PRACTICE !

Our spry, energetic friend, Dorris, had a disabling stroke. At age 68, it was unexpected and shocking to those of us who worked with her at the library. She was a widow, so independent, so helpful to everyone, so devoted to serving others in the love Jesus provided.

When we went to visit Dorris in the hospital, we found that she was unable to speak so that she could be understood. How frustrating for her it was! She was unable to walk and could no longer feed herself. She was also unable to read a book - her eyes wouldn’t focus. We prayed, knowing that our friend’s life had changed forever.

Then we began hearing reports from others who visited her. We heard how hard she was working in rehabilitation to regain muscle strength - practicing daily. A speech therapist was helping her practice her speech. We even heard that, once at home, she began practicing the use of her muscles by using a rowing machine.

A year passed. Dorris is again walking, driving, reading and volunteering at the library. A miracle we say. Yes, God certainly restored her. Dorris also did her part - practicing those things she needed to do.

In which areas should you be practicing in order to further develop your spiritual muscles of servanthood? Go ahead . . . you can do it!

Make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge and knowledge with self control, self control with steadfastness and steadfastness with godliness and godliness with brotherly affection and brotherly affection with love. II Peter 1:5

Heavenly Father, please help me practice all that is needed in order that I may serve You better. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

LOOK UNTO GOD

Have you ever noticed that when life seems difficult, we storm the gates of heaven with request after request?

The roof leaks . . . we cry out to God. The car is in the repair shop . . . again
. . . we cry out to God. A flu bug has us in its grasp and won’t let go . . . we cry out to God. The baby has the colic . . . God, help! We fear losing our job . . . God, help! Our child’s grades begin to slip . . . God, help! Our spouse is stressed and it is evident at home . . . God, help! Again and again we cry out to our heavenly Father for help. Of course, this pleases Him . . . He loves it when we turn to Him. He wants us to rely on and trust Him for the smallest detail of our lives.

Then our lives begin to run more smoothly. The children are thriving, our spouse is fine, we feel well, we have a car that runs. God? Does He once again become a shadow figure - someone you once knew and talked with . . . constantly. But now you no longer need Him . . . or do you?

Look unto Me. Isaiah 54:22

Heavenly Father, please help me to look to You not only when things are difficult, but also when life seems to run more smoothly. I need You. 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.

THUNDERING WATERS

Every evening during the summer I would bike to the newly created pond in our village park to feed the huge carp. As I would stand overlooking the pond, the only sound I could hear was the rushing of water over the rocks as it tumbled into the shallow pond in front of me.

The noise of the water rushing downward drowned out all other sounds - traffic, children at play, dogs barking, my own voice and - almost - my own thoughts. All I could hear was the water thundering.

I was reminded of the scripture in Psalm 93:4:

“Mightier than the thunders of many waters . . . the Lord on high is mighty”.

God desires to communicate with us, His people. His voice is a still small voice, yet if we listen intently, His voice actually thunders. His voice can be heard in our lives so that all other ‘noises’ are minor in comparison.

May we hear His still, small, thunderous voice daily. May we listen intently to what He is saying to us.

Heavenly Father - I thank You that You desire to communicate with me. Please help me to hear You clearly, thunderously. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

GOD IN CONTROL

A friend went to visit his doctor. He’d been having minor foot problems. As the doctor examined him, further extensive tests were ordered which ultimately revealed serious heart blockage in four of his coronary arteries. Surgery would need to be performed to repair the damage and to restore my friend’s health.

The Lord used a minor medical problem to reveal, in His perfect timing, a much more serious life-threatening problem. In each step of the journey our friend took, it was quite evident that God was, indeed, in control.

In your life, do you see God at work, too? Maybe it’s not in such a dramatic life and death situation but He is working . . . can you see Him?

Thou art a hiding place for me, Thou preservest me from trouble; Thou dost encompass me with deliverance. Psalm 32:7

Heavenly Father, I thank You for working mightily in my life day by day. Please open my eyes to see You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

TRYING COUNTS

Have you ever noticed a child, when learning to read, often balks at trying to sound out a new word? With proper encouragement, over time, the child eventually becomes more adventurous, trying, practicing and attaining success in their new-found skill.

Do you find yourself balking at anything new which the Lord may be opening to you? In which area is He encouraging you to be courageous? In which area is He prodding you to take those initial steps toward mastering something new? Try it! What do you have to lose? Be courageous and adventuresome. A whole new world of opportunity could open up. You just need to take that first step . . . then the next . . . then the next. Go for it!

The steps of a good man (woman) are ordered by the Lord. Proverbs 20:24

Heavenly Father, please give me the courage to move forward in the areas You present to me. In Jesus’ name. Amen

ARE WE HIS?

Do we belong to God, manifesting the new life He has given us? Or do we still think we belong to ourselves?

Are we willing to do His will every moment of each day? Or do we pick and choose which directives from Him we heed?

Do our friends reflect His nature? Or do we surround ourselves with those whose characters haven’t been changed into His likeness?

Do the words which come out of our mouths reflect Him who is enthroned in our hearts? Or do our words reflect our own self-centered interests and views?

Do we focus our eyes outward, looking for areas where our King may want us to serve? Or are we so caught up in our own dramas, that we don’t recognize others’ needs?

Let’s look at our lives. Who do we truly belong to - God or ourselves?

If we find ourselves lacking, may we again give ourselves completely to Him who loves us beyond measure.

So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Romans 6:11

Heavenly Father, I give myself to You, my Creator. In Jesus' name. Amen.