Refining...Don't You Just Love It?

Wherein ye greatly rejoice,

though now for a season, if need be, ye

are in heaviness through manifold

temptations:

That the trial of your faith, being

much more precious than of gold

that perisheth, though it be tried

with fire, might be found unto praise

and honour and glory at the appearing

of Jesus Christ:

Whom having not seen, ye love;

in whom, though now ye see him not,

yet believing, ye rejoice with joy

unspeakable and full of glory.

I Peter 1:6-8

The other day, I had to go for an appointment with a urology surgeon as it appeared that I had a serious problem that needed to be treated. I had to go through a very uncomfortable process of examination. I looked at the good doctor and said, “May I tell you that I really do hate this.” He smiled and said that he would wonder about me if I didn't. Tests and trials of any kind are experiences we don't care for. If we do, people would probably wonder about us.

The books of I and II Peter are wonderful books that prepare Christians for suffering. Once in the middle of a trial is a little late to dig into these two books, but it wouldn't hurt to read them frequently. It is believed that Peter was in Rome at the writing of these books. Within two or three years, Peter would pay with his life the price of being a Christian, the kind of Christian Nero the insane leader of the day feared. Peter saw suffering on the horizon of his life and was led of the Holy Spirit to write these two wonderful books.

I have often taught these two books in ladies Bible study sessions. They can be of great comfort when going through a tough time but they have the added benefit of preparing one for the toughest of times. Peter wastes no ink or paper with frivolous words. He begins up front talking about trials, testing and yes, even the refining process God allows in our lives.

The process of refining is not a picnic in any sense of the word. Ask a stalk of sugar cane what it is to go from a field where it grows into the canister that sits on your kitchen sink...the cutting, slicing, smashing,drying, and then granulating process. Glad I'm not a stalk of sugar cane but must admit there have been times when in the midst of trial, I've felt just about like that stalk of sugar cane.

Not so much anymore, but we've heard of young ladies of the past who were sent to refinishing school so that they might become refined young ladies that would make any parent proud. They spent hours sitting at tables learning dining etiquette. They seemed to walk miles with books on their heads, learning how to walk in a lady-like manner. When they graduated from those schools, they had been through the rigors and for what...that they would be refined and proper in every way.

Should we expect less as we view our faith? Peter equates the refining process with trials and “manifold” temptations (a variety of testings, trials).

Verse 6 introduces us to the process. With all we have going for us as Christians, as children of God, we have every reason to be people who rejoice. Peter assures us that our trials will be temporary but that they will create in us a heaviness of spirit. Otherwise, we aren't looking at a Sunday school picnic. The simple fact is that God must see something of great quality in us to allow these tough times to purify and clean us up for His glory.

So how does He do it...the refining process. Verse 7 clues us in...God wants you and me to be people strong in their faith. The way to strengthen that faith is for the faith to be tested and tried. It is compared to gold that is put in a refining pot and placed over great heat. The gold begins to melt down ever so slowly. As the heat increases more and more, so the gold is heated to an extremely high temperature. However, the refiner sits right there by the pot keeping a careful eye on the gold. Little by little, impurities rise to the surface. The refiner has a tool whereby he can skim the impurities off of the surface. He keeps doing this until almost no detectable purities can be seen. He knows when the purifying is completed as much as can be when he looks onto the surface of that very hot gold and sees there his own reflection. Do you know what I love about this process? Malachi 3:3 speaks of just such a refining process when God was refining His people. This verse says:

And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver:

and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge

them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto

the Lord an offering in righteousness.

Do you see what I see in that verse? God, the refiner sits right by that refining pot, keeping His eye on the process. He doesn't allow you and me to go through a tough time while walking away to do something else until our trial is over. He sits beside our refining process, with us in it all. When does God know our refining process has reached completion? A good way of telling is when His reflection can be seen in our lives.

Peter understood in verse 8 that for those he was writing to, they had not seen Jesus in the flesh as he had but they had learned enough about Him to love and believe in Him. We are in the same position as those receiving Peter's words. It is our faith that needs building and strengthening. Hopefully, the result for us will be that through any trial, we can rejoice in Him through the roughest of times. Hopefully this joy will be such a rich joy that we can't explain it or describe it but that it will be full of God's glory. Every trial and test is to point others to Jesus. We live in a sick and sorry world and people need to see that in the hardest days of our own lives, there is hope and joy in Jesus.

If not in the middle of a trial right now, every Christian has a trial waiting around the corner. May we be strengthened through His Word in days prior to such times. Refining will still be painful, but we will know and trust the Great Refiner in our lives so much more. Just knowing He is sitting there, supervising the process is enough to get through our times of testing and trial. Our Heavenly Father always does all things well and in the process we will reap a “joy that is unspeakable and full of glory.”

Dear Father...Please sit right there with me, encouraging my heart as I face any trial You see fit to allow into my life. May I be faithful in my trust and may I come through any trial loving You more than ever before. I love You, Father and place my life in Your loving hands. Amen.

Our Best

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do,

do it with thy might; for there is no

work, nor device, nor knowledge,

nor wisdom, in the grave,

whither thou goest.

Ecclesiastes 9:10

And whatsoever ye do, do it

heartily, as to the Lord, and

not unto men.

Colossians 3:23

Thanks to my Mother, church life has been my life almost from my first remembrances.  I said my Christmas “pieces” when very small. I was in Vacation Bible Schools since being old enough to attend them and not just at my own church. Neighborhood kids made it a summer activity to attend each others Vacation Bible Schools. When in junior high school, I began singing in the church choir which led to my being church pianist and then church organist. I taught in summer VBS's when in high school and during that time served as a camp counselor for junior age girls during the summer. I don't write this list as a bragging thing. Perhaps it was the general climate of the times, but one never thought of doing a second rate job at anything. I saw in my Daddy an honest mechanic who took pride in fixing a car, watching a customer drive away in a happy, purring vehicle .   Many times he had paid for the parts needed for repair out of his own pocket.  People paid attention to details, taking pride in jobs well done. The work ethic in general was just different then and it passed down from one generation to another. Hard work done well was something that was most often  “caught, not taught.” One learned a strong work ethic from those adults in his or her own life. Thus, no matter my church activity at the time, I wanted to do it well. I learned from a dear lady that doing God's work well pleased Him.

