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SOMETIMES <>< Denise Dulaney

2010-07-30T11:45:00Z

SOMETIMES

Sometimes I just sit and think about the heart. It is such a fragile thing. It can be hurt. It can be broken. It can cry. Seems like that's all many people's hearts go through. Theirs feel broken or hurt all the time. I'm sure people sometimes wonder why God gave us a heart at all, if it's only to be broken or bruised.

Yet, this same heart can be so full of joy and laughter, love and goodness! Just think of how much Jesus gave us when He opened His very own heart! His heart bled and He died on the cross for us.

I don't think He would want us to dwell on all of the bad things our hearts have withstood. After all, His heart broke wide open for ALL of us that we might have life, and have it abundantly!

Ephesians 1:7a: “Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, His blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people - free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free!”

Author: Denise Dulaney

MARRYING MONTH <>< Kay Bradburn

2010-07-29T12:13:00Z

MARRYING MONTH

"For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,

and the two will become one flesh."

Ephesians 5:31

July is "marrying month" in our family, it seems! My Charlie and I celebrated our 44th anniversary on July 16; our daughter Kelly and son-in-law Shane celebrated their 18th on July 11; and on July 3, our son Chuck married his beautiful bride Suzanne. With the wedding and the two anniversaries all in the same month, of course marriage has been in my thoughts a lot lately.

I'm very aware that marriages don't always work out as we'd dreamed. The stories of my friends and family members who have suffered through divorce break my heart. I am so sorry that, for whatever reasons, their dreams of marital happiness didn't come true. And I know from their stories, that quite often, the end of the marriage came only after valiant efforts to make it be right. So what I write here is not a commentary on what's right or what's wrong, what was or wasn't present in anybody's relationships.

But as Chuck and Suzanne begin their married life, I do have these pieces of advice for them:

Always think "we," not "me."

Tell each other, every day, that you love each other. Never take it for granted that the other person will just know about your love without your having to voice it.
Make your every action reflect that you honor and respect your spouse.
Make decisions TOGETHER.
Any time you get a little irritated with your spouse, stop and ask yourself, "How many times today has he/she felt the same way about me?" Remember that every argument has two sides.
And when you do get angry with each other, work it out on the spot! Don't let anger fester.
Be very honest with each other, but be kind and loving in your honesty.

But the biggest, most important piece of advice anyone can give you about marriage is this: Make God the center of your home. Welcome Him into your family, and live your lives from day to day with Him in your hearts.

Father God, I ask Your blessing on both my children's marriages and on my own. Bless these unions, I pray. Grant us Your joy, and guide us as we live and serve You.

Author: Kay Bradburn

WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH? <>< Judy Burhans

2010-07-28T14:02:00Z

WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH?

Two of my children and I went to work in our garden, the other day, and we took two of our dogs with us. Since Nate and Amber have this awesome five acres of land (where my garden is), and 2.5 acres of it are fenced in – with a pond – our dogs love to run long and free, and one of them even gets in the pond and swims to his heart’s content. I love it! And since the temperatures have been hovering around and above the 100-degree mark, I’m sure the dogs love being able to get wet, at will, also.

Anyway, we were watering the garden, and after a while, I noticed that one of the dogs was parallel to my peripheral vision, and that was not right. The dogs were behind the fence; I was outside the fence. As Heather and I watched and processed what we were seeing, the second dog was also parallel to us, meaning both dogs had gotten outside of the fence. If you remember last Labor Day, these were the two dogs that had run away from home and got picked up and taken to doggie jail until I could bail them out four days later – after the holiday was over. I have to admit, since Labor Day, they haven’t gotten any better at the voice command, “Come!” and this day was no different. I told Heather to try to get Brindle, the smaller of the two dogs, and I’d get Atlas, the huge mutt. Well, I lucked out because Atlas came running to me (more like, at me, full speed ahead!), and didn’t quite knock me over, but close. I got his collar and dragged him back inside the fenced area, as Zachary took off down the fence line to close the gate that someone had left opened after they finished mowing their yard a few days prior. We didn’t even think about making sure that gate was closed – we assumed it just was!

