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

MINISTRY OF PRAYER

Therefore...pray for each other so that you may be healed. James 5:16 (NAS)

When we moved from our quiet neighborhood on the outskirts of Bel Air to our present home in Joppa, we knew we would hear lots of noise from the traffic. We eventually grew used to the road noises. We saw emergency vehicles go past our house daily, sirens and horns blaring, lights flashing, on their way to the hospital or to the scene of a fire or accident.

After a recent heavy storm and a tornado touch-down just three miles from our house, we counted five fire engines and three ambulances go screaming by in fifteen minutes.

Watching the many emergency vehicles passing, a strong urge to pray for the unfortunate victims filled my heart. With each passing emergency vehicle I said a sincere prayer for the persons involved. The urge to pray for the safety of the first responders on their way to the scene of the accident or storm catastrophe kept pricking my mind. Who could better protect the drivers or victims than our savior, Jesus?

God's words in James tell us to pray for each other, not only for family and friends but for strangers also. It is a comforting feeling to think that someone may also be praying for us.

In this case, if we pray for one another every day, then heaven will be filled with prayers, asking God's protection and love. A blanket of prayer will cover the earth in just a short time. What a ministry of prayer to gladden the heart of our great God!

Father, hear our prayers for the brave ones who put themselves in harms way to help those in physical or mental despair. Amen.

© 2016 Evelyn B. Ryan

VICTORY AT LAST

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord. I Cor. 15:57 (RSV)

Desiring to support my granddaughter’s volleyball games, with everyone busy, I decided to go alone to cheer on her team, and bring her home.

Her game would be at Edgewood High School (EHS) at 3:30 p.m. I arrived at EHS at 3:25, but there was no game. Texting my daughter, stating that fact, she apologized saying it was an away game at Joppatown High School (JHS). With a sigh, I decided not to be angry. People make mistakes. Forgiveness is my motto.

I knew JHS was off Route 40, but I’m not familiar with the area. There should be a school sign. Feeling I must have missed it, I pulled into a Royal Farms and asked the clerk for directions. He didn’t speak English! Gritting of my teeth, I groaned. People who live in this country should learn the language. I knew God wanted me to love everyone.

Exiting the store, there was a man pumping gas. 

“Can you tell me how to get to JHS?”

“Yes. You’re almost there. Turn right at the fourth light.”

“Thank you.”

After turning right at the fourth light--there was no school. Why couldn’t he be more specific? I took another lap around my mental desert. Finally, I saw a lady walking on the street and asked her for directions.

 “You’re almost there.”  She gave me exact directions, (there was another turn) and I arrived at JHS, thanking God for her.

Entering the gym, I noticed players all casually walking around. Alexandra spied me from across the room, and came running, and shouting, “We won!”

Dear Lord, thank You for victory over mundane things in our lives.  Amen

© 2015 Lois Gosley

NEW YEAR CHANGES

What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Ecclesiastes 1:9 (NIV)

The days pass quickly and before you realize it, the year comes to an end and another begins.

Over the years many changes occur.

Clothing fashions are always changing. The hems go up four inches above the knees and sometimes higher. The next year the fashion industry might lower the skirts to almost ankle length. Women's shoes have higher heels, as much as six or seven inches. They are spiked, wedged, platform or broad and flat. For years men's ties are narrow, just a few inches wide. Then a few years later the ties are as much as three to four inches wide with loud colors. Humanity is fickle and can change their minds daily.

Malachi 3:6a says,"I, the LORD, do not change." When God speaks to us in His word, we can rely upon Him to keep His promises. He can be depended upon. What He said yesterday can be counted on today and tomorrow.

God does not make New Years resolutions. It is a custom with man to make resolutions to change a bad habit or begin a good one. It may be to stop smoking, lose weight, keep an exercise regimen, or write more devotions. All are good goals. But, in a few weeks the resolutions fade along with good intentions.

Dear God, my only resolution is to be a strong Christian and read Your word daily. Help me to be a rock for my family, and to resolve to obey Your word that changes not. Amen.

© 2016 Evelyn B. Ryan

BE A GIFT

Jesus said, “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these, you did it to me.’” Matthew 25:40 (RSV)

One Christmas, my daughter and I were alone. A church friend who worked at an assisted living facility, announced they were having a Christmas Party for the residents and could use some help. We volunteered.

We helped with their gift giving, games they played, and assisted shaky hands while they ate. (Shaky hands and Jello presents a real challenge.) We glued, taped and stapled as they made a Christmas craft and then we all sang Christmas Carols. After one ice cream accident, we decided ice cream was good enough to wear. It was a wonderful afternoon. You could not wipe the smiles off our faces.

After a most rewarding day, we went to a Chinese restaurant for dinner—the only place open on Christmas Day. We shared and laughed again at the happy events of our wonderful day. It gave us a blessing greater than any Christmas gift could.

We could have felt sorry for ourselves and sat around complaining about our circumstances, but we chose to help. No one attends pity parties. The gift really was for us.

Charles Swindol said, “Life is 10%, what you do with it is 90%”.

Jesus said, “What you do for the least of these, you do it for me.” (Above)

Joshua said, “Choose this day whom you will serve…”  Joshua 24:15

Dear Lord. The greatest gift is You. Ignite in us the heart to be a gift to others and choose the Godly way to give—in Your name. Amen.

© 2015 Lois Gosley