.....closed

We need to learn to praise the Lord as much for a closed door as we do an open door. The reason God closes doors is because He has not prepared anything over there for us. If he didn't close the wrong door, we would never find the right door. 

God directs our path through the closing and opening of doors. Once a door closes, it forces you to change your course. Another door closes, it forces you to change your course again. Then, finally, you find the open door and you walk right into your blessing. 

The Lord directs our paths through the opening and closing of doors, but instead of praising him for the closed door; we get upset because we "judge by the appearances." 

You have an ever-present help in the time of trouble that is always standing guard. Because He walks ahead of you, He can spot trouble down the road and set up a roadblock or detour accordingly. But through our lack of wisdom, we try to tear down the roadblocks or push aside the detour sign. Then the minute we get into trouble, we start crying, "Lord, how could You have done this to me?" 

We have got to realize that the closed door can be a blessing. Didn't He say that no good thing would He withhold from them that love Him? If you get terminated from your job, praise God for the new opportunities that will manifest themselves: it might be another job, it might be school. 

If that man or woman won't return your call, it might not be them, it might be the Lord setting up a roadblock. One time, a person had a bank they had been in business with for many years tell them "No!" to a $10,000 loan. The Lord put in their spirit to call another bank. That bank gave them $40,000 at a lower interest rate than the first bank was offering. 

We can sometimes trap ourselves in doubt and discouragement through judging by appearances. Be grateful for the many times our Father has closed doors to us just to open them in the most unexpected places. The Lord won't always say in spoken words: "Go to the left, now to the right"...  sometimes He will just close the doors that are wrong for you.

Lord, thank You for the doors You have opened in my life, and thank You just as much for the ones You have closed. I trust that Your wisdom is greater than my understanding and that Your plans for me are good. Give me the grace to surrender my disappointments, and help me to be thankful that You are actively guiding my steps. In Jesus' name,

- adapted from david langerfeld

.....this

When the Persians overthrew the Babylonians and allowed the people of Israel to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple in 538 BC, not all the Israelites chose to leave their new home. A whole generation had been born and raised under Babylonian captivity and many had become content with their life. Therefore, many Jewish communities thrived under Persian rule.

When Xerxes was King of this vast empire, he commanded the Queen to be displayed before all the visiting dignitaries at a banquet. But when the Queen refused, Xerxes removed her title and began to search for a replacement. The search resulted in a young Jewish girl named Esther being made Queen - not a normal position for a young Jew!

Meanwhile, a plot had developed to kill the Jews in all the provinces of Persia. Esther's cousin, Mordecai, knew of this plot and pleaded with Esther to approach the King for help, but Esther was understandably reluctant. She was being taken care of very well, and approaching the King without first being invited could lead to death. Mordecai encouraged Esther to view her life as being part of God's wonderful plan.

For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this? Esther 4:14

God allowed Esther to become Queen, not as a reward for being good, but "for such a time as this." God could have used other methods to save the Jews, but He chose to invite a beautiful young woman to play a part. Esther put her personal plans on hold, put her life at risk, persuaded the King, and saved her people from certain destruction.

The wisdom and truth of Mordecai's words resound through the ages: God's work WILL be accomplished; His plan WILL unfold; deliverance WILL arise! It's humbling, and often very freeing, to know that God really doesn't need us. He is perfectly capable without our help! But it's also comforting to know that God is inviting us to join Him in His work and walk by His side to certain victory.

We may never be invited to a role as dramatic as Esther's, but we can join our Heavenly Father from right where we are today! We have come to our position - no matter how elevated, no matter how low - for the purpose of bringing Him glory and honor. 

Let's listen carefully for what He's asking us to do, and understand we are right where we need to be and right where He wants us! He has created us for a purpose. He has brought us to our present situation for such a time as this.

- steve troxel

.....quited

As I worked my way through some devotional readings, I came across this passage: "The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with his love, He will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17

I thought of my life. I thought of what the passage says about God and how He feels about me. He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in me. He will quiet me with his love. He will rejoice over me. I confess that although I do not know if I fully understand what it means to be quieted by His love, I do know that there is something inside me that says, "I need that, Lord!" As I pondered more, I prayed, "Lord, please quiet me with Your love."

                     "Lord, please quiet me with Your love."

Lord, I get loud sometimes. Not so much verbally loud, but my spirit gets loud. My heart gets loud. My mind gets loud. The world around me gets loud and the loudness overwhelms me to the point that everything within me and around me seems to be loud. So, Lord, please quiet me with Your love.

In these times of unrest and confusion in our nation and world, I need to be quieted by Your love, dear Lord. Decisions are being made that may well change the way we live and function as a people. Lord, please quiet me with Your love.

As the years pass more rapidly than my mind can comprehend, I need to be quieted with Your love. I cannot keep up. I try, but I seem to fall farther and farther behind. Lord, please quiet me with Your love.

In times of discouragement when I have failed to live like You have asked me to live, I need to be quieted by Your love.  In times of disappointment over dreams that have faded and when other people have failed to live up to my expectations, I need to be quieted by Your love.  Lord, please quiet me with Your love.

In times of loss and my heart has been broken, I need to be quieted by your love. In times of sadness when a joyful spirit seems too much to consider, I need to be quieted by Your love. Lord, please quiet me with Your love.

In times of suffering and pain as the result of another's actions or my own, I need to be quieted by Your love. In times when others are suffering because of my actions and I am helpless to undo what I have done, I need to be quieted by Your love. And they need to be quieted by Your love. Lord, please quiet me with Your love.

In times of distress and anxiety over all that I must do, or feel that I must do, I need to be quieted by Your love. In times when life is so loud that I cannot hear my own thoughts, I need to be quieted by Your love. Lord, please quiet me with Your love.

Unless You quiet me with Your love, dear Lord, my life will surely be filled with noises that may drown Your voice from my ears. Lord, I need to be quieted by Your love.

When I remind myself that You are with me, when I contemplate Your power, when I consider that You take great delight in me and when I think of You rejoicing over me with singing because of Your love for me, I am quieted. My heart is quieted. My spirit rests. "Lord, You have quieted me with Your love."

