Two dollars. That’s it.

As the realization hit me that there was no way to make things work, I sank down in my seat with my head in my hands and a negative balance in my bank account.

That morning as I sat at my desk working on one project, I frantically searched in my purse for some petty cash to put gas in my fuel-depleted vehicle in order to make it across town to work on another project. All my efforts in purse-digging resulted in just two dollars and a scrunchie that I had not seen in a while. I proceeded to do as most Christians do: I threw myself a little pity party, complete with coffee and complaining.

After all, I internally grumbled, I’m just doing everything I can to serve the Lord. Why isn’t there enough money in my account? Isn’t God supposed to supply my financial needs?

My pity party raged on as I turned over each of those two measly dollars on my desk. In the center of one of the bills, some previous owner had circled the phrase “In God we trust.” I hung my head at the sting of those words. Realization of my lack of trust in God in that moment hit home.

Proverbs 3:5 says, Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. I was definitely leaning on my own understanding in this situation because I did not understand how God could leave me with two dollars to accomplish all I needed to accomplish that day. Right then, I asked God to forgive me. I told Him I was trusting Him to handle it. As I started to place the bills back in my purse, I noticed a tiny sliver of green wedged in the corner pocket. My eyes filled with tears as I pulled out a twenty-dollar bill.

I was reminded of words from a song that a group in our church sings:

“In God we trust, in God we trust,

We will live by these words, In God we trust;

And we call on America to join us,

So the world will know, in God we trust.”

What a reminder God gave me, that where my trust needs to be is most certainly not in me or in my own understanding. As a Christian, I want to point others to trust in God, but I cannot if I am constantly trusting in myself to get everything done. My trust needs to be in God.

Others are watching us—spouses, children, parents, co-workers, drive-thru cashiers, grocery clerks, friends, and neighbors. Our faith is on display to them. Do they see our trust placed in ourselves or placed in God?

That morning, I tucked the twenty-dollar bill along with the single, unmarked dollar bill in my wallet. As for that dollar bill with the circled phrase “In God we trust” on the back? Well, that dollar bill will remain in my wallet to remind me always of where my trust should be.

Who are you trusting today? I hope you will join me in saying, “In God we trust.”

by Beth Payton

In the early years of young motherhood, I was channel surfing in the wee morning hours while in the haze of sleeplessness forced by a hungry baby. I always thought these TV programmers should make a channel dedicated to nursing mothers at 3 a.m. and that they should fill it with all the shows that will surely keep moms awake enough to be able to put the baby back to bed and make it back into their own beds before passing out from exhaustion! (Side note: It is now called Netflix, you lucky present-day baby mamas!)

As I perused disturbing infomercials and random exercise videos (who is Sweatin’ to the Oldies at 3 a.m.?!), the channel landed on an old episode of Oprah. I paused out of curiosity at the lineup of overweight people sitting on the stage. What in the world could Oprah be doing trying to help others fight the “battle of the bulge,” considering she herself never stayed the same size through an entire season? This was sure to be good, so I stopped channel surfing to watch the train wreck.

On the show was Oprah’s own personal psychiatrist (who “helped” Oprah with her own weight problems). The psychiatrist was helping these poor people talk through the issue of not fitting into the clothes in their closets. The train wreck was getting better! To add to the abundance, this scrawny psychiatrist looked as if she would float away like a malnourished birthday balloon if someone were to sneeze on her. I was hooked!

The psychiatrist told all the obese people, while she ironically avoided eye contact with noticeably rotund Oprah, that their issues with overeating all stemmed back to trauma in their childhoods. She said she had never met an obese person who did not have childhood tragedy.

I literally laughed out loud! Yes, there I sat—my fluffy, postpartum self—filled with unabashed judgment at this crazy woman. As the psychiatrist told them that their fat was not their fault and that they needed to deal with their obvious childhood trauma, I yelled at the TV, “No, you nutty woman! Maybe they just like the taste of food! Chocolate and ice cream are always better than broccoli!”

