Fear Not

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. II Timothy 1:7(KJV)

I was asleep when a sudden, intense fear like I had never experienced gripped my heart, making it pound nearly out of my chest. My eyes flew open. Framed in the bedroom doorway was a crimson figure, head crowned with red spikes. No facial features were evident, but I knew it was the devil.

Like a frightened child, I grabbed the covers and pulled them over my head, squeezing my eyes shut. I felt a coldness grip me inside out. I lay rigid and my breathing grew fast and shallow for several moments. Involuntarily, my hands slowly pulled the covers down from my face. Eyes wide, I stared at the doorway. It was completely empty. Relief washed over me.

I relaxed as the blood began to course through my veins, warming me once again. I told myself it was silly, and that it was only my imagination, a bad dream. But was it? Oh, God, protect my family and me. Give us Your peace and love. I determined right then to get more serious about my faith.

In the light of a new day, I pulled out my Bible and read aloud in ll Timothy 1:7,”For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” Hearing my voice gave me the confidence and courage to start my devotion to God right then.

Father, thank You for covering me with the peace that casts out all fear. Amen

©2013 Evelyn B. Ryan

STOP AND HELP

“…. ‘Lord when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink?  And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee or naked and clothe thee?’” and the king will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’”

 (Matthew 25:37-40 RSV)

           Bertha and Agnes were riding down the road. Agnes was driving, and driving rather fast. Bertha watched very intently as Agnes flew through a stop sign. Wow, thought Bertha, she must not have seen that sign.

            Shortly Agnes drove boldly through another stop sign. Bertha was about to say something when Agnes sped through a red light.

           Bertha hollered. “Agnes, you went through a red light! You’re going to get us killed.”

           Agnes, wide eyed and startled, replied, “What! I’m driving?”

            That’s a funny story I heard, but while grocery shopping, it didn’t even dawn on me to buy items for our church’s food pantry.

I walk past homeless people on the street, like they’re invisible, thinking cash would be used for drugs. I don’t bother to buy them a food coupon, thereby, missing a chance to your hungry, Jesus.

            The youth group at church made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. They delivered them to where the poor folks gathered. In the winter, another group had a blanket drive and delivered blankets to them. I was too busy. Did I leave your strangers out in the cold, Lord? 

Dear Jesus: Forgive us for failing to see the Stop and Help opportunities. Open the eyes of my heart to see through Your eyes. Amen

© 2013 Lois Gosley

Fancy

And, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:20b. (KJV)

I learn so much from watching animals. My husband and I recently acquired a two-year-old teacup chocolate Chihuahua that we named Fancy. She was timid, snipping at anyone who came near. After hours of holding her and talking soothingly, she finally accepted me, but still kept other family members at bay. She growled and snapped at them, all the while clinging to me.

Fancy followed me everywhere. One night as I prepared for my evening shower, she pranced around the bathroom, watching me. To my surprise, when I dropped my blouse to the floor, Fancy grabbed it, dragged it to her bed, and promptly curled up on it. When my husband and I realized what she was doing, we smiled and let her sleep on it for the night.

This made me realize that I do the same thing. When I am insecure or unsure of my spiritual standing, I pick up my Bible and read God's word. Sunday services also brings me assurance that God is with me as I worship with other believers. I can talk to God any time in prayer, thus feeling His peace in my heart.

Fancy needed the comfort and assurance that my scent would bring during the long, dark night. My blouse helped her feel that I was near. When I need to feel close to God in this dark world, may I remember to use His provisions as comfort and strength, making them my security blanket, just as my blouse was to Fancy.

Lord Jesus, help me to always feel close to You, even when my actions seem to keep You from my sight. Amen.

(c) 2013 E. Bonnie Ryan

Text Jesus?

Lord, you are the God who saves me; day and night I cry out to you. May my prayer come before you.” Psalm 88:1-2a (NIV)

A roadside sign this summer advertised a local Bible school’s theme: “Text Jesus.” That catchy phrase connects well with today’s culture and kids, but might it also promote a “disconnect” from God?

omg u r gr8. t2ul. (Oh my God, you are great. Talk to you later.)

Texting is a quick form of superficial communication, one that lacks the components of cultivating relationship. A quick thought is sent in abbreviated form: bbl jk (Be back later—just kidding.)

Where is the depth of sitting with the Word to hear God’s reply? omg simyc  (Oh my God, sorry I missed your call).

Where is the pouring out of our hearts to God and being filled with His presence? Where is the experience of knowing God if communication is watered down to a text message?  wu (What’s up?)

