In His Steps

For even hereunto were ye called:

because Christ also suffered for us,

leaving us an example, that ye

should follow His steps.

I Peter 2:21

To be considered an American classic, a book has to have been in constant publication for at least 100 years.  By the end of the 1980's there were only two such books in our country  that fit in that category.  One of those books is entitled "The Last of the Mohican's" and the other is a religious book entitled, "In His Steps" by Charles Sheldon.  In this book, a young minister (after a series of events) challenged his congregation to do what they felt Jesus would do in every situation of their lives and commit to it for one year.  This book follows the changes that came about in the lives of some of the parishioners during that year...a debutante, newspaper editor, railroad executive, young lady with a beautiful singing voice and a couple of other persons as well.  Someone gave me a copy of this book when I was in high school and I have tried to read it every couple of years since that time.  I dearly love the book because it is so inspirational and challenging at the same time.

A few years ago, we saw in our country a motto that seemed to appear on everything from key chains to  bumper stickers...WWJD "What would Jesus do?"  That was the question the young pastor suggested his parishioners ask before making any decision.  Interesting isn't it, how WWJD would come to the surface in our country about a century from the writing of the book?  No matter be it the 1800's, 1900's, 2000's or even much earlier, Christians have been challenged in some way to follow in Jesus' steps which leads to a life of great joy but that can also include suffering as well.

Even in high school, this book took me back to an incident when I was the age of five or six and a definite learning experience.  It was a very snowy morning.  I loved those mornings when I could look out my bedroom window and see the snow that had blown up in piles by my swing set and on the roof of the next door neighbor's house.  The first snow was always so beautiful.  When I could stick my head out the door, everything was so quiet.  This was very tempting for children who couldn't wait to get out in it throwing snow balls, making snow angels and getting the sled out of the garage with it's year's worth of cob-webs on it.

This particular day was no exception.  Daddy was about to head out the back door to the coal shed that stood between our garage and outhouse.  Daddy grabbed the coal bucket and had his big galoshes on over his shoes.  I began to beg..."Please let me go too."  Daddy said that I couldn't go because the snow was too deep and if it got in my galoshes, my only pair of weekday shoes would get wet.  That would mean that I'd be in the house the rest of the day with my leather shoes sitting near the big coal stove that stood tall in our living room.  I kept begging and begging.  Finally, Daddy said I could go on one condition.  I would have to walk in the steps he made for me as he led the way to the coal shed.  Things went well.  He took small enough steps to make a trail-like path for me to walk behind him.  The air was crisp, the morning on the cloudy side but I was one happy little girl in the backyard of our house that day.

Daddy got the coal while I stood in the coal shed watching him use a small shovel to fill the bucket.  I wanted to sneak a small piece of coal in my coat pocket because I loved chewing on coal in small measures.  Today we could call it natural food I guess.  I kept myself from yielding to temptation and followed Daddy out the door heading to the back door of our house.  Things had gone well until we were about halfway to the back steps.  I began to look at that beautiful, smooth-surfaced snow on either side of the path my Daddy had made for me.  I had stayed carefully in his steps.  I didn't have any snow in my galoshes or on the legs of my snow suit (gray with pink trim).  The more I looked from side to side, the stronger was my desire to take just one step outside the boundaries my Daddy had set for me.  Soon, I stepped with my right foot to the side just a little onto the smooth surface of the undisturbed snow.  It was much deeper than I had anticipated.  Not only did my right boot get filled up but I lost my balance and down I went.  I was covered in snow from the waist down....both galoshes full of snow.

My Daddy heard me begin to cry, turned and came back for me.  He brushed what snow he could from my snow suit but it was too late for my shoes.  Daddy picket me up and hustled me to the back porch of the house.  He hurriedly pulled off the galoshes and removed my shoes before the snow had too much of an opportunity to melt and cause more damage than it could have otherwise been.  I really thought I was going to get a good "whippin" but Daddy stayed very calm.  As he brushed the snow off my snow suit, he said, "You know what this means, dont' you?"  I think I commented about my shoes having to sit by the stove.  He went further though and told me while other kids were out playing in the snow, I would be inside the house the rest of the day.  He said after work, he would pull my little sister Kay on the sled for awhile but I would have to stay in.  Believe it or not, that's just what happened.  Even though I checked my shoes off and on all day and knew they were dry by the afternoon, that didn't matter.  I had been told to stay in Daddy's steps that morning and in one brief moment, I ended up in the house the rest of the day, the day of the first beautiful winter snow.  There was no negotiating, talking about it or compromising...my fate was sealed in concrete.  I've never forgotten that day.  My Daddy looked disappointed at my disobedience...my Mother was furious...but I'm so glad now that Daddy stuck with the consequences.  It was a valuable lesson for me up to this very day.

There are memories I've carried with me from that day with some lessons thrown in as well.

I still like:

*  First snow day of winter

*  Coal sheds (although I have given up chewing on pieces of coal)

*  Being pulled on a sled (which hasn't happened since way back then)

*  Warm leather shoes for winter

*  Making snow angels if I could find a yard big enough, and

*  Snow forts and throwing snow balls.

I still don't like:

*  Galoshes

*  Snow suits that get wet

*  Galoshes

*  Slow drying leather shoes, and, oh yes,

*  Galoshes

That snow day my Daddy was my authority and I'm grateful he insisted on obedience and didn't reward my disobedience.  When I accepted Jesus as my personal Savior at the age of ten, another authority came to be known to me.  I learned from Jesus that I was to walk in obedience and that He always had my best interest at heart.  That has never changed in my life.  Jesus has never wanted me to get off track, away from His chosen path.  Anytime I have gotten away from the very clear steps He has laid out for me in His Word, the results have been negative in nature.  My little galoshes were meant to keep my feet dry and warm.  Without them, I could have gotten very cold and maybe even sick.  I hated wearing them...hated wearing a bundle some snow suit.  Everything that day had to do with obedience, authority and protection.

The Apostle Paul tells me in Ephesians 6, that I am provided with spiritual armor to put on everyday that will keep me protected.  My feet are even covered with the preparation of the gospel of peace.  I have a choice of putting on this armor every day.  Without it, I am unprotected.  Without my spiritual snow suit and galoshes, I am a walking target for Satan to attack.  Believe me, it'll amount to more than having mere snow in my galoshes.

My prayer is that I will stay in His steps, stay suited up, walk in obedience, not even daring to look to the right or left of the path He has so carefully planned for me.  I want to move straight ahead lest I get things of the world in my spiritual galoshes and that just isn't worth the consequences.