So what's happened? I know society has changed in many ways. Anyone with half a brain in their head can tell that. We now purchase products that are in many cases faulty when we pay for them, and yes we do pay for them believe it or not. Car companies knowingly build cars with built in problems that show up a little later that requires your return to a dealership for repair....ever had a problem with that magical yellow light that lights up to let you know you have an engine problem when you really don't? We've settled for junk we get from overseas, sometimes that we've been told can even poison our children.

I, like most, have learned to live and yes, groan with many of these things. However, there is an area of my life and yours we've come to take a lax attitude regarding and that has to do with our church life. I'm so weary of folks holding church positions who want them for recognition only. They have no intention of giving their all in doing a good job for the sake of the church or as an example before others, let alone for the Lord. I realize our busyness and yes, lagging work ethic has greatly affected even church life, but doesn't our Lord deserve so much more from us than He is receiving?

Several years ago, I was with a church choir in a small church warming up prior to the first Sunday morning service. A man came running into the room desperately looking for a Sunday school teachers book that he would need to teach the mornings Sunday school lesson after that first service. I know of Sunday school teachers who read their lessons to their classes from the same materials the students hold in their hands. I've been approached by soloists five minutes before a church service to rehearse with them their solo of the morning. I've heard more offertories played in services that were obviously unrehearsed. Nursery workers at times think nothing of showing up late for their responsibilities while parents wait with little ones in a hallway waiting for child care which in turn makes those parents late for their responsibilities. Choir members don't show up for choir rehearsals or show up only on Sunday morning (and sometimes late at that) to sit, smile and look good from the choir loft.

You might ask, “Glendarae, who are you mad at?” I can't say I'm mad at any particular person. I realize God can take perfectly good care of Himself and doesn't need my defense, but I am weary of what we hand to him in the way of slip-shod offerings of service. All one has to do is look into the Old Testament and what was required of sacrifices and offerings that were to be given to God. The commands and expectations of sacrifices the people offered to God in light of what we present to Him would never fly today. The animals sacrificed had to be as perfect as any animal could be. Only the very best was offered to God and it's a good thing because He accepted nothing less. I realize we are now past that kind of service and do not live under the Old Testament Laws... that we live by the grace of God. However, why shouldn't we still love God so much that we would never want to offer Him anything but the very best we can give.

I went on a hunt for an old hymn that I can remember singing in my home church where I grew up. I have several hymn books here in my home but found the hymn only in a hymn book printed in 1933. I realize there are lots of hymn books and know there are ones in several churches containing this hymn, but I doubt it will be found in many modern hymn books. The title of the hymn is “Our Best”...the words from it are wonderful:

Hear ye the Master's call, “Give Me thy best!”

For, be it great or small, that is His test.

Do then the best you can, not for reward,

Not for the praise of man, but for the Lord.

Wait not for men to laud, heed not their slight;

Winning the smile of God brings its delight!

Aiding the good and true, ne'er goes unblest,

All that we think or do, be it the best.

Night soon comes on apace, day hastens by;

Workman and work must face testing on high.

Oh, may we in that day, find rest, sweet rest,

Which God has promised those who do their best.

Chorus:

Every work for Jesus will be blest,

But He asks from everyone his best.

Our talents may be few, these may be small,

But unto Him is due our best, our all.

How deep does our love and devotion for God run? He gave His Son, Jesus to die a horrible death on a cross for each of us. Jesus was God's perfect sacrifice so why can't we aim for perfection in our service for Him? Whatever we have been called to do, may we always give God “our best.”

Dear Father...So often I have been guilty of giving You the leftovers of my time, money and talents. I have often served You if there isn't anything else to do or if I have time to give. I marvel at Your patience with me when at times I haven't made You THE priority in my life. May my life reflect that there is no one in my life more important than You. Thank You for the perfect sacrifice of Your Son. Because of that perfect sacrifice, I have a relationship with You and life eternal. I love You and want You to have my best. Amen

Blessed Solitude

He went up on a mountainside by

himself to pray. When evening came, he

was there alone.

Matthew 14:23

It was the spring break of my junior year in college when I agreed to go on a Gospel Team trip to various areas in Kentucky. The team was made up of four students and a college staff representative. On this trip, we held services in four small churches. It was always a fun trip to take along with an opportunity to witness and serve the Lord in various other ways.

While we were driving between engagements, I noticed a small sign that we passed and asked the driver to turn around to go back so I could see the sign again. It said what I thought it did: “Gethsemane Abbey.” Our Bible professor had mentioned such a place during a Bible class and that the place was located in Kentucky. That was enough for me. I insisted we go down the road that appeared to wind around some Kentucky hills. Suddenly around one hill and in the distance, there seemed to appear a beautiful white castle with high white walls and a cathedral-type roof and spire that could be seen above the walls. That was it...the monastery.

We drove up to a small entry that was the door to a gift shop. Inside we found shelf after shelf of cheeses the men in the monastery had made for sale to help with monastery expenses. There were three men of the order there in charge of the gift shop who were allowed to talk to us. We were told we could walk into the large cathedral which, size-wise looked like it should be in a large city. Things may have changed now but it was very typical of a large Roman Catholic church in the way of decor. We were cautioned, however, that we were not to approach any of the monks nor try to speak to any even from a distance. This monastery was one where no vocal conversation was allowed. The men could sing and participate vocally in church services but beyond that, no conversation was allowed.