That woman, with her hollow cheekbones, told those fat people that the problem was not eating too much, when it most definitely was! They loved food because food tastes good! They probably each had their favorite indulgences—ice cream, cookies, mac and cheese, or late night Cheez-It binging! These dear people just loved food! Yes, I will be the first to admit that this is super judgmental, but I totally could relate to these people.

Food is fun and delicious! It brings us together. When something good is happening, such as a birthday, anniversary, work promotion, etc., we celebrate together by eating at a restaurant or at a friend’s house. We host church potlucks for any reason worth a casual, congratulatory round of applause. Wherever a group is gathered for almost any reason, we can be sure there will always be something to eat!

Food binds wounds. I had a friend tell me once that if I ever needed to deliver bad news, I always needed to do it over dinner when everyone was either full or almost there because the news would be handled much better after food.

Food keeps us alive; we need it to live. No one enjoys feeling hungry. I used to fast one day a week in college while I prayed for God’s will for my life. Wednesdays were the longest day of the week because I was starving all day long! Breaking my fast at the end of the day was, many times, a batch of late-night Ramen noodles cooked in my hotpot in my dorm room, but it tasted like the best meal ever!

Food is hoarded, hidden, and stashed so we can indulge whenever we get a craving. Reader, before standing in judgment, please consider that snack the children will never know about that is hidden in the back of the pantry. This snack is only pulled out when the children are in the deepest REM sleep possible so that the little voices saying, “Can I have some?” can be avoided.

Now, imagine if we were to treat the Bible as we do our food obsessions. Imagine if we were to share God’s Word with all of those we love when we have something good happen in our lives. Think how much it would change our interactions if the Bible were a part of every celebration, no matter how big or small!

Consider what would happen if we were to talk about the Bible and the blessings of God before we discussed the negative things when the news is bad. How would our perception change if we opened the Bible and partook of its bounty before dealing with the problems of our lives? Would our wounds be bound by the balm of the Bible and become more bearable?

What if we fed on the Word when our earthly needs left us desolate and empty? What if we were to devour the promises in those pages as if we could not take another step without partaking? The hunger pains of humanistic thinking would dissipate. The grief, depression, and loneliness would be relieved through the abundance of God’s Word.

Think of how the happiness will flood our lives when we stockpile those verses in our hearts to be recalled when we have a craving to be reminded of God’s promises. If we hoard those passages in our memory, then when the night is darkest and loneliest, we will always have a stash of hope and a light to which we can run.

Best of all, if our Bible were the most delicious and desired thing in our lives, we would not be able to NOT share it with those who just “want a bite.” We can freely share with whomever will sit down at the table of Life, and we can serve up the spread from the Word of God.

We have such plenteous bounty to feast upon and to share with others. The best part of all is that we can never overindulge in the Bible. We will never feel guilty for devouring too much from God’s Word. It is the Bread of Life that never runs out, that never goes bad, and that never stops filling us up!

My friends, pull up a chair, grab your Bible, and dig in! You will have the greatest meal you have ever eaten when you sit at God’s table to enjoy the feast!

by Tracie S. Burns

Happy Monday. “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” We often hear songs with this phrase during the Christmas season. This bring to mind the question, “Is it really wonderful?” Except when facing a few dire circumstances, it can be just that if we choose it to be! Let us celebrate the most wonderful event in history by choosing wisely. This acrostic from the word celebrate will help us to find the wonder in Christmastime.

Choose to live each moment with joy. Life has “happened.” Children have grown up, loved ones have moved away, and illnesses have been endured. God told the Israelites to choose life (living for God) instead of death (disobeying God) in the beginning of Deuteronomy 30. Psalm 16:11 reminds us, …in thy presence is fulness of joy;… When we live in Christ, we can have joy. Go to Him!

Enjoy. We have so many blessings we can enjoy. Right now, I am sitting in front of my fireplace where I am toasty. We have food, friends, and another day to live. Yes, some things in life may not seem enjoyable. However, there is a quote that says, “Happy is he who learns to bear what he cannot change.”

Love. Yes, the Bible tells us to love our neighbors, but what it really means is to love everyone!