- tom norvell

.....will

We often consider how God uses all kinds of circumstances to draw us close to His side. The purpose of being drawn close is ultimately to be transformed to the image of His Son and to have intimate fellowship with Him for all eternity. But initially, the purpose of being drawn near is so we can be introduced.

The Kingdom of Heaven is open only to those who truly believe in Jesus. We may think this to be intolerant, but if we profess to believe the Bible is true there can be no other conclusion: "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it" Matthew 7:13-14. Our Father is drawing us near because the narrow gate is only open to those who are known to His Son.

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father who is in Heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from Me, you evildoers!'" Matthew 7:21-23

Being "good" does not ensure we are known by Jesus. Neither does going to church, reading our Bible, teaching Sunday School...or even writing devotional messages! Jesus knows, and takes away the sin, of "only he who does the will of My Father." Jesus also tells us exactly how to do His Father's will: "For My Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day" John 6:40. The will of our Heavenly Father is to truly know and be known by His Son.

All the wonderful things we do in the name of Jesus count nothing toward granting us the gift of eternal life. True believers in a risen and glorified Lord will certainly desire to turn from a life of sin and obediently serve; "anyone who does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me" Matthew 10:38. And while our obedience demonstrates that our faith is not dead James 2:17, entrance through the gate of eternal life is based on sincere belief, not on the results of belief.

We must spread this message throughout the world and, most importantly, we must receive this message into our own heart! All our "good" will be burned up and cast aside if done without first having placed the entirety of our life in His hands. He is drawing us near because belief in Jesus is both necessary and sufficient for our Salvation. He is drawing us near and inviting us to submit to the Father's will.

- steve troxel

.....reconcile

Malachi served as a prophet to Israel about four hundred years before the birth of Jesus. He brought a message from God which reminded the people of His love and rebuked them for their disrespectful worship. Through Malachi, God ended the Old Testament with a prophesy about future restoration.

I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse Malachi 4:5-6

Just over four hundred years later, John the Baptist, "the Elijah who was to come" Matthew 11:14, began to preach a message of repentance. The purpose of John's ministry was to prepare hearts for the coming of Jesus; "Prepare the way for the Lord" Matthew 3:3. But according to Malachi, John would also cause the hearts of fathers and children to turn toward one another.

When the spiritual fellowship between man and God was broken, a basic void was formed in man's heart which led to a breakdown in his earthly relationships. The moment we lost the ability to walk in perfect harmony with God, we also became filled with self-importance and pride, and lost the ability to truly love one another; "But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another" 1 John 1:7. 

Walking close to God, through faith in Jesus, allows us to walk close with others; "We love because He first loved us" 1 John 4:19.

God created us to be in fellowship with other people - even imperfect, hard to love people. Our quiet and peaceful times of study and prayer are essential for our Christian walk, but some of God's most important truths can only be learned as we stumble through difficult situations with others. Only there can we learn the difficulty of true grace and forgiveness; only there can some of our own deep sin be revealed.

Many relationships are filled with past pain - particularly the relationships between husband and wife, and parent and child - but God's Word still stands as truth. He has provided the path to restoration, a path which begins with repentance, requires the cleansing of sinful pride, and leads to true love and forgiveness.

Who do we need to reconcile with today? Full restoration requires the cooperation of both parties; but as a child of God, we can now cross the desert and begin to mend what is broken. Jesus died as a sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins in order that we may be reconciled with our Heavenly Father. 

He crossed ALL the way and completely mended our shattered heart! 

Let's walk in the light of His love and take the necessary steps to cross over and humbly reconcile with one another.

- adapted from steve troxel

.....excuses

 "I'm not perfect."
"I have all kinds of problems."
"I don't know the Bible well enough."
"I have no ability. I don't have any gifts."
"I'm limited."
"I'm just not worthy..."

Well, did you know that....
  Moses stuttered.
  David's armor didn't fit.
  John Mark deserted Paul.
  Timothy had ulcers.
  Hosea's wife was a prostitute.
  Amos' only training was in fig-tree pruning.
  Jacob was a liar.
  David had an affair.
  Abraham was too old.
  David was too young.
  Peter was afraid of death.
  Lazarus was dead.
  John was self-righteous.
  Naomi was a widow.
  Paul was a persecutor of the church.
  Moses was a murderer.
  Jonah ran from God's will.
  Miriam was a gossip.
  Gideon and Thomas both doubted.
  Jeremiah was depressed and suicidal.
  Elijah was burned out.
  John the Baptist was a loudmouth.
  Martha was a worry-wart.
  Did I mention that Moses had a short fuse?
  So did Peter, Paul - well, lots of folks did.

God doesn't require an interview for salvation. He's our Heavenly Father. He doesn't check our bank statement or credit rating or our IQ before He uses us.  He's not prejudiced or partial, not judging, grudging, not deaf to our cry, not blind to our need. He knows who we are and what we are and loves us in spite of ourselves.

Satan says, "You're not worthy"
Jesus says, "So what?  I am!"
Satan looks back and sees our mistakes.
God looks back and sees the cross.

There are lots of reasons why God shouldn't call us. But if we are in love with Him, if we hunger for Him, He'll use us in spite of who we are, where we've been, what we have done, or the fact that we are not perfect!

Jesus says, "Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and you will find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; For every one that asks will receive; and he that seeks will find; and to him that knocks it shall be opened"  Matthew 7:7-8

.....conviction

Daniel was one of the captives taken by the Babylonians in 605 BC. Upon his arrival in Babylon, Daniel was selected to receive three years of specialized training, as well as special food and drink, to prepare him for service in the palace. This special treatment would have caused Daniel to violate the laws of God, so he "resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine" Daniel 1:8.

Daniel served under the kings of Babylon and Persia, his convictions earned him a place as the most trusted advisor in all the land. When the Persians defeated the Babylonians, the new king even "planned to set Daniel over the whole kingdom" Daniel 6:3. But when the other officials became jealous, they convinced the king to pass a law forbidding prayer to anyone except the king.

