Truth

“For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. Mark 4:22 (NIV)

Sue’s life was permeated by half-truth until she became a Christian. She grew up in a loving family but questioned if she belonged to that family. Every time she asked questions, a half-truth was given. Further questioning resulted in silence. Many things did not ring true.

Sue had an unmarried aunt living five blocks from her house. Aunt Mary showed extra kindness to her. Much more goodwill came to Sue than to the two brothers.

As a grown woman, Sue accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior and wanted to share with Aunt Mary. While Sue talked, the aunt fell to the floor on her knees with bowed head. Upon asking if she were all right, the aunt replied with a smile.

Sue asked her if she were a believer and the response was, “Yes.”

“Why do you not attend church?” Sue asked.

Her reply, “I do not like the way church handles Mother’s Day.” She was implying that she felt left out.

Sue responded, “Aunts can be mothers also.” Aunt Mary smiled.

Many use half-truth to protect themselves. God knows truth. Cover-ups keep us from letting God work truth within. When using half-truth, one is harming others and really harming oneself. God will help us work through our issues and bring us into His truth and real life.

Sue still questions who her birth parents are, but she knows she was knitted in her mother’s womb by God and can say, “Abba, I belong to You.”

Dear Lord, Thank you for Your unfailing love.

©Mary Burkey 2010

So Sew Sow

But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown." Matthew 13:23 (NIV)

My family can give me inspiration into God's Word. The other day I was talking with my son, and I told him the trials I am going through right now. He told me I needed to take God's Word and "sow, sow, sow." We will reap what we sow. I knew he was right.

Many years ago, I spent a lot of time making my own clothes and sewing for the children. I amazed myself when homemade clothing looked store bought. People asked me where I purchased the outfits. They were surprised when I told them I made them myself. Some of my friends would examine the garment closely to check to see if I was fooling with them. Others brought their items to my house for repair.

As a seamstress, I knew using the good material and thread would make the outfits appear expensive. I made sure I studied the pattern took my time and gave all the seams a finishing touch to complete an exclusive look. This got me thinking. We reap what we sow.

I need to study the Word of God. That way I can sew my life into a pleasing garment of praise before my King. I can also sow salvation, healing and peace into the lives of others.

I want to put on that beautiful garment of praise and dance before my King!

Father, teach me how to sow Your Word. Help me to sow a field of harvest that will please you. In Jesus name.

© 2010 Marcella Panowicz

Second Births

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17(KJV)

The weather report called for snow but I was not worried. My husband and I decided to get a bite to eat before meeting with friends for a night out. I was pregnant with my second child. While waiting for the food I felt a pain in my stomach. The pain persisted so my husband took me home. He left to inform our friends that we would not be meeting them.

It started to snow. Before long it turned into a blizzard. The contractions were five minutes apart, and I called on a neighbor to take me to the hospital. With visability about a foot in front of the car, a normal five-minute trip turned into a nerve racking twenty-minute nightmare. Within an hour my daughter was born. I will never forget this second birth.

The day I became a Christian is another second birth that I will never forget. I had left my husband and become a single parent lost in a blizzard of hopelessness. Life had gone so wrong that fear consumed me. Just as I had called on a friend to help me with my second child, I now called on Jesus to rescue me from this storm. I gave my life over to Jesus and was reborn.

As I look back on those second births I realize that there is nothing that happens to me without Jesus. When I am in the storms of life I have a friend Who picks me up and calm the storms.

Thank you Jesus for giving me peace during the storms of life.

© 2010 Dawn M Sexton

The Next Step

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast. Psalm 139:9-10 (NIV)

Last winter, back-to-back storms dumped unbelievable amounts of snow in our area. When I went to get my five year old grandson from school, I had to walk in the streets. On the way home, he showed me the path he and Daddy had taken the day before. When we came upon a large mound of snow, he quickly scampered over it. Starting up the small hill, I soon realized I might fall if I stepped down in the middle of this unstable icy pile. My grandson turned around, “What’s wrong, grandma?” I told him I was afraid of falling and I needed something to hold onto. He reached his little hand out to mine and gave me courage to take the next step.

God does that for us, too. At certain points in life, we may feel unsure of what to do, but He is always available to guide us with His hand. Sometimes we feel shaky when facing problems in life. When we cry out to God in the pain of a runaway teenager or a husband who says the marriage is over, He is here to hold us in His loving arms. Just as my grandson’s hand gave me courage to move on, God gives us strength to take the next step.