“Just to love, that’s enough; being loved, that’s a bonus.” – Dr. Jack Hyles

“The ones who disappoint you need you the most.” – Dr. Jack Hyles

Express gratitude. Give thanks now, no matter what the circumstances. Think back and be grateful for God’s blessings along the way! Write a note. Make a call. Tell others how special they are. “Gratitude is the memory of the heart.” – Jean-Baptiste Massieu

Bury yesterday’s hurts. Do away with unforgiveness, bitterness, and vengefulness. Let go of what might have been and think of what can still be done.

Rightly relate to the One Whose story we celebrate. Read His Love Letter, then spend time talking with and listening to Him.

Ask the Holy Spirit to manifest His fruit in the hectic, busy days. A calm can prevail.

Think happy, constructive thoughts. Good days and not so good days most often are preceded and then determined by a thought. For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:… – Proverbs 23:7

Expect to have a happy Christmas. We choose to make this so. The words of the heavenly host on that first Christmas spoke of joy, peace, and goodwill. We can let those words ring in our hearts when we choose to hear them all season long.

Remember, it is a wonderful life. Why? Because Jesus became one of us on a Christmas night long ago. He lived as we live. He truly understands!

 by Beverly Hyles

From the Mondays with Beverly blog. Reprinted with permission.

Several years ago, I received a traffic ticket as I was on my way home from work. I had left work and just started driving. The place where I worked was on a hill. Before I knew it, I saw blue lights flashing in my rearview mirror and quickly pulled over. After walking to my window, the officer asked the usual question, “Ma’am, do you know how fast you were going?” I honestly answered, “No.” I did not know how fast I had been driving. I had not been paying attention to my speed because I was just driving home. He informed me that I had been going almost 25 miles per hour over the speed limit and proceeded to write me a ticket for excessive speed.

The Lord reminded me of this incident this morning as I was headed to work. Both times I have received a ticket were not because I was in a hurry to get somewhere but simply because I was not paying careful attention to my speed. We all have routines that are so set that sometimes we end up going the wrong way just out of habit. Some mornings if I am not careful or if I just have something on my mind while I am driving, I have been known to stop at green lights or head to church on a workday. Our habits and routines are good, but sometimes it is good to stop and take notice of where we are. There have been many times when I have gotten ahead of God, not because I intentionally was being impatient but simply because I was not paying attention. It is easy to wander down a wrong path because we have allowed things to become routine.

I Peter 5:8 reminds us, Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: We must pay attention because the Devil certainly is paying close attention to us. He would love to catch us unaware so that he can send us down a wrong path. Fortunately, that chapter of I Peter does not end with verse 8. It continues in verses 9 and 10, Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. We do not need to be a casualty. Our faithfulness to pay attention to our walk is so important. The Bible says that we can be vigilant and that we can resist the Devil. God is waiting to give us the strength to do so and to keep us grounded as we march onward for Him. When we pay attention, we can slow down enough for God to take control and to show us the way!

by Vicki Voorhis

I am one of those unfortunate souls who was born with a perpetual “black thumb.” In fact, it is in such rough shape at this point that it is classified as “zombie thumb.” Name any houseplant, and at some point in my life, I have sent that species to a premature grave, despite my best efforts. I recently warned my ladies Sunday school class that, although I have seen every episode of Little House on the Prairie multiple times (which basically makes me a farmer by proxy, right?), I cannot for the life of me grow anything other than children, dogs, and mold on the produce in my refrigerator.

A couple weeks ago, one of the ladies in my class gifted me the strangest-looking plant. It had a round red base of wax covering the flower bulb and a long green stalk shooting straight up from the bulb. She assured me that this plant needed no tending—no care, no pruning, no water. She said just to leave it sitting near a window for some sunshine and that it would eventually flower. How absurd! A plant that needed no upkeep? Yes, she told me with certainty that it would just grow and flower without extra attention. It would do what God had made it to do without my help.