In the interim, Heather was taking off after Brindle, who listens even less than not, and the next thing I heard was “honk-honk-honk-honk-honk-honk-honk-honk-honk-honk-ad-nauseam-to-infinity.” I couldn’t see to the road, but I could see a line of cars that had stopped, so I assumed (once again) that the dog and Heather were in the middle of the road, and some driver was very impatiently trying to “help” them get off the road by laying on his horn and blasting away. All I could think of was, “Tu es stupide! Tais-toi!” In English, loosely translated, that means, “I don’t think you’re helping the situation much, mister.”

As I started running toward the road, here came Heather, dragging Brindle by his collar, and then he plunked himself down on the ground and planted himself there. When I asked Heather what happened and how did she catch the dog, she said, “He just ran out to the middle of the road and lay down on the yellow line and wouldn’t move.” And what about the person honking the horn? “Yep, he just stopped in front of us and honked his horn until I could get the dog off the road.” Well, that was helpful, wasn’t it?

What did he hope to accomplish by creating a noise right in Heather’s and the dog’s ears? I’m thankful it didn’t cause the dog to run farther away, and I’m glad the two were safe because I guess the driver could have just run over them, but what was his problem? It’s not like these two play out in the middle of a busy road just for the heck of it!

I guess the point of this devotion is that sometimes, our actions (which always speak louder than words) tell the world a lot about us, whether we realize it or not. That driver could have just as easily sat there and waited without making the noise. He could have gotten out of his car to see if Heather needed some assistance (although with a strange dog and a stranger person, that probably wasn’t a good alternative). For sure, he could have just been quiet and listened to his radio and tapped his foot to the beat – or read his IPOD daily devotional. Even an encouraging word out of the window to Heather would have made her feel less stressed in an already-stressful situation, whether the dog ever moved or not. . .

Naturally, the parable that pops into my head is the one of the Good Samaritan, where two people passed by the beaten-up man in the middle of their path, one being a priest (you’d think that was synonymous with “helpful,” wouldn’t you?) and the other a Levite (same race as the man lying in the road). The only one who did stop and help, without getting all bent out of shape, was the third traveler, a Samaritan man, a diametrically-opposed species (a.k.a., enemy) of the Hebrew victim.

Luke 10:30-37: Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’ “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”

So the next time you come upon a kid and a dog in the middle of the road, don’t honk if you love Jesus. Do something constructive, instead. Be a good Samaritan!

Author: Judy Burhans

LOVE MY ENEMIES - WHY? <>< Katrina Sheely

2010-07-27T07:20:00Z

Love my Enemies…WHY?

“But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back.

Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High,

because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.”

Luke 6:35

I don’t think ‘wicked’ begins to describe some of the enemies I know are out there. This subject of “loving your enemies” has been on my heart lately because of a special someone in my life who is…not on my team. I cannot get away from this person; they are bound to my life. I feel sorry for them, I try to be loving to them, try to set a good example to the children of how to be kind to difficult people…but GEEZ…how did Jesus do it?! Because I feel like if I were Jesus, I would just go ahead and rain down some justified judgment. That way, the decent people (like me?) could catch a break!

I know; this isn’t how it works. Thank goodness the decision isn’t in my hands. I don’t think getting even is really in Jesus’ nature. The hard part of the verse is at the beginning, trying to love those people whom you actually hate. The comfort comes in the second part of the verse, the explanation, the ‘why.’ We are to keep our eyes on heaven and remember that Jesus loves that other person no less than He loves us. We want to please God, and it is unpopular, and we will be picked on, and it will be harder than what we imagine we can do…but that’s what is asked of us. And when we keep our eyes on heaven, then we can see in perspective that we aren’t any more decent than those we hate.

How blessed we are to be children of the Father. How wonderful to have the energy that He bestows graciously to continue to love our enemies. How nice it is to have a best friend that we can talk to about how we feel. How comforting it is to know that He understands and has given us His Word to help us understand, too. God wants us all to go to heaven. My reward should be that I know I am doing what is right, even though it doesn’t always make me happy.

Author: Katrina Sheely

RIVERS FLOWING <>< Denise Dulaney

2010-07-26T04:29:00Z

RIVERS FLOWING

Rivers flowing wide and narrow
Sometimes shallow, sometimes deep.
And we move along , straight as an arrow
Remembering His word and trying to keep.
Then evil creeps in and tries to break us
His grip on us, full of passion, full of hate!
And suddenly our minds become like the rivers
Flowing fast, too fast for us!
Then we remember that we have a date
With Our Lord God Almighty
And make no mistake!
He'll be there forever and always you'll see,
Keep telling yourself, it's God who's with me!

