasons. The beautiful blue of the sky gives way to a stunning sunset as clouds display purple, gray and pink tints.

Although you may have been in the depths of depression, you marvel at God’s love displayed in all that He has created that day. You know that nothing can separate you from God’s love. Not even the depths of depression, illness or grief.

For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

Heavenly Father, You created all emotions. Especially when I don’t understand why I feel as I do, please help me to look away from myself to You. All of the splendor You have created reveals just a small portion of Your immense love for me. Thank you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

PUDDLES TO PONDS

After a modular home was set up on their country acre, the owners noticed that a huge muddy puddle appeared in their low-lying front yard.

How sad, I thought, to spend so much money on a beautiful new home and land, only to find yourself daily staring out on a mud puddle.

As weeks and months went by, a subtle change began to take place. Bit by bit the owners turned that mud puddle into a lovely pond. Ornamental grasses waved from the banks. Bird houses were perched along the wildflower border. A park bench invited you to sit and enjoy. Instead of seeing a mud puddle, the owners saw loveliness. Then they acted on what they could “see”.

In your own life, what lovely aspects are hidden by mud puddles. By utilizing the creativity only God can provide, how can your puddles be transformed into a lush landscape?

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.... Philippians 4:8

Heavenly Father, please give me eyes to see the loveliness You want to creat through me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

BENDING

Have you ever felt brittle, unwilling to bend in cooperation with the winds of adversity? You stood tall and straight, not wanting to seem weak so you stiffened your back (and neck), putting up a fight - with people, events, circumstances . . . and God Himself.

Have you ever noticed a woods battered by a spring wind storm. Those trees which did not bend in the wind, snapped in two. Those trees which did bend, still lived. Perhaps there were scars from the battle, but they lived on, growing stronger, even more beautiful than before.

We, too, must bend sometimes. We would be wise bending in submission to those things God sends our way. Outer scars may result from the battle, but just are surely, an inner beauty will abound.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God . . . . I Peter 5:6

Heavenly Father, please give me the wisdom to know when to bend in submission to circumstances which You send my way. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

SLOW GROWTH

The spring soil was prepared, the seeds were finally planted. The sun beamed down, the rains came and still the seeds didn’t seem to be sprouting.

Being impatient waiting for those little green shoots to appear, my inclination was to dig around, to see what was delaying the germination process. I restrained myself, knowing that if I dug up the seeds to check on their progress, I would destroy any life that would be coming forth.

Oh, how impatient we become with ourselves . . . and with others as we wait for spiritual growth and some maturing to appear. We expect growth to take place . . . NOW! We forget that growth of all kinds is usually slow. Roots need time to strike downward. New life needs time to develop.

Let’s be patient with ourselves . . . and with others as God brings spiritual growth and maturity. The rate of growth is of His determining, not ours.

. . . make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self control, and self control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness and godliness with brotherly affection and brotherly affection with love. I Peter 5:7

Heavenly Father, please help me to lay my life and that of others into Your hands, knowing that You will bring the increase as You see fit. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

YOUR SPOT ON EARTH

As you travel from place to place, are you ever in awe of God’s placement of you, one of His people, in such a very specific place . . . in a certain country . . . city . . . neighborhood . . . and house at this exact time in history?

You could have ended up anywhere in the universe and God, by a certain set of
circumstances, planned just for your and your family exactly where he wanted you to be now . . . today. How amazing! How glorious!

Let’s look around in gratitude to our heavenly Father.

This God, His way is perfect. II Samuel 22:31

Heavenly Father, thank You for placing me where You have. May my life bring glory to You - because of Your perfect placement. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

IN TRAINING

Friends of ours became interested in traveling Route 66 . . . on their motorcycles. A professional couple, he a firefighter and she a hospital lab worker, had taken short jaunts on their motorcycles. Bit by bit, year after year, they traveled for longer periods of time, covering more miles than previously driven. It was like they were in training.

Last year they were ready to go the distance - all the way via Route 66 to California. They did it! They have pictures to prove it. Yet it took the gradual building up of their endurance. of muscle power and driving experience to feel confident enough to even attempt the trip.

We, too, are in training. God, in His wisdom, is training us for longer jaunts of service. He is building our character and endurance. He knows the road ahead and is fully confident that if we place ourselves in His hands for training, we will make it all the way Home.

Blessed be the Lord, my rock who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle . . . .
Psalm 144:1

Yea, by Thee I can crush a troop; and by my God I can leap over a wall. Psalm 18:29

Heavenly Father, I thank You that You know the pathway Home and that You are training me to walk it surely and steadily with You to reach the end victoriously. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

STOP. . . LISTEN !