So, I took him home—this strange little plant whom I named Todd—and set him on my kitchen table by the window. For the next few days, I watched Todd suspiciously. How could a plant without soil or water do anything but keel over? Each day, that odd green shoot inched upward little by little, and I considered it to be a positive sign that, by the end of the first week, nothing had yet turned brown or crunchy looking. A few weird nubs had appeared at the end of the green stalk, too.

Another few days went by. The nubs had evolved into this weird pod that seemed to be opening. Okay, this was hopeful. Todd was not only still alive but also blooming! By the two-week mark, the pod opened into the most beautiful red flowers—not just one but four flowers!

Todd did not need my help. God had created him to grow and flower with what God had already given him. All my opinions and extensive plant-homicide experience had no bearing on what God had intended all along. God did not need my help to do what He wanted with His own creation.

The Bible is full of people who “helped” God, and rarely did things end well.

• Naomi and Elimelech tried to help God feed their family by leaving the place where God had put them. Naomi lost her husband and two sons and was left a destitute widow.
• Abraham and Sarah tried to help God keep His promise of giving them an heir, and Hagar and Ishmael suffered because of it.
• Saul set aside animals that God told him to destroy and forfeited his crown.
• Uzzah put his hand on the Ark of the Covenant to steady it and lost his life.

God does not need our help. He will fulfill every promise He has given us in His Word. We do not need to set things in motion or create the “best-case scenario” for Him. Our responsibility is to be obedient and humble enough to trust God to do what He said He will do in His time. The Bible reminds us in James 4 that God acts upon our humility: …God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. (James 4:6, 10) Our self-confidence or pride should never attempt to usurp God’s faithfulness, for what is our faith if we cannot trust the One in Whom we place that faith?

Friend, trust in God’s faithfulness to fulfill His promises to you. Wait on His timing as He waters your life with His wisdom. Set down your situation in His light, and let Him grow what He chooses from those circumstances. Be humble enough to know He will do all He says He will do without your help. In the end, you will see the blooms of His faithfulness in your life if you are willing to trust Him to do the growing.

Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. (Psalm 127:1)

by Tracie S. Burns

Editor’s Note: This writer approached me recently concerning her desire to spend time in the presence of seasoned Christians in order to glean their wisdom and to put these interactions into article form for Christian Ladies Fellowship. This is the sixth of several interviews that she has written with the intent to help and motivate a younger generation of Christian ladies to examine how much more of their lives can they give to God. I know each reader will be encouraged through these unique interviews by Abigail Medford.

An Interview with Barbara Simpson

Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives. – I Peter 3:1

Much has been said and written to women about the importance of our conversations. The word “conversation” has two common meanings. The first and most often used today refers to a verbal exchange between two or more people. The second meaning and most often used in the Bible refers to our manner of life. Today, I want to tell you the story of Mrs. Barbara Simpson, an inspiring lady in our church, and how God has used her conversations to affect the lives of a countless multitude of people.

Our story begins about forty years ago when some Baptist Navy wives stationed in Puerto Rico asked their friend, Barbara Simpson, a simple question, “Did you get saved?”

Barbara Simpson, although having been raised Methodist, was taken aback. “Saved? What’s that?”

After her friends explained the gospel to her, she accepted Christ and was eager to grow in her Christian faith and find a good church for her family. Her opportunity came when her husband was transferred to Florida in 1981. Without success, she tried a few Methodist churches in the area, then settled on Clay Baptist Temple (now Immanuel Baptist Church). Her two young daughters were saved quickly thereafter, and they joined the church together. Mrs. Simpson’s attention then turned to the other members of her family. Sadly, her husband would resist the gospel, but Mrs. Simpson was able to lead her mother-in-law and both her parents to Christ. Now, her eight grandchildren are saved as well (two are serving as youth pastors), and she has the comfort that her two great grandchildren and any more that will follow will be brought up in homes with a Christian influence. That simple conversation between Navy wives in Puerto Rico has gone on to bear much fruit.

