Social media recently reminded me that all those who went to college with me have now entered the high school graduate and college-aged parenting phase of life—a phase I am entering as well! It seems like yesterday we all stood where our children stand now, when in reality, a quarter of a century or more has passed for many of us! Was it not just last year my children were entering the youth group as awkward 7^th graders? Was it not just a couple more years ago they were starting preschool, so excited to be “going to school” like the big kids?

The end of the school year and the beginning of the next hold such emotions and garner such nostalgia as our children grow and move through their own stages of life. We remember when we were the awkward junior highers. We recall the excited butterflies we felt as we donned our graduation regalia. So, it makes sense that, in our mind’s eye, we still see our children as those small, sweet babies and toddlers, even when we have reminded some of them in the last week to shave those three fledgling beard hairs!

If not careful to keep the proper mindset, parents (maybe even grandparents) can get stuck in the past, whether that be in the “has-beens” or the things they wish they had done differently. Parents can allow fear to creep in when refusing to see their children as ready for the transitions of life, allowing their own “what-ifs” to inhibit their children’s natural growth and changes.

One thing I have learned over the years is the slow, subtle “letting go” is good and normal. It is not something to be feared or mentally battled over and over while watching our children grow to become what God wants them to be. We should not mourn the past but should rejoice in our children’s promising future. We must allow them to discover who God wants them to become, give them the space and opportunity to do hard things, and stop paving their God-given gravel patches along life’s path that are meant to teach them the lessons they must learn.

My daughter, my oldest, just graduated from high school, and although I thought I might cry at the ceremony, my face hurt from smiling instead. First, I am not much of a crier. (I have deep emotions, but they just do not leak out of my eyeballs all that often!) Mostly, watching my girl reach a huge milestone and achieve a hard-earned goal gave me overwhelming joy. She is about to enter yet another life transition. There will be bumps and hard-learned lessons along the way. I continue to pull away so that she can have the space to grow without me trying to micromanage what essentially is God’s job to do.

Parenting takes enormous trust in God. I have discovered it is our own spiritual growth over the years that allows us to acquire this. When my children were babies, I needed trust in God, but it was beginner trust. As they entered school and I placed them in the hands of others to teach them, I required more trust in Him. As they joined the teen group, I needed even more trust, praying fervently that they would make the right decisions in choosing friends and doing right. When they started driving, the trust in God had to hit a huge level-up phase! Now, as they prepare for college and make those monumental life decisions that will inevitably shape their future, I have little else but my trust in God, grown over the years, onto which to cling.

As our control loosens, our trust in God must grow if we want to continue having the influence we desire. Our prayer life must increase steadily if we are to have the peace necessary to be the example our children need to see. Our own spiritual walk becomes even more important as we unwind the rope of parental authority in their lives.

As they grow, change, and become what God wants them to be, dismiss the fear and the “what-ifs”. Go to the feet of the One in Whom we can place our trust. Those sweet babies are His, after all, only on loan to us for a short time. Do not ever lose sight of the fact that He has given us the amazing priviledge of preparing them to serve Him.

No matter the parenting phase in which you find yourself today, your spiritual walk and trust in God are inarguably the most vital parts to productive parenting. Remember that the fears and doubts plaguing you did not come from the Lord. Instead of allowing these to consume you, pour your heart out to Him in moments of worry and uncertainty. Turn to His Word and cling to His promises when unsure of the next step. Relish those sweet memories, but do not get stuck in the past. Parenting is one of the hardest and most rewarding jobs you will ever have, and it can be one of the greatest successes of your life if you allow God to lead you through each change and transition.

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust…He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. – Psalm 91:1-2, 4

by Tracie S. Burns

Psalm 107

Every time I read Psalm 107, I am awestruck with the message in a couple of verses that repeats itself three or four times throughout the passage. Verse 6 says, Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses. This thought is repeated three more times in verses 13, 19, and 28. Verse 8 says, Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! This verse also repeats itself three more times in verses 15, 21, and 31.

In between all of these verses, there are different times throughout the passage in which God paints a picture of the situation or circumstance that brought these people to the point that they needed to cry out to the Lord. Their trouble was so dire that they knew that only God could help them out of it. Let us take a look at these times when the people prayed to the Lord.