Summer was upon us and so were the sounds of the season. The chirping of crickets was my favorite, as the ground was warm and they were active.

One day, while hoeing my garden plot, my daughter yelled, “Stop!” I kept on hoeing. She yelled at me again to stop but I kept right on with my work, thinking she was worried that I was going to hurt the plants as I swung that hoe.

Suddenly my daughter took matters into her own hands, reaching down to rescue the largest cricket I’ve ever seen. I was so glad, then, to stop.

I wonder . . . why hadn’t I heeded when my daughter yelled “Stop” the first and then the second time. Why did I stop only when I could see the reason why.

Do we often ignore God’s words, failing to heed and obey until we can see clearly the reason why? I hope not. Our heart’s desire should be to obey just because He is God, not needing to know the reason behind His directions.

Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people; and walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you. Jeremiah 7:23

Heavenly Father, please help me to hear Your voice and obey even if I don’t see the reason why. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

TORNADO TREASURES

Weather forecasters spotted a tornado 15 miles to our west, headed directly toward us. Sure enough, as we looked out our kitchen window, the sky was dark and foreboding. My family and I gathered around the kitchen, discussing our plan to run to the basement if we spotted anything resembling a funnel cloud.

We knew if a tornado hit our home, everything we owned would be blown away. Each of us began grabbing objects we wanted to save and would take to the basement with us. As the sky drew darker, I noticed that we weren’t grabbing anything. There we each stood, empty handed, ready to go to the basement if we needed to do so. All we wanted was each other!

Jesus tells us that our lives do not consist of the abundance of our possessions. It became quite clear in a crisis that day - objects meant nothing to us, yet the people whom God had given us to love were the true treasures.

Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. Jesus in Luke 12:15

Heavenly Father, thank You that You often show me what You treasure most. Please help me to treasure those same things. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

OUR DESTINATION

She knew that her journey would be difficult. She even knew approximately when she would arrive at her destination. And best of all, she knew the destination itself.

Our friend, Lindsey, had just been told by her doctor that she had only six months to live on this earth. Her death was inevitable. Shocking news! Tears were shed, fears laid aside. She knew her destination. At her death, she would go Home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus. She was assured of her destination, having been a faithful disciple.

Jesus, too, knew that His journey would be difficult - leading to His ultimate destination - the cross. Then He would go Home to be with the Father.

It took special grace for Jesus to walk His journey to the end of His life on earth. It will take special grace for Lindsey to walk her journey. For us, too. We may not know when or how, but we know that we are on a journey - headed Home. May we accept all of God’s help and grace so that we, like Jesus, can journey in a way pleasing to the Father.

Thy eyes behold my unformed substance; in Thy book were written every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them. Psalm 139:16

Heavenly Father, thank You for every day of my life which You have planned, from beginning to end. I leave the details in Your hands, knowing that my destination is Home, too. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

GODLY IMAGINATION

Does your imagination run away with you?

As your husband walks out the door to go on a business trip, do you imagine an airline crash or a terrorist hijacking? When your children go off to school, do you imagine a bully on the playground? For yourself, do you imagine diseases you never want to experience? For your elderly parents, do you envision ill health and frail later years?

Imagination, given to us by God our Creator, can be used for tremendous good. Often a project to help others is first a vision in our thoughts before it becomes a reality. When allowed to be used by God, the imagination has tremendous power for good. Instead of imagining the worst, why don’t we imagine the best? And while we are at it, why not pray for that best, too?

We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle to the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ . . . . II Corinthians 10:5

Heavenly Father, thank You that You have given us, as humans, an imagination. I commit mine into Your hands so that it can be used to Your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE

On my walk each day, I find it a pleasure to note which wildflowers are in bloom. Toward the middle of August, I am usually thrilled to see an abundance of purplish-pink flowers growing by the lake. They are quite striking in appearance. Every day when I’d pass by, I would be amazed at their beauty.

One day, when the stalks of brilliant blooms should have been at their peak of loveliness, the entire area had been mowed down. Our neighbors hadn’t known what treasures they had growing at their very door step.

We are like that at times, failing to recognize God’s treasures which surround us. These treasures can come in many forms - family members, dear friends, even difficult circumstances. How easy it is to mow our treasures down with our busyness or our neglect.

May we see what God has bestowed upon us. May we grow to see and appreciate each and every one.

