Friday, April 27, 2012
Lesson from a Rope Tow
“let your right hand display awesome deeds.” Psalms 45:2 (NIV)
When I was learning to ski, the little slope just had a rope tow. It was very difficult to learn on. I would fail to get my skis in the ruts right and fall down. Or someone up in front would fall down causing a cascade of falling people. Or the rope would suddenly jerk and I’d fall down.
Most skiers nowadays are used to big comfy ski lifts, where you rise majestically high up above the snow. True, it’s sometimes hard to time it just right, getting into the moving chair. But the lift is longer, and you even have time to look around at the beautiful winter wonderland.
We older skiers remember the rope tow. It’s always moving uphill fast. You position your skis, grab on with your gloves, and up you go. But if the rope is icy, and your gloves are icy too, it slides through your hands. So you tighten your grasp, till friction works through the ice, then suddenly, whoosh! You try to hold on through the amazing acceleration.
It’s so much like our prayer life. God’s constant uplifting power is always there in our hands, literally, if you're holding a Bible. But if you’re in an icy spot, you just don’t seem to move at first. We all go through times when His power seems to have been turned off. Then you’ve got to grip harder, let God wear away the ice, when, whoosh! Up you go. Hold on, you’re in for an exhilaratingly great ride.
Dear God, may we grasp on to your power tightly, with both hands. We persist, with the expectancy that you will lift us up spiritually through your amazing power.
(c) 2012 Jan Lewis
Friday, April 20, 2012
Fresh
Joy
Recently I have been pondering “the joy of my
salvation” and why at times it seems not to be as full and complete as when I
first became a Christ follower. My heart longs to abide in the fresh joy I
experienced then.
My answer came in a women’s Bible study. As we were
preparing for our lesson, we began by singing a song taken from Psalm 51. It suddenly
hit me as the words jumped off the page. I had memorized the scripture
incorrectly. It did not say “my salvation” as I had been meditating on. It said
“Thy salvation!” The emphasis was on the Lord and not me. It was He who placed the hollow spot in our
hearts that could only be filled by Him. He
provided our way to Heaven by sending Jesus to atone for our sins. It is He who draws our hearts unto Himself
and gives us salvation through forgiveness of our sins. The only thing we bring
to Him is our iniquity and sincere repentance. In return, we receive joy as we
accept the keys to Heaven.
To experience the Lord’s gift of true joy, the focus
must remain on Him. If He is not recognized as the originator of our joy as
well as our salvation then we are out of focus. We miss the point, and the
warmth of His joy becomes diminished in the glare of “me.”
Our joy will be made complete when we give Him first
place and all the honor and glory that are rightfully His.Friday, April 13, 2012
Contentment
I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation . . . I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:12b, 13 (NIV)
“Mom, you have to get out now. There’s a fire in the building!”
My youngest son’s voice woke me from a sound sleep at 2:00 o’clock in the morning. Gathering my wits, I quickly put on a robe and shoes. When the door opened, smoke came billowing out. Slipping on wet hoses and water, I climbed the stairs to get out of the building. Firemen, fire trucks, an ambulance with emergency personnel, and a policeman and his car filled the parking lot—lights blazing.
The police officer asked us if we had seen our neighbors to make sure everyone was out of the building. He was calm and reassuring. I watched the well-trained firemen do their jobs, so thankful they were there.
I was shocked by what happened, but glad that my son and I were safe. Standing in the chilly night air, I felt a quiet sense that everything was going to be all right. After praying for the safety of everyone in the building, I prayed for our belongings.
We all face challenges and difficulties in this life, but we can be assured that our Lord is with us in trying times. We can learn to be content even in the midst of a fire. The Holy Spirit comes alongside to give us strength when we need it most.
Thank you, Father, for being with us when we face trials in this life. Thank you for your protection and your strength. And thanks for keeping our belongings safe, too. In Jesus name, Amen.
© 2012 Diane E. Hussey
I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation . . . I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:12b, 13 (NIV)
“Mom, you have to get out now. There’s a fire in the building!”
My youngest son’s voice woke me from a sound sleep at 2:00 o’clock in the morning. Gathering my wits, I quickly put on a robe and shoes. When the door opened, smoke came billowing out. Slipping on wet hoses and water, I climbed the stairs to get out of the building. Firemen, fire trucks, an ambulance with emergency personnel, and a policeman and his car filled the parking lot—lights blazing.
The police officer asked us if we had seen our neighbors to make sure everyone was out of the building. He was calm and reassuring. I watched the well-trained firemen do their jobs, so thankful they were there.
