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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

PROPERLY DRESSED

Have you ever been invited to a special dinner? You wondered should you go casual, somewhat dressy, or formal? You fretted and actually had nightmares about the situation.

In one such nightmare, you arrived at the event without your shoes. Your shoes were at home, three hours away . . . all of the stores were closed. (See, this was a real nightmare!) There was nothing to be done about the situation. There you were in a lovely dress . . . and bare feet. How totally unacceptable you felt!

Isn’t it comforting to know that when we stand before God at the end of time, we need have no fear of our acceptability? Because of what Jesus has done for us upon the cross, we will be perfectly attired from head to toe. We will be clothed in His own goodness which assures our salvation.

I greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall exult in my God, for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness . . . . Isaiah 61:10

Heavenly Father, I thank you for taking away my fear of being unacceptable in Your sight. Thank You for what Jesus has done for me on the cross and for the garments of salvation in which I can truly rejoice - even now! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

A STEP AT A TIME

A friend of ours thoroughly enjoyed his costumed status as Mr. Dragon, promoting his wife's stained glass shop. Often Mr. Dragon could be seen lumbering along in parades or at special events, all to the glee of his audience. Mr. Dragon is big and blue with a puffy silver tummy. Realistic “hands” and “feet” stretch out in humorous action as his toothful grin towers above the tallest man. His tail swishes happily back and forth as he walks.

When my daughter wondered aloud, “How can Mr. Dragon see where he’s going?” The answer: “One step at a time.” He couldn’t see any farther ahead than that.

How like life that is for us as followers of Jesus. We may not be able to see far into the future but we can see just that far ahead - one step at a time. As God directs our every step, the next step we are to take becomes clear.

The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord, He delights in every detail of their lives.
Psalm 37:23

Heavenly Father, please direct my every step. I trust in You implicitly. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

FOLLOWING CLOSELY

We’ve all been there - at a mall or arts and crafts show where the crushing crowds threaten to sidetrack us from our mission. All we want to do is to head home with our loved one. You both have had enough for the day and are ready to depart. Your loved one says, “Follow me,” knowing a direct route to freedom... and home. You begin to follow, eyes forward, keeping your loved one in sight at all times. Then the crush of the crowd, the sights and sounds of the place all tempt you to takes your eyes off the one you are following. Soon you have lost sight of who you were following and where you were going. You know you will never reach home unless you again connect. Quick - find him, close the gap, head home.

How similar this scenario is to our following Jesus. He tells us, “Follow Me.” We begin - but then we look around at other things. We almost lose our way until we realize - He is still there, look to Him, close the gap. He will lead us safely Home.

Follow me . . . . Matthew 4:19

Heavenly Father, please help me to keep my eyes on You, following closely. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

HOW TO REACH THE TOP

Have you ever felt broiling ambition driving you forward? At work, perhaps you wanted to work your way into your boss’ job. Or you wanted to be teaching leader at your women’s Bible study. Maybe you wanted to become president of your child’s parent-teacher association. You didn’t care what you had to do to get there - how many hours you had to devote to it, how many sleepless nights worrying. . . you wanted that position.

You knew, however, that your ambitious feelings weren’t of God since they seemed to take over your every thought. One day, while reading Scripture, you notice that we are admonished to:
. . . aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs.

Suddenly you knew that you have no choice. The ambition you felt must be placed in God’s hands. You knew that He would promote you if He saw fit. What peace that brings!

Let it be your ambition to live a quiet life, to mind your own affairs and to work with your hands.
I Thessalonians 4:11

Heavenly Father, thank You for the desire to do better, to be better. Protect me, however, from myself and my selfish ambitions. Please show me how to strive after those things which glorify You - and to strive after them with a pure heart. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

PURITY

In chemistry class students are given an experiment to do. Each student was given a glass container half full of cloudy, colored liquid. To that container was added another chemical. With the addition of the second chemical, the liquid turned sparkling pure and clear.

Sometimes we may feel like that glass container of cloudy, colored liquid. Our lives become filled with the grudges, resentments, jealousies and hurts this world offers. We are in drastic need of that “something” which will turn our hearts into sparkling pure containers of God’s goodness again. That “something” is God’s forgiveness, freely offered to those who see their need and ask for it.

I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me . . . .
Jeremiah 33:8

Heavenly Father, please send Your forgiveness into my heart. I desire to be clean and pure in Your eyes. Because of Jesus’ death for me. In His name. Amen.

