More Than a Bracelet

by Gail Gritts

Remember those bracelets people used to wear?  And, maybe some still do, WWJD?  What Would Jesus Do?  They are a powerful prompt to help us think about our responses and choices. Scripture clearly records the example of Jesus’ behavior. He used restraint in His responses, showed grace and forgiveness in hard situations, and spoke truth.  He was kind, the Bible says, to the unthankful and to the evil.  In the Sermon on the Mount, He challenged the people to go beyond the righteousness of their religious leaders and set an example of moral high ground and grace.

All of this is wonderful. We are wise to consider Jesus’ responses before we react. It is the learning of patience and self-control. Great qualities. But I think Jesus calls us to more than just being nice.  So, think with me a bit about how it would look if we changed just one word. Instead of saying What WouldJesus Do, let’s ask ourselves, What DidJesus Do?  What He did do is what we use to determine what we should do.  Now, before we get too tangled in the words, let’s do a few comparisons.

What things did Jesus do? Well, He behaved Himself wisely, so that is what we should do.  He controlled His tongue and responses, so should we.  But my challenge is to more than this.  I want us to move on to looking at what Jesus did and how that challenges us to something different.

He did more than control His responses.  Jesus went about doing good. He was out there in the community where His faith and actions were under scrutiny.  He didn’t satisfy Himself with an inward control and go back home happy He had not verbally blasted the disciples. He controlled Himself amid the situation and then stayed there so others would see the working of His decisions in real life. His was a life observed and examined by those around Him.

We have only to look at the reactions of His enemies to see that His behavior spoke loudly.  They tried to catch Him in words, but His apologetics were perfect. They accused Him of breaking the law of Moses, but He took them back to the law of God.  They saw no fault in Him.

That causes me to look at my life and say it isn’t enough for me to be self-controlled in a personal, private way.  I might be able to hold my tongue, but can I hold my heart?  Can I stay in the situation and not only control myself, but act in such a way as to reveal the depth of my faith by my actions?  Do people not only see my faith, but can they examine it by asking questions?  Am I ready to give an answer for the faith that is within me?  

Following this train of thought further, brought me to another question, “What did Jesus tell us to do?”  Have self-control?  Yes. Conduct ourselves wisely among those around us?  Yes. But Jesus didn’t stop there.  He was out among the people living a public life. And, He sent His disciples out among the wolves to exhibit and exercise their faith.  I think He asks the same of us today.  How will this lost world find Christ if His disciples stay inside the four walls of their churches hiding the light?  How will the effect of the cross be realized unless someone lifts it up in public?

Jesus told His followers to, “Go.”  And I think He tells us the same today.  We need to recognize evangelism as Christ’s heart. (REACH) This was His reason for coming, that all the world may be saved.

I’m afraid we are guilty of hiding our faith; thinking it is good enough to be like Jesus in our private responses and decisions without making ourselves uncomfortable or challenged by living it out in the real world.  But we aren’t really like Him until we—GO!   What is Jesus telling you to do?

I Can Plod

by Gail Gritts 

     “I can plod” is a saying attributed to William Carey when people asked how he managed to stay long enough in India to see results. John Appleby, in his biography of Carey entitled I Can Plod, says, “The statement is important because it demonstrates the clear, unambiguous biblical principles that shaped the work of the mission.  And…is worthy of our adoption and consideration today.”  
     Appleby’s biography is one of the best I have ever read.  He starts at the very beginning of Carey’s life and isn’t afraid to address the doubts, struggles, and heartaches he, his family, and co-workers faced throughout this missionary journey.  While the book is full of sparks of wisdom and encouragement for the reader, I want to share with you eleven principles Carey says guided his ministry.  I dare say, they are principles all successful ministers and ministries will practice.

1.  “We set an infinite value upon immortal souls.  And, though we mourn over their miserable condition, we will not be discouraged as though their recovery were impossible. For God is the one who gives the increase and with Him all things are possible.

2.  We will gain all the information we can of the snares and delusions by which the souls we are called to reach are held.  This will be done by conversing with them in an intelligent manner to learn their modes of thinking, habits, and ideas, especially as they pertain to their reason about God, sin, the way of salvation, etc. And, we can learn this from reading and attentively observing their manners and customs.

3.  We will seek to not be offensive by our own manners and lifestyle.  We will guard our words and actions in order to show the love of God.

4.  We will watch for all opportunities to do good.  Thereby being out among the peoples in the village, market, and general life so that we might have opportunity not only to do works, but also to share the words of the Gospel.

5.  We will make Christ Crucified the greatest subject of our preaching.  For it is by the foolishness of preaching that they will be saved.

6.  We will seek to develop their confidence in us and comfortableness in our presence.  Being willing to listen to complaints and give kind advice, to be easy to access and treat them as our equals, humbling ourselves before them.

7.  We will build up, and watch over, the ones the Lord gives us by spending time with them daily, exhibiting patience and seeking their advancement not only in the Gospel, but also in employment and education.

8.  We will keep always before us the goal of the ministry being “native-led”.  Thereby we will foster every kind of genius and cherish every gift and grace within them for the glory of the Lord.  Where they are involved in ministry, we will seek to financially support them and care and provide as much as possible so to produce a moral and divine change in the hearts and conduct of men.

9.  We will seek to always be spreading the Word through publication, education, and any other means of media in order to reach the most number of people with the Gospel message.

10. We will stay in prayer and cultivation of personal spiritual growth in order to develop a mild and winning temper, and a heart given up to a close relationship with our Christ to fit us to be the instruments of God.

