BE STILL

Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest. Exodus 34: 21 (NIV)

It’s Monday and the blaring alarm jolts me from my sleep reminding me that another work week will soon begin. I say to myself, “How could another weekend come and go so fast? There are so many things I didn’t do, so many things I wanted to do, but there never seems to be enough time. And God says we should do all our labor and work in six days? Certainly, God was not thinking of my schedule when He gave this commandment!”

He was! And He was thinking of your schedule too!

Despite our natural affinity for a life of busyness, God knew our human need for rest. It was so important that He modeled it for us when He created the heavens and the earth. Then, He placed it among the ten commandments.

I’ve not mastered this “rest” thing, but I’ve read stories of others who have. Their sabbath may fall on a Monday, a Friday, or perhaps a Sunday. Whatever the day, they are intentional in exhaling and being still. It’s a display of their trust in God to take care of all their needs in a six-day period.

I do not envy those who have decided to be still and take a weekly sabbath; instead, I strive to be like them. God took a sabbath. He recognized a need for rest. We, too, have a need for sabbath—a time to be still and a time to be restored by our great and mighty God.

Lord, forgive us for neglecting Your command to rest. Give us the courage to trust You to do all things in six days.

© 2018 Dawn M. Wayman

SHARING MARY'S TEARS

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. Matt. 6:14 (NIV)

I awake—heart pounding. My sleep is disturbed by worry. I seek the Lord’s comfort and peace.

Through the darkness my mother's heart cries out, recognizing that still, after years, I harbor anger and resentment for the one who nearly took my son's life. Anger burned as I recalled the event that hurt his heart and sent his life into years of a self-destructive tailspin.

Without speaking, I cry to God, "He almost killed my son!" Life crushing pain squeezed across my chest as I pleaded my case.

God quietly, tenderly responds.

"They DID kill my son . . .

And it was for you."

That broke me, drove me from my bed to my knees at this most holy moment. I sobbed out my sorrow for what my sins had done and my thankfulness that even now, God could love me so deeply as to speak love into my pain, ever so gently caressing away the ugly ache of anger that screamed for justice.

He reminds me I have been forgiven once and for all, but in return, I must forgive.

Tears continued streaming from the deep well of pain in my heart. I felt kinship with Mary as she cried for her son.

I felt her tears stinging from under my eyelids—tears that I was in part responsible for.

Oh God, forgive me for my unforgiveness. Help me to release what I am holding on to. Change my heart. Help me to trust you unreservedly with all I hold dear. 

Praise You, Father, for showing me the error of my way, what is inhibiting healing and fullness of joy. Amen.

© 2018 Bonnie Mae Evans

LIFE UNDERWAY

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? Matthew 6:25 (NIV)

Worrying about the past is like standing on the fantail (stern) of a ship contemplating the turmoil of the water churned up by the ship’s propellers as you pass a place you will never be again. It is utterly pointless.

The Captain of the ship is on the bridge, guiding and instructing the helmsman on the course determined by the Navigator from the Captain’s instruction. There are lookouts watching ahead and to port and to starboard for hazards such as other ships or rocks in the channel. But no one is paying attention to what is behind. It is no longer of any concern. Yes, it is part of the journey, but the way to the destination is all that matters.

Jesus advised us to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these (other) things will be given to you as well” (Mathew 6:33).

What is important is the ship you are on. Who is your Captain and where is he taking you?  Each of us gets to choose our ship of life. If Jesus is the Captain of your ship, the kingdom of God is your destination. You can have confidence that He will get you there safely. Yes, we need to repent of the turmoil of our sins and receive Christ’s promised forgiveness, but then we can forget what is behind and confidently sail with Him to God’s kingdom.

Prayer: Thank you Jesus, God of grace, for opening and showing me the way to the kingdom of God!   

 

© 2018 Parker Wayland

FINDING HOPE

No wonder my heart is glad, and my tongue shouts his praises! My body rests in hope. Acts 2:26 (NLT)

I choose to watch or listen to the news once each day and even that experience can be overwhelming. I grow discouraged in my spirit. We hear the stories of violence around the world, of perpetrators who have no regard for life, the barrage of slanderous remarks, one against the other, plus the unending reports of overdoses. My spirit groans in sorrow.

How can we be about doing our Father’s work if our spirits are inundated with the darkness of this world? 

I am a Warrior Princess of the Most High God, having accepted the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.  My eyes, from morning to night, are focused on Jesus. He dwells within me, and I search for opportunities to penetrate this dark world with His Light.