Though he knew he would be severely punished, Daniel held to his convictions and prayed to God three times a day. For this violation of the law, Daniel was thrown into a den of lions; but "God sent His angel, and He shut the mouths of the lions" Daniel 6:22. When the king saw how God miraculously protected Daniel, he issued the following decree:

I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. For He is the living God and He endures forever Daniel 6:26

There were many opportunities for Daniel to question his circumstances. He was taken into captivity at a young age, tempted with special treatment, despised by his peers, thrown to the lions, and served an entire lifetime under foreign rulers. But, without a single complaint, 

Daniel continued to trust God and serve Him without compromise. In the end, Daniel was used to encourage the Jews while in captivity and to draw an entire nation to a greater reverence of God. Shortly after the decree was issued, 50,000 Jews were allowed to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple.

Though we may not understand our circumstances or be able to clearly see God's specific plan, we KNOW the way He is calling us to walk. Let's continue to serve and trust with all our heart. Let's walk down His path without turning to the right or to the left. Regardless of our present circumstances, let's determine once and for all to give Him a lifetime of conviction.

- adapted from steve troxel

.....where

Joseph was the second youngest son of Jacob and was greatly loved by his father, his brothers developed a jealous hatred for him because their father "loved Joseph more than any of his other sons" Genesis 37:3. Their hatred for Joseph continued to grow until they "sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites who took him to Egypt" Genesis 37:28. Joseph was then sold to Potiphar, the captain of the guard for Pharaoh, and was soon falsely accused by Potiphar's wife and thrown in jail.

Joseph could really have felt sorry for himself - things were definitely not going well! Only a short time before, Joseph's path seemed well established; his father loved him, he knew where he was going, and his life was filled with joy. Now, locked up and in a foreign land, Joseph's life seemed to have taken a drastic turn for the worse.

But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him; He showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there Genesis 39:20-22

All of us, at different times during our walk with the Lord, feel like we have been sent far away and locked up. We feel distanced from God and unable to change our circumstances. Others seem to be controlling our every move and we sink into a deep despair.

But is it possible God is much closer than we think? "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" Hebrews 13:5. Is it possible He is working this terrible situation toward the good? "In all things God works for the good of those who love Him" Romans 8:28. And is it possible that in the middle of our "prison" God has much work for us to do?

While in jail, Joseph interpreted dreams for Pharaoh's officials Genesis 40 and was then called to interpret a dream for Pharaoh; "I've heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it" Genesis 41:15. Joseph interpreted Pharaoh's dream and was placed in a position of great responsibility; "You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders" Genesis 41:40. It was God's plan to place Joseph in control of the distribution of food, and therefore, to save many lives...including the lives of his father and brothers Genesis 42-48

No matter what this day brings - no matter how trapped we feel - we must keep looking for God's good and trusting that His plan is unfolding. He is using our circumstances to mold us and draw us close to His side, and He is using our testimony of faith to encourage others to love Him more. We must believe that, even in the middle of our prison, God is in control and we are right where He wants us!

 

.....battle

Spiritual warfare is real. Every day an unseen battle rages around us and in us.

To fight victoriously, we need to dress properly and carry the right weapons. Sounds simple enough. The Word of God even tells us what to wear and what to fight with. However, the problem is that all the equipment is spiritual in nature and must be utilized by faith. Here are some suggestions for how to slip into your spiritual uniform.

"Lord, I choose to put on the helmet of salvation today to guard my thinking. I desire to have godly thoughts, ones that please You and are in keeping with my identity in Christ. Romans 12:2 Thank You, Father, for the breastplate of righteousness, which helps to protect my heart and emotions from the influence of the Enemy. Proverbs 4:23 Enable me to establish godly affections. Galatians 5:22 I want to respond based on my being Your child, not based on my own desires. Thank you also for the girdle of truth. I desire my whole life to be encircled with Your truth - I want to know it, live by it, and share it with others. Help me to set aside time each day to meditate on Scripture. Father, wherever You send me, I want to wear the sandals of peace and be a peacemaker. Matthew 5:9 Use me to bring others into reconciliation with You through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Help me influence Christians to resolve their conflicts and become united in Him."

Our spiritual preparations make it possible for us to stand firm in the Lord. 

Did you remember to "get dressed" today?

- charles stanley

.....focus

I've always been impulsive. I was one of the first to follow Jesus. I didn't even know who He was, but when He said "Come, follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men" Matthew 4:19, though I didn't know what He meant, I dropped my fishing nets and followed. After three years, I foolishly told Jesus I was "ready to go with You to prison and to death" Luke 22:33, but that same night I denied I even knew Him...three times! And in the garden, when the soldiers came to take Him away, I drew my sword "and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear" John 18:10.

But the most impulsive thing I ever did was that night in the boat. The waves were rough, and we had "rowed three or three and a half miles" John 6:19, when I saw Jesus walking on the water. I told Him I would come if He called, and the next thing I knew I was jumping out of the boat! And I didn't sink!! I just kept my eyes on Jesus. I knew in my heart He was "the Christ, the Son of the living God" Matthew 16:16, but the wind was blowing so hard and the waves kept crashing against my legs.

"But when he {Peter} saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, 'Lord, save me!'" Matthew 14:30 Jesus said Peter began to sink because he doubted and had little faith Matthew 14:31. But let's not be too hard on Peter. Remember, no one else even left the boat! Peter stepped out of the boat and took several steps on top of the water!! But then he lost his focus.

Peter was in the middle of an awesome display of God's power, and yet he "saw the wind," or at least the effects of the wind. Peter began to look at the turbulence of the world and not at the One who created the world; "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith" Hebrews 12:2.

There are times when we clearly see God's hand at work. Our eyes become focused on Jesus, His peace fills our life, and the foundation under our feet feels solid and secure. However, it's usually not long before the wind begins to blow, the waves rise up, and we experience that sinking feeling. When this happens (and it will) we must not despair, for this is also part of God's wonderful plan. As we are sinking, He always reaches out His hand as an invitation to draw near and know Him better - to know He will always be there when we cry out "Lord, save me!"

The walk of faith cannot be accomplished in our own strength. With each step we must "put to death whatever belongs to your earthly nature" Colossians 3:5, and "clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ" Romans 13:14. Every day we must take our eyes off our own ability and the pulls of the world - take our eyes off the wind - and commit to trusting and keeping our eyes focused on Jesus.

- steve troxel

.....mountain

Grant swished across the smooth afternoon snow on his skis, taking one last turn before gliding to a stop at the bottom of the run. The soft gray sky darkened as Grant waited for his friend. “Theron!” Grant called out. “Let’s try the other side of the mountain!”

