HE TAKES CARE OF HIS FLOCK

I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me. John 10:14 (NIV)

Driving home after Sunday morning church service, my husband and I were singing some of the sweet hymns that had captured our hearts that morning. As usual, Route 95 was busy with local and interstate traffic.

Suddenly, we were thrown forward in our seats. Thank God for seat belts!

My husband drove carefully and slowly to the shoulder of the road to gather our thoughts and examine the damage.

The other car followed and pulled up behind us. As the driver exited his car, he walked towards us repeating, "Are you all right?"

My husband answered, "We're not hurt. What happened?"

"Evidently I hit the back of your car. Let's look at the damage," he suggested.

After examining the bumper and back of the car, my husband said, "I don't see any damage at all. Let's look at your car."

"Praise God," the gentleman said when he looked at his front bumper. "There is no damage here either."

We introduced ourselves and we all smiled because we recognized this man to be the minister of a church near our home.

The reverent explained, "I was returning from New York where I officiated at the funeral of my best friend. I suppose I did not sleep well last night. I am glad no one was hurt and I apologize for causing you any inconvenience."

We prayed together by the side of the road, then went on our way in peace.

Dear Lord, such an occurrence seems more than accident to me. Your hand was on Your flock that day.Thank you, Lord. Amen

© 2019 Christy Struben

THE HAWK AND THE DOVE

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8 (NAS)

The spring brought a variety of birds to my feeder. With delight one morning, I noticed a pair of Mourning Doves feeding. I heard their gentle cooing and hoped they would nest nearby.

Shortly after going inside, the shrill call of a hawk shattered my peace. I rushed out to the deck hoping to scare off the enemy—a red-tailed hawk I had seen about the woods. He was nowhere in sight. All the birds vanished by instinct as they do when a hawk’s shadow darkens the sky.

I knew the enemy was close, watching and waiting his chance to pierce the beautiful breast of the dove with his sharp talons.

We also have an enemy who constantly seeks an opportunity to pierce our souls. We don’t rely on instinct to save us. We have the Holy Spirit.

My thoughts turned to prayer.

This is life on earth.

This is survival.
This is not the way You planned it to be, God.
But, sin . . .
Satan, looking for an opportunity, found it in weakness, in a thoughtless moment in the garden.
My hope is in Your promise, fulfilled when You rose from the tomb. There will be a new day where sin no longer destroys what was meant for beauty and peace.

The hawk will live in harmony with the dove. We will no longer be plagued by the enemy.

Help us walk with You and live in the peace You planned for us. Thank You for the promise of a new heaven and earth where our joy will not be threatened by the enemy.

©2019 Bonnie Mae Evans

FRIENDS

And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend”.  James 2:23 (NIV)

You are my friends if you do what I command.  John 15:14 (NIV)

I have many friends. Friends make life worth living. They bring positive things to encourage and strengthen, to make me laugh and enjoy perfect harmony. They are light in the midst of trouble clouds and darkness.

Is it possible to be friends with Almighty God, Creator of all? Scripture, inspired to us by God himself, assures us it is possible and shows us how.

A relationship with God requires righteousness. James 2:23 says Abraham believed God. For that, God credited him with righteousness and he became God’s friend. Abraham believed God not only in what he believed but also in what he did. For that, God made him Patriarch of God’s people.

Later, in John 5:12-17, Jesus, Son of God, said if we obey His commands we are His friends. His command? “Love one another.”

How do we love one another? Surely an attitude of respect and compassion is involved, but it is more than that. Action must be involved too. Jesus modeled it for us. He was a servant, although a suffering servant. He was a channel of God’s healing power as He ministered to bodies, relationships and emotions. Then He promised to be with us always so we may have power to love as He did.

So there you have it. Love God. Love People. Serve the world. God is a wonderful friend.

 

Prayer: Dear God, I want to be Your friend. Show me the way and help me follow it.

© 2019 Parker Wayland

THE FIRST CRY

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17 (NIV)

Grandchildren are a reward for enduring the trials and tribulations of parenthood—especially the teen years. I don’t know about you, but when we were planning to have children, we were planning on having babies, not teenagers. It’s a little like adding an adorable puppy to your family. You don’t know precisely what you’re in for, but you’re in it for the long hull.

We managed to survive those turbulent years, staggering out of the long, winding tunnel somewhat battle-scarred and wounded, but still breathing. In hindsight, it was well worth the time and effort—and love, especially the love. To hear our grown children say they want to raise their children like they were raised is high praise and somewhat baffling. At the time we were raising them, most of what we heard was quite to the contrary.

