Crossroads Communicator Weblog

Announcement of Blog Merge

2010-11-28T08:42:00.000-05:00

Dear Communicator Subscribers:

Since you’ve been a subscriber on the Crossroads Communicators blog site, you’ve received weekly articles written by your friends and neighbors sharing insight, humor, and inspiration in the struggles and victories of everyday Christian life.

Starting this Sunday, the Communicator Blog will change names. It will become the WOW blog. The WOW blog has been functioning as a “sister blog” following the Crossroads' Bible reading Schedule, but in 2011, it will follow no schedule other than the leading of the Holy Spirit as Communicator and WOW writers join efforts to share their hearts and their love for Christ in ways that will continue to encourage and inspire you with practical applications of God’s Word.

Please subscribe to the blog at http://www.wow-xroads.blogspot.com/. Then you will receive a notice from the WOW blog asking you to confirm your subscription. Please confirm this notice so you will continue to receive devotions from your friends and neighbors. The Communicators blog will no longer be posting articles.

Thank you,

Tami Gilman, Communicators blog maintainer and

Gail Purath, WOW blog maintainer

Lessons from Reality TV by Jenn Fromke

2010-11-21T17:28:00.000-05:00

OK, I admit it. I’m a reality TV junkie. Not proud. But since I’m familiar with so many of these shows, I decided to mine the soil and see if I could find a few gems hidden within.

The other day, I tried to wrap my brain around the concept that we are creatures of the King, placed in time temporarily. Yet what we do in time determines where we will spend eternity. So of course, my mind went immediately to the granddaddy of reality shows and one of my favorites: Survivor. The players are placed into a strange environment for a period of time under a specific set of rules. How they choose to behave and interact within the given set of rules determines if they will return to life as usual after the game or else win a prize that may change their life’s direction.

I think it’s very easy to forget that what you and I experience daily is temporary. We were actually created for eternity, and what we choose to acknowledge as truth during our “time in time,” determines where and how we experience eternity.

So how should we act during our “time in time?” I think a fine example can be found on the shows Project Runway and Top Chef. The competitors play for a prize, which will enable them to realize a dream: designing their own clothing line or opening their own restaurant. As they compete, they go all out. Those who don’t care, go home. Those with a passion pour their heart and soul into the work in order to win.

Sometimes competitors receive different materials or different ingredients to work with and it seems unfair. But they still do the best they can with what they’ve been given. I like this advice – you play the hand you’ve been dealt. We can’t live the life of the person who lives down the street. We live the life God gives us, and we “…press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called [us] heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14)

Moving along through the TV guide, we come upon a newer addition to the reality TV slate. Undercover Boss. I love this show because the premise is that a top executive goes undercover to work side-by-side with employees on the front lines, at the lowest levels. When people don’t know they are talking to the boss, they will act very candidly and speak their minds with little pretense. The scripture that leaps to mind is this: “…whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40)

Jesus asks us to treat those around us as if they were Him. Time and time again on the show, the workers will show mercy to the boss when he messes up, or make personal sacrifices for the company, and every time, the boss is moved to reward them for excellence. Do we pursue excellence every day as if Christ the King were working beside us?

Finally, we must take a look at Food Network’s Challenge. Every show is a contest between four pastry chefs to make the most spectacular cake. What I love about this show is the creativity mixed with skill required to win. Every chef is given the same theme and they always come up with vastly different cakes, which ultimately reflect who they are.

Jesus gives us a challenge too: to allow Him to make us into His image. But every child of God comes out different. We are all masterpieces in the hands of a skilled craftsman and God is making us into something beautiful, worth more than gold, and longer-lasting than spun sugar. And one more thing: The cakes have to taste good.

So don’t forget, God makes us beautiful on the inside first and that bleeds to the outside when He builds us into a stunning structure, which brings honor to Him, our master pastry chef. Kind of like an Extreme Makeover. But don’t get me started.

Please Note: Next week the Crossroads Communicators blog will be integrated with the Writing on the Word blog. Be sure to subscribe to http://www.wow-xroads.blogspot.com/ to continue to receive new entries via email.

Cyberspace and Grace by Jan Darnell

2010-11-14T10:33:00.000-05:00

Recently in the grocery store I noticed several shoppers on cell phones with children in tow playing hand held video games. Ah, the age of technology! Wireless circuitry and electronic baby-sitters! Selecting a grocery cart, I headed straight for the aisle of pasta and spaghetti sauce. However, employees were stocking shelves on that aisle, merchandising and communicating quietly through headsets. Even though a hindrance to my dinner plans, I became captivated by the implementation of these electronic tools.

Children without interrupting their games were able to slip by the busy employees; moms pushing carts opted to change direction. I followed suit. Then the oddest thing happened. As if previously rehearsed, the children and their mothers reunited effortlessly and simultaneously in the very next aisle. Technology once again fascinated me. I wasn’t sure how this feat had been accomplished but convinced myself that an electronic gadget had to be responsible.

After the pasta aisle cleared and my shopping was completed, I proceeded to the checkout line. The man in front of me received a call on his cell phone to which he responded by planting his feet firmly where he stood. I was unfortunate enough to be in line behind him.

The attentive clerk signaled for the man to move forward. Then the clerk waited. I waited. People behind me transferred to a different line while I decided to remain and study the situation. “Is this evolution?” I thought. Man evolving to a higher order of intelligence? I recognized indifference but not the intelligence. The age of technology was suddenly losing its’ luster.

“Excuse me sir,” I said. “It’s your turn.” The clerk also motioned again for him to move forward yet he remained entrenched. I became irritated at his captivity because clearly, free thought had been lost…lost in cyberspace!

Then my short study reached a simple conclusion. Our grace space can be altered by the multi-faceted air waves of interpersonal communication. What do I mean by that? Our technological hearts can narrow to the size of wireless phone lines, reducing the greater space necessary to recognize and relate to others respectfully.

I picked out a candy bar from the assortment next to me. Then I selected a bottle of pop to wash down the candy bar. Something good was going to come from this.

Now, I’m not a psychologist, philosophic analyst, or doctor of systematic studies designed to benefit mankind. However, in my meager estimation, now emerging into an opinion, we need to segregate our electronic choices into appropriate fields of usage, exercising restraints that would keep people around us from being ignored. Especially in check-out lines at the grocery store!

Quite honestly, the grace space God meant for us to operate in as relational beings seems to be diminishing across the board in our daily lives. We were created in God’s image to be conduits of His cordial grace. When we lose the capacity to relate to one another gracefully and respectfully, then we no longer reflect our Creator as lights of His glory. Jesus reflected the image of God. Jesus was full of grace and truth (Jn. 1:14).

Finished with my snack, I tried a different approach, “Excuse me sir, can I have your phone number?” With that, I had his attention. He looked at me as if to say, “Where did you come from?” Then he stepped back finally so that I could proceed to the cashier. At that very moment, the store lost its’ electricity. The computers and registers went down. “Oh no,” the clerk declared. “It will take 20 minutes for the system to reboot!” I could feel my own grace space narrowing like a hardening of the arteries. I took spaghetti off the dinner menu, returned my groceries to their shelves and gave the clerk adequate cash for the candy and pop.

My grace space had been altered by cyberspace.

In the Hands of a Loving God by Christina Darnell

2010-11-07T13:16:00.000-05:00

“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”

Psalm 91:11-12

I shifted my weight on the seat, trying to ease the tension in my back. The trip from Florida back to North Carolina wasn’t long enough to be grueling, but it was close. It had been raining for the past hour, and the water was collecting in mud puddles on the side of the road. I pulled out my notebook, hoping to be productive while my husband, Daniel, drove.

I hadn’t been working for five minutes when I heard Daniel honking the horn yelling, “Dude, I’m right here.” My head jerked to the right where a semi-truck was merging into our lane. I didn’t have time to react before mud flew up from our tires as we swerved to regain control. As soon as the semi finished claiming the lane, it merged back to the right and sped off.

We were both breathing heavily, hearts racing, as he merged the car back onto the interstate. “Thank you, Lord,” he prayed under his breath. I was overcome by emotion. I felt anger toward with the stupid truck driver for being so careless with our lives, and then speeding off. I felt fear when I considered all the what-ifs. It wasn’t long before we drove by areas of the interstate with no median. What if the semi had run us off the road then? I felt insecurity when I realized we may have died if I had been the one driving instead of Daniel. How quickly my fleshly nature reacted in a situation of panic.

Then, like a breath of fresh air, I felt the Holy Spirit speak. Life may present a host of dangers, but in a situation where I was completely out of control; God had been completely in control. God had orchestrated our safety.

I quickly confessed my anger and fear to the Lord, and expressed gratefulness. I’ll remember that life will never give me control, but I am in the hands of a loving God who has complete control.

Knowing God by the Names of His Character by Emily Carter

2010-10-31T15:39:00.000-04:00

Recently, a group of ladies have embarked on the incredible journey of Knowing God by Name. We are working through Mary Kassian’s Bible Study by the same title. So far, God has used it to draw us closer to Him. Week Two is focused in on His names of Character.

El Hakkadosh: Holy God

Rav-Chesed: Abounding in Love

Rachum Ve-Chanun: Merciful and Gracious

Emet Elohim Emet: Faithful and True

Higdil Tushiyyah: Excellent in Wisdom

God's characteristics are immeasurable. Just when we think we know something about Him, we learn something new. The other night, my family had just reading all about baby bears. When grizzlies are first born, they are blind, hairless, and about the size of a banana. They are completely dependent on their moms not only care for them, but also to teach them everything they need to know.

My daughter, in her five year old wisdom, proclaimed, “I know everything I need to know!”

I responded, “Really? Right now I can think of three things that you are still learning how to do.” Of course she was intrigued. I explained, “You are still learning to read large words, you are learning how to play basketball, and you are learning to spell things correctly.”

My husband then followed up with, “And we are always learning more about God.”

To which my son replied, “You already know everything you need to know about God.”

What a beautiful opportunity to explain God’s vastness. I then told Coleman and Grace, “You could read your Bible every day for the rest of your life, and on the day you died, you would still not know everything that it had to say about God. He is that big.” They looked at me in utter disbelief, but they understood the importance of studying God’s word. The next day, they did not complain once about learning their verses for Wednesday night’s Awana classes.

As I did the lesson for week two/day one from Knowing God by Name, once again I learned something new. Did you know that the only characteristic of God that is mentioned three times is His holiness? Isaiah 6:3 and Rev. 4:8 state that, "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD God Almighty." God's holiness permeates every other characteristic. The three fold repeat means that this is very, very, very important information. The thing that I had not known before was that one of the definitions of the word holy means illustrious, to radiate, or shine brightly. I knew that holy meant to be perfect and separate, but I had always thought of it being God's glory that shines brightly. Doesn't it make sense that both His holiness and His glory would radiate?

On day two, we talked about God's love for us. God's love for us is both committed and passionate. You cannot separate His love from who He is and it is only by His love that we can truly experience and give love.

God is also merciful and gracious and faithful and true. These four characteristics are described in Exodus 34:6-7 in a very powerful way. "And He (Yahweh) passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, 'The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion, and sin. Yet, He does not leave the guilty unpunished He punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation." Make no mistake, dear one, the Lord is merciful and gracious. He spares us from what we deserve and He gifts us with good we could never earn. His faithfulness is wrapped up in His truth. You can depend on Him. No matter what dark time you are walking through, God can light your path and He will be your friend as you go on your way.

He can do all of this because He is Excellent in Wisdom. He has perfect knowledge over everything. He has knowledge over time: past, present, and future. He has knowledge over creation. He knows every detail about your life. You matter to Him. If you need some encouragement today, read Psalm 139:1-18 to know how special you are to Him.

God is so very in love with you! He is Holy, Holy, Holy! He is merciful, gracious, faithful, and true! He is Excellent in Wisdom and Knowledge. You can trust God because He is trustworthy!

An Angel With Strong Hands by Ann Wayne

2010-10-03T17:35:00.000-04:00

Do you sometimes wonder if things happen by chance, or if God really sends people to help us in times of need? Do you believe in angels? In Psalm 91, the scriptures speak of finding refuge with the Lord. In verse 11, we read, “For He will order his angels to protect you wherever you go.” The story below is true. I hope that you will never again question whether or not God sends angels to help us.

One spring afternoon, my daughter-in-law, Denise, was driving home from a meeting and her car began to make a noise. She pulled over on the side of the road and called my son, Isaiah, to come and help her. After an assessment of the problem, he decided it was the alternator. So they jumped in his truck and drove to a parts store to purchase the needed parts and returned to the car on the side of the road.

Thirty or forty minutes went by. Denise tried to help Isaiah get the alternator belt on, but even together they did not have the strength to accomplish this task. So Denise began to pray for a man to stop who had strong hands to help. She said that within a minute or two, she heard a truck behind them. She couldn’t believe how quickly her prayer was answered. A man jumped out and offered tools, and water and asked, “Do you need a hand?” Wow! Exactly what she prayed for. Shortly, the two men were able to get the alternator belt on.

Denise said that at first she did not notice what the man had on, but then realized his shirt had the words, “Jesus - Luke 9:20.” She said that all of this happened so fast that she did not even say anything to Isaiah until that evening. When she came to my house that afternoon to pick up Emma Grace; she told me the story and we looked up the scripture.

Luke 9:20 reads, “But what about you”? (Peter) he (Jesus) asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”

I feel that this was definitely a God thing. That God sent this angel man to help them out. And not only that, but the scripture on his shirt will be a testimony to both Isaiah and Denise from this day forward. Young adults sometimes question their faith and how authentic God is. This angel man didn’t just show up. Denise prayed specifically for a man with strong hands. I believe that this man was sent straight from God. And the scripture was a testimony to both of them.

Have you had angels in your path? Did you recognize them and acknowledge God’s mighty hand on your life? Have you shared your experiences and testimony so that others will benefit from the power of prayer and the protection that God promises us if we will call on his name?

I love both of these examples. Why? Because I know the people involved and know that their stories are true. And I know God’s word is true. Jesus boldly confronted Peter and asked him, “Who do you say I am?”

Fellow writers…this is why we need to work diligently in writing our life experiences and sharing the gospel with others. We should ask ourselves, “Who do we say Christ is?” Well, if we believe He is the Christ of God, then we need to write about it and share our life experiences with others so they will see who Christ is in us and how God helps us through difficult issues.

Piece by Piece “HisStory” Unfolds by Gail Purath

2010-09-27T08:28:00.001-04:00

God simply spoke and the world was formed
With a beautiful garden to welcome man
No waste, no pain, no sin or sorrow
Pure paradise just as God planned

But then the Serpent hissed his lies
And man chose death instead of life
One bite and sin was brought to earth
With pain and sorrow, sadness, strife

No more sweet walks and talks with Father
Man chose to walk away instead
But God still offered hope and love
One day He’d crush the serpent’s head

Sin’s ugly stain began to spread
As Cain’s anger shed his brother’s blood
Then man became so thoroughly evil
That the survival of goodness required a worldwide flood

But water could not cleanse men’s souls
God’s love they stubbornly refused
With pride they planned to build a tower
Until their language God confused

Now came the time for God to choose
A man who would a blessing be
Four promises for Abram’s heirs
His Seed would someday set men free

From Abraham through Isaac and Jacob
The Deliverer’s bloodline God maintained
Son Judah was the chosen tribe
But Joseph double honor gained

They moved to Egypt for God’s provision
But grew so great they proved a threat
Pharaoh despised these Promised People
Who did not have a land as yet

Then God sent Moses to the Pharaoh
Ten plagues, but still he answered “No!”
How hard the Pharaoh’s heart became
Before he let God’s people go

God’s breath then blew the Red Sea dry
And drowned Egyptian chariot rumble
He gave his people loving care
But all they did was gripe and grumble

In God’s own voice they heard His Ten Commands
Life principles to guide their way
But they would rather serve a cow
And to this idol bow and pray

Yet God still loved these stubborn people
And brought them to the Promised land
They had no reason to doubt or worry
They should have trusted in God’s plan

Twelve spies returned with mixed reports
“There’s giant warriors we can’t kill!”
“Not so!” cried Joshua and Caleb
“God said we’ll conquer, and we will!”

But fear replaced their sanity
They stubbornly maintained their grief
Again they pushed God’s love away
And lost the land through unbelief

When forty years came to an end
The next generation accepted the task
This time they let God fight for them
And took the Promised Land at last

But dark years of the Judges followed
“Right in their own eyes,” they chose to sin
God rescued them repeatedly
Repeatedly they sinned again

Then Samuel came and brought relief
He sought the LORD in everything
But still they didn’t want God’s rule
They longed to have an earthly King

King Saul had no respect for God
But David served with a repentant heart
Solomon lusted after pagan wives
Rehoboam’s pride split the kingdom apart

Eventually Israel turned completely from God
Years later Judah did the same
Israel was conquered and destroyed
Judah taken captive in Babylonian chains

But in God’s time King Cyrus took power
Wielding God’s justice through a Persian hand
He destroyed the Babylonian nation
And the Jews regained their Promised Land

History came and went thereafter
God always extending His loving grace
But man was bent on unbelief
Taking from God’s hand, but ignoring God’s face

Then all of history did converge
As Christ was born one starry night
God’s son became our loving servant
The only One able to set things right

When baptized and when tempted
Christ proved that he was qualified
The Incarnate Living Word of God
Exposed the Serpent’s deadly lies

Repentant throngs clung to Christ’s words
The Twelve lived with Him everyday
He healed the sick and raised the dead
But jealous leaders turned Him away

Then came the day it all was “finished”
The purpose Christ had come to serve
He paid a debt we could not pay
And took a death that we deserved

What hellish torture He bore for us
Nails tore his flesh, the sky turned black
His Father could not comfort Him
As He bore our sins upon His back

Yet still He cried in sweet forgiveness
“Dear Father, they know not what they do”
And when His task on earth was done
The temple curtain was rent in two

His death destroyed the Garden lie
It crushed the head of Satan and sin
Creating a path of hope and life
Securing redemption, He rose again

Can you believe this story…
God creating beauty
Man defiling it
God giving guidance
Man ignoring it
God speaking truth
Man preferring lies
God giving Laws
Man breaking them
God giving abundance
Man always wanting more

God offering love
Man doubting it
God offering love
Man mocking it
God offering love
Man refusing it
God offering love
Man crucifying it
God offering love…

True Love by JoAnn Lampe

2010-09-20T13:43:00.000-04:00

A lifetime of lies

So cruel the taunts of children

“I don’t want her she can’t run.”

“She can’t throw or bat, and

She’s too fat.”

Awkward, oh so awkward

Too shy to look forward

Only backward

Seeing only the social “faux-pas”

Real and imagined

Like scarlet letters stamped upon my chest

Will I never find rest – have success?

Trying so hard to fit in place

Running down all the wrong paths trying to win the race

Love me! Accept me! I CAN be like you!

Watch me change to fit the place

Who will love me?

I want to know

Tired and weary

of making mistakes

My heart just can’t take another blow.

“Come to me all you who are weary and burdened,

and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

“…the LORD your God…turned the curse

into a blessing for you, because the LORD your God

loves you.” (Deuteronomy 23:5)

“Praise be to God,

who has not rejected my prayer

or withheld his love from me.” (Psalm 66:20)

Lord you love me JUST AS I AM!

It doesn’t matter where I’ve been

Or what I’ve done.

The curses and lies you’ll turn in to blessings

So truly the “Names” can no longer hurt me

You are my “rock”, my Savior, my one true love

Jesus, the healer of broken hearts.

“…his love endures forever.” (1Chronicles 16:34)

Mastering the Impossible by Brad Bridges

2010-09-13T08:19:00.001-04:00

I was amazed. “How did he do it?” I thought. He had to have had some type of surgery. Maybe he was confused or simply embellishing. A change that dramatic in only twelve months was impossible. Or so I thought.

He struggled to say no. He struggled to reduce quantities. His friends encouraged his overconsumption. Some laughed. Some criticized. Some spoke behind his back. Others avoided the topic all together.

One friend spoke into his life, reminded him that he needed to change, and did so with the tone of a loving friend. He took it to heart. He changed his eating habits radically, exercised daily, and supplemented his diet wisely. He decided to master something that had mastered him.

For twelve months he worked hard. In twelve short months, he lost nearly one hundred pounds. Yes, you read that correctly. One-Hundred-Pounds. His blood pressure improved. His attitude changed. His energy levels were higher.

Today he’s a very healthy person and hopefully has many years ahead of him. He realized that if he didn’t begin making good decisions soon, he would essentially be allowing food to become the master over his life. He couldn’t serve two masters (Matthew 6:24): God and food. Food would inevitably ruin his ministry, destroy his health, and end his ministry.

I’m not saying that obesity is caused by unfaithfulness to God. Many people are genetically predisposed to obesity and will always struggle for many reasons. But in his case, he realized and has told me that his being overweight was directly tied to a pattern of poor decision making.

We all have areas of our lives though, that feel impossible to change. Deep in our souls, we struggle with change. We perceive the pain of change as greater than the pain of staying the same. We essentially serve two masters. We claim to serve God but insist on satisfying our own personal desires.

We demand our rights at the expense of others. We attribute fault to others as an excuse for our anger. We avoid conflict to protect ourselves when dealing with conflict in a Christian was would bring honor to God. We insist on the American dream rather than facilitating the dreams of others.

What things in your life feel like they are impossible to change? What aspects of your life are counter-cultural? Do you stick out in a good way?

I believe that the root of my sin is an insistence on getting my way. Virtually every time I sin I can trace it back to self-centeredness, misguided views of self, or an attempt to serve two masters: myself and God.

Perhaps you too have areas or an area of your life that you think is impossible to change. Maybe you’ve tried many times in the past. Take a gamble today by deciding that you’ll no longer serve two masters. You’ll coordinate a strategy to master whatever has been mastering you. You’ll enlist the help of friends, family, your spouse, your kids, your grandchildren. You’ll honestly evaluate yourself and the need for change. You’ll setup and empower others to enforce accountability structures for you. You’ll master the impossible and put God in His proper place as your only master.

Favorite Place by Jenn Fromke

2010-09-05T07:23:00.000-04:00

Do you have a favorite place? When I was a kid, I loved my backyard. We moved a couple times, so I remember a time in my teens when I decided to drive by one of the old houses. I couldn’t believe how small it looked, and unfriendly. As a six year old, it had seemed huge, and warm. And when I strained my neck to see into the back yard, I noticed my favorite old swing set had been removed, probably rusted out years ago. Big, bushy trees blocked the view over the fence toward the train tracks. Those poor people now had to sit at the kitchen table without being able to count the train cars as they passed because of some lousy, overgrown trees, for cryin’ out loud!

Needless to say, I felt empty and a little bit sad. I went back to visit my old place and found it had changed. It did not meet me half-way, so to speak.

Zechariah 1:3 says this: “’Return to Me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you.’” I read this a few weeks ago, and the New Testament came crashing into this Old Testament prophecy. The prodigal son returned home to his father, and “while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son. . . .”

I cannot get enough of this picture in my mind. When we change our direction, heading back in the right direction, God meets us on our way. In the Old Testament, He told Israel to return to Him and promised He would return the favor.

So the empty feeling I had when I saw my old house, will never happen when I turn myself back toward my eternal home. Sometimes I’ve turned away from that home for a few minutes sometimes a few days . . . sometimes longer. But every time I turn my heart, my head, my whole self back toward my new home, my father throws open the door, comes running down the driveway and leads me to my favorite swing in the back yard (and there’s no rust on it, either).

Ignorance Is Bliss by Tami Gilman

2010-08-28T16:40:00.000-04:00

My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.

Hosea 4:6

I am still processing the information from a documentary I watched called “Food Inc.” It exposes disturbing facts regarding the food industry. There is corruption, deception and greed from corporations to various levels of government, which affect the food source for the United States and the world. I don’t believe the realization of chemically engineered or unhealthy food is a new concept, but choosing to ignore the knowledge of what we consume is irresponsible.

Let’s face it, ignorance is bliss. It really is because when you know the truth about something, you are responsible for what you do with that truth. And who wants to be responsible anyway?

Right now I have a choice to make. I now have knowledge of how food is processed, enhanced and altered to be appealing and affordable. What am I going to do with this information? Today, I am going hungry because I am so disturbed by this newfound knowledge. Tomorrow I intend to change my eating habits. I will also share this with my friends and it will be their choice as to what to do with it. I am not responsible for their choices and I will not force my opinions on them. What I am responsible for is sharing the knowledge I have and allowing them to respond or not.

Everyone is responsible for their own choices. Often, we make choices without considering the consequences of our actions. Honestly, I think most of us want to do what we want and expect grace in return. Then, we may get mad at God for not changing our circumstances. I have been guilty of this and I believe most people are to some extent. It’s easy to excuse ourselves by saying, “Well, I didn’t know that” or “Nobody told me.” That way, you shift the blame off yourself. Who is “nobody” anyway?

I suspect many Christians don’t really dig in to reading the Bible because they are afraid of the truth. If we really knew what the Bible says, we would be responsible for applying it to our lives and be accountable for our actions. I am guilty of this too. I have even taken it one step further and not asked God specific questions about the direction of my life. I figure I’m not being rebellious by intentionally disobeying God because I’m not asking. That in itself is being intentionally rebellious and I am manipulating my relationship with Him. This is something I have to continually be aware of and change.

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6) applies to every area of our lives. If we don’t learn proper nutrition, we become unhealthy. If we think frivolous spending is our right, we become overwhelmed with debt. If we think spiritual warfare doesn’t exist, we can be physically, emotionally and spiritually destroyed and will look to a pill to correct it.

I believe the same can be said for salvation. For some people, it is not accepted for lack of knowledge, for others it’s a lack of obedience. Our responsibility as Christians is to speak biblical truth and live our lives in a way that models that truth. The rest is up to the individual and the work of the Holy Spirit. Let’s not be blissfully ignorant, but joyfully informed.

Life as a Process by Serena Haneline

2010-08-22T11:59:00.000-04:00

Process: “A natural phenomenon marked by gradual changes that lead toward a particular result.” Such is my life. Seems no matter how much I would love for things to just “happen,” more times than not, that’s not the way things work for me. I have to go through the long, tedious journey called the “process.”

I don’t know about you, but I am not too fond of pain. And to me, a process may be a “natural phenomenon,” but those “gradual changes” usually bring with them some form of pain. It’s hard even to submit to a process. Seems by our very nature, we are creatures wanting instant gratification.

Take the process of weight loss. Now it doesn’t take too long to pack on the extra pounds. Eat a few Mickey D cheeseburgers and you’ve gained at least 10 pounds somewhere in your middle regions – or lower. But losing those extra pounds (and for me it’s quite a few extra pounds), is not a sudden experience, however much I wish it were.

I resisted joining in on this process for most of my 34 years. Don’t know if I was secretly wishing I could lose the weight magically just like I put it on, or what. I suppose I finally realized that if I ever wish to be a thin person, I must submit to the dreaded “process.” So I have thus submitted and joined Weight Watchers, mingling with other like-minded people in their weight loss quest.

And believe it or not, it’s not quite as painful as I thought it would be. Yes, it definitely is a process. The weight comes off very slowly, but I am realizing that it’s going to be worth the wait. As I’ve united with others going through the same process, I am discovering things I need to change, like basically what I put into my mouth and do with my body. It’s not about dieting, but about making smarter choices. It’s not even so much about exercising, but moving more. And so goes my weight loss “process.”

Another process I’ve been going through most of my life is that of a spiritual nature. Now this area was one in which I definitely desired instant change. Who wouldn’t want the miraculous change found so many times in the New Testament? Like the instantaneous salvation that Paul experienced as he fell off his horse or the blind man who was “blind but now I see.”

No, mine has been more like Peter’s crazy process from a bumbling idiot to a bold man of God. I don’t know how many times I went to a Christian retreat or conference craving an instant spiritual enlightening and coming away immensely disappointed. I didn’t realize until recently that that was what I was doing. And it was an insane expectation.