1 Chronicles 16:34: “Give thanks to God - He is good and His love never quits. Say, ‘Save us, Savior God, round us up and get us out of these godless places, so we can give thanks to Your holy Name, and bask in Your life and praise.’ Blessed be God, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Then everybody said, ‘Yes! Amen!’ and ‘Praise God!’”

Author: Denise Dulaney

A GODLY MAN <>< Kay Bradburn

2010-07-25T10:44:00Z

A GODLY MAN

"Know that the Lord has set apart the godly for Himself...."

Psalm 4:3

"Godly" isn't a word you hear much in conversation, is it? And when you think about it, what in the world is a "godly man," anyway? According to my synonym finder, "godly" means God-fearing, reverent, devoted, moral, good. So, now that you have those adjectives in mind, can you think of someone you'd describe as a "godly" man or woman? I can, and I've been thinking about this man even more than usual lately, as we approach his 90th birthday.

He entered my life when I was eight years old. He and my widowed mother married that spring, and he became my stepfather, but the word "stepfather" just doesn't seem adequate somehow. Since my biological father had died just a few months before my birth, this new person in my life was the only father I'd ever known, and from the first, he became not just my mother's husband but my very own Daddy. From that time to this, every day of my life, he has been there for me ─ a wonderful, kind, understanding, supportive parent in every sense of the word. No father could possibly love me more or be loved more in return.

Being a good dad is a tough job under any circumstances, but being a stepdad adds another whole dimension of difficulty. Daddy has fulfilled that stepdad role to perfection not just once but twice, because several years after my mother died, he remarried. And with his second marriage, he acquired not just my great stepmother Eileen, but another daughter, my sister Betsy!

Daddy has had an enormous influence on both his daughters: our values, our faith, our sense of being secure and loved. God has blessed Betsy and me over and over through the awesome earthly father He provided for us, and both of us thank God for him, this godly man.

Author: Kay Bradburn

MORE AND MORE <>< Judy Burhans

2010-07-23T13:46:00Z

MORE AND MORE

“Jesus went with him, and all the people followed, crowding around him. A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding. She had suffered a great deal from many doctors, and over the years she had spent everything she had to pay them, but she had gotten no better. In fact, she had gotten worse. She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him through the crowd and touched his robe.

For she thought to herself, ‘If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.’”

Mark 5:24-28

I have a friend who has bleeding problems. She gets transfusions periodically to get her blood count back up, but it doesn’t stay there very long. Her body needs treatment, treatment that she can’t afford. And so, the cycle continues.

“Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel in her body that she had been healed of her terrible condition.”

Mark 5:29

It’s too bad Jesus isn’t here, physically, so she could touch the hem of His robe and be instantly healed, isn’t it? It seems that the circumstances surrounding some of our problems are just too great for us to handle, and then when we say, “pray for me,” we wonder if that’s even going to work.

Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.

The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked.

“Even the winds and waves obey him!”

Matthew 8:23-27

It takes strength and faith to be able to lay it all in His hands. It takes putting aside our preconceived notions of how it needs to be done, of how we think it needs to be done, and it takes letting God work it out for us, in us and to us. If we doubt, does that cut us off from His healing?

Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves.
About three o’clock in the morning, Jesus came toward them, walking on the water.
When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out,
“It’s a ghost!” But Jesus spoke to them at once.
“Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”

Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you,

tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”

“Yes, come,” Jesus said.

So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.

Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him.

Matthew 14:24-31

He is our healer and our physician. If we have no insurance and no possible means of taking care of our problem, He has the answer. He will do what needs to be done for us because He promises He will. For us, it may seem interminably long before we get the answer or the resolution, but we just have to continue to believe and pray and knock on His door. And when He answers, it may not be in the way we expected healing to come, or it may be exactly the way we imagined it to happen.

“Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things.”

Luke 12:27-29

God, You are mighty; You are totally awesome; You are true to Your promises. You have promised to take care of us, just as You take care of the birds of the air and the lilies of the field. Your promises fulfilled are seen everyday in the world You have created. For my friend, God, please lay Your hand of love and healing on her and cure whatever needs to be cured in order to stop the bleeding. Increase our faith in You to know You more and more, and may You be glorified in all that You work through my friend. Amen.

