Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. John 14:1-2 (NIV)
Jesus has prepared a room in our Father’s house for each of us. Because He created us uniquely, He knows us intimately. In the same way, I believe our rooms will be tailored for us.
I was experiencing the turmoil of divorce when I first meditated on these verses. I visualized curling up in a cushy pink room in a heavenly honeycomb to take a long nap. Now, that image amuses me because it conveys the comfort of a mother’s womb. At that time, rest and the healing embrace of His Word were what I needed.
Today I envision an outdoor room which resonates with the sound of wildlife, running water and the wind blowing through the trees. The air is scented with pine and flowers. This picture is limited by my human mind but based on His promise to those who thirst after Him.
You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. (Isaiah 55:12-13a)
God has plans for me and so I wonder: What will my room will look like to me in five years?
Heavenly Father, I trust You prepared a room for me in Heaven. As I live on earth, let me revel in Your presence, inviting all who pass by to join in. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
© 2010 Stephanie L. Snead
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Friday, March 5, 2010
The Sixty Year Old Prayer
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace that passes all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4 NIV)
In the 1970s, I met an interesting elderly couple at a Christian retreat. They were in their 8th decade and had been married for over sixty years. A retired naval officer, in the early part of the twentieth century, he commanded a four-masted sailing vessel.
Most retreat participants dressed in jeans and t-shirts; but the captain always came to breakfast early dressed in a three-piece suit and tie. While he appeared formal in bearing and speech, his wife was warm and talkative. I had the pleasure of sitting beside her at dinner one evening.
“You and the captain must have led an exciting life together,” I said.
“Oh,” she answered, “not really. I was at home raising our five children. My husband was the one out seeing the world. He was quite a drinker and womanizer before he found the Lord.”
In my mind I imagined the captain falling to his knees and calling out to God during a fierce naval battle during WWI or WWII.
“How long has he been a Christian?” I asked.
“About three years,” she answered.
She had prayed for him for over sixty years. What a patient, loving, and forgiving spirit!
“You amaze me,” I said.
She smiled. “Oh, it wasn’t me,” she said. “The Lord gave me His love and forgiveness or else I couldn’t have persisted in prayer.”
Prayer: Lord, grant us persistence in prayer that we may rest in Your peace and lay hold of Your forgiveness.
© Christy Struben 2010
In the 1970s, I met an interesting elderly couple at a Christian retreat. They were in their 8th decade and had been married for over sixty years. A retired naval officer, in the early part of the twentieth century, he commanded a four-masted sailing vessel.
Most retreat participants dressed in jeans and t-shirts; but the captain always came to breakfast early dressed in a three-piece suit and tie. While he appeared formal in bearing and speech, his wife was warm and talkative. I had the pleasure of sitting beside her at dinner one evening.
“You and the captain must have led an exciting life together,” I said.
“Oh,” she answered, “not really. I was at home raising our five children. My husband was the one out seeing the world. He was quite a drinker and womanizer before he found the Lord.”
In my mind I imagined the captain falling to his knees and calling out to God during a fierce naval battle during WWI or WWII.
“How long has he been a Christian?” I asked.
“About three years,” she answered.
She had prayed for him for over sixty years. What a patient, loving, and forgiving spirit!
“You amaze me,” I said.
She smiled. “Oh, it wasn’t me,” she said. “The Lord gave me His love and forgiveness or else I couldn’t have persisted in prayer.”
Prayer: Lord, grant us persistence in prayer that we may rest in Your peace and lay hold of Your forgiveness.
© Christy Struben 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
Baby Squirrels
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air; and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. Genesis 1:26 (KJV)
I got the call Friday morning. My nephew found three orphaned squirrels. Would I take the babies? "Of course," I responded. An hour later my nephew handed me a small box with three sleeping baby squirrels inside.
I hunted all over and finally found the pet nurser bottle. Having no pet formula handy, I mixed some evaporated milk, water, and corn syrup, warming it on the stove. Two of the babies wrapped their paws around the bottle cap and sucked hungrily. The runt was sluggish but he drank a little. I settled them in a box and covered them to keep them warm.
It felt good to care for the babies, but I had disposed of the necessary equipment long ago, that I needed to raise them. They needed more help than I could give. I called Phoenix Wildlife Company and spoke to a long-time friend, Kathy Woods. She was a wildlife rehabilitator and said she would take them.
In the few hours I cared for the baby squirrels, I felt an old, familiar closeness to nature and to God. I was doing God's will, taking care of His creatures. I could imagine His smile of approval. It felt good!
Father, thank You for the opportunity to serve in the same capacity that You instructed Adam, to care for Your creatures. Amen.
© 2010 E. Bonnie Ryan
I got the call Friday morning. My nephew found three orphaned squirrels. Would I take the babies? "Of course," I responded. An hour later my nephew handed me a small box with three sleeping baby squirrels inside.