Because I am also realizing that usually God doesn’t work like that. It is a rare instance when someone is changed suddenly and drastically. Those are the precious few. The majority of us have to suffer through the long process. That is what I am doing and it is a slow and tedious one.

And even though I am still not too fond of pain, I understand that with pain and suffering comes greater faith, which only makes me stronger. And with that pain also comes a great experience that I can share with someone else who suffers the same way.

Life has been and will always be, for me, a process. I believe that is the way God intended it to be. So if you’ve been expecting sudden changes, check your expectations at the front door. God is probably doing a process in your life. And if I were you, I would just submit to that process. It’s easier than wishing for instantaneous change.

What Time Is It? by Kim Jackson

2010-08-15T19:39:00.000-04:00

My father worked at an oil refinery, but sometimes I wonder if he aspired to be a philosopher. As a child I remember asking him, “Daddy, what time is it?” to which he would reply, “What time do you want it to be?”

“Daaaaddy! What time is it, really?”

“Kimmie, it’s later than it’s ever been.”

“Daaaaddy!”

Those verbal volleys would continue until Dad would finally say, “4:15” which was sort of a letdown after all that word play.

But recently I was reminded of my Dad’s philosophy on time. Week before last, I went for a routine medical procedure. On Monday, much to my surprise, I received a call telling me that the test revealed something requiring a follow-up procedure. The earliest they could get me in was Thursday.

Isn’t it fascinating how time flies by in some situations, and crawls ever so slowly in others? Thursday finally arrived, just not as fast as some weeks. After checking in, I waited in the…..waiting room. Tick…tick…tick…. Next I waited in the dressing room. I looked at the clock on the wall: tick…tick…tick…

The procedure was repeated and I could see what had caused their concern. I agreed: I don’t think those two spots belong in my body.

The technician asked me to wait in the dressing room. The hands on the clock had moved several minutes since I’d last watched it, but the tune was the same: tick…tick…tick…

The door opened. “The doctor would like you to have an ultrasound.”

“Oh my….”

I followed her to the next room….and waited. Tick…tick….tick… The technician began her hunt. Why is it taking so long?

When she finished, she said, “Either I’ll come back and tell you what the doctor said, or he will come in and tell you himself. But you will know something before you leave.”

So I lay there…waiting. Tick…tick…tick…

My mind strayed. I may be really sick. What will happen? How bad is it? I tried to rein my thoughts back to reality. But my reality might be changing dramatically in the next few minutes.

The door opened. The technician and the doctor walked in. I was sure they had come to deliver bad news. If it’s going to take both of them to tell me what they discovered, I’m dead! I’m out of time!

The doctor asked a question that has to be one of the top five most ridiculous things to say to someone lying on her back next to an ultrasound machine.

“How are you today?”

“I think I’m fine…but I guess you would know better than I do.”

He paused, then smiled. “I agree…you are fine.”

Just like that. In those few seconds, with those simple words, everything was all right again. I have time left.

I looked at my watch as I walked out the door. The whole drama had taken less than an hour.

As I’ve been pondering that 52-minute scenario, I remembered the song: “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?” Contrary to what the lyrics would lead you to believe, the answer is “yes.” Someone does know. But it’s none of us. It’s our Father.

“Father, what time is it?”

“Child, it’s later than it’s ever been.”

“I understand that more today than I did yesterday, Father. My times are in Your hands (Psalm 31:15). Will you please teach me to realize the brevity of life so that I may grow in wisdom? (Psalm 90:12). And Father, thank You for the precious gift of life.”

Tick…tick….tick….

Growing Older by Jan Darnell

2010-08-08T07:57:00.000-04:00

“Grow old along with me. The best is yet to be.”

Robert Browning

Have you ever heard someone say, “I really enjoy growing older?” Probably not. Particularly disturbing are the wrinkles that furrow spontaneously overnight and body aches forecasting your retirement, or even worse, a forthcoming expiration date. And what about the escalating memory challenges, “Who am I again?” And the degenerative hearing, “What did you say?” These deficits speak merely to a few of the by-products of aging.

For instance, on several occasions, I realized that I was searching for my cell phone while talking on it. Another time, I attempted to turn a night light on while holding it my hand. After replacing the bulb, I moved the switch to ON, but the light remained OFF. God, in His mercy, sent an angel to suggest, “Try plugging it in.” Oh. I hope that only one angel was privy to that revelation.

Lately, I have begun to carry a note pad with me to keep from forgetting where I am supposed to be, when I am to be there and what I am expected to do. Of course, keeping up with the notes necessitates remembering where they are.

So, what does Robert Browning mean when he says, “Grow old along with me. The best is yet to be”?

I don’t think Mr. Browning was talking about the wrinkles, arthritis, dementia and proliferation of notes beginning to clutter my desk. Neither do I think he had the senior discounts and free coffee in mind. By the way, I think that free coffee is intended to keep seniors awake behind the wheel. Not a bad idea.

Browning, however, might be referring to the simpler lifestyle that is consequential to aging. Life does have a way of streamlining as age increases. Yes, I would say there are definite advantages to juggling a handful of tasks rather than a plethora of schedules requiring complicated charts and timeline grids that highlight pending deadlines. Micromanaging gradually fades.

More opportunities then present themselves to notice God’s creation, such as the birds and butterflies, beautiful sunsets, and gentle breezes that reposition your hair while relaxing on the back porch. You become more aware and poised to thank God for life’s blessings, the beauty of simplicity and absence of stress. Sound good? It is.

Gardening now appeals to me: the orchestrating of flowers, seasonal colors and spreading of perennials across my yard. Like a painter balancing her canvas portrait, I have begun to add hardscapes that bring character to our vegetable and flower beds. We have an old farmer’s plow and water pump sitting by the vegetable garden and towering bird houses guarding the flowers.

Our friendly North Carolina birds also enjoy a brown ceramic birdbath to refresh themselves in when they come to dine. We have selected several feeders for them to choose from depending on the type of seed they prefer. It is sort of a bird paradise, a haven of rest.

We also have a scientific book that identifies these fascinating visitors. Our entire family enjoys viewing and recognizing them by names that no one attempts to pronounce. Recently, a black bird flew in, marked by bright yellow and red stripes on its wings. It appeared tropical to me at first, but our book of ornithological information identified it as the “red wing black bird,” (common name) a local species. I had hoped it was a rare exotic bird that heard about our bird paradise and flew across the ocean to become acquainted. I guess not.

We have identified many other birds, such as doves, house finches, yellow finches, Carolina finches, cardinals, sparrows and brown thrashers. The thrashers dig into the ground like they haven’t eaten for weeks, throwing pieces of mulch to the left and right until food is discovered. What a hilarious sight!

Now, I know that gardening, bird watching and relaxing may sound old and outdated. If so, then you are probably too young to relate, which is fine. Enjoy your youthfulness. Yet, regardless of how young you are, you are growing older every day. That is fine too. That’s the point. God is good. Life is good, regardless of our age.

But I think when Browning says, “Grow old with me. The best is yet to be,” he is referring to the things in life we ignore when we are young. They are discovered when growing older.

Satisfaction Found and Spreading by Emily Carter

2010-07-31T20:12:00.000-04:00

From where do you draw your satisfaction? There are countless books and many self-proclaimed gurus who would love to help each of us achieve “true” satisfaction in life. Yet, there is only One who delivers. His name is Jesus.

It was hot that day, as it seemed to be everyday; still she waited until noon to go to the well and draw the water. Drawing water was one of her least favorite tasks to do. All of the women scowled at her. They would turn their noses up at her as if they were perfection themselves. She didn’t know it, but today would be different. Today she would be offered a chance to drink living water and be offered true and lasting satisfaction.

Read John 4:6-42 and see what Jesus offered. He wasn’t offering some kind of magic water that sparkled and bubbled. He was offering Himself, the true living water. He offers Himself to you today.

What is your struggle? What sin is plaguing you? What do you fill your life with in order to achieve a certain level of fulfillment? What has left you feeling even emptier than before?

The Rolling Stones got it right when they sang, “I can’t get no satisfaction.” On our own, we will just experience failure after failure, but when we drink from the Living Water, we will have our thirst quenched. Furthermore, we will be a vessel that God uses to impact more people. John 4:39-41 says, “Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me everything I ever did.’” They urged Him to stay and “because of His words, many more became believers.”

If you are a believer, what is your testimony? Take time today and write it out. Your testimony is most simply, a declaration of what Christ has done in your life. You may want to share a little of your life before Christ, then how He came into your heart and life. Finally, you can share what He has been doing in and through you since He has been your Lord. The important part is to share what He has done, and not just what you have done. Christ is the one with the power to save, change, and satisfy. How does He want to use your story? Pray and He will show you what to do.

Are You Planting Perennials? by Ann Wayne

2010-07-24T18:13:00.000-04:00

I really enjoy my flowers on the back deck and my ferns on the front porch. They bring life to my outdoor surroundings from spring until fall. The flowers and leaf variations add color to my home. Since I love to decorate; mixing and matching flowers and leaf variations allow me to beautify the outside like the inside of my home. My creative juices flow when I place the flowers in the soil and coordinate the colors.

One morning, as I was watering the plants, it occurred to me that the perennials and the annuals are quite different. The perennials are permanent; they come back each year showing their vibrant colors and beautiful foliage. The annuals require planting each year, only to die out when cool weather arrives.

The perennials remind me of God’s Word. After they are planted, their root system develops a strong foundation for the plants to come back each spring. Isn’t this like God’s Word? If we spend time reading the Bible and memorizing scripture, it is embedded in our minds and hearts so that we can recall the passages that are needed in times of joy and in trials. Not only for ourselves, but to encourage others who are suffering and experiencing adversity.

The prophet, Jeremiah, had reached a point of desperation after the fall of Jerusalem. He spoke of the anguish that the people had gone through. Then he recalls God’s faithfulness. In Lamentations 3: 22-24, Jeremiah states, “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.” “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!”

This passage of scripture in Lamentations inspired Thomas Chisolm, in 1923, to birth one of the greatest modern hymns regarding the faithfulness of God. In stanza one, he writes of God's unchanging character and unfailing compassions. In stanza two, he writes of God's faithfulness in maintaining the order of His universe. In stanza three, he writes of God's faithfulness in forgiving our sins, providing strength for today and hope for tomorrow. Each stanza leads to the great culminating chorus that declares the victorious words of Jeremiah, "Great is Thy faithfulness."

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God, my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above;
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Pardon for sin And a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today And bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine, With ten thousand beside.

Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me.

We can see this in Isaiah 55:11 too. We are reminded of the power of the Word. The Lord says, “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” (NKJV) When we recall the Word of God and share it with someone, it does not return void. It stands firm and cuts through anything we face. His Word restores life to His people just as the rain brings life to the flowers and plants.

As you enjoy your flowers this year, take a few moments to think about the perennials and God’s Word. They both bring beauty and life to us and return blessings to us. May the perennials be a reminder of God’s goodness and how steadfast His Word is. Are we spending time in the scriptures so that we can recall God’s faithfulness? ARE WE PLANTING PERENNIALS IN LIVES? If so, they will come back to bless us over and over again!

Thanks for the Happiness by Brad Bridges

2010-07-17T16:03:00.000-04:00

“Thanks for the happiness.” As I walked by, the sign caught my attention. What made this person happy? Who were they thanking? Seriously, it’s a little odd to hang a sign outside your house anyway.

Then I realized they were referring to the World Cup. This month the World Cup ended. It’s pretty much the biggest sporting event in the world outside of America. Millions of people stop virtually everything they’re doing to watch their team, if not all the games. This year, an unprecedented number of us Americans watched the games.

These people (with the sign) were thanking the players for making them happy. They bought fabric, painted a sign, hung it outside, and left it for days. Why? To say thank you for this new feeling of happiness they had.

Ever done that? Ever found yourself pumped up because of a team? I have. Sometimes I feel proud (as if I had anything to do with the win). It feels awesome to win. It means someone else lost. Ahhhh. Wait! That’s no good. Who wants to celebrate the demise of others.

Many times, when we win, we celebrate because it makes us feel like winners. We get so captivated by the event, by the feeling, by the joy, by the change in status. I wonder how much of it is about the sport itself and how much is about the heart. Let me explain.

When our temperament changes drastically due to a game, we legitimately are excited. Thrilled. Elated. But I find an emptiness after winning when the joy has worn off. I find an emptiness every time I lose. Why is that?

Personally, I put too much of my emotions, hopes, and thoughts into sports events. As a Tar Heel fan, I occasionally want to vomit after the Heels lose to Duke. I feel embarrassed, ashamed, and want to hide. In a sense, if I’m not careful, I can find my identity in sports.

Sports bring joy to my life. Sports also bring pain and emptiness. After the Heels, the Panthers, or some other team loses or wins, I need to be careful. When they win, I think I’m something special because I was pulling for them. When they lose, I feel like I personally just lost.

I’ll always watch sports and play every sport possible. What I want to avoid though, is the feeling of finding my identity in the sports I play. I don’t want to act out my own emotional issues on the field or through others.

Sports, like vacations, movies, and so many other things, allow us to escape the monotony of day-to-day life and work. Rest and relaxation helps us. Self medicating or placing hope in temporary things does not.

The next time you watch a sporting event or a movie, buy a new outfit, or get excited about a new car, stop and ask yourself a few questions:

What is it that I find so fulfilling about this event, thing, or experience?

Am I getting my satisfaction from inappropriate things?

When was the last time my time with God gave me joy like this? Pain like this?

May I (and you) define our experiences in ways that direct appropriate gratitude to the source of them. Let’s aim to enjoy various activities in life, but to not source our identity in them. It’s possible that the person whose sign said, “Thanks for the happiness,” was simply saying thank you to the players for the great games. However, they may have been living vicariously through their team, receiving their satisfaction and joy from life’s events rather than from their Creator. We’ll never know.

Let’s be people whose lives reflect a contentment in what God has given us and taken away. True happiness only comes in contentment with God and His actions in, through, and around us. Let’s aim to make our lives virtual signs pointing to God that say, “Thanks for the happiness.”

Brad, Lindsey and Shiloh Bridges recently moved to Uruguay to serve as Cross Cultural Servants in preparation for long term service in Spain with CAM International.

The Philippians Flip by Tammy Blackburn

2010-07-12T08:38:00.001-04:00

I have always been fascinated with different forms of art and how it has evolved through the generations. I especially enjoy paintings because you get a glimpse into the viewpoint and imagination of the artist. Nearly every painting tells a tale of what the artist valued or disliked. Paintings capture emotion and can tell the tale of what lies deep within a person. Different colors and different types of strokes can speak volumes about the artist’s frame of mind. Recently, I was intrigued by one of Vincent Van Gogh’s paintings. It was actually the last one he ever painted. It is titled “The Wheat Field.”

Van Gogh interpreted this painting for us. He told a family member the crows in the painting represent a sign of foreboding and death. The three paths leading into the field show the indecision we face in life. Even if we could decide which path to take, they are cut-off and end abruptly. The darkness of the skies indicates a storm coming in to destroy the field and any life that remains. Van Gogh painted this picture in July of 1890, and in the same month went out into the field and shot himself in the chest. He died three days later.

Philippians 4:8 tells us, “Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” (NIV)

I have to wonder, if Van Gogh had applied this principle to his life that July, would he have interpreted the painting the same way? Would he have gone out into the field and ended his life in such fashion? Perhaps the crows could have been a reminder of the glorious handiwork of God. They are magnificent creatures that have the ability to soar on the wind. Their black feathers shimmer with a rainbow of colors as the light dances around them. Instead of indecision, the paths could be viewed as opportunities to experience something new. The clouds that seem dark and threatening in the painting need not be a threat. Rather, they could be seen as God’s provision of rain for the golden crop growing in the field. They are not meant to destroy life, but to bring life.

We face many situations in life every day and we must choose whether to see them as something negative or something positive. I am dismayed at how many times I hear people attribute a circumstance to Satan. “Satan must be attacking; I had a flat tire this morning.” “Satan is fighting to keep me down; so many bad things have happened lately.” Why give Satan so much credit?! He is not omnipotent. He is not omnipresent! Certainly he attacks, but what better way to resist him than to find the good in what is happening?

I like to call it the Philippians flip. Whenever I am faced with a situation, I can choose to find all that is bad about it, or I can look on the flip side. What is truth? God is in control. He has good things planned for me. What is noble and right? Because the Holy Spirit dwells within me, I have the ability to respond with a smile, with kindness, with humility, with patience, and so on. I can focus on all that is wrong or I can focus on what God is doing in the moment. Do I look at a crow and see a predator and scavenger, or do I see the intricate design of his feathers? Can I be amazed and stand in awe that my Creator God made such an animal to keep His world clean? Every circumstance is an opportunity to see God at work. Every situation is an opportunity for growth. But, it is our responsibility to dwell on things that are true and good. Look for the flip-side!

Searching for Silver by Kendra Cervantes

2010-07-03T08:58:00.000-04:00

Proverbs 2:1-5

My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.

A bright Saturday morning. The car was packed with water and snacks as we drove up the dusty Mexican road to the city of Taxco, south of Mexico City. I sat in the back seat of the van, my pride hurt from being told by a missionary, whom I didn’t know that well, that my friend and I were not allowed to go to Acapulco on our two-day break from teaching English. It was too dangerous for us to go by ourselves and he didn’t want to take us. As the car putted along, I remember thinking, Lord, I just wanted the experience. I just wanted to say,

“Yea, I went to Acapulco during Spring Break.”

As we approached the city, my face was probably green from carsickness, my feet swollen from being slightly dehydrated, and my eyes sad from not getting what I wanted. I sought after that trip to Acapulco and tried everything I could to go, but that experience wasn’t what the Lord had for me. As the mountains began to break, a city set into the side of the mountains began to appear. Buildings whiter than snow, I felt like I was in heaven, literally. The sun beat down on the cobble stone roads, and the rooftops twinkled like diamonds. For the next several hours, the goal (according to the missionary) was to spend the day understanding each other more and relaxing. Well, since I was here, I might as well make the best out of it for myself and make up for lost souvenir-buying time I would have had in Acapulco.

I was going to find something that I wanted to buy, so I set my heart on a silver pendant of the Aztec calendar. A friend of mine had one and I liked the way it looked, so I decided I wanted something to remind me of the culture and people AND, more importantly, to show off to my friends. I spent the entire day searching for this necklace. The city had to have one somewhere, after all, it is called “The Silver City.” Store after store the venders would shake their heads and say, “Sorry, we don’t have those.” The day was coming to an end and we needed to leave before the sun set. I said, “One more store! Please!” as I went running up some stairs to another jewelry shop.

Finally! I found it! In a store set back on a side street, the necklace I had been looking for all day! Look everyone! But at what cost? I spent the day worried about finding a piece of jewelry to show off, rather than spending that time getting to know my friends and the missionary more. I wanted the chance to say, “I bought this in Mexico.” I was looking for an experience—a future experience at that—and not to understand anyone more. I lacked wisdom in knowing how to prioritize my desire for an “experience” over understanding, over people, over whatever else the Lord had for me to learn.

One thing that the Lord has taught me through all of my journeys is to seek Him and not the experience. To seek to know Him more. To seek to understand Him more.

“…if you seek it [it being UNDERSTANDING, WISDOM, KNOWING GOD] like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.” (Proverbs 2:4-5)

Holy Cow! Like a ton of bricks on my face!

I started thinking, “Have I sought after the Lord, His words, and His commandments the way I sought after this piece of jewelry?” Do I have a heart inclined to seek wisdom, or am I aimlessly looking for the chance to brag about my traveling experiences or the things I have?

“If you seek it like silver…”

Seeking the Lord like silver isn’t easy for anyone. It is much easier to ignore the task of seeking for the Lord than to have a reckoning with yourself, and with your motives. To put what you want out of your experiences over what the Lord wanted to teach you through them.

Now I wear this necklace as a reminder to myself of my time in Taxco, but more importantly of my priorities. My challenge to you is the same as to myself: seek the Lord and not just the experience.

Our Guest Blogger this week is Kendra Cervantes, from Aurora, IL. She graduated from the Moody Bible Institute with a Bachelors of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL) and Bible. Before Moody, she was exposed to overseas missions trips and knew that the Lord was calling her to serve Him in another country. Through a series of divine appointments, Kendra joined CAM International in Dallas, TX. After support raising for 1 1/2yrs, she departed for Montevideo, Uruguay on June 16th, 2010 where she will serve on a church planting team. Kendra will spend the next two years being trained and mentored under veteran missionaries. Her heart's desire is to serve long term in Spain, mobilizing Latinos in the less reached areas of the world.

What Are You Saying? by Tami Gilman

2010-06-27T16:46:00.006-04:00

When my husband and I were building our home, we needed a subcontractor for drywall and paint. The gentleman who was hired for the job had a Jesus fish on his business card and spoke of his strong faith. He seemed to be an honest upstanding man just trying to make a living. I will call him Steve. Every time we saw him, Steve was quoting scriptures. The crew that completed the drywall did a good job so we felt comfortable letting him paint the interior of the home as well. Our exterior doors were wood grain fiberglass which were to be stained and I heard my husband explain to Steve that we would stain them ourselves.

My husband, Kevin was in Kenya when I stopped by the house to check the progress. Much to my surprise, the doors were painted in a high gloss oil based white paint. I immediately called Steve to ask why and he told me the doors were to be painted white. The interior doors were to be white, not all doors. Clearly there was a miscommunication that I could not verify being that Kevin was unreachable. I explained that the wood grain doors were to be stained and asked him to have his crew strip the paint from the doors before it cured. It didn’t occur to me he wouldn’t.

After a few days, I returned to check on the house the doors were as white and shiny as before. I called Steve again to ask about the doors and he claimed they tried to strip them, but there was no evidence to show even a subtle attempt.

I waited until Kevin returned from Kenya because clearly Steve was not responding to my requests and now he was lying. Kevin spoke with him about the conversation they had about how we would be staining the wood grain doors. He asked Steve to have his crew strip the paint. Again he didn’t.

Aggravated, I started to remove the paint myself. Steve showed up at the house one night while I was doing my best to get the paint off the door and his solution to the problem was to start quoting scripture. I recall him saying, “Well the Bible says that all things work to the good of the Lord”. At that point I think I could have easily killed him with my bare hands. Not literally, but his Jesus fish and scriptures were not offering a solution to the situation at hand. The paint had cured and it took me 2 weeks to remove it completely.

This is a cautionary tale to illustrate that there is a time and a place to quote scripture. Using his reference as an excuse to not right a wrong is not appropriate. Luckily for me I was already a Christian because I can easily see how I would not be interested in serving the same God he did. I believe we can often do more harm than good when we say one thing but do another. It speaks of our character. We are all certainly responsible for our own relationship with God and shouldn’t allow others to affect it, however for a non believer what is their motivation to have a relationship with God? If the Christians are conducting business in a way that is questionable and constantly professing their “faith”, what is the incentive to learn more about Jesus Christ? They can lie, deceive and behave how they want without the bother of developing a relationship with God.

In the workplace, school and the community, Christians are watched by non believers and even other Christians. What are they seeing and hearing from us?

Can a Simple Misunderstanding Keep You From Heaven? by Gail Purath

2010-06-21T08:24:00.001-04:00

“My mother is free from sin!” the woman said angrily. She wanted these strangers to leave the hospital room so her eighty-two year old mother could die in peace.

Two of my friends and I were the unwanted strangers. We were in the hospital that day praying for people, and this woman had invited us to pray for her sick mother.

After praying, we visited with the old woman for a while and I had an opportunity to share the Gospel. When I told her that all of us are sinners in need of Christ’s salvation, she acknowledged her sin and said she’d like to pray to receive Christ.

That’s when her daughter interrupted me, insisting her mother was free from sin.

I was surprised by the daughter’s outburst, and I wondered what her mother would do. Would she change her mind? Would she ask us to leave her room? The next few seconds ticked by painfully slow.

In a culture that so often blames parents for more than their share of problems, this daughter’s view of her mother was unique. But the Bible tells us that no one is free from sin “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

Maybe what the daughter was trying to say was that her mother had lived an unselfish life, serving and helping others. Perhaps she thought her mother’s goodness had cancelled her sins. But the Bible says that “salvation is not a reward for the good we have done, so none of us can take any credit for it” (Eph. 2:9, NLT). A lifetime of unselfish acts can’t cancel a single sin.

Perhaps this old woman’s daughter thought her mother was sinless because she had always been “religious.” The Pharisees were some of the most religious people who ever lived. They carefully tithed, fasted, gave to the poor, prayed, and participated in every religious activity. Yet, Christ said “unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20).

Religion doesn’t cancel any of our sins, and neither does knowledge. This old woman might have heard the Gospel many times. She may have known that whoever believes in Christ and His redemption has eternal life. But that wouldn’t have saved her. The Bible says that salvation comes through believing with our hearts (Romans 10:10), not simply knowing about Christ.

As I stood at this woman’s bedside, I remembered my own past misunderstandings about the Gospel. I had grown up hearing the Gospel and trying to be “good.” I even made a public profession of my faith in Christ and was baptized. But I wasn’t a genuine believer.

We use so many religious phrases to describe becoming a Christian—“committing our lives to Christ,” “asking Christ into our hearts,” “receiving Christ.” But we still may not understand that becoming a Christian means trusting Christ not only with our salvation, but trusting Him with our life. Becoming a Christian is life-changing and mind-altering, and it’s the beginning of an eternal journey.

When I finally committed my life to Christ, everything began to change. I had a hunger for God’s Word and the Holy Spirit began to convict me of sin.

Sometimes my relationship with Christ has led me to do things that make me uncomfortable. For example, I was nervous and fearful about sharing Christ with this complete stranger in her hospital room. When the woman’s daughter became annoyed, I was even more uncomfortable. I would have liked to be anywhere else at that moment.

But I knew what we were doing was important. This woman was very likely dying and she would go to hell if she didn’t trust Christ. I’m sure God (who wants all men to be saved*) had designed this final divine appointment for her.

What would she decide? My companions and I prayed silently as the seconds ticked by. Then the daughter spoke again. “I’m not going to pray that prayer!” she said in one last attempt to dissuade her mother.

I’m sure the old woman was feeling weak and vulnerable, and her daughter’s objections were strong.

But belief had permeated her heart, and it gave her the strength to overcome these hindrances. She knew she was making the most important decision of her 82 years of life. When we left her bedside, there were choirs of angels rejoicing in heaven over the soul who was, for the first time, “sinless” through the work of Christ.

* 1Tim. 2:4

New Eyes by Joann Lampe

2010-06-13T17:15:00.000-04:00

Let me look at you with new eyes

With eyes not jaded by the world

But with eyes wide open to see beyond

The scars inflicted upon you

Cause me to look only upon

The outside wall

Who knows what lies beyond that wall?

What’s behind the barriers put in place

By man & you

Let me look at you with new eyes

LORD, wipe the film from my eyes

Allow me clarity

To see the real you – the real me

What royalty awaits behind those doors

The doors locked in place by

Disappointment in another’s actions

Critical thoughts and words

Refusal to look beyond the scars

Put in place by the world of man

Let me look at you with new eyes

Encourage instead of discourage

Build up not tear down

Look beyond the obvious to the hidden

Hidden talents

Hidden compassion

Hidden love

Hidden royalty

LORD, let me see with new eyes

Help me to bridge the gap

To connect

Hope to the hopeless

Love to the unloved

The lost to the found

Pauper to king

LORD, let me see with new eyes

“Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me.” “You can’t judge a book by its cover.” These are two phrases I heard over and over again as I grew up. My dad used to quote them all the time so that I wouldn’t feel so bad when someone called me a name or made fun of me in some way. It happened often, so I heard them a lot. The names may not have hurt me physically, but they sure hurt. And because I was judged by my “cover,” no one saw the real me, and neither did I, because I chose to believe that I was the “cover.”