Theron slowed to a stop beside him and looked up at the towering ridge. The peak disappeared briefly into a fast-moving band of clouds. “It looks a little darker up there,” he said, narrowing his eyes. “But sure, let’s go!”

The friends pushed off toward the ski lift. A gust of cold wind sent tiny crystals of ice stinging across their cheeks. “You guys ever been up there before?” the lift operator asked as he pulled the safety bar down over their legs.

“No, first time,” Grant answered.

“It’s pretty intense,” the operator said. “Have fun—and be careful.”

Grant and Theron exchanged a glance. “Pretty intense?” Grant murmured. “What does that mean?” Theron shrugged, and his scrunched eyebrows reflected Grant’s uncertainty.

The lift climbed higher and higher, the metal cables humming overhead. As they floated above the widening slope beneath them, the boys’ stomachs tightened. This side of the mountain looked nothing like the one they had just skied! Below them were steep, narrow ski runs. Next to the advanced ski runs were scattered boulders and dense trees.

Theron looked down the hill. “Grant…we need to pray.” Grant nodded. “Definitely.”

Theron prayed softly, “Dear Jesus, please get us safely off this mountain.” “Amen,” they whispered together.

The mountain wind shifted. It picked up speed, scattering loose powder into the air. The lift swayed slightly. The sky turned dark gray, and shadows settled over the trees. Grant zipped the neck of his jacket higher. “I think a storm’s rolling in,” he said. Theron nodded, gripping the safety bar tightly. “Yeah…this doesn’t look good.” As the ski lift reached the top of the mountain, the wind howled and blew snow around as in a shaken snow globe. The boys skied off the lift, heads ducked against the wind.

“There!” Grant pointed through the blur of white. “The ski patrol shack. Let’s see if there’s a map.” They pushed toward it, the edges of their skis scraping over a hard crust of wind-packed snow. Pasted on the ski shack window was a sign that read Closed due to storm.

Grant and Theron skied around the shack, still looking for a map. Snow was plastered across a large map mounted to the back wall. Theron brushed it off with his glove. The words that appeared made his heart drop. “Grant…this isn’t good.” Grant leaned in. Every trail was marked Double Black Diamond or Expert Double Black. “These are all for expert skiers,” he said, his voice tight. “What do we do?”

Theron pulled out his phone instinctively. “Maybe there’s a beginner route online.” He tapped the screen. A loading symbol spun for a moment, then the words No Service blinked at them.

Before the rising panic could swallow them, they heard the crunch of footsteps in the snow. They turned. A tall snowboarder approached, wearing an official red ski patrol jacket. His name badge read Ben. He carried his snowboard casually under one arm and offered a warm, reassuring smile. “You guys okay?” Ben asked. Grant swallowed hard. “We, uh…we’re not expert skiers. And this storm makes it hard to see. Is there any way you could help us down?”

Ben didn’t hesitate. His expression softened. “Of course. I’ve got you.” Relief flooded Grant so quickly he almost fell into the snow. “Stay close,” Ben added. “With this whiteout, you’re not going to see more than a few feet ahead.” Grant followed close behind him, and Theron stayed right at Grant’s heels. The wind roared around them, tugging at their jackets. Grant kept his eyes locked on Ben’s red ski patrol jacket. It was his lifeline in the storm.

Suddenly Theron shouted, “Grant! I’m stuck!” Grant turned to see Theron buried thigh-deep in a snowdrift. “I’ll wait for you,” Ben called out from ahead, his voice steady and calm. Grant pulled on Theron’s arms. Theron wrestled his skis free and pulled himself upright. The friends skied toward Ben. They were exhausted and breathing hard from the cold and the workout.

A few turns later Grant’s ski hit a hidden dip, sending him tumbling into powder. His ankle twisted sharply. Before he could call out, Ben had already turned back, his snowboard tucked under his arm again. He waited patiently as Grant brushed snow off his legs and gingerly tested his ankle. The pain pulsed, but he could still ski. “Are you OK, Grant?” Theron asked. “I’m good,” Grant said, though his voice wavered.

“All right,” Ben said with a firm nod. “Let’s get you two down.” Turn by turn, they descended. Ben led the way with practiced ease, pausing at every twist in the slope until the friends caught up. The storm raged around them, but Ben remained steady, calm, and sure.

At last the ground leveled and the wind calmed. They’d reached the base of the mountain. “You guys did it,” Ben said with a wide smile.

“We couldn’t have done it without you,” Grant said, nearly breathless with relief.

“Thank you, Ben,” Theron added. “You got us safely off the mountain.”

Ben nodded. “You’re welcome. Now hurry, catch that lift back to the lodge before they shut that one down too!” Before they could say another word, Ben hopped onto his snowboard and glided away, disappearing into the lightly blowing snow.

The boys skied quickly to the lift. “Hurry,” the lift operator said. “You’re the last two.”

“Sorry it took us so long,” Grant said as they climbed on. “A ski patroller stopped to help us. We never would’ve made it without Ben.”

“Ben?” the operator repeated. “There’s no one on patrol named Ben.” The boys sat in stunned silence as the lift carried them back to safety. Below them, the gentle slopes looked warm and familiar again. Finally, Grant spoke. “Theron…you don’t think…?” “…that Ben was an angel?” Theron whispered, finishing his sentence. “He might have been,” Grant said. “But one thing I do know.” “What’s that?” Theron seemed thoughtful. “He was the answer to your prayer,” Grant replied. “God used him to get us down that mountain.” Theron nodded slowly. “He sure did.”

“And Theron?” Grant added, cracking an exhausted smile.

“Yeah?” “Let’s stick to the easy runs from now on.” Theron laughed. “Agreed.”

- jean boonstra

.....water

Lack of faith causes us to see only what our eyes can see. It prevents us from doing anything beyond the realm of immediate possibility. Lack of faith causes us to sit dumbfounded in the boat, while others walk on water.  

Boat people see ghosts on the water.  

Water-walking people see Jesus walking across the very thing that frightens us.  

Boat people don’t do anything for the Kingdom of God except what they can logically accomplish in their own strength.  

Water-walking people have a desire to be closer to Jesus, and do what He says to do, even if it makes absolutely no sense from a human standpoint.   