We were told that the men used a lot of sign language, anywhere from “Pass the chain saw” to “Pass the salt and pepper.” Men all had their jobs and responsibilities but when not working could be seen under trees and various areas on the grounds with their religious materials where they would read, meditate and pray. These things were the main responsibility of the men in the abbey. Men could be seen all over the place in their uniform robes but the place was eerily quiet. As I've thought back, I've admired their dedication in giving up so much, working hard and devoting themselves to strict spiritual disciplines. However, I'm not sure there is a need for the strict isolation from a world that is so very needy in so many ways, but that was my opinion only. 

Visiting that place left more than a lasting impression on me. I admired the monks greatly for their sacrifices despite my not understanding the purpose of it all. I know they pray for hundreds of people every day and night and have other disciplines they take part in, but...

I'm not going to get on them or the lives they've chosen just in case you might expect that. Instead of being critical of them, I found myself being critical of myself and the lack of spiritual discipline in my own life. I don't have walls, nor do I have to wear specific attire. I have work and responsibilities but what do I do with the time I have left over and yes, we all have some leftover time whether we choose to admit it or not. What do I do with that time? Can I be found under a tree reading my Bible and meditating? Can I be found sitting somewhere... anywhere... in prayer ? How long can I be somewhere in quiet solitude before the Lord so that He can speak to my heart?

Philippians 1:5 begins by saying, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus...” and thus begins Paul's directives regarding our being Christ-like in our living. You might check it out in some “quiet” moments. Our mandate as Christians is to be like Him in every way possible.

Wellllll...how about His example of often getting away alone to pray as can be seen in our opening verse. This verse speaks of His getting off to Himself. In this verse alone, we see how He did this:

1. He went up on a mountainside.
   He looked for a different place to be. Our verse says that He went up, so He went to some effort to get to where He wanted to be.
2. He went up alone.
   We like to keep people around us or at least where we can see them. We find real comfort and security in having people near. When on retreats, I've looked for private places to go to read and pray. Let me tell you though, it never hurts for me to see some folks in the distance even though I may not wave or speak to them.
3. Jesus had a purpose in going off to one side.
   He went up on the mountainside alone to pray. That's just it, short and sweet. Jesus may have needed to get away from the crowds and even the disciples for a time but we are told He drew aside to pray.
   How determined am I to carve out some little niches of time for prayer and devotion. Those men in that monastery in the Kentucky hills are fairly regulated in their scheduling. I would imagine if I were TOLD when and how to show my devotion to God, it could get tedious, boring and not worth much. I have learned in my own life that no matter how busy I am, I usually make room to do the things I really want to do and that's been true of my praying, Bible reading and times of meditation. I don't need the walls, robes or a beautiful cathedral. I can pull off to one side to spend time with my Lord anytime and anywhere. I am blessed with the opportunity to go off into the mountains whenever I want, but everyone has their special place or places where they can go and mountains are not a requirement.
4. Notice our verse says He was there until evening.
   This indicates to us that He probably went earlier in the day and that He didn't have any time constraints. He took the time He needed for this spiritual exercise.
   May I suggest that every Christian needs an extended period of time every now and then or when needed to get away from the routine to focus on the Lord? I used to suggest to folks that they have their own private retreat every now an then, taking 4-5 hours away from home. I've suggested taking Bible, notebook, lunch, new Bible study booklet from the bookstore that is a fill in blank thing. Take no CD's or DVD's. If you want music, sing to yourself. Keep the distractions down...just a time for you. No kids allowed...this isn't meant to be a family outing.

I trust you and I will try to make some time for blessed solitude where the Lord has our undivided attention. Not only do we have a lot to share with Him, but He wants in the worse way to speak with us in that still, small voice of His. These can be some precious moments...our times of solitude.

Dear Jesus...Thank You for the example You have set for us in Scripture in so many ways that we often miss. Not only did You pray alone on several occasions but for the most part, You died alone and did that for each of us. Thank You for the privilege of spending time with You anytime we want. Give us a desire to pull to one side to spend quality time with You. We love You. Amen.

The Beauty of Unity

Behold, how good and how pleasant

it is for brethren to dwell together

in unity!

Psalm 133:1

Many say that it can't be done...unity among brothers and sisters in Christ. I'll admit, I've seen some pretty damaging evidence that it's next to impossible for we Christians to function and live in a spirit of unity. When it does occur though, it's a good and pleasant thing.

Over the last few days, it's been my privilege to witness first hand what unity among God's people looks and feels like. It was my privilege to travel to Austin, TX and to my former church and to be with some of it's people that I dearly love. First stop, church office. It is impossible for the world outside a church office to know what all must be done in planning a retreat for 100 people. The planning in this case, wasn't for just ordinary people...this retreat was for the adult choir. An adult choir is made up of a lot of energy and emotion. I've always said that if there is to be a church split, it can begin with the church choir. Musicians are very emotional people and can be on the touchy side (sorry choir members). People had to be divided up into several cabins, no choices. If you ended up in a cabin with Lizzie Borden or Jack the Ripper, you were just stuck and slept with one eye open (just kidding). However, the spirit and I do mean Spirit was so evident with this bunch that it was just astounding. The choir director came with new music to be rehearsed. That can be a little precarious with folks who sometime have their own views regarding music, but even the music was so beautiful and God honoring that rehearsing voices surely must have lifted the roof at least a little on the main lodge where the choir met to rehearse. There were smiles, tears, laughter....well, one knows when unity is going on and it's nothing that human beings can think up or plan. What a sweet time. The music staff had planned well...I never heard a complaint from anyone and that in itself is about as miraculous as walking on the water outside our main lodge.

Sunday school time came the day after the retreat. I had so grieved leaving my wonderful Sunday school class. Another teacher, and a wonderful one now sat before the class teaching as I had done this time last year. My former class members were all sweet, glad to see me and I so appreciated that but when class time came, I was really thrilled. Suddenly I saw as we sat down for our class session, that I became a visitor. I don't say that in a negative way. I had prayed for this moment. You see, an adult class can be torn up by the leaving of one teacher and the coming of another. It can end up a real mess with hurt feelings, divided loyalties and even more things that don't honor the Lord. I smiled as I sat there...a visitor. I looked around at those ladies I had once taught with eyes fixed on me but now fixed on another....THEIR teacher and believe me, she's the best around. As I sat there, I said to myself, “They've made the shift...thank you Lord.” I had prayed for a smooth, loving transition and now I sat in the middle of the same unity I had witnessed in that class prior to my leaving. Thank you Lord for allowing me to sit and witness that sweet spirit.

