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.

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.

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.

SELF-LESS

Recently it was mentioned by a television personality that we have become a self-less society. (Do we really believe that?) At first glance, that seems commendable, doesn’t it? Being self-less, after all, seems far superior to being selfish.

Interpreting self-less in another way, however, can also have a negative meaning. Being self-less can also mean not knowing yourself, your beliefs, your values, your skills or your gifts. In that sense, being self-less is like being a non-person. God certainly never intended that!

God created us each in His image. He expects us to desire to know Him. Then He wants us to know who we are in His eyes . . . to know what we believe . . . to discern what it is He wants us to do each day of our lives. Yes, let’s be self-less in giving love, but let’s always know who we are and where we are going - in God’s eyes.

So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male an female He created them. Genesis 1:27

Heavenly Father, I thank You that You know who You created me to be. Now all I need to do is to listen to You and obey. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

ALL CREATION GROANS

The summer was turning into a hot, dry one. Everywhere we looked, we saw animals, trees, grass and flowers under stress. They were hot and thirsty! In our own household, our cat’s appetite deceased significantly. She had no energy, lounging in the shade wherever it could be found. In our yard, some of the leaves on the walnut trees yellowed and fell to the ground prematurely. People all around us, too, tried to stay cool, their energy sapped by the heat.

In other parts of the world, we heard of floods sweeping away animals, people and vegetation. An earthquake struck elsewhere. The devastation was tremendous.

Sometimes, living in this old world seems such a struggle. We find ourselves groaning not only for our own sufferings but for the sufferings of all living creatures subjected to the laws of our universe. Yet with those groans, we also find ourselves joyously anticipating what God has planned for all creation throughout eternity

We know that the whole creation has been groaning in travail together until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. Romans 8:22-23

Heavenly Father, thank You for the future glorious plans You have for all creation. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

GIVER OR TAKER

It has been said that there are two types of people: “givers” and “takers”. A “taker” is a person who always seems to want something from others but gives nothing in return. It’s all about them. They never seem to get around to asking how you are . . . they are too busy flooding you with details of the what they are doing.

A “giver,” on the other hand, is a person who always seems to be looking outward and away from themselves, looking for ways to serve others. They listen patiently, then respond with words of wisdom and acts of kindness. If there is a need, they seem to sense it and quietly provide for it, unnoticed by anyone.

May it be our heart’s ambition to be a “giver” - like the greatest giver of all - our heavenly Father.

For God so loved the world that He gave . . . .
John 3:16

Heavenly Father, my heart’s desire is to be more like You - a giver. Please teach me who I need to be in order to do what pleases You more fully. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

TRAILS

A family of five visited our local library recently. It was very noticeable that everywhere they went, they left behind them a trail of noise, confusion and litter.

The children left toys spread on the floor, puzzle pieces strewn about, books left open on tables and on the floor. The parents pulled tax forms from the rack, leaving them out of place. The big notebook of reproducible tax forms was left open with pages scattered. When they left, it looked like a tornado had been through the library.

What does the trail we leave behind us look like? Is there confusion, gossip, selfishness or bitterness? Or do we leave behind us the aroma of Jesus’ presence with His peace, kindness, gentleness, love and caring attitude?

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumph and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere. II Corinthians 2:14

Heavenly Father, please show me the importance of leaving a trail of blessing to others everywhere I go. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

OUR FATHER

At the library recently, a dad could be observed sitting at one of the round library tables with his four year old daughter. They were engrossed in their reading. The dad would read a book to the daughter and then the daughter would “read” an easy book to her dad. There was no hurry. The dad seemed to have all the time in the world to be doing the most important thing in all the world right then - spending time with his child, enjoying her presence.

Our heavenly Father enjoys spending time with us, too. Do we take the time to sit with Him, enjoying His presence?

...behold, the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be with them.
Revelation 21:3

Heavenly Father, even though I can’t physically see You, I still want to spend time with You! In Jesus name. Amen.

ONE-SIDED LOVE

We’ve all probably seen it at one time or another. One-sided love. It can come in a variety of forms. A man may shower his wife with everything her heart desires - a nice home, her own car and leisure to attend classes. Yet she remains indifferent, accepting what is given her without a backward glance. Or one-sided love can be seen in a wife who lavishes time and attention on her husband and children only to be taken for granted, her gifts of love to them not even noticed as special gifts just for them. Or one-sided love can be seen in parents who love a child unconditionally. Yet that same child continues to live in total rebellion against their wishes and rules.

One-sided love hurts. It hurts the giver and hurts the receiver. In fact, in one-sided love a relationship doesn’t really exist - there is just a giver and a taker. Any relationship of friendship, comraderie or intimacy is non-existent.

Is our relationship with God one-sided - He gives and we take? Is there a relationship with Him who created us or do we take from Him, figuring it is our ‘due’ just because we exist.? Or do we take from Him, not even recognizing that He is giving something special just for us, His child? Or are we living a life of rebellion although He is continually pouring out His mercy and grace upon us?