Times of Loneliness

Even after God brings us out of a bad situation, we tend to ignore Him and think we can handle things on our own. We do not need anybody, especially not God. What usually happens is that we end up wandering in the wilderness alone with no place to go. (Verses 4-5)

All of us go through times when we feel that we have nowhere to turn. We shut off ourselves from others and get so wrapped up in our circumstances that we feel as though no one cares. Loneliness can be an overwhelming thing. That is why we should never forget the things that God has done for us in the past and the things that He continues to do for us in our present situation. When we feel alone, we should reach out to God and ask Him to deliver us.

Times of Sadness and Death

The darkest times of our lives are when we go through times of sadness and death. We tend to become the most discouraged during these times because we cannot see “the light at the end of the tunnel.” We let ourselves become so overwhelmed with grief that we cry out to God and ask for His deliverance as we try to make some sense of our situation. There is nothing wrong with doing this, and we should not feel bad when we cry out to God during sad times in our lives. It is okay to feel this way for a season. We just need to learn to reach out to God not only in the sad times in our lives but also in the good times. If we learn to seek Him in the good times, it will not be as hard to seek Him during the bad times also.

Times of Foolishness

All of us do foolish things at some point in our lives. We completely ignore the guidance and counsel given to us, and we go our own way. We think we can do everything on our own; and because we choose to take the wrong path, we find ourselves afflicted almost to the point of death in some cases. It is in these times that we repent and call out to God, asking for deliverance. Why do we wait to call upon God until we have no other way out?

Times of Trouble and Distress

Things in life can get very hectic at times. If we are not careful, we can get overwhelmed with responsibilities at work, responsibilities at church, responsibilities as a wife and mother, or whatever else we find ourselves doing. We get to the point that we feel as if we are drowning in a sea of stress and craziness! (Verses 25-27) When we feel this way, we should remember to praise the Lord, despite our circumstances, because the joyous times always outweigh the bad times. I know that sometimes it is hard to take a step back from our difficult circumstances and remember the good things that God has done in our lives. It is hard, but it is necessary.

I challenge each of us to take a moment to …praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

by April Hernandez

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. – Psalm 139:23-24

This summer we have started what we call “room inspections.” Every day, I go into my children’s rooms and check off whether or not they have picked up all of their laundry and toys and also make sure their beds are made. Sometimes I give them a warning of whether or not I am coming to inspect their rooms, and sometimes I do not. As I walk into each room, I first look under the bed to see if I can find anything that should not be there. Usually, I find Legos under the boys’ beds, and I usually find shoes or candy wrappers under my daughter’s bed. After this, I look under their dressers to see what may be hiding there. This tends to be an area that they always forget to clean. I then check each closet to make sure every piece of clothing is hung up as it should be. After these areas are checked, I make sure the beds are made to my liking and ensure that nothing is out of order.

Before all of this happens, when I announce, “Room inspections in 10 minutes,” my three children hurry to their rooms! One may say, “Mom! That’s not enough time. I still have laundry to fold!” I can sense the worry that they experience. My children know that if they clean their rooms and do daily chores, they are rewarded, sometimes in ice cream or with a little spending money. As mom, I can tell if they do a half-hearted job—just to get by—or if they really tried their best at doing a good job.

I wonder if sometimes we as Christians forget about our “room inspections” and neglect our daily clean up in our own lives. When the Lord announces, “Room inspections in 10 minutes,” do we panic and say, “But Lord, I have to clean this up before You see my room!”? Do we say, “Lord, I have not prayed today,” or “I have not read my Bible,” or “I have not confessed this sin.”? Do we try to do a half-hearted job in our own hearts and think, “Well, that’s good enough. I can get by with just reading one verse a day.”? Maybe we try to hide something that should not be there. I am afraid that we find ourselves saying these things too often.

The Psalmist David said, “Lord, search me! Search my heart.” He was not hiding anything from God. He did not tell God, “Hey, just look over here in this spot! That’s clean!” No! He opened up his heart willingly for the Lord to examine it.