Monday came and I had the privilege of seeing again my home Bible study group together again along with others from my former Sunday school class who weren't able to attend the home Bible study. I think there were about 30 there, not sure of the number. As they arrived, it was all so familiar, warm with welcoming hugs and laughter. If you want to discuss unity, here is where we could really start. Many of the ladies were close friends of our hostess who don't attend our particular church and they come from varied spiritual backgrounds. Now throw in a bunch of Baptists to make up the difference and you can have chaos. Looking at the group you could not know how very diverse this group is that runs a wide range of life experience. The first time I taught the group, I was scared to death, not knowing how that group would meld together, if it was even possible. However, as God does when He shows up, that Bible study group just seemed to melt and merge into one loving, caring unit eager to study the Word of God together. We enjoyed another time of coming together wanting to know more of what God's Word would have to say to us in a practical and useful way. It was a sweet time.

May I tell you that in all three of these settings, I could have sat with a rather resentful attitude. These three things were so much a part of my heart for so long and now I was, to a great extent and in reality, an outsider. I could have caused just little snippits of division in comments made quietly to others in each setting, but that thought didn't even cross my mind. I loved my choir and always will. It will do well with God's leadership and it's wonderful choir director. My former Sunday school class is thriving and will continue to do so under the Spirit leading a wonderful and capable teacher. Every time the Bible study group manages to get together, there will be a sweet spirit with me not there for that spirit doesn't rest with a human being but with the Spirit of God.

You see, in all three of these settings, even though leadership is necessary, the key is the moving of the Holy Spirit in the hearts and lives of folks who are participating in those areas. When we keep our focus and eyes on the Holy Spirit of God, His instruction through the Word and consistently walking with God, unity happens. When we lose our focus on Him and put it on self, it won't take long for division to happen. Does this mean that we will always agree....mercy no!! But in Godly ways, we can learn how to deal with disagreement that is handled in appropriate ways.

I am one blessed person today as I sit thinking over those experiences of the last few days. I left some very healthy people, spiritually speaking. I leaned back in my seat on the air plane with a bit of a smile. “It's okay” (I told myself)...”All is well...they are all fine.” I then anxiously waited for my plane to land on my now homeland, back to do what the Lord wants of me here. I have lots of sweet memories but now roll up my sleeves to meet the tasks here that God has planned for me to do in our little church.

Dear Father...I thank you for these last few days and the blessing of being with so many friends. I thank you for NOW and all You still have for me to do in this place. My friends will carry on as it should be and so will I here. Bless them and their every effort for Your kingdom. Even despite the miles, we will sing, teach and fellowship in unity for it is through You, Holy Spirit, that we will be ever connected. Amen

Praying a Hedge of Thorns

The first time I heard of this Biblical concept was from a friend I met soon after our move to the state of Texas. She and her husband had been through untold problems with their teenage son who seemed bent at the age of 15 to do his own thing even at the cost of breaking the hearts of his family. She spoke of their family beginning to pray a hedge of thorns around this son of theirs. It was just a foreign thing to me but made perfectly good sense in the light of Scripture. She spoke of all of the answers to these prayers that kept their son hedged in from his usual rebellious activity and even, at times, the way his friends were “mysteriously” kept away from him.

There are two examples of this concept in Scripture that are often referred to, the first being that of Job. Job was a good man and a Godly man. Although wealthy as the world would count wealth, he was devoted to those things that really mattered in life, especially his family. Job functioned as the priest of his family as God intended the man of the house to be. In Job 1:5 we find that Job sanctified his children “and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all.” Job prayed, “It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” That verse ends by saying that Job did this continually or consistently. He had seven sons and three daughters. His daily concern was for their salvation and spiritual welfare.

However, Satan was watching Job. Oh how he loves to pull the godly down to his own level. Satan picked Job to be his next special project. Satan managed to have a conversation with God and if Satan was intent on picking on someone, God suggested Job. I don't know God's purpose or thinking in this but He knew what He was doing. However, Satan saw a problem with this wonderfully righteous man. Satan's quick reply was that it was no wonder God picked Job because with all God had done for Job, Job wouldn't be an easy pushover.

Satan said to God in Job 1:10:  Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side?

Amazingly God lifted the hedge of protection around Job but limited Satan in what he could do to Job. Satan could not kill Job, but we find later that Satan did so much to Job that Job cursed the day he was born. Even in it all, God was right there. Job would know sorrow upon sorrow but would come forth as gold after the testing God allowed in his life.

Another prime example of the hedge of thorns of protection is in the book of Hosea. This book reveals to us a beautiful love story that symbolizes God's love for us and His redemptive work on behalf of men. We aren't sure if Gomer, the wife of Hosea was a prostitute prior to marriage, with Hosea knowingly marrying her, or if she turned to prostitution after her marriage. This Old Testament book illustrates the infidelity of the people of Israel and God's efforts to restore His people. She bore children for Hosea but was still bent on the ways of the world. It was a life of pure misery for Hosea and the entire family when Gomer forsook them and fled into the world to satisfy her own wants.

God finally told Hosea: 

Therefore, behold, I will hedge up thy way with thorns, and make a wall, that she shall not find her paths.  And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them: then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband; for then was it better with me than now.    Hosea 2:6,7a

Thorns come in all shapes and sizes, but they all have one special thing in common. They all have very sharp, pointed ends than can slice through human skin with little effort. When little, I thought the worse thorn I ever saw was on the stem of a rose and it hurt when I dared touch the point of it. Think of thorn bushes that usually have very little foliage. I can't imagine being hemmed in on all sides by such horrible hedges. No way would I want to walk through, break through, run through, climb over or crawl under such a hedge. God's hedge isn't going to be a physical one as just described. His thorns can take any number of shapes or forms where He makes use of various people or circumstances to deter ones determination to do evil. Those can be as bad as any real garden variety thorns.