Boat people say “The waves may be tossing us around, but it’s safer here than out there on the water.” 

Water-walking people say “I’d rather be out there on the water acting out of obedience to what Jesus says than sitting in that little boat.” The Church has too many boat people, people whose fear and doubt cause them to sit still when Jesus says “Come!” 

The Church has too few water-walking people, those who not only are willing to do what Jesus says, but even ask for the privilege. When was the last time you prayed that God would stretch your faith where you could do something unheard of?  

Get out of the boat.. Start walking on water!!!

- rocky henriques

.....forgiveness

Like many of you, I have read, prayed, sung, and heard the Lord’s prayer more times than I can count. Surely it is one of the most used prayer in all the scriptures. Please read it again, from a different translation... 

The Lord’s Prayer

  This, then, is how you should pray:

  Our Father in heaven,

  hallowed be your name,

  Your kingdom come,

  Your will be done,

  on earth as it is in heaven.

  Give us today our daily bread.

  And forgive us our debts,

  as we also have forgiven our debtors.

  And lead us not into temptation,

  but deliver us from the evil one.

  For Yours is the kingdom and the power

  And the glory forever. Matthew 6:9-13

As I prayed this prayer again, these thoughts surfaced: “And forgive us our debts [sins], as we also have forgiven our debtors [those who have sinned against me].” Jesus seems to assume that we have already forgiven those who have wronged us. It’s not a matter of someday forgiving - or thinking about forgiving; it suggests we already have.

 

 “Forgive us for the ways we have wronged you, just as we also forgive those who have wronged us.” The Contemporary English Version

When I pray, “Father, forgive me,” am I certain there is not any outstanding or overdue forgiveness I need to offer to others? 

Am I holding back forgiveness? If so, why? 

How have I wronged God? 

How have others wronged me? 

Are there wounds or grudges I’m holding that I’m not willing to release? 

If I hold forgiveness, do I know that I am keeping from being forgiven?

.....defeated

As we study God's Word, we should be reminded of how blessed we are to have so many stories and testimonies upon which to build our faith. This is particularly true of the multitude of Old Testament stories; "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope" Romans 15:4. 

One of the great encouragements is shared through a prostitute named Rahab.

As Joshua led the Israelites out of the desert and into the promised land of Canaan, the first enemy they faced lived in the mighty walled city of Jericho. When spies were sent to Jericho to determine the enemy's strength, Rahab told the spies, "all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you" Joshua 2:9. Rahab said the people of Jericho had heard how God parted the Red Sea and how He had been with the Israelites in previous battles.

When we heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone's courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below. Joshua 2:11

God caused the walls of Jericho to collapse and allowed the Israelites to take the city, but this first enemy in the promised land was conquered long before the Israelite army even arrived. The people of Jericho knew of God's miraculous power and were already defeated. The only thing necessary for victory was for the Israelites to show they were willing to walk in the strength God provided.

God does not desire for us to remain in the desert. He has "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" Jeremiah 29:11. But to enter the promised land, we must be prepared to face our enemies and trust in the strength of our Heavenly Father.

The enemy "prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). This enemy is very real and ready to attack our areas of weakness. But the enemy is also well aware of God's power and will turn away any time we make a stand; "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" James 4:7. The enemy's fate has been sealed - his end has already been determined - but we must daily resist by getting dressed for battle and then trusting in the power of God for our strength.

Let's submit our lives into the loving hands of our Heavenly Father and boldly enter the peace-filled land He has promised. The lion will continue to roar and try to bite, but we must never forget that Jesus has already assured complete victory. 

When we trust Him with all our heart and daily walk in His strength, we truly face a defeated enemy.

- steve troxel

.....unlocked

She left home, deciding to become a woman of the world. Before long, however, she was dejected and unable to find a job, so she took to the streets to sell her body as a prostitute.

The years passed by, her father died, her mother grew older, and the daughter became more and more entrenched in her way of life.  No contact was made between mother and daughter during these years.  The mother, having heard of her daughter's whereabouts, made her way to the skid-row section of the city in search of her daughter.  She stopped at each of the rescue missions with a simple request.  "Would you allow me to put up this picture?" It was a picture of the smiling, gray-haired mother with a handwritten message at the bottom: "I love you still... come home!"

Months went by, and nothing happened.  Then one day the daughter wandered into a rescue mission for a needed meal. She sat absent-mindedly listening to the service, all the while letting her eyes wander over to the bulletin board.  There she saw the picture and thought, 'Could that be my mother?'  She couldn't wait until the service was over.  She stood and went to look. It was her mother, and there were those words, "I love you still... come home!"  As she stood in front of the picture, she wept.  It was too good to be true.

By this time it was night, but she was so touched by the message that she started walking home.  When she arrived it was early in the morning.  She was afraid and made her way timidly, not really knowing what to do.  As she knocked, the door flew open on its own.  She thought someone must have broken into the house.

Concerned for her mother's safety, the young woman ran to the bedroom and found her still sleeping.  She shook her mother awake and said, "It's me!  It's me!  I'm home!"

The mother couldn't believe her eyes.  She wiped her tears and they fell into each other's arms.  The daughter said, "I was so worried!  The door was open and I thought someone had broken in!"

The mother replied gently, "No dear. From the day you left, that door has never been locked."

Jesus is the door to heaven and He is open to your entering in. You much reach for Him to enter... and He will welcome you with open arms.  

Have you entered into the grace and mercy that He so lovingly gives?

- dave langerfeld

.....bravely

During the time of King David, a battle was about to occur between Israel and two neighboring kingdoms: "The Ammonites came out and drew up in battle formation at the entrance to their city gate, while the Arameans were by themselves in the open country" 2 Samuel 10:8. Joab, the commander of David's military, saw enemy troops in front and behind him so he divided his army - one group remained with him, and the other group went with his brother.

Joab said, 'If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you are to come to my rescue; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come to rescue you. Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The Lord will do what is good in His sight.' 2 Samuel 10:11-12

Joab knew God was in complete control, but he never allowed his faith to be a reason for becoming complacent in preparation or passive in battle. Joab used all his intellect and past experience - all the tools God provided - to devise a plan. He then encouraged those with him to fight bravely with all their ability. Joab knew he was accountable to use everything God had given, but he also knew the real battle belonged to God.