Is our relationship with God something that should be rushed through? Skimmed over? Reduced to acronyms? Wait! Before we criticize the cool Bible School theme here, could it be that prayer in general for our fast-paced society has already dwindled to a text-message type of “arrow prayer”?

yt (you there?)

qq 4 u (quick question for you)

ghm (God help me)

t2ut (talk to you tomorrow)

We have the opportunity for an intimate relationship with the Almighty God—the omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent One. Are we going to pass that by because it is easier to text than to pray, easier to say a few quick words when we want something than to engage in regular all-out prayer so we can truly know Him?

Father, help me make the time to commune with you in prayer, beginning now…

© Nance

Dear God, PLEASE ... write me a note.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:6-8 (NIV)

Have you ever had the feeling there is something critical to your very being right in front of you, just out of reach?

In my lifetime I have prayed for anyone I knew or knew of in need. Maybe the acknowledgment of my life being blessed, in more ways than not, kept me from praying for myself.

In a colleague’s office two years ago I notice the book, The Me I Want to Be, which leads me to join a small group, where study of the book would begin in two weeks. EPIC events begin to take place in my life.  

Late one evening after returning from my third trip in four months to Louisiana, I sit at my laptop in the dining room. Weary, I wonder why answers elude me. “I’m just not getting it. Dear God, PLEASE … write me a note.”

Reaching to power off my computer, a strong urge compels me to the website of the cemetery where Papa is buried.  “Why?” I ask, following the lead. For the first time since my thankful entry several years ago, there is a post. It reads, “You are still remembered!!”  My heart leaps. It was posted two days before what would be Papa’s 70th birthday—except—it’s not for Papa—it’s for me. This contact is my “note,” the first of several.

Heavenly Father, your presence in our lives is as important as our every breath. In times of distress we ask to be wrapped in your safe and loving arms. Thank you for your faithfulness which is within reach, a prayer away. Amen.

© 2013 Atalie Shackelford

Rusty Beans

And those parts that we think aren’t worth very much are the ones which we treat with greater care. 1 Corinthians 12:23a (GNT)

So much rain fell this year! While welcome, it always seemed to come when the beans needed picking. (A tip to novice gardeners: do not pick beans when they are wet! Doing so makes the plant rust.) A few times I picked them when damp—better an unattractive harvest than no harvest at all—but mostly when dry, albeit oversized. 

So yesterday I washed my millionth extra-large string bean, running it through a French cutter in preparation for canning. Rust-spotted veggies were set aside to be composted (canning books prophesy dire consequences when using sub-par vegetables). Eyeing the brown pile made me wonder about just cooking them up. 

Composting forgotten, I sautéed the offending beans in sesame oil. Ideas began to flow, and garlic, ginger, sesame seeds, and soy sauce soon joined the party. Mmmmm! The smell! The taste! And no one would ever know they were rusty. After that, I looked for the faintest excuse to sauté more. 

In God’s economy, the last shall be first, and the first shall be last (Mark 10:31). He calls leaders to be servants. Jesus Himself washed His disciples’ feet. He had concern for widows and orphans. He healed the afflicted. In Luke 5, religious leaders asked Jesus why He ate with sinners. His response? The sick need help, not the healthy. 

The weak, unlovely, or defective often are snubbed by a world that holds its own idea of perfection in an unforgiving clasp. But if we look through God’s eyes, we will find treasure in the most unlikely places. Look past that rust! 

Father, teach us to see others the way you do, and to treat one another with honor. 

© 2013 Katherine A. Fuller

Little Boy with His Can of Soup

I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. Psalm 40:1 (NIV)

 A little boy sat quietly on the dimly-lit basement stairs with a can of soup beside him. He was waiting patiently for someone to open the can and warm up his lunch. That boy was my youngest grandson.

There are occasions when my grandchildren are not so quiet, nor are they patient. Sometimes they are insistent and want my attention right now.

“I’m hungry. I want lunch now, Grandma.”

We wait expectantly for God to answer our prayers for direction in our lives or to reveal His purpose for us. Sometimes we wait patiently for Him to reveal new opportunities for ministry. Deuteronomy 4:7c tells us “the Lord God is near us whenever we pray to him.”

Frustration rears its head when an answer seems to take longer than we think it should. Day after day, we plead our case before the Lord, just as David did in Psalm 4:1. 

“Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God . . . hear my prayer.”  

It may be a matter of trust. When the Israelites cried out to God during a battle in 1 Chronicles 5, He answered their prayers because they trusted in Him. Do we trust God for His answer to our request? Are we willing to sit quietly waiting for His reply? His timing is always perfect.

My son poked his head into the stairwell. “Come on, son,” he said, taking the can of soup, “Let’s have lunch.”

Dear Father, you know what we need before we ask. Teach us to trust you as we wait patiently for answers to our prayers.

© 2013 Diane E. Hussey