Have you done that – been judged by outside appearances? I believe we all have at one time or another. I have and still do and each time I do, I ask God to forgive me, because I know that I am limiting the potential. The potential for understanding, the potential for compassion, the potential for a possible friendship, and the potential for providing hope and encouragement. We not only limit ourselves when we don’t look beyond, we limit the other person, because our thoughts and/or words cause a “ding” in the book; they can change chapter and verse. The next time you start to judge “a book by its cover,” or a person for some action they’ve taken, ask God to give you “new eyes.”

Romans 13:8-10 says: “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not covet,’ and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”

“Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law.” When we look at each other with clear eyes and go beyond the cover we can “love our neighbor as ourselves.”

JoAnn Lampe
June 2, 2010

Passion Calls...Are You Listening by Serena Haneline

2010-06-06T16:35:00.000-04:00

For 33 years I’ve been searching for my passion in life. Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines the word “passion” as “an object of desire or deep interest.” I’ve read many books over the years that said if you could only find your passion in life, you’d find your purpose. And for 33 years – okay, maybe only about 20 years – I’ve never really thought I had any passions.

When I was a teenager, I used to love to write poetry and short stories. And of course, as a teenager, I had a lot more time to sit around and write. Then I went to school and studied journalism, mostly because writing was all I knew I liked and was good at.

For the last few years, I’ve felt a block when it comes to writing. Maybe it was because I had not yet identified my passions. However, in the last few months, it seems one passion has come to my attention, and quite unexpectedly.

In the midst of a conversation with a friend, that passion arose. I got excited and animated when I spoke about the subject. I believe it’s the same passion that rose up in Jesus when the Pharisees and Sadducees confronted him in their self-righteousness. A passion that sees the chains “religion” puts on people…chains of endless rules that choke out life and freedom.

A song I’ve heard on the radio called “More Like Falling in Love” by Jason Gray captures my thoughts on religion. He says that following Jesus is more than something to believe in; more than something to pledge our allegiance to. Instead it’s like falling in love. And religion is like a stone tied to our feet, not setting us free.

I grew up in the heart of “religion,” thinking that every time I sinned, I had to go get “saved” again. I grew up thinking of God as an angry taskmaster, expecting me to be perfect. I grew up believing that God always looked on me in disappointment and disgust. I carried those thoughts into adulthood. It’s taken me years to begin to see the Truth.

Then a few years ago, I was confronted with the ugly face of religion in a relationship with a man who believed that the law was the heart of Christianity. I found out in a short amount of time that the law brings only hate and a feeling of despair rather than what Jesus taught, which is love and hope.

It’s really all about having a relationship with a living, breathing God who wants to speak to us every day; who wants to work in our lives every day. He wants to do the miraculous and the supernatural in our lives. In my life. Every day.

I believe that God has given me an assignment and frankly it scares me. It’s to use my talent of writing and my passion against standard religion. It’s to write a book. He gave me the title, which is not something that I usually get first. Titles have never been my strong suit. The title is: “Steeped in Religion or Soaked in the Supernatural.”

I see this book as a book of stories and Truth—as God sees it, not as we perceive it. It will contain stories of people coming out of the deadness of religion and into the life of the supernatural, and stories of people still stuck in the pit of religion. I see it as a call to help those who have the spirit of the Pharisees—those who thought they had it all together and winded up missing the point of it all.

The message being that it’s never been about what WE can do to get to God. It’s always been what HE has done to get us to Him. It’s never been about hate, but about love. And it’s never been about religion, but the supernatural. God’s Spirit working through His creation to spread His message through all the earth.

I heard someone say this on TV the other night: “You can make all the plans you want. But God has made His and He doesn’t feel the need to check in with you.” God has made his plans for me…and for you. Even before we were born, He put passions inside of each us. Now if only we will let the Holy Spirit breathe on us, he will ignite that passion. All for His glory, not ours. And all for His purpose and not to satisfy a list of rules.

So yes, it seems I have found a passion and therefore, a purpose. It’s time to write.

Working Backwards by Brad Bridges

2010-05-30T09:01:00.001-04:00

“Do you regularly jump out of planes?” he said. “Um. Uh. Of course not,” I said to the life insurance agent. I thought to myself, “Did he really just ask if I jump out of planes?” It was a good question, I guess.

Honestly, life insurance freaks me out. Death is scary. It’s out of my control. It’s painful. It’s sad. How much should I get? Do I provide better now for my wife and daughter or sacrifice more now “just in case” I die? Am I a good husband?

Now, don’t lie. You’ve felt those things before. You’ve questioned your decisions. You’ve thought about the creepiness factor in death. Don’t lie.

So why, fundamentally, do any of us care about life insurance? Why does it matter what we leave behind? Fundamentally, I think it’s tied up in our identity. It’s tied up in our desire to have made a difference; to have left a legacy. We want our lives to matter.

Paul dealt with similar issues. I think he wanted to leave a legacy too. He wanted his life to matter. He encouraged the Ephesian elders at Miletus through his presence, his words, and his actions (Acts 20:18-24). Do you want to do that? I do.

Think about it. To live a life that people care about inspires me. But why? Do I want to be famous? No, not really. Do I want to just get attention? Of course not. That isn’t my main goal. So what is it?

Honestly, I think there’s a positive and a negative side. Positively, a husband/father should provide and contribute (i.e. love his family). Negatively, my fear, self-doubt, and worry usually stem from a cognitive knowledge of the Gospel that resists its application. Let me explain.

I have no reason to worry about death. I know that. I’ve known for years that I would go to heaven. But I worry. I worry because I want control. I worry because I often value more what I have to offer than what Christ offers on the cross.

On the cross he offers life to those who lose it. He secured my future. Okay, I know that too. But practically I fight the truth. I resist the safety for a façade.

Life insurance is a good thing. Trusting in it for my security isn’t. Wise people prepare for the future. Do you plan for the future out of fear or out of obedience? Obedient plans emphasize responsibility rather than control or fear. When trust is accurately placed in Christ, issues such as fear, control, and self-doubt decrease (I didn’t say they go away entirely).

When you find yourself worrying, anxious, nervous, angry, or frustrated, ask yourself a question. Is my thinking (right now) being governed by Christ’s completed work? Or are my thoughts concentrated on my own failure, an offense caused by another person, or my fear of not being in control? Hard times will come. However, endurance is built up on Christ’s shoulders, not our own.

Blessing in Disguise by Tami Gilman

2010-05-23T07:26:00.000-04:00

With recent layoffs, business closings and terminations, there are many people who have been left unemployed. While this is devastating for most people, I am reminded of a young man my husband worked with years ago. As a Distribution Manager, Kevin had two employees who worked for him in the warehouse. One of the employees, Brian, is a gifted artist and would bring his work in to show the people at the office. The owner of the company, Mr. Miller, would encourage him to pursue a job that would showcase his talent. Brian, however, was comfortable with his role in the warehouse because it was familiar.

To Brian’s surprise, one day Mr. Miller sat him down and explained that he was wasting the talent he had by continuing to work in the warehouse. Brian had much to offer the world in art and graphic design, but as long as he worked in a job where he was too comfortable, he would never pursue other opportunities to showcase his creativity.

Then Mr. Miller fired him.

Of course this was devastating, as Brian had a wife and child at home, but somewhere inside of him, I suppose, he knew what Mr. Miller told him was true. He was comfortable. He was secure. He was complacent. He was most likely fearful of the unknown.

I don’t think Brian’s reaction is uncommon. The Israelites struggled after the Lord delivered them from slavery in Egypt because they were fearful of what was to come. Caleb and Joshua scouted the Promised Land and they gave Moses this account: "We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. 28 But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large.” (Numbers 13:27-28)

The similarities in these two situations were that the driving factor of complacency was fear. Brian was likely fearful of taking the first step out of his comfort zone, and not being able to support his family or having his art rejected. The Israelites were fearful that they would be killed by the giants in the land.

That night all the people of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, "If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert! Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn't it be better for us to go back to Egypt?" (Numbers 14:1-3)

Caleb and Joshua tried to assure the Israelites the Lord would protect them.

"The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them." Numbers 14:7-9

The difference in these stories is the reaction to the circumstances.

So tell them, 'As surely as I live, declares the LORD, I will do to you the very things I heard you say: In this desert your bodies will fall—every one of you twenty years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me. Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. As for your children that you said would be taken as plunder, I will bring them in to enjoy the land you have rejected. But you—your bodies will fall in this desert. (Numbers 14:26-32)

The Israelites grumbled, complained and wished they were once again slaves in Egypt. They missed the opportunity God presented them because of their fear. They wandered in the desert for forty years and died. They never received the fullness of God’s blessing for them because they were overcome with fear and did not trust that He would protect them from the giants in Canaan.

Brian, however, faced his fear and now runs his own successful graphic design company. His termination was a blessing in disguise. He could have easily continued wandering in the desert, remaining in a job for the sake of having a job. Instead, he embraced the opportunity to pursue a dream by using his God given talent on a daily basis.

Clothed by God by Jenn Fromke

2010-05-16T07:26:00.001-04:00

I like clothes. It’s good to be covered, if you know what I mean. But some days I can’t decide what to wear . . . Adam and Eve had a day like that once.

They realized they didn’t have a thing to wear, so they looked in their closet, which happened to be the most beautiful garden ever created, and “they sewed leaves together and made coverings for themselves.” (Genesis 3:7) I don’t know what kind of fig leaves they were, but I’m pretty sure that even leaves from the Garden of Eden would not wash well.

A few verses later, we read, “And the Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.” (Genesis 3:21) Man sinned, covering himself with shame. God looked at him and covered him with clothes made from an animal—requiring a sacrifice.

Why did God do it that way? He easily could have invented polyester right on the spot, I’m sure. He also could have given them a spinning wheel and pointed them toward a field of cotton. But God never wastes a situation. I think He required a sacrifice to cover their shame in order to foreshadow what Christ would ultimately do to cover our shame for all time.

So people lived for hundreds of years, all wearing the smear of sin on them. Isaiah 64:6 says, “For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment . . .” No matter how hard we may try on our own to be good, act good, or at least look good, everything we try ends up looking like cruddy clothes to God.

So what did He do? Destroy all of his creation? No. He made a different way. Isaiah 61:10 says, “. . . He [God] has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness . . .” What an incredible picture of love! He covers our filthy rags with a robe of righteousness. Think of a judge’s robe – it covers everything underneath. The only thing visible to God, when we are covered by His garments, is righteousness—and that righteousness is from God. (Romans 3:21)

This is how Jesus’ blood covers our sin. He covers us with His righteousness. It’s a transfer of His righteousness to us. It’s not that we become righteous all by ourselves when we get forgiven. We are transformed by the blood of Jesus when we accept His sacrifice as payment for our sins.

If you still don’t believe God is concerned about how we are clothed, Revelation 7:9-14 will convince you. This passage speaks about the multitude in heaven at the end of time, all standing before the throne of God, wearing white robes . . . and then we get a laundry tip from God. Those people “washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:14)

Notice it says, “the Lamb.” (emphasis mine). Any old lamb’s blood will ruin your clothes. Anything you try on your own will give you filthy rags to wear. If you want a white robe of righteousness, it can only come from God and be made white by the sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb of God.

I thought surely this would be the end of God’s wash and wear program. But He actually takes us a step further. Galatians 3:26-28 says, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

What do our new clothes look like? Christ! We clothe ourselves with Christ. What happens when everybody wears the same thing? I thought immediately of the military. Their uniforms show for which side they stand; for which side they fight. If we as believers all clothe ourselves in Christ, then the world around us will see that we stand for the same God and fight against the same enemy.

Next time I find myself staring into my closet wondering what to wear, I will consider the clothes offered me by my heavenly Father, and I’ll listen to the words He spoke to me about this singular problem:

Matthew 6:25-30 (exerpts)

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food and the body more important than clothes? . . . Why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?”

The Window: A Glimpse of God's Calling by Ann Wayne

2010-05-09T08:36:00.001-04:00

A year and a half ago, I made plans to remodel my master bathroom. The builder came by, measured the room and discussed the details. I excitedly pointed out to him that I wanted a small window cut into the exterior wall. You see, no window existed in this bathroom.

When the builder left that day, I stood there and imagined looking out the window and seeing God’s creation in the back yard. The tall oak trees towering in the woods, the deer that pass by occasionally; and now I would be able to hear the sounds of the finches chirping as they hang on the swinging bag of thistle seed, filling their bellies to the brim.

When the remodel was complete, this small window became my favorite addition to the room. It reminded me of God’s calling on those of us who write and speak. For the past several years, God has given me opportunities to attend conferences and fine tune these skills, a little at a time. He hasn’t opened any big doors yet, but I know that He will in the right time. For most of us, these skills are developed over the years through life experiences and continuing education. There are some who are fortunate enough to use their journalism degree to lay their foundation of writing on. But I think it is so cool when someone says, “I have known for years that God has called me to write; I am just getting the opportunity to work on the skills.”

In Psalm 102:18 ( NKJ), the psalmist writes “This will be written for the generation to come, that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord.” This is so exciting to me, that not only are we using our gifts to glorify God, but our children and grandchildren will read what we have written and praise the Lord. I think that this is one of the main reasons that God is calling me to write, so that I can share the hope and victories of trials with the generations to come. Notice that the psalmist didn’t say that it should be written, but that it will be written. Now brothers and sisters, the word of God is not to be compromised. We are supposed to act upon what we read in His word. So get busy and write! Or maybe you are supposed to be speaking too!

I struggle at times trying to figure out what I am supposed to write, finding the time to write and how best to hone the skills that are waiting to jump out on the paper. I would like to share a few strategies with you that are helping me to go forward.

Journal, journal, journal- This is one of the best ways to capture your thoughts each day. It’s amazing what the Lord can reveal to you in your quiet time. You may write only a few short notes, but you will realize that what you write today may be just the script you need later for an article or even a book. I even have a voice recorder that I carry with me in my purse. Sometimes, driving down the road, I will have a brainstorm with ideas for writing or speaking. Or maybe even a life experience is so unique that it will be recorded. My handy voice recorder captures the thoughts I wouldn’t be able to stop and write down. The Lord also gives me glimpses of opportunity as I communicate with Him through prayer.

Attend conferences or take classes- We wouldn’t expect a child to learn his alphabet or how to count by figuring it out on his own. The same principle applies to writing and speaking. We must seek out different venues for training so that we can develop our skills. There are many Christian conferences and retreats all over the country. Even the community colleges offer writing classes. There are also writing mentorship programs that are very helpful and some even offer certificates and diplomas. Yes, they cost something, but doesn’t anything in life worthwhile? The old saying goes something like this. “You get out of it what you put into it.”

Join a Writer’s Group- A group of like-minded writers can be a great support group to encourage, critique and share ideas for getting published. This is an excellent way to network and get leads to writing projects too. Check your local library or church to see if they host a writer’s group.

Subscriptions and Publications- The Christian and secular media is saturated with all types of publications to enhance writing and speaking. Looks for annual publications, monthly or quarterly magazines, online publications and free material that is handed out at some of the conferences. These are great avenues to make connections with the niche you are looking for to help develop your skills.
I hope that these bits of information are helpful, especially to the amateur writer and speaker. I enjoy looking out my small window each morning as I prepare for the day. Through nature, God reminds me that He is in control of every moment of my life.

Look for windows of opportunity in your life; don’t try to walk through doors yet. Wait for God to open the door; it will be in His perfect timing.

Twilight by Jan Darnell

2010-05-02T07:00:00.000-04:00

Edward Cullen, a dreamy vampire in the movie Twilight, asks the smitten Isabella Swan, “What did you expect, dungeons and coffins and moats?” Isabella answers, “No, not the moats.” Twilight is a fantasy that develops relations between a teenage girl, Swan and the handsome vampire, Cullen. At box offices on opening day, the Twilight movie grossed $35.7 million dollars in the United States and $384,997,808 worldwide. All ages have been drawn into this recent craze of vampire novels and movies, the most popular being “Twilight” and its sequel “New Moon.”

These stories, you understand, are not synonymous to those of the past where vampires drained blood from the arteries of their victims. No, these portray vampires as attractive and romantically inclined, which is precisely the infatuation that has captivated so many. Evil is depicted as good rather than intrinsically wicked and thus more palatable. Should this be? Can we just swab the deck of depravity with a deceptive whitewash of charm and purify hidden murderous intentions with romantic resolve? It would seem so by our standards today, but what would the righteous heart of Almighty God, the Judge of all the earth, say about it? How would our Creator and LORD evaluate any romanticizing of evil?

I have a bit of prophetic gifting in me that is difficult to assess at times because my views usually contradict mainstream opinions. Please understand that my driving passion is to present Jesus Christ as He is, so that salvation is both sure and secure to those who believe. I do not mean to offend and, for the sake of Christ, would not flirt with offense unless the greater transgression would be against God if I didn’t.

With that in mind, I am compelled to refute the recent trend of romanticizing evil. Our 2010 culture already preaches that morality is subjective to personal individual whims. Government decisions and rulings continue to remove Christianity as the founding faith of this nation, eroding our roots in Christ and eliminating the righteous laws of His Kingdom from our lives. Romantic terminology like “tolerance” and “peace” are being utilized to cover up America’s evil in forsaking God. In addition, those who adhere to the laws of His Kingdom are being tagged as criminals of “hate crimes” and viewed publicly as “intolerant,” even “violent.” This is the day in which we now live.

In response to this erosion of Christianity in America, love has emerged as a theme song in the Church to draw us all together, the godly and godless alike. God is love (1 John 4:8). Let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God (1 John 4:7). But what kind of love is this that is emerging? Is it a pure, righteous love or a covering of sin and romanticizing of evil flying under a flag of love?

God will have to be the Judge of that. His righteous Kingdom has righteous standards for living. The book of 1 John also says, Everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him (1 John 2:29). If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth (1 John 1:6). Jesus Himself said, If you love Me, you will keep My commandments (John 14:15).

If we are willing to love God with all of our hearts, souls, and minds, then we must be willing to follow and keep His commandments. Then we will love one another rightly, not immorally or impurely by selfish standards, but by a higher standard that requires us to forgive and care for one another. And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you (Col. 3:12-13).

With our culture courting and romanticizing evil, the word “sin” is also fading from Church vocabularies, sermons and literature. This tragic mistake will thrust our already “dark” world into deeper depravity, because when the doctrine of sin is removed, then we have removed the reason for the sacrifice of Christ, the ultimate expression of God’s love.

You see, there is another twilight, one that came without deception in presentation. This twilight ordinance completely removes our bondage to evil, sin and death rather than covering it up. We saw the first glimpse of this freedom when God delivered Israel from Egyptian oppression and instituted the Passover feast for them to observe throughout their generations. With great signs and wonders, God brought His people out of Egypt in the last of ten plagues if they sacrificed an unblemished lamb at twilight and sprinkled their doorposts with the blood (Ex. 12). There is a distinction to be made between the twilight sacrilege that takes life and the twilight sacrifice that gives life. The vampire eventually drains the life blood from us, yet the Passover Lamb, Jesus Christ, shed His life blood for us. Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).

Sin must not be covered up or romanticized by the Church of Jesus Christ. The consequence of sin is always death, which is why we are to follow God’s commands and righteous ways (Ro. 6:23). As the vampire destroys life, sin does too. That is the reality of both. But there is good news for the sinner. When we see our sinfulness and choose to look for true love, then Jesus Christ can be found by all who seek Him. He doesn’t hide sin. He removes it. That is God’s Twilight love story and one that we can believe, receive and pursue with confidence in the forgiveness of Jesus Christ!

The Twelve Stones by Christina Darnell

2010-04-25T07:52:00.001-04:00

I am really selfish. God began to gently lead me to this truth (like it was some big surprise) last year. I knew that my prayer life wasn’t supposed to be all about me, but I also wanted to cry out to God with my issues as opposed to turning elsewhere. What was missing was both praise to God and interceding for others. For the sake of this moment, I’m going to focus on my lessons in praising God. I often wondered why I was still full of anxiety and fear regarding my future when I spent so much time praying about it. Philippians 4:6 says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Um, so where was my peace? Did it get lost in some epic battle on its way down from heaven? Doubtful.

But my prayers were more focused on my problems than they were on God’s power. I was looking at the size of my problem instead of the greatness of God. Even though I said “thank you” to God often, I wasn’t focused on His goodness. That “with thanksgiving” section of the passage was more crucial than I knew. I needed to focus on praising God, but there was a disconnect for me. I still thought of praise as fancy church words that hold little meaning for me or thought of it as lots and lots of singing. There was so much more to it, I knew, but I wasn’t sure what it was. So I turned to the Psalms. If anyone was known for praising God well, it was David, and he wrote the majority of the book.

I noticed Psalms to have a number of common threads. It’s amazing that after growing up in a Christian home, and walking with God for years, there is still so much to learn. Psalms has taught me that praise is so much different from my mindset about it. First, David praises God by proclaiming his desperate need for Him. No matter how comfortable we are in life, we cannot do nothing nor have anything of everlasting value without Christ. Secondly, David recognized God as sovereign. While most of us would look to other people, circumstances, or even ourselves, David saw God as in control. His victories against the enemies were up to God. Also, he found his fulfillment in God. Psalm 16:5 says, “O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot.” David expected great things from God. By doing so, he showed his faith that God was able to do all that He had promised. How often do I go to God sheepishly, afraid to ask too much? God desires to do great things for us as we place Him first. Lastly, I noticed that the writers praise God for specific works He has performed. They actually boast in and dwell on God’s greatness in creation, Scriptures, and personal and national victories.

Chapters 3 and 4 in Joshua highlight this truth. Joshua leads the people of Israel across the Jordan River to fight for the Promised Land after God instructs them. God stopped the sea (can you imagine?) so they could all cross over on dry ground. While they crossed, 12 of the men, representing the 12 tribes of Israel, each took a stone from the bed of the dry sea. They were to serve as reminders; mementos of God’s incredible faithfulness. Children from generations following would see those stones and ask about them, encouraging the story to be told over and over again.

What an incredible principle. The more I focus on God’s faithfulness and power, the less I focus on myself and my worries…and the more my needs are met. Praising God increases our faith because we focus on His ability instead of our inability, His sovereignty instead of our lack of control, and His life instead of our sin. God has done so many wonders in my own life. I can remember, after years of facing doubt about my salvation, sitting on my bed crying before God. I could feel the Holy Spirit speaking to me, revealing the source of my doubts, and freeing me from that bondage. It was amazing, and I can remember it vividly. I was compelled to share it with others, and it was wonderful to praise God about it with them. There are so many of those turning points in my life that are as monumental as those stones were to the people of Israelite. It’s my turn to set up reminders of God’s miracles. They will be both reminders of the works of God and reminders to focus on Him instead of myself.

Believe in the Lord by Emily Carter

2010-04-18T07:13:00.000-04:00

My daughter, Grace, has begun asking questions about faith in Jesus. This is very exciting for me. Sometimes her inquiries are deep and difficult to answer. For instance, her latest was this, “Why do we need to ask Jesus into our hearts? He already knows we believe in Him.” Some of you may have this same question.

Writing a second letter of encouragement to the Thessalonians, Paul pens these words, “But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.” (2 Thessalonians 2:13, NASB)

God chooses us for salvation. It is completely His work through the conviction of the Holy Spirit, and yet we must choose to believe in Him. That is a deep theological statement to make to a five year old, and yet she grasps it. Her only requirement is to believe in the Lord Jesus. This belief is more than just head knowledge. It is having faith and complete trust in Jesus for every aspect of life.

Paul, Silas, and Timothy were traveling, from one place to another, becoming somewhat frustrated and confused. They were “forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; and after they came to Mysia they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them; and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.” Upon arriving in Troas, Paul had a dream. A Macedonian man was pleading with him to come to Macedonia and help them. Paul determined that this was the Lord calling them to share the good news in Macedonia. After preaching in two cities, they came to Philippi, a “leading city of the district of Macedonia, a Roman colony.”

Paul shares the gospel with Lydia and she believes. The church of Philippi begins meeting in her house. Paul gets in trouble with the law because God sets a young girl free from her demon possession, which upsets the men who are making money off of her fortune-telling. This lands Paul and Silas in prison. Around midnight, they begin singing hymns and praying, and the prisoners are listening to them. The earth begins to shake and the bars of the gates, that once closed them in, are now wide open. The chains are falling off and they are no longer bound. Yet, not one tries to escape. The prisoners are held captive by more than their chains. These men, this Paul and Silas, are singing and speaking Truth. The jailer awakes from his slumber, and seeing the doors open, he draws his sword and prepares to die. Paul cries out “Sir, do not harm yourself, we are all here.” Trembling with fear the guard asks, “What must I do to be saved?”

Paul and Silas respond, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” Acts 16:1-31.

From the beginning, God chose to save the Macedonian jailer. Unbeknownst to Paul, it was going to require some movement from one place to another, some great times of sharing, and some prison time for God’s plan to come to fruition. I believe that my daughter will come to know Jesus as Savior and Lord, and that she will live out the full life that He offers her. I don’t know how or when it will happen, but it will be incredible to watch and recognize the work that God is doing.

What about you? Is God calling you to believe today? Is He calling you to step out and believe in the Lord for the first time? Let me encourage you to trust Him and know Him as Lord and Savior. Simply pray to God and let Him know that you realize that you are a sinner, someone who chooses to do things that are against Him and wrong. Acknowledge your need for Jesus, the One and Only Son of God. Ask Jesus to be your Savior and Lord and ask the Holy Spirit to take up residence in your heart. If this is a decision that you have made, please contact Josh at Crossroads Church at www.xroadschurch.us or call (704) 795-0423. The church would love to help you grow in your faith.

Do you already know Him? Is He asking you to move to another place in life? Is He asking you to share the gospel with someone? Is He asking you to sing His praises and pray to Him? Whatever God is asking, I pray you will respond as Paul did, with immediate obedience. We serve The Great and Mighty God, won’t you join Him in the work that He has prepared for you to do?

Heavy Arms by Tammy Blackburn

2010-04-11T17:25:00.000-04:00

Have you ever engaged in a task that required you to keep your arms above your head for a long period of time? Your arms begin to ache. They feel much too heavy to continue holding up. I have worked with puppets for most of my life and there have been times behind the puppet stage when I felt as if my arm were going to explode form being held up so long. In Exodus chapter 17, we are told about a battle the Israelites had to fight against the Amalekites. Moses spoke to Joshua and told him to choose the best men to go out and fight. Moses promised that for the whole day he would stand at the top of the hill with his arms raised to God interceding on their behalf for victory. Moses did as promised. He grew weary a few times and the Bible tells us that each time he lowered his arms the Israelites began to lose the battle. When Moses raised his arms to back toward God the Israelites were winning again. Aaron and Hur saw what was happening. They knew Moses was getting tired. Can you just imagine? Aaron and Hur rushed to the top of the hill and found a rock for Moses to sit on. They positioned themselves on either side of Moses and held his arms up and steady until sunset. Joshua and his men defeated the Amalekites. Afterward Moses built an altar and gave praise to God for the victory. In Exodus 17:15, Moses said, “The Lord is our Banner; for hands were lifted to the throne of the Lord.”

My daughter has been suffering from a lot of illness this past winter. She has been to the doctor on several occasions. Very recently she had to go again. Preliminary tests came back positive for Lymphoma or cancer of the lymph nodes. I felt as if my heart had fallen into the pit of my stomach. “No, no, no, not my baby girl,” was all that kept going through my mind. It was a plea from the bottom of my being. I was given the news by phone and was forced to comfort my tearful child from afar. After ending the phone call, I literally fell to my knees in prayer. My emotions were in such turmoil that I didn’t feel like I could get out a coherent sentence. I was begging God for healing, for strength, for wisdom, for comfort, and for peace. Our family has been through a number of hard experiences in the last few years and at that moment I was feeling very tired. As I was crying out to God I told Him how tired I was. I remember saying that I knew I didn’t have the strength to face this situation. I know God is the source of our strength and He has proven that to me many times, but in that moment I couldn’t even muster the little bit I needed to continue praying. God in His mercy reminded me of the story about Moses that I just shared. He gently helped me to realize that if I was too weak to lift arms to Him there were friends who could help. I shot out a few quick emails and phone calls and within minutes there was a band of friends praying and lifting their arms to God on our behalf. I felt their strength even from a distance. To make a long story short, further tests came back completely negative for any trace of cancer. Praise the Lord! He is my Banner!