Mrs. Simpson did not stop her soulwinning efforts with just her family. She joined in the soulwinning ministries at church as well. During our conversation, she confessed that she never felt that she became a great soulwinner because she always gets too nervous. She explained she just desperately wants everyone to whom she speaks to get saved, but she has been able to lead many to the Lord. Most memorable in her mind was another Navy wife, Linda Paquay, who she met during door-to-door witnessing. Linda invited Barbara inside her home and listened eagerly. She was saved, then brought her husband and two-year-old daughter to church. Linda Paquay became an incredibly active soulwinner, famous for her confidence and courage in sharing the gospel. For many years, she was the soulwinning partner of the pastor’s wife’, and together, they led countless souls to the saving knowledge of Christ. Without a doubt, there were now many people without the word who had been won by the conversation of the wives.

Barbara Simpson is still an incredible witness for Christ today. While no longer able to go door-to-door soulwinning, she passes out tracts and shares the gospel as often as she can. It is undeniable that she has remained dedicated to the Lord. A few reasons for her continued faithfulness can be found in her conversation, that is, her way of life.

She has remained humble.

Though she has now been saved for many decades, Mrs. Simpson still seeks wisdom and counsel from God and her pastor. She has never felt that she has “arrived” in her Christian life. She mentioned that she still has questions when she reads her Bible and will take them to her pastor so she can understand better. She has a sincere desire to continue to learn and a great love for her church and church family.

She is willing to take a stand.

Soon after she joined Clay Baptist Temple, Mrs. Simpson felt that her daughters needed to attend the Christian school there. Her husband was unsupportive because, as he said, “I moved you to the best school district in Florida!” Undeterred, Mrs. Simpson took on extra jobs to pay for her daughters’ tuition herself. She had heard their tales of drugs and other vices at their public middle school and wanted her innocent daughters safely away from that environment. During their teenage years, she was sometimes the only one in her household that wanted them to stay in Christian school, but she remained firm. Her daughters both graduated from Christian school and went on to Bible college. Now, with all of her grandchildren saved, she knows that her stand was worth it.

She guarded against a root of bitterness.

Mrs. Simpson said that early on she learned the lesson to not get upset with anything that happened at school or church because she did not want offense to turn into anger and then that anger turn into bitterness. She tries her hardest to give everyone the benefit of the doubt, knowing that everyone has bad days. She guarded against any friends who were bitter because, sooner or later, she knew those friends would leave the things of God. She especially guarded against letting her daughters see that something bothered her, not wanting a moment of weakness to allow her daughters to become bitter.

In conclusion, I want to share a Bible passage particularly beloved by Barbara Simpson, John 14:1-3 says, Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. Someday, Barbara Simpson will pass on to Heaven to see the mansion prepared for her. Linda Paquay will be waiting for her, having made her heavenly journey many years before. Barbara will also see again the Navy wives who shared the gospel message with her. Only then will the full story of the impact of their conversations be known.

Christian lady, after reading the testimony of Mrs. Barbara Simpson, you too are part of this conversation. Will you be faithful, as they were, to allow your conversation to spread the gospel message?

by Abigail Medford

Have you ever been late to school, a job meeting, an appointment, or another event? It is part of being human. Being late means we arrive at our destination after the time we were supposed to be there. We made it to where we were supposed to be but were not on time. We may enjoy sleeping in, and this could cause us to be late. Other factors such as traffic or children can make us late, or we use these things as excuses for our tardiness. We become irresponsible with the time we have. We may say, “Oh, I have enough time,” or “Who cares if I am a little late?”

As a former EMT, I previously worked out of an ambulance. Sometimes we were dispatched to help someone who was at the point of death. We would do all we could do for that patient, but our efforts fell short at times. In our minds, and in the minds of that person’s family, we were too late on those occasions. Just as we faced loss when we were too late, there are many who will face an even greater loss when they slip off into eternity without accepting Jesus as their Saviour; it will be too late for them to see Heaven.

The word late is mentioned only three times in the Bible. Conversely, the word early is mentioned more than eighty times in the Bible. Being early—spending time with God early and praying early—is important to God. As soon as the Holy Spirit convicts us, we need to respond early. We also need to share the Gospel early.