BE A BLESSING

Once she was a joyous wife and mother, always ready to enter into the fun of family life. She loved her home, quaint and tidy and her garden, planted with such pleasure.

Then something began to go wrong. She no longer entered into the life she and her husband enjoyed. Creating her own life, she was often absent. She began working long hours at her job, traveling to workshops to further her career. Although physically present, she moved out of her home emotionally, away from her husband and child.

They sit at the table now, talking as if she doesn't exist. She withdrew to her own life - self-sufficient, apart, seemingly in need of no one. Even though they don’t speak of her, she is very much present in their hearts and thoughts. They just can’t bear to mention her name - it is too painful.

A sad picture, to be sure. May we, as men or women, realize the importance of our place in our family’s lives. May we be a blessing and bring pleasure at the mention of our name.

A good wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not harm, all the days of her life. Proverbs 31:10-12

Heavenly Father, please let me see the importance in Your eyes of loving my family. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

SLEEP

At a conference recently, the speaker took a poll asking “How many of you have had enough sleep this week?” Not one in the audience raised their hands. Laughter filled the auditorium as people admitted that their lack of sleep was a consistent problem for them.

Researchers have found that 62% of Americans have sleep problems. Another 40% admit that lack of sleep influences their daily activities. Women, especially, suffer from sleep deprivation as they continually try to meet needs. When they try to “catch up” on their sleep, they find that it is an illusive, non-existent process.

Sleep is unique, given to us by God for a variety of reasons: our muscles rest, our heart rate slows, cells are repaired and replenished. Also, the brain integrates all of our hopes, fears and buried images.

Instead of fighting a God-given necessity, let’s take advantage of the gift of a good night’s sleep which comes from the hand of God directly to us.

It is vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for He gives his beloved sleep. Psalm 127:2

Heavenly Father, please help me discipline my time so that I take advantage of all of the healing properties of sleep. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

ORPHANS

One year I journeyed to a conference for writers. Upon arrival at the registration table, I noticed another early arriver - a woman in her late 40s, standing alone clutching her notebook and purse.

It seemed that everywhere I turned that day, there was that same woman, standing alone. She seemed like a lost orphan.

When it came time to go to lunch, some of us decided to go across the street to a nearby restaurant. As we were dodging traffic to get there, that same woman was also dodging traffic, going to lunch by herself. Seeing her so alone pulled at my heartstrings. She was invited to join us for lunch. As we progressed to the restaurant, we came upon more “orphans”, inviting them to sit with us, too. What an interesting, fun lunch we had!

Perhaps Scripture’s command to care for the widows and orphans includes “orphans” who we notice could use a friend - even just for lunch one day.

Learn to do good; seek justice, defend the orphans, plead for the widow. Isaiah 1:17

Heavenly Father, please give me eyes to see and a heart to respond to those who are lonely, in need of a friend. In Jesus’ name. Amen

JOURNALING

Do you keep a journal? Are you including in it your thoughts and feelings? Have you written of the ways in which the Lord has led and taught you through the years? How precious such a log would be as you or your loved ones look back to see the Lord’s faithfulness to you. As you note milestones. As you remember special moments. As you see God’s hand in your life.

Moses, long ago, kept a written record of his journey. From these records we can learn more about God’s faithfulness. May those who read your journal see God’s faithfulness in your life!

At the Lord’s direction, Moses kept a written record of their progress. These are the stages of their march, identified by the different places they stopped along the way. Numbers 33:2

Heavenly Father, You have been faithful to me every step of the way during my entire lifetime thus far. Thank You for the journey we have been on together. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

AN AGING TENNIS STAR

It was sad to watch. The tennis player who, for years, had been the best player in the world crumbled during the biggest match of the season. He had been so strong for so long, yet at the young age of 30, his body gave out. With his loss, he sat on the sidelines, his head hanging down in utter dejection.