PRAYER

Dear Jesus...Thank You for going ahead of me, making Your way plain.  In Your steps is joy unspeakable and full of glory.  I may be called upon to suffer as I walk that path but being in Your presence no matter the circumstances is worth any discomfort on my part.  Give me the courage to follow You no matter what and do on a daily basis what I know would please You.  Thank You for forgiving me of my sin and setting me back on the right path...back in Your footprints.      Amen.

GIVE ME MORE THAN ONE OF THESE

Having  been asked to speak at a nursery worker's banquet, because of being a nursery director myself, I had no idea how I would approach the subject with just giving a list of good/bad characteristics.  I wanted very badly to take a Scriptural approach, but let's face it, there isn't much in the Bible directed to nursery workers.  Whatever notes I took over the course of about three weeks just weren't taking any shape.  They were centering on alot of do's and don'ts, good qualities and bad but not what the ideal servant of God should be.  Most pastors could relate what an ideal church worker would be, but I wanted to hear from the Lord on the subject and not other human beings.

I spent those weeks thinking about the subject.  It would have been nice to have just one chapter from Paul that dealt only with the subject of nursery workers but that wasn't to be going to happen.  I looked through Bible dictionaries and concordances and found very little.  I did the "open Bible to the right page, point at a verse" thing...you know what I mean, but that wasn't working either.  Last resort, I prayed.  Yep, I prayed.  I'm ashamed to say it but that's the order things went in.  I can't say the Lord gave me something immediately.  I did find that I began to relax and not be so frenzied about the process.  I felt in God's timing, He would provide the Scripture I needed.  Two days prior to the banquet as I was finishing reading through  I Corinthians, I came to 15:58 and it reads:

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye STEDFAST,

IMMOVABLE, always ABOUNDING in the work

of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your LABOR

is not in vain in the Lord.



There it was.  There in that verse were four qualities or characteristics any nursery director would love to have in every work.  But then again, probably every pastor, music director or church leader would give anything for a church full of members with those four qualities.

These four qualities took me to various dictionaries.  In a nutshell, this is what I found about each characteristic:

STEDFAST...

This is a person who patiently endures.  These folks are reliable, faithful and loyal...they are steady to the task.

IMMOVABLE...

These people occupy a certain position and are going to stay put no matter what.  They also cannot be deterred from belief or service.

ABOUNDING...

These folks are always doing the over and above.  They arrive early and stay as late as they must to see a job to completion even if others don't.  They are usually enthusiastic and positive in their dealings with people.

LABOR...

This word doesn't just speak of work in a casual manner.  Labor is always work, but work isn't always labor.  Labor is a very intense, nose-to-the-grindstone kind of work.  Labor is difficult work that is often physical but can demand mental exertion as well.  God's work is some of the hardest one can do simply because there is an enemy at the turn of every corner opposing anything done for Christ.  Our labor will be for nothing unless it is done for God alone and in the power of His Holy Spirit.  

I looked at those things and could pick out ladies on my own staff who had one or more of those qualities seen in our verse.  I had a few and even less than a few with all four of them.  It wasn't hard to look at all four qualities and see how important they would be in the nursery division of our church.   However, that verse wasn't written by Paul for nursery workers even though they can be included.  Paul was writing to every Christian in the Corinthian church and thus, to us as well.  These qualities are things even now that should be incorporated into the life of every laboring church member.

Who is that STEDFAST church member?

He is faithfully in church.  He is patient when he doesn't get his usual parking space on the hottest Sunday of the year.  He is loyal to the pastor and program of the church.  If the pastor preaches an extra 10 minutes, he doesn't sit looking at his watch.  If a guest should sit in his pew, he looks for another place to sit without asking the person to move. (Asking someone to move from one's "spot" at church isn't an unusual thing to occur in churches.)  This member is at church to serve, worship and learn.

What about that IMMOVABLE Christian?

She has her place of service which could be the choir, teacher, etc...and she faithfuly carries out her responsibilities.  For her there is nothing more important than being in her place.  If she plans to be away, she has her responsibilities covered and faithfully prays during that time for her substitute and the work that is to be done while she is gone.  She takes her job(s) very seriously and it would take a herd of buffalo to pull her away from any of them unless the Lord led her to something else.  She is loyal to her spiritual authority from the pastor down, so don't talk about them in a negative way around her.

Then of course, there is ABOUNDING...

These are people with energy galore who are always looking for extra ways to serve the Lord.  They are the ones who sign up for those things that no one else wants to do.  They arrive on time and most often early.  They will call in if something has come up that keeps them from fulfilling their responsibilities.  They may be the same ones who stay late until everything is complete.  They will stay with that straggler child whose parents fail to pick him up right after church or church activity and do it with a smile.

Oh yes, last but not least....WORK/LABOR...

This is what it's all about.  The three previous qualities are thrown into the mix of work.  That's what it's all about...God's work...the most important work we can do on this earth of ours.  It won't always be done within the four walls of our churches.  God's work is done behind the desk of an office where people observe carefully our witness for Christ.  It's seen in the volunteer work we do in schools, hospitals, etc.  It's the ethic that is with us when we do our dishes or mow our lawns.  The list could go on and on.  Everything we do is to be done heartily and for God's glory.  It gets done by rolling up our sleeves and doing the work God has called us to and to be faithful to our tasks.

You might ask, "Did Paul say all that?"  Well yes and no.  Paul used those big words with the Corinthians knowing they would know what the words meant.  Look though how Paul started out the verse:

"Therefore, my beloved brethren"...speaking to fellow Christians, people he loved.

"be ye"...no suggestion from Paul in this verse.  He was giving a very loving but firm command.

The Lord speaks to you and me out of love, yes in the form of a command that we are to be stedfast, immovable and ALWAYS abounding in the Lord's work.  That word "always" is an important one for it speaks of consistency that is expected when it comes to any work for God.  May we be ever faithful to those things God has called us to, not for personal attention but for His glory alone.

Dear Father...

We grow weary at times, but You have promised in this special verse that our labor is not in vain.  May every single thing we do be for You.  We pray we will always be faithful to You...that we will be stedfast, immovable and that we will always abound in all we do for You and others.  May we be consistent in our service.  Give us strength, love and whatever else we need in serving You better.  Amen



A MERRY HEART

A merry heart doeth good

like a medicine:   but a broken spirit

drieth the bones.

Proverbs 17:22

There was a day when just about every child in our country knew by heart most nursery rhymes.  I still have a picture in my mind, from when I was about five years old of Old King Cole.  I learned that he was a "merry old soul and a merry old soul was he."  I pictured a fat old man on a golden throne dressed in a red robe that had white fur trim on it.  I saw him as having a crown on his head that was a little lop-sided because he chuckled and laughed so much.  When he laughed, I pictured his tummy jiggling just like Santa Claus' supposedly did.  We had imaginations then (no TV), lots of books and people who read them to us.  Even as a little girl, I wondered if it would be possible for regular people to be merry old souls.