Notice Joab never said God would guarantee a victory in this battle. Trusting God with all our heart means knowing with certainty the final result will be good in the eyes of God - regardless of whether the immediate battle is won or lost.

Many times, our Christian walk turns into a battle zone. We may face spiritual battles of doubt, fear, and anxiety. We may also face painful physical and emotional battles. And yet, God remains in control. As He leads, we must not hesitate to use those gifts bravely and fully. We must "fight" with all the perseverance we can manage, but we must also completely surrender the outcome to God.

True victory comes as we look past the success or failure as seen with our own eyes and trust God for the working of the good in all our battles. Let's stand against the enemy and trust God will do "what is good in His sight." As we enter the battle today, let's fight bravely and trust God. 

- adapted from steve troxel

....dressed

The life of a soldier at war is difficult. They live under the constant threat of attack and each day must prepare for battle. Each day they must make sure they are properly dressed to face the enemy. In a very real sense, we are ALL at war! Every child of God faces an enemy who is determined to engage us in battle each and every day. 

These battles will not look the same as those we see reported in the news; "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" Ephesians 6:12. But the enemy we face is just as real and the attacks are just as damaging. 

Many of us feel defenseless against such attacks - we feel defeated with no hope of victory - but Paul tells us how to get properly dressed and stand through the battles. "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God." Ephesians 6:14-17

The attacks are going to come. But we cannot wait for the battle to begin before getting dressed and putting on our equipment. Each day without fail! - before the enemy has an opportunity to attack - we must "put on the full armor of God" Ephesians 6:13.

The belt of truth protects us from the enemy's deceptive lies which pull us down the path of worldly priorities and temptation. The breastplate of righteousness protects our heart from feeling unworthy; we are made completely worthy through faith in Jesus Romans 3:22. The gospel of peace on our feet prepares us to share the good news of Jesus and "go and make disciples of all nations" Matthew 28:19, our mission to the world.

We hold up the shield of faith, which is "of greater worth than gold" 1 Peter 1:7, to remind us of God's faithfulness in previous battles and protect us from the constant arrows of fear. The helmet of Salvation protects our mind from debilitating doubts, "so that we may know we have eternal life" 1 John 5:13. Finally, we pick up the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, and directly engage the enemy when necessary.

The enemy is determined to steal our joy and cause us to be ineffective soldiers for God. Let's ruin his plan! Let's defeat the enemy before the attacks even begin by starting each and every day with getting fully dressed for battle

- steve troxel

.....microwave

 "Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act." Psalm 37:5

Regrettably, there are are too many “microwave Christians.” We want everything fast:  

  Fast spiritual growth

  Fast answers to prayer

  Fast solutions to our problems

But God doesn’t work on our schedule. Moses never made it into the Promised Land during his lifetime. Because of his sin, God told him he would see the land, but he would not enter it with his people. So he saw the land from Mt. Pisgah and Mt Nebo, and soon thereafter he died. 

Now run the clock forward 1400 years. When Jesus was transfigured on the mountain in Galilee, who shows up by his side? Elijah and Moses!!! So - Moses DID made into the Promised Land after all. Just not the way he expected.

Our prayers will not all be answered before we die. That may be a disheartening fact until we remember that God is not bound by time the way we are. We see a tiny sliver of reality. God see the big picture, and he knows how all the details of what we call the past, present and the future interlock in a perfect tapestry of divine design. So while we pray in the present, God is already at work in the future, and sometimes the answer comes after we are in heaven with the Lord. But what may seem “late” to us is right on time in God’s schedule.

Microwave Christians get impatient with God when he doesn’t run the universe to fit their schedule. But he has already shown in creation that the things that endure take time to grow. Flowers bloom today and wither tomorrow, but mighty redwood trees takes centuries to reach maturity. 

Just as Moses finally saw the Promised Land, we too will finally see many answers to our prayers. Some we will see on earth; others we will see in heaven. When the time has fully come, whether on earth or in heaven, “he will make it plain,” and we will see that his plans have worked out for our good and his glory. Be patient, child of God, and do not rush the Lord. He won’t be rushed... and if we try, an upset stomach may be the reward for our impatience with the Almighty.

- david langerfeld et ray pritchard

.....armor

We all face an enemy who seeks to engage us in battle each and every day. The attacks are deceptive but extremely methodical, as the enemy tries to pull, push, and lure us off the path of following after Christ. Our best defense against such attacks is to get properly dressed by putting on the full armor of God; "so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand" Ephesians 6:13.

"How do I put on the armor of God?" Though we may recognize the usefulness of God's armor, it will never do us any good unless we actually know how to put it on. "My heart says of You, 'Seek His face!' Your face, Lord, I will seek." Psalm 27:8

The armor of God is only available to those who diligently "Seek His face!", to those who have given Him the totality of their life through a submissive faith in Jesus Christ. The armor of God is not a self-help formula to keep us protected and focused as we advance in the world's system; it's a covering of protection God provides as we enter into His presence and are reminded of His truth, faithfulness, and majesty.

Getting dressed for battle is therefore never a spiritual checklist or routine set of prayers. We receive His armor - in effect, He dresses us - as we humble ourselves and come before Him in prayer with a heart that desires to follow wherever He leads. Our Heavenly Father will never let us enter our daily battles without proper protection if we are diligent in seeking Him; "The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing" Psalm 34:10.

Getting dressed is not a one-time Salvation event nor even just a first thing in the morning event. We must put on His armor and keep it on throughout our day by developing the priority and habit of constant communion with God; "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances" 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. His protection against the enemy comes only as we enter and remain in His presence.

The attacks will surely come, but they need not be feared if we are properly dressed. Let's learn to walk and minister in this world without ever leaving the presence of the Lord. Let's seek Him in all we do and live each moment with the protection of His armor.

- adapted from steve troxel 

.....like

In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world, we are like Jesus 1 John 4:16-17

Several years ago, on a trip to San Antonio, Texas, we made a visit to the Alamo.  On a wall near the main entrance is a portrait with the following inscription: "James Butler Bonham - no picture of him exists. 

This portrait is of his nephew, Major James Bonham, deceased, who greatly resembled his uncle. It is placed here by the family that people may know the appearance of the man who died for freedom." 