How thankful I am for Godly friends who can hold my arms up in times of weakness, friends who will approach the throne of God on my behalf. Perhaps you are struggling with a situation that you don’t have the strength to face. Lift your arms to the throne of God, but don’t do it alone. Call on friends who can hold you up and intercede on your behalf. We are never alone and we don’t have to struggle with heavy arms.

Lost But Not Alone by Kim Jackson

2010-04-04T07:47:00.005-04:00

"Lost" was not an accurate assessment of my situation. "Lost-without-a-clue-how-to-be-found" summed it up better.

It was the second day of our outreach trip to Caracas, Venezuela. Due to a major miscommunication, I was left standing alone, on a Saturday evening, in a city of two million.

It really didn't matter that I don't speak Spanish, because there was one small detail standing between me and the apartment where I was staying: I didn't know the address....not even the general location. All I knew was that the building across the street had big red doors.

This fact led to one benefit of being lost in a foreign country. Your prayer life instantly improves. In my moment of crisis, I felt led to pray for an angel. I've often read about angel activity in the Bible, but I'd never prayed for one. What did I have to lose?

So I prayed, "God, I am so lost...and I don't know how to get found. Please send an angel to help me."

No swarming sea of seraphim raced to my rescue. Not a single winged creature appeared.

But a blond-haired gentleman in line for a soon-departing bus caught my attention. To this day I am amazed at what I did next.

I followed him onto the bus.

I sat down across from him, behind the driver. The bus had barely pulled away when the blond-haired man turned to me and asked, in English, with a German accent, "Do you know which stop is yours?"

"No," I squeaked.

"Describe it to me."

I told him about the only landmark I recalled: the building with the huge red doors.

"Ah," he said. "I know where that is. It's one stop before mine. I'll tell the driver to let you off there."

I was in shock. I was on the right bus. I was on my way home!

My awe at this divine intervention grew as we continued to talk. He told me his name was Axel, and he was completing an internship and was leaving Venezuela Monday.

Finally I confessed, "Sir, I don't know what you're going to think about this, but I believe you are an angel."

He tilted his head and laughed. "Dressed like this?"

"My Bible says angels can travel incognito. All I know is that I was lost, and now I'm on my home."

Suddenly we were stopping at the building with the brightly painted doors. I shook Axel's hand before stepping from the bus. "Thank you, thank you, and God bless you!"

I ran to the apartment and attempted to tell my Venezuelan host family about my incredible adventure. Later in the privacy of my room, the details of the evening played over and over in my mind. I sobbed as relief and gratitude swept over me.

Then I opened my Bible and began reading in Psalms where I had left off the night before. My heart welled up with thankfulness as I read from Psalm 34:

"I sought the Lord and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears."

When I read verse 7, God's loving confirmation initiated another round of tears. "The angel of the Lord camps around those who fear him and he saves them."

Now there could be no doubt: God had indeed sent me Axel the Angel.

The Wait by Ann Wayne

2010-03-28T15:00:00.000-04:00

Job Losses. Foreclosures. Debt. Divorce. Death. Broken Relationships. Illnesses. Addictions. Look at our world today. Sin and the economy are setting the pace for record high stress levels. Any of us could be front page news at a moments notice.

You have likely experienced several of the above mentioned trials and may be experiencing one in the present. I have friends who have had job losses this past year. Family who have had lay-offs and cut-backs with their paychecks. This only adds to debts that continue to mount up. It becomes a domino effect. No job, no pay, possible foreclosures. You know the story.

I have another friend who is having marriage problems. Thank goodness, Christian counselors are guiding them. Friends and family are lifting them up in prayer. We read heart breaking stories of people who can’t handle the pressures of life and turn to drugs, alcohol or unhealthy relationships to temporarily relieve the pain that life dishes out.

Then we get a phone call in the night that death has knocked on someone’s door, unexpectedly and abruptly. Or a terminal illness that changes your path in life.

What are we supposed to do while we WAIT on answers?

In Isaiah 43:2, the Lord tells us “when you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.”

The word “will” here means determined. The Lord is saying that He is determined to be with us, no matter what we go through. When we walk or crawl through adversity, we won’t be burned or even scorched. Now some of us might think differently about the trials that we have experienced. But if we look at the outcome and have called on the Lord; I think we can honestly say that He brought us through stronger and better off than before the journey. I certainly can attest to this.

In Psalm 27:14 (NIV) the passage reads, “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” Easier said than done. I know this because I feel as though I am in a waiting season for God’s best. Waiting for direction in ministry work, waiting for a spouse, waiting to make other decisions about life goals. The list goes on. But he emphasizes three key things. We are supposed to (1) wait, (2) be strong, and (3) take heart.

(1) Webster’s definition of wait is to anticipate; to pause.
(2) While we wait, we should be strengthened to bear up under our burdens.
(3) We must look unto the sufferings of Jesus, and pray in faith, not to be delivered into the hands of our enemies. Let us encourage each other to wait on the Lord, with patient expectation, and fervent prayer.

In Psalm 130:6 (NIV), the psalmist says, “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.” There is no better place than putting our hope in the word of God. It is described as a “double-edged sword.” Jesus intensely states this in Hebrews 4:12 (NIV). “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing souls and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” There is nothing like the hope of eternal life that comes from the word of God to keep us from fainting under all calamities.

So we ask again, what are we supposed to do during the wait?

Look at what we can experience if we trust God during this season. I have always wanted to fly, literally, with my own wings. When I was a little girl, I tried the Mary Poppins thing and tried to go up the chimney with my umbrella. And of course, it did not work. In Isaiah 40:31(The Message), we are promised to be strengthened and soar like eagles. “But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, they run and don't get tired, they walk and don't lag behind.” Read the poem below.

From an Eagle's View

Have you ever wondered what it's like to fly free,
To see the world as far as the eye can see,
To view the surroundings from high and from low,
To hear only the sound of a distant echo,
To float in the air with the wind being your guide,
To admire many rainbows that the trees tend to hide,
To see the misty mornings over a beautiful mountaintop,
To glide over a flowing river that never seems to stop,
To watch the animals from over a mile away,
Or to rise above the treetops that glisten in the day?
If you were an eagle you would wonder no more,
For it can see things you have never seen before.
Next time you look into the sky of blue,
Think of what it's like from an eagle's view.
© Stacy Smith

We are supposed to wait with expectant anticipation and continue our daily lives, trusting our heavenly Father. The answers will come in God’s perfect timing.

Guard Your Heart by Tami Gilman

2010-03-21T10:57:00.008-04:00

This week a friend of mine, Brad B. was in the library at a seminary in Dallas when his laptop was stolen. He left it for a moment to look at a resource in another section. When he returned, the laptop was gone. I can only imagine how angry and violated he must have felt. To make matters worse, he and his wife are raising financial support to serve in the mission field full time and they don’t have the resources to just go out and buy another computer on a whim.

There is a lesson to be learned from this incident; perhaps a lesson in forgiveness. To be honest, however, I didn't focus on forgiveness. The first thing I thought of was “guard your heart”. Brad innocently left his belongings because he didn’t expect anyone to pass by and take them. Look at how easy it was for the opportunity to present itself, though. Isn’t Satan doing the same to us? He is prowling, lurking and waiting for us to let our guard down. Sometimes I believe we may even unintentionally invite him in. We make excuses for the content in the television shows or movies we watch. Innocence is stolen. We tell ourselves that premarital sex is okay because we are in love. Purity is stolen. We will be satisfied when we lose a few more pounds. Self confidence is stolen. We don’t have time to spend with God because our schedules are too hectic. Relationship is stolen. We don’t give of our resources because the budget is tight. Generosity is stolen. Pretty soon we don’t know what we have become and we rob ourselves of who we are supposed to be.

Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it”. (NIV) This command should be taken seriously. Brad walked away from his computer for a brief moment and was caught off guard when he returned. He likely didn’t give much thought that anything of his would have been stolen.

To be clear, the fault is that of the thief. The thief took something that was not his. The thief is the criminal and he should face the consequences of his actions. Brad just gave him an opportunity. The computer was vulnerable because it was left unattended. We learn from our circumstances and I assure you this was a valuable lesson for Brad. It can be a valuable lesson for us too. Our hearts are vulnerable when we are complacent about the spiritual warfare that exists in the unseen.

I am not suggesting that we never trust anyone else or we become suspicious of everyone around us. I simply believe that we must guard ourselves against the schemes of the enemy; an enemy who is real and has an army of people who work on his behalf.

Be aware of the areas of your life that you may be innocently letting your guard down because that is how Satan finds his way into your heart where his only objective is to destroy it.

Have You Folded Any Socks Lately? by Gail Purath

2010-03-14T19:56:00.001-04:00

Several weeks ago we had lunch with our daughter and two of her little girls. When my husband and I left the restaurant to run errands, four-year-old Gracie begged to come with us. It’s hard to say no to her, but we remained strong. We had too much to do that day to let the disappointment in her little freckled face persuade us.

An hour later while we were standing in the plumbing department of Lowes, I got a call on my cell phone. It was from Gracie, and she was so excited that she was slurring her words. All I could make out was that she had learned to do something new.

“Well, I must have one of the smartest granddaughters around!” I told Gracie even though I couldn’t understand what she was saying. Next I asked if I could speak to her mom. Our daughter got on the phone and explained that they’d been doing laundry and she’d taught Gracie how to roll a pair of socks into a little bundle. As soon as Gracie mastered this task, she said, “Where’s the phone! I have to tell Grammy!”

I can’t tell you how honored it made me feel to know that Gracie wanted to share this event with me. The fact that sock folding is somewhat insignificant actually made Gracie’s call more meaningful. It means she understands how much I love her, and how pleased I am to hear about everything that’s going on in her life. If it’s important to her, she knows it’s important to me.

As I thought through this incident, I couldn’t help but relate it to my relationship with God. God knows everything; I don’t really need to share anything with Him. But knowing something is not the same as hearing it from one of your children. God actually enjoys hearing my thoughts, questions, sorrows, disappointments, joys, and requests, no matter how insignificant they are to everyone else.

1 Thessalonians 6:16-18 tells us to pray continually, but what does this really mean? I’ve heard it described several ways:

It means that prayer is automatic, almost like breathing; our first response in every situation.

It means God is our “default mode” so whenever we are not speaking to someone else, our thoughts turn to Him.

It means living in a state of constant and complete dependence upon God.

It means praying whether we feel like it or not, any time, any place, with or without speaking aloud.

We have to learn to pray continually—it doesn’t come naturally. I’ve known people who actually set the hourly alarm on their watch so they can remember God every hour they are awake.

The thing Gracie showed me about praying continually is the way it must bless God. When I include Him in the ordinary things of life, I imagine He feels like I felt when Gracie called—like a loved and respected friend, not just a faithful caregiver.

I’ll ask you the same question that I’ve been asking myself the last few weeks: “Have you folded any socks lately?”

God is eager to hear about it!

Metamorphosis by JoAnn Lampe

2010-03-07T20:25:00.001-05:00

I was recently asked, “How do you picture the current status of your creative life?” As I sat in class with a blank screen in my head, I suddenly had the image of a butterfly coming out of its cocoon. It occurred to me that I was like that butterfly – emerging from the cocoon, the beginning of a new creation. I’ve spent so many years in “survival” mode that I haven’t emerged from the protective shell I built around myself.

Curious about the process of metamorphosis, I looked up the word online and found this definition at cocoon.org:

Metamorphosis: The name for rapid transformation of a larva into an adult that occurs in some insects.

The Butterfly goes through four stages to become adult butterfly.

1. Egg: Female butterflies lay their eggs on plants.

2. Larva: Also called caterpillar. It emerges from the egg after a few days. The caterpillar spends most of its time eating.

3. Pupa: The caterpillar forms a protection shield called pupa when it has finished growing. Most of the transformation takes place inside pupa.

4. Butterfly: When the pupa has finished transformation, the butterfly emerges from the pupa.

A cocoon is a protective shell used by the insect as protection from a harsh or unfriendly environment. It has a hard protective coating that is often camouflaged so that predators can’t see it. Some insects stay within the cocoon for a few weeks, others stay in for an entire season: winter to spring. During this time, the juvenile parts break down and the adult structures form.

The insect has to work to extricate itself from its old skin, stretching, bending, and twisting from side to side. As the skin comes towards the rear of the body, it comes to a breaking point and stress points begin to appear. Sounds awful doesn’t it? However this skin shedding is an important part of the adult formation; if the process is left incomplete, the development also will be incomplete.

To come out of the cocoon, some insects bite their way through, while others use “spit” so they can soften the ends and push themselves through.

Wow! Did God give me a picture or what?! To protect myself from any more hurt, disappointment, and betrayal, I wrapped that cocoon tight around me. I didn’t stay there a short time, but for a long season. But in that season, I shed my old skin – my juvenile self – and grew wings. It’s time now for me to come out of the cocoon, the winter season is over and spring is almost here. I can feel the warmth of God’s breath as He breathes new life into me. I hear Him as He whispers, “It’s time to come out of your shell, to break free of the confines you’ve built around yourself – discover the beauty so long hidden and fly out into the world.”

********************************************************************

PS: “The rest of the story….” A week or so after I started to write this story, I was asked what skills and talents did I have a deep longing to awaken or further develop. I chose writing and counseling as areas I’d like to develop. As I prayed, I asked God to show me what I could do in the area of counseling; the thought of going back to school and starting an entire new career is not appealing to me, but I have such a heart ache to help women who have been through tough times.

“JoAnn”, God said, “your writing can be used to counsel and help those who have been through trying times.” Hmmm….what a great idea! So, I presented that in class, thinking wasn’t God so good to plant that idea in my head? But here’s where the rest of the story comes in. That same day, MaryAnn Mitchner preached about “wrestling with God.” She asked us to contemplate what in our lives we were wrestling with. Well, I was wrestling with emerging from that cocoon; what kind of butterfly was I going to be? Who am I? So, I wrestled with God, went up to the altar and randomly grabbed a Scripture verse, and tucked it in my Bible to read later…. This is what it said:

“Lord, You have called me Your ambassador, Your message carrier, the one You entrust with the secret things of Your heart to bring hope to people who live in darkness.” 1 Corinthians 4:1

So I ask, “Are you willing to wiggle out of your old skin, out of the immature stage, break free of the binding cocoon and soar into the beauty that God created in you?” Don’t wait, work free of the confines. They say the most beautiful butterflies come out of the ugliest cocoons! Fly, fly fly!

Five Words by Kim Jackson

2010-02-28T18:21:00.000-05:00

I have a habit that a few of my friends find disturbing.

I like to spend time in cemeteries.

Besides the fact that I’ve met some interesting people there, I like to walk in cemeteries because it puts life in perspective.

When I’m there it’s easy to imagine that one day somebody reading this article might be walking in the Palestine, Illinois cemetery and they’ll glance over toward Patterson’s homestead and see a tombstone that reads:

Kim Jackson

Born: May 2, 1957— Died: (date to be determined by God)

And what will be important on that stone is not the month, day or year of my birth or death, but the simple dash between them—a symbol that represents all the years of my life.

I “met” a woman in an old cemetery in Manassas, Virginia several years ago who didn’t have many years in her dash, but from what was written on her tombstone, I think she had a lot of life in her years.

Engraved on her tombstone were five simple words, five words that succinctly and beautifully summed up what I would surmise must have been a life well lived.

Could you sum up your life in five words? Could I?

Let’s pretend our lives ended today. When the engraver finishes the tombstone he realizes he has some extra space, so he calls up the people closest to us and says, “I’ve got a little room left—could you come up with, say, five words that sum up the focus of her life?”

What five words would those closest to us choose?

I’m confident that none of the following phrases apply to anyone reading this article, but based on resources invested, energy spent, conversation topics and priorities noted, I’ll submit these for a few folks I’ve known over the years:

His yard always looked great
He drove a sharp car
She was a fashion plate
He made the big bucks
She kept an immaculate house
He was a sports fanatic
He retired early and traveled
She married a gorgeous hunk

Far fetched, you say?

Well, I have another habit that may prove otherwise.

I collect obituaries. The best ones in my collection are from when I lived in Orlando. Every day the newspaper would highlight one of the deceased and the headline of that obituary would express the focus of that person’s life.

For example:

• Paula Stephens loved her collection of dolls
• Leroy Lewis mastered the pipe organ
• Mayme Bilenger loved her Bonsai trees
• Lyda Hadley co-founded nudist resort

I rest my case.

When Sociologist Tony Campolo interviewed 50 people age 95 or older, he asked, “Looking back over your life, what would you do differently?” Their responses were gathered in to three categories. First, these folks, age 95 or older, said they would take more risks. They wouldn’t play it so safe if they had another chance. Next, they would reflect more. There would be more “ponder pauses” the second time ‘round. And thirdly, they would do more things that would last after they’re gone—things of an enduring, eternal nature.

These are wise words coming from those nearing the cemetery gates.

Contrary to what you might be thinking, I don’t spend all my time contemplating death. But flying in an airplane is another place where I ponder eternity. And with good reason: the last time I was flying back to North Carolina, the flight attendant’s voice came over the intercom just as the plane was landing:

“Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Charlotte, North Carolina. And if you have a connecting flight here, we wish you a pleasant journey to your final destination.”

We all have a final destination.

And though we don’t get to choose how we are going to die, or when, we can choose how we are going to live, and we can be certain of our Final Destination.

By the way, the five words on the woman’s tombstone in Virginia were “She went about doing good.”

What are your five words?

You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached—how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went about doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. (Acts 10:37, 38)

A Purrfect Miracle by Serena Haneline

2010-02-21T07:53:00.002-05:00

I never used to think of myself as a cat lover. The few experiences I’d had with cats were not good ones. However, one little orange kitty changed all that about seven years ago. A close friend of mine moved and couldn’t take her cat with her, so I offered, like a good friend should, to keep her cat “temporarily.”

Well, I didn’t like this cat that much at first. He got on my nerves and was just too needy. But then I started enjoying having another creature around as company. So after awhile, I offered to unofficially “adopt” Opie (named after the character on Andy Griffith because of his orange hair). I’ve been his “mommy” for almost nearly a decade now.

Opie has also been a very healthy cat over the years. That is, until last year around October. I noticed his eating and drinking habits change and finally had to take him to the vet. I was shocked when I heard his diagnosis. Diabetes. Yeah, cats can get a feline version of diabetes.

So for the next three months I had to give him an insulin shot twice a day. I watched a video about giving insulin shots to cats and those people said their cats got used to it. Well, Opie never did. In fact, it seemed like it was getting harder and harder to give it to him without him moving. I stuck myself more than once!

But ever since that first day in the vet’s office, when the vet shared the heartbreaking news of Opie’s condition, I held onto a small sliver of hope. She told me then that sometimes cats can get over diabetes. Of course she followed that comment with, “More often they have to live with the condition for the rest of their lives.”

Well, Opie is like my child, so I was willing to do whatever to keep him alive and healthy. I didn’t know then that it was going to cost me so much (I think I spent nearly $500 those first months on vet bills, medicine, and food). Of course, I would do it again though!

Then a few weeks ago, I started feeling like I really needed to pray for healing for Opie. But I never seemed to have “enough” faith to say a prayer, believing that God would actually heal him from this disease. I mean, who’s heard of God healing cats? Finally, one night, when I felt like I had just a tiny bit of faith and belief, I laid my hands on Opie, while he was (trying) to take a nap on my bed, and prayed for God to take the diabetes away.

About a week later, I was running out of syringes for his insulin. As I was leaving the parking lot of the pharmacy, I had this feeling that I had bought them for nothing. Two days later I took him back to the vet (I hadn’t been in two months because the vet bill was so high).

I had to leave him all day so that his glucose levels could be checked and insulin given throughout the day. When I picked him up at 5:00 that day, his vet came out to talk to me. I didn’t know whether this was good news or bad. She sat down beside me on a bench and said she had to come out and tell me herself that Opie’s glucose levels were normal and she didn’t have to give him any insulin at all that day. In other words, my sweet kitty was HEALED! I told her that I had been praying for healing for him. She said that whatever I did, it worked and that this was a very rare situation!

On the way home that day, I cried for joy and thanked God for reaching down and healing a cat—my cat, who I love dearly now. I think about how sometimes it’s so hard for me to have faith because I think that God doesn’t care about the little things in my life, like a sick cat, for example. But His Word tells us differently: “Every animal in the forest belongs to me, and so do the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds in the mountains, and every wild creature is in my care. If I were hungry, I wouldn't tell you, because I own the world and everything in it” (Psalm 50:10-12) and “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God” (Luke 12:6).

This miracle not only proves that God loves cats (ha!); it also proves that God does care about the things we care about. He showed me through Opie’s miracle that He is more than willing to show his love for us in the most surprising and unexpected ways.

I'll Love You When... by Tami Gilman

2010-02-14T07:42:00.002-05:00

I’ll love you in the morning

When you wake up looking frumpy

I’ll love you in the evening

When you’re tired and feeling grumpy

I’ll love you when you’re busy

And need more hours in a day

I’ll love you when you talk to me

And let me make a way

I’ll love you when you think you’re right

And make your own mistakes

I’ll love you when you realize

I’m there when your heart breaks

I’ll love you when you don’t notice me

I’ll love you when you do

I’ll love you when you think I don’t

Because only I know what is true

I’ll love you when you’re angry with me

I’ll love you when you’re not

I love you with the price I paid

I love you with the sin I bought

I’ll love you when you succeed

I’ll love you when you fail

I’ll love you whether you realize

It was more than just a nail

I want only the best for you

And hope you comprehend

I’ll love you no matter what

And I’ll always love you when…

All My Love,

Jesus

Wow Dee Wow by Kim Jackson

2010-02-07T06:22:00.001-05:00

The first time my Mom saw the ocean, she stood on the shore, spread her arms open wide as if to embrace a new friend, and said, “Look what the Lord has done.”

Her marvel at the ocean deepened with each trip to her beloved seashore. Whether admiring a sunrise’s riot of color or standing mesmerized by dancing dolphins, the expression on her face reflected the depth of her awe.

Beauty rarely escaped my Mom’s recognition. Whether at ocean’s edge or in her native Midwest, my Mom appreciated not only the “pretty of creation,” but also the unique, the detail, and the spectacular in the world around her. She even coined a signature exclamation to capture her wonder: “Wow Dee Wow!”

I believe God is honored by “Wow Dee Wow!”

The Psalms often rally us to speak, shout and sing our “Wow Dee Wows.” One of my favorites is Psalm 34:2: “My soul will boast in the Lord….” In the margin next to that verse I’ve written: “I’m bragging on You, Lord,” and “I’m proud of You, God!”

Several years ago I visited a church known for its vibrant worship. As I drove up the long driveway to the parking lot, I noticed two large stone monuments. I pulled my car to the edge of the road and smiled when I realized the stones were engraved with words reminiscent of Luke 19:40.

The first stone read, “If you don’t praise Him…” The second stone continued, “We will.”

I don’t want a rock taking my place in praising God, do you?

When I lived on the east side of Orlando, I would leave for work at 6:30 a.m. each morning for a commute that required me to merge onto the race track otherwise known as the East/West Expressway—something that almost always improved my prayer life.

One particular morning I was already in the prayer mode before approaching the ramp to the expressway. As I considered the day that would unfold before me, my prayers were along these lines:

“God, I want to make You smile today. I want to live my life in such a way that it brings joy to your great heart. Show me ways that I can delight You. I want to make You smile today, God.”

And just as I was speaking those words, I was at the top of the ramp and needed to look in my side mirror to see if the oncoming cars would allow an easy merge.

But what I saw in the mirror was not headlights or bumpers, but instead, an incredibly glorious sunrise. As my car merged in to the westbound lanes, this fantastic display continued to develop in my rearview mirror. The colors were stunning. Even viewed in a mirror, the artistry was overwhelming.

It was then that I heard God speak to my spirit: “What a coincidence… I want to make you smile today, too.”

I reveled in the thought! God had painted the skies for me that day! Or at least for those who would take note of such a display of grandeur. I was obviously in a minority that morning, for when I pulled up to the first tollbooth I could see that the occupants in the cars squeezed around mine had not noticed God’s colorful canvas. On the contrary, the lady in front of me was putting on makeup; another driver was juggling coffee and breakfast biscuits. And I think the driver on my left had the Wall Street Journal draped over his steering wheel.

My soul cried out, “Oh God, thank You for making me smile this morning! Father, please don’t let me ever be so distracted that I miss Your glory displayed in the skies. May my heart always respond to Your creative craftsmanship with ‘Wow Dee Wows’ of praise.”

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands” Psalm 19:1.

Have No Shame by Jenn Fromke

2010-02-01T07:25:00.000-05:00

“For I am not ashamed of the Gospel . . . “ Romans 1:16

If I say this every day when I wake up in the morning, what might it do to my life?

I do not want to be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ.

I am not ashamed of the Gospel at Bible Study.

I am not ashamed of the Gospel at church.

I am not ashamed of the Gospel with my kids.

I am not ashamed of the Gospel when I’m alone.

I am not ashamed of the Gospel when someone steps on my rights to religious freedom.

I’m not ashamed of the Gospel at the grocery store until I am prompted to pay for someone else’s groceries.

I’m not ashamed of the Gospel when I talk to other people who are sharing it.

I’m not ashamed of the Gospel until I see someone standing on a corner holding a sign. Then I wonder if I should give him money or the Gospel or both. Most often, the light turns green, and I give him neither.

I’m not ashamed of the Gospel when I plan an event that is designed to share the Gospel.

I’m ashamed of myself when a spontaneous opportunity presents itself and I don’t feel “ready” to share the Gospel.

When I am with unbelievers, sometimes I spend more time plotting how I’ll share with them than I spend listening to what they have to say.

When I am surrounded by strangers, I think, wouldn’t it be nice if they could see the Gospel in me without my ever saying a word?

When I am with a loved one I don’t believe is walking with the Lord, I wish he would listen to the Gospel somewhere, sometime.

When I am with a friend who doesn’t know the Lord, I pat myself on the back if I manage to slip tiny pieces of the Gospel into our conversation.

When I am with those who need it most, I often judge whether they “want” to hear the Gospel or not, and if I don’t think they “want” to hear it, I don’t speak it.

Some days I feel like wearing a T-shirt which proclaims the Gospel of Christ.

Some days I hide behind the pages of a newspaper, which promotes ideas contrary to the Gospel.

I am ashamed of my ineptitude when it comes to sharing the Gospel of Christ.

HOWEVER!

I am a child of God and as such, I am empowered by the Holy Spirit, who lives in me, to share the Gospel.

I am overwhelmed that God would use someone like me to participate in such eternal things as carrying the Gospel of Christ to people who are desperate for it.

Even when I am failing miserably, as I try to explain the truth of God, He will miraculously bring understanding through my feeble words, so that His Word is proclaimed with power; Holy Spirit power.

I am not ashamed of the One in whom I’ve placed my faith.

I am not ashamed of the mercy He granted me when I believed.

I am not ashamed of the grace He lavishes on me daily, wholly undeserved.

I wish I could give all that He’s given me, to all the people who have not yet heard or responded to the Gospel.