I saw this merry spirit in Miss Irene, my first grade teacher and others at Lincoln Grade School.  I saw it in Nellie Barker, the first Sunday school teacher I remember having at a pre-school age.  She was from England and we loved to hear her talk in her perky, friendly way.  I think of my most recent choir director, Fred.  Even when in serious conversation, that merry heart of his just comes shining through.  You leave his presence with a smile on your face whether you felt like smiling when first seeing him.  In all cases, and more, such people have been an encouragement in my worst of times and probably are responsible in great measure for whatever sense of humor I have now.

Our Scripture speaks of a merry heart.  We are to know that this merry, cheerful spirit is not something we just conjur up whenever we want to.  This merry spirit is something that is born in the heart and comes from God.  I realize that there are people who don't know God from a totem pole who give off an air of friendliness, caring and even glee; but, the REAL thing, comes from a relationship with the Lord.  This spirit springs from an inner joy that isn't controlled by circumstances.

Let's begin by defining what is meant by "merry" as Scripture views it.  In  Hebrew, the first definition given of this word in noun form is "good."  The verb form of the word "merry" means beautiful, best, better, cheerful, at ease, gracious, joyful, kindly, loving and pleasant.  When we read all of that, we have to agree that that's a whole lot of "merry."

Without any pretense, the person with the merry heart brings refreshment and at times, healing to just about any situation, thus the use of the word "medicine."  It isn't the kind of medicine a physician would prescribe.  When taken as ordered by a physician, such medications can affect a persons entire well being.  Some medicines may relieve pain or some may be preventative.  However, the medicine of the merry heart touches the emotional, mental and spiritual side of an individual all of which may in turn affect the physical side of the person as well.  I have known many people with merry hearts who are healing influences to others just by their very presence.

The other half of our verse cannot be overlooked.  Solomon in his wise writing through inspiration of the Holy Spirit addresses a broken spirit.  Matthew Henry in his commentary writes, regarding Proverbs 17:22:

"A broken spirit, sunk by the burden of afflictions, and especially a conscience wounded with a sense of guilt and fear of wrath, dries the bones, wastes the radical moisture, exhausts the very marrow and makes the body a mere skeleton.  We should, therefore, watch and pray against all melancholy dispositions for they lead us into trouble as well as into temptation."

A very kind orthopedic surgeon once told me that there is a definite correlation between the healing of a broken or surgically repaired bone and the inner spirit of the patient.  He stressed that having healthy marrow in the bones is of the utmost importance to overall health.  He smiled with a twinkle in his eye and said that in our day, an awful lot of folks are walking around with rotten bones.  So I guess we could say:

                        Broken Bone + Broken Spirit = Slow Physical Healing

I have to wonder how many people, especially Christians, are walking around with severe physical problems because the are first suffering from broken spirits and they may not realize it.

The merry heart is a wonderful thing to have...something we all should desire.  The broken spirit, however, does not just cause the spirit of a person much damage, but also is extremely damaging to the human body as well.  We will face problems and hurts, so the sooner we turn them over to God and deal with them spiritually, the healthier and merrier we will be.

There are some places we can begin to work on this.  Confession is a good place to begin.  If we can't think what sin we might have in our lives, a quick scan of Colossians 3 gives us a good check list.  The Holy Spirit is always ready to help us out in this area.  Turning everything of concern over to the Lord can lighten the spirit.  Being people of the Word and prayer can ensure we keep that extra skip in our spiritual step.  Let me add a suggestion.

Let me add that people who have this spiritual quality of being merry in heart are always appropriate in behavior.  This isn't a person has to be the clown of the party, who giggles a lot or who acts like a six year old wouldn't even act.  In fact, those with a merry heart may at the same time be going through heartache they would never reveal to anyone.  Being a person with a merry heart is not a goal...it's the end result of a sold out relationship with Jesus Christ. 

As a side line thought, those who are merry probably do a lot more singing than talking.

James 5:13 tells us:

Is any among you afflicted?

Let him pray.

Is any merry?

Let him sing psalms.

Scripture also promises that a merry heart can be ongoing and not a temporary thing.

Proverbs 15:15 says:

All the days of the afflicted are evil:

but he that is of a merry heart

hath a continual feast.

Notice that it isn't the afflicted who are evil but the days of the afflicted.  We live in a terrible, confusing and troubling world.  All of us can fall into affliction just because of the times we live in, but we don't have to stay there.  For those merry in heart, life is one big spiritual feast even though they may be going through times of great suffering.  Circumstances change nothing for the merry in heart.

Old King Cole may have been a merry old soul but what about us?  Can others view you and me as being merry of spirit...healers, encouragers...filled with the joy of Jesus.  He came that we might have life and have it in abundance.  There are those troubled in spirit who need to see the joy and merryment of the Lord Jesus in us.

PRAYER:

Dear Jesus...I long to be a reflection of You.  I believe every positive quality found in the Bible was a part of You as You walked on this earth.  I know that a merry heart isn't something I can pretend to have...it's either a part of me or it isn't.  Help me to be an encouragement to others, but before that, I want all You are to be a part of me.  Thank You for allowing me to be a part of Your kingdom plan.   Amen.

Been Wounded Lately?

He healeth the broken in heart,

and bindeth up their wounds.

Psalm 147:3

The first time I can remember hearing the word "wound" was when I was a little girl in the 1940's.  World War II was raging and I heard my parents talking about soldiers from our town who had been wounded in battle.  My mother explained to me that a wound was a really bad hurt that bad soldiers had caused our own soldiers.  She explained that it would be like my being pushed down on the sidewalk and skinning my knee except that for soldiers, it was much worse.  Mother wasn't very graphic, but I knew what a badly skinned knee was.  I knew it hurt and I knew it made me cry.  My skinned knees and elbows usually healed with a kiss from Mother, that "red stuff in the small bottle that didn't burn" and a band-aid.

I've had a lot of physical wounds since that time in my life.  I carry a couple of scars on the back of my right hand where a very friendly dog accidentally scratched me.  Boy did it hurt and I have to tell you that for weeks, the back of my hand was a sight.  It wasn't enough to have any stitches but it probably took a month or two for my hand to heal.  During the healing process, my hand was very sore to the touch and was not pretty to look at.  Right now though, I can touch those scars, and they don't hurt anymore.  I can look at the criss-cross scar on the back of my hand now and remember a loveable dog and it's wonderful owners.   However, I'm not going to be addressing physical wounds in my words to you. No matter how bad they are, I have found that wounds of the heart and spirit inflicted by others can be so much more painful.  Just as the healing on the back of my hand took time to heal, so do our inner wounds.  Healthy healing really does take time.