As Christians, let us be willing every day to say as David said, Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Let us invite the Lord to inspect our hearts today. Let us allow Him to show us where we need to clean up in our lives so we can be used of Him!

by Mandy Harper

Being a parent is the hardest but most rewarding job there is. With that job comes the biggest responsibility—to raise our children for the Lord. God chose us, of all the people in the world, to be the parents of our precious children. He could have chosen anyone, but He chose us. He entrusted us to raise those children for Him. There is no greater privilege or responsibility.

Unfortunately, many Christian parents will dedicate their children to the Lord, but they seemingly forget what that actually means. It does not mean that they are relieved from any responsibilities. It actually means the opposite. By dedicating their children to the Lord, their responsibilities are dramatically increased. They are admitting that their children belong to God and that they are responsible to raise them for Him.

Everything we do as parents should be with the intention of teaching our children to bring praise, honor, and glory to the Lord. Far too often though, Christian parents teach their children to bring praise, honor, and glory to themselves. Yes, the Bible teaches that we are to honor our father and mother, but it also teaches that Christ is to have the preeminence in all things. If we are not careful, instead of raising our children to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord, we will be found hindering their spiritual growth.

Here are some ways that we hinder our children’s spiritual growth:

When we neglect to teach our children that all sin is against God, we are hindering their spiritual growth.

We need to make sure our children understand that when they back talk, throw tantrums, etc., they are displeasing the Lord. It is not about them embarrassing us or getting on our nerves; it is about them displeasing the Lord. When they disobey us, they ultimately are disobeying the Lord.

When we do not discipline them, we are hindering their spiritual growth.

If we are honest, we would admit that we do not enjoy making our children cry or causing them to be upset with us. Disciplining our children is unpleasant yet necessary. It is our job as parents to teach our children that there are consequences for their decisions. We must teach them that no sin goes unpunished. If we do not discipline our children, we are setting them up for failure in society and in their Christian lives.

When we do not live by example, we are hindering their spiritual growth.

Children are imitators, and we must give them something worth imitating. They will follow our example more than they will ever follow our words. “Do as I say, not as I do” is a terrible way to raise children. We should be showing them right and wrong and how to serve the Lord by our example. We cannot expect our children to obey the Lord if we do not do so ourselves.

When we tell them they can be anything they want to be and do anything they want to do, we are hindering their spiritual growth.

Yes, we should always encourage our children to reach for the stars and never to quit, but we must never teach them to do it independently from the Lord. We must not allow them to neglect seeking God’s will for their lives. God has a purpose and plan for every person. We are responsible to teach our children not to be and to do what they want but to be and to do what He wants.

When we limit their involvement in or suppress their excitement for the work of God, we are hindering their spiritual growth.

Above any physical talents that our children may have (i.e. playing sports, singing, natural beauty, etc.), we need to praise and exalt the things that they do that please the Lord, such as reading the Bible, memorizing the Bible, praying, soulwinning, obeying, etc. It is also important that we do not limit their involvement in the things of God. When our children want to go soulwinning or maybe be involved in a ministry, we must not discourage them from doing it. Parents are often busy and do not make the time for their children to be involved in the work of God. This is very dangerous. One day we will wish they would be involved, but they will not because we had discouraged it when they had wanted to do it.

When we disagree with those in authority, we are hindering their spiritual growth.

We may not always agree with those in authority (pastor, teachers, government officials, etc.), but we must never voice our disagreement in front of our children. When we tear down authority, we do our children a huge disservice. We teach them that no one can tell them what to do. It is our job to teach our children to obey the authorities over them, as long as what they are being told to do is not sinful.

When we direct their lives, we are hindering their spiritual growth.

Yes, as parents we are to guide and direct their lives; but we are not to do so selfishly. It is so easy as parents to think that we know exactly what is best for our children. Many parents go as far as pushing their children into what they think they should do in life. They make decisions regarding their career choice, who they should marry, where they should go to school, etc. It is often difficult to let our children make their own decisions, especially if we do not think it is best or if it will move them away from us, but we must. It is not our job to hold their hands and make their decisions for them. We must allow them to grow and train them to follow the path that God has for their lives.