When we think of thorns, we think of the crown of thorns pushed down on the forehead of Jesus prior to being nailed to the cross. Those were not thorns off of a small rose bush...they were long, pointed thorns that could do a great deal of damage to one's head....all for you and me.

When protected by God's hedge of thorns, one cannot get out from that encircled area nor can anyone get through unless they want to get pretty torn up in the process. God can lift that hedge if he feels we need testing, sharpened for further use to the Kingdom just as He did with Job. God's hedge can serve several purposes: protection, prevention of evil coming or going and God's purpose in one's life kept in tact. Our problem is that we don't know that this is a prayer we can pray for ourselves, family members or others that are of concern to us. Many parents pray for God's hedge of protection around their children who are living in rebellion. I hasten to say that this prayer isn't to be prayed just for those who are rebellious or who have rotten attitudes toward God. Our families are facing great stressers in our day. Satan is at work overtime wanting to trip them up any way he can. We must be faithful to pray. Not only do I pray this for children and grandchildren now, but did when children were in college or not living in our home. It can be prayed not just for family but for friends as well. I have prayed this for my church and pastor remembering that Satan is out after the church, it's people and it's pastors.

A word of caution...when we decide to pray for this hedge of protection, we must not be in the middle of our own sinful state praying that someone elses sinful state will improve. When praying for another, we should have our own doorstep cleaned off first.

We also can't pray other than with the purist of motives. We can't just want our lives to return to some normalcy even though that would be nice, that is if another person is causing us a great deal of discomfort. We can't have the attitude that we're sick and tired of rotten behavior and being embarrassed in front of the church congregation. Our prime concern

must be for the person we are praying for, child or adult and their spiritual welfare. I wonder how many of the prayers we pray out of wrong motives get canceled out because of our selfish desires.

Another thought...this isn't a prayer that we pray once and we're done. I pray this prayer most days for my children and their families. I want them to have God's special attention if such is ever possible. Again, this isn't a group of magic words we conjure up and then everything will be okay. As in everyone's life, God is still sovereign and sees our lives and the lives of our loved ones from His own perspective. He will work as He sees fit, but He loves our concern for others enough to ask this special thing of Him.

Let's pray boldly for friends and family whether for their protection or prevention of trouble...whether they know it or not, they are counting on you and me. I would also add that it can't hurt to pray for the salvation of our loved ones just as did Job. They don't have to know that we are doing such so as to save feelings of insult, but it can't hurt for us to pray in that direction anyway. I want those dear to me first of all knowing Jesus Christ as Savior and be in right relationship with Him. I then want to be faithful in prayerful support and with God's help to keep them protected form the evil one, his influence and his tactics that are so destructive.

Dear Father...Thank You for all You are doing in the lives of my family members. I pray again today that You will surround them with Your hedge of thorns keeping the evil one from them and keeping them inside Your protective hedge. I pray for my pastor right now that You would also keep him protected in every way from evil. You love these dear ones of mine more than I ever could and You know their every need they have today. I pray all of these loved ones of mine will find their peace and joy in You this day...peace and joy in abundance. I love You. Amen

"Don't Wordy 'Bout It"

Be careful for nothing: but in everything

by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving

let your requests be made known

unto God.

Philippians 4:6

I have often relayed the story of a little girl who once lived next door to us. Her name is Allison but everyone called her Allie at the time. She dearly loved my husband Brian. Little kids have always gravitated to him. Allie for a few weeks got into a bit of a habit. She pretty much knew when Brian would arrive home from work in the evening. It became a rather frequent thing for Allie to come over to the house just about the time Brian would arrive. I don't know what sense she had about it but when Allie arrived, I knew Brian wouldn't be far behind. Allie would ring the doorbell and walk into the house into the living room. She would plop on our couch right on the center cushion and would patiently wait. When Brian arrived, he would always do the same thing. He would walk over to her, point at her and say, “Allie, you are nothing but an alley cat.” She would fold her little arms and cross her legs at the ankles and just look at him waiting for him to repeat the sentence. Brian always accommodated her by repeating the same sentence. Her reply was always the same, “Don't wordy 'bout it.” Most of the time, she got to say her sentence twice. Allie was little, cute with wonderful parents and like most little children, had no real idea even what worry was and yet she spoke that word “wordy” with such authority.

I must admit to you that there are portions of Scripture I struggle with because they seem to be so incredibly impossible to follow or obey. Our above Scripture says that we are not to be anxious or worry about anything. Come on now...I could win prizes at this thing of worry and I hate to admit it. I am a born again Christian, I love God, I trust Him knowing He holds me in the palm of His hand and yet, worry for me has always been a personal and spiritual struggle. At one time worry gave me an ulcer. This was when I worked in a slum area in my early career days with hard to reach kids. I ate baby food til it was about to come out of my ears. The doctor told me to quit worrying...easy for him to say.

I must say at that time, I had never looked in the Bible regarding the subject of worry. I must say that I was really surprised. When in my 20's, worry was something I had really mastered and now I was told to drop it like a hot cake. Fortunately, I also learned that there was no sin I could overcome minus the strengthening and power of God in my life.