No literal portrait of Jesus exists either. But the likeness of the Son who makes us free can be seen in the lives of His true followers.

When the wife of missionary Adoniram Judson told him that a newspaper article likened him to some of the apostles, Judson replied, "I do not want to be like a Paul... or any mere man. I want to be like Christ... I want to follow Him only, copy His teachings, drink in His Spirit, and place my feet in His footprints... Oh, to be more like Christ!"

- david langerfeld 

.....call

My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me  John 10:27

We seem to spend much of our life wandering without direction, but it is God's desire that we follow closely after His Son; "He goes on ahead of them, and His sheep follow Him because they know His voice" John 10:4. Do we really know His voice? 

How often do we set aside time to listen? If we only occasionally listen to the voice of our Lord, how will we even recognize His call? We live in a world so filled with distractions that we must not wait until the crisis of a storm. If we haven't learned to filter out the competing noises of the world, God's call will be lost in the crashing waves.

We must spend time away from the "noise" where we can be alone with God and learn to recognize His voice. We must establish times of quiet to read His Word and talk with Him in prayer; "Sanctify them by the truth; Your Word is truth" John 17:17. As we meditate on the truth of His Word and pray for understanding, our spiritual filter will become tuned. Then, when we enter a storm, the noise may still surround us, but our filter will only allow a single voice to enter.

Let's by the grace of God develop the discipline of listening along with the spiritual ability to filter and recognize the voice of God. Our faith will be strong enough to respond - strong enough to step - but we must first be able to hear the call.

- adapted from steve troxel

.....child

Our Heavenly Father desires for us to reach up to Him with outstretched arms and how this is perhaps His greatest joy. We need to approach Him as a child reaching up to be held by their parent. This is where our relationship with God begins and, in many ways, it's where we must remain.

When the disciples asked Jesus, "Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?" Matthew 18:1, He responded with a harsh rebuke; "Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven" Matthew 18:3. The disciples were arguing about their eternal "greatness" and Jesus said unless they changed, they would not even enter Heaven! Following Jesus, listening to His teachings, and having a general belief is not enough.

Salvation, or as Jesus said, entering "the Kingdom of Heaven," involves a submission which understands our inability to save ourselves. We can do nothing but present the "filthy rags" Isaiah 64:6 of our life and receive the mercy of a loving Father. 

Salvation is not something we rise up and achieve, rather it's a gift for which we must submit and receive. When we understand this gift, we will be filled with such thankfulness that our only desire will be to love Him and do ALL to bring Him glory and honor.

Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Matthew 18:4 Becoming like a little child, humbly dependent on Christ, is necessary for entering the Kingdom, but walking in humility as we grow is God's desire for our entire life. 

We are to be "conformed to the likeness of His Son" Romans 8:29. "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing...He humbled Himself and became obedient to death" Philippians 2:6-8, being conformed to His humility.

The great temptation of spiritual "growth" is in thinking we have all the answers and thus desiring to establish our own path with its own set of rules - we become like the know-it-all teenager. When this occurs, we must immediately, and with great determination, humble ourselves and put to death the rebellious pride which leads us astray. 

We must "trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding" Proverbs 3:5. We must daily remember the children we really are...and the children we need to continually become.

We certainly must continue to grow and mature. We must learn more of our Heavenly Father and His desire for our life as we walk in faith, and strive toward obedience in all He has commanded. But we must also remember that as we grow, we are to walk in humility and always remain like a child.

.....star

During World War II, it was the custom in the United States for a family who had a son serving in the military to place a star in the front window of their home. A gold star indicated that the son had died in support of his country's cause.

Years ago, Sir Harry Lauder told a touching story about this custom. He said that one night a man was walking down a New York City street accompanied by his five-year-old son. The little fellow was interested in the brightly lighted windows of the houses and wanted to know why some houses had a star in the window. 

The father explained that those families had a son fighting in the war. The child would clap his hands as he saw another star in the window and would cry out, "Look, Daddy, there's another family who gave his son for his country." 

At last they came to an empty lot, where there was a break in the row of houses. Through the gap, a star could be seen shining brightly in the sky. The little lad caught his breath, "Oh, Daddy," he cried, "look at the star in the window of heaven! God must have given His son too."

Yes indeed! 

There's a star in God's window. Do you realize what he did for you? Because of God's love for us, He gave His only son to save us Eph. 2:4-5; John 3:16. The cross shows God at His best. 

.....rolls

The great British automaker Rolls Royce takes great pride in the reliability of their handcrafted automobiles. An obviously wealthy owner of a Rolls took it to Europe on an extended trip. While traveling in France the car had some mechanical problem. He called the Rolls Royce factory and asked that they send out a mechanic immediately to fix the problem. 

The company responded in royal fashion. They put a mechanic on a private jet with all of the necessary tools and flew him over to France to make the repairs. The owner was so wealthy that he wasn't at all concerned about the cost, and he would not spare any expense to assure that his beloved Rolls Royce was properly repaired.

However, after several months he realized he had not received a bill for the repair. He directed his secretary to contact the Rolls Royce factory to inquire about the charges. He received a prompt reply from the Rolls Royce company. With typical British aplomb, it said simply, "We have no recollection or record of any Rolls Royce having ever had a breakdown or being in need of repair anywhere in France."

When we repent and ask God to fix things that have resulted from sin in our lives, like Rolls Royce, he fixes it and doesn't have any recollection of the problem, and he NEVER sends a bill. 

"For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." Jeremiah 31:34

- dave langerfeld

.....weakness

We need to come to our Heavenly Father with an understanding that we have no ability to save ourselves. We need to approach God like little child approaching a loving Father; "whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven" Matthew 18:4.

But, we say, surely God doesn't want us to remain as a child. Doesn't He want us to grow? Paul addressed the Corinthian church as worldly rather than spiritual because they were "mere infants in Christ" 1 Corinthians 3:1. The church was experiencing many trials because they had failed to grow: "I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready" 1 Corinthians 3:2.

God's Word never calls us to maintain the faith or spiritual understanding of a child. These simple qualities are important, but we must continually grow and send down deep roots which will weather the storm. What we are called to maintain is the simple humility of a child. 