Dear Father, Thank You for the special people You place in our lives, and for the promise that Your hand will always guide us.

© 2010 Diane E. Hussey

Don't Look Down

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding.
Prov. 3:5 (NJKV)

My husband, and I, with another couple, spent the weekend at their hunting cabin deep in the Pennsylvania hills. During our stay we went hiking and came upon a fire tower. Our footsteps clanked loudly echoing through the hills as we noisily climbed, going around and around, until we reached the top.

We emerged high above the trees to witness a spectacular view. Certainly, the Fire Guard could spot suspicious smoke from here.

Upon descending, the others hurried ahead, but I wanted to take one more photo. After all, it’s not often you can see three states from one place: Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Maryland.

Starting down, I froze. I could see through the metal steps down to the ground. Terror gripped my heart. A call for help stuck in my throat. The others were far ahead, and their noisy exit drowned out my pitiful squeak for help.

Finally, Pat returned and saw my predicament. She advised, “Sit on this step. Look at me. Now scoot down the next step. Keep looking at me. Do not look down.” She continued coaching until I could manage.

Jesus called Peter to walk on water. Taking his eyes off Jesus, he sank. (Matt. 14:28-30). No matter what challenges come our way, the situation always looks worse when we focus on the problem and not on Jesus. As I needed to keep my eyes on Pat, we would do well to keep our eyes on Jesus and not the problem.

Dear Lord, Thank you for being our Savior and always available. Your mercy and love is greater than any problem. Forgive us when we fall short. Amen

© 2010 Lois Gosley

Storms

I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you. John 14:18 (KJV)

A thunderstorm reminded me that even when it looks like we are alone, we are not. God is always near. One season we needed rain desperately, so it was good to see the refreshing drops of rain fall to the earth. It smelled wonderful. The booming thunder and flashes of lightning frightened my little dogs. It was music to my ears, but sent them into a nervous frenzy.

Inside, the dogs followed my every step. While doing housework, I talked to them, trying to calm them but it was no use. Finally, I sat down and held the two tiny Chihuahuas. The larger Border Collie panted nervously while touching my side. God created these loving, frightened animals for us to care for and love. I thought of their similarity to frightened children.

Many times when frightened, such as my first job interview, wedding jitters, and the uncertainty of moving to Germany, I needed comfort too. Also, being alone, except for my thirteen month old baby boy, and boarding a plane for the first time was very unnerving. Those are the times when I turn to my "Comforter" God to talk with Him and ask His presence. He never lets me down. He always lifts me up, never leaving me comfortless in the terror of the unknown. Prayer changes everything.

Father God, help me to remember that You are always just a thought and a prayer away. Comfort Your children when they step out into the unknown. Guide them to safety and give them the assurance that You are always near. Amen.

© 2010 E. Bonnie Ryan

Victim to Victor

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:5 (KJV)

I hate my life. I hate my life. I hate my life. The increasingly familiar mantra circled, a vortex of anger in my mind. Crossing my arms, I hunkered down in my seat, as far from the pulpit as I could get, and determined not to listen. Nothing he says will help me, anyway.

My normal defense is to gravitate toward the superficial in order to avoid showing my feelings, but today was my breaking point. I had been wronged. My roommates and I no longer spoke, trapped in the prison of my negativity. At some point the reason ceased mattering to me, but the anger grew, unchecked.

Volatility churned inside me until the preacher’s voice intruded. “What’s wrong with being a victim?” he asked. “Jesus was.”

Be a victim, I mused. This was a new concept, point of view being the difference. I had allowed my situation to imprison me. But so what, that I had been wronged? That I was even right?

One moment darkness engulfed me; the next, beautiful light flooded my mind and warmed my heart.

Jesus was wronged, but He did not defend Himself—not because He was God, and was right—but because He was God, and He did not have to. He had nothing to prove, only people to love.

And so did I. The realization nearly catapulted me from my seat. I loved my roommates more deeply at that moment than ever before. Love threw open my prison doors and I walked into the light—victim to victor.

Thank You, Lord, for loving us enough to become our victim, and thank You that we can have Your mind, allowing us to live victoriously.

© 2010 Katherine A. Fuller