DAFFODILS

May those who sow in tears, reap with shouts of joy. Psalm 126.5 (RSV)

A large field of bright yellow daffodils, near my friend’s home, totally mesmerized me. Their brilliance caused me to desire them. Although I lived in a suburban area, on quarter acre property, I could make room. My friend gave me a bucket and a shovel and I filled that bucket with daffodil bulbs.

The next day, at home, I dug up the ground all around our token flowering cherry tree, and also around the front of our house.  I was ready for my own yellow breath taking brilliant experience.

Next year, spring arrived, but no flowers. Masses of green stems grew—same result the following year. More things went wrong. The flowering cherry tree died. Things went from bad to worse. My husband said he wanted “out.” I wanted to put him “out” with the dog, but he had more permanent plans.

Despite the personal drama, the dead tree needed to be replaced. A landscaping company came with a new tree, and they dug a huge hole and took large wheelbarrows full of earth to the back woods and scattered it.

That spring, the negative changes in my life: lawyers, divorce, heavy finances and relocating, overwhelmed me. Although I wouldn’t miss my meandering husband, he was never home anyway, I would miss my home—the house I watched being built. That made me cry. I prayed, “Lord give me strength.”

Feeling consumed with grief, I decided to walk around my home to say good bye to the property. Lo and behold, the back woods glowed with bright yellow daffodils. I felt God telling me I would move and grow and bloom elsewhere. He was right.

Dear Lord, You are my Living Hope. Nothing is impossible for you. Amen

© 2015 Lois Gosley

PRECIOUS REMINDERS

You shall put the two stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod, as stones of memorial for the sons of Israel, and Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord on his two shoulders for a memorial. Exodus 28:12 (NASB)

 As far back as I can remember, my grandmother proudly wore a silver charm bracelet. The happy tinkling sound could be heard throughout the house as she went about her day.

She lovingly called it her grandmother's bracelet. Encircled evenly around it, in order of birth were boy and girl profile heads. Each held an engraving with the name and birth dates of me, my sister, my brother and my cousins. The last to be added among the shining links holding us all together, was my brother, the youngest of the family.

My grandmother was very proud of all the grandchildren represented on her bracelet.

Often times, I noticed her gently fingering each head as she sat quietly. She was praying individually for each one of us as she slowly rotated the chain around her wrist. The charms served as a visible reminder of the children she held dear to her heart.

In Exodus, God gave precise instructions for Aaron's ephod to be made using stones inscribed with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. Attached to the front of his shoulder piece—up front for everyone to see, they were visible reminders that God held them dear.

When we are dedicated to serving the Lord, our daily presence in this world will be a precious  reminder of God's love for all mankind, as others see Jesus written all over our lives.

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that when others view my life all they see is You.  Amen.

©2016 Bonnie Mae Evans

MOVING ADJUSTMENTS

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise. Ephesians 5:15 (RSV)

Moving from the south end of Maryland to the north changed my world. Living close to Washington, D.C. exposed me to government workers, who gave the impression they were always in a hurry. While on the road, “Me first” was their motto. Horns were constantly blowing.

My new home on the northern end of Maryland, is farm country. People appear friendlier, more easy going, and fewer horns blew. They even permitted you to merge left by leaving an opening, versus, racing up—daring you to go for it.

Arriving at the new locale, many chores swamped me, namely, getting a new bank, address changes, and joining a new church. Keeping my priorities in order was a challenge. I prayed to walk like the wise not the unwise.

One day while approaching a red light, a line of cars with fluttering purple flags attached to the drivers’ doors, crossed my path. Must be a funeral. I stopped to wait until the cars passed.

While observing this procession, I noticed the cars had exuberant mourners, hanging out their windows, hollering and waving their arms. They must be really glad this person is gone!

Horns started to blow behind me. Local folks were not as respectful. They expected me to crash a funeral line! At this point, I checked the small “funeral procession” closer. I realized the now relaxed purple flags said “Ravens,” a football team, not funeral flags. (Gulp!)

It was a good reminder to get my priorities in order, and not walk like the “unwise.”