God is never late, and He never misses a meeting. He is never caught off guard because of the traffic or the children. He never misses His alarm clock and never hits the snooze button. The following are a few mentions of the word early that God included for us in His Word:

• Proverbs 8:17 says, …those that seek me early shall find me.
• Psalm 57:8 says, …I myself will awake early.
• Psalm 63:1 says, …early will I seek thee:…
• Hosea 5:15 says, …in their affliction they will seek me early.
• John 8:2 says, And early in the morning he came again into the temple,…

As Christians, we have a responsibility to be early. Being early is important because the Bible emphasizes it. We must not get stuck in the rut of being late. It does not need to be that way. If we take our time seriously and use it as God would have us to use it, we will be growing Christians. What if we were to set our alarms earlier than normal? Would we hit the snooze button twice as much, or would we get up and spend time in God’s Word? What if we were to leave the house earlier? What if we were to knock on more doors? What if we were to go into work early for more time to talk with our coworkers in order to invite them to church? What if we were to arrive at church earlier so we could fellowship? Would people be more encouraged? What would change in our lives if we were to get serious about being early?

God gives us all the same twenty-four hours in a day. It is never too late to get right with God. It is never too late to go to God in prayer. It is never too late to tell someone about Jesus. Our time on this earth is passing quickly. May we as Christians strive to be early so that we may use the time we are given to honor and glorify God.

by Mandy Harper

Happy Monday. “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.”

In my house and my neighborhood, things are looking festive. I love this season of the year because of the Christmas story, the beautiful music, and the lights on EVERYTHING. I think there is still a small child in each of us at Christmastime.

However, we must beware. I think there also may be a little “Scrooge” lurking just beneath the surface. Things get busy with parties, shopping, meal planning, and gift buying when money and time are scarce. Many may feel that they want to say, “Bah! Humbug!”

The story of “The Little Drummer Boy” is a lesson of putting the right perspective on the season. This was written in 1941 by Katherine Davis. To sum up the story of the song, the Magi had brought very expensive gifts to baby Jesus. The boy had only his little drum, so he played on his drum a simple tune, “Me and my drum.” Mary accepted it; Jesus smiled.

The simplicity of the story reminds me of what Christmas is. God gave us His best Gift! Some of the best gifts which money cannot buy would be kindness, courtesy, a considerate heart, a good-natured spirit, and a smile. All of these are so appreciated. Therefore, when the Scrooge wants to rear his ugly head, let us give these gifts that cost nothing on purpose!

Dr. Hyles often said, “You can’t be good to others without being good to yourself.”

Ecclesiastes 11:1 says, Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.

When Mary sacrificed the expensive perfume to anoint Jesus’ feet, the fragrance filled HER house!

A very tiny courtesy

I found to do today;

‘Twas quickly done, with none to see,

And then I ran away.

But someone must have witnessed it,

For—truly I declare—

As I sped back the stony path

Roses were blooming there.

– Wihla Hutson

This Christmas season I say, “Goodbye, Scrooge!”

by Beverly Hyles

From the Mondays with Beverly blog. Reprinted with permission.

Some memories are harder than others. This week we have been asked to pray for a dear church member who went in for surgery as a result of her cancer. This is a prayer request for which I have extra empathy since it was just four short years ago that I was coveting the prayers of our church members for my own mom. It was an especially difficult time in my life—watching my mom fight cancer, seeing my son spread his wings and fly (in the wrong direction), and striving to be the caretaker and cornerstone of the family through what might have been her last days. As difficult as that time of my life was, I mostly remember the good things that were showered upon us by so many.

God brings to mind Galatians 6:10: As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. This verse came to life for me during that time as the household of faith carried us through. Countless numbers of people prayed, visited, brought meals, sent cards, and simply “did good” for my family. These are the memories that count the most when I think about Mom’s battle with cancer.