We have so many responsibilities as parents, but by far, our greatest responsibility is to raise our children for the Lord. We will surely fail in this area if we hinder their spiritual growth. By no means is it an easy task to train up children in the way they should go, but the end result will be worth every effort—they will not depart from it!

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. – Proverbs 22:6

by Crystal Collingsworth

When a young couple is expecting a child, they are asked, “Do you want a boy or a girl?” A common answer is, “Oh, it doesn’t really matter, just as long as the baby is healthy.” We know what parents mean when they say this, but what if the baby is not healthy?

Unfortunately, when a baby is born with abnormalities, some parents panic and do not know what to do. If the issue is discovered before birth, tragically, a mother may choose to abort the child rather than having to “deal with a problem.” In other cases, the child is left unwanted by one parent or both parents. Some families split apart because of the stress of dealing with a baby who has special needs. This is a sad commentary on how selfishly some people can view life. We know, though, that God makes no mistakes. A special needs child is not an “uh-oh” made by God; rather, this child is a gift with which God has entrusted his parents.

In 2002, God chose to bless my husband and I with Lindsey Joy, our daughter with special needs. In the decades since she joined our family, there have been times of trials, times of not understanding, times of not knowing what to do next, as well as times of great joy. Looking back today, I do not think we would change a thing. There is no doubt that we never would have been able to make this journey through the years without God.

Proverbs 3:5-6 is a very familiar passage of Scripture, but our journey has made these verses real to us: Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. It is only through His strength, wisdom, and guidance that we have been able to make it this far. While I am grateful for all the doctors and therapists Lindsey has seen over the years, I firmly believe the reason she has flourished as she has is because everything—every doctor’s visit, every therapy session, every medical test—was bathed in prayer! We sought God’s wisdom before we sought the doctor’s wisdom. After we received a medical report, we sought advice from our pastor. His advice was just as valuable as the doctor’s, if not more valuable.

My husband and I could write a book about the various lessons we have learned throughout the years. To attempt to summarize everything in one short article is impossible. However, for those families into which God has seen fit to place a special needs child, my prayer is that they would view it as just that—special. I do realize that no two situations are alike when it comes to rearing a special needs child, but I believe there are some things that we have learned and applied to our lives that may be a help and an encouragement to those in a similar situation.

• Trust the Lord. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. – Proverbs 3:5-6)
• Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. – Philippians 4:6
• Stay faithful to church. 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. – Hebrews 10:25
• Seek the pastor’s counsel. The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise. – Proverbs 12:15
• Read the Bible. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. – Psalm 119:105)
• Keep the whole family engaged in church activities. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. – Matthew 6:33

Some may say, “Those lessons are nothing new. There’s no secret formula there.” Well, that is exactly the point I am trying to make. While there have been many times of uncertainty when it seemed my husband and I had hit a brick wall or when we did not know what to do, we simply stayed faithful to the things that both of us had been taught all our lives. Together, we have learned that God is faithful. As any parent can testify, there is no “normal” when it comes to rearing children. Each child is different, and every child is special.

The principles found in the Word of God work in every situation.

As far as we are concerned, our journey with Lindsey Joy is a lifelong adventure. We are so blessed to call her our daughter. She was not a mistake; she is God’s gift to us. Often, we affectionately call her “Joy.” I cannot even imagine our lives without her. God has been so good to us, for it is by His grace that we have had any success rearing our children—even the one who is “special.”

by Jennifer Fox

In those precarious days of youth when everything seemed rather black and white, I expressed to my dad (also my pastor at the time) the frustration I felt toward those in our church who complained and shared their unwanted opinions but never seemed to show up when there was work to be done. They had lots of advice on how the church needed to be run or what the pastor and his family should do; however, they were rarely found at churchwide soulwinning. When volunteers were needed for a project or an event, they “had to work” or “had a family thing.” They avoided commitments that involved giving up their weekends and behaved as if their presence at church was a sacrifice for which the rest of the church should be grateful.

Dad’s soft reply showed his pastor’s heart, “Tracie, people will always do what they WANT to do. You can’t fix them, but you can love people where they are at.”