THEREFORE,

“I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes, first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.” Romans 1:16-17

A New Bike and Mansion in Glory by Jan Darnell

2010-01-24T06:28:00.000-05:00

If you read my last blog, you know that my father passed away on September 27th of 2009. It was an exceptionally solemn occasion for our family and a heart breaking experience for me. My dad was my life mentor who challenged me, and everyone he met, to live passionately and love wholeheartedly. We reflected on this zealous attitude in his memorial service, with a number of people sharing stories regarding Dad’s ability to capture ordinary moments and turn them into opportunities for adventure. He was an extraordinary man and we are definitely the beneficiaries of his loving and fun ways.

Over the subsequent months, our family celebrated Thanksgiving, Christmas and the New Year of 2010 without Dad. His walking cane took its place by our family fireplace throughout the holidays as a silent, but wonderful reminder of his life. And in Atlanta, mother is putting her house up for sale. She is getting rid of the things that my parents worked all their lives to attain. The majority of these possessions must now be sold or given away, and though they have faded in importance, they stir up testimonies of eternal significance. Allow me to share an example of one such possession.

When I was five, Dad decided it was time for me to master my bicycle. We went to the top of a large grassy hill where he removed my training wheels, set me on the bike and turned me loose. With great confidence in my dad’s ability to teach me the right way, I proceeded down the hill, wobbling right and left, hitting numerous telephone poles along the way. The poles, of course, were crash sites that drew me like magnets into their path. After each perilous encounter, I would get back up and continue on as Dad cheered me on from afar. By the time I reached the bottom of that hill, both my bike and my appendages were scratched, tattered and embedded with dirt and grass stains. Yet, what a feeling of accomplishment! Under adverse conditions, amidst an obstacle course of poled conflict, I had finished the course. There’s nothing like a sense of accomplishment. Or perhaps there is… that smile of approval on my dad’s face. I experienced both that day.

I have never forgotten that incident, perhaps because it was traumatic, but I believe more so because my dad reflected an important truth to me. God loves us and wants the very best for us. He challenges us to grow by designing obstacle courses that cause us to mature in gifting and skill. We see it as terrifying. God sees it as transforming. On these courses, we are being transformed from glory to glory, back into His image, which is one of righteousness, wisdom, grace and skill. Adam and Eve traded away God’s image for the toxic knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 3). Now, we are given the challenge of learning the difference between good and evil, and choosing what is right (Deut. 30:19).

Along the way, we will be confronted by poles that seem to draw us. Not perfect, but being perfected, we usually suffer the bruises and scratches from colliding with these poles until learning to navigate the hills. Yet our heavenly Father is still proud of us when we trust His hand. Jesus taught in the parable of the talents that we exemplify faith by investing the abilities God has given us (Mt. 25:14-30). I trusted dad when he put me on that bike and turned me loose at five years of age. I trust God every day when He faithfully solicits the sunrise and turns me loose to face the challenges of life’s magnetic obstacles. What will the day be like? How many poles will be there? Will I crash and burn on site or know the sweetness of His victory in moving forward? David sang, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Ps. 118:24). Whatever the day brings, our heavenly Father is watching with anticipation over a divinely designed transformation process for each of us. He smiles at our faith and willingness to learn of His goodness.

My dad bought me a new bike that afternoon because the previous one was bent and mangled. Scripturally speaking, our Father plans to restore our lives in much the same way. My earthly father bought me a new bike. My heavenly Father has on reserve an eternal inheritance in the Kingdom of God and a redeemed citizenship for me in the forthcoming Jerusalem. While I can’t possibly fathom the details of what that will entail entirely, I can operate in the realm of where He has me currently and do the best with what I have. The same is true for you too. Your heavenly Father has released you to navigate through each and every day with your gifting and abilities, learning from the mistakes and getting up to try again. May you be blessed as you live the “day that the Lord has made” for the glory of our heavenly Father. You have a new bike waiting at the end of the course. In Christ, you have a mansion in glory! (John 14:1-3)

From My Head to My Heart by Christina Darnell

2010-01-17T08:39:00.000-05:00

I’m a reader. I am usually reading at least 3 books at a time. Over the years, I have acquired a lot of head knowledge - which is useless when it doesn’t produce fruit. Recently, God has taught me truth that has transported from my head into my heart, and I got to see the Word take action in my life.

For the past few years, I was treading water. What is my purpose? What does God want to do with my life? What kind of job should I pursue? These questions created a whirlwind of confusion in my mind. I prayed and offered them to God, but instead of comfort and peace, I experienced indecision, frustration, and a general lack of contentment. I looked around and saw people my age who were happy, stable, and moving forward and I wondered What’s wrong with me? I was so consumed with figuring it all out that nothing else mattered. Things had to change. I thought that my circumstances needed to change, but God began to show me that it was I who needed to change. I needed to live in faith instead of fear, so I began praying for focus and confirmation.

I started selling Mary Kay back in April. I love skincare and makeup (always have), so it’s a great fit for me. I have been half-committed, though, and undecided about making it a career. Does it fit within God’s plan for my life? Is it stupid to build my own business instead of getting a traditional job? Does this even utilize my skills? The first weekend in November, we had our 2009 Beach Retreat, and hundreds of women from the Charlotte area traveled to Myrtle Beach for training, motivation, and camaraderie. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but I specifically prayed that God would confirm that weekend whether I should continue. I don’t want to spend my time doing things that won’t have lasting value in my life.

When I arrived, I entered a raffle to win some fun goodies, one of which was a one-on-one coaching session with the guest speaker, Kirk Gillespie. Kirk is a National Sales Director, one of the top positions within Mary Kay…she knows what she’s doing. She also happens to be a Christ-centered woman, and her commitment to Him shined through in all of her training. I wanted to talk with her. I prayed for that one-on-one coaching session – I even had my roommates praying for me. Usually, my prayers are more like, “Lord, change me. Let your will be done.” Vague things like that. It scared me to pray for something so specific, because it was either going to be answered or it wasn’t. But I knew I was at a crossroads in my life, and I needed counsel. Well, the raffle came and went…and I didn’t win.

After training on Saturday, we had a break, and five of us went for a walk on the beach. I was determined not to show my disappointment. Instead I chose to enjoy the wonders of the ocean and focus on the writing ideas I could glean from the weekend. As I studied the rifts in the sand, Kirk Gillespie ran up and fell into step with us. Okay, keep in mind, there were hundreds of women there, and the guest speaker decided to join us. I ended up next to her and, after giving myself a pep talk, asked her one of my questions. Before I knew it, everyone else was a hundred feet behind us, and I was pouring out my heart about the dreams God has placed on my heart and my doubt about how Mary Kay fit into them. Her genuine heart for God was evident in all of her advice, and suddenly I realized that God had given me my own miracle.

He answered my prayers for that weekend. Not only did He send Kirk my way, but He also reminded me that He sees me, He hears me, and He loves me. I have been focusing on scripture passages about trusting in the Lord and Him making my paths straight. After meditating on those scriptures and praying them, I actually saw God do it. What did I learn? Psalm 138:8 says, “The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.” It isn’t my job to create my path. The Lord has my life in His hands, and He will perfect it.

My Father's Voice by Tammy Blackburn

2010-01-10T15:46:00.001-05:00

I know all of you who are parents understand about toys cluttering the floors. It only seems like yesterday that Lego sets, Barbie dolls, and video games were a huge part of my home’s décor. Well, my children are grown up and it is not their toys I find myself tripping over anymore. I have an adorable little Maltese dog that is absolutely spoiled to death. He thinks we were placed on earth for him alone. His name is Cooper and he is the most loving little dog I have ever seen. He will climb up beside me and put his head under my hand and insist that I give him a good belly rub. Cooper has no idea what size he really is. He tries to curl up in my lap as if he is a tiny little thing, then the next thing you know, he has puffed out his furry chest and is barking at the doorbell like a German Shepherd. He has an unending amount of energy and will play fetch until my arm is worn out. However, my little fur ball has very picky tastes when it comes to his toys. He prefers soft cuddly toys that squeak. Even with those, he has certain ones he likes more than the others. When one of them wears out, we have to go find one just like it for a replacement or he will search for days to find the missing toy.

The cool thing I have been noticing is that Cooper knows the different squeak of each toy. I noticed one day that when I stepped on one of his toys, he came running straight to that particular toy as if to see if it was okay. I thought to myself that it had to be a coincidence. So, I began to test him. I would take several toys into another room and squeak one. Sure enough, he came running straight for the exact toy I had squeaked. “What if there were lots of other noises going on,” I wondered? I turned on the TV and some music and even took his toys to another floor. I placed them all in a pile and squeaked one. That dog came running and picked up the exact toy and took it out of the room. Now don’t laugh that I seem to live such an exciting life, but I was truly amazed. I have been watching and testing him ever since and he never gets it wrong. He knows the sound of each toy even though they all sound exactly the same to me.

God spoke to me through all of this. John 10:27 tells us, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” (NAS) There are a lot of voices in this world and I wonder if I stay close enough to my Heavenly Father that I can pick His voice out from among all the others. When I hear His voice, do I come running straight to Him or do I question the origin of the voice? I often hear people say they wonder if God is telling them something or if it is someone else. I began to search the Bible and found at least a hundred references to listening, hearing, and obeying the voice of God. I feel sure there are more, but I stopped looking because God had made His point to me. I want to know His voice. I want to know it so clearly that I immediately can pick out His voice from among the voices around me. I also want to come running with an open heart and willing spirit each time I hear His voice.

"You have today declared the LORD to be your God, and that you would walk in His ways and keep His statutes, His commandments and His ordinances, and listen to His voice.” Deuteronomy 26:17 (NAS)

From Resolution to Revolution by Emily Carter

2010-01-03T08:32:00.000-05:00

I am the self-proclaimed queen of goal setting. I start in November reviewing the year’s goals and begin praying about the next year’s items. You see, I don’t want to have simple resolutions: declarations written to be accomplished at a later date. I want revolutions, complete change, to take place. So this year I have five areas of my life for which I have written goals: Spiritual, Family, Personal, Financial, and Work. Every area does not need a full overhaul, but change does need to occur. For instance, under Family, one goal is to speak with kindness to my family even when I am stressed out. This past year, I noticed that when I am overwhelmed, my tone of voice becomes harsh and my words short. I do not want to talk this way to the people I love most. So, the resolution is to speak kindly, but the plan is to pray, seek Scripture, add accountability from my husband, and commit to keep trying even after I blow it. There you have my #1 family goal for 2010.

As you consider your goals for this New Year, I want to encourage you to write a plan to reach them. Begin with prayer. Jesus did it early in the morning (Mark 1:35). He prayed when he was exhausted (Mark 6:46). He prayed when he was grieved and unsure

(Luke 22:41-42).

After asking God to reveal what your goals should be, add Scripture study to make sure the resolutions line up with God’s Word. Whereas you may not see a specific word about whether or not you should change jobs; there are many verses about work. You will not find the latest diet scheme in the Bible, but you will find Daniel’s example of eating fruits and vegetables and drinking water in order to please God with his eating. His appearance was “beefed” up according to God’s plan. When we seek out the scriptures, we will have more hope (Psalm 130:5), we will know God and His ways (Psalm 25:12), we will have wisdom (Psalm 119:98-100), and we will stay away from evil (Psalm 119:101). Those are great added benefits!

Thirdly, we need accountability. We need someone who loves us and will hold us to completing our goals. Do not be afraid to share your goals with your spouse or a friend. Just make sure that person you share with will periodically be willing to ask you the tough questions.

Finally, we must be committed. Hebrews 12:1 encourages us to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” You and I can do anything with Christ! No matter how tough the goal is, you can do it! As long as it is a plan that originates in the plan that God has for you. Remember as you write your goals, God already has His plans for you for 2010, so begin with prayer, add Scripture study and finish with accountability and commitment, and you are sure to run the race well in 2010.

Calendar Consecration by Kim Jackson

2009-12-27T11:29:00.004-05:00

I bought my 2010 calendar today. There were three full kiosks at the office supply store, each boasting different designs, colors, formats, and time frames. The one I picked is called a “Monthly/Weekly Planning Calendar.” It has a tagline printed under the brand name: “Design your day.” I chose a lavender way to design my days. At the present moment it has pristine 2” squares for each day of the upcoming year.

Quite a lot of each day is planned for me by others: my boss at work, my church responsibilities, the clubs and groups I belong to, doctor’s appointments, etc. Sometimes I get to fill in a few of those blank squares with things that make my heart smile: “Home for Thanksgiving,” “Writing Retreat,” “Meet Robin for lunch.”

I will write in lots of appointments and plans. The empty squares on my calendar will quickly fill up. I’ll start out writing neatly, but soon scribbles will overtake my precision.

Sometimes things have to be marked off my calendar because, as John Lennon said, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.”

But does life really “happen to” a believer in Christ Jesus?

Ponder this:

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10, NIV).

There is a designer for each of my days, but I’m clear that it’s not me. So how do I cooperate with His design for the precious days He has given me?

Several years ago I started a tradition that helps me be awake and aware to God’s handwriting on my calendar. Perhaps it might help you, too.

I set aside a chunk of time near the end of the year to consecrate my calendar. I put on a favorite praise and worship CD, open my new calendar to January and write out Ephesians 2:10 at the top of the page. Then I pray something like this:

Dear Jesus,

Today, December 31, 2009, I consecrate my 2010 calendar to You. I commit the days You have given me on this planet to Your purposes.

Thank You for the gift of life. I pray that You will strengthen me to live a life that makes You smile.

Jesus, Your Word says in Ephesians 2:10 that I am Your masterpiece, Your workmanship, and that the reason You created me is to do good works which You prepared in advance for me to do.

So today, Jesus, I am asking You to fill all the little blank squares on this calendar with the things You prepared before time began, specifically with me in mind. I want to always be on Your schedule, fulfilling everything You have in mind for me to do in the minutes and months of my life.

I ask that You will guard my heart from distractions that would hinder me from fulfilling the matters You have planned. Keep me aware and awake to Your Spirit’s promptings and help me to seek Your guidance before filling up the squares on this calendar.

Father, if I run ahead or behind of your perfect plan, I claim the promise in Your Word, Romans 8:28, that even in my missteps, You will work things for good.

Father, please teach me what it means to “number my days that I may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).
Lord, help me to recognize the enemy’s strategies that would keep me busy, but not productive; remind me often of Your truth expressed in 2 Corinthians 4:18 so that I will fix my eyes, not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. Please remind me frequently that what is seen in temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

True Lord Jesus, empower me by Your Spirit to live my life with my eyes focused on what matters to You.

Lord, if you tarry and I am still walking this earth on January 1, 2011, may I be able to look back over the filled-in pages of this 2010 calendar and rejoice, knowing that I have lived well for my Master.

I love You,
Kim

Symbolism: What is on Your Christmas Tree? by Ann Wayne

2009-12-20T13:13:00.000-05:00

It was a quiet evening at home. I sat by the fire while my black lab, Bailey, snored in the leather recliner. The chair is her favorite spot to sleep. Christmas music set the tone in the background. Memories of Christmases past brought vivid images to mind as I gazed at each ornament on the Christmas tree. My oldest son’s first ornament with his named cross stitched on a red wood stocking adorns the tree each year. A sparkly gold and clear carousel ornament for my daughter represents her senior year in high school when she was the Carousel Queen. A red bass guitar ornament for my youngest son dangles on a branch to remind me of his unexpected purchase last year. He walked in the door with the real instrument in his hands – something that was a surprise to all of us. He has never had any musical talent.

Each year, I carefully place the quilted bells, stars and stocking shaped ornaments on the tree that I made the first year I had my own tree. They are thirty something years old now and are very sentimental to me. There was simply no money to buy ornaments. As I hang these, I tell the story to my family and I’m reminded of the many blessings since that first year.

Do you get the drift? All of these ornaments represent something unique in a particular year. We have continued this tradition through the years and now I look forward to finding a special ornament for two grandchildren. Emma Grace will open her ornament with excitement from Grammy again this year and Little Benjamin will receive his first ornament for the tree. Even the dog at my house gets an ornament. But she doesn’t get to open it because it would never make it to the tree. Or at least if it did, we probably would not recognize it.

There are other ornaments on the tree that represent joy and pain. Ornaments from trips taken bring back fond memories. Others signify accomplishments of a particular year or hobbies of my family. There are lots of fish and deer on the tree and even some western ornaments on the tree from our “horse years in the 90’s.” An “angel of comfort” ornament hangs on the tree holding a small black dog. This ornament was given to my younger son the year after his father left. There is a paw print ornament representing that same dog who was hit by a car while I was out running one morning a few years ago.

But near the top of the tree hangs a Chrismon. It was given to me by my step-grandmother over twenty years ago. The ornament was hand-made by some church lady at the Lutheran church that my grandfather’s family attended for many generations. When my step-grandmother was preparing to go to heaven, she gave family members things that would have special meaning to them. She was right. The chrismon ornament is one of my favorites.

A chrismon is intended to represent aspects of the Person, life or ministry of Jesus Christ and the history of the Christian Church. It is usually a single image, emblem or monogram. The term "chrismon" comes from the Latin phrase "Christi Monogramma", meaning "monogram of Christ".

Perhaps most commonly, chrismons are used to adorn Christmas trees during Advent and Christmas, where they are made from various materials. They can also be found as decorations in and outside of Christian church buildings and homes, and even found on gravestones and personal stationary. Many of these symbols have histories dating back to the earliest times of the Church.

Even though there is only one chrismon on my Christmas tree, the Christian symbolism reminds me of the reason we have Christmas. It is in the shape of a Greek Cross. The Greek Cross has arms of equal length. This particular symbol has circles on the arms, representing eternity. The celebration of Christ’s birth this season and the reminder of his death on the cross bring all of us hope. In the four gospels, we witness the life of Christ. In Matthew 1:21, the writer portrays the big picture of Christ’s life. “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” And in John 16:33, Jesus tells his disciples “these things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD.” We have a promise from God himself, through his Son, that we can overcome adversity, struggles, sin, and temptations if we simply believe in Him and trust in the Holy Spirit to guide us daily.

As you place your ornaments on the tree this year, I encourage you to hang at least one special ornament that represents the life of Christ. It will be a wonderful reminder for your family about the reason we celebrate Christmas.

May your family be blessed this holiday season!

Ann Wayne

They Could Smell Our Christian Perfume! by Gail Purath

2009-12-13T13:19:00.000-05:00

Two years ago, Michael and I visited Vienna on a cold, wet weekend. After tromping around in the drizzle for several hours, we ended up back in our hotel lobby close to the tea service. While sipping steaming cups of tea, an American couple came in to register for a room and initiated a conversation with us. We explained we were missionaries in Budapest, and the woman told us she had attended a Christian college.

Since this couple had been traveling together for three weeks and registered for one room, I assumed they were married. But when I asked where they lived, the woman seemed embarrassed to admit they were just friends and lived in two different states.

Michael and I said nothing to add to her discomfort. Instead, we continued in friendly conversation; and when they left for their room, we told them we enjoyed visiting with them. However, the following morning at breakfast, they barely acknowledged our greetings and walked past the empty table next to ours. I think it was our smell…

There is a whole generation of Americans who aren’t even aware that God lovingly prohibits sex outside of marriage. They think premarital sex is natural instead of realizing it is harmful to their spiritual and emotional well-being. But the couple we met in Vienna was from an older generation, and the woman had gone to Bible college. I think they understood that their relationship was neither healthy for them nor pleasing to God. And Michael and I were an uncomfortable reminder of this fact. You could say that our “Christian perfume” was offensive to them.

2 Corinthians 2:15,16 says, “Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume...” (NLT)

Of course, this fragrance isn’t the only thing that offends people. We Christians can also emit the nasty odors of self-righteousness, legalism and superiority. Recently I read the book They Like Jesus, but Not the Church by Dan Kimbell. He talks about our tendency as Christians to talk about God’s judgment more than God’s love, to focus on what we oppose more than what we embrace. He makes some good points. It's not our job to judge those outside of the church (1 Corinthians 5:9-13).

I’ve also read several books by Ray Comfort, a New Zealand missionary to the U.S. He believes American Christians share God’s love without sharing His law and judgment, thus deceiving people into false conversions without warning them of the consequences of sin. He makes some good points as well. God gives His commands for our good, and we have no business watering them down or ignoring them in order to make the Gospel more palatable. If a person doesn’t understand their sin, they won’t understand their need for a Savior.

It can be hard at times to explain Christ because He is just as merciful, forgiving and loving toward repentant man, as He is unforgiving and just toward unrepentant man. No wonder that the passage I quoted earlier (about our fragrance) ends with this statement: “And who is adequate for such a task as this?” (verse16b).

How do we, who bear the fragrance of Christ, give an accurate picture of Christ to those around us? How can we avoid stressing certain aspects of His character at the expense of other aspects? Some people are wallowing in regret and pain for their sin. They feel they will never be good enough to come to Christ, and we must tell them of God’s grace and love. Other people are self-satisfied. They think that they will receive God’s mercy no matter what they do or what they believe, and we must tell them of God’s purity and judgment.

But how can we know when to stress grace and when to stress purity? Who of us is adequate for the task? Our answer is found in 2 Corinthians 3:5: “...our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” We have the Holy Spirit to guide us, and He knows exactly what needs to be said in any situation. Because of that—and only because of that—we are able to bear Christ’s fragrance!

Seeking a Transformation by Serena Haneline

2009-12-10T11:26:00.001-05:00

For the last three days I’ve been sequestered at La Foresta, a quaint little retreat house in Traveler’s Rest, SC. It has been a time of relaxation, rest and spiritual renewal. Most of all, it’s been a time of revelation.

I have been questioning for months what it really means to be a Christian. Surely it means more than just saying I believe in God and having accepted Jesus as my Savior 15 years ago, now just to go to church every Sunday and pray when I want something.

Of course, I know it’s not about “religion” but about a “relationship.” I’ve known that for many years, but my “relationship” with the Almighty, invisible, and holy God has been somewhat of a strained one, at least on my part. Reading the Bible, I have to admit, is harder than it should be. And it’s been hard to see God as a father when I have no point of reference.

I’m beginning to realize that it’s harder to be a Christian being surrounded by affluence and idols. I wonder if it’s not easier to follow God where poverty reigns. So many times we equate Christianity with being “blessed” and “fruitful” and comfortable. But is it?

Here lately I’m beginning to think not. Our “brand” of Christianity is not what Jesus taught the disciples to be and to do. He said to love our enemies, yet we are many times not known by our love, but by our hate. Just look at all the church divisions and the backbiting among believers.

He said that pure religion is to visit the orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained from the world (James 1: 27). I don’t want to be like the Pharisees in Jesus’ day who thought they were doing all the “right” things and following God, but were, in fact, not getting any of it. Not getting that the point of this life is loving God and other people. Nothing else matters. It’s all about bringing the kingdom of God to earth “as it is in heaven.”

Yet how many times do we walk past the broken and suffering, our pride and heads held high. All the while, crucifying Jesus with our twisted logic, our walled-up hearts, our firmly-set masks.

No wonder I feel a deep and nagging restlessness inside that tells me there is more to this life than what I’ve always known. The author of my story, the God of the universe, wants to write a better story, not just for me, but for all of us. For the whole world, because isn’t the “whole world” what Jesus came and died for?

I am finding that I don’t have to keep living the story I’ve been living—the isolated life lived in a Christian bubble that looks away from the poor and afflicted like I’m somehow better than they are. I have no righteousness apart from the righteousness Christ bestows. No one does. Our righteousness is filthy and worthless.

This life is God’s story, not ours. It’s a journey in which the destination is not even the main goal. The journey is—how we get there, and who we bring with us along the way. I am humbled in this serene place of silence and solitude. There is a whole world of hurting, suffering people who need to know there is a God and He cares. He loves and His love will endure forever.

As I took communion this morning, I heard my Abba Father say: “Allow me to open your eyes to the spiritual, to see with my eyes yourself and the world. I am writing for you a better story. Will you believe? You are the light to this world, this dark world, but I am the source of that light.”

I need to see God’s world through His eyes. So that my faith works itself out in real action. Action that is a bright, shining light to all who are blinded by the lies of the enemy, who are poor, afflicted, broken. I am on a journey to transformation and true relationship, not just with the ever-present, holy Father, but with His people, the ones He came and died for.

Every Quilt Tells a Story by Emily Carter

2009-12-06T13:29:00.001-05:00

Every quilt tells a story. Earlier this fall, a few of my cousins joined me in the Queen City (Charlotte, NC) for a girls’ weekend. We traveled uptown and visited the Mint Museum of Craft and Design. We toured the art gallery and enjoyed the American Quilt exhibit. We saw a quilt that spoke of hours of tedious work where no two pieces of fabric were the same. We saw one that had been made with a political voice instructing us as to which party we should cast our vote. We saw quilts of vibrant colors and one in solid off-white. Each one was handmade and unique; no two were the same. These quilts mirrored our lives. No two are alike. Each of us has been created uniquely to tell a story. For Christians, the stories may be similar as we recount who Jesus is to us, but still, every story will be different because Christ has done a special work in each of our lives.

All quilts have a pattern. The quilter must have a vision for what he or she is trying to accomplish with the creation. This thought as it applies to life causes me to ask myself some questions. I hope you will ask yourself the same ones.

* As I am sewing my experiences together, am I using the Master’s plan for my life?

* Or if someone was to look at my quilt, would they think that I am just haphazardly putting the pieces together?

* Am I trying to live my life by the detail of God’s plan or am I doing things my own way?

* What is my excuse for having pieces that don’t fit or pieces that don’t please God?

* What is my reasoning for unkind words and actions?

Yes, I am human and therefore I sin, but should I abuse God’s grace? The apostle Paul says no! I must live as the new creation that I am. I must seek the vision that the Lord has for my life and pray the prayer so eloquently penned in this old hymn.

“Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Be Thou my Wisdom, Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee, Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
Be Thou my battle-shield, sword for my fight,
Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight.
Thou my soul's shelter, Thou my high tower.
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of heaven, my victory won,
May I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heav’ns Son!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my vision, O ruler of all.”

Ancient Irish hymn, possibly from the 8th Century, tr. by Mary E. Byrne

As friends and family look upon the quilt of your life, what do they see? Do they see a story of devoted service and undying love for the King? If not, know that it is not too late to change your story. What new pieces can you sew into your quilt to point others to Jesus? Merry Christmas!

On a personal note:

The last time I wrote for the Crossroads Communicators blog, I sought prayer for my daughter, Grace. The doctors were concerned that she might have a mass growing behind her eye due to the fact that one pupil dilated larger than the other. We thank you for your prayers and want you to know that God answered them in the best possible way. There was no mass or anything else unusual about Grace’s MRI results. Grace’s abnormal pupil is simply one more way that God creatively made her. She is an original and so are you!

With or Without by JoAnn Lampe

2009-11-29T20:58:00.000-05:00

Psalm 25:4-7
Show me your ways, O LORD,
teach me your paths;
guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love,
for they are from of old.
Remember not the sins of my youth
and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me,
for you are good, O LORD.

With or Without

A path is there before me,
It’s end I cannot see.
Peering through the thickset bracken,
I note a clear path is clearly lackin’

Dear Lord, I pray, show me the way.
Not tomorrow but today!
I grow impatient waiting to hear
Do you not see me? I know I am near

I will wait no longer for You to say,
“Come follow me I know the way.”
I’m off on my own – I know I can do it
Just stay up in Heaven, and I’ll see to it.

I bravely step through the bracken gate
Thankful I haven’t waited too late.
Big strides I make on my first day
Oh yes! I am on my way!

Ooops! I’m caught on a prickly briar
I’ve told some lies, but I’m not a liar.
Jumping ahead using someone’s feet
I have a feeling I’m no longer sweet.

Ooops! I’ve fallen in a great big hole.
I can’t remember – what was my goal?
With no one’s help – to make it on my own.
Without the Lord, my destiny’s sown.

Oh Lord, I’ve fallen and I can’t get up.
Do you think you could help this insolent pup?
The path laid before me was life you see
With it’s twists & turns & dangers times three.