Fast forward to today—it really does pass in the blink of an eye. I’ve had the privilege of being present at the birth of my grandchildren. It’s indescribable, the overwhelming joy of watching your child bring new life into the world and hearing the most beautiful sound imaginable—the first cry.

Is it like that for God too—this amazing joy? Does all of heaven rejoice and celebrate the redemptive sound of new life when a sinner repents and accepts the gift of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ? The answer can be found in Luke 15:10:  “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Father God, thank You for every good and perfect gift.

© 2019 Amy A. Verzi

RETHINKING ABANDONMENT

He threw off his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus. Mark 10:50 (CSB)

Feelings of abandonment loomed over me. The youngest of eight of a single mom, my life was hectic. Feelings of being unwanted by my father followed me into adulthood. I felt condemned to this fate by someone ceasing to take an interest in me. Because my father left our family, I lived doomed to a miserable existence. 

Today, I take comfort in my heavenly Father’s words: I will never leave you or abandon you. Hebrews 13:5 (CSB) Accepting God's grace has allowed me to put Him at my life’s center. I have been given strength to rethink abandonment as having a stronghold on me.

In Mark’s gospel, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the road. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many warned him to keep quiet, but he was crying out all the more, “Have mercy on me, Son of David!” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”So they called the blind man and said to him, “Have courage! Get up; he’s calling for you.” He threw off his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus. Mark 10:46-50 (CSB)

Likewise, Jesus has called to me. I am not abandoned! God has broken the stronghold.

Lord, like Bartimaeus, help me shout out to You in faith and anticipation of Your plans for me. Give me courage to throw aside my coat of doubt, rejection and abandonment. Thank You for creating in me an expectation of Your goodness, peace, joy, excellent health, and prosperity.

© 2019 Lucy Evelyn

PATIENCE TO PEACE

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack. In green pastures he makes me lie down; to still waters he leads me; he restores my soul. Psalm 23:1-2 (NABRE)

At the start of this year, I heard of people choosing a word to live by such as joy or love. After thinking about it, I decided my word would be patience.

People generally tend to have a hard time with patience. We want things in our time; however, patience is an opportunity for growth. Growth is what we all experience throughout our lives. 

Over time and through prayer, the Lord has made me aware of how others have been patient with me—a supervisor, a friend, my mom. Reflecting on this, I wanted to give that same grace to others in my growth as a Christian, and as a person who may be able to reflect a little bit of Jesus to those I encounter daily.

Once I began my new “mission,” I immediately noticed a difference. After the initial frustration of learning to be patient with others, I actually encountered peace! As I found rest, I remembered the first part of Psalm 23. When I think of peace, I envision lying down in a green pasture and falling asleep to the soft sounds of a neighboring stream and Jesus stroking my hair back from my forehead. Complete peace and serenity. Calmness. No fear or worries exist in this vision of rest.

Patience may not seem like the typical word to use when defining peace, but then, Jesus is not typical either!

Lord, thank You for ways to teach us peace. May we always be patient and listen for Your still small voice. Amen. 

© 2019 Maritza Mejias-Ditzenberger

REMEMBERING WW II

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:1-2 (NIV)

I recently bought a book of memories of World War II by residents of Avondell senior home.  It inspired me to write my own memories. As I did so, the major theme that emerged was my protection from the horrors of war. As a four-to-eight year-old during the war years, I didn’t really understand all that was happening. But my location in Fredericktown, Missouri, in the heart of the United States, kept me safe from the enemy.

Everyone had a Victory Garden for their table. We also had a chicken coop for eggs and Sunday dinner. Mother would grab a chicken and go through all the mess to pluck and prepare it. Her fried chicken is the best ever!

Ironically, I remember the summer of 1944 as the most fun summer I ever had. My buddies and I played baseball with a tennis ball and a corkball bat, and we had clubhouses—one in a treehouse and another behind Don Montgomery’s house. Meanwhile, terrible struggles were happening at Normandy, Saipan, Guam and other places. Allied bombing was making German children’s lives miserable, but in the safety of middle-America, I felt completely secure.

 Although the armed forces of the United States were the means of protection, it was God who protected me and allowed me to grow and develop through a fun, nourishing childhood. Now I am able to give Him thanks and serve Him according to His plan. God has always been my fortress.

Lord, thank You for your constant protection and leading me into life abundant!