Friday, April 29, 2016

I SEE A GARDEN

Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food." Genesis 1:29 (NIV)

I see a garden.
     True, the ground is bare
of what used to be.
It's quite different now.
There's not much to see.
But, though the ground is bare,
natures phantoms are still there
leaving remnants of beauty for me.

I see a garden.
     There are cabbages in a row
on that far side.
The vines on that trellis
give the cukes a place to hide.
The birds all seem to know
where the ripening strawberries grow
and the weeds grow thickest on that side.

I see a garden.
     Though traces of snow cover
the sleeping seeds of spring,
there is life beneath the soil
and new birth the sun will bring.
Though old age may hinder me
and I'm not what I used to be,
I see a garden in my heart
and my soul SINGS!

Father, thank You for the provisions You made for our sinful original parents and for us today. My joy is full when I work my garden and harvest the produce because of Your love. Amen.




Friday, April 22, 2016

THERE IS A SNAKE IN MY BASEMENT!


But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:3 (NIV)
There is a snake in my basement, or at least there was. It might be dead by now, or it might have gotten out, or it might still be there. I do not know. It snuck in while my husband was working at the outside entrance one day. He tried to catch it, but it escaped into the unknown crevices. Finding it would have involved taking three generations’ worth of possessions out of up to four rooms, and we just were not willing to put in the effort. It has been several months now, and my husband thinks he found the carcass a while back, but we do not know for certain.
Sin is like that. It slips into some place that we will not take the time to clean out. Sin does not, however, just curl up in a corner and die. It takes up residence in that dark corner and then starts working its way into the light. By the time we notice the problem, it is too late.
Praise the Lord, we have a Savior, who is also an expert house cleaner. He knows exactly where sin is hiding and exactly how to get rid of it. Of course, then a new problem occurs, or perhaps it is the same old problem. Will we let Him clean out those dark corners that we try to ignore and may even want to keep everything in them?
Prayer: Lord, make our hearts long for Your cleansing touch, instead of hiding in the dark.
©2016 Heidi M. Grant

Friday, April 15, 2016

WORK SPACE WITNESS PLACE

My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness and of Your salvation all day long. Psalm 71:15 (NASB)

God has given each of us a special arena to reach lost souls—a place where only we can minister.

My nursing profession provides unique opportunities to meet people at a point of need where medicine falls short. Often a patient arrives in my office stunned by a diagnosis that leaves them peering into the window of eternity. Their life suddenly careens into an abyss where all of the world's medical brilliance offers no guarantee.

Like blind men stumbling, groping in the dark, they are searching for something to give direction and stability. They need a light in the terrifying darkness of their diagnosis. Faced with their own mortality, suddenly what was of value yesterday, today is worth nothing.

Five minutes into conversation reveals if they have the peace and assurance of knowing Jesus. If they are secure in their eternal destination, they are concerned but not shaken to the core. Their feet are resting on the solid rock of Jesus Christ.

It's the other patients that grieve my heart and leave me praying for an opportunity to share my faith. Often, God has answered that prayer by having them look up and rest their eyes on the cross or a Bible verse on my office wall. Usually a question follows. I thank God for the opportunity and ask for His leading. My work space has become my witness place.

Whether facing a terminal diagnosis or another life issue, every person we meet needs to know the security of God's kingdom. We all have an important job to do.

Father, Help me to always keep my eyes open for opportunities to share Your gift of eternal life. Amen.


©2106 Bonnie Mae Evans

Friday, April 8, 2016

SPRINGS PREVIEW

See? The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth. Song of Solomon 2:11, 12a (NIV).

Silly little tulips, peeking from the ground.
Do they know something that I don't know?
Or do they stick their heads up just to look around
And see if there is yet a trace of snow?

Don't they know it's winter and spring is long away?
Old man Frost still has a trick or two.
But those silly little tulip heads look like they're here to stay.
I wonder, if it snows, what they will do?

Perhaps they all got lonesome, so long beneath the ground
And came up for a peek at God's blue sky.
Or, maybe they're a preview of springs lovely sound,
Silently pushing winters chill on by.

Father, I am blessed to witness the seasonal changes and the awakening of the earth as spring nears and the flowers are reborn. Thank You, Father, that our earthly home is renewed according to Your word. Amen.

© 2016 Evelyn B. Ryan

Friday, April 1, 2016

THE BEST LAID PLANS

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

“When are you due?” people would ask as soon as they found out I was pregnant.

“April 1st,” I would reply, and add after a moment, “It’s okay, you can laugh.”

It would take a second, but then they would get the joke and chuckle. My husband thought it would be awesome if our son was born that day, but I was diagnosed with preeclampsia, a life-threatening condition, on March 27th. For three days, the doctors and nurses tried valiantly to get me to go into labor, but to no avail. (Most at this point express sympathy for my terrible plight, but I reassure them that it was not actually bad. I never went into labor.) The staff nicknamed me Fort Knox. My husband jokes that they were inventing drugs for the purpose. They even pulled out a drug which they had not used in five years but no luck.  Instead, on March 30th, I played turkey, and they carved my son out of me.

I am so grateful that God’s plans never go awry, even if our part in them never seems to be what we want. Things may get rough or be so great we are waiting for the other shoe to drop, but He never steps off His throne. It is truly amazing to be in the hands of such an awesome God!

Prayer: Lord, You are the only One who knows exactly what will happen, and You are the only One who can always control the ups and downs. Thank You for being the Only God.

©2016 Heidi M. Grant