Dear Lord, forgive me for giving attention to unnecessary things. Help me to keep my eye on the good and not the noisy. Amen

© 2015 Lois Gosley

AWAKE, SLEEPER!

Wherefore he saith, “Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” Ephesians 5:14 (KJV)

Long before alarm clocks were dependable and affordable, people needed a way to awaken on time. During the Industrial Revolution people began to work in factories and mills. They needed to be on time for work, especially with shifts starting in early morning. In England, a solution to the problem was created by hiring someone referred to as a knocker-up. These knocker-ups would be paid a few pennies a week to rouse people from their sleep. Knocker-ups would use long poles to tap on peoples’ windows. When the person woke he/she had to go to the window and give a gesture to show that they were awake so they could move on to the next house.

There was a lady from the East End of London named Mary Smith. She used dried peas and shot them at her clients’ windows through a rubber tube. Mrs. Mary Smith must have been quite skilled with her pea shooter to hit all those windows.

Do you ever feel like God is shooting peas at your windows trying to wake you a little each day? I often have those experiences with God. They are alarms going off in me. They stir me, disturb me, incite me and revive me. The Holy Spirit wants to arouse us, and Jesus wants to teach us how fresh and new each day can be with Him.

We have come a long way since the days of a knocker-up. Our inventions come and go, but the best alarm of all is when God chooses to Wake you.

Good morning Lord, may I find you awakening my spirit with a new truth I need to know.  

© 2016 Kimberly Clayton       

SOCCER AND THE GREAT COMMISSION

Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Matthew 28:19-20a (NIV)

Pastor Bruce works part time as soccer coach at the local high school in a small Pennsylvania town. He often gathers the team to pray before and after games and practice sessions.

Team members obviously hold their coach in high regard because wherever they see him off the field, they greet him exuberantly. Many have graduated, gone on to college or found their occupation in the adult world. Without fail they stop to talk to their high school coach, tell him about their lives, and sometimes ask  for prayer.

Coach Bruce was pleasantly moved when one young man ran across a parking lot to chat with him. Tracy had been on the soccer team for just a few days before circumstances forced him to resign. He was anxious to explain to the coach how those days had changed his future by teaching him the sport of soccer and pointing him to Jesus.

All Christians are called by the "Great Commission," to witness and bring others to the Lord. As a Coach and a pastor, Bruce's days take him from the pulpit to "every day" life, witnessing along the way. I am reminded that finding people to bring to God is not difficult. It is not limited to the pulpit or the confines a church building, but open to those we meet wherever we are.

Prayer: Lord help me to remember that the call of "The Great Commission" includes me. I want to answer the whispers of Your Holy Spirit to minister and witness to others wherever I am.                    

 (C) Christy Struben

SENT

Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, I am sending you. And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” John 20:21 (NIV)

 Recently I attended an International Conference on Missions. Over three thousand missionaries and mission-sending personnel gathered from all over the world for rest, encouragement, training and to share their stories. Many were from the United States and Christian-friendly countries of the west, but there were also many who are working in countries where Christianity is illegal or otherwise oppressed. (Think the Middle-East, China, North Africa, India, Russia.)

 It was humbling to listen to them, but it was also challenging. I never detected a hint of fear in anyone, but consistently saw joy, excitement and what could only be described as vital life. That is life with purpose—life fueled by success seen in changed lives, churches planted and Christ worshipped.             

 This full life is the kind Jesus has in mind for each of us. John 6:16-18 tells us Jesus was sent to teach us and to be a model Godly person, to show us how to live. Likewise, Jesus equips and sends us, his disciples, with the Holy Spirit to continue his work. He told us we would do even greater things than he did! (John 14:11-14)

 That is really hard to comprehend. Do you ever think of yourself personally as a Man of God or a Woman of God? But Jesus said it, so it must be true. God sent Jesus, and Jesus sends us. He equips us with his indwelling Holy Spirit to guide and empower us. The whole power of God is available to a person who will believe, receive and obey.

 Astonishing! What a way to live!

 Prayer: Lord Jesus, keep me constantly aware of your presence, and give me the guidance and courage to be the faithful disciple you call me to be.

 © 2016 Parker Wayland