The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field - and to get the treasure, too. Matthew 13:44


Heavenly Father, please forgive me for not seeing the many treasures You have sent into my life, including Yourself. Please give me a heart to see. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

EMPTY HANDED

In our minds we know that “we can’t take it with us” when we die. That truth was made real in my heart as my hand rested on a small maple box which held the cremated remains of my father.

Back at the house Dad’s favorite shirts still hung in his closet. On the floor by his chair were his well worn shoes. His dresser held all of his precious momentos - his watch, cuff links, letters from family. The house was still full of the beautiful maple furniture for which he and Mom saved and bought after World War II. In the driveway sat the car he purchased recently. His tool shed doors stood open, his father’s and grandfather’s tools still hanging safely on their hooks. Even the rosebushes Dad so carefully tended over the years remained.

My heart saw for itself the truth - when it is time to go Home to be with the Lord, we will only have ourselves to present before Him. May we present souls which are pure in His sight.

May the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly and my your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. I Thessalonians 5:23

Heavenly Father, please help me - starting today - to loosen my grasp on those things which do not have eternal value. Help me to hold onto those things which are valuable in Your eyes. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

A SECRET WEAPON

Do you ever wish you had a secret weapon, one which you could use in private but which would change the world? Think about it! This secret weapon could possibly result in:
- your spouse having a real sense of peace throughout his or her busy day
- your children growing to love God with all their hearts
- your neighbors wanting to know Jesus, too
- your fellowship experiencing the presence of God at each and every gathering
- your community providing practical help to the homeless
- your national leaders seeking God’s wisdom in making decisions
- and don’t forget yourself - what is your heart’s desire?

We do have a secret weapon - PRAYER! May we use that weapon in such a way that we are expressing the very heart of God.

For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12

Heavenly Father, thank You for the privilege of being able to talk with You about anything and everything. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

RADICAL SURGERY

Surgery was performed. The entire tumor was removed. The patient had a full recovery.

That’s good news, isn’t it?

Did you know that when God sees a “tumor”of sin in our lives, He want to perform radical surgery removing it completely?

Do we allow Him to do it?

Or are we like the patient who only gives partial permission for surgical removal of the “tumor” of sin. Then, because sin wasn’t completely irradicated, the sickness of sin spreads throughout the body. We all know the result . . . death.

May we be radical, allowing the Lord to do radical work in us. May we allow Him to do what is needed to keep us pure and holy.

Stand in awe, and sin not.... Psalm 4:4

Heavenly Father, I know that removal of sin can be painful but I am willing. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

IN THE SWAMP

Recently I heard something that sounded like a fire breathing dragon go over my house. As I ran outside to see what was happening, a hot air balloon was just barely skimming the treetops. It was in trouble with power lines and civilization too close. I decided to follow it in my vehicle.

A mile from my home, the balloon lost its battle to stay aloft, finally coming to rest in a swampy area surrounded by low hills, trees and water.

The chase crew showed up quickly to help the balloonist. Standing on the hillside with camera in hand, I watched as the crew tried to tug and pull the balloon up and out of that swamp. It was hot. It was impossible. The more the crew worked at it, the harder it became. The mosquitoes were biting them, the underbrush was attempting to swallow them. The crew just didn’t have the strength to move the balloon up and out of the quagmire.

Then all of a sudden, the crew and balloonist began to work as a team. As the balloonist would fire the burners, the balloon would lift off the ground just enough so the crew could begin to guide it up and out. Easily this time.

Isn’t that how our lives are sometimes? We try and try in our own strength to do something, often making matters worse. As we struggle, stumble and gasp, we finally realize we cannot do it without help. We call upon God who wanted to help all along. He sends His enabling Spirit to help us and we find we are guided up and out. Now if we can only ask for help a little sooner.

Not by might nor by power but by my Spirit saith the Lord. Zechariah 4:6

He who abides in Me (Jesus) and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. John 15:5

Heavenly Father, please help me turn to You first - for Your guidance and enabling in all I do. In Jesus’ name. Amen

A LESSON LEARNED

Ella, a fairly new believer in Jesus, was visiting a friend and her family in another state. Rising late, Ella noticed a sink full of breakfast dishes. The bowls seemed to be set in oatmeal cement. Ella debated with herself. She knew her friend had her hands full with two toddlers and a new baby. Should she do those dishes or not? She decided it was her friend’s problem, not hers, and went off to find some other tasks to do.

A year later, Ella found herself in her friend’s home again. Having matured in the faith over the previous year, when she was faced again with a sink full of oatmeal-caked bowls, she promptly rolled up her sleeves and began work.