This world is indeed broken and this breaks God’s heart. According to His Word, He desires His people, all who proclaim Jesus as their Savior, to bring Hope into the world. When you feel overwhelmed by the darkness of this world, focus on God’s Word, recalling His promises. Set aside time each day to commune with God in prayer and silence, allowing Him to speak to your heart.  He is faithful and will reveal His path to you. Then, take action!

When our hearts are filled with God’s hope, we will be His hands and feet in our communities and around the world, singing His praises and sharing His love.

Father, have Your way with us. Fill us beyond our wildest expectations with Your love and direct us into our communities so we may abundantly pour out Your love, hope and peace. 

© 2018 Marianne Lucot

WHERE ARE YOU LORD?

Hear my cry, O God;
    listen to my prayer.

From the ends of the earth I call to you,
    I call as my heart grows faint;
    lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
Psalm 61:1-2 (NIV)

Where are you Lord, when the dysfunction of our government is paraded before the world like cheap reality television?

Where are you Lord, when our veterans who served faithfully to protect our freedoms are forgotten?

Where are you Lord, when people exploit one another for financial gain?

Where are you Lord, when we stare in horror at the carnage of the latest victims to the evil of terrorism?

Where are you Lord, when businesses treat your children and creation callously—discarding them without a care, like equipment that has served its useful life?

Where are you Lord, when our families are grieving over the loss of our children to illness, drugs and suicide?

Where are you Lord, when our politicians live by their own set of rules at the expense of the people they serve?

Where are you Lord, when our justice system fails and the lawless are set free to prey upon the innocent and our children—children who look to us to protect them from harm?

Where are you Lord, when we put our hope in the things of the world instead of in You?

Where are you Lord, when life is not viewed as sacred?

Where are you Lord? Are You crying too?

Sovereign Lord, with broken hearts we cry out to You to heal Your people and heal Your land. Lead us back to You, our hope at the end of hopelessness.

Come Lord Jesus, come.

© 2017 Amy A. Verzi

LISTEN UP

If in spite of this you still do not listen to me but continue to be hostile to me, then in my anger I will be hostile toward you, and I myself will punish you for your sins seven times over.

 Leviticus 26:27(NIV)

Wow! This foretells disaster for the person or nation that persists in being hostile toward God!

This morning I awoke to a gentle rain. American life and commerce proceed calmly and efficiently as we enjoy the blessings of freedom established long ago. Yet in many ways I see in the newspapers and public forum a nation divided, many indifferent, if not hostile, to the God of the Bible.

 I wonder.

 God is also extremely loving. He invites us into a relationship of love. God even sent His Son, Jesus, who told us, If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love... I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete (John 15:10-11).

 Leviticus is Old Testament and was proclaimed under the Old Covenant. But God still seeks a loving relationship with us. Those who are “hostile” toward God clearly have no part in the New Covenant in Jesus’ blood. What about indifference? God is the judge of where the line is, but if a nation or person must wonder where they stand, they may be in trouble. It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of an angry God.

Jesus went to the cross to invite us into a loving relationship. For those who will receive it, God’s love is the most real and joyful aspect of our existence.

Lord, I’m listening. Lead me in paths that honor You.

 © 2017 Parker Wayland

THE SEASONS OF LIFE

For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1 (RSV)

Solomon gives us pause to reflect on our own journey through life by developing a more personal relationship with our Creator. A good way to do this is to restructure our path through the year.

September should be the start of our year, refocusing our energy in work, school, and church, revitalizing our core human existence of vocation, education, and spiritualization.

This focus of our fall quest prepares us for the greatest gift by our Creator, His Son, born in a cold cave, but with a bright star, lighting His triumphal entry into human history.

Winter is a season of praise and thanksgiving for this miraculous event while preparing us for God’s next great intervention—the Easter Event.

Here God allows His great Christmas gift of life and hope to dim and die a painful human death. In three days God shows us the way out of our sorrow by bringing His Light back to life for all to see and rejoice in the resurrection of new life in His Son, Jesus the Christ.

The summer season is a time to rest and reflect upon these incredible miracles of God breaking into our earthly existence, and showing us the best way to live, and the true way to go home—with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

When we come back to the fall season, it’s time to shout out “Happy New Year” and Prepare ye the way of the Lord. 
Mark 3:1 (RSV)

Heavenly Father, lead us through our seasons of life with Your guiding light and love.

© 2017 David Le Kites