My mom is a fighter! Maybe that is how I got some of my stubbornness. One thing is for certain—anesthesia and drugs have a way of displaying what is inside a person. As Mom came out of anesthesia after her first surgery, her first words were, “Let’s go, or we’ll be late for church.” It was a Wednesday night, and she knew where we were supposed to be! Of course, she has no recollection of anything she said, and we enjoy teasing her about all the other crazy things that she tried to talk about as she drifted in and out of that deep sleep.

It was not long before God put us through another test. She developed what we now know was Stevens-Johnson Syndrome. It was a severe reaction to the chemo that literally burned her from the inside out. Once again, we found ourselves at her bedside praying for a miracle. She was at the lowest part of her life. Stripped of everything that made her beautiful from man’s viewpoint (breasts were gone, hair was shaved, nails were unmanageable), this beautiful woman I call “Mom” displayed a character of which I can only hope to have a fraction when I am faced with the same situations. As I watched her try to eat, to stay awake, and to remember things, I came to realize that she is the living example of Philippians 2:3-4, which says, Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

Every time she would wake up from her drugged state, she would ask, “How is So-and-so doing?” or she would instruct, “Make sure So-and-so gets what they need.” While she was being forced to drink her broth, she would ask again, “How is So-and-so?” Every waking moment included a conversation about someone else who was on her mind. She was the one in the hospital bed, but it was evident that others were always more important to her than herself.

That season in our lives taught me that all our rushing through meals, emails, and phone calls can easily get us distracted from what is really important. It taught me that all these things do not count as much as the people in our lives. We need to slow down and appreciate the what and the who God has given us.

Do not wait until your loved ones are in a hospital bed to show how much you love them. Spend quality time with them now. Talk to them on the phone for more than a moment now—NOW—before it is too late!

I am thankful God gave me the opportunity to sit with my mom during her lowest time and to see the beauty that I have always taken for granted. I am glad I was able to feed her, give her foot rubs, massage her legs, and share good memories with her during the lucid moments rather than suffering regrets of missed opportunities. Most of all, I am grateful that I am still able to learn from her since God has given her more years to show me how to focus on others and to …do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

by Melissa Caperton

Have you ever read a Scripture passage and felt as though a truth jumped out at you that previously you had never noticed?

This is what happened to me as I was writing a familiar passage, Acts 1:7-8: And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. In verse 7, Jesus was responding to the question the disciples asked concerning whether He was going to restore His kingdom at that time.

Many applications can be made from this passage, especially regarding soul winning. Witnessing requires the Holy Spirit’s power. We are commanded to be witnesses. We are told to reach our Jerusalem and even the uttermost. While these are valid applications, there is another application to be made here: Do not worry about the future; just get busy now!

The disciples wanted to know what the future held, as many of us do. Jesus was concerned only with “right now.” Just as He reminded these men, He often reminds us that we do not need to know the future. We need to do what is right in the present.

God has a plan for our lives. As we are doing what is right in our current stage of life, God will arrange all the pieces in the next stage. Our responsibility is just to do what we know to do today. When we try to figure out the future instead of serve in the present, we rob ourselves of the joy of trusting God with the right now.

Yes, we should be praying for the future of ourselves, our children, and those we love; however, while we stay busy in the present, the Father will take care of our future. We do not need to worry about the future; instead, let us get busy right now!

by Vicki Voorhis

The world is in an uproar. Sanity is blatantly absent, and chaos has taken root. The mainstream media is feeding us lies. Social media is filled with copious opinions, some which may be truth and some which may be lies, with everything in between. Truth is being censored and silenced. People think that posting a frivolous meme will change the hearts of evil men. Some even think they can stop evil and hatred if they themselves commit acts of evil and hatred.

Today, I considered the passage in II Corinthians 4:8-9 which says, We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; If I listen to the noise of this world without weighing it against the truth of God’s Word, my state of mind would merely be this: We are troubled on every side,…we are perplexed,…Persecuted,…cast down,… I would need to leave off the parts that say, …yet not distressed;…but not in despair;…but not forsaken;…but not destroyed;

Without eternal Hope, I am left in devastation. Yes, this country is desperately in need of help on many fronts, but mostly due to the lack of godliness. These are the results of a society that has been fed humanistic philosophies for decades and not the principles of God’s Word. Politics will not repair this. Rioting will not change things for good and right. Social media battles will not tilt the scales toward peace. How can I find peace?

