HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW

Are not five sparrows sold for pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. In deed the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid, you are worth more than many sparrows." 
Luke 12:6-8 (NIV)

 At the age of eight, I was being wheeled into the operating room for a tonsillectomy.  The nurse spoke softly to me. I believe she was trying to keep me calm.
"When you are back in your room you can have some ice cream,"

"That's nice," I said and added, "I had strawberry jam with my breakfast toast this morning.
 
"Honey, you didn't have breakfast this morning," the nurse answered"

"Yes, I did with my favorite jam."

The nurse smiled and said, "I need to leave the room for a few minutes, Stay right here.
   
Evidently, I fell asleep because I woke up in my hospital room with my parents by me and my tonsils in place.

My parents explained, "A doctor cannot operate when the patient has a full stomach. They could not take out your tonsils because someone accidentally served you breakfast.

When I look back at that day and similar situations, I know my Lord continues to protect, council and direct me in the right path.

My job is to stay in touch with Him, follow His directions and embrace His words.

Dear Lord, Thank You for "Looking out for me, for the many time You have intervened in in my life for my good. Please continue to help me stay on Your path.  Amen

© 2019  Christena Struben

 

ULTIMATE FOREVER

He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:6-7 (NAS)

When my son was small, we saw Toy Story. Buzz Lightyear shouted in excitement, hands to the sky, “To infinity and beyond!” It caused me to pause. Someday infinity will open before me as I leave this earth, and step into eternity. . . forever and ever. In the journey between here and there lies one decision that will determine where each of us will spend our ultimate forever.

This revelation brought with it a joyous challenge to raise my children to love the Lord and share with as many people as possible the essential truth of salvation through accepting Jesus Christ as Lord of their lives. Eternity is a long time to spend in the agony and distress of Hell. 

I desire to share the message with receptive hearts and for those not ready to hear, I pray they will see Jesus being lived out in my life. As Christians, it is our heart’s desire to tell as many people as God puts in our path the good news of a secured eternity with Him.

I recall a similar thought shortly after accepting Christ, as we stood singing those beautiful words of Amazing Grace:

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,

Bright shining as the sun,

We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise,

Than when we’d first begun.”

What a joyful thought! This life of fleeting moments of happiness, overshadowed with pain, sadness, and death, will come to an end someday, opening to our bright eternal joy in Heaven.

Father, I pray for opportunities to help others make that ONE right decision.

©2019 Bonnie Mae Evans

 

IF ONLY WE COULDN’T SEE

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)

During a recent work retreat, my boss shared a clip from the movie Facing the Giants. In the scene, the Eagles football team was sitting on the practice field grumbling about an upcoming game. They were feeling defeated and their most influential player was convinced their next opponent was too good for them to beat. In response to this doubt, the coach blindfolded the player and asked him to complete a 20-yard death crawl with a fellow player on his back.

As the player blindly crawled down the field, the coach encouraged him to keep going one step at a time until, unknown to the player, he crawled the entire length of the field. Something strange happened. The player’s state of blindness allowed him to go beyond what he thought he was capable of doing.

As I watched the clip, I began to think about what would happen in the lives of believers if only we could not see. Sight is good and sight is a gift, but I’m caused to ponder how much the blessing of sight limits our potential in God.

Is the comfort and safety in the things we see a hindrance to us reaching our God-defined potential? I believe in seeing we become aware of the dangers of pursuing our God-sized dreams thereby giving fear a chance to slip in and challenge our faith.

But imagine what our lives could be if we fearlessly allowed God to put the blindfold over our eyes and guide our lives. Oh, the places we could go if only we couldn’t see!

God, please do not let my sight blind me in my pursuit of Your destiny for my life.

© 2019 Dawn M. Wayman

IN THE WILDERNESS

 I knew you in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.  Hosea 13:5 (NKJV)

Today, many acknowledge God but do not see any need nor have any desire to turn their lives over to God. Unbeknownst to them, they walk into a wilderness. They believe they can handle things in their own power and are unable to recognize any weakness within themselves.

Can you think of anyone who behaves in such a way? Maybe this is or was you. Maybe this is a family member. I was that person.

As a young adult, I deliberately walked away from God into a wilderness of my own making. I knew God and His Son Jesus, but I would not give Him control of my life. My career was successful but I really struggled in the more important parts of my life. As a parent, disciplining and guiding my two boys was very difficult and there was much discord in my marriage.

My heart was bitter. I felt alone. The only place where I felt valued was in my workplace—working two jobs allowed even less time at home. The bitterness in my heart began to turn to sorrow. Finally I cried out to God. And He heard me in the wilderness! “… I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland” (Isaiah 43:19). He led me out. My heart now belongs to Him alone and He has control of my life. ‘I will dwell in His house forever’ (Psalm 23:6).

Father, thank you for hearing and responding to us in our wilderness. We now gladly surrender all to walk in Your ways. In Jesus name we pray.   

© 2019  Marianne Lucot

THE QUEST FOR MEANING

Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God . . . That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad. Ecclesiastes 3:11-13, 12:13-14 (NLT)

Seldom do I grow weary of relaxing by the shore and gazing into the water, cocooned in the splendor of the mountains. Nothing seems more peaceful than clearing my mind and soaking in the beauty of God’s creation. Once a calmness has settled over me, thoughts begin to trickle back in. I become lost in my musings, but desire the time spent to be fruitful—that is, to arrive at some meaningful conclusion.

Everything is short-lived, but God is eternal.

Although we may find enjoyment and satisfaction in our work, pleasures and possessions, meaning is found in a relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ. God has planted eternity in the human heart, a place only He can fill. And yet sadly, we sometimes attempt to put other things in the place belonging to God, searching for fulfillment, but never quite finding it.

The author of Ecclesiastes concludes his writing by telling us to fear God and obey His commands, for this is everyone’s duty—essential ingredients for living a meaningful life.

Father God, Thank You for the simplicity of Your Word.

© 2019 Amy A. Verzi