Author: Judy Burhans

GET THERE FASTER! <>< Michele Mazur

2010-07-22T11:41:00Z

GET THERE FASTER!

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.

Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Matthew 6:34 (NIV)

As I write this, I have to smile because I know that worry is just a waste of time. I think the majority of people would agree with that. So, if I know it is a waste of time, why do I waste so much time worrying? I trust God with everything in my life, but when I am faced with an uncertainty, I worry. I know God is in control, I know He will take care of everything. So I go into a phase of trying to convince myself that everything will be okay and God's Will, will prevail.

It takes me a while to go through this process - to get back to trusting God with everything. I spend time alone, I sing a lot - Britt Nicole, "Don't Worry Now" - hahaha! I cry a little, I talk a little and I pray. I do eventually get to where I need to be, and when I look back, I still can't explain why I wasted so much time worrying.

I was talking to Judy, a very wise friend, the other morning, and I explained to her, with a tear in my eye, that I will get there. In time, I will get there. She looked at me and explained to me that God already has everything worked out and that I shouldn't cry or be sad. She looked straight into my eyes and said, "Get there faster!"

Wow! That is exactly what I needed to hear. God does have everything in control. He put Judy where she needed to be and gave her the words she needed to say to Get Me There Faster!

I know for me there is still some uncertainty, but I am confident that all that happens is in God's plan. I will still have to work on the worrying, and the time it takes me to get "there," but I am assured that God is with me and in control.

I do so love you, God!

http://brittnicole.sparrowrecords.com/music/?id=517574#

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIU_rfoW77U

Author: Michele Mazur

PURE IN HEART <>< Kay Bradburn

2010-07-21T11:50:00Z

PURE IN HEART

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."

Matthew 5:8

She's a grown woman now, but I still remember a day years ago when she'd been listening to me talk to her mother, bewailing the latest chapter in my life-long battle of the bulge (a battle that's still going on!). A few minutes later, she slipped her arms around me and looked up at me with her big, earnest eyes.

"Don't worry about your diet, Miss Kay," she said. "I think God just means for you to be fat. I can't imagine you any other way."

I kid you not...That's exactly what she said!

Now, if anyone else had said those words to me, or if they'd been said spitefully or even teasingly, I very likely would have been offended. Wouldn't you be?! But this sweet child didn't have a mean molecule in her body, and her words and gesture came from a caring heart and total honesty. She could see that I seemed upset about my weight, and she wanted me to feel better, so she offered me her love and total acceptance and the unvarnished truth as she saw it. What a wonderful gift!

So what did I do? I accepted her gift. I hugged her back and genuinely thanked her. And I saved my chuckles for later because I surely didn't want to hurt her feelings or do anything to discourage her reaching out in love to others.

That little girl taught me some things that day about love and acceptance, about encouraging those around me, and also about purity of heart. Oh, for a heart that pure...a completely selfless, totally loving, and generous spirit.

Lord, please renew a right spirit within me. Help me to be a source of comfort and support to others as that dear little girl was to me. Amen.

Author: Kay Bradburn

GET THE LIGHTS <>< Denise Dulaney

2010-07-20T12:47:00Z

GET THE LIGHTS, WILL YOU?

When I was much younger, my mother remarried and my stepdad's two daughters came to live with us. While this took a lot of adjusting on my part, since I was an only child, I did my best to like those two girls. Now, mind you, I didn't always like them. They used to get away with things that in my book were totally unfair.

We shared a room - they in bunk-beds and me in my single. I decided that the youngest, who slept on the bottom bunk, could serve a serious purpose. You see, I was afraid of the dark. Since I was the oldest, I got to stay up later than they did. Here was my dilemma - I didn't have a lamp next to my bed and there weren't any nightlights. The only light in our room was the overhead.

So, a good many nights, when I wasn't racing to the bed after turning the light off myself - you know, before something snatched me from under the bed - I'd get into bed and call and call her. Quietly, mind you, so that I didn't alert my parents as to my cause, and I'd keep on calling her. "Debbie, Debbie, wake up."

After many tries, she'd wake up and I'd say, "Get the lights, will you?" Since she was a sleepwalker, at times, and never remembered that, I'm not sure she remembered me waking her to turn the lights out, either!