I have the Bible, the only Truth which is God’s Word. Yes, I can turn off the avenues to the false hope of this world (television, social media, etc.) and open my Bible. I do not need to live a life merely …troubled on every side,…perplexed,…Persecuted,…cast down,… I can be …yet not distressed;…but not in despair;…but not forsaken;…but not destroyed; because I have Hope!

I have a place of Hope found in Jeremiah 29:11. Here, God reminds us, For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Therefore, I can go to that place in verses 12-13: Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

I just need to look for Hope. He already has all of my days planned. All I must do is pray to Him and seek Him. When my heart is fully focused on God and not focused on the things of this world, I will find my Saviour’s perfect peace.

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

– Isaiah 26:3

by Tracie S. Burns

We all have experienced sadness in our lives. If not yet, we will at some point. It is a natural part of being human. Some sadness is brief and fleeting like the sunny showers in Florida. Other sadness can hit like a hurricane, coming at us strong and leaving behind a path of destruction. Regardless of the type of sadness, one constant has remained in my life: the joy that comes from God alone. He promises us in Isaiah 12:3, Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. I am so thankful that no matter how dire the circumstances are, I can tap into the well of salvation to draw out joy!

I recall a major hurricane that wreaked havoc in my life. After seventeen years, my marriage was ripped apart. The grief I experienced during that storm was immense because I was losing my family. I had done everything I could to hold on to the marriage, yet I kept losing. It was all I could do to pull myself out of bed each day and keep on going. Here are some of the lessons that God taught me during this storm.

I must choose to do right.

While I thought I wanted nothing more than to save my marriage, I was reminded that there was something bigger that needed my focus. I needed to do right. I had two children to protect. I needed to stand on principle rather than cave in to the demands of a manipulator. I learned to listen to God first. It was tempting to give in and to take the easy road; but James 1:12 reminded me, Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. I love God, so I knew I must endure the trial for His glory.

I must be in my place.

It would have been easy to pull out and avoid the questioning looks from fellow church members. It would have been easy to run away to another city and start over, or so it seemed. Every time I thought about pulling back, God reminded me that I was commanded to be in my place. Hebrews 10:25 says, Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. I needed the exhortation, and He wanted me to be in church to get the support necessary to survive this storm.

It is okay to cry.

For weeks and then months, I could not attend a church service without tears flowing. Sometimes, it was because I was losing the battle. Other times, it was because of all the painful emotions. When the soloist sang “Someone Is Praying for You,” it felt as if she were singing directly to my heart. I learned that it was okay to cry. I was in good company because, after all, Jesus wept (John 11:35). In my times of deep sorrow, my church family allowed me to be human. I am forever grateful that they let me mourn without prying into my reasons. I was able to work through my sorrow and look forward to the day mentioned in Revelation 7:17 and 21:4 when …God shall wipe away all tears…

God will fight my battles.

Perhaps this is the most important lesson I learned. He not only will wipe away my tears one day but also will fight my battles for me right now. Jeremiah 31:2 says, Thus saith the LORD, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest. Even though I was devastated and in a wilderness, I had grace available to me. God was fighting my battles so I could rest.

There can be joy in times of sadness.

Psalm 34:17-18 says, The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. What a blessing to realize that God hears me, delivers me, and wants to draw nigh unto me!

The sadness does not have to last forever. Psalm 30:5 gives us the promise that …weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. John 16:20 reminds us that …ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

Meanwhile, if you are going through a storm, decide to do right no matter what; stand by your biblical principles. Regardless of how difficult it may be, strive to be in your place; do not quit serving God and being faithful. Remember that it is okay to cry; mourning is part of healing. Then, when things seem to be the most impossible to endure, do not give up because you can rest assured that God will fight your battles for you. I am a testimony that there can be joy in times of sadness and that one day your sorrow will indeed be turned into joy!

by Melissa Caperton