I was shocked by what happened, but glad that my son and I were safe. Standing in the chilly night air, I felt a quiet sense that everything was going to be all right. After praying for the safety of everyone in the building, I prayed for our belongings.
We all face challenges and difficulties in this life, but we can be assured that our Lord is with us in trying times. We can learn to be content even in the midst of a fire. The Holy Spirit comes alongside to give us strength when we need it most.
Thank you, Father, for being with us when we face trials in this life. Thank you for your protection and your strength. And thanks for keeping our belongings safe, too. In Jesus name, Amen.
© 2012 Diane E. Hussey
Friday, April 6, 2012
Death to Life
You do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 1 Thessalonians 4:13b-14 (NIV)
I stood by her bed, watching the labored breathing, her upper body moving slightly in rhythm with her breath. I gently wiped the froth that came up from her tortured lungs as her heart struggled to pump oxygen through her blood. She reminded me of a freight train straining up a mountain side, chugging hard, sending up black smoke into the clouds.
One more gasping breath and the heart stilled forever. Her skin took on a yellow-grey pallor, no pink at all. This was what death looked like as it claimed my mother's precious life.
Numbness gripped my heart. God helped me to force back the tears and steel myself to do what was necessary. My time with grief would come, but not now. Kissing her cold face, I told her I loved her one last time.
Jesus comforted me then with hope. He reminded me that I would see her again. She was alive—with him—as he He had planned from the beginning.
I imagined her wonderful reception at the gates of heaven, walking into the outstretched arms of Jesus. Behind Him stood her own mother, Ella Mae, who died when she was three. She had always longed to see her mother's face, but there had been no pictures of her. Her father, four sisters, and three brothers greeted her, smiles on their faces, arms open in welcome. Mourning had just turned to joy! At last, Mother was Home.
Father, may we have the hope of a glorious reunion as we go through this life and head toward heaven's door.
©2012 Evelyn B. Ryan
Friday, March 30, 2012
Lost and Found
There is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents, Luke 15:10 (RSV)
“Adam, Eve. Where are you?” With that call recorded in Genesis, Adam and Eve became the world’s first lost children.
The Lord, of course, knew where they were, these two progenitors of mankind. The Lord’s concern, however, was not a question of physical, but spiritual safety.
My kids are grown, but sometimes I dream about their being lost. The pain, fear, and emptiness is so unbearable that I wake up. In the everyday world we often hear reports about parents whose children, go missing. That is the time people begin to pray asking the Lord to find the lost, bring them home and give peace and comfort to the parents. Most believers value Hebrews 13:5, “I will never fail you nor forsake you,” because we know the Lord hears and answers all prayers—no matter if the troubles we face are finances, relationships or fears for lost children.
After calling out for Adam and Eve in the garden, our heavenly Father promised all mankind that even though we purposely went our own way, He would find us and save us. God revealed his plan to send a Savior. In it, He asks us, his children, the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve, to turn and commit to His will, not our own. We rejoice when lost children are physically found. We rejoice even more when, spiritually lost, they decide to follow the Lord. So do the angels.
Father, be with us in all our fears, grant us calm and wisdom to hear your answers to our problems. Especially help us to find those who are lost. Amen.
“Adam, Eve. Where are you?” With that call recorded in Genesis, Adam and Eve became the world’s first lost children.
The Lord, of course, knew where they were, these two progenitors of mankind. The Lord’s concern, however, was not a question of physical, but spiritual safety.
My kids are grown, but sometimes I dream about their being lost. The pain, fear, and emptiness is so unbearable that I wake up. In the everyday world we often hear reports about parents whose children, go missing. That is the time people begin to pray asking the Lord to find the lost, bring them home and give peace and comfort to the parents. Most believers value Hebrews 13:5, “I will never fail you nor forsake you,” because we know the Lord hears and answers all prayers—no matter if the troubles we face are finances, relationships or fears for lost children.
After calling out for Adam and Eve in the garden, our heavenly Father promised all mankind that even though we purposely went our own way, He would find us and save us. God revealed his plan to send a Savior. In it, He asks us, his children, the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve, to turn and commit to His will, not our own. We rejoice when lost children are physically found. We rejoice even more when, spiritually lost, they decide to follow the Lord. So do the angels.
Father, be with us in all our fears, grant us calm and wisdom to hear your answers to our problems. Especially help us to find those who are lost. Amen.
Friday, March 23, 2012
The Resurrection Rose
I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. John 11:25 (KJV)
Roses are my favorite flowers. I bought a miniature rose with orange-yellow blossoms and planted it beside my front door. It bloomed for three years. One fall day the leaves turned black. Thinking it dead, I pulled it out of the mulched soil and tossed it on the compost pile.