I'm sure you've heard the old saying, "I can't see the light at the end of the tunnel." How many of us actually get lost in that tunnel, wondering where the light is and if we will ever see the light again!?

In this case, we want the light on. We are tired of the darkness and need to have some light, any light, to shine through so that we can have some hope that we are headed in the right direction .

Take heart. God's word is Light. Do not be afraid. He'll show us the way, through His Word , and the whole time He is showing us His ways, He'll be walking there, right beside us!

Psalm 119:105: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

** I'm off to bed now. (whispers) "Hey! Hey! Get the lights, will you?"

Author: Denise Dulaney

AND SARAH LAUGHED <>< Judy Burhans

2010-07-19T12:23:00Z

AND SARAH LAUGHED

“So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought: ‘After I am worn out and my master is old,

will I now have this pleasure?’”

Genesis 18:12

I have a daughter named Sarah who is a cheerful, smiling daughter, who even, occasionally, laughs. I was reminded of this because of the passage above, when another woman named Sarah laughed. While there is absolutely nothing wrong with laughing, in some cases, it can happen at a very inappropriate time. In Sarah’s case, wife of Abraham, that is exactly what happened. She laughed out loud, while hiding behind the flap of the tent, when she heard the angel say she would have a baby by this time, next year.

Impossible! That was her thought. Have a baby? She was 90 years old, if she was a day! Pregnancy after menopause is physically, humanly impossible. Even if God promises just that, our minds cannot comprehend something that we know doesn’t happen! But just look at some of the promises that we enlightened people of 2010 know are impossible:

Sarah, at 90-something years old, having a baby nine months later (When she’s even older)
Elizabeth, also pushing something years, also having a baby (Barren all of her child-bearing years, “unbarrened” because God said so)
The Israelites, following a pillar of cloud to escape the Egyptian army, and ending up at a dead end with nowhere to run (or so they humanly thought)
Aaron Price, 2009, diagnosed with a torn aorta (99.99% fatal), predicted not to make it to hospital by ambulance in time to operate, watched on the monitor, along with seven top-notch cardiac/cardiovascular/thoracic surgeons, nurses, techs and assistants, as his torn aorta healed instantly just before being anesthetized. There was no trick involved, no magic, no human explanation (follow-up last week, 2010, revealed no sign of injury, no indication his aorta was ever anything but perfect. Aaron was told he didn’t have to come back for any more follow-ups; no treatment was ever necessary)

Were any of the above events humanly possible? Not even. Not for Sarah, Elizabeth, the Israelites or Aaron. But for God?

Luke 18:27: “What is impossible for people is possible with God.”

Laugh – and believe!

Author: Judy Burhans

THE CAB RIDE <>< Becky Bradley, internet find

2010-07-18T11:38:00Z

THE CAB RIDE
"And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works."
Hebrew 10:24

I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes I walked to the door and knocked. "Just a minute," answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.

After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940's movie. By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.

"'Would you carry my bag out to the car?" she asked. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman.

She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb. She kept thanking me for my kindness.
"It's nothing," I told her. " I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated."
"Oh, you're such a good boy," she said.

When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, "Could you drive through downtown?"
"It's not the shortest way."
"Oh, I don't mind,'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice."

I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. "I don't have any family left," she continued in soft voice. "The doctor says I don't have very long."

I quietly reached over and shut off the meter. "'What route would you like me to take?" I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator. We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl. Sometimes, she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, "I'm tired. Let's go now."

We drove in silence to the addres she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico. Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her.

I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.
"How much do I owe you?' she asked, reaching into her purse.
"Nothing," I said.
"You have to make a living," she answered.
"There are other passengers," I responded.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly.
"You gave an old woman a little moment of joy," she said."Thank you."

I squeezed her hand, and they walked into the dim morning light.. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life.

I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?

On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life. We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.

Thank you, Becky, for finding and forwarding this story.

BLESSINGS OF DAUGHTERS <>< Judy Burhans

2010-07-17T11:29:00Z

BLESSINGS OF DAUGHTERS

"I will be a Father to you, and you will be

my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."

2 Corinthians 6:18

Daughter: A female child; a female descendant.

Did you know that in some parts of the world, daughters are an unwelcome commodity? Due to the cost of marrying off a daughter and the dowry required, families in India will go so far as to kill any female child, just to save the cost of a dowry down the road. Daughters in China have about the same chance of surviving as a rat in the river, due to the thought that men are more able to work and provide a living than women, although if all the women in their country are dead, what’s there to provide a living for? Just himself? What a gruesome beginning for a devotion!