I hunted all over and finally found the pet nurser bottle. Having no pet formula handy, I mixed some evaporated milk, water, and corn syrup, warming it on the stove. Two of the babies wrapped their paws around the bottle cap and sucked hungrily. The runt was sluggish but he drank a little. I settled them in a box and covered them to keep them warm.
It felt good to care for the babies, but I had disposed of the necessary equipment long ago, that I needed to raise them. They needed more help than I could give. I called Phoenix Wildlife Company and spoke to a long-time friend, Kathy Woods. She was a wildlife rehabilitator and said she would take them.
In the few hours I cared for the baby squirrels, I felt an old, familiar closeness to nature and to God. I was doing God's will, taking care of His creatures. I could imagine His smile of approval. It felt good!
Father, thank You for the opportunity to serve in the same capacity that You instructed Adam, to care for Your creatures. Amen.
© 2010 E. Bonnie Ryan
Saturday, February 20, 2010
My Forever Home
In my Father’s house are many rooms…I am going there to prepare a place for you…I will come back and take you to be with me that you may be where I am. John 14:2a,2c,3b (NIV)
I moved 23 times in the 34 years of my married life, so the idea of a permanent home is very appealing to me. Imagine, no more moving! I packed and unpacked household and personal belongings for a family of five so many times that some boxes never got unpacked. They remained sealed waiting for the next move. How I longed to settle down in my own home and never move again. As I learned to trust God for the future, I changed from storing up earthly belongings and began storing up treasures for heaven.
Jesus understands people like me who long for a secure, permanent home. He knows what we need. In John 14 He tells us that in His Father’s house there are many rooms. The NIV note refers to them as “dwelling places,” which hints at a permanent home. Jesus says that He will go to this house and prepare a place for us. Then, He promises to come back and take us to be with Him. He is preparing a special place just for us, and He will return to take us back with Him. Imagine being home in Jesus’ presence! Not only are we with our Lord and Savior, but also we have a forever home. I will be home at last.
Dear Father: Thank You for sending Jesus to be our Savior. I thank You for the promise of a special dwelling place with You forever. In Jesus Name, Amen.
© 2010 Diane E. Hussey
I moved 23 times in the 34 years of my married life, so the idea of a permanent home is very appealing to me. Imagine, no more moving! I packed and unpacked household and personal belongings for a family of five so many times that some boxes never got unpacked. They remained sealed waiting for the next move. How I longed to settle down in my own home and never move again. As I learned to trust God for the future, I changed from storing up earthly belongings and began storing up treasures for heaven.
Jesus understands people like me who long for a secure, permanent home. He knows what we need. In John 14 He tells us that in His Father’s house there are many rooms. The NIV note refers to them as “dwelling places,” which hints at a permanent home. Jesus says that He will go to this house and prepare a place for us. Then, He promises to come back and take us to be with Him. He is preparing a special place just for us, and He will return to take us back with Him. Imagine being home in Jesus’ presence! Not only are we with our Lord and Savior, but also we have a forever home. I will be home at last.
Dear Father: Thank You for sending Jesus to be our Savior. I thank You for the promise of a special dwelling place with You forever. In Jesus Name, Amen.
© 2010 Diane E. Hussey
Friday, February 12, 2010
Live and Believe in Jesus
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26 (NIV)
Martha responded, “Yes, Lord. I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.” Her brother, Lazarus, had died. Although she questioned why Jesus did not come sooner to heal her brother, even in her grief, Martha was a faithful believer.
I am grateful for my faithful friends who share the Word of Christ with me. I am grateful for my best friend, Page, who led me to Christ. At the age of ten, we pricked our fingers mingling our blood to become “blood sisters.” We promised to love one another even after death.
I grieved to the very depth of my soul when she tragically died at the age of nineteen. But in my suffering, I remembered her life. She took me to church. She was baptized, I was not. She publicly confessed that Jesus was her Savior, I did not. I began to read the Bible. The truth was revealed to me through the words Jesus spoke to Martha - that whoever lives and believes in Him will never die. Comforted and assured, I fell to my knees and received Jesus as my Savoir.
Yes Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world. By faith, I receive You into my life as Lord and Savoir. Place me in a community of believers who will lead me in the Way. Amen.
© 2010 Stephanie L. Snead
Martha responded, “Yes, Lord. I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.” Her brother, Lazarus, had died. Although she questioned why Jesus did not come sooner to heal her brother, even in her grief, Martha was a faithful believer.
I am grateful for my faithful friends who share the Word of Christ with me. I am grateful for my best friend, Page, who led me to Christ. At the age of ten, we pricked our fingers mingling our blood to become “blood sisters.” We promised to love one another even after death.
I grieved to the very depth of my soul when she tragically died at the age of nineteen. But in my suffering, I remembered her life. She took me to church. She was baptized, I was not. She publicly confessed that Jesus was her Savior, I did not. I began to read the Bible. The truth was revealed to me through the words Jesus spoke to Martha - that whoever lives and believes in Him will never die. Comforted and assured, I fell to my knees and received Jesus as my Savoir.