For us who follow the Lord, we need never experience that sort of dejection at our loss of physical strength. Yes, our bodies may weaken as we grow older, but we know that the growth and strength which the Lord gives to us in our inner person - in our spirit - will only increase with each passing day. Even into our 80s and 90s, if we are on the earth for that length of time, our spiritual strength will increase as we obey the Lord. Bearing fruit into old age is to be expected as the norm for us who love the Lord. Can’t you just feel the sap flowing?

the righteous . . . still bring forth fruit in old age, they are ever full of sap and green; to show that the Lord is upright; He is my rock and there is no unrighteousness in Him. Psalm 92:14-15

Heavenly Father, as the days, months and years are added to my life, please continually reveal Your righteousness through me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

HAVE COURAGE

Our friends’ high school-age son was chosen to go to a leadership conference in Kansas City. Another son seems to be outstanding in chemistry. Their daughter traveled to Japan for a portion of her college credits. Our son’s resume listed capabilities in the graphic design field. Our daughter decided to take up training an ox. Each loved God, desiring to do His will. How we, as adults, marvel at how God has worked in our children’s lives. Looking around at other believing young people’s lives, we notice the same courage to step out and try new things.

When we were young, it seemed the only way to Kansas City was by cyclone, hurricane or tornado. We probably would never have even thought of going to Japan, not to mention studying there. We probably never considered training an ox, having trouble even training a puppy.

Our children’s lives have certainly been enriched by God. In turn, their lives have enriched our own. Perhaps, as we look at our children’s courage to venture out into untried areas, we should consider prayerfully asking the Lord in what areas we should next venture - with His courage.

So I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. Be strong and of good courage. Joshua 1:5

Heavenly Father, please send the courage I need as You prompt me to try new adventures. In Jesus’ name. Amen

FIRST THINGS FIRST

We’ve all heard of the shoemaker whose children had no shoes. We’ve probably also heard of the woman so busy writing a cookbook that she had no time to cook meals for her family. We sigh and cluck our tongues in disapproval. Yet, are we doing the same things, but in a different way?

Are we so busy fussing at our children to pick up their toys that we neglect to sit down and play with our little ones? Are we dynamite at organizing our office at work? At home, however, it is another scene with papers and files overflowing the dining room table?

Of course, we could go on and on with scenes like these but let’s take a minute and survey what is happening in our lives. In what areas do we need to improve? God, in His strength, is more than willing to help us where we need improvement. He doesn’t expect perfection but He does expect us to become more and more like Him every day of our lives.

You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:48

Heavenly Father, please open my eyes to see areas in my life which need to be improved. Then show me how to go about improving them. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

IMMEDIATE PRAYERS

Finding myself in a difficult situation, I walked over to my friend, Marcie, who had been blind since birth and asked her to pray. She immediately clasped her hands and began talking with our heavenly Father, requesting help. As I stood beside her, I was awestruck by her immediate response on my behalf.

As the difficult situation was remedied before our eyes, I marveled at how a friend’s immediate prayer resulted in all of heaven’s help being made available to me at that moment.

May we be found faithful to pray for those who ask. Immediately.

The prayer of a righteous man (or woman) has great power in its effects. James 5:16

Heavenly Father, thank You for those who have prayed for me down through the years. Help me to be a faithful pray-er. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

FOR YOURSELF

A woman who was often sad and troubled about life, appeared one evening at a meeting. Her face was shining. Giggles of delight bubbled over and out of her with every word she spoke. We wondered what had changed.

Then she told us: She had begun praying for herself that week. Not just general prayers of “make me feel better” but very specific prayers for herself.

She admitted that she had always prayed for her family members and extended family, for her co-workers and those she saw who passed through her grocery check-out aisle. But never had she presented specific requests to God for herself . . . until this week. What a different person she was now becoming . . . because she asked and God heard her requests.

May I encourage you, too, to take the time to discover your most heart-felt needs. Then talk with God about them.

Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8

Heavenly Father....

FOGGY VIEW

My family and I were thinking about and praying about a move. We had some business ideas which we wanted to pursue. The house where we lived, however, didn’t seem practical for our new ventures.

We began to ask the Lord for direction, keeping our eyes and ears open. While waiting, we began to de-clutter and box any excess belongings. Our eyes and hearts were open . . . yet we couldn’t see where to go.

One morning I awoke to fog outside and all around our house. I couldn’t see past the yard into the soy bean fields. There was only haze after that. I felt like I was looking into a foggy mirror, seeing only a blurred image of myself, nothing beyond.

How wise of God, I thought, not to show us the future until He is ready to open the way. I knew that as we took step by step in obedience to the Lord, the fog would gradually lift and we would know . . . what next. Even if it meant remaining where we were.

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part and then I shall understand fully even as I have been fully understood. I Corinthians 13:12

Heavenly Father, please help me to understand the wisdom of seeing only today. As You want me to step out, please lift the fog and help me step ahead confidently. In Jesus’ name. Amen.