11.  We will consider and remember that all we have comes from God. Our time, our gifts, our strength, our families, clothing…Let us sanctify all for His work withholding nothing that He might use for His glory and the promotion of the Gospel. “ (p 212-220)

Well stated.  Don’t you agree?  And I challenge you—minister, missionary or church member, to prayerfully consider how you plod.  We have a lost world around us needing to see Christ reflected with genuine purpose and love for His glory and the salvation of souls. 

Click here to purchase I Can Plod by John Appleby

Praying in the Storm

by Kristen Kelley

It is amazing to me how the Lord sometimes pieces things together in our lives.  A missionary friend of mine recently sent me an excerpt from a book on prayer, talking about the beautiful “laments” in the Bible.  It also ended up being the theme for our adult lesson on Job, this past Sunday.  The class material had a step-by-step explanation of what a Biblical lament included, and a couple of us were asked to write one of our own. 

I am currently 37 weeks along with our precious “Rainbow Baby”, and anxiously waiting every day for her arrival.  It is a happy time in my life.  But there are well over 7000 bereaved mamas in the Facebook groups I’ve been a part of, this past year . . . There are recently-widowed ladies in my church . . . There are friends with dissolving marriages and very serious health issues on my prayer list . . . Every day, all around us, are struggling, hurting, grieving people.

Do we know how to pray to God when we encounter trials in our personal lives?  We understand that, as Christians, we ought not doubt our loving Heavenly Father.  But is there a RIGHT WAY to talk to Him in our hours of deepest anguish, and to tell Him how we truly feel? 

In a “lament”, we don’t doubt our Creator, but, rather we show that we TRUST Him – We trust Him by pouring out our heart; trust Him with our innermost thoughts and feelings; trust that He still hears us when we cannot see His face; trust that He knows what is best in every situation. 

If you are walking through a dark valley in your own life, don’t be afraid to pray like Job, like David, like Jeremiah, and like so many others in the Bible . . . Don’t be afraid to pray the very words of Scripture . . .

Perhaps this example will be a blessing to you:

I come before You, Dear Heavenly Father.

I don’t understand why this is happening to me.  My heart is so hurt, right now - so devastated.  I feel broken and shattered in a million pieces.  My circumstances weigh down on my heart like an anvil.  A giant cloud has settled over my spirit and I cannot shake it. The words of others wound me, again and again.  When, Lord, will I find relief?

Deep down in my heart, Dear Lord, I know that You are in control.  You are good and You are God, even when I cannot see Your loving face.  Your Word tells me to “Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us . . .” (Ps. 62:8)  I need Your refuge, Dear Jesus!  I lay this burden of my heart down at Your feet, Oh God.  I know that I can run to You when I have no where else to turn.  “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” (Prov. 18:10) I know that You are the Only One Who can truly help me through this trial.

Please strengthen me, Dear God.  Please help me not to falter or fail in my walk with You.  Please help me to bring You glory in everything I am going through right now. 

“I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.” (Ps. 22:22) You alone can see me through to the other side, Dear Lord.  Please help me on that day to praise You and to rejoice in You, and to not be afraid to share your goodness in my life with others around me.

Thank You, Oh Lord, for hearing me when I pray!  Thank You for comforting my heart, and for Your Holy Spirit reminding me that You are still with me and You are still doing a special work in my life. You see the whole picture from start to finish, Dear Lord, even when I cannot.  I love you, Lord Jesus!

AMEN 

In Psalm 23, David declares, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me . . .”

I encourage you to pray earnestly, My Friend.  No matter what you are going through today, you can share the deepest burdens of your heart with God.  He created you and He loves you with an everlasting love.  You can truly cast “all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (I Peter 5:7)

https://dinnersintheovendevotional.blogspot.com/2019/08/praying-in-storm-dinner-96.html

Prepared for Salvation

by John O’Malley

Acts 8:30   And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?   

Phillip was conducting the Samaria Campaign. The persecutions of Saul had God’s people on the move. Jesus’ commission, given before His accession, is now being heeded. Samaria was getting the gospel. Yet God needed to mobilize a man to the desert regions below Jerusalem. This one effort would get the gospel onto the continent of Africa.    

Philip saw the African man God wanted to reach with the gospel. He was riding in a chariot. He was a man of Candace’s palace. He was a man of prestige and purpose. Greater still, he was a man prepared by Holy Spirit for salvation.    

Philip was an evangelist with an inextinguishable burden for souls. Philip’s burden for souls is evidenced by his behavior. He ran to him. He then assessed his situation and preached to him Jesus. (8:35)    

Today there will be people with whom you will come in contact, which God is preparing for salvation. God may have them under conviction by reading a tract or Scriptures or speaking of something they heard on the airwaves or happening with a family member.    

Do as Philip; run to them now; determine what has them searching and say to them, “Are you getting it?”   Then just preach to them Jesus.

Whose Bones? (Part Two)

by Lou Ann Keiser

April, 2015

Queen Elizabeth read, “Madam, I am writing on behalf of the people of the Commonwealth. I am a Canadian citizen and a forensic scientist. My husband and I traveled to London last year, and ever since I have been researching the young princes Edward and Richard who disappeared at the Tower of London in 1483. I understand that two young person’s bones were found under a staircase in the White Tower in 1674. They were assumed to be those of the young princes and buried in Westminster Abbey. I feel that it is important for historical reasons to find out once and for all if those bones were truly the princes. With my expertise, I could find out how the young people died and if they were the missing princes. If not, I might be able to find out whose bones they are. I strongly believe that now is the time to solve this mystery. We owe a debt to history. I am offering my services and the services of my team. Please consider granting us the needed authority and permissions for examining the bones. I would also like to be present at the exhumation, if I may. I await your answer. I have the honour to be, Madam, Your Majesty’s humble and obedient servant, Susan Vogt, PhD. MForSc.”