I, personally, love my daughters. ALL of them! I find them to be blessings of the best kind, and they can even grow up into beautiful women with spirits of humor, kindness, testiness, candor, craziness, and joy. They can become caregivers, administrators, teachers, wives, mothers and just about anything they desire to become. In our country, anyway, they pull their own weight, whether in salaries or priceless sacrifice for their families.

When my daughter was born on this day (a few years ago), she was so wanted and welcome, I can’t even imagine looking at her little face and thinking, “Hmm, maybe she’ll cost too much to raise,” and then putting her in a shoebox or something equally despicable. How sad that would be, to have so little regard for a life that is so precious.

I thank God every day for you, my daughter. May you grow in His grace every day that you live, and may you live in the Spirit of His love so that He shines within you. And may you pass that love and awe of living in Him onto your daughters!

Author: Judy Burhans

THE SOLID ROCK <>< Kay Bradburn

2010-07-16T11:20:00Z

THE SOLID ROCK

"Be strong. Take courage. Don't be intimidated...because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He's right there with you.
He won't let you down; He won't leave you."

Deuteronomy 31:6 (The Message)

Two of my favorite ladies are facing major life changes, right now. One of these ladies, my granddaughter Hannah, is only 3-1/2 years old; the other lady is...well, let's just say she's at the other end of life's spectrum. And both ladies are experiencing some anguish as they work their way through their new situations.

Because Hannah started a twice-weekly summer pre-school program last week, she's dealing for the first time with spending long days away from home and Mommy and among relative strangers. Although she was eager to go to school and appears to have fun while she's there, those hours away from home and loved ones are proving to be pretty traumatic for her. When she came to visit me on Friday, she told me all about school, saying, "I was sad. I missed my Mommy." And now, when she thinks about how she felt, she cries. These are tough, scary days for her, but she's working hard to deal with the change.

My other lady, my friend, Mickey, recently decided to sell her house and move into an assisted living facility in our town. She's a "people person" who has been very lonely since her husband passed away, so this is a good decision for her. Ultimately, I think she's going to be happy in her new surroundings. It's a lovely, well-run place where she'll soon be busy with new friends and activities. But choosing which furniture must be left behind, sifting through many years of keepsakes, taking all those trips down Memory Lane, getting ready to close up the house where she and Dick spent so many happy years ─ all of that has been very hard. And this week, her first week in her new location, her apartment just doesn't feel like home, yet. I'm sure she feels as if the ground is shifting under her feet. These are strange-feeling, scary days for her, but she's working hard to adjust to this new chapter in her life.

I have no doubt that both my ladies will work their way through these days of transition. Today may bring some tears, but because love surrounds them both, these two special people will adjust to their new circumstances.

"...weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning." Psalm 30:5b (NIV).

Life is all about change, isn't it? Each of us passes through happy times and sad ones, times when we're secure and times of peril. How blessed we are that although all else may fall away ─ plans and places and possessions, family and friends ─ our God remains. He alone is changeless in a world where what we counted on yesterday may not be there tomorrow. In Him there is always comfort and care.

"Thank You, Eternal Father, for Your unchanging presence in our lives. Help us remember that wherever life takes us, You too are there and you will never leave us. You are the solid rock on which we stand."

Author: Kay Bradburn

CHURCH AND THE YMCA <>< Heather Roberts

2010-07-15T12:31:00Z

CHURCH AND THE YMCA

“Exercise daily in God—no spiritual flabbiness, please! Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever. You can count on this. Take it to heart. This is why we've thrown ourselves into this venture so totally. We're banking on the living God, Savior of all men and women, especially believers.”

1 Timothy 4:6-7

After my husband was laid off, we received a scholarship to our local YMCA and we’ve been members there for about six months now. We’ve never done something like that and we’re enjoying every part of it from the indoor pool to the free childcare while I work out. I’ve even lost some weight and gotten in shape enough to run my first 5K. We’re not paying anything, now, since my husband still doesn’t have a steady job, but I’ve decided that when our scholarship is over, we’re just going to have to find a way to pay for it. It’s funny how something I once considered an unnecessary luxury that I didn’t have time for has become a must. Once you get in the habit of doing something and start seeing the benefits of it, it’s hard to live without it.