You say I’m forgiven? Oh – I knew it was true
I’m stopping now to wait for you.
You’ll guide me through the path ahead
Now I can look without any dread.

My life is my own with the Lord at my side
I just have a less bumpier ride.
So Lord here I am – here’s my hand,
I’m following YOU to the Promised Land!

Lost and Found by Tami Gilman

2009-11-11T15:16:00.000-05:00

One morning my phone rang at 4:50 am and a friend of mine was on the line. She was headed to the hospital to be with her mother who was having difficulty breathing and asked if I could stay with her kids until she got back. Her husband is deployed to Iraq and my husband was out of town, but between the two of us, we would manage. I jumped up, fed my dogs because they have no sense of time, let them outside and threw on some clothes so I could get there quickly. Once at my friend’s house, I actually went back to sleep. I got back up in time to pack the kid’s lunches and get them ready for school. It was all quite uneventful, until I got home, that is.

I let my dogs back outside since they had only been out a few minutes earlier that morning. I finished getting ready for work and went to the front door to let my precious little bundles of fur back in the house. To my surprise, they weren’t waiting at the front door, grateful to even be allowed in the house in the first place. No, my babies had decided that life in my yard was not exciting enough and decided to seek adventure elsewhere. I called their names, expecting them to run happily toward the sound of my voice. I am their mother, after all. I feed them, pet them and make sure they are well taken care of. My husband plays with them. They should certainly know that they are loved. Yet, of all mornings, they decided that they indeed were discontent.

I hopped in the truck and headed around the neighborhood looking in yards for any sign of my delinquent pets. As I rounded the corner, I spotted one of my dogs in the neighbor’s yard. I called his name expecting him to be pleased that I was searching for him, yet he looked at me in surprise and took off like a shot! He ran to my friend’s house and came to a screeching halt on her front porch. He seemed to be relieved, as though we were playing a game and he reached home base where he would be considered “safe.” As I am scolding him for being disobedient and ungrateful, I see my girl dog, Kailey, trotting through the yard. She ran toward the fence as if to will herself into my friend’s back yard and be free from any consequence. I truly believe they know better when they are misbehaving.

I finally coaxed the dogs in the truck, took them to the house, grabbed a lint roller and headed to work. Being that I was now late and my blood was already boiling, thoughts were raging in my mind about how ungrateful my dogs really are. Who do they think they are? They have it so good and are taken care of better than some people, yet it is not enough. As I am stewing over this situation, I felt like the Lord impressed upon me, “Well, now you know how I feel. I care for my children, I provide for them, beckon to them and yet sometimes they ignore me. Sometimes they are even blatantly disobedient.” Now that will stop you in your tracks. Not literally, because that would have caused an accident, but you get the idea.

I realize that my dogs running away does not impact anyone other than me, but doesn’t it resemble the disobedience we sometimes show toward God? He is our Father, Healer, Provider, Source of Strength, and yet we often ignore Him or run in another direction. We seek refuge on someone else’s porch. That morning I realized that as angry as I was at my dogs, I still love them. Even when they run away or don’t listen, I will still welcome them home. God’s love for his children is an infinite amount greater than mine and I became more aware of this through a very frustrating situation. There are consequences for straying, but even when we are disobedient, God doesn’t leave us where we are. When we are willing, He picks us up, takes us home and puts us safely where we belong.

Luke 15: 4-6 "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home.

Should Have and Could Have by Tammy Blackburn

2009-11-08T19:24:00.000-05:00

At the end of the day
When work is all done,
We look back on our tasks
Whether work or for fun.
Our memories are fresh
As we take to our beds,
Each word and each deed
Seems to swirl in our heads.
Oft times our days are
Filled with regrets,
That’s when the curse of
I should have besets.
As we toss and we turn
Sweat dampens our sheets,
We tend to focus
On failures, defeats.
There have been many nights
That I’ve lain awake,
Wondering how many rights
Out of wrongs I could make.
But I’ve learned a secret
I’m willing to share,
A way to lie down
Each night without care.
I’m only human
Mistakes are okay,
I just do my best
As I go through my day.
I trust God to guide
My hands and my feet,
To guard all my thoughts,
And make my words sweet.
So when the sun sets
I’m not troubled by should have,
When I know I’ve done
All that I could have.

Friends, it is the work of the evil one who condemns us and tries to steal our peace. Certainly we will sin at times and those sins need to be taken to Christ. But never allow Satan to condemn you and blame you falsely.

Galatians 5:1 “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

The Valley of Shadows by Jan Darnell

2009-11-01T15:33:00.000-05:00

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me. Ps. 23:4

Evil. It slithers through our lives with deceptive wiles and oppressive intent waiting to coil and strike in the valley of the shadow of death. How should we respond? Should we be afraid? Recently I encountered this valley that David refers to in Psalm 23. Here is my response:

The wicked forces presenting themselves against us in death emit a potent nauseating stench. Suddenly we are faced with unwanted, irrevocable vacancies. We could not become more acutely aware of the power of evil and the consequences of sin than when death strikes with such hostility. Pending darkness absorbs prism colors of joy and abandons us to prisons of monochrome black. Haunting winds then recount the losses throughout sleepless nights, boasting of life’s chilling finalities. This is the valley of the shadow of death.

Thankfully, Psalm 23:4 reveals a valuable asset when confronted with this prison or valley of evil. God. God is our asset. I fear no evil; for Thou art with me. There is an immunity for those who trust in God, a blessed provision through the victory of Christ that Paul wrote of in 1 Corinthians 15:55, O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” Though death stings us, God has removed the stinger.

The entire 23rd Psalm is a hymn praising God for His provisions. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want (lack). He leads, He restores, He guides For His name’s sake (Psalm 23:1-3). In this psalm, David includes God to be sufficient even in the valley of death. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me. David sings of God’s presence despite the solitude in loss and there is enormous loss when someone we love is taken away. That heart we have exchanged love with is no longer present.

First, it can be realized from David’s writing that walking through this valley is a part of life. It is presented as a matter of fact, a commonality. David does not say, If I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, nor does he refer to the encounter as exceptional. Rather he presents death as a familiar encounter. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death… You can almost hear David say, “I have journeyed through this valley. You will too. But know this…God is with you.”

This valley is as deep as it is wide, beckoning every one of us to walk through it at some point. Think of the numbers of people who have gone since original sin spoiled our world. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Ro 3:23). The wages of sin is death (Ro. 6:23). Everyone walks through this valley.

Secondly, it is notable that the pace of this journey is referred to as a walk, not a sprint. We might prefer it to be a race quickly run and won but it is not. Walking through this valley occurs at a slow pace, one that tantalizes with unnerving thoughts, coming from unknown places within the valley shadows. It is a time of temptation, as well as sorrow, a time when guilt ravishes the mind with doubt and unexpected inadequacies. It is a time when reflections are conflicted by sweet and sour memories, the sour attempting to expunge the sweet.

I will fear no evil. David refuses to give way to the sour thoughts of condemnation that cause us to grimace with guilt. Fear has no place in the heart of a believer. Neither does condemnation or evil. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Ro. 8:1). Faith is the key to facing these giants, our faith in a God who is faithful in times of trouble. For Thou art with me.

On September 27th, 2009 my father was summoned by our heavenly Father to a mansion prepared just for him. Jn.14:2. The reflection of such unparalleled grandeur brings me joy and peace on his behalf. However, while I rejoice for my dad in his new estate, there is a deep void left behind. My dad is gone. I am now walking, at times crawling, through the valley of the shadow of his death.

I sat by dad the night he died. He had just gone to bed, recovering from a successful kidney stone procedure earlier in the week. Suddenly, his body jerked as if electrocuted, rendering him unconscious. He exhaled with two short, quick coughs and then stopped breathing. Seconds prior to that, we were talking. I sat there stunned, staring at my father who suffered a fatal heart attack before my eyes. At that very moment, the earth stood still for me. Darkness shrouded all my senses with a suffocating cloak, crushing me with indescribable grief and pain. In an instant, I found myself in the valley of the shadow of death, sequestered by an authority far, far beyond my abilities.

Since Barry and I married in 1982, our family of nine has had to rebuild twice. Once after a major fire destroyed most of our house, then again after a tornado twisted through our neighborhood, picking up trees like toothpicks and removing houses unfortunate enough to be in its’ path. Each disaster required years of reconstruction and my dad was a major part of those. Now he is gone. How do we rebuild now? How do we deal with the huge void left in our family, one that is intangible unlike destroyed houses or fallen trees? David answers that with Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me. With God’s faithful presence comes His faithful guidance. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want (lack). He leads me beside the still waters, He restores my soul.

It is comforting to know that we walk only through a valley of shadows when we face death. Death has no final power or claim. The grave cannot contain us. Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:57). Jesus overcame the power of all sin and therefore removed the penalty of death. This is why David says, I fear no evil. God is with us. There is nothing to fear.

Thank you Jesus for the love and life you have shed abroad in our hearts. May we honor and trust Your victorious name when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Amen

An Ending and a Beginning by Sherri Tyler

2009-10-26T08:38:00.000-04:00

The day I lost my mother my whole world came crashing in. It had only been two weeks since I had sat in a hospital room alone with her while the doctor explained that she had cancer. I walked out into the hall and asked him to be honest with me and tell me how long she had. He replied “she may have a month or two, or it may be as short as a few weeks.” I thanked him and went back into the room to my mother. I asked her if she understood what he had just said, and she shook her head no. I told her that he said she had cancer, and that it was bad. She looked at me with a blank look. I was not sure she understood, so I explained that there was nothing they could do for her. I watched the expression on her face change as she began to understand what I was trying to tell her. Then with a peaceful expression of understanding she said simply, “Ok then and smiled.” She said she could get through this as long as I stayed with her. She made me promise not to leave her side. I told her I would be there and we would get through this together. Then I put my head in her lap and cried. For the last time, I felt my mother comfort me. That was the last time I allowed myself to cry in front of her. I spent a lot of time holding her hand so she knew I was there, but I never let her feel my pain. I wanted her to know I was going to be okay, and that she had done her job well and I would be fine. That was so far from the truth. I think she probably knew. Mothers are wise like that.

It happened so quickly. I have never felt more alone in my life then when my mother passed away. I also think I have never felt the friendship and love of God more than since her departure from this world. God is always there; watching over us as we stumble through life.

Joshua 1:5 "No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you."

It is hard at times to notice God’s presence when the busy hustle and bustle of life gets in the way. We build our life and our support systems and forget to consider God. I think this is why quiet time with God is so important. It gives us time to listen to the voice we seldom hear when the pressures of the world are pressing in on us. When I came home after mother’s death I was alone. The silence was oppressive. I had time to think and feel and listen. God’s voice came in loud and clear.

It’s been almost two years since my mother died. There is never a day that passes when I do not think of her and miss her. The pain is just as intense. They say that time heals all wounds, but I don’t know if the pain will ever change. Only the passing of time will teach me if this is true. What I do know today, that I did not really know before, is that God is there for us. I am one of those who do not have a clear gift for discernment, but I know this; I have clearly seen God work in my life since my mother died. He has shown me that I do walk on this earth alone, but also that I am not alone. He will help us through the hard times and celebrate with us in the good.

Psalms 46: 1-3 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear thought the earth should change, thought the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.”

God is there for us every day and every minute of our lives; we just have to acknowledge him. We should talk to God as if he is in the room. We should make him a part of our daily lives. This is where prayer belongs, not just in the time when we get on our knees although this is important time too, but in the daily activities of life. I used to talk to my mother every day. I didn’t talk to God every day. He should have been the first person on my list of calls to make. When we look back at our lives and think of the events that have shaped us into who we are today, we can pinpoint the really important events. For me, the death of my mother is the most important event to impact my relationship with God. It has taught me that the only person who will be there for us, for all of our lives, is God. He is there from beginning to end.

Revelations 22:13 “I am the alpha and the omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

God wants us to lean on him, ask him for advice, and share our joys, as well as our sorrows. God wants it all and deserves it all. I am glad that God is a patient God. It took many years for me to come to the understanding that he wants us to look to him first for support.

This event has also taught me that what is really important is what we do while we are here, who we care for in our lives, and what we share with others. What is also important is to share that life with God.

One of the blessings of being a Christian is the knowledge that one day we will see our loved ones again.

1 Thess 4:17 “After that, we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord.”

I can honestly say that this one truth has made the days bearable.

My mother always said she didn’t have a good singing voice. One day I will stand next to my mother and the two of us will be lifting our voices in praise to him for his grace. I know the expression on her face will be that wonderful smile I remember from that day in the hospital when she looked at me with a mother’s love.

She has left a legacy……

Nichole Nordeman - Legacy

I want to leave a legacy.
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to Love?
Did I point to you enough to make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering. A child of mercy and grace who blessed your name unapologetically, and leave that kind of legacy.
……not well traveled, not well read, not well-to-do or well bred. Just want to hear instead, “Well done good and faithful one…”

International Plan of Salvation by Gail Purath

2009-10-18T19:48:00.000-04:00

I was on the patio of our bed and breakfast in Dubrovnik, Croatia when I met a sweet little old lady from Vienna who spoke excellent English. When I told her I did Christian work in Budapest, she was quick to assure me that she was also a Christian. But she was just as quick to tell me that she believed that people of all religions will get into heaven as long as they are good people.

According to a recent poll, most Americans agree with her. A survey reported in Parade Magazine just this month showed that 59% of those polled believe that “all religions are valid.”* Isn’t it amazing that so many people throughout the world believe in this plan of salvation? Even in cultures where politics and religion are taboo subjects between strangers, I’ve found that people are eager to share this view. I think they genuinely assume that everyone will agree with the “logic” of their plan.

However, I’ve noticed that people who suggest this plan never explain what the specific requirements are for being “good.” Can you miss heaven for lack of one good deed? Do bad deeds cancel good deeds or good deeds cancel bad deeds? Can you do all your good deeds early in life and then take it easy? Do your motives count or only your actions?

Since this Viennese lady didn’t think God cares what or who we believe in, I should have asked her whether “good” was determined by Christian values (say the Ten Commandments) or Muslim values (say the Holy Jihad). The definitions of “good” in these two religious systems are completely opposite in some areas.

Besides being vague, this plan of salvation also seems a bit arrogant. I always get the impression that people who hold the view are pretty sure they fall into the “good” category themselves.

Had I asked the Viennese lady who decides who/what is good, it’s very likely that she’d have said that God does. Then I could have told her that He already has. He says, “There is no one righteous, not even one” (Rom. 3:10), and He emphasizes throughout Scripture that we are saved by grace, through faith and not by works (Eph. 2:8,9). He also says that no one can come to God except through faith in Jesus Christ (John 14:6).

I think the reason so many people all over the globe embrace this view of salvation is because it sounds “fair” to affirm the faith of so many different people. But what this view actually does is deny the beliefs of all religions. For example, the Bible teaches that Jesus is God while the Koran teaches that Jesus is not God. Claiming that everything is true is the same as claiming that nothing is true.

I doubt this little Viennese lady had thought through her belief system enough to realize that her view also makes Christ’s death on the cross meaningless. Why would Christ die for sinners if we can get to heaven on our goodness alone? As C.S. Lewis explained in Mere Christianity, either Christ is the Lord and Savior of mankind, or He was a lunatic and liar.

It’s tragic that so many men and women have staked their eternal futures on this theory that doesn’t really make any sense. It’s also tragic that I’ve heard this view so many times yet never prepared an intelligent, articulate response. That day in Dubrovnik, I mumbled something about knowing Christ, but I didn’t do the subject justice. I prepare myself for so many things in life—why shouldn’t I do the same for the Enemy’s attractive but deadly lies? After all, this little Viennese lady’s only hope is Christ, no matter how well she has lived her life. Next time someone shares this view, I hope to be better prepared.

* “How Spiritual Are We?” Parade Magazine, October 4, 2009, page 4.

Pantyhose and Prayer by Kim Jackson

2009-10-12T08:25:00.000-04:00

Halfway into church from the parking lot I realized that my pantyhose were rapidly becoming kneehighs. I continued talking to my friends as if nothing was amiss, but inwardly I was praying that I would make it to the safety of a nearby restroom before the top of my pantyhose sagged below my skirt.

My prayer was answered and I was able to hike up the hose and tuck the elastic-weary waistband into other undergarments. This temporary fix allowed me to attend Sunday school, after which I returned to the restroom for further shoring up.

On my way into the sanctuary I considered that, given said dilemma, I might need to worship less enthusiastically than is my custom. That is easier said than done at our church. And even more so when the choir launches into “All Things are Possible,” followed by a roarin’ rendition of “Trading My Sorrows.”

While one cannot modestly assess pantyhose progress in public places, I felt as we neared the end of worship that I was holding up well. And I could, if necessary, wait until the sanctuary cleared to make my getaway.

What I had not anticipated was the Spirit moving on my heart during the pastor’s sermon. Much of what he said stirred my soul. When he asked for those desiring prayer
to come forward, everything within me wanted to respond.

But I was held captive in pantyhose prison.

I knew that God could meet me right where I was, but I longed to step out, go forward, and pour out the desires of my heart in prayer at the altar.

Instead, I sat down.

As the service concluded, a new friend named Clara walked back to my pew. She took one look at me and then turned to a friend and said, “Is she ok?” When Deb responded positively, Clara dismissed her answer and spoke directly to me. “Are you ok?”

“Yes, I am” I said, all the while trying to gauge the current status of the pantyhose problem. I made an executive decision that my pantyhose were up—literally—for the walk to the car, so we began to make our way through the crowd to the parking lot.

Along the way we ran into more friends, so there followed a round of greetings and hugs. As Clara and I waited for the rest of our group, she looked at me again and asked, “Are you sure you are ok? Is there anything I can pray about for you?”

I don’t know Clara well, but I do know she is a woman of prayer. So I told her what was on my heart. With not a second of hesitation, Clara commenced to very specifically exhort me in the Lord. She rattled off a succession of Scripture verses that could not have been more perfectly suited. She encouraged, she blessed, she spoke truth into my life. And she concluded with a promise to pray for me concerning the very reason I had longed to go forward.

When we dropped Clara off at her apartment, her last words to me were “Now you stay encouraged!”

Back at my house, I gratefully removed the problematic pantyhose, which obviously took little effort to bring down. As I sat on the edge of the bed, Clara’s sweet exhortations flowed through my mind. And I smiled to think how committed God was to reaching out to me when I was not “up” to reaching Him.

I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers! (Isaiah 65:24 NLT)

Grandchildren: An Awesome Opportunity by Ann Wayne

2009-10-05T08:16:00.000-04:00

Lots of hugs. Lots of kisses on the cheek and behind his ears. I was sitting on the front porch swing with precious little Benjamin, my new 3-month-old grandson. A first-time attempt to “coo” and smiles almost too big for his little mouth to encompass. It was during this bonding time that I was reminded of the wonderful opportunity I have as a grandmother to teach and set an example for him and his little cousin Emma Grace.

A few weekends ago, our nation celebrated “Grandparents Day.” A time to show appreciation for grandparents and let them know what they mean to us. A time to visit and spend quality time with the people who have had tremendous influence in our lives in some way or another. We may have fond memories of grandparents teaching us godly principles or we may have sad memories of grandparents who were distant or who shed ungodly influence. Whatever the case, it’s time we all realize the importance of a grandparent’s role.

In Deuteronomy, chapters 4 and 5, Moses is introducing the laws the Lord has given him to share with the Israelites. In chapter 4, verse 9, Moses says, “Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them (NIV).” Even in the Old Testament, we are given instruction about the responsibility as grandparents to help nurture and teach our grandchildren. We should have more wisdom and life experiences to share with them than their parents have acquired.

After Moses shared the Ten Commandments with the Israelites, he reminded them again in Deuteronomy 6:6-9 that “these commandments are to be upon your heart. Impress them on our children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates (NIV).”

As one who loves to decorate, I find it refreshing to place scripture stones all around the house. They are beautiful and exalt the word of God. They are also a great witnessing tool for anyone who comes to visit. As children learn to read, the stones are a great way for them to memorize scripture. It helps them recite the verse each time they walk by. This is a unique way to instill scripture in their hearts and minds for a lifetime.

Here are some other ways that I have discovered to share God’s word with my grandchildren (especially Emma who is 3 ½ years old) and other children in the family:

• DVDs with Bible stories
• CDs with Christian songs
• Stuffed animals that play Christian lullabies or hymns
• Books with Bible stories or lessons in obedience or Christian virtues
• Creation lessons about nature when taking a walk outside
• Visual aids when telling a story or singing – this helps children retain better
• Games with scriptures and symbols for Christian holidays
• Jewelry with Christian symbols

In Psalms 8:2, David, the psalmist, proclaims to the Lord, “You have taught the little children to praise you perfectly. May their example shame and silence your enemies.”

Sitting on the front porch with Benjamin that day was like a praise service for both of us. He tried to “coo” to show his love and fulfillment with his “Grammy.” I was praising God for this precious child and the bonding time. May each of you who have the privilege to become a grandparent realize the awesome opportunity that God has placed in front of you with your grandchildren.

Shattered Dreams by JoAnn Lampe

2009-09-28T08:45:00.000-04:00

Broken childhood - Broken hearts - Broken relationship

-----------------Fractured families-----------------
Drug abuse – violence – murder – mayhem –
Lost jobs – lost homes – lost lives

---------Shattered dreams----------

Jesus
Name above all names
Jesus
Saviour, Redeemer,
Jesus
Healer, provider
Jesus

Poverty, humble beginning, “different”,
Unknown, day laborer,
Listening & waiting
Listening & waiting
Listening & waiting
Broken body – death – life

Jesus
Name above all names,
Beautiful Saviour – Glorious LORD
Emmanuel – God is with us –
Blessed Redeemer – Living Word –

New life created from shattered dreams
Broken pieces placed just so
A varied hue of colors
The light of Jesus shining through
A beautiful mosaic
He makes for you.

The Hardest Part is the Waiting by Emily Carter

2009-09-14T08:20:00.000-04:00

I wrote this article on Monday, August 31 knowing that I would be taking my four-year-old daughter to the eye doctor two days later. On Wednesday, the doctor told us that our four year old has an abnormal pupil, something that 20 percent of the population has, and that it was most likely nothing to worry about. However, since we had just noticed that one pupil is larger than the other is, he wanted her to have an MRI just to make sure everything was what it should be. As I send this to the editors, we are waiting for the MRI to take place on September 9th. You will receive this blog on the 13th, while we are waiting on the results and follow-up appointment that is to take place on Friday, the 18th. Waiting is hard. Today, if you find yourself like I do, in a season of stillness, WAIT on God.

W – Wait in Wonder and Commit Your Way to Him.
A – Abstain from Anger
I – Prepare for Your Inheritance
T – Trust God and Talk to Him

Wait in Wonder and Commit Your Way to Him. Psalm 34:4-5 says, “Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this.” Wait in wonder, delight in God. Think of all that he has done for you personally and for his creation and marvel at his handiwork. This will be a time of praise that will move your focus off yourself and onto the Father. He loves you dearly and you are his glorious creation. You are his prized possession. Commit Your Way to him. Lift up your situation to him. Let him know you want to do things his way. His will is what you want to be accomplished in your life. Nothing but his perfect and pleasing plan will do for you.

Abstain from Anger. Psalm 34:8 gives us great advice. As you wait, don’t get angry or fret. This is hard to do, especially when we have been waiting for something important for a long time already. Remember, the longer you wait, the more time you have to prepare for his plan. And the more time you have to become the person God wants you to be.

Prepare for your Inheritance. Six different times is Psalm 34 the word “inherit” or “inheritance” is used. Wow! We are told, in verse 9, to hope in the LORD. In verse 11, we are told that the meek will inherit the land and in verse 18 that the inheritance of the blameless will last forever. “Those the LORD blesses will inherit the land” can be found in Psalm 34:22. In verse 29, it is the righteous that inherit the land, and finally, in verse 34 we are encouraged to “wait for the Lord and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land.”

Lastly, Trust God and Talk to the Lord. The Hebrew word used for “trust” in Psalm 34:3 denotes a confident expectation. Believe that, as you wait, God is at work. He is preparing you for his plan. He is working out all things for your good. As you trust him, talk to him. Psalm 34:30 says, “The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom and his tongue speaks what is just.” The only way we will be able to speak the right words is by spending time studying God’s word and talking to him.

Waiting is never easy, but the desires that God has for your life are well worth the wait!

Gold Nuggets by Ann Wayne

2009-09-06T13:14:00.000-04:00

I love to shop. In fact, I am good at it. What I mean is that I know how to find bargains. You see, it’s not really when you are looking for something specific that you find them. Browsing in a store, walking by clearance tables or sidewalk sales, and being aware of the goods around you are the best time to find them. And out of season. Never buy in season unless you absolutely have to.

A good example is the rug at my cabin in the mountains. I looked at it for a year at Lowe’s Home Store before purchasing it. It was originally $325. Then months later, it was marked down to $225. Then one day I went by for some hardware and happened to walk by the rugs and it was missing. That’s when I discovered it lying on the floor rolled up in a bag. A price of $175 was marked in red on the sticker. After talking with the manager, she agreed to let it go for $125. Wow! I actually purchased the rug at 60% off. If we have the patience, we can find gold nuggets most anywhere.

In Matthew 7:7 and Luke 11:9, we are instructed to “ask and it will be given to us; seek and we will find; knock and the door will be opened to us.” It’s really a simple test of faith. A 1-2-3 kind of faith. But the answers are before us. (1) Ask and we receive, (2) seek and we find, (3) knock and the door is opened. This is how we find our gold nuggets in our spiritual walk and answers to life issues.

The Lord desires a close relationship with us. He wants us to ask Him for the desires of our hearts. And His word proclaims that he will give it to us. In Psalm 37:4, we are to "Delight ourselves in the Lord and he will give us the desires of our heart." The scriptures say that if we commit to Him and trust in Him, he will make our righteousness shine, and if we are patient and have hope in the Lord – then we will inherit the land (the gold nuggets). Now my paraphrase of that is…If we are patient and trust in Him, He will give us good things.

So where do we seek? If we are in the world, we will seek material possessions and pleasures. But if we are a child of God, we should be seeking in His word. Hebrews 4:12 says “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword…” Brothers and sisters, there is simply nothing else on the earth that speaks truth and love more accurately than scripture. We must not only read the word, but we must act on it. James 1:22 reminds us that we “do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive ourselves. Do what it says.” When we take the word of God to heart and live by it, we have a much clearer path and the peace that passes understanding.

And how do we knock? First, we acknowledge Christ as our Lord and Savior. This may involve some repentance. In 2nd Chronicles 7:14 the Lord spoke to Solomon at night and said, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” The Lord is telling us to repent and He will bless us. The doors will be opened. The gold nuggets will be our rewards for being faithful and seeking His face.

It’s as simple as 1-2-3. Ask and we receive, seek and we find, and knock and the door is opened. Even a child can find these gold nuggets!

Dust to Glory by Jan Darnell

2009-08-30T14:32:00.000-04:00

From dust, God created sons and daughters to bear His image. And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Gen. 1:27 Then God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden; a garden He planted specifically for Adam to oversee. Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. Gen. 2:15 cultivate (5647) abad – “work, serve, labor; to worship, minister, work in ministry, plow, cultivate”

This magnificent paradise included rivers and rich soil embedded with stones such as gold, bdellium, and onyx stone. Gen. 2:9-14 It was a place of abundant, fruitful provision, designed for Adam to enjoy as well as cultivate and keep.
keep (8104) samar – “watch, observe, guard, set aside, cling to”

Blessed by God for fruitfulness, Adam had been given the capacity to accomplish the tasks set before him. He was created with Godlike abilities for the glory of God. Everyone (male and female) called by My name, I have created for My glory. Is. 43:7

In Genesis 2, we read of Adam naming every animal as God named the stars. Gen. 2:19-20; Ps. 147:4; Is. 40:26 Adam was reflecting the glory of his Creator whose intelligence, authority and creativity were seen, for whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. Gen. 2:19 In any task assigned, Adam had the opportunity to explore his abilities in the fellowship of his Father, enjoying his position as the son of a magnificent God. Gen. 2:15; Lk. 3:38

Why would God put dusty Adam in a paradise like the Garden of Eden rather than a desert or wilderness? Why? Because our Creator designed us to know His goodness and His glory. Consider this: when Moses asked to see God’s glory, God answered, I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you… Ex. 33:18-22 God defines His glory to be His immeasurable goodness.

