And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air; and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. Genesis 1:26 (KJV)
I got the call Friday morning. My nephew found three orphaned squirrels. Would I take the babies? "Of course," I responded. An hour later my nephew handed me a small box with three sleeping baby squirrels inside.
I hunted all over and finally found the pet nurser bottle. Having no pet formula handy, I mixed some evaporated milk, water, and corn syrup, warming it on the stove. Two of the babies wrapped their paws around the bottle cap and sucked hungrily. The runt was sluggish but he drank a little. I settled them in a box and covered them to keep them warm.
It felt good to care for the babies, but I had disposed of the necessary equipment long ago, that I needed to raise them. They needed more help than I could give. I called Phoenix Wildlife Company and spoke to a long-time friend, Kathy Woods. She was a wildlife rehabilitator and said she would take them.
In the few hours I cared for the baby squirrels, I felt an old, familiar closeness to nature and to God. I was doing God's will, taking care of His creatures. I could imagine His smile of approval. It felt good!
Father, thank You for the opportunity to serve in the same capacity that You instructed Adam, to care for Your creatures. Amen.
© 2010 E. Bonnie Ryan
Friday, February 26, 2010
Saturday, February 20, 2010
My Forever Home
In my Father’s house are many rooms…I am going there to prepare a place for you…I will come back and take you to be with me that you may be where I am. John 14:2a,2c,3b (NIV)
I moved 23 times in the 34 years of my married life, so the idea of a permanent home is very appealing to me. Imagine, no more moving! I packed and unpacked household and personal belongings for a family of five so many times that some boxes never got unpacked. They remained sealed waiting for the next move. How I longed to settle down in my own home and never move again. As I learned to trust God for the future, I changed from storing up earthly belongings and began storing up treasures for heaven.
Jesus understands people like me who long for a secure, permanent home. He knows what we need. In John 14 He tells us that in His Father’s house there are many rooms. The NIV note refers to them as “dwelling places,” which hints at a permanent home. Jesus says that He will go to this house and prepare a place for us. Then, He promises to come back and take us to be with Him. He is preparing a special place just for us, and He will return to take us back with Him. Imagine being home in Jesus’ presence! Not only are we with our Lord and Savior, but also we have a forever home. I will be home at last.
Dear Father: Thank You for sending Jesus to be our Savior. I thank You for the promise of a special dwelling place with You forever. In Jesus Name, Amen.
© 2010 Diane E. Hussey
I moved 23 times in the 34 years of my married life, so the idea of a permanent home is very appealing to me. Imagine, no more moving! I packed and unpacked household and personal belongings for a family of five so many times that some boxes never got unpacked. They remained sealed waiting for the next move. How I longed to settle down in my own home and never move again. As I learned to trust God for the future, I changed from storing up earthly belongings and began storing up treasures for heaven.
Jesus understands people like me who long for a secure, permanent home. He knows what we need. In John 14 He tells us that in His Father’s house there are many rooms. The NIV note refers to them as “dwelling places,” which hints at a permanent home. Jesus says that He will go to this house and prepare a place for us. Then, He promises to come back and take us to be with Him. He is preparing a special place just for us, and He will return to take us back with Him. Imagine being home in Jesus’ presence! Not only are we with our Lord and Savior, but also we have a forever home. I will be home at last.
Dear Father: Thank You for sending Jesus to be our Savior. I thank You for the promise of a special dwelling place with You forever. In Jesus Name, Amen.
© 2010 Diane E. Hussey
Friday, February 12, 2010
Live and Believe in Jesus
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26 (NIV)
Martha responded, “Yes, Lord. I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.” Her brother, Lazarus, had died. Although she questioned why Jesus did not come sooner to heal her brother, even in her grief, Martha was a faithful believer.
I am grateful for my faithful friends who share the Word of Christ with me. I am grateful for my best friend, Page, who led me to Christ. At the age of ten, we pricked our fingers mingling our blood to become “blood sisters.” We promised to love one another even after death.