May we re-evaluate our relationship with God. He longs for our love and our companionship. He does not want our relationship with Him to die a slow, steady death. He wants to give us Life.

God so loved the world that He gave . . . . John 3:16

Heavenly Father, I want to give to You. Please show me how. In Jesus' name. Amen.

IMPRESSIONS

When the snow began to fly, two of my daughter’s friends came to our home and visited for the afternoon. We took them on an outing to friends’ farm. After an enjoyable time visiting Prince, the Belgian draft horse, newborn lambs, goats which ate our coats, peacocks and chickens, we arrived home, ready for some indoors time and homemade pizza. Because farm mud and dirt aren’t welcome inside any home, I encouraged the girls to walk around in the pure white snow to clean off their shoes.

My daughter and her friends romped in the yard, making fun impressions in the new snow. For days afterward, even though our friends were gone, we enjoyed the impressions left by them. Just seeing those impressions brought smiles to our lips.

I wonder what kind of impression I leave behind? Is it an impression that points to God?

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumph, and through us spreads the fragrance of

the knowledge of Him everywhere. II Corinthians 2:15

Heavenly Father, please teach me how to leave Your impression wherever I go - especially in my own home. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

STICKERS AND FRUIT

In the grocery store, we see a vast array of fruit with little stickers on them. Apples and oranges - each has a sticker on it, identifying who ‘produced‘ it. Of course, we all know that just because a piece of fruit has a sticker on it, that doesn’t mean that the fruit is good. Some may certainly have a nice, brightly colored sticker and look like good fruit on the outside but they may be spoiled or rotten inside.

The same can be said for people. We who are believers in and followers of the Lord Jesus Christ also may have stickers on us. Some stickers read Nazarene, some read Baptist, others Mennonite or Episcopalian . . . . You get the idea. Here, too, we must realize that just because we have a sticker on us, that doesn’t mean that we produce good fruit.

What, you ask, is the good fruit which is to be produced by those of us who claim to be followers of and lovers of God? Scripture plainly tells us:

But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, He will produce this kind of fruit in us - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.
Galatians 5:22-23

May we who claim to love God manifest Him from inside out. May we not only look good on the outside by our good deeds, but may we be good on the inside where God, Himself sees us.

Heavenly Father, please help me please You by bearing Your fruit which is of lasting significance. In Jesus’ name. Amen

LOYAL HEARTS

Once upon a time there was a people who swore allegiance to their King. Every so often they would gather and take turns declaring how special a King he was, how they longed to follow Him wherever He would lead, how they would follow Him to the end of time. They even sang songs to Him.

Yet, these same people, in their hearts, were far from loyal to their King in their everyday lives as evidenced by their disregard for His Words in the Sacred Book. They refused to get along - they always seemed to have a complaint against a neighbor. They neglected to pray for those in authority over them - the overseerers of the land. They didn’t spend the needed time raising the next generation to honor the King. They spent much of their time seeking pleasurable activities, even neglecting to meet personally with the King when He so longed for their presence.

May we be found to be among those who not only follow after God with our words but with our hearts - loyal to Him until the end.

But they followed Him only with their words . . . hearts not loyal. Psalm 78:36

Heavenly Father, please help me to have a loyal heart to You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

HOW-TO BOOKS

We’ve all done it. Read how-to books. If we wanted to learn new software, learn to play the harmonica, write in calligraphy style, create wooden toys, make a quilt. . . The how-to book list is endless.

Yet we have all experienced being so busy reading the how-to books that we never get around to doing what we wanted to do in the first place - the actual doing.

The other day I was in a Christian bookstore. There, too, were endless how-to books. How to love more, pray better, be more hospitable, find your gifts, how to study the Bible . . . and on and on.

I’m wondering if we don’t do the same thing in the spiritual realm of learning as in the natural realm - we are so busy reading about how-to that we never actually DO.

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who observes his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But he who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer that forgets but a doer that acts, he shall be blessed in his doing. James 1:22-27

Heavenly Father, please help me persevere in doing your Word. Please set me free from the hesitancy to do and gently lead me into doing what You want each day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

FRUSTRATION

Just like a long awaited picnic . . . and it rains, we’ve all experienced it - FRUSTRATION! Sometimes frustration builds and bursts forth as we try to learn a new computer program and we just can’t get it. Or maybe we are ready to “lose it” as we attempt to build a bookcase, bake a new cake recipe, de-clutter our parent’s home or as we try to piece a quilt. We all know the sputtering that can go on as frustration overflows.

Does it honor God, though, when we lose our cool and we begin to rant and rave (in a mild manner, of course)? No, surely not.

Instead, let’s approach tasks in a manner which honors God. We need to commit our way to the Lord and be open hearted to learn the new skills. We need to be willing to work hard and to also take a break, when needed, until we see the work completed.

Let’s put frustration behind us. Let’s pray and ask God for successful learning and mastering of the tasks before us. We will be pleased with the results - and so will God.

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will act. Psalm 37:5

Heavenly Father, I thank You even for those times which hold the potential for feelings of frustration. Please help me turn to You first for help and then in thankfulness. In Jesus’ name. Amen