Of course, as a young person, this was not the answer I wanted to hear. In my mind, the complainers needed to be set straight! I was vehemently defensive of my parents because I knew how hard they worked. I saw their sacrifices for others, their toil in the ministry, and even their heartbreak of disappointment. I saw them pour endlessly into their church people, some of who never reciprocated but continued to take. While I mindfully did not want to become one of those jaded PKs who often wound up bitter and resentful, I saw nothing wrong with holding people to a standard of, at the least, caring enough to show up when they were needed for the people who had done so much for them.

In the decades since, God has taught me much compassion and patience. I have indeed learned to love people where they are at in life. Instead of trying to “fix” them, I have learn to pray for them and to speak words of encouragement instead. God has taught me (maybe with the help of my dad) to stand back and let people do what they want to do.

However, Dad’s words of wisdom have remained in my heart through the years. That phrase, “People do what they want to do,” makes me look inward these days. It forces me examine at my own motivations and my own priorities.

I recently read one of those proverbial Pinterest quotes that stated, “Instead of saying, ‘I don’t have time,’ try saying, ‘It’s not a priority.’ See how that feels.” Ouch!

While much can be said about prioritizing our time and wasting it unnecessarily, if that “thing” is important, we will make time for it. If going soulwinning is important, we will rearrange other things in our lives to go soulwinning. If being faithful to church matters, we will do what it takes to be in God’s house when the doors are open. If spending time with our kids is a priority, then we will stop doom scrolling, put our phones away, and focus on being present for them. If building a good marriage is significant to us, we will plan and create quality time to spend with our spouse. I heard a preacher once say, “We have the time for what we will make time for.”

I am convicted when I remember that the Bible is rather clear on how our actions, or inactions, reveal our hearts. What we do for others and for the Lord shows the true nature of who we are as Christians. Just a few verses after the famous “Lord’s Prayer” in Matthew 6, Jesus reminded the multitudes in verse 21, For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Time is a treasure. When we waste money, we can always get more money; but when we waste time, we lose a part of our lives we can never get back. Time is indeed the most valuable commodity we own. Every day is a gift from God. Each moment is a treasure to be used wisely.

While my dad was right that we cannot fix people, we are indeed responsible for ourselves. We have plenty of time to spend on what matters most to us. How we spend our time reveals the condition of our hearts.

We all have time. How will you spend yours?

by Tracie S. Burns

For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth. – I Kings 17:14

I have always loved to read the story of the widow woman of Zarephath who fed Elijah in I Kings 17. Though she had only a handful meal, a little oil, and two sticks, God used her to feed Elijah in his hour of need. In many miracles of the Bible, God used what was available and made it extraordinary. He did not create bread and fish to feed the five thousand; He multiplied the five loaves and two fishes that the lad offered. He did not create a new river when the waters at Marah were bitter; He used a nearby tree that, when cast by Moses into those same waters, made them sweet. I know that God is still working today, turning our meager ordinary into His extraordinary. Allow me to share a way that He did this in my life.

At the beginning of the pandemic several years ago, my family was faced with a very uncomfortable situation. My husband had unexpectedly lost his well-paying job, and I had been working a part-time, commissions-based job for a local construction company. As it turned out, no one wanted a stranger to come into their home to give them an estimate on replacing their attic insulation during a global pandemic! The phone calls I depended on dried up, just like Elijah’s brook at Cherith, and with them dried up our remaining source of income. In those uncertain days as the world shut down, we did a lot of praying. We trusted vaguely that the Lord would take care of us, but this was certainly a test of faith for which we were not prepared. We drew out a little thermometer chart of the money we needed to pay our bills that month, and then did even more praying.        

A few days later, I received an email from an old grocery delivery job that I had done sporadically before my daughter was born. It had never paid very much before, and work had been scarce; now the email begged for anyone who was available to come take orders. My first thought was, “You could not pay me to go grocery shopping right now. I have seen those news articles about empty shelves, long lines, and frustrated, terrified shoppers.” Then, chastened by the Lord, I humbly accepted as many orders as I could.

Over the next few weeks, I spent every spare moment rushing through barren grocery