As I have looked at worry, there are somethings I have noticed that worry CANNOT do:

• It can't heal disease
• It can't put a marriage back together
• It can't find a job for an unemployed person
• It can't mend a broken friendship
• It doesn't pay bills
• It doesn't bring a wayward child to the Lord

Some physical problems resulting from worry can be:

• Eating eating disorders
• Sleep Disorders
• Headaches
• Moody
• Anger, temper outbursts
• Spiritual backsliding
• Selfishness
• Variety of mental disorders

Not only are we instructed by Paul to not worry or be anxious about things but gives us the way to overcome our worry. He says that with every worry, we are to pray about that concern. It doesn't intimate that we are just to take our worry to the Lord, have a little chat about it and then pick that concern up and walk away with it. No, we are to go to the Lord with a spirit of thankful supplication, LETTING our requests be made known to God. There's some hint of surrender in that word “let.” When we give over our concerns to God in faith, in that same moment, we are giving ourselves over to Him as well. When followed to the letter of God's Word, the end result will be:

And the peace of God which passeth all

understanding shall keep your hearts and minds

through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:7

(A word of caution...whatever our concern, if there are things we need to do to correct a situation, we need to do that. Buying a car you can't afford can end up causing worry, and eating 6 meals of junk food a day is a nervous and physical breakdown waiting to happen, or spending what money we have on frivolous things. There is such a thing as the prevention of worry by avoiding unwise decisions.)

There is nothing like the peace of God. People who know we are going through a troublesome time will be blessed when they see us walking in peace. That will be a witness to the power of God in our lives and an example for others. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could adopt Allie's innocent attitude, look in our own spiritual mirrors and just repeat a few times...”Don't wordy 'bout it.”

************************************************************************

Dear Father...I'm sorry for resorting to worry when things get tough. I know that my worrying will not solve a problem but will create more problems. Help me to trust You with my every care because I want to walk in Your peace. Thank You for being so powerful that You can handle anything that comes into my life. I love you....Amen

Lessons Learned From a Scooter

Train up a child in the way he should go:

and when he is old, he will not depart

from it.

Proverbs 22:6

Here we are just finished with another Christmas holiday season. Not only have children enjoyed receiving gifts but some of us have pleasant memories of past Christmas gifts that weren't thrown to one side after a Christmas afternoon's play. I have thought recently of those things I most enjoyed receiving...my baby dolls and always the large red, mesh Christmas stocking that had such a variety of goodies and small toys in them. Some things stand out though in this recalling process.

One thing I do remember getting for Christmas when I was about six or seven years old, was a scooter. It was a bright red METAL one with RUBBER rimmed wheels. My red scooter was my pride and joy. For a brief time, my Daddy ran along side as I learned to keep one foot on the scooter with the other foot pumping up and down on the sidewalk. It was a challenge with few spills along the way but in it all, there were lessons learned on that scooter. Thus, I share the some of them that will seem rather elementary:

* In order to move on the scooter, I had to do the work to make it move. I could stand on it until the cows came home but it wouldn't move without my own physical effort....such is still true. It takes good old fashioned work to get things accomplished. Most often, no one will do for you what you can do for yourself.
* I learned boundaries on my scooter. Riding on a sidewalk, one learns where the edges of the concrete are. Boundaries are important in all areas of life. They guide and even protect us. Move out of boundaries and you can be hurt or in trouble.
* My scooter took me to one end of the block and then back to my home. I learned my way home on my scooter. The scooter was fun but home was better.
* Where I didn't know how to balance myself very well at a young age, my scooter contributed to my learning just that. Oh that even today, I will constantly seek a balance in my life. It may be a different kind of balance now (or maybe not) but balance is so necessary in our day and in our spiritual walk.
* I came to really know the benefit of wind in ones face, of smelling the freshness of an early morning, of even experiencing the seasons of the year on my scooter. Thus, I still seek the scent of those dewy early mornings that I have never quite been able to experience again.

A dear friend told me years ago when our oldest child was a toddler that toys should be viewed as tools. Where a dad might have carpenter tools in the garage and a mom have a sewing machine, childrens tools can be just as beneficial. Toys can train and teach a child in preparation for life. What's wrong with a little girl receiving a baby doll (not a Barbie) or doll house. What's wrong with a boy getting a carpenter set, building blocks, things that are creative. Instead, today, children receive things that will keep them entertained by the hour that requires very little thinking or skill.

Some of this came to a head for me a little over a year ago when in September of 2010 I was visiting my sister Kay in Southern Illinois. As was my usual routine, I would take most of a day to drive all over town reliving memories of times and places long gone by. One of my favorite places has always been parking by the only house I knew growing up until the age of ten. I loved parking on Oak Street just looking at all of the houses I remembered and who all had lived in them. Those houses fairly worn with weather and time still gave me some comfort of heart. On that particular Monday, there were two children playing who might have been someone's grandchildren. They caught my eye because on that same sidewalk, in days long past, I had ridden a scooter and had also ridden my red firetruck that was like a pedal car. Some older kids parents had given it to me to play with as their boy had outgrown it. One white ladder was still attached but don't know what I did with the other one. However, the scene I was witnessing was quite different on that September day. As a result, I jotted down some thoughts and wrote the following:

 

SCOOTERS AND CARS

A boy was riding his scooter today

There on my old sidewalk

His little sis was driving a little car...

Oh, if that concrete could talk.

For both it took little effort

Not hardly the bending of knee

Both car and scooter were electric

Required no human energy.

Half the fun of a scooter

Was pumping with foot on the ground.

My little car had pedals

Moved by feet pushing up and then down.

Is this where we made a bad turn

With child's scooter and car?

Lazy bones now have developed,

No effort required anymore.

Kids now reside on sofas

Or better, in recliner chair.

Choosing the stuffiness of the indoors

Shunning the crisp outdoor air.

So we have raised a generation

Of children and all their demands

Walking around with attitudes

And with electronics in their hands.

How wonderful it would be for a moment

If we could go back just so far

With children running with scooters

And pedaling their own little cars.

9/28/10

You know, I'm not really against progress. It wouldn't be good to never allow children to keep up with what is necessary to know to survive in this age of ours. I'm afraid though that we're turning out some zombie-brained children who have to be constantly entertained with all of the modern hand held devices and things that won't work without batteries.

If we are grandparents, we have opportunities to give our grandchildren things that will help them think, encourage reading and use of their brains. Encourage the arts...anything that will help our children be creative and well rounded. The day is coming when our children are going to have to think and figure things out minus something that is battery run. We have a wonderful opportunity to feed into the brains of our children and grandchildren good, healthy things that will encourage thinking and perhaps even more physical activity.