Let’s be clear on this point: Gods’ position and honor as Creator belongs only to Him and none other. I am the LORD, that is My name, I will not give My glory to another, nor My praise to graven images. Is. 42:8 All praise and honor belong to God as our Creator. There are no other gods but One. Let us be thankful that this God rules the universe by the glory of His goodness! Beyond our control, He could have also been the opposite of good. What if He were one of terror and madness! But He isn’t. God is good! Glorify Him and revel in the goodness of our Creator!

The heart of our glorious God wants to share His satisfying goodness with us. His glory was shared with the first man and woman in the Garden, even with the Hebrews in their exodus and wilderness wandering consequential to their disobedience. Ex. 16:7 Most importantly the glory of God was declared and shared with us through the incarnation of Jesus Christ. Jn. 1:14

The Garden was full of the goodness of God, which Adam was told to freely partake of. Gen. 2:16 In this sense, God does share His glory. When the sun rises, God is sharing His glory. When the sun sets and the moon takes its’ place, God is sharing His glory. His goodness was the reason for creation, for the Garden, for you and for His salvation. Trust His heart to be good towards you. It is.

O taste and see that the LORD is good! Ps. 34:8

Did You Bring Your Gloves? by Gail Purath

2009-08-23T23:31:00.000-04:00

The army has changed a lot in the last 35 years, but in 1973 when my husband went to Officer Candidate School (OCS) it was “old army” all the way.

OCS candidates were asked to do the impossible. For example, they had to maintain a perfect living area in the barracks, and there was a rule for absolutely everything. A man could actually be punished if one of the pencils in his desk was too short or if a button wasn’t buttoned on a uniform hanging in the closet! Because inspections came without warning (often in the middle of the night), candidates learned to maintain one set of personal items for “display” and another for use.

Believing that large doses of stress revealed a man’s emotional stamina, the instructors diligently harassed the candidates. Constant mealtime interruptions prevented the men from finishing their meals so they lived in a perpetual state of hunger. (It wasn’t unusual for one of us wives to get a late night “secret” order for 80 Big Macs to be left in a specified trash can outside the barracks!)

The physical training (often consisting of long runs in Army boots) forced a percentage of the class to retake the course due to injuries. Michael (23 years old at the time) persevered despite painful shin splints.

Because it was impossible to complete assignments in the time allowed, the men secretly studied and did chores after the official lights-out. They rarely got more than three or four hours of sleep, and sometimes slept fully dressed on top of their beds in order to be ready for reveille.*

While our husbands were going through this training, we wives were also learning how to become “good officers’ wives.” We had to learn about military protocol and social life: the rank system, the names and meanings of military functions, the difference between a tea and a coffee, when to wear gloves and a hat, what not to wear when we went grocery shopping, how to plan and give specific unit events, and how to treat our “superiors.”

The Colonel’s wife who led our group taught us a number of rules, one of which I will never forget. She emphasized that at any formal event, we must wear gloves in case the commanding officer’s wife wore gloves. To shake her gloved hand with an ungloved hand would be extremely rude, and any good officer’s wife would have a pair of gloves in her evening bag to be prepared. But she assured us that for the upcoming formal event she would not be wearing gloves.

When we showed up for that formal dinner and dance a few weeks later, all of us who had put a pair of gloves in our purse breathed a sigh of relief. There stood the Colonel’s wife at the head of the receiving line extending her gloved hand. I believe she took great delight in her little trick.

Although OCS accomplished some of what it set out to do—weed out men who were unable to meet the stresses and demands of combat leadership (more than half of the class dropped out before completion), it did it with arbitrary and meaningless rules, rules that focused on outward display and required dishonesty.

When I became a Christian a couple of years later, I couldn’t help but compare the OCS method of training to God’s methods. God’s rules are never arbitrary and meaningless. Instead, His commands reflect His character and prevent us from harm. Never is God interested in our outward “displays”—He is interested in our hearts.

Unlike the Colonel's wife, God never says one thing but does another. He never tricks us nor does He delight in our failures. From the very beginning in the Garden of Eden, God has been open and honest with mankind. He gave Adam and Eve only one rule and He clearly explained the consequences of breaking it. And He took no delight in their defeat. In fact, He picked them up on the field of that defeat and offered them the hope of redemption—a redemption that cost Him His Son.

Whatever God asks of us is not only possible, but He gives us the Holy Spirit to help us accomplish it. His training leads us into deepening honesty, never into deception. And the most amazing thing about God’s training is that His purpose is not to weed out the weak—His purpose is to strengthen them!

*reveille is a sunrise wake-up bugle call

What God Taught Me Between 8:30 and 5:00 by Kim Jackson

2009-08-09T23:20:00.000-04:00

My workplace is quite a classroom. I’m constantly learning. I’m not talking about job skills, although certainly I’ve picked a few of those up along the way.

It seems, although I don’t recall signing up for it, that I am currently enrolled in some sort of “Life Lessons” class.

I’ve yet to see a syllabus, but I can tell you some of the topics we’ve covered so far.

The first I’ll call “The Meaning of Mail.” One of my duties is to distribute mail at the Assisted Living community where I work. This task makes me very familiar with the residents who monitor their mailboxes on a daily, sometimes hourly basis. Every day I watch Dorothy nearly stand on her head to see if there is anything in her mailbox. When she is finished looking all the way to the back of the box, and seeing nothing there, she declares, “Not even a bill! If I got a bill at least someone would know I’m alive.”

I watch as residents walk by the mailboxes, trying not to be overly eager to see if there is any reason to stop. One resident doesn’t even wait for the mail to get in the building. He sits on the porch watching for the mail lady to pull up in her Jeep.

I’m always delighted when I get to put an envelope with handwriting on it in to a mailbox. It means that another human being cared enough to take time to write a personal note to someone who no longer lives in the outside world. I love seeing a face “light up” at the discovery of a missive in her mailbox.

“The Meaning of Mail” causes me to ask a simple question: “Who have I encouraged today?”

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

My 8:30 to 5:00 Classroom also offers “The Meaning of Music.”

Since I serve as the unofficial DJ of the lobby area where residents gather throughout the day, it didn’t take long for me to discover that Howard loves anything by Montovani (“Autumn Leaves” is a favorite) and that Joann Castle’s honky-tonk piano playing always brings a smile. When Angela takes a seat in the lobby I put on old Broadway show tunes and I can guarantee you she’ll sing along with every one. Doris becomes an armchair conductor when I cue up the “Blue Danube”. I can hear Ellen singing her way down the hall before I see her: “Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus” precedes her appearance. So it’s hymns for her.

As I am changing the CDs in the lobby stereo, it occurs to me that music is a language that lasts. So I ask myself what song is presently playing in my heart. And I wonder what song will be playing on the stereo of my soul in 30 years.

By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me . . . Psalm 42:8

When you work at an Assisted Living, one of your workplace classes is not negotiable. You will automatically be enrolled in “The Meaning of Mortality.”

Every morning when I get to work I read the 24-hour report to find out what transpired over night. Who fell? Who went to the hospital? Who has a doctor’s appointment, whose meds should be ordered, whose diet has changed, and who needs to be more closely monitored.

And sometimes, who died.

Death is a sure part of life, but the timing often throws me off.

I’ve said goodbye to quite a few special folks in the past year. It’s never easy. Sometimes it’s incredibly hard.

I’ve caught myself looking out on the faces in the lobby and thinking, “Who’s next?”

Evidently, God wanted to underscore that last sentence. Even as I was typing it I heard a text message come in on my cell phone. Another friend has passed from this life.

But then that’s the meaning of mortality. Our lives here are transitory. It’s true for us all, no matter our age, no matter our physical health or lack thereof.

Will I be walking this planet in 30 years, 30 months, or 30 minutes? Will you?

Tomorrow is Monday. I’ll be back at work at 8:30. What will my first class be, God?

So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12

Homeward Bound by Tami Gilman

2009-08-03T08:20:00.000-04:00

On our way home from our mission trip to Senegal last year we got to Atlanta and the line for customs was long but moved pretty steady. The line for security, however, did not. I still haven't figured out how people can manage traveling to another country, but can't seem to understand how to take the change out of your pocket BEFORE you go through the metal detector. That's what I get for judging.

By the time the first half of our group got through security we had maybe 10 minutes to get from E concourse to A concourse. The team leader had enough confidence in me for some reason to send me ahead of the group to let the gate agents know we had 6 more people coming. No problem. I am a fully functioning and capable adult. I will handle it. I might be wearing flip flops and have no sense of direction, but I can do this.

I hurried over to the departure screens and found the flight to Charlotte on Delta at gate B9 and off I went. I got on the tram and managed to get off at B, but for some reason even unknown to me, I started down the corridor and not up the escalator. For this I now feel really stupid. At the time it seemed like it made sense. I even ran only to find that I had run all the way to A concourse. I even considered looking at the board to double check the gate, but talked myself out of it. I always second guess myself and even said, "It's B9, that's what the board said. Be confident for once." So I turned around and ran back to and all the way up the escalator to the B concourse. I proceeded to run all the way to the gate which was unoccupied because yes, it was for the 12:45 flight to Charlotte, not the 10:15. I considered laying in the floor in the fetal position. I was so exhausted and just knew that if we missed our flight it would be my fault.

I looked at the board and discovered that our flight was at gate A20 which is where I was accidentally headed in the first place, but for once didn't double check my information. Back I went, running loudly in my flops past the same people I just ran by to get to where I shouldn't have been. Down I go and over to the A concourse, still running, still out of shape, sweating like a boy and in the back of my mind wanting to get there before the rest of the team so they wouldn't know what I had done. Not possible. They had actually seen me running by the wrong way while they were on the tram headed to the right gate. When I finally got there and saw them at the gate where I broke down and started bawling like any rational adult would do. I was inconsolable and at the time this was devastating. Funny now, not then. I think all the passengers were a little afraid of what might happen next. They were probably all hoping I had some sort of tranquilizer for the flight, box of Kleenex and a barf bag just in case.

We made it home safely and I came up with a few good applications, so it wasn't a total waste of effort.

- A sincere belief in something doesn't make it truth. I ran with all my heart in one direction, but it wasn't going to get me home.

- It wouldn't hurt to stop and verify your destination.

- Before you think everyone else is foolish, stop and look at yourself.

The Stacking Doll by Gail Purath

2009-07-26T19:30:00.000-04:00

“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” (Proverbs 4:23).

When I visited Prague, Czechoslovakia in 1992, new signs of life and liberty were everywhere. After forty years of oppressive communism, the Czech people were learning how to express their new found religious, artistic, political, and financial freedoms. New capitalistic ventures cluttered the beautiful city—artists doing portraits, musicians performing for donations, historians hawking guided tours and others selling handicrafts.

Russian things were despised in the city because they represented the former oppressors, but there was one obvious exception: the Russian stacking doll. These were on sale everywhere because of their popularity with tourists. I had collected these nesting dolls for years, but the ones I owned from the communist era looked like they were wearing uniforms—simple swirls of red and yellow on lacquered wood. Eastern Europe’s former oppressive lifestyle left little time for art, and the dolls I owned reflected the bleak monotony and conformity of communist control.

Thankfully, freedom breeds creativity. Now that the hearts and hands of the people were free, the once plain dolls were taking on a variety of personalities. Some were finely inlayed, some wood burned and carefully painted, some minutely detailed with exquisite depictions of Russian fairy tales. Others were adorned with cheesy caricatures of pop culture idols—politicians, athletes or recording artists. There were dolls crafted by gifted artisans and others slapped together by amateurs hoping to make a quick buck.

I planned to buy one new doll for my collection, and the hunt for that perfect doll was half the fun of owning it. When we travel I always try to do some flea market shopping because it gives me a chance to see a side of the local people that I would miss otherwise. And downtown Prague in 1992 resembled one big flea market. Little did I realize that during my shopping trip I would also see a side of myself I might otherwise have missed.

Stacking dolls beckoned to me from everywhere--on makeshift tables and carts and on pieces of cloth spread on the pavement. After looking around for half an hour, I saw one with bright green and pink accents and bent to pick it up from its sidewalk display. Closer inspection revealed that the doll was not especially well painted, but as I lowered it back to the sidewalk, the bottom section fell out and rolled across the pavement. I chased it down and picked it up to find that the fall had slightly chipped the doll’s finish.

“OK?” the Czech seller asked a bit nervously (OK is a universal expression). I nodded yes, and quickly returned the doll to its display with the chipped section away from the dealer’s vision. But as I walked away my heart sank. I was shocked at the ease with which I concealed the doll’s damage, and an Old Testament verse from Jeremiah popped into my mind: “The heart is deceitful above all else…(17:8).”

In truth, the chipped doll was not my fault. The bottom of the doll must have been loose when I picked it up, but that was not the point. The point was that I’d seen the chip but told the dealer everything was fine. I had always prided myself on being an honest person. Even before I was a Christian, I had a strong conscience. Growing up, I rarely lied to my parents even when the truth brought punishment. I always corrected store clerks who made mistakes in my favor and avoided even those lies we call “white lies.” So why had I so easily and automatically lied about the damaged doll?

As I thought this through, another passage came to mind: “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it” (1 Cor. 10:12,13.)

I turned around that day in Prague, went back to the unsuspecting salesman and bought the most important doll in my collection. It’s not an especially pretty doll, nor was it worth the price I paid, but it is an important reminder of my ability to slip into sin if I do not constantly guard my heart.

Woman of Her Word by Christina Darnell

2009-07-17T11:15:00.000-04:00

“Simply let your ‘yes’ be ‘yes,’ and your ‘no,’ ‘no’;

anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”

Matthew 5:37

There I sat in front of the mall, waiting for my sister-in-law to show up. She had just called and asked me to meet her. She wanted to give me resources I needed to run an errand for her. Once again, I was completely overwhelmed with the plethora of commitments I had made. There were at least three events that I had tentatively said “yes” to for that evening. How did I manage to get myself into these stressful situations? My mother, visiting from out of town, sat down next to me and sighed. She lovingly started communicating that, for the sake of my own sanity, I had to start learning to say “no”. Oftentimes, my stress came from my own choosing.

As her words sank in, God convicted me of their truth. Sometimes I said “yes” out of reaction without taking the time to think about it. Other times it was due to the guilt of saying “no” to something that was good, even godly. Mostly, I was afraid to say “no” because I didn’t want to disappoint the people closest to me. I hated the thought of someone being at odds with me. Whatever our reasons, an inability to say “no” can lead us into stress and skewed priorities.

The Bible teaches that we should do our best to live at peace with everyone (Romans 12:18). I finally had to ask myself, “What keeps the peace more?” Was it saying “yes” to everything and then having to back down? Or was it saying “yes” to some things and following through – and saying “no” to others, confidently and kindly, and becoming known as a woman of my word?

God never intended us to do everything. Yes, there are many needs out there, but you are not responsible to meet all of them. We are a body of believers, each intended to make up a part so that together we make up the whole. We bring more glory to God when we faithfully do our part with joy than when we stretch ourselves thin trying to fulfill every need we see.

Part of my issue was that I wasn’t confident in choosing what to say “yes” and “no” to. I would make my yeses tentative because I was afraid something better would come along. As God convicted me of these principles and led me through His Word, He showed me that He wants us to be confident in the will He has for us. We don’t attain that confidence by being passive. Romans 12:2 states, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will” (emphasis added).

The key to making godly priorities – to making “yes” and “no” decisions – is renewing our mind. The world (and even the church) loves to tell us what our priorities should be, and those priorities will lead to stress. Accepting the priorities that God gives to us may be hard work, but it will lead to a life of peace. A renewed mind comes from daily time with Him, from being selective with what we look at and listen to, and from surrounding ourselves with godly influences. As we do this, and as we learn what to say “yes” and “no” to, we will simplify our lives, participating in the things which will bring us the greatest return – a life that glorifies our Savior.

Lord, help me not to be controlled by the pressures of this world, but to have priorities that are in line with your plan for my life. Give me discernment so I can know when to say “yes” and when to say “no,” and give me the strength to follow through with both so that I can become a person of my word and, therefore, honor You.

Dust To Glory by Jan Darnell

2009-07-12T22:40:00.000-04:00

Have you ever wondered why God chose to create adam from mere dust? Why not use heavenly glitter or adornments, such as angelic robes, halos or wings? Couldn’t God be a little more ostentatious with the creation of adam? But then maybe, the grandeur was in the miracle. Then the LORD God formed man (adam) of the dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. Gen. 2:7 Who else but God could breathe into the dust and bring forth life! Ex. 8:18-19

So also it is written, the first man, Adam, became a living soul. The last Adam (Jesus Christ) became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly. 1 Cor. 15:45-49

Another purpose in our humble beginnings is this…a line has been drawn in the sand. God will always be the Creator and adam will always be the created. You and I are merely dust apart from God, and without a Creator, we would not even exist. We are gifted with astounding abilities and afforded many opportunities to express them but must never forget our dusty beginnings. Earthly kingdoms rise and crumble. God’s heavenly kingdom will stand forever. Dan. 4:26; Ro. 8:17

Jesus said it like this…You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. Jn. 8:23 John the Baptist added…He who comes from above is above all, he who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks of the earth, He who comes from heaven is above all. Jn. 3:31 God predestined a kingdom for His Son and made it clear by virtue of our beginnings that Jesus Christ is the King and Head of this kingdom. Eph. 1:20-23 Jesus Christ did not come from the dust. The Son of God originated in heaven in the Father and came to earth for our benefit. Acts 2:23; Phil. 2:5-8

If God had fashioned us from gold dust or heavenly glitter, we would undoubtedly marvel at our beauty with excessive pride. Instead, God determined to begin with dust and magnify His glory by transforming earthly vessels into heavenly ones, clothed in the righteousness of His Son. Rev. 19:14

Our journey along the King’s highway begins by revering God as Creator of heaven and earth. God has not left anything to chance, nor has He haphazardly thrown the universe together. You and I were created for and by the glory of God. Jn. 1:1-13, 14 Everyone who is called by My name, and whom I have created for My glory, whom I have formed, even whom I have made. Is. 43:7

Our beginnings are meager, yet our future quite glorious. The expedition along the way?…all grace. Dust to Glory…completely grace. God’s Son…full of grace and truth! Jn. 1:14

Just as we have borne the image of the earthy,

we will also bear the image of the heavenly.

1 Cor. 15:45-49

I Surrender All by Serena Haneline

2009-07-05T21:47:00.000-04:00

The singles ministry I’m a part of likes to use the NOOMA videos — a collection of incisive and thought-provoking videos by Rob Bell, author, speaker, and lead pastor of a church in Grandville, MI. He simplifies God’s truths and uses video to illustrate his points. The other night we were watching one such video called “Tomato” about how we believe our success, intelligence, talents, etc. show how “good” we are. Jesus, however, told us to die to these things — things that make up our false self — so that we can truly live.

Based on the scripture of Matthew 10:39: “He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it,” Rob tells us that in order to find our true identity in Christ, we have to surrender and die to the “ideals of an image-conscious culture.”

After the video ended, we discussed the topic of surrender from our own experiences. At one point during the discussion, two women in my group commented that they are “surrendered” to Christ. I then began to wonder how many of us really grasp what it truly means to surrender to Christ.

The definition of the word “surrender” is to yield (something) to the possession or power of another. How often do we do this — especially in America? I’m currently reading a novel about persecuted Christians in China and how they are jailed, tortured and/or killed for their faith. The sad thing is that although the story itself is fiction, the reality of persecution in China and throughout the world is very real.

Millions of Christians die as martyrs every year. And even though we may not have reached a state of martyrdom yet in this country, I believe our time is quickly approaching. All over the United States, there are more and more cases of Christians being targeted for their faith. The spiritual face of our country is changing drastically in these last days, and I can’t help wondering: Who are we surrendering to?

Christians as a whole have sadly conformed to the world instead of surrendering to God and dying to the self and all its desires. Perhaps this is why so many unbelieving Americans are turned off by the Church — because they see no difference between it and the world in which they live.

So what does it mean then to surrender, to yield and give up everything to the power of our Lord? Do we really understand the cost of being a follower of Jesus in today’s volatile world? Do we know what it truly means to die to self so that we can live abundantly the life Jesus promised us?

I think there are very, very few believers in America who have truly surrendered. Those who are surrendered would be characterized by such authentic humility that they would never boast or draw attention to their condition—for they have willingly sacrificed “self” for one far greater.

They are the ones who do as John says in his gospel, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (3:30). They are so focused on God that they hear His voice readily and obey it, regardless of what their flesh is crying for.

They are the ones who are persecuted and die daily for their faith. When persecution comes to our country, will we be so surrendered that we can be counted as one of the millions who lay down their lives, yielding completely to the will of their Heavenly Father? Will we be among those who have died to self and the world so that we can truly live, even if faced with physical death?

I’m afraid it will take persecution for many of us to even begin to grasp what true surrender really involves. But history has shown that the more the Church is persecuted, the more she grows and strengthens. May God give us strength to surrender, as followers of Christ, and to stand in the face of growing persecution in America.

Roadmap for Life: GPS – God Provides Security by Ann C. Wayne

2009-06-21T22:25:00.000-04:00

A few months ago, I was traveling from Salisbury to Mooresville after dark. I was trying to meet a deadline and be on time for my small group. Trying to save time, I decided to take a route down a winding country highway that I had only driven on once during daylight hours. Suctioned to my windshield was my trusty GPS. Or at least I was hoping that I could trust it.

I typed in the address of the destination and hoped for the best. It had never failed me before, but I had always depended on it during the day. Not on a desolate country road that wasn’t the safest place to be as a single female. A little anxiety flowed through my veins as I took a deep breath and sped down the highway.

Then the Spirit nudged me as if to say, “Be still and know that I am God” – Psalm 46:10. “I’ve always been here for you in times like this. Do not be afraid! Now why are you stressing over this?” So I began to pray and ask the Lord to wrap His hedge of protection around me and deliver me safely to my small group.

I began to think about God’s word being the road map for our lives. So many times we try to take things in our own hands instead of trusting in His word and putting our faith in Him. We worry and fret over issues as if there is no hope. In Deuteronomy 31:6, Moses reminded Joshua that the Lord was with him as he began to take the leadership role in taking the Israelites into the promised land. He said, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them (the Egyptians), for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Moses had the kind of faith that God wants us to have. The kind that moves mountains or the kind that parts seas.

In Proverbs 3:5-6, the scripture says, “⁵Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; ⁶in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Simply put, the Lord wants us to read and follow His road map to life – The Bible.

If we can put our trust in a man-made device like a GPS to help us reach our destination, why can’t we trust God with our lives? Could we be lacking in faith? Do we need to see something tangible so that we will believe and trust?

After arriving at my destination that evening, I realized that God was really in control of my trip that night – even while traveling on a desolate highway depending on a GPS. My real lesson that evening was a test of my faith. I prayed that the Lord would increase it so that I would trust Him more.

New! by Jenn Fromke

2009-06-14T19:50:00.000-04:00

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away . . . and He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’" Revelation 21:1, 5

“A new car!” Surely most Americans have heard the announcer on the Price is Right shout these words at least once in their lives. It’s the most exciting prize to win on the show. A new car is a luxury. It means security, no more repairs - and you get to breathe in the coveted “new car smell.”

A car is a big thing and receiving a new one would bring some happy changes to anyone. However, for the person whose car is broken, dented, and not getting the job done, a new car will bring not only gratitude but also welcome relief and peace of mind.

When Eve ate fruit from the wrong tree in the Garden of Eden, the world became tainted. Since then, sin has deepened its impression on our world, and the people who live here. Everywhere we look today we see the results of sin. However, this will not last forever because God made a plan way back in that garden – or maybe even before – and His plan will bring everything back to right.

When a car is damaged in an accident, it’s possible to smooth out the dents, repaint the scratches, and fix the engine (sometimes with spare parts). In the same way, people are forgiven and they can be healed from hurts caused by sin, so that they are essentially restored back into “working order.” However, a car that has experienced an accident carries with it that experience. The only sure way to avoid potential weaknesses in a vehicle caused by another driver, is to buy a new car.

In the same way, in order for God to completely purge His people and all of His creation from the effects of sin He will need to “make all things new.” God is not planning to salvage parts from our present world. He will not merely spruce up the place so it’s just “like” new. God will make an entirely new heaven and new earth out of nothing . . . again.

What’s more, 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” God has already begun His creation of the new: He begins to remake our souls at the point of conversion. Philippians 1:6 says, “...He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” This work continues throughout our lives and will reach its ultimate goal when Jesus returns to the earth and remakes everything, top to bottom - all new parts, perfectly crafted, untainted by sin, holy, and eternal. To the praise of His glorious name!

A Thankful Heart by Emily Carter

2009-06-07T22:16:00.000-04:00

It was a Monday night, sometime after the 10 o’clock news, when I sat down at the computer to journal. It begin with these words, “Father, I am overwhelmed with anger.” As I ranted for four or five sentences about the misery of my anger over nothing, it dawned on me…STOP IT! After all, I had nothing really to be upset about. The verse “Do everything without arguing or complaining” immediately came to mind.

So instead, I made a list of things to be thankful for. Forty-six things came to mind within a few minutes. They ranged from salvation and God’s new mercies, to sunrises and sunsets, to my husband and children, to a sort of clean house and good sales at the mall. The list was in no particular order. I just typed as the things came to mind. When I came to the end of the page, I stopped. I realized that it had taken no time at all for me to type the list. In less than ten minutes, I had gone from overwhelmingly angry to unfathomably grateful. The child’s prayer “Johnny Appleseed” says:

“The Lord’s been good to me and so, I thank the Lord

for giving me the things I need, the sun and the rain and the apple seed.

The Lord’s been good to me.”

“The Lord’s been good to me” is a simple, yet profound statement to make. Today, I challenge you to make a list of the things for which you are thankful. Do not worry about getting the items in any certain order; just write them as quickly as possible. Allow a thankful heart to begin to take root in you.

God’s word is clear. In all things, we are to give thanks. I Thessalonians 5:16 says, “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Often I simply want to be thankful when God has seen me through a specific trial or issue. Yet, his word says I should be thankful no matter what I am facing. As we walk this road with Christ, we will face challenges. Some hills will be small and others will be gigantic, but still we must climb.

Our countenance is our choice. We can choose to have a smile and a thankful heart that will draw others towards us or we can choose a frown and a bitter spirit that will push people away. I hope we will chose to join with the psalmist David and say, “Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits; who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” Psalm 103:1-5

When the Ugly Becomes Beautiful by Tammy Blackburn

2009-05-31T21:12:00.000-04:00

I am a nature lover at heart. It just seems that nature is where I see God most clearly. I’ve done quite a bit of traveling and have seen some of the most gorgeous mountains, waterfalls, lakes, and animals that one could ever imagine. I cannot even begin to describe how my entire being longs to praise my Father God each time I encounter His beautiful handiwork. I’m equally moved when I simply sit and watch the beautiful birds at the bird feeder in my backyard.