I feel the same way about church. Many people think they don’t have time for church or they’re not willing to invest their energy in it. But these people haven’t experienced the benefits of going to church. Having always been in the habit of going to church, my week just isn’t the same if I can’t go. It’s not that I always feel like going to church, but just like when I don’t feel like going to the gym, I go anyway and always leave feeling glad I went. At church, you have to put in some effort in order to see results, just as you do when exercising. It takes more than just showing up. But when you make the effort to open your ears and heart to the Lord during the songs, prayers, scripture readings and messages, you will gain strength and stamina for your spiritual muscles. When you spend time and form bonds with other people, you’ll have a reason to come back week after week.

Once you experience the benefits of church, it’s hard to live without it.

Author: Heather Roberts

INDIAN GIVER <>< Denise Dulaney

2010-07-14T12:18:00Z

INDIAN GIVER

"For God's gifts and His call are irrevocable.
[He never withdraws them once they are

given and He does not change His mind about those to whom

He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call.]"
Romans 11:29

When I was a child, we had a little saying if someone had given us something, only to have taken it back. It was called being an "Indian giver" This wasn't a good thing to be called! Being called an "Indian Giver" was quite serious to us, as children.

Ever wonder if God will take back what He's given us (freely, I might add), if we make a mistake? If we sin? If we have doubts about Him, about His promises, about His love and His forgiveness?

Rest easy, my friend. His word in the above passage says it's not going to happen. Ever. God is truth. His word is truth. Everything about Him is truth. He could not possibly ever be called an "Indian Giver.”

Author: Denise Dulaney

ON BEING A CITIZEN <>< Judy Burhans

2010-07-06T14:17:00Z

On Being a Citizen

“Upright citizens are good for a city and make it prosper, but the talk of the wicked tears it apart.”

Psalm 11:11

We who were celebrating the fourth of July with parades and fireworks were most likely citizens of the United States of America. This citizenship may have been an automatic process, simply by being born in one of the 50 states, or becoming naturalized if born overseas to American parents. It may have also occurred after studying for weeks or months, taking a test, along with thousands of other immigrants, and then being sworn in as a citizen of the United States of America, pledging allegiance to this country, and this country only.

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic, for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

As citizens of this world, no matter where we live, we have responsibilities to do certain things. Among these things are taxes.

Matthew 22:21: “Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's.”

Romans 13:5-7: ^“Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.”

As citizens of this country, we are to lift up our leaders, that God would lead them as He desires.

1 Timothy 2:1-3: “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior.”

As citizens of this country and of the world, we are to carry out God’s great commandments.

Titus 3:1: “Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good.”

1 Peter 2:13-14: “Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.”

As citizens, we are admonished to be obedient.

Romans 13:1-4: “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.”

“Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;

He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored.

He has loosed the fateful lightening of His terrible swift sword,

His truth is marching on.”

Author: Judy Burhans

BUSY LITTLE BEES <>< Katrina Sheely

2010-07-04T18:57:00Z

BUSY LITTLE BEES

“Bee” Imitators of God as beloved children,

and walk in love as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us.

Ephesians 5:1-2

We had an excellent VBS this year. It was partly due to the fact that this was my second year directing it and I don’t have to make mistakes twice, and partly because it was just well written and the music rocked. We did Concordia Publishing House’s “Planet Zoom” and it is a “bee” theme with layers of symbolic goodness.

I was hesitant to do it for many reasons that don’t matter much, now, and thankful that even in my indignant obedience I was blessed by the experience. You see, bee hives are like churches and it takes all the bees doing their thing to make the hive thrive. It was fun and easy to teach children that they are special and that God gave them each a unique talent to use in His church. The stories covered many child characters that made a difference, despite their age. The challenge came when I took these simple concepts and looked at myself, my church family and the church at large.

You see, the difference between us and bees is that we don’t always follow the Way. I mean, how often do we expect that young people should help with Children’s Ministry or that “Elders” should be the ones making home visits? How often do we see something undone at church and wonder who is going to be responsible for that?! How often do we think that outreach or stewardship or choir isn’t “our thing”? We get into our comfortable ruts and stop challenging ourselves to be serving where GOD wants us to serve. It takes all the bees, their special gifts and the willingness to obey God’s direction. And then, the product is sweeter than honey!