At the time, I didn't realize that all the effort I put into riding my scooter for such a long time, led to the next step of riding a bicycle. Riding my bicycle for what seemed to be forever, taught me safety skills that helped me as I learned to drive a car....staying in the correct lane, observing traffic activity around me, hand signals, sense of direction, and other things as well. That scooter that was such fun was, in reality, a tool and I didn't know it. As I think about it now, I'm mighty grateful for that old scooter.

Just a thought....
There is no battery hookup with God. Batteries don't work with Him. We may have Scripture and devotions on Kindles and computers but the relationship with our Lord has no shortcuts. We don't dial God up...we don't push some buttons and He comes running. He waits for us to speak and to respond to His still small voice that cannot be regulated by a volume control button. He will give us the wisdom we need in our influence in the lives of others....even with those precious little ones we have so much influence on.

Father...I thank you for my children and grandchildren. May I be wise in my counsel, love and giving. Above all, may I be their greatest prayer warrior and encourager. Thank you for the privilege of having them in my life. Amen.

EMMANUEL - God (Jesus) Wth Us

Behold, a virgin shall be with child,

and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call

His name Emmanuel, which being

interpreted is, God with us.

Matthew 1:23

For years I have loved a certain song that used to be sung often, but afraid the modern era has all but pushed it to one side. A part of it says:

Jesus is the sweetest name I know,

And He's just the same,

As His Lovely name.

And that's the reason why I love Him so,

For Jesus is the sweetest name I know.

Is that true of you and me at this Christmas season? There are names I love...Brian, Jennie,

Beverly and Johnny, my immediate family but are they the sweetest names I know....don't think so. Jesus is the only One Who has the right to that position. Just some thoughts about Jesus at this time.

J – Joy to the world, the Lord is come;

Let earth receive her King;

Let every heart prepare Him room,

And heaven and nature sing, And heaven and nature sing

And heaven and heaven and nature sing.

E – Emmanuel, Emmanuel

His name is called, Emmanuel;

God with us, revealed in us;

His name is called...Emmanuel

S – Sing we now of Christmas, Noel, sing we here!

Hear our grateful praises, to the Babe so dear.

Sing we Noel, the King is born, Noel!

Sing we now of Christmas, sing we now Noel!

U – (For) Unto us a Child is born; for unto us a Child is given.

And the government shall be upon His shoulders.

And His name shall be called...

Wonderful

Counselor

The Mighty God

The Everlasting Father

The Prince of Peace.

S – Sing, choir of angels, sing in exultation,

O sing, all ye bright hosts of heaven above!

Glory to God, all glory in the highest!

O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!

May this be a season of praise and adoration for each of us that should be a time that carries over into every day of the upcoming new year.

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow,

Praise Him all creatures here below.

Praise Him above , ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

Amen!

The Red Bike

For the wages of sin is death,

but the gift of God is eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:23

I had gone through the procedure my parents had asked me to go through even though I really didn't agree with them. Up until age 8, I had a scooter. I really wanted a bike, but in those days, there weren't various sizes of bikes for different sizes of children. You got a ladies bicycle when you finally got a bike. However, my parents assured me that if I stuck with riding my scooter well, I wouldn't have to learn how to ride a bike...like I believed that. One summer evening though, a neighbor girl let me try to ride her bike and I took off like you wouldn't believe. I could balance the bike and steer the bike...just didn't know how to put the brakes on the bike. I couldn't wait to go tell my parents. I just knew I was ready for a bike.

That Christmas just before my eighth birthday, there by our Charlie Brown Christmas tree stood a beautiful bright red bike. It didn't take long though to see that it was a used bike that my dad had painted at the body shop attached to the car dealership where he was the service manager. As I looked at it, the handle bars were sort of an odd shape. When I took it out to ride, the right pedal made a clicking sound as the pedal would slightly strike a part of the bike frame. There wasn't a bell on it nor a basket. I would end up getting those for my birthday in just a few weeks, but didn't know that at the time. My bike didn't begin to compare with bikes other friends got that year, but I knew it was what my parents wanted me to have. I was riding that bike until I went to college. I think I must have ridden it up and down every block in our town, even later, on occasion out to the city lake with some teen friends. That bike was my friend and often my escape when some days weren't going so well and I felt the need of riding with the wind in my face.

When I graduated from college, I worked for a year at a nearby Baptist Children's Home as a cottage parent to about 16 girls of different ages. Our place was right next to the city park. Once and only once, I suggested to the older girls that we go for a bike ride in the park. I left the younger girls with an assistant, the rest of us grabbed bikes and we took off toward the park. As I took off on the bike I grabbed, I suddenly heard “click, click, click” as I was pedaling the bike. I looked at the handle bars and they were odd in shape. A closer look at the very rusty front fender revealed some bits and pieces of bright red paint. It was my old bike...my old friend. My Mother had given my bike to the children's home and I wasn't aware of it. It was okay with me but what a shock to be riding my old bike that had been given me when a little girl. I could have selected any bike on the bike rack but as God often surprises us, I had the joy of riding my old friend once again.  That bike ended up being a gift that kept on giving.

There are many kinds of gifts that keep giving and those are the gifts that are the most meaningful and even memorable. Christmas is a time for giving and what is given doesn't have to be gifts that are large or expensive...not even a bright red, used bicycle. There are many ways during this holiday time we can give. Material gifts are fine. I'm afraid though that children are often trained in that process that Christmas is all about what they find under the Christmas tree on Christmas morning.  With every pile of gifts under our trees, we are telling our children our reason for the season.  On that morning, parents can read the Christmas story until they are blue in the face, but let me tell you that children have other things on their mind.  There may be some folks we know who could use a gift certificate for a gas station or grocery store. Those things will melt into memory. Perhaps a young mom could use the gift of babysitting for a few hours. These are gifts that stay in one's mind and that the receiver may in turn pass on at a later time to others in need.