Recently, I spent a couple of days at the beach with my children. I absolutely love the ocean and could sit and soak in its beauty for hours. It is so vast and so powerful that I can’t help but be reminded of how awesome our God is. The waves crashing on the shore are like a song being offered back to their Creator. The moon shining on the water at night seems to be a reflection of God’s Majesty. One afternoon while we were there, we were sitting in our room having lunch when the ugliest blackbird landed on our balcony. He walked right up to our sliding glass door and appeared to be watching us. It was actually quite comical the way he bent his neck to see what we were doing. My son decided to try and open the door and give the ugly bird a few crackers. Lo and behold, this bird ate every piece and wanted more. He wasn’t afraid of us, and as we continued to be entertained by him, I wondered why a beautiful bird couldn’t have landed there instead. My daughter sat down by the door and commented on all the colors in this ugly bird’s feathers. It crossed my mind that she might possibly be colorblind. I sat down there with her and sure enough, there was an amazing rainbow of colors shimmering along his body. I also noticed that his beak and feet were an unusual shade of red and his eyes were stunning.

Suddenly, I realized that God was teaching me a lesson. What I had judged to be something ugly and unimportant was just as much His creation as everything else I had been enjoying. I began to wonder how often I look past things that seem ugly or unattractive to me. I have no trouble praising God for the things I find beautiful, but do I ever praise Him for the things that annoy me? Do I find Him in the mundane things in life? Do I see His glory in what seems to be the ugliness of this world?

Jonah chapter 3 tells us that God provided a worm to eat up the plant that was shading Jonah’s head. It also says that God provided a scorching wind and a blazing sun to cause Jonah to grow faint. Now, we could say that those were some ugly things, yet God’s hands orchestrated them. He used them to teach Jonah a valuable lesson.

I’ve spent the last couple of weeks praying for God to help me see Him in unusual and seemingly ugly places. He has definitely been answering that prayer. I challenge you to do the same. Let God show you something beautiful in what seems to be something ugly. Let Him show you Himself, and then praise Him for His creation.

Seek Ye First by Kim Jackson

2009-05-24T22:52:00.000-04:00

Karen Lafferty’s rent was due. Her car payment was, too.

Having left a well-paying job to pursue a call to ministry, Karen began a journey into uncharted territory. Believing that where God guides, he provides, Karen stepped out in faith.

But now her savings were gone, and bills were due. She spent the day on the phone trying to stir up interest in guitar lessons. She didn’t want to go back to singing in nightclubs. If only she could get a job where she could make money and still be involved in ministry. But nothing seemed to be working out.

Karen went to a Bible study that evening. The pastor was teaching on Matthew 6. Karen remembers, “When he read verse 33, ‘But seek first his kingdom ...,’ I thought Yeah, that’s the answer. When I got home my rent still wasn’t paid, but my joy was back."

Karen picked up her guitar. “I started plunkin’ around and wrote a little melody. The words of Matthew 6:33 began to fit the tune, and an ‘alleluia’ descant sort of formed over the top of it.” Other passages became additional verses.

Karen shared the new song at a church youth service. It was easy to remember and caught on immediately. It was 1971, the height of the Jesus Movement, and people from all over the world were in attendance at Calvary Chapel. When they returned to their native countries, they took “Seek Ye First” with them.

When Karen woke the next morning, her rent was still due, and her checking account was still empty. But within days she received a letter promising unexpected funds. That check paid not only her rent and her car payment, it also covered the cost of the Bible training she had been hoping to take.

But that was only the beginning of God’s faithfulness.

The next year Karen recorded her simple Scripture song on an early Maranatha! Praise Album. By the time she felt the tug to missions in 1978, God had taken “Seek Ye First” around the world.

And as a testament to God’s promises, as well as Karen’s obedience to the challenge of the words she set to music, the royalties from “Seek Ye First” have provided 80% of Karen’s income as a “Musicianary” … for over 30 years!

“It’s really incredible,” Karen says today. “I am very grateful and very humbled. The song is the simplest thing I’ve ever done musically. It wasn’t any big feat because anyone could have written it. I’m just really grateful God allowed me to write it.”

And not only write it…but live it.

Matthew 6:25-34

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Foundation with No Rock is a Muddy Mess - Tami Gilman

2009-05-17T20:58:00.000-04:00

My house is at the end of a dirt road. My husband and I certainly knew the road was not paved when we chose to build our house there, but being nestled in a wooded lot in the quiet neighborhood was worth it. Besides, there was a drought at the time and other than the dust, it wasn’t much of an inconvenience. Dust, my friend, is a lot easier to wash off a car than mud is.

There are rumors that twenty or so years ago the developer of the neighborhood (who is now as old as Moses) had a layer of gravel sprinkled over the dirt road. Proper drainage, culverts and ditches were never dug, however. Over time, the gravel has washed away, potholes have appeared and sections of our road wash out with heavy rain. Our neighbors have been meeting to discuss a solution since the state says it’s the county’s problem, the county says it’s Moses’ problem and Moses is not taking any responsibility as the original developer of the neighborhood. At some point last week, the gravel fairy drove through and dropped a load or two of new gravel onto the road. It is peculiar because no one is claiming they had it done. While we are all grateful, the road was not properly prepared for the new fix and has only masked the problem.

It occurred to me as I drove home in the rain last night that our lives are similar to the road. If you do not have a proper foundation rooted in Christ, the next storm will wash away all we have done to cover up our flaws and quickly expose them. If my road had been scraped, crowned and covered with a thick foundation of rock as a base, the rain would not have fazed it. It would have washed away in those new ditches and through the culverts that would need to be installed for my illustration to be accurate. Instead, even though someone was nice enough to spread new gravel, the ruts, potholes and mud resurfaced after only one rainfall. I notice that some of the neighbors drive around the potholes and ruts and others drudge right through them. Sometimes we avoid issues in our lives and other times we make them worse with poor choices.

As we attempt to operate in our own strength and apart from God, even the best intentions can’t complete us as our Heavenly Father can. Even if you believe in God, accept Christ’s salvation and are filled with the Holy Spirit, you must actually allow them to take an active role in your life. If you believe that God is too busy with other people or His purpose in your life is to punish you, even as a Christian you will remain a rutted, muddy mess. Instead of covering up the issues with a layer of gravel, put on your rain boots, grab a shovel and get to work asking God to help you clean out the ditches and fill in the potholes in your life. Then as the rains come, we are not affected. We are complete in Christ and even when the enemy uses other people or our own minds to create a muddy mess in our spirit, we allow the negativity to roll into the ditch and be carried away.

Luke 6:47-49 (New International Version)47I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. 48He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."

Supercilious Saul - Jan Darnell

2009-05-11T09:58:00.000-04:00

Saul’s supercilious feelings of superiority and pride were based in his heritage, education and accomplishments. I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated under Gamaliel, strictly according to the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, just as you all are today. And I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and putting both men and women into prisons…Acts 22:4-5

A zealous Pharisee, Saul persecuted the Way or the early Church of Christ. This sect was called the Way because they believed Jesus to be the way back to God. Jesus said, I am the Way, and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. Jn. 14:6

Obviously, Saul considered his actions against the Way to be appropriate and, in fact, necessary. His convictions compelled him to exterminate those of the Way and purge Judea of her heretics. In effect, Saul was defending his own faith in God, even to the point of physically restraining and murdering the resistance.

Differences in opinions as to how we should approach and worship God can be traced back to Adam’s sons, Cain and Abel. God accepted Abel’s sacrifice but not Cain’s. So, Cain killed Abel. Gen. 4:8 From that point forward, history provides an endless list of wars over divergent belief systems. Cain initiated the bloody trail. Saul was just picking up the stick that has been passed down by zealots to beat down their opposition. My sacrifice is better than yours.

Jesus, however, wasn’t claiming that He had a better sacrifice to offer than another. He asserted that He was the sacrifice. Religions across the world offer us spiritual, meditative, and ritualistic, parochial sacraments as paths back to God. Those of the Way simply follow Jesus. Why? Because Jesus Christ is the sinless Lamb slain by God on the altar for our sins. His unblemished righteousness covers our prideful wickedness. Hallelujah!

Supercilious Saul, on his blood thirsty journey to Damascus, met the humble Jesus of the Way. Saul’s intentions were to inflict more pain, do more stick beating and bring to justice followers of the Way. And it came about that as I was on my way approaching Damascus about noontime, a very bright light suddenly flashed from heaven all around me, and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”Acts 22:6-7

Saul, blinded by the light, fell prostrate to the ground. With no other options than to engage in conversation, he answered, “Who are Thou, Lord?” (This was a question Saul should have asked when he witnessed the stoning of Stephen and heard him pray for his tormentors to be forgiven. Acts 8:58-60) Jesus replied, “I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.” Acts 22:7-8 Wow. Saul thought he was defending God. Turns out, his supercilious pride blinded him to the truth of the Way. He was actually persecuting the God he thought he was serving. How critical it is to be sure we are following the Way and not our way.

The world is full of religious zealots who claim to know and serve God. These are willing to die for Him, sacrifice comforts and deny themselves pleasures for the sake of kingdom membership. However, followers of the Way do not persecute those who follow other paths. We cannot build the Kingdom of God upon the blood of religious dissenters. The Kingdom of God is built upon the blood of our Redeemer and cornerstone of our faith, Jesus Christ.

After his encounter with Jesus, Saul changed his name to Paul, which is a Latin word meaning “small” or “little.” Saul gained humility when he met the Way that day. His murderous zeal yielded to the sweet love and satisfaction of Christ. Whatever Gamaliel taught Saul regarding the laws of God, Jesus perfected through the revelation of His grace as the…the way, the Truth and the Life of God.

Paul became a zealous advocate of the Way, preaching the “good news” of forgiveness, rather than persecuting the followers. Nearly a fourth of the New Testament canon was written by Paul to the early churches and believers he brought into the Kingdom of Christ. When we humble ourselves before the Way…when we recognize our supercilious tendencies as hindrances to the realization of truth, then God will reveal the glory of His Son to us. God is for us, not against us. Let us be for Him and not against His Way as well. Ro. 8:31-33

Secrets - Tammy Blackburn

2009-05-04T16:22:00.000-04:00

Who doesn’t love a good secret? All of us can become as giddy as children when we see a brightly wrapped package with our name on it. Even more exciting is to share a gift or surprise with someone else. When my children were young, they would hide behind their doors and whisper and giggle every time a special occasion rolled around. Maybe you’ve stayed awake until the wee hours of the morning talking to a friend. I’m sure all of us can think of a special friend with whom we’ve shared our dreams, our goals and even our disappointments.

When I was a young girl, my best friend lived just down the road from me. We spent many of our days together. The one that is the most memorable to me happened on a snowy day when we were about 12 years old. There were woods that separated our houses with a creek running through them. We loved to walk along the creek to a small stone bridge that was old and crumbling. On this particular day, the snow was already several inches deep and school was out. We met at our usual place in the woods and had a wonderful adventure. As we sat on the bridge to catch our breath for a few minutes, we noticed that the water under us appeared to be frozen. Showing all of the preadolescent intelligence we possessed, we decided to try walking on water. About halfway across, the ice cracked and we fell in up to our thighs. We started laughing so hard at each other that we ended up falling all the way in. By the time we climbed onto the creek bank, we were soaked and frozen. We went back to my friend’s house and his mother gave us dry clothes, sat us in front of the fireplace, and made us hot chocolate. We sat there for hours just sharing our thoughts. We felt free to share things with each other that we would not have shared with anyone else.

Why were we able to be so transparent, and why did we feel so comfortable sharing our secrets? It is because we had spent so much time together. We had laughed together, cried together, worked together, eaten together, and played together.

In my quiet time recently, God spoke to me through Psalms 25:14. “The LORD confides in those who fear Him; He makes His covenant known to them.” Wow! Imagine God sharing His secrets with us. After all, that is what it means to confide in someone. I began to imagine myself walking along a creek, hand in hand with my Savior, and having Him share His dreams with me. Maybe we would sit on an old crumbling bridge and talk about all the things that were important to us. However, if I haven’t spent enough time getting to know Him, how will we be able to share so openly with each other? I want to spend my days in His presence. When I cry or laugh I want to share it with Jesus. I want Him there when I am at work or when I am at play. I want to know my Heavenly Father so intimately that He shares His secrets and confides in me. I want to know the heart of my King as well as He knows mine.

Water Into Wine: John 2:1-11 - by Josh Fletcher

2009-04-27T20:30:00.000-04:00

Let me get straight to the point. Jesus did not suffer to give His followers an average, ordinary life and label it Christianity. Jesus is a life giver! Too often we hear a truncated preaching of the Gospel that misses the deeper truth. The blood of Jesus was shed to make us His children and heirs whose lives testify that Jesus has conquered sin and death. There is nothing more powerful and extraordinary than the abundant life God has for us in Christ Jesus. The word “Christian” means “little Christ”. Too often we settle for designations that are much less. We settle for “good person” and even try to hide our faith in certain company for fear of offending someone. Can I make a confession? I do not want to be known as a good person anymore. I want to be known as a “little Christ” in this world. Like Paul and with God’s help, I want to be able to say with confidence “Imitate me as I imitate Christ.”

In the Gospel according to John, Chapter 2 we read about what presumably is Jesus’ first public miracle. He turns water into wine. In the past I would read this and think how neat it was that Jesus provided for a need, that he blessed a wedding feast. I thought it a lesser miracle, Jesus’ warm-up for what was to come. Recently I have seen a deeper truth in this story. Jesus is giving revelation about himself. Up until this point the world has known Jesus as a good carpenter, son of Mary and Joseph, a good man, perhaps the most eligible bachelor in the village. He remained ordinary water to them. Good and life giving, but ordinary water none-the-less. Jesus changes the water into wine. He is not ordinary – far, far from it. He is not just a prophet but The Prophet. He is not just a priest but The Priest. He is not just a king but the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is the only begotten Son of God, the Messiah, the Light of the World. He is rare, costly, poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. WINE! When the earthly wine had run dry, the best was yet to come. Jesus, the inebriating source of Life for all who believe!

It is in dark times that Christians must stand out like beacons of hope for others to see. Where I live we just received the news that 1100 people are about to lose their jobs. Similar stories are popping up all around the country. Unemployment is rising and the economy continues to sink to points that we have not seen in decades. People are fearful and suffering. Our enemy confronts us with the temptation to doubt that Jesus offers us true and abundant life and that we are children and heirs. What is an appropriate response to the signs and the times? In trying times can we see Jesus for who He really is? Can we see ourselves the way He sees us?

I say “No” to the enemy! Jesus has conquered sin and death on my behalf! God is my Daddy! I am His beloved son! He gives me true and abundant life and this gift is available right now! Today! Christ’s glory is abundant and longing to shine in the darkness through me! I will be a “little Christ” bringing light to a dark world! Can I get an AMEN!?
Because of this new revelation, I feel encouraged to work on a set of paintings called “Water and Wine” to demonstrate the person and work of Christ. What is God encouraging you to do to shine in the darkness and say “No” to the enemy? How can you be a “little Christ” who can say with confidence, “Imitate me as I imitate Christ”? Share your thoughts. I want to hear how Christ is moving His people to push Satan out of the way and turn fear and suffering into peace and victory.

Honeymoon with God - Christina Darnell

2009-04-19T17:21:00.000-04:00

Debbi had been dreaming about Africa since she was young. She remembered stopping by the travel agency to look at the brochures. The pictures of the African children gripped her heart, their eyes pleading for her help. She knew she was called to go – she was even willing to move there if God directed.

But after 17 years of waiting, that dream seemed to lay dormant in her heart. She had a husband and two children, one of whom was still an infant. She felt as though she had missed her chance.
Someone shook her awake, and she opened her eyes. It took a minute to figure out where she was. Her eyes cleared, and she saw Diana sitting next to her on a plane. “They’re about to pass out the dinners and beverages. I thought I should wake you up.”

Debbi looked around, her mind still a little fuzzy. “Thanks.”

She was on her way back home after the fulfillment of her dream. She had spent the past three weeks in Africa traveling to different orphanages, sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ and providing practical relief through food, clothing, and toys. It was every bit as wonderful as she’d thought – but something dawned on her.

God had sent her there for a purpose, but not the purpose she thought. It was clear she wasn’t called to move there. In fact, she wasn’t sure if she would even get to go back. But one thing was clear. God had sent her to Africa so that He could relay an important message to her: He cared as much about her dreams as she did, and He wanted to be her Dreamgiver.

Her relationship with Him reached a new level of intimacy because God communicated His love to her in such a personal way. The mission trip was a chance for her to minister to others, but God had ministered to her. She was reminded of a prayer in Ephesians. “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ” (3: 17b – 18). God had certainly increased her understanding of his personal love.

As the plane landed hours later and she rushed into the arms of her adoring family, she knew where she had truly been – she realized she had just been on a honeymoon with God.

The story above is about my mom. I had always known her heart for Africa, but I thought her realization about a honeymoon with God was powerful. It is such a testimony of God’s love for us as individuals…I hope you are encouraged to know that He desires to fulfill the dreams of your heart. God gave her the fulfillment of her Africa dream 17 years ago, and then she came home to raise my brother and me. Now she says that being a mom and pouring into us was her highest calling other than knowing Christ. It shows because both my brother and I are serving the Lord and seeking deeper relationships with Him. She was a true example of a disciple of Christ, and I am so thankful to the Lord for her.

The Sower, Seed and Soil Story - Kim Jackson

2009-04-13T10:11:00.000-04:00

The Sower, Seed and Soil Story:
A Parable from Matthew 13
in the “KJV” (Kim Jackson Version)

Slowly strolling beside the secure shelter, the Savior stopped and sat on the sand beside the sea. A stupendous swarm surrounded the Savior so he sought a small ship, sailed from the shore and sat still, as the stupendous swarm stayed, standing on the seashore.

So the Savior spoke in a series of stories, saying, “A certain sower set out to sow some seed, and as he sowed, some seed scattered beside the street and was stomped by several sandaled soles and the scavenger sparrows soaring in the sky swooped, seizing and swallowing the seeds.

Some seed scattered on stony sod, where the soil is sort of scarce, so the scrawny seedlings swiftly sprouted since the soil was so slight. Soon the sun shone severely, suddenly scorching the skimpy seedlings since they possessed such superficial stems, so sadly, they shriveled and slumped.

Some seed scattered on the sharp, stiff sort of stickers and the stickers sprang up and strangled the seedlings. Some seed scattered on select soils and survived, succeeding in sprouting splendid and stable stalks, some supplying several sizable sheaves, some sixty and several a still smaller sum.

So the story of the sower, the seed, and the soils is this: the seed is the Scripture. Sometimes someone seemingly searches Scripture without succeeding in sustaining the spiritual significance of his study, so shrewd and sneaky Satan schemes, snatching and sabotaging what is sown inside. This is the seed scattered beside the street.

So the seed sown on the stony sod is someone who listens to the Scripture, receiving it speedily with celebration, but is shallow and has such a small source of stability he stands for a smidgen but soon, suffering and seasons of struggle and strife surface and simultaneously he succumbs.

So the seed scattered in the sharp, stiff stickers is someone who listens to Scripture, but soon stews in the distresses of such a sordid society, and seeking assets so superficially satisfying, strangles the Scripture, and all sprouting skids to a sudden stop, certainly a sorry sight.

So the seed scattered on select soil is someone who savors Scripture and sagaciously spawns—in certain situations—sensational superior-sized supplies; in similar circumstance, sixty; and in several, slightly smaller, but certainly supremely significant sums.

So this is the story’s cessation.

Kim Jackson loves words and enjoys putting them together in fun, creative ways, as is evidenced by this story. She is a charter member of Crossroads Communicators, Vice President of Education for Goldmine Toastmasters, and a freelance writer and speaker whose “day job” is Concierge at Eden Gardens Assisted Living. Visit her on the web at http://www.kimmunicator.com/

Forgiveness this Spring - Emily Carter

2009-04-05T19:48:00.000-04:00

Spring is my favorite time of year. I like it because of the green grass, beautiful flowers, and the warmer weather. Recently, as I was walking in my neighborhood, I heard the beautiful song of Spring. The birds were singing praises to the King. They were singing so loudly that I could not hear the song on my ipod. Did God have other words he wanted to speak to me? Was David Crowder to be turned off this fine, crisp morning?

As I walked, I began thinking about a hurt from my past. The Lord had delivered my family through a difficult situation, yet I was holding on to the pain from it. I thought I had forgiven, but I realized that I was still resenting the people who caused the hurt. Ouch! That is honesty for you. I thought I had forgiven the ones who had hurt us so badly. Yet, only these five years later did I realize that the forgiveness was not there, not true forgiveness.

When I think of Jesus’ teachings on forgiveness, three different passages of scripture come to mind. The first was what his words said about forgiveness and the next set of scriptures focuses on his actions. In the third passage Jesus teaches us about the limits of forgiveness.

Matthew 6:12, when Jesus was teaching his disciples how to pray he told them, “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” The Greek word for “forgive” is “Aphiēmi” meaning to let go from one’s power or possession, let go free, let escape. To release from obligation, remit a debt, and pardon or forgive debts or faults. To forgive means to not only forgive in word but in the feelings that we have towards the person or situation. We must let go of the resentment that sometimes comes with betrayal. We must forgive completely and move on towards reconciliation.

Jesus, from the cross, used the same term when he said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34) The forgiveness that Jesus offers is complete without resentment. This week as you ponder the cross and the resurrection remember what has been accomplished. Death has no victory. Forgiveness is available to all.

Matthew 18:21-35 is the story of the unmerciful servant. He receives forgiveness from a huge loan. Then when someone else comes to him and seeks forgiveness for a tiny debt, the servant refuses. The parable closes with this “In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.” (Matthew 18:34-35)

So, I came to the conclusion, as a believer of Jesus Christ who am I to hold back forgiveness. Not that I have attained it, but I am going to press on to this calling that the Lord has placed on my life. I must forgive completely. Then and only then can my heart be made new like the beautiful Spring season that is ours to enjoy.

Livin' the Dream - Jenn Fromke

2009-03-30T08:34:00.000-04:00

The waiter approached our table and asked us, “How ya’ll doin’ tonight?” We said, “Great!” and added, “How are you?” His answer took me aback. His face broke into a huge smile and he said, “Livin’ the Dream!”

Now there might have been a tinge of sarcasm in his voice, but as we watched him work that night, we saw that he was mostly serious. He threw himself into the work, his demeanor lifted the spirits of his customers, and he performed every task with flair and skill. The work appeared to give him deep satisfaction, a thing that is visibly missing in too many lives.

How refreshing it was to hear that someone is living their dream! It made me wonder if I am living my dream. And where did the dream come from? And what SHOULD be the dream? And how do I live it? So I decided to dream about dreams a little bit.

I boiled my thoughts down to two simple questions. The first question is this: Am I LIVIN’ the dream, or walking through a nightmare? I think sometimes God dreams a dream for us and He puts us right in the middle of it before we even know what’s going on. Then He walks with us step by step and reveals His plan to us piece by piece until suddenly one day we wake up and realize that everything we are dreaming of is right before our eyes.

Mark 8:22-26 tells a story about a blind man that received his sight from Jesus one day. Jesus spit on his eyes and put his hands on the man, then asked if he could see anything. The guy said he saw people, but they looked like trees walking around. So Jesus put his hands on his eyes again and then he could see normally.

Sometimes it takes more than one touch from Jesus before everything becomes clear to us. A friend of mine, let’s call her Penny, moved away from her hometown, her friends, and family to a new city. Penny knew that God wanted this, but she did not want to go. It all seemed like a nightmare to her at first.

But a funny thing happened. As Penny sought the Lord for comfort and direction, she began to see what good things there were in this new city. After a long process, she came to realize that God had moved her to a wonderful place full of opportunities to serve Him. God revealed his dream, made it her dream, and now she is LIVIN’ the dream that God dreamed for her and it brings her great joy.

The second question about dreams that I have to ask is this: Am I livin’ THE DREAM or just livin’? I think sometimes God will give us a dream and He will guide us step by step in pursuit of that dream until it is accomplished. I think so many times the dream is a part of who we are, it engages our passions, our talents and the spiritual gifts we have received from the Holy Spirit. Sometimes we probably don’t even acknowledge that the dream is from God, it just becomes a part of our goals, or gets stuck on the back burner called “maybe someday.”

The thing about those dreams God gives us, is that he intends for us to pursue them. When we are walking with him and seeking him daily for direction, God will guide us toward the realization of that dream.

However, if we have that dream but get distracted by life, work, or pleasure, then we stick that dream on the shelf and work toward other things that are less fulfilling. We settle for less than what God wants for us. It’s like being invited to a banquet, but only staying for the appetizers.
When Peter saw Jesus walking on the water, he wanted to try, and Jesus told him to do it. But he only took a few steps. I wonder if Jesus would have walked all the way across the lake with him had he not lost faith. I wonder what they would have talked about on that walk. Peter got a piece of the dream, but cut it short.

God gives us big dreams and he wants those dreams to come true because His dreams for us make us into the people we were created to be. I want to do more than just live. I want to pursue and live the dreams God gives me and tomorrow when you ask me how I’m doing, I might just say, “LIVIN’ THE DREAM, BABY!”

Jenn Fromke loves to teach Bible study and currently teaches for the One Heart ministry at Crossroads Church. She writes Bible studies and is currently at work on her first novel. She lives in Concord, NC with her incredibly supportive husband and three amazing kids.

Who Is This? Mark 4:35-40 - Jan Darnell

2009-03-22T19:30:00.000-04:00

Let’s go! After teaching all day from a boat on the Sea of Galilee, Jesus summoned His disciples aboard. Let us go over to the other side. A cushion was available in the stern for reclining so the Lord settled in while the disciples loosed the rigging. Most of His disciples were strong, seasoned seamen who handled the surf with athletic dexterity. A trip to the other side of this sea should have been easily managed, despite their fatigue and the pending darkness.

With the sun setting and air cooling down, a gentle breeze beckoned stillness, refreshing the disciples as they pushed offshore. Distributing oars to one another, a discussion quickly ensued over the teaching of the day. Jesus had spoken in parables to the crowd regarding the Kingdom of God while clarifying the significance to His disciples. Still, there was debate over the application. “Where is this Kingdom? What will we do there? Who is the King?” Jesus listened to their conversation before drifting off without reply, taking advantage of a rare opportunity to rest.

Caught up in their Kingdom debate, the disciples may have ignored the cumulus clouds silently moving toward them, cloaking a star lit landscape. When the moon disappeared however, a damp darkness began to penetrate and alarm them. Gusts of wind whistled above them, causing the sails to flap sharply. Swelling waves rocked the vessel, pitching sea water over the sides and filling their boat to a dangerous level.

As if that were not enough, a fierce squall suddenly descended and challenged these seasoned sailors and fishermen to keep their boat afloat. They were blinded by sheets of rain and a stinging spray blown from the rising waves. Fighting for their lives, the disciples probably shouted above the roaring noise of the winds… “We’re sinking! Can anyone see land? We’re sinking!”

Then the story peaks. The disciples awaken Jesus who is amazingly still asleep and they ask, Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing? An ironic question, don’t you think? Though they didn’t know it yet, Jesus came to be sacrificed so that they and we could be justified, glorified and released from sin. Yet He is being asked this question by His closest friends, Do you not care that we are perishing? True to His faithfulness to respond, Jesus answers their prayers.

Being roused, He rebuked the wind and said to the sea, Hush, be still. And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. Jesus then asks, Why are you so timid? How is it that you have no faith? Fear had squelched the faith of the disciples and blinded them to a greater degree than even the wind and rain. But Jesus graciously opened their eyes. And they became very much afraid and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?” In seeing Him command forces of nature to obey, the disciples realized Jesus to be more than a master teacher, Who is this?

Who then is the King of the Kingdom of God? Our heavenly Father orchestrated these events on the stormy Sea of Galilee years ago in order to answer that question for all of us, “This is He. His name is Jesus!”

Jan’s Biblical training has primarily been through Precept Ministries, International, studying and working alongside Kay Arthur in the research of Bible study materials. Jan has been a Bible teacher for 30 years, married since 1982 and raised 7 children along with her husband, Barry Darnell a nuclear engineer at Duke Energy in Charlotte, North Carolina.