"Another petition, Madam?"

The queen ignored her secretary for a moment. Holding the sheet of white stationery in her hand, she thought back to the remains of Richard III found under a parking lot, the subsequent examination and DNA testing, and his recent reburial with royal honors. 

"Yes, Christopher. A Dr. Vogt wishes to exhume the bones of the supposed princes Edward V and Richard from Westminster Abbey. She's asking permission. I don't know, but … I think I owe it to the children … to find out once and for all.  Write her back, please."

"Yes, Madam."

***

Three months later

Dr. Susan Vogt walked into the sterile laboratory and peered into two ancient marble box-like urns, recently opened for the first time since 1647. "It looks like skulls and bones are intact. Good." A thrill ran up her spine. This was the opportunity of a lifetime.

"Dave, you begin with this box, and Kate, you start with the other. Lay each body out in order, the best you can. Let's see what we've got."

In about a half hour, Susan examined the skeletons. "Hmm … a few small bones are missing on this one. A missing rib on this younger one. Wow, they're tiny. Still … in those days men weren't very tall. Dave?"

"Twelve and nine years old? Not sure, but maybe. They seem small to me. Let's check out the bones for cause of death before doing DNA testing.”

"Of course, but we can send samples of both off right away. It will be four days until we get the results." 

"Dave, I want every bone photographed and x-rayed."

"Kate, give me a chemical analysis on random bones from both skeletons. Do carbon-14 as well. We want to know if they're really from the late 1400’s. If they're not, then these bones aren't who we think they are."

"Dave, any evidence of murder?" Susan had done her homework. A criminal named James Tyrell confessed under torture to killing the princes. Was he telling the truth?

"I need more time, Susan." I'm still not sure what killed them. No obvious broken bones or crushed ones, but some are missing, and I don't want to assume anything."

"Some say Richard III killed them so he could usurp the throne. Others said he was a kind man. All we know is that the princes disappeared—and these could be them." Susan spoke those last words with a hushed voice. She felt the urgency. She had to know. She had to let the world know. Susan could hardly breathe.

Dave shouted, "Look at this! There's a mark on the fourth rib as if it were cut by a sharp object. It's definitely notched." 

Kate was with the younger skeleton. "Oh man, that same rib is missing on this one!"

Susan was getting more excited all the time. The damaged rib and the missing one…. The only thing left was to link the mitochondrial DNA to Elizabeth Woodville’s lineage, or the bones were not the princes at all. Susan was thankful they’d been able to access Henry VIII’s sample.

Four eternal days later, Susan's team gathered in the lab, the skeletons all laid out before them. This was the moment they’d been waiting for. The DNA results were in. 

Kate cleared her throat and read the report aloud, “According to the DNA comparison between the bone scrapings of the skeletons we have before us and the sample from Henry VIII, grandson of Elizabeth Woodville, the tests are … negative. They cannot be the missing princes.”

Dr. Susan Vogt collapsed.

***

In her office that afternoon after reading the results faxed to her, Queen Elizabeth II turned to her husband and asked, “Then, whose bones were they?”

Whose Bones? (Part One)

by Lou Ann Keiser

September, 1674

 Workman Charles picked them up with his bare hands, turning each one over to see every angle. He knew what they were, of course. 

 Human bones. 

 He scraped away two or three handfuls of dusty soil from under the lowest steps of the staircase. Charles turned the femur over again. It seemed small and felt light in his hand. Then, he picked up what looked like a finger—or a long toe. The elder prince would have been twelve. If the younger was here, he was only nine.

 Charles picked up another small bone. Is this the end of the mystery? His brain raced. Have I really found the princes? Can these be the missing boys? 

 Charles’ heart began to thump so loudly he thought he could hear it. He pulled bones out carefully, working as quickly as he could. Soon, he had a small pile with two skulls, one larger than the other. He called out to William, “Come over here! Ya'll never believe this.”

 William ambled in Charles' direction, pick and shovel in one hand. His mouth opened in a round “O” but no sound came out. He knew very well what he was looking at: the remains of two young people. William lifted his chin and looked Charles in the eye. He nodded.

 William found his tongue, “Do ya think it’s them? Let me help."

 Charles and William dug carefully until both were satisfied they'd found all the bones in that place behind the stairs. Charles found a medium-sized barrel and both men began arranging the bones in it, with layers of wool padding. The skulls went in last. 

 William turned to Charles, “Has to be them.” 

 Charles bowed his head a full second. “Yeah. We must tell someone.”

 Weeks later, Charles and William, wearing their Sunday finest, watched as two boxes were enterred in Westminster Abbey.

 Afterwards, William turned to Charles. "Did ya see the king cryin' crocodile tears as they lowered them boxes?"

 "Aye. Ya wouldda thought they'd been his sons, the way he carried on."

 "The missin' princes, for sure, they said."

"Aye, Edward V and Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke o' York. Did ya hear the priest say Edward was heir to the throne when his father, Edward IV died?" 

 "Yes, but their uncle wanted the kingdom for himself. He killed some lords for it. Do ya think he also killed the princes? They say that one day they was running around and playin' in the gardens, and the next thing anyone knew, they were never seen again."

 "Until we found 'em."

 "Aye."

 "May they rest in peace."

 "Aye. May they rest in peace."