God is our example in giving although there's no way we can match all He has given us and continues to give us. He topped off everything in giving us His son Jesus. That's what Paul refers to in Romans 6:23. God gave us the gift of His Son and this IS the Gift that keeps on giving and giving and giving. At this Christmas season, I would hope we all could take moments alone with God in thanksgiving for His goodness to us in sending Jesus who would later die for us personally as well as for the sin of mankind . All of this is ours so that we might experience eternal life,...never ending, along with His joy unspeakable and full of glory.

"Joy to the world, the Lord IS come..."

Thank You Father for the greatest gift of all. We hear “Jesus is the reason for the season” but one has to wonder when we see the full shopping carts of so many who don't seem to give Your Son a thought. Thank you for giving us Your Son Jesus...the Gift that keeps on giving. Thank You for Your wonderful gift to us that we might have life and joy in abundance.

Amen.

Ahhh...Fresh Bread

I am the bread of life:

he that cometh to me shall never

hunger; and he that believeth on

me shall never thirst.

John 6:35

Just a block or so from Central Jr. High School where I spent my 7^th and 8^th grade years, there was a bakery. Students would often go there at lunch time and some would purchase a loaf of bread and have the baker slice the loaf in half for two people to share. They would then go to a nearby dairy store and purchase a stick of butter. They would ask the waitress to cut the butter in half. Each person would stuff their half of the stick of butter down inside of their half loaf of warm bread and let the butter melt. They then had a feast fit for a king. (That is, unless you preferred to gnaw on a giant size dill pickle instead of anything else.)

Bread has been considered a staple food down through centuries. It is made up of simple flour and water but depending on who is baking the bread, there are other things added to that mixture to get the desired type of bread the baker wants. Bread is prized for it's quality, aroma and taste. Should a loaf of bread become hard or dry, it is considered to be stale.

There are two parts to a loaf of bread. The inner part of the loaf of bread is officially referred to as the “crumb.” The outer part of the loaf, is the “crust.” It is the oldest of prepared foods we know of from history. The word “companion” of Latin root can be broken down into two parts:

com – that means “with”

panis – that means “bread”

Thus, bread is broken or eaten with someone who is considered a companion at the time of the eating of bread. This is true especially as we take of the Lord's Supper or Communion in our churches when we meet as a church family to share the bread during that time.

No household wants to be without bread in the cupboard. It is often used for toast at breakfast time. Sandwiches are frequently eaten for lunch both in the home as well as taken in school lunch boxes. Chefs cook using bread...turkey dressing, bread pudding but then there's an old familiar staple that anyone of most any age can make and enjoy...bread and jelly.

There are many metaphors connected with the word “bread” such as:

breadwinner

putting bread on the table (as in earning a living)

hit him in the bread basket

bread and water (that I was always taught was served to inmates in prison)

Best thing since sliced bread.

But the greatest truth I have found regarding bread is Jesus' claim that He is the Bread of Life and that's no metaphor. Jesus had a lot to do with bread. He fed thousands of hungry people with it along with a few little fish. Bread would sustain those people until they could get back to their homes. He broke bread probably on many occasions with His disciples, but we are most aware of His last evening with them before going to the cross the next day. T that time He broke bread with them saying, “This is my body which is broken for you.”

If Jesus is our “bread” then how does that translate into our own lives?

1. Jesus is our staple.
   When referring to a “staple,” I'm not talking about a little metal wire that holds sheets of paper together. The definition of staple in our present usage refers to something for which the demand is constant...something of consistent use or appeal. I just love that, for that is Who and what Jesus is to us as the Bread of Life. He is in constant demand or should be and is in consistent use by us. Just as we feel we must have regular bread, far more, we in reality need this wonderful Bread of Life...Jesus.

2. Jesus never spoils.
   If not properly stored, the bread we purchase will become moldy, hard, and unusable. Jesus never rots or hardens. Jesus is sinless, perfect and can be trusted completely because of His purity. Because of His being sinless, He was the only perfect sacrifice for you and me as He died on the cross for the remission of our sin.

3. Jesus feeds us.
   As the perfect Bread, He is our sustenance spiritually speaking. He is our strength and as He feeds us, we grow in Him.

4. Jesus is refreshing.

I am someone who could live on sandwiches....bologna, ham, cheese, scrambled egg

sandwiches...you name it...I like it. When I'm really hungry, nothing tastes better to me than a sandwich with two pieces of fresh WHITE bread, spread with Miracle Whip, a slice of cheese, a big slice of a homegrown tomato and a couple of pieces of beef bologna. Why be so descriptive?...because it is refreshing just to think about it even though I'm not hungry right now. Jesus loves to feed us through the teaching of His Word. It should be as refreshing to your favorite sandwich would be for you.

5. Jesus never grows stale.
   Everything about Him is new and fresh everyday that you and I awaken, when our feet hit the floor running to meet a new day. No matter how often we have read His Word, even in many of the old familiar wrinkled, underlined areas of our Bibles, the newness and freshness of Who Jesus is comes through in the most remarkable of ways.

6. Jesus thinks of everything.
   Did you notice in the beginning verse that Jesus not only says we'll never hunger because of His being our Bread of Life, but He also adds that we'll never thirst either. As much as I love a good sandwich, I always want something to wash it down with. He not only satisfies our hunger for the living Bread that He is but our thirst is quenched for the living water He also provides.

The next time or periodically as we bite into some warm toast, grilled cheese sandwich or even a club sandwich from a deli, may we stop to think of our Savior who is our wonderful and refreshing Bread of Life and Who satisfies our thirst as well.

Our Father, Who art in Heaven...

Hallowed be Thy name.

Thy Kingdom come...Thy will be done,

on earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread....

and Father, may we never take for granted that daily bread or the Bread of Life Your Son is in our own lives. We pray for a close relationship with that precious Bread of Life everyday in every way. Thank You for Your provision of all things at all times....I love you. Amen.