We must learn to be secure in our Father's hand and to "approach the throne of grace with confidence" Hebrews 4:16, but we must never let our confidence and security lead to an ungrateful assumption of His grace. We initially came to God weak and helpless, and no matter how much we grow - no matter how deep our roots - we remain weak and unable to add a single grain to the grace which He has poured over us.

But our weakness is good, an understanding of our weakness apart from Christ 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.' ...That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9,10

God has chosen to unfold His plan through the lives of His children. We are to reflect the light of Christ into a dark and lifeless world; "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us" 2 Corinthians 5:20. And the world will best see Christ as we remove our own perceived strength and allow the power of God to freely work through us.. Let's strip away our pride and once again approach Him with empty hands. Let's offer our lives as a living sacrifice, as a humble sacrifice of weakness. 

.....clay

One of our greatest gifts we can give our Heavenly Father is the recognition of how little we have to give. It's a wonderful mystery that the Almighty God can reach so far down and lift us up, through the gift of His Son and the power of the Holy Spirit and elevate us to the position of "co-heirs with Christ" Romans 8:17.

Through faith in Jesus, we experience a new birth and are given the gift of eternal life. This is an incredible gift, almost more than we can imagine! Through faith in Jesus, the Creator of the Universe transforms our heart and makes His dwelling within us; "I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh" Ezekiel 36:26. This message of Salvation can change lives, and we have been called to share this message with the world!!

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us 2 Corinthians 4:7 God has chosen to entrust this message to us - common jars of clay! In Paul's day these jars were very ordinary vessels, easily chipped or broken, and often flawed.

Our flaws actually serve a purpose in God's plan, for our jars of clay show that the message which shines in and through our life is from God and not from us. When we truly place our faith and trust in Jesus, we are forever changed: we become "a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" 2 Corinthians 5:17. The new has come, and the new is different - but "the new" is definitely not perfect!!

Paul himself was far from perfect: "Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?" 2 Corinthians 11:29. But Paul had been clearly taught by Jesus that his weakness served the purpose of bringing the ultimate glory and honor to God: "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness" 2 Corinthians 12:9

We must begin to view our weaknesses as opportunities to depend more on God and to keep our focus more on Christ. As we trust Him more, His power will be made perfect in us. This also means that the flaws which inevitably surface in those around us are also part of God's plan. These flaws afford us the opportunity to demonstrate grace, forgiveness, and love. One day when He comes to take us home, we will be made perfect; but for now, for the rest of our days on earth, we are ALL jars of clay.

.....changes

I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.  Thy word have I hid my heart, that I might not sin against you.  Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your decrees Psalm 119:10-12

One afternoon I was sitting outside in the swing relaxing, enjoying the nice weather, when I heard a very distinct sound coming towards me.  Clop-clop, clop-clop, clop-clop, clop-clop.  Horse hooves on pavement - there's something romantic to me about that sound.  I looked, waiting to see the horse, and soon an older gentleman riding in his horse-drawn buggy passed in front of my house.  We waved to each other and for a moment it was like I was transported to a different place and time.  For a few moments, life slowed to a quieter, simpler pace, and as I watched him pass, my heart ached for a moment at the beauty of this simple sound.

Not too far down the road, a young kid came riding toward the buggy and exchanged greetings with the driver.  He then turned to follow and brought his bike up along side of the horse.  He asked the man, "Are you supposed to be doing this?  I mean, like, is this legal?"  The man simply replied, "I sure hope it is, 'cause here I am doin' it!"  This answer seemed to satisfy the kid and soon after, he turned around and headed back in the direction he had been taking.

"Is this legal?"  Something as simple as taking a nice afternoon buggy ride, that was common practice 100 years ago, could quite possibly become illegal at some point in time.  Isn't that sad?  

The simple, quiet, steady pace of life that our grandparents and great grandparents enjoyed is eroding away. Swept away by the hectic, over-scheduled, "fast food" lifestyle that we currently live in, those days have become stories the grandchildren hear about and soon will just be history.  I bet they never dreamed we would go this far.  This far away, that is, from what's truly important in life - family, friends, integrity, God.

Thankfully there is something that does not change.  Something that is ever constant, ever present, ever true.  That's God.  He DOES NOT CHANGE.  The ever-constant, ever-present, ever-true I AM.  Even if a day comes that man outlaws the reading of God's Word in public and even in private for that matter, His Word WILL NOT CHANGE.  This is what we base our faith upon.

God is love, God is Light

God is faithful day and night

He is eternal, He never changes

Though the seas rise up to swallow mountain ranges

Hebrews 13:8  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever!!!!

.....past

Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah Judges 11:29

We've all heard stories of individuals who have overcome extreme hardship during their childhood years. Children of alcoholics, orphans who never have parents, loss of parents to a fatal crash, childhood disease - these are all difficult circumstances to overcome.

Jephthah was a man who overcame his obstacles and refused to allow his circumstances to prevent him from becoming great in God's sight. He was born to Gilead, a result of his father's adulterous encounter with a prostitute. Gilead's wife, who had bore more sons, decided to reject Jephthah, and drove him away from their home saying, "You are not going to get any inheritance in our family because you are the son of another woman." Judges 11:2 Imagine the rejection this young man felt as he was cast away from his own family.

This experience taught Jephthah to become a hardened warrior. Today he probably would have been part of a street gang. As he got older, his reputation as a warrior became known to those in his country, so much so that when the Ammonites made war on Israel, the elders of Gilead went to Jephthah and asked him to be their commander.  Jephthah had to fight off those feelings of rejection from previous years.

"Didn't you hate me and drive me from my father's house?" he responded. Judges 11:7  He overcame his hurt and pain, and responded to the call God had on his life.

It is said that if we were to help the butterfly remove itself from the cocoon, the butterfly would not be strong enough to survive. It is the struggle that prepares the butterfly to become strong enough to fly. Without the struggle in the cocoon, it could not survive as a butterfly.

The Lord prepares each of us in similar ways. Some of our childhoods seem to have been harsh and born from a seemingly unloving God. However, the Lord knows our struggle and will make our life an instrument in His hand if we will follow Him with an upright heart. He does make all things beautiful in His time if we are willing to be patient.

"But this one thing I do: Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth toward what is ahead, I press on toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus Philippians 3:13-14

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

- david langerfeld