Isn’t it amazing how, when faced with a test which we fail, God will bring us back to that exact same lesson again and again until we learn what he has for us?

For you were called to freedom . . . only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love be servants of one another. Galatians 5:13

Heavenly Father. Thank You for Your patience. Please help me to learn quickly and well those lessons You send to me for my benefit. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

A PLACE APART

The food mixer was whirring. My daughter way playing a silly CD while cooking. My son was in and out with questions and comments as he prepared to leave for the day. In our funny little house there is no place where a person could find a quiet place apart. Each room is connected to another. Each person’s noise is heard by everyone else. When I long for a quiet moment with God, what can I do?

Jesus lived in a busy world, too, with people clamoring for his attention constantly. Yet He often withdrew physically to a place apart where He and His heavenly Father could communicate. He also was continually connected with the Father in that still place in His heart.

Let us do the same! We can meet with God at any moment no matter what our
outward circumstances. Sometimes we can physically draw apart to a quiet place. If we cannot do that, we can always communicate with God in the stillness of our hearts.

Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a lonely place apart.
Matthew 14:13

Heavenly Father, I thank You that, no matter what is gong on, there is always a place apart in my heart where I can communicate with You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

SHE HELD SECRETS

She acted as if she had a delightful secret . . . that only she and I shared.

It was serious business going to the grocery store that particular day. My family had just begun a healthier eating style. My grocery list seemed long and complex as I searched the aisles for the illusive oat flour and whole grain products.

Suddenly, there she was. Only a baby, really, sitting in her mom’s grocery cart. Her blue eyes twinkled. Since I love to gaze into the faces of young children, I briefly smiled at her.

The response was magical. It was as if she knew me and, without words, drew me into her delight as her whole body reacted in joy.

I wondered - what heavenly secrets did she know? Scripture tells us that children are constantly beholding the face of God. Did she want to remind me of how joyous it is being in the Presence of God?

Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus in Matthew 18:3

Heavenly Father, thank You for moments of delight. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

ORCHESTRATED BY GOD

The day started out like a three ring circus. My daughter was putting on her raincoat and boots for a trek across the road to help our neighbor with her farm chores. Mama cat walked in the back door and promptly threw up on the rug. Her five kittens were running everywhere as we attempted to put them, their litter box, food and water outside on the porch for the day. Every time the back door would open, in would run the kittens . . . again . . . and Mama cat, too. It truly was a circus! I began to pray for God’s protection.

In the afternoon, farm chores and household duties were completed. Kittens and Mama cat were asleep on the porch. Quiet reigned. My daughter finished using the typewriter and moved into the kitchen to bake some brownies. My work was finished in the kitchen so I began to do some typing. It was like a smoothly flowing orchestrated piece.

What a difference the two segments of the day represented. One a circus with all of its stress, the other like a well-orchestrated symphony. God must derive extreme pleasure as we allow Him to bring harmony to our days.

And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. Isaiah 21:17

Heavenly Father, please orchestrate my every step today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

GOOD NEWS

In the news, we hear words detailing violence, hatred and strife. Every day we are bombarded with words about job layoffs, global warming, school violence, suicide bombers, floods, homelessness and murder. The news never seems to get better, only worse.

Recently, while reading Romans 5, it was amazing to see such positive, life-giving words throughout. Words seemed to jump off the page - words such as peace, grace, hope, endurance, character, God’s love, reconciled, free gift, justification, abundance, reign, righteous, eternal life.

What a contrast between the words the world has to offer and those words which God has for us. And that’s only in one chapter. Imagine all of the other good words God has for us in the rest of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation. Let’s discover them for ourselves !

They feast on the abundance of Thy house, and Thou givest them drink from the river of Thy delights. Psalm 36:8

Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your written words available to me in Scripture. Please open my eyes and heart to see the abundance of Thy house and the river of Thy delight which You mention in Your Word. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

ALL IS YOURS

Have you ever worn your shoes until they were so battered that they were falling off your feet? Yet in your closet is that extra pair you had purchased as a back-up. They are exactly like your old shoes, yet you continue to trudge along in the old ones.

Or are you trying to write a letter, struggling along with a worn out pen? In your kitchen drawer is a box of new pens, ready to be used. Yet you continue to struggle with the old one.

Don’t we, as people, do the same spiritually?

We settle for second best, acting as paupers when we have all of the riches available to us because of Jesus.

For all things are yours . . . and you are Christ’s and Christ is God’s. I Corinthians 3:21-22

Heavenly Father, please help me to live in the truth about who You are and what You have bestowed upon me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.