Yes Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world. By faith, I receive You into my life as Lord and Savoir. Place me in a community of believers who will lead me in the Way. Amen.
© 2010 Stephanie L. Snead
Thursday, February 4, 2010
THE HIGHLIGHTED WORD
“Your ways are higher than our ways; your thoughts are higher than our thoughts. As the heavens are above the earth, so are you ways over our ways.” Isaiah 55:9
Divorce was the only solution. I prayed for him to repent. Why couldn’t he be like the man I married? The betrayal, the illegal money handling, the drinking, the abuse continued. I didn’t want to get a divorce. Normally, I journal my hopes and requests, and highlight God's Bible promises for restoration.
After it was over, I moved to be near my daughter and her family. All the highlighted verses seemed to be God saying “No” to my prayer requests. That made me feel abandoned by God.
While attending a new church in a new town, a new friend commented, “I see you journal in your Bible.” She revealed her Bible pages, written on and highlighted.
I told her, “Those marked verses seem like God said ‘No’ during all my times of praying for my former husband to repent. Reflecting on them now brings sadness to my heart.”
“I highlighted and wrote on the verses through the times my son was hopelessly addicted to drugs.” she shared.
“I had to get a divorce!” I added.
“My son committed suicide. These verses were my strength and hope during his addiction and suicide.” She concluded.
Amazed at her Godly insight, my tears came. While glancing at my Bible, I remembered God had delivered me during those hopeless times. Now those highlighted words are followed by “Thank you, Lord” prayers and repentance for my own faithlessness.
Prayer: Thank you Lord for loving us when we are so shortsighted. Your ways are higher than our ways, and for that we are truly thankful and blessed. Amen
Divorce was the only solution. I prayed for him to repent. Why couldn’t he be like the man I married? The betrayal, the illegal money handling, the drinking, the abuse continued. I didn’t want to get a divorce. Normally, I journal my hopes and requests, and highlight God's Bible promises for restoration.
After it was over, I moved to be near my daughter and her family. All the highlighted verses seemed to be God saying “No” to my prayer requests. That made me feel abandoned by God.
While attending a new church in a new town, a new friend commented, “I see you journal in your Bible.” She revealed her Bible pages, written on and highlighted.
I told her, “Those marked verses seem like God said ‘No’ during all my times of praying for my former husband to repent. Reflecting on them now brings sadness to my heart.”
“I highlighted and wrote on the verses through the times my son was hopelessly addicted to drugs.” she shared.
“I had to get a divorce!” I added.
“My son committed suicide. These verses were my strength and hope during his addiction and suicide.” She concluded.
Amazed at her Godly insight, my tears came. While glancing at my Bible, I remembered God had delivered me during those hopeless times. Now those highlighted words are followed by “Thank you, Lord” prayers and repentance for my own faithlessness.
Prayer: Thank you Lord for loving us when we are so shortsighted. Your ways are higher than our ways, and for that we are truly thankful and blessed. Amen
Friday, January 29, 2010
Bath Time
After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded (John 13:5 KJV)
My kids used to complain about taking a bath at the end of the day. They weren’t dirty; they took a bath yesterday. But they played hard, lived close to the ground, and couldn’t avoid accumulating grime.
Sometimes I think of that when I read the story of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. Why would He do that? Presumably they’d all been baptized, spiritually washed, yet every day, they needed help getting rid of toxic muck. Even though Jesus was with them all the time, they wouldn’t let some children talk to Him, bickered about who would sit at His right hand and fell asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane.
That puts me in “good” company when I don’t invite a friend to church, speak irritably or fall asleep without praying. Of course, “They did it too” is not a good excuse. The Lord calls us to come and keep coming to His side where He forgives and gives us rest. He reminds me that being baptized is just the first giant step in learning to walk with Him. After that, I need my spiritual feet, hands, heart and soul scrubbed down over and over in order to serve Him well.
Prayer: Lord, Help me to stay always in your presence, ask your forgiveness and be acceptable in your sight. Amen.
© 2010 V. Colclasure
My kids used to complain about taking a bath at the end of the day. They weren’t dirty; they took a bath yesterday. But they played hard, lived close to the ground, and couldn’t avoid accumulating grime.
Sometimes I think of that when I read the story of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. Why would He do that? Presumably they’d all been baptized, spiritually washed, yet every day, they needed help getting rid of toxic muck. Even though Jesus was with them all the time, they wouldn’t let some children talk to Him, bickered about who would sit at His right hand and fell asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane.
That puts me in “good” company when I don’t invite a friend to church, speak irritably or fall asleep without praying. Of course, “They did it too” is not a good excuse. The Lord calls us to come and keep coming to His side where He forgives and gives us rest. He reminds me that being baptized is just the first giant step in learning to walk with Him. After that, I need my spiritual feet, hands, heart and soul scrubbed down over and over in order to serve Him well.
Prayer: Lord, Help me to stay always in your presence, ask your forgiveness and be acceptable in your sight. Amen.
© 2010 V. Colclasure
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