I grieved to the very depth of my soul when she tragically died at the age of nineteen. But in my suffering, I remembered her life. She took me to church. She was baptized, I was not. She publicly confessed that Jesus was her Savior, I did not. I began to read the Bible. The truth was revealed to me through the words Jesus spoke to Martha - that whoever lives and believes in Him will never die. Comforted and assured, I fell to my knees and received Jesus as my Savoir.
Yes Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world. By faith, I receive You into my life as Lord and Savoir. Place me in a community of believers who will lead me in the Way. Amen.
© 2010 Stephanie L. Snead
Martha responded, “Yes, Lord. I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.” Her brother, Lazarus, had died. Although she questioned why Jesus did not come sooner to heal her brother, even in her grief, Martha was a faithful believer.
I am grateful for my faithful friends who share the Word of Christ with me. I am grateful for my best friend, Page, who led me to Christ. At the age of ten, we pricked our fingers mingling our blood to become “blood sisters.” We promised to love one another even after death.
I grieved to the very depth of my soul when she tragically died at the age of nineteen. But in my suffering, I remembered her life. She took me to church. She was baptized, I was not. She publicly confessed that Jesus was her Savior, I did not. I began to read the Bible. The truth was revealed to me through the words Jesus spoke to Martha - that whoever lives and believes in Him will never die. Comforted and assured, I fell to my knees and received Jesus as my Savoir.
Yes Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world. By faith, I receive You into my life as Lord and Savoir. Place me in a community of believers who will lead me in the Way. Amen.
© 2010 Stephanie L. Snead
Thursday, February 4, 2010
THE HIGHLIGHTED WORD
“Your ways are higher than our ways; your thoughts are higher than our thoughts. As the heavens are above the earth, so are you ways over our ways.” Isaiah 55:9
Divorce was the only solution. I prayed for him to repent. Why couldn’t he be like the man I married? The betrayal, the illegal money handling, the drinking, the abuse continued. I didn’t want to get a divorce. Normally, I journal my hopes and requests, and highlight God's Bible promises for restoration.
After it was over, I moved to be near my daughter and her family. All the highlighted verses seemed to be God saying “No” to my prayer requests. That made me feel abandoned by God.
While attending a new church in a new town, a new friend commented, “I see you journal in your Bible.” She revealed her Bible pages, written on and highlighted.
I told her, “Those marked verses seem like God said ‘No’ during all my times of praying for my former husband to repent. Reflecting on them now brings sadness to my heart.”
“I highlighted and wrote on the verses through the times my son was hopelessly addicted to drugs.” she shared.
“I had to get a divorce!” I added.
“My son committed suicide. These verses were my strength and hope during his addiction and suicide.” She concluded.
Amazed at her Godly insight, my tears came. While glancing at my Bible, I remembered God had delivered me during those hopeless times. Now those highlighted words are followed by “Thank you, Lord” prayers and repentance for my own faithlessness.
Prayer: Thank you Lord for loving us when we are so shortsighted. Your ways are higher than our ways, and for that we are truly thankful and blessed. Amen
Divorce was the only solution. I prayed for him to repent. Why couldn’t he be like the man I married? The betrayal, the illegal money handling, the drinking, the abuse continued. I didn’t want to get a divorce. Normally, I journal my hopes and requests, and highlight God's Bible promises for restoration.
After it was over, I moved to be near my daughter and her family. All the highlighted verses seemed to be God saying “No” to my prayer requests. That made me feel abandoned by God.
While attending a new church in a new town, a new friend commented, “I see you journal in your Bible.” She revealed her Bible pages, written on and highlighted.
I told her, “Those marked verses seem like God said ‘No’ during all my times of praying for my former husband to repent. Reflecting on them now brings sadness to my heart.”
“I highlighted and wrote on the verses through the times my son was hopelessly addicted to drugs.” she shared.
“I had to get a divorce!” I added.
“My son committed suicide. These verses were my strength and hope during his addiction and suicide.” She concluded.
Amazed at her Godly insight, my tears came. While glancing at my Bible, I remembered God had delivered me during those hopeless times. Now those highlighted words are followed by “Thank you, Lord” prayers and repentance for my own faithlessness.
Prayer: Thank you Lord for loving us when we are so shortsighted. Your ways are higher than our ways, and for that we are truly thankful and blessed. Amen
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