To Be Continued…

The Love of Toast

by Candace Beane

The covers enveloped the tiny frame, with only a few curls peeking out. As the rays of the sun began to shine, they quietly crept into the little girl’s room. By eight o’clock, the rays had reached the very top of her comforter and began to beam with all their might, trying to rouse her. The sun’s rays shined brighter as they met with success—she awoke! She tossed aside the covers, yawned, stretched, and tumbled out of bed. Once out of bed, she popped awake and scampered down the hall to the adjoining apartment. The little girl pushed open the separating door and tiptoed to the kitchen. As she peeked around the buffet, she saw her tall, admirable grandfather. He knew she was there, but he let her think she was sneaky. She continued to inch closer and closer until she felt she was close enough to pounce. Just as she leaped for his leg, he spun around and caught her in a huge hug! She squealed with laughter as he hugged her tightly. He loved her, and she loved him, as much as her young heart could.

            She had come in time for breakfast. But she did not come for the nourishment; she wished only to be near her Grandpa. Their bountiful fare was toast with coffee. In preparation, he opened and placed the Clown bread into the toaster, as they waited for the ‘pop’ of the toaster he poured and mixed his coffee, which he would share. The aged toasting appliance had a unique method of operating, causing both pieces to blacken on one side, but the other to toast only slightly. The moment the crisp bread exploded from the appliance, the curly-headed girl dashed to it and stood on her tiptoes to watch her beloved grandfather put the finishing touches on their cuisine. He always allowed her to pick which piece she desired; she examined which of the two was less burned. The aged man placed the two plated pieces on the nearby round table and gave her a choice; she selfishly chose the better of the two.

            As time went by, this routine continued with little variation, the grandfather remained unselfish in his giving, and the granddaughter got what she perceived to be the better of the two pieces of toast. One day as they sat and ate, she glanced at the bottom of her toast and realized that the underside of here toast was just as burnt as the top of her grandpa’s piece! At that moment, the child realized this whole time her grandpa had deliberately placed one piece with the burnt side down and buttered it and placed the other with the burnt side up and buttered it. The little girl looked at her still munching grandpa and cherished that he loved her even though he knew she was selfish. 

The grandfather loved his granddaughter just as our Savior loves us, despite our shortcomings. “We love Him, because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)

Prejudice

by John O’Malley

1 Sam 16:6-7   And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD’S anointed is before him. But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

Have you ever considered that sometimes our evaluations of people are extremely superficial, prejudicial, and unfair? You know the routine. A family walks into church. They are wearing nice clothes. The children are well dressed. They pulled into the parking lot in a nice car. Instantly you make up your mind. These people are well off. You walk up to them putting on your best airs about you to make an impression. You are thinking, “These are quality people; we need to keep them.”

Why? Why would we do this? Why would we look exclusively at all the externals and change our behavior? We must realize that, yes, they may have their externals in order, but that must not be the single determining factor in our treatment and expectations of people.

Consider Samuel. In his search for the new man to be anointed king, the first man he encountered, he sized him up solely on the externals. “Oh, look at this one. He is tall. He carries himself so well. Look at the way he handles himself!” Yes, all extremely superficial, prejudicial and unfair. Verse 7 to me is like God snapping His fingers at Samuel and saying, “Don’t get swept up by the externals of people.” 

We too do this today. We accept and reject people based solely on their externals. Why not go back to accepting and rejecting people the way God would. He determines the quality and sincerity of person by his heart.

Mabel’s Asset

by Candace Beane

I love horses! My Grandpa grew up around them. One of our customary entertainments was to watch horse racing on TV. I do not condone, nor do I take part in horse racing; but this story is a humorous mix of my memories with my Grandpa.

Aubrey laid a comforting hand against Mabel’s Asset’s trembling neck. She felt her mounts trepidation because she experienced the same. The odds were against them with a slim chance for success, but she had no other choice, her desired to win was strong, and they had trained for too long. The last female jockey to win the Breeders Cup was in 1981, and only three fillies had ever won the Kentucky Derby, they had to prove they could do this! Mabel, at the command of her master, began to side-step toward the starting gate. She wanted to run back to her comfortable and familiar stall, but now there was no turning back. Crammed roughly into the tiny starting gate, Mabel saw the husky stallions on either side of her, she reared at the opposing threats! Aubrey reached out to stroke Mabel’s neck once more, as she whispered, “You’re ready for this Mabel, I know you are! Remember your training.” With those words, Mabel refocused, set her eyes on the track ahead, and determined nothing less than victory.

As the announcer rattled off the racer’s names and their mounts, Aubrey and Mabel readied themselves. BRRRRING! As the dozen muscular bodies propelled themselves out of the gate and on to the track, they fought for a position at the rail. Mabel settled into the middle content to wait until the last bend, yet many others wasted energy squabbling over the lead. As they flew by poles and markers, Aubrey reflected on the grand successes that had brought her and Mabel’s Asset this far. And she remembered what opposing probabilities they had fought and conquered. The air of another rider rocketing past brought Aubrey back to the race - the last bend was approaching! Now was the time for action. Aubrey elevated herself in her saddle to signal Mabel that it was time. Mabel responded with a burst of speed. As Mabel elongated her stride, she passed the two Thoroughbreds in front of her. But she still had the two aggressive leaders to overcome. With every thundering beat, Mabel closed the gap between her and her rivals until she was directly behind the second-place stallion. With only ten lengths left Mabel pulled from the rail once more to pass her remaining obstacles. Aubrey no longer had to ask of Mabel; this was her breeding and training - this was Mabel’s race! Her nostrils flared with greed to feed her hungry lungs, and her heart beat out the demand for more speed! She pulled up alongside the leading stallion, with a single length remaining. Aubrey leaned in close, and Mabel stretched out her neck as they crossed the finish line. Exhausted, Aubrey and Mabel’s Asset waited with fearful anticipation for the results.