I admitted earlier that I was resistant to doing this VBS, but when I was obedient to God’s will, then He revealed His plan. I hope that there are other people in my church family that were touched by the message this VBS theme carried, and I pray that the church at large will continue to seek God’s will in how to use their gifts.

Author: Katrina Sheela

DO YOU MISS ME? <>< Judy Burhans

2010-07-04T18:48:00Z

DO YOU MISS ME?

Then Jonathan said to David: "Tomorrow is the New Moon festival.
You will be missed, because your seat will be empty.”

1 Samuel 20:18

My dad’s birthday would have been today - a day that’s hard to forget, anyway, because it’s our Independence Day. I remember always getting up on the fourth of July and baking him a cake, decorating it with any combination of red, white and blue that I could think of (white icing, red cherries and blueberries were the coup d'état that I learned from my aunt, one summer), and then we kids would irritate/harangue/bargain or otherwise “subtly” suggest that it would be a great birthday treat if he and mom would drive us all to Turkey Run State Park so we could have a picnic there to celebrate. And then, we had to make it back to our place before dark so we could finish out his birthday celebration by watching fireworks. . .

I’m sure he was glad when his birthday party was over and we were all in bed. I’m sure he couldn’t wait for the next birthday to roll around. . .

My dad’s been gone for quite a few years, now, and obviously, I still think of him. I look at the pictures of him with all his kids, and then with a lot of his grandchildren, and I wish he were still here to see the ones he missed meeting. I remember his crazy, dry sense of humor, and I wish I could still hear the rumble of his deep laugh when he thought something was ridiculous on late-night television. I wish he had been able to marry my two daughters to their husbands and my son to his wife. When “911” happened in 2001, I wished that he were still alive so I could call and hear his voice, so that he could have given me the reassuring words I wanted - needed - so badly to hear. I can still see him with his hat on, his black glasses that he needed for reading and which resided on top of his head when not needed, lying on the floor of the living room with all of my kids lying beside him when they were babies, while he’d tickle them and give them raspberries on their bellies, listening to them laugh, and then his big, deep laugh joining in with theirs.

Do I miss him? I guess so. Even after all these years? Yep. And I especially remember it on this particular day? Especially on this day. It’s a day of celebration, and his seat is still empty.

Author: Judy Burhans

SPECIAL NEEDS <>< Kay Bradburn

2010-07-02T13:29:00Z

SPECIAL NEEDS

"This is your Father you are dealing with, and He knows better than you what you need."

Matthew 6:7 (The Message)

"...How God, your God, loves you!"

Deuteronomy 23:5 (The Message)

Our grandson, Adam, has Down Syndrome, so from the day of his birth, people have referred to him as a "special needs" child. And you know, there's something about that term "special needs" that bothers me.

Now, don't get me wrong. I am very, very grateful that because of this "special needs" label, Adam is eligible for all kinds of extra help: individual instruction and speech therapy and physical therapy and all sorts of other things to help this little guy become the very best Adam possible. And I do understand that there has to be some sort of term for designating those children whose educational and developmental needs may not be met in a typical classroom situation. Come to think of it, there are a lot of labels from earlier eras ("retarded," "educable," etc.) that I'm glad have been replaced by the "special needs" label. So, on that level, I'm happy to use the term "special needs" to refer to Adam and his cronies.

But let's think for a moment about the term "special needs." It seems to imply that only some people's needs are special...that maybe some people rate extra effort and focused consideration and others don't. But I like to think that my needs and your needs ─ everyone's needs, for that matter ─ really do matter...that if I hurt or I need a little help, if you are eager or angry or afraid, if we're happy about something or sad... those things matter to somebody.

And you know what? You and I DO matter to our Father. Every single one of His children is special to Him...not just once in a while, but all the time! He loves us whether we're being especially good or especially bad, whether we're in dire straits or a bed of roses. No matter what happens, no matter where we go, He is there, and He cares what's going on in our lives. In His sight, every single one of has special needs, to which He lovingly attends!

So, today, if you're feeling that you don't matter...you're wrong! You DO matter! You are a child of God. And because you're a specially loved and cared for son or daughter of the Father, you, like our Adam, have everything you need to become the very best person possible.

Never forget this: You are special!

Thank you, Father God, for caring about my special needs. Amen

Author: Kay Bradburn