Our wounds of the heart can turn out the same if we let them.  However, I know people who have held onto bitterness for years.  They relive their wounds over and over only to find that the infection of bitterness has taken over their lives.  Christians holding onto such bitterness, may find their testimony negatively affected and perhaps their health as well.  We're not meant to hold on for dear life to those hurts that probably in most cases, we couldn't have done anything about anyway.  Wouldn't it be better if we let our hurts and wounds grow us spiritually.  There are good things that can come from wounds.  The following are some examples from nature:

     Wheat that is thrashed...for what....that you and I may have bread

     Peeled oranges................for what....healthy food, juice and refreshment

     Pressed fresh flowers.....for what....perfumes and resulting products

     Beaten olives...................for what....oil for the golden candlestick in the tabernacle

     Olives couldn't just be pressed to render oil from them.  Scripture says that the oil for the golden candlestick had to come from olives that were beaten.  That particular oil caused the light from the candlestick to burn clearer and brighter.  I often think that when you and I feel the most wounded (beaten up) is when our light for Christ can shine the brightest and clearest.

I don't minimize the wounds we are sometimes called upon to endure, but I have learned that our wounds can be turned into blessing for God's glory.  He wants to use every single thing in our lives to somehow touch the lives of others.  We are living in a world-weary day with people who are looking for Christians who live out their faith in such a way that a relationship with Jesus Christ looks inviting.  Some Christians may even watch us to see how we get through  the wounds that are often inflicted upon us.  When people know we have been through a terrible time of wounding, they may not understand the sweet spirit that can radiate from our lives during those times.  When we go through our own thrashings, others hopefully will be lead to the Bread of Life.  Our wounds for a time may be very red, hurtful and noticeable.  As we keep functioning in Holy Spirit power, we will later look at a personal scar or two and we may even be able to smile.

Some things we can remember:

1.  God knows every hurt of any kind inflicted by anyone that touches us.  He wants to comfort us like a mother would tend to her child's physical boo-boo.  There are some folks, however who refuse the comfort of God and want to roll around in self-pity, always seeking the sympathy of others.  Others can do only so much...God comforts as no one else can.

2.  Every wound in our lives is to be basted in praise.

                                       In EVERYTHING give thanks:

                                                   for this is the will of God

                                             in Christ Jesus concerning you.

                                                      I Thessalonians 5:18

3.  Along with the above, we need to be careful how much energy we give to our hurts and wounds.  Such loss of energy can affect us mentally, spiritually and maybe physically.  When wounded, we still need to take care of ourselves physically.   Attention still needs to be given to our prayer life that isn't always complaining to God, but that offers times of praise as well.  Bible reading is a must.  I might suggest though that when sorely wounded, Revelation might not be the best book from which to read.  Select those Scriptures that are a balm for the soul.  Select some of those passages ahead of time when not hurting for your spiritual emergency kit and keep that list handy to refer to in times of difficulty.

4.  Remember that there are wounds that are contageous.  Physically there are infections that can spread because of exposure to someone else.  There are vulnerable people who will take on the hurts of others and we don't want to be a spiritual hinderance in their lives.  We should limit sharing information about our wounds only with a very few trusted, spiritually mature persons.  Sometimes speaking openly about a specific difficulty can minister to people, but  I am talking about the habit of just venting our hurts with anyone who will listen.  That isn't beneficial for anyone...speaker or hearers.

5.  I have to say somewhere in all of this that we must avoid self-inflicted wounds.  Too often we take on the problems of others.  In doing so, our minds can be marked and scarred causing constant turmoil.  I have decided that I am at an age where I just can't do that anymore.  I tend to go off on guilt binges.  I've decided if I have done something wrong to someone, I will  apologize, learn from it and go on.  I'm weary of people who get ticked off at just about anything because so much rides on their mood of the day.  I allow things like that to do too much damage to my own spirit.  That's not God's intention for any of us. 

 We can also  wound ourselves with worry.  We moms are especially pro's at this activity.  I have determined that I will have a concern for those around me, but only God can take care of  things no matter how much of it I mentally take on.  I will do what God wants me to do and leave the rest with Him.  It's a huge order for me but in His strength I know I can have victory.  If it doesn't work, it sure isn't His fault. 

6.  We must pray for those who have wounded us and forgive them.  This is about as tough as it gets, but we are commanded to forgive even when people hurt us deeply.  We forgive because God forgives us and He commands us to forgive.  Jesus in His model prayer said, "Forgive us our trespasses AS we forgive those who trespass against us."  That's a lot of forgivin'.

7.  Take everything to the Lord.  He doesn't mind tears and doesn't need fancy long prayers when we sit in a heap of hurt.  There have been times I've just had to say through tears, "Lord, help me!" because that was all I could utter with the broken heart that was throbbing inside of me at the time.  We tend to go first to everyone else with our hurts instead of where we are supposed to go.

                                           Cast thy burden upon the Lord,

                                                and He shall sustain thee;

                                        He shall never suffer the righteous

                                                          to be moved.

                                                        Psalms 55:22

Let's never forget  the wounding that Jesus endured for us.  He suffered pain...the worst of pain...undeserved pain...and it was for you and me.

                                But He was wounded for our trangressions

                                          He was bruised for our iniquities:

                                         the chastisement of our peace was

                                             upon Him and with His stripes

                                                          we are healed.

                                                            Isaiah 53:5

Wounded...bruised...chastisement...stripes...all four of those things were deliberate physical acts.  He endured hateful, aggressive torture not counting the malicious taunting involved.  This occured all for you and me.  Through all of that, you and I have spiritual wholeness and healing.  In light of His suffering, the wounds we sustain on this earth for a time seem to pale in light of all He endured.

PRAYER:

Thank You, my Savior, for bearing all You did for me on the cross.  The hurts I endure on this earth are nothing compared to what You bore for me.   May I never forget Your willingness to be wounded for me.  Thank You dear Jesus for who You are in my life everyday.  Forgive my being forgetful of all You did.  As You forgive me, may I be willing to forgive others.  I love You.   Amen

Who is in Charge Here?

My thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways My ways,

saith the LORD.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways,

and My thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:8.9

During my career years, I must say that there were times when I wondered who was in charge at my place of employment.  Often, there may be problems in an office when someone who is  the boss, chairman, director, or whatever the title, is not present for some reason.  Many times, employees will take advantage of authority being absent and the work day isn't as productive as it should be.  It's easy for chaos to reign where there is no structure, boundaries or some capable person in charge of things. 