The announcer’s voice boomed the success of Mabel’s Assetacrossthe track! “Ladies and gentlemen, it has been since 1915 that a filly has won the Kentucky Derby!”

Aubrey and Mabel bounced toward the winner’s circle. Aubrey came within sight of her trophy and Mabel’s flowered swag. She could imagine the smell of the flowers, but her mount halted and refused to move. Aubrey, looking up and with a cry of complaint exclaimed, “Grandpa, don’t stop now! I was nearly there!”

Grudgingly, the elderly man switched her to his other knee.

Found of Him in Peace

by John O’Malley

2 Peter 3:14   Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.    

In 1999, Our society spent much time discussing the Y2K computer bug. Many a believer was swept into the mania of the moment. Nationally-known teachers (which many have heaped to themselves having itching ears) created a panic amongst God’s people, strangely enough. 

This verse cuts to the very heart of the matter. Peter began this chapter stirring our minds to God’s overall plan for time. He, in our thought for this day, tells us to be diligent, to be found of Him in peace, purity and with proper testimony.   

Every believer must compare his behavior with the Bible. Our behavior in light of His return requires a diligent pursuit of peace. Were Christ return today, would He find you in peace or a panic? Would He find you in purity or spotted? Would He find you with a testimony that is blameless or blamable? In all diligence, make these your priority. 

How would He find you today? 

The Journey

by Candace Beane

Crafted in the hand of God, we are different. He created us with emotions, to experience happiness, love, and sorrow. Even deeper still, He gave us the gift of experiencing these emotions with others, and each relationship has a different level of intimacy. The bond we share in these relationships can be the most blessed experience we may ever have. When a couple marries, when a mother holds her newborn baby, when a grandparent watches their grandchildren play, these relationships (and so many more) are a precious gift from God. 

But because we live in a fallen world cursed by sin, these blessed moments shared in love and happiness do not go unmarred. Sorrows come, and we must say “goodbye” to the ones we love. And at this point that each person must go through their grieving journey. It is a lifelong journey, for we are never the same once we have lost a loved one or a dear friend. The hurt remains, not as sharp as in the beginning, but it remains, year after year.  

I know little of loss and grief. Many have suffered infinitely deeper than I, yet I would still like to take you on my journey of grieving. And perhaps reading these stories will help as you walk along with me, knowing that you are not alone as you take your journey. My journey began in 2011 when God called Fredrick Joseph Oliver home to Glory. 

I am convinced that God gives us special people in our lives to rescue us, and my hero was my Grandpa Oliver. Even though he died as poor as he came into this world, he didn’t die without investments in eternity! He wasn’t a preacher, but he helped many by just walking alongside them. He didn’t have teeth, but he had a contagious joy. And he didn’t have a spotless past, but he brightened the future for countless others. When I was young, he was my entire world.  

I will begin by sharing three earlier writings from around the time he passed. And then share with you what I believe the Lord has laid on my heart to do—Children’s character-building stories. I read a quote recently, “Be the things you love most about the people who are gone,” (author unknown). My Grandpa loved pouring his life into us kids, not just his grandkids but his church grandkids. In that way, my grandpa was shining like Jesus, because Jesus loves the little children.  

In the Garden of Memories

This story started my journey; it allowed me to grieve through a median I enjoyed. Remembering my Grandpa through writing helped me realize that crying was not the only way to grieve. I could now share with others this wonderful man who they would only meet on the other side of Glory.   

CHOMP! The little girl kidnapped another carrot to fatten the by-standing Thoroughbred. The grandfather beamed as the curly golden locks bounced with the child from row to row as she searched for her next victim. The dark bay nickered with anticipation as the child came skipping back to him. Feeling left out, the chickens started squawking with impatience. They wanted the rotten fruits the youth had promised them. She, realizing this, left the still chomping gelding to appease the squabbling hens. Dancing towards the racket with her tiny arms laden with oozing vegetation; she attempted to hurl them over the towering fence with little success. Why did not it work? She had watched her grandfather toss many a tomato over that very fence with ease. As she looked at her strong hero, she welled up with all the pride her little heart could muster! She, snatching one of the offending fruits, began to run towards her pride-and-joy. Halfway to him, she tripped on a protruding vine and fell to the ground, her little hand crashed into a pile of thorns! Her screams of pain frightened the old man! He dropped his gardening hoe and rushed to her rescue! Once there, he took her on his knee and placed her wounded hand into his gentle hand. He drew out the tiny thorns and lovingly kissed her hand. She looked through her tears into his stalwart, wrinkled face; what would she ever do without him? After a gentle embrace, he hobbled back to his gardening hoe; and she, forgetting about her earlier intent, returned to her chickens. Her little girlish mind wandered to the future. She saw him sitting in the audience at her wedding and later with her little girl on his knee. In her mind, he stayed the same, never aging. She spun around to ask him if he would come to her wedding; but when she did, he was gone. Her little mind raced. Why was he gone? Where did he go? In her heart, she knew the answer; he had grown old, and he was gone to the perfect Garden where no thorns grow. 

Does God Weary?

by John O’Malley

While preparing a message from the book of Malachi the Lord illuminated Malachi 2:17. 

Ye have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the Lord, And he delighteth in them; Or, Where is the God of judgment?

I pondered, “The Omnipotent God said their words wearied Him.” 

How? 

How is it, He who bears every care, He who wipes tears and records them, He who watches sparrows, and He who know the hairs of our head (my head included) said the words of His people wearied Him?

I reflected and researched. I learned: God wearies.  (see the passages below)

I never considered I could weary God. Do you weary God?