Spring came and the first plants to bloom were white snowdrops and crocuses. I walked around our property noticing wild violets and woods anemones blooming. A bright orange color caught my eye. There lay the rose bush with green leaves and six orange blossoms. This bush had so much determination to live that I replanted it. My reward was an endless array of orange roses.
We decided to re-do the front patio and that meant taking out the flowers beside the front door. My uncle, a contractor, did it while I worked. Later, I found my flower bulbs and the rose bush lying on the side of the house. The rose bush was split into two pieces. It took me four days to get around to planting the bulbs and the two pieces of my rose bush. I just knew it was going to die. I planted the two pieces side by side in the new flower bed. Philippians 4:13 came to mind. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me, assured me that God could do anything if it was His will. The rose was resurrected once more to bloom profusely on two bushes!
Father, thank You for the resurrection hope for all of Your faithful children. Amen.
(c) 2012 E. Bonnie Ryan
Roses are my favorite flowers. I bought a miniature rose with orange-yellow blossoms and planted it beside my front door. It bloomed for three years. One fall day the leaves turned black. Thinking it dead, I pulled it out of the mulched soil and tossed it on the compost pile.
Spring came and the first plants to bloom were white snowdrops and crocuses. I walked around our property noticing wild violets and woods anemones blooming. A bright orange color caught my eye. There lay the rose bush with green leaves and six orange blossoms. This bush had so much determination to live that I replanted it. My reward was an endless array of orange roses.
We decided to re-do the front patio and that meant taking out the flowers beside the front door. My uncle, a contractor, did it while I worked. Later, I found my flower bulbs and the rose bush lying on the side of the house. The rose bush was split into two pieces. It took me four days to get around to planting the bulbs and the two pieces of my rose bush. I just knew it was going to die. I planted the two pieces side by side in the new flower bed. Philippians 4:13 came to mind. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me, assured me that God could do anything if it was His will. The rose was resurrected once more to bloom profusely on two bushes!
Father, thank You for the resurrection hope for all of Your faithful children. Amen.
(c) 2012 E. Bonnie Ryan
Friday, March 16, 2012
Belated Salvation
I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Matthew 20:14 (KJV)
He had prayed the prayer of salvation several years ago, yet it would be difficult to look at his life and surmise that he was saved. Although he had family members in town and some neighbors who visited and chatted with him, he became somewhat of a loner.
When it was obvious that his money had dwindled and his health had deteriorated, he moved out of state to live with his son and family.
Late stage renal failure, heart disease and a lung disorder left him in constant pain and contributed to making him a difficult housemate. It was quite an adjustment for all involved. They worked hard to take good care of him. He grew in the knowledge and admonition of the Lord because they lived a Godly life before him.
After passing out at the breakfast table, he was rushed to the hospital. Alone in the room with his adult son, he struggled to speak.
Signaling the nurse to take his oxygen mask off so that he could be heard, he softly said, “Not everyone really dies.” Then he clasped his hands together and wiggled his fingers as an example.“We will all come together, you, my grandchildren, and my daughter-in-law. All of us. I’m going first and then you will all come. I just wish I could have given my father what you have given me.”
He died one day later in an atmosphere of peace with his family and friends around the bed, holding his hands, touching him, singing, praying, and whispering loving words.
Thank you Lord for receiving those who believe in you—even those who come to love you late.
© Christy Struben 2012
He had prayed the prayer of salvation several years ago, yet it would be difficult to look at his life and surmise that he was saved. Although he had family members in town and some neighbors who visited and chatted with him, he became somewhat of a loner.
When it was obvious that his money had dwindled and his health had deteriorated, he moved out of state to live with his son and family.
Late stage renal failure, heart disease and a lung disorder left him in constant pain and contributed to making him a difficult housemate. It was quite an adjustment for all involved. They worked hard to take good care of him. He grew in the knowledge and admonition of the Lord because they lived a Godly life before him.
After passing out at the breakfast table, he was rushed to the hospital. Alone in the room with his adult son, he struggled to speak.
Signaling the nurse to take his oxygen mask off so that he could be heard, he softly said, “Not everyone really dies.” Then he clasped his hands together and wiggled his fingers as an example.“We will all come together, you, my grandchildren, and my daughter-in-law. All of us. I’m going first and then you will all come. I just wish I could have given my father what you have given me.”
He died one day later in an atmosphere of peace with his family and friends around the bed, holding his hands, touching him, singing, praying, and whispering loving words.
Thank you Lord for receiving those who believe in you—even those who come to love you late.
© Christy Struben 2012
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