The same comparison can be made when viewing some American homes.  Children must have order, rules and boundaries. Respect for authority is taught in the home by example, spoken word and consequences that are meted out when authority is not obeyed.  I have taught in Christian schools at both elementary and secondary levels.  I could tell you after just a short amount of time what the authority or lack thereof existed in a student's home.   If there are healthy authority figures missing, that affects children wherever they go and affects their total person.  What many Christian parents don't consider is that a child's view of God and His authority is often based on a child's view of parental authority and respect for parents that has or hasn't been learned in the home.

Today on this earth walk billions of people.  Of course, these people are scattered out over various continental expanses so we aren't all on top of one another.  Even under the best of circumstances, people who are living in their own geographical areas are still divided from others by miles, language or culture.  At best, even when narrowed down as we are in our own places, we need order and someone in charge so as to provide organization and hopefully, appropriate behavior.  People have often turned to kings, emperors or presidents all of which have failed miserably.  We are already aware that on this planet, no matter where we are,  many problems exist...wars, famine, weather crisis, rebellions, economic collapses, health issues of many types, unemployment, crumbling of families, and with all of this comes fear on every side.  We want to cry out, "Who on earth is in charge?"

It was one evening last December when a niece of mine and I had an interesting conversation.  We were both at the time at my sister's home.  My niece told me of her recent visit to a special area of Scripture and her encounter with the subject of the sovereignty of God.  As burdened as she was with her mother being ill, she had gone in the Scriptures to the book of Job and found there some helpful insight.  As burdened as I felt, I must admit that the book of Job just wasn't a Bible book that was inviting to me at the time.  However, she had come to the latter part of the book of Job (32-41) where after Job's "friends" had spent hours vebally beating up on him, another friend of Job's by the name of Elihu spoke up pointing Job to God.  It was at this point that God also spoke up.  Through my niece, I was encouraged to go to those chapters.  I sat up that night in bed reading them, two times if I recall.  I will always be grateful to my niece for sharing her thinking with me and because of her insight, I was blessed, and yes comforted in my reading.

Thus, in the last several months, I have been visiting and revisiting that doctrine of our faith, that being the sovereignty of God.  Those last three words strike us as being so far above our heads, we can't grasp any of it.  I certainly would not be able to scratch the surface on the subject of God's sovereignty...volumes have been written on the subject.   From a feeble human standpoint, there is some of it we can understand if we care to.  If any pastor were to announce that this coming Sunday, he would preach on "The Sovereignty of God," I wonder how many people would even care to show up.

If you want to know Who is in charge of everything and Who always knows what He is doing down to the most finite atom, read Job chapters 32-41.  One can't help but read those chapters and be warmed by the fact that God is alive, well and definitely in charge of everything and does it all in love.  It's a series of verses that assures us that even though things may be "catty-wampus" in our lives for the moment, God never loses sight of the plan He has for each of us.  How thoughtless it is as well as unloving and disrespectful to ignore God in the workings of our lives.  When it comes to His funcitoning in our every circumstance, we almost become athiestic Christians.  We wander around in a state of hopelessness and despair wondering about the what's and why's of our circumstances, even forgetting our sovereign God.  Make a list of every possible attribute of God you can find or think of... each and all of them would come under the umbrella of God's sovereignty.

I must admit  that there have been many times in my life when I just could not grasp the why's of  things going on in my life.  Many times I've had to say through tears, "I don't understand this" and I know He wasn't offended although I know He desired my trust just as I, a human parent always desired the trust of my own children.  God knolws our frame, that we are mere dust.  Yes, He desires our unquestioning trust, but a huge responsibility rests upon each of us to so know and love God, that we would never question His working in all that affects us..

God isn't just God.  He IS sovereign.  That is the word that makes all the difference.  Throughout history, there were times when kings were referred to as "sovereigns."  Many times referring to them as kings would  be omitted because that word "sovereign"  said so much more.  When something or someone is sovereign, it means that there is nothing, no one or no thing higher in authority or power in that persons realm.  It is thought that such a person knows all and controls all.  He has the power to make anything happen.   Such an earthly authority may be referred to as "sovereign" but in reality, there is no sovereignty above or beyond our God.  As we look at world events, we should remember that fact.

Any of our meditation on the sovereignty and power of God should strike in us a deep feeling of awe and the deepest of respect.  It should also for some evoke a feeling of fear.  If we are in right relationship with God, we will stand in awe of His capabilities blended with the very deep love God has for us and we for Him.  Nothing is ever out of His control.  In God's vocabulary, we will never find the expression, "oops."  He never wrings His hands over a situation.  He never says, "Well, I missed that one."  You would never hear Him say, "I wish I had thought of that."

When I think of God's sovereignty and providence, I often go to Psalm 139.  There we see our God in action, working on our behalf, knowing every intimate thing about us...not a dozing, inactive, unknowing God.  Some things about Him in Psalm 139, I've listed below, but read the psalm for yourself and bask in the wonderful knowledge of our God who is in charge and is always functioning on our behalf:

V 1....He knows me and He searches out everything about me that no one else can do.

V 2....He knows every move I make and every thought I think.

V 3....He knows my every way and path.

V 4....He knows every word I speak  (Don't like this one)

V 5....He is all around me all the time and has His hand on my life.

V 8....No matter where I go, God is there.

V 10..I am being led by Him at all times.

V 12..Everything is as light to Him, no darkness...He continually sees all things going on.

V 13-16...God was knowing and involved in my pre-natal beginnings.  Even then, He knew all about me, as well as all about my future days.

V 17  God thinks about me...His thoughts about me cannot be counted.  WOW!!!

V 23-24...God knows my spiritual condition at all times.  He knows my thoughts and sees any wickedness that is in me.  Despite that, He continues to forgive and lead me in the way everlasting.

I have come to know that there is absolutely nothing that can touch my life unless it is first filtered through the fingers of God.  Nothing could touch the life of Job except with God's permission and even Satan was limited by God in what he could do to Job.  Nothing is out of control in our lives and we can feel the utmost in security with God even though there will be things that come into our lives we don't understand.

Now I must ask us...can we put our full confidence and trust in God who is all things to us?  Psalm 139 doesn't begin to touch on His sovereignty and greatness.  We live in a day when many pastors have greatly watered down who God is to the point that Christians think little if anything of His greatness.  For me personally, one of the greatest definitions of God in His sovereignty was His own explanation of Himself when He sent Moses to Pharoah.  He told Moses when he went to talk to Pharoah to say that  I AM sent him.  How can anyone top that...I AM that I AM...and that great I AM has stepped down to have a relationship with you and me.  You and I can have as much of God as we want.  There are no words to express how special and  blessed we are!!!

Prayer:

Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty:  for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is Thine; Thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and Thou art exalted as Head above all.  (I Chronicles 29:11)

Amen and Amen!

CAN I REALLY RELATE?

Blessed be God, even the Father

of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father

of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

Who comforteth us in all our tribulation,

that we may be able to comfort them

which are in any trouble, by the

comfort wherewith we ourselves are

comforted of God.

II Corinthians 1:3,4

The day for our college student spiritual retreat had finally arrived.  Every detail had been worked through and things had come together as they were meant to.  We had reserved a very large, old lodge out in the country where the landscape was very bleak and cold. Wouldn't you know it, a huge snow storm hit the area about the time students began to arrive.  We soon found that the lodge wasn't really constructed with a very good heating system and the hot water heater was also grossly inadequate to take care of the cooking and grooming needs of 150 college students.  Despite some inconveniences, we had all safely arrived and were ready for the Lord to do a work in our hearts.  I had been on the planning committee, had even written the music for the theme song of the retreat and was pianist for the retreat as well.  We had prayed as a committee toward this time and things were looking good.  The committee arrived early to make preparations of meeting rooms, kitchen, etc. and we continued being busy through the arrival of participating students.

Then something happened in me that was almost frightening.  I was surrounded by exciting people...students, a few college faculty members, speaker, workshop leaders and lodge personnel, but I found myself feeling about as down as I had felt in a very long time.  Oh, I understood the let downs when a project is completed, but it was a down that was borderline depressing.  I sat alone at a table pretending to look over some music when Stan, a friend who was chairman of our committee sat down by me and asked me what was wrong.  I gave him the usual lie we tell people that nothing was wrong but he read right through me.  I finally told him that an unhealthy case of the blues had hit me that I couldn't explain.  Stan was one who seemed to always have all of the answers but wasn't haughty with it..  He proceded to give me his observations and steps I should take to pull out of the dulldrums.  He closed with the usual, "I know just how you feel."  No he didn't.  He may have gone through something similar, but to know just how I felt...WRONG!!

We've all heard that phrase that Stan shared with me no matter the test, problem or experience we were going through.  Someone always has to say something to try to make us feel better and they often do more damage than good.  I'm afraid  I've been on the giving end of that too many times.  People face different problems that many times involves loneliness or loss, for instance:

*  My neighbor Lester lost his wife of 62 years to cancer this last September.  He's lonely.

*  My friend Karen just sent her son and daughter off to college.  Life is difficult right now.

*  I just moved away from people I love dearly and I miss them.

*  I have two nieces whose mother passed away in January...loss and adjustment.

*  A friend I have, recently got news from a surgeon she didn't want to hear.

*  My sister told me about a couple who had their small dog stolen from their back yard.

*  A young missionary couple went on the foreign field for the first time away from all that's familiar.

*  A young mother just gave birth to her first baby but her husband is overseas in Afghanistan.

*  A business man has been gone for a week to a distant state.  He misses his family.

Our list could go on and on of things people go through that may be small things to us but, it isn't to the person experiencing the problem.  We live in a world where it is sometimes hard for people to relate to others who are going through major and perhaps traumatic events.

Here's what concerns me about us.  We can look at the above list and try to say words of comfort and encouragement to folks we have some things in common with.  I haven't lost a spouse but I have sent kids off to college.  I've never had to give birth to a baby with my husband not present, but I have been on extended mission trips away from friends and family.  Whether we can relate to any of those instances listed or others, there are some words we must be careful in speaking..."I know how you feel...Been there, done that" and whatever other quicky and clever things we can think to say when we mean well.

Can I relate to Karen (on my above list) who just saw her two children off to college?  I can relate as I recall driving a daughter across country to a university.  I sobbed all the way home and most of every day for a month.  Do I know  exactly how Karen feels in her quandry of emotions?  No...because  those feelings are unique to her and where she is in her life right now.  We are all uniquely different and even though we've had similar experiences, we will never really know exactly how the other person feels.  In communicating with Karen she said that rather than people asking, "How are you doing?"...or..."Are you okay?"...she would rather someone had just come up and given her a hug.  In this process of adjusting to a new situation, Karen has learned some things to do and some things not to do when she tries to help people who are going through a similar experience as she has been.  She is more knowing now as to how to minister to someone who may have to go through something similar to what she has gone through.  She, like many of us, has been taking courses in the "School of Ministry" and hasn't realized it.  I can somewhat relate to what Karen is going through with seeing children off to college because I have gone through that experience.  I know the sting loneliness and loss will smart for awhile for Karen, but the Lord in His faithfulness will see her through.  I think I know some of where she will be a year from now, but I won't tell her that now.  She will know.   She will come across a teary mom next August that will be taking her high school graduate to college for the first time.  Inside Karen will smile a  knowing smile because she will know a little about comforting that mom.

So what do you and I do, if anything?  For one, we can drop the cliches, the cute little things of comfort that everyone says because they can't think of anything else to say.  I have said to some:  "I've been through something similar to your situation and know you must be hurting."  To one lady I knew well, I said, "You go ahead and cry and I'll pray."  There are some things people have to walk and live through...things that are just a part of living, but that are hard none the less.  People need to know they can trust us with their feelings.  There are very few people who ask me how I'm doing with whom I can trust a statement of need.  There are many times I would like to say, "This has been a really hard day."  I know there are friends in my life who after I make that statement never ask for details but who, I know, will pray for me.  Those people are rare jewels in my life.

No matter the areas of life that are so difficult for us, they equip us for ministry.  I have been convinced for years that our various experiences give us a "license to comfort."  Paul explained this as clearly as anyone can.  God had comforted him in all of his trials and through that comfort, Paul learned how to comfort others with the same comfort he had received from the Lord.  We must never waste a single thing that enters into our lives.  We are to be busy about ministering in the lives of others.  God will give us wisdom as we function during these times of ministry.  What a privilege is ours to comfort others with the comfort that we ourselves have received from the comfort of God. 

Try something...sometime, sit down and list those places you have been in your life that gives you a special license to comfort.  Some of these might be:  death of a loved one, breast cancer, divorce, errant child, parent of special needs child, caregiver of elderly parent, unfaithful spouse, fired from job, and the list could go on and on.  It will be amazing how the Lord will bring folks across our paths for whom we can be an encouragement.

Dear Father,

Things have happened in my life that have made me wonder why You allowed them.  You knew who would cross my path later who might be walking a path I have already walked.  Help me to be sensitive to Your wisdom as well as to the needs of others around me.  Thank You for the way you comforted Pau,l for then he could extend that comfort to others.  May it be true also of me.  Thank You so much for all the ways You have comforted me and seen me through some very difficult days.   Thank you, my Father.....Amen

KNOWING HIM

That I may know Him,

and the power of His resurrection

and the fellowship of His sufferings,

being made conformable to His death.

Philippians 3:10

Many of us could write books on the spiritual facts we have accumulated through the years.  By spiritual facts, I am suggesting that for years, many of us have been in church, Sunday school, vacation Bible school, Bible studies, seminars and conferences of all types that have contributed to our having brains full of spiritual information.  We still might be able to win any Bible drill challenge if our arthritic fingers could turn pages fast enough.  Preachers and teachers of the Bible are folks who to some extent are at risk in this accumulation of Bible facts.  We teachers study week after week using our Bibles, concordances, dictionaries and commentaries.  We may even look up several words in the Greek and Hebrew languages.  We might show people our well-marked Bibles.  With all the input that's been available to us, something would be wrong if we didn't pick up even the most basic of Scriptural information along the way.

I know people who can give you by memory many of the Hebrew names for God such as Jehovah Jireh, Jehovah Nissi, etc. and they know what each one means.  I'll be the first one in line to pat them on the back.  I too have learned some names for God or synonyms for Him such as Redeemer, Protector, Lord, Savior, Almighty, etc.  What I am thinking is that if you and I were to put our heads together and blend what we have learned about God, we could write quite a book, but so what?  We should know by now that having all the facts about someone doesn't mean that we really know them intimately.

So...sitting in my special by-the-stream-under-the-trees-spot, and busily reading my Bible.  I revisited a verse that I have taught in the past to some of you who read this as well as to others who have never heard me teach.  You have already read the verse that is the basis for the theme of this article that you see under the title of this article.

The apostle Paul's sole/soul desire was to know Jesus Christ with everything that was in him.  His list in that verse doesn't consist of facts.  He knew if he was to know Jesus, it was going to be an experiential thing.  Some facts and information were of course helpful to Paul, but along with those facts, Paul knew that if he was really to know Jesus, it would be in three experiences of his life.  The same is going to be true of us if the same thing is truly our hearts desire to  know Jesus intimately.

We first have to make a decision just as Paul did as to how much we want to know Jesus.  Paul communicated in words his strong desire to know Jesus.  By the way, it's a very powerful thing when we verbalize spiritual desire.  With my desire must come my desire to get past all of the knowledge and facts and almost start at a beginning in this process.  This is going to happen through our drawing close to Him through prayer and the Word of God.  It will take time, energy and a whole lot of "want to."

Paul mentioned three experiences in that verse he knew would be required if he were to know Jesus.  Paul in our key verse uses the word "and" NOT "or" so it is through all three experiences we will come to know Jesus well.  These experiences are:

The power of His resurrection.

When you and I are at our weakest point despite what situation we face, I wish we could come to grips with the fact that the same Holy Spirit who resurrected Jesus from the dead is the same Holy Spirit who resides in you and me here and now.  That fact is true only if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior.  At that moment, the Holy Spirit comes to reside in us.  So we have Holy Spirit power to live this Chre.   When we don't make use of that power we become prime candidates for living lives of defeat...which thrills Satan to no end.  We must pray for power and then make use of it when He gives it.  What frustration it is to try to live this Christian life of ours in our own strength.  It just can't be done, plus it's such a waste of energy in the attempt.  The Holy Spirit wants to empower us in every situation of our lives.  He wants to strengthen and love us through the hardest of times.  He can see us through anything life presents to us.  He wants to be instrumental in our spiritual growth as well.

The fellowship of His sufferings.

This is a tough one.  Not one of us goes looking for a  time of suffering.  Some say that misery loves company and I think at times, that's true.  Several years ago I fell and broke my right wrist.  I got over it but it was tough going for awhile.  I have a friend Priscilla, who broke her left wrist.  I didn't know this had happened until she showed up at church in a much prettier cast than I had been given.  Because both of us had very similar fractures, we both went through very similar therapy requirements after both of our casts were removed.  On Wednesday nights at the church supper, we would sit and talk about our experiences.  We could sit and almost shut others out as we talked about our broken wrists.  Although we loved our friends who were around us, those dear friends couldn't relate.  We had both been through something that no one else at that supper table understood.  In a sense, we could fellowship because of our common suffering.

A lady in my church came to me in March of this year.  I knew her name, but nothing

more.  She wanted to let me know that she knew my sister had passed away in

January.  She went on to tell me that she was also the oldest of three girls in her family

just as I was.  The sister just under her had suddenly passed away a couple of years

prior to my sister.  She too had felt close to her sister.  She wanted me to know that she KNEW  what I was going through.  Every now and then, she would hand me a Bible verse on a card, or send an encouraging greeting card to cheer me.  We didn't personally know each other well, but there was a fellowship between us that was quite unique.  Ours was a fellowship of suffering.

When you and I are persecuted for righteousness sake, we can relate with Jesus as He

went through the same things.  When Jesus was betrayed, we can remember that Jesus was as well.  When He suffered unimaginable physical suffering, we  know Jesus understands when we do as well.  He suffered mental anguish...so do we.  We can understand and know Jesus better when we view our own sufferings through those of Him.  There's nothing of our suffering Jesus doesn't understand and we should make every effort to understand His as well...thus we fellowship in His sufferings.

 Being made conformable to His death.

Have we died lately?  Paul said "...I die daily."  Every morning and probably during the

course of his day, Paul died to self.  This is one of the hardest deaths to die.  I will always contend and won't even debate with anyone that Jesus died in the Garden of Gethsemane.  It wasn't the physical death He would experience in a matter of hours, but it was in that garden He died to His own desires.  Remember that He was a human bein g.  A part of being a human being is the drive to survive.  That night though, Jesus prayed to His Father, "Not my will, but Thine be done."  Jesus died to all self desire in that moment.

I have heard people talk about how much they would do for Jesus.  Some claim if they

became millionaires, they would give sizeable offerings to the church.  For now though,

they rarely drop even a few dollar bills in the offering plate.  Others claim they would die

on the spot for Jesus if called on to do so.  Peter gave Jesus a similar promise just prior

to Jesus going to the cross.  Jesus had to sadly tell Peter that he was about to deny Him three times before the morning crow of a rooster.  We may think or even speak in a big way as did Peter, but what about the simple things we can do...turn a TV dial away from an inappropriate program, refusing to take part in questionable social events,  or living a life of separation from the things of the world.  And please don't ask the average American Christian to attend church on a Sunday evening.  Isn't that asking a little much?  Bottom line is that Jesus gave all for  us...can we do less for Him?

Do we REALLY know Him in an intimate relationship?  If not, why not, and what will it take to get us even to the point of wanting that relationship.  I'm tired of all the facts even though they come in handy every now and then.  I don't want all of that to cloud my view of the reality of Him in my life.  I want to know Him...really KNOW him!

Let me add a PS to all of this.  If we even come close to those three disciplines Paul gave in that verse, we will be surprised at the doors of opportunity that will open to us to minister in the lives of others.  As we come to know Jesus in power, suffering and being dead to self, others will be drawn to us and perhaps be changed themselves in wanting to know Jesus in depth for themselves.

Dear Jesus...

Forgive me for the times I give you the backseat in my life.  I really do want to know you in every way possible.  I know alot about you but I want to know you as I never have in my life.  Help me to let go of my own desires and to walk in close fellowship with you consistently.  Forgive me, dear Jesus for the times I refuse to put you first and not letting go of my own desires.

I love you, dear Lord.

Amen.

LITTLE THINGS

Charge them that are rich in this world,

that they be not highminded,

nor trust in uncertain riches,

but in the living God, who

giveth us richly all things to enjoy.

I Timothy 6:17

For several years, Corrie ten Boom has been a heroine of mine.  I did a cursory reading of the book "The Hiding Place" several years ago and was intersted enough to watch the movie that was made for TV, adapted from the book.  I was shocked that this movie was even aired on one of the major television networks because of the strong Christian content in it.  I have in recent days been revisiting that book, doing a more in depth reading of it.  The book deals with the treacherous times during the Nazi takeover of Europe, the persecution of the Jews and of those who made every effort to protect them.  Such was the case with the ten Boom family who hid Jews in their home during those perilous days.

Eventually, the ten Boom family was arrested and for a time, placed in prison before being taken to an extermination camp.  Mr. ten Boom only lived a couple of weeks as he was already 100 years old at the time of being arrested and was in failing health.  Corrie and her sister Betsie were put in prison.  Corrie was in solitary confinement most of the time as she was considered the ring leader of a part of the underground movement in her town.

Corrie had not had time to grab the small suitcase she had prepared with items she thought she might need if arrested and had only the clothes she wore when taken.  The ten Boom family was not rich but their clock and watch business had done well.  Corrie had never had to go wanting for the basic necessities of life.  Now she had poor surroundings, very bad food and hours in solitary confinement with none of the music, books and fellowship she had known in her home.  Corrie was reduced to nothingness except for the fact that she had Jesus.  Despite the worst of circumstances, she had her Savior and she knew He would see to her every need. 

One of the main things Corrie desired with all her heart was a Bible and she saw no hope of ever getting one.  Under the Nazi's, it was very hard to get a Bible, especially the Old Testament.  They wanted no teaching or learning about the Jewish people done at all.

One day when taken to see a doctor,  (Corrie had been very ill even at the time of her arrest), she met a sympathetic nurse.  The nurse had to be very careful in talking to Corrie, but asked Corrie about any need she might have.  Remember now that Corrie was down to nothing and think of all the things she could have asked for, but she told the nurse she really wanted a Bible.  At the end of the day of processing Corrie medically, as she was about to leave, the nurse handed her a small package, too small to be a Bible.  It slipped easily into her coat pocket.  Corrie determined to be grateful for whatever was in the package.  Upon returning to her cell, she opened the package and found two bars of soap and a package of safety pins both of which were treasures in prison.  Tucked under the soap, however, were four very small booklets...Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  It wasn't the whole Bible but Corrie rejoiced in having those portions of God's Word.  (At a later time, she would receive a small Bible in a care package from a relative that she kept in a small bag with a long string worn around her neck.)

As I have thought of Corrie, I have been giving thought about some little things in my own life that I rarely consider on a day by day basis.  I think of how much I take for granted and yes, think about my expectations when it comes to the things of life.  Brian and I live in a nice duplex right now anticipating the building of our new house.  Corrie lived in a cold, drafty barracks.  I slept in a nice bed last night while Corrie in prison had a mattress filled with spoiled and rottten grass or hay to sleep on.  I can go get a drink of water whenever I want.  The water Corrie was forced to drink, you and I wouldn't wash clothes in.  I have food in a refrigerator while most of the time Corrie ate hard black bread, watery turnip soup with a potato thrown in it.  I have needles in a sewing kid, safety pins in a drawer, soap in a soap dish and hand lotion enough to bathe in if I wanted to and she had none of these.  I've thought about the times I've moaned over a hangnail.  If I pop a button on a dress, I'm aggravated, but I have needle and thread to fix it.  Do I appreciate color in my life.  It's all around me but Corrie had mostly varying shades of gray in her life.

Do I have an appreciation of life itself or do I take every breath for granted.  While in solitary, Corrie had little human contact, so her good friend in her cell was a little ant that came up through a crack in the floor for any crumb she might have to leave for it.  You and I can phone a friend, mingle with people at church or even stand in a check out line in a grocery store with people ahead of and behind us.  Those two sisters would have given anything to attend a church service.  Many Christians today debate on Sunday morning if they are even going to go to church (and don't ever ask them to show up on Sunday night).  Look around at the little things in your life that would be huge losses if you didn't have them, or might be luxuries in the lives of others right now who live in great need.

By Him therefore let us offer the

sacrifice of praise to God continually,

that is, the fruit of our lips,

giving thanks to His name.

Hebrews 13:15

Most of all, in reviewing my blessings, a really big thing in my life is that I have my own copy of the Bible.  In fact, I have several Bibles on my bookshelf that I have used regularly through the years or have for reference purposes.  I can read it whenever and anyplace I want, and can enjoy the study of it privately in my home or with freedom in my church.  I've never had to hide it for fear of being arrested or my Bible being destroyed by ungodly authorities.  May God have mercy should I go a single day, deliberately not reading it unless I am too ill to do so.  Let's always remember that through the years there have been people who have given their lives that this Bible we own might be preservbed for us to read and enjoy.

O how love I thy law!

It is my meditation all the day.

Psalm 119:97

In the whole process, Corrie lost her sister who died in a poor excuse for a hospital.  Corrie was on a list for extermination mostly because of her age, but through a secretarial "error" was put on a different list to be released from captivity.  She lost her sister, father and other members of her family, but she rejoiced in that she had Jesus.  She spent the rest of her life writing and traveling the world telling others about Jesus and His love for each person..

Dear Heavenly Father,

I am so thankful for all Your goodness in my life, but I know I tend to look at the petty things of life.  I am so remiss in regularly taking inventory of all the blessings You have given me and ask Your forgiveness for being so ungrateful.  Thank you for Your Word and may I never take for granted having my own copy of it.  Help me to take notice of little things all around me that I know I owuld miss if they weren't there.  Grant me an attitude of gratitude.  Thank You for Your constant love and forgiveness.  I love You and am grateful You are my Father who takes such good care of me.    Amen.