Scripture teaches God wearies with five things. He wearies with our wrongdoing, our sin-filled hearts, our spiritless worship, our resistance of His Spirit, and our silly objections.

Did you weary God yesterday? Are you wearying Him today? Last Sunday, did you bring spiritless and lifeless worship? Did you use silly words whining why God had not moved in a matter important to you?

Let us seek His word and ways. Let us evict spiritless formal worship from our lives. When His Spirit leads, follow. When the heathen prosper, don’t whine, remember God is working out His plan.

I do not want to weary Him. Do you?  Leave a comment below and let me know what you think.

______________________________

Below you will find the passages I thought of when I wrote the article above.
1. God wearies with our iniquities. (Iniquities are when I do wrong according to God’s righteousness.) Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, Neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices: But thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, Thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities. Isaiah 43:24

2. God wearies with our formal Godless worship.  Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: They are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. Isaiah 1:14

3. God wearies with our sin-filled hearts and ignorance of God’s way. Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, And said, It is a people that do err in their heart, And they have not known my ways: Psalm 95:10

4. God wearies with our resistance of his Spirit.  But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: Therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them. Isaiah 63:10 

5. God wearies with our silly whining, objections, and rebellions. Ye have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the Lord, And he delighteth in them; Or, Where is the God of judgment? Malachi 2:17 .

To Give Glory to God

by Mike and Joyce White

Called to Go, is an autobiography of missionaries Mike and Joyce White.  They wrote this book mainly for their nine grandchildren.  Their grandchildren are young and know nothing about their grandparents other than they are Granddaddy and Grandmother.  They wanted their grandchildren to know a little about their heritage.  Joyce and Mike wanted to share with their grandchildren their love of Jesus Christ. They wrote their memories to give glory to God for all He has done for them.  The responses they receive from those that have read Called to Go are encouraging.  Recently a reader told Joyce, “I have never laughed and cried so much, and at the same time, as I have while reading your book!”  Another reader wrote, “What a blessing and encouragement your book has been to me.  Thank you for encouraging me to keep on for my Lord.”  A friend called Mike to tell him he did not get any super the night before, when Mike asked why, his answer was, “My wife was too busy reading your book! She said she couldn’t put it down.  I’m reading it now, and it is very interesting.”  

This easy to read book is about the day-to-day life of a couple that answered God’s call to go tell the world about His son, Jesus Christ.  For information about how you can receive your copy, contact: mike.joyce.white@gmail.com.

Doing the Will of God from the Head or the Heart?

by John O’Malley

Ephesians 6:5-6    Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;    

Many a child of God has been sent on a guilt trip, from the pulpit, in order to compel them to serve. However, our focal verse says to do God’s will from the heart. You see, a deed or service performed not from the heart, ends with its completion. However, a spiritual deed or service performed from the heart, has a sense of eternal accomplishment.   

God’s will is our Master and we are His servants by grace. His will is our objective. We can carry out assignments with a disposition of duty or delight. The choice is ours. The Holy Spirit here is calling upon servants to be obedient to their earthly masters. This obedience is to be done with fear, trembling, without hypocrisy, and unto Christ. Furthermore, we should do their pleasure not only when our Master’s eyes are upon us.    

You see, a servant is to consider himself a servant of Christ. He is to view his servitude as doing the will of Christ from the heart. 

Dumpster Diving

by Christian Garcia

Computer technology is the hub for every developed society. A program handles transactions. Applications give directions. A device the size of your hand can access every published song in the digital world, video a friend on the opposite side of the globe, and post adorable cat pictures to our social media — all within seconds!

The digital world is powerful. But even more powerful is the human brain. Though expensive computers can calculate data faster and store more information, nothing beats the efficiency of the three-pound devices inside our heads. But despite how efficient our brains may be, they all possess a near-universal flaw: they are very forgetful!

Because of how efficient our brains are, they don’t like to store a lot of “clutter.” One particular study finds that, in corporate training sessions, participants forget 50% of the information in just one hour! (1) For the average high achiever, this forgetfulness can be a problem. This is where a task manager saves the day.

A task manager is essentially a dumping tank for all the important facts the brain is bound to forget. When your short-term memory drives the dump truck to the sea of forgetfulness, the task manager sets up a huge storage container that collects all the clutter. You and your brain can now both be happy. Your brain gets to clear out the “stuff” that is spiking your stress levels, and you get to keep track of all the important data that will be used in the future. But what really makes task managers beautiful is that they don’t just stop there!

Imagine if your home functioned like your brain. You have a bedroom, where you sleep. You have the kitchen, where you make your meals. You have the living room, where you rest and rejuvenate. Each space has a purpose and items that help you achieve it. Now imagine a knock on the door followed by an army of movers that takes all your possessions out of each room and throws them into a huge container outside in the driveway. Next time you want to turn on the TV and have a relaxation session, you need to go outside, dig up the TV, remote, and the armchair, place them in the living room, and set up for recreation. Feeling rejuvenated?

That’s essentially what to-do lists do to the clutter in a person’s mind. It’s great putting all the important tasks that need to get done on a list, helping you see what all gets done. But for those of us with a high-energy job, a busy family, and long-term goals and dreams, that to-do list can quickly evolve into the size of a mountain! If you want to retrieve a specific piece of information, you have to send your brain on a dumpster dive inside the contents of your journal or to-do list to find it.

A task manager isn’t just the dumpster for your data. It’s your professional organizer. Good ones provide you the tools to assign a purpose to your task, organize it by project, set a due date if needed, and group related tasks together. And digital ones go a step further. If you still couldn’t find a specific piece of information as quickly as you would like, you could perform a search and quickly retrieve it.

Are you tired of forgetting tasks that need to get done or failing to pursue a life-long dream? Is your to-do list the size of the Amazon Jungle, forcing you to embark on a jungle safari to find that client’s phone number, that website’s promo code, or that gift idea for your mom’s birthday? Get a task manager. Since I live in the digital world, I’ve provided a list of trusted apps that function as fantastic task managers.

(1) https://learningsolutionsmag.com/articles/1379/brain-science-the-forgetting-curvethe-dirty-

secret-of-corporate-training

Broken Hearts Fixed Here

by John O’Malley

When your heart is breaking with stress, sadness, and struggles, you should consider what the Word of God says about having a fixed heart. 

A heart that is fixed is a heart that is settled within and resolute without. It is not affected by external conditions and extenuating circumstances. David wrote four times in three places about a heart that was fixed.

1828 Webster Dictionary defines, "fixed" as settled; established; firm; fast; stable.

What is the behavior of a fixed heart?

Psalm 57:7 "My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise."

Psalm 108:1 "O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory."

Psalm 112:7 "He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD."

The fixed heart proclaims its decision to God. 57:7 (he is telling God)
The fixed heart promises to declare praise and song. 57:7
The fixed heart participates in praise with all his worth. 108:1c ("even with my glory")
The fixed heart is peace-filled in the midst of stress. 112:7 (fearing bad news)
The fixed heart is pleased in God's ability to fix it all. 112:7("trusting in the Lord.")

Identity Crisis

by Christian Garcia

Colossians 1:1-2  “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Michael Phelps still stands as the most decorated Olympic athlete of all time. And rightly so when you consider how much he pushes his body. One writer documented that this professional athlete swims nearly fifty miles each week. That’s the minimum. He trains five to six hours per day and practices more depending on the altitude.

One could argue that the secret to his success hides in his biology. He just has good genetics for swimming. Others would give the credit to his trainer, Bob Bowman, and certainly he played a major role. However, this author disagrees that biology or training alone account for the majority of Michael’s twenty-three gold medals. It’s his passion. If a person has no passion, it does not matter how smart, healthy, or strong his body and mind may be. He will never come out on top without passion.

When it comes to serving God, Paul stands out as a spiritual Olympic athlete. His introduction to the book of Colossians illuminates his underlying passion. The very first verse tells us that Paul understood who he was: “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ.” Like an ambassador who sees himself as his nation’s representative, so Paul saw himself as the herald of heaven’s celestial city.

One cannot find a single recorded social circle of Paul’s life where the gospel was not on his mind. His first instinct upon conversion in Acts 9 is to preach the gospel. In seeing a group of women praying by the riverside in Acts 16, he tells them about the risen Messiah. Alone in the center of Athens, an openly pagan city, his stirred spirit could not refrain from pointing the heathen men to the Unknown God. Understanding who sent him provided the bedrock for how he lived.

When a believer internalizes Who he represents, every fabric of his social life submits to the sovereignty of Christ. What others would think of as a regular trip to the grocery store becomes a window of opportunity to find a fellow shopper, or a cashier with an opened heart. The dull and unsavory routine of taking a sick child to the pediatrician suddenly deepens to an occasion of eternal significance to the godly mother prayerfully witnessing to the waiting room attendants or to the staff.

Based on the dusty tract racks in many of today’s churches, a lot of God’s children seem to have lost sight of their position. It would seem that the man who sees himself as a church-going Christian on Sunday often forgets that he is a gospel-giving Christian on Monday. With churches prioritizing better meeting facilities and fellowship-based programs, there seems to be an ever-weakening discipline in personal evangelism. The culprit seems to be an identity crisis.

Passion for spiritual living flows into a passion for reaching people. A man excited about the things of God but never testifying of the things of God is no better than a hypocrite. Parents would rather encourage their children to earn good grades in school and play well in sports than prepare them to give an account to Christ. A smart athlete may get a good scholarship that would give him a higher paying job in this life but leave him bankrupt when he enters eternity.

Have you thought to measure your spiritual passion? Take a look at last week’s agenda. Who were you making a priority to reach while you did your errands or attended that family gathering? Did you turn that conversation with the mail lady to the gospel or did you stay on the topic of the weather? Are you more concerned with how your children play their sport or how faithfully they are inviting their teammates to church? Understanding who we are determines what we do.

If your analysis leaves you uncertain about your spiritual passion, write a notecard of all the social circles in your life. Make it a point to pray for that cashier you always see at the grocery store. Pray for that coworker you know is unsaved, and look for opportunities to take him or her out to lunch and build a friendship. Refuse to live next week with an identity crisis. When you understand who you are to Christ, it impacts what you do for Christ.

Almost Saved

by Larry Writesel

He came to me to ask a thing,
To ask a thing of me you see.
How can I be like you, young man
With the world right in my hand.

The world, I said, is not the way.
Faith is the thing I have today,
In the one who saved us all
For in His blood, He took the fall.

He said to me tell me the tale.
I took him down the Gospel trail.
His heart was touched, his soul was turned,
He did not want eternity burned.

But his answer to the alter call, 
Surprised himself and surprised us all.
Almost thou persuadest me,
With the tale of the man hanging on the tree.

So if you hear this story told
To the young ones and the old.
Remember this man and his tale,
He now cries out from the depths of Hell.

When Things Don’t Go the Way We Expected

by Amanda Baker

Recently, I heard a missionary wife give a challenge concerning the difficulty of a missionary’s life as things don’t always go according to “the plan” that we have for our lives.  I think that it could be said of all people that things don’t always go according to our plans.  My heart was challenged by a few simple truths that will help me face the outcome of God’s plans for my life when they don’t turn out the way I expected them to.

1.    Be thankful. 

I Thessalonians 5:18 – “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” Even when things are not going my way, I must be thankful for what the Lord is doing in my life.  I don’t know what is best for me, so I have to trust God to know what is best for me.  He doesn’t send me anything that is BAD for me, so I need to be thankful for ALL that He sends my way even when it “messes up my plans.”

2.    Be content.

Philippians 4:11 – “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”  When plans change to something unexpected, I need to learn to be content.  Paul was clearly content as he wrote these words from a prison cell!  Would you be content if you were chained in a prison for no substantial reason?  The plan doesn’t always work out, but I must learn to be content in the Lord.

3.    Be on time for ministry opportunities.

Psalm 118:24 – “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”  Some days seem impossible when the task of serving our Lord and following His plan lie before us.  It would be easy when plans change to throw in the towel and find an easier path to follow. However, if I am late in the ministry opportunities that God has planned for me, I will miss the rejoicing that comes along with pleasing Him with my service.

How are your plans going? Don’t let a change in plans sway you from your goal – Please the Lord first and foremost!  He will work out the plans for your best and for His glory!

Devotional for Church Blog 10/30/14

Instinctive Fruit

by Gail Gritts

“Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” Matthew 7:20

     When you read your Bible and see, wherefore or therefore, you need to look and see what they are there for.
     In this verse, found toward the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches his followers a host of things like the Beatitudes, being salt and light, the Lord’s Prayer, giving, fasting, and the Golden Rule that seemed new and different.  
     As he comes to verse twenty, he does some comparisons, the straight gate versus the broad way (13,14), sheep and wolves (15), Grapes versus thorns and figs versus thistles (16), Good trees and bad trees (17-19), And then comes our verse 20 – “Wherefore, by their fruits ye shall know them.”
     So, what is the verse there for?
     I think it is a warning – we need to be sure we are on the right path, that we truly are a child of God. And to make his point clear and so there is no misunderstanding, Jesus adds one more parable vs. 24-27 – the wise man and the foolish man.
     So, that gives us an idea of what the verse is there for.

     We could take the verse in context as the warning it is.  It’s a sober warning.  What is on the inside will come out – our true colors will be exposed.  
     We could just look at fruits.  Jesus mentioned grapes and figs.  Those make a sweet-sounding lesson admonishing us to be tasteful and appetizing. It would be much more palatable, but that’s not the real context of the verse.
     We can look for similar verses like Proverbs 20:11 – “Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.”  Or John 13:35 “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”  

     As I began praying and meditating on this verse, my devotional reading brought me to the greatest fruit of all.  The one fruit that levels out the sweet and bitter, stands untouched among the thorns, shines in darkest places, and calls those with sour fruit to repentance.  God’s love.
     Written in the 1300s by a woman called Julian of Norwich, I was reading Enfolded in Love.
     She wrote, “Though we sin continually he loves us endlessly, and so gently does he show us our sin that we repent of it quietly, turning our mind to the contemplation of his mercy, clinging to his love and goodness, knowing that he is our cure, understanding that we do nothing but sin.” (p 63)
     I love that phrase, “though we sin continually he loves us endlessly.”  It would make a great song lyric!  
     I began comparing what I was reading to the verse I was studying.  By our fruits we are known?  We are sinners!  What hope is there for us without God’s Love?  
     As I read on, Julian began writing about how to understand the Lord’s meaning in things.  Do you ever wonder what the Bible means, or what God is trying to teach you?
     She wrote: “Would you know your Lord’s meaning in this?  Learn it well.  Love was his meaning.  Who showed it you?  Love. What did he show you?  Love.  Why did he show you?  For love. Hold fast to this, and you shall learn to know more about love, but you will never need to know or understand anything else for ever and ever. Thus did I learn that love was our Lord’s meaning. And so I saw full surely that before ever God made us, he loved us.  And this love was never quenched nor ever shall be.  And in this love he has done all his works, and in this love he has made all things profitable to us, and in this love our life is everlasting.” (p67)
     Another phrase grasped my heart.  “Before ever God made us, he loved us.”  He was prepared to love us.  He wanted to love us. By HIS fruit we know him – He is love!

     My friend from Wales sent me an audio recording of a sermon. It was fun to listen to a British accent!  He was speaking from Psalm 91.  He asked the question, ”Where do you go when trouble hits?”  He had three points.

1.     Trouble will come.  John 16:33 – “In this world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

2.    God is our refuge and safe place – Psalm 91:1 “Under the shadow of the Almighty” we are protected, Deuteronomy 33:27 “Underneath are the everlasting arms…,” Proverbs 18:10 “The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous runneth into it and is safe.”

3.    Running to him in troublesome times is driven by our love for him.

Then, the pastor said, “Our trust in Him instinctively flows from our love for him.”
          It leaves the question, “Where do you go when trouble comes?”  That reveals a lot about your fruit! Life can be hard.  Sometimes we don’t understand, but we can always be sure of God’s love in everything.  Love is his motivation.  Love is who he is.

     Julian of Norwich continued, “In this love without beginning he made us, in the same love he protects us, and never allows us to be hurt in any way which would lessen our joy. When judgment is given and we are all brought up above, then we shall see clearly in God the secrets now hidden from us.
In that day not one of us will want to say, “Lord, if it had been done this way, it would have been well done. But we shall all say with one voice, “Lord, blessed may you be.  For it is so, and it is well.  And now we see truly that all things are done as it was ordained before anything was made.” We trust your love for us.  

That is the fruit I want coming from my life; an unwavering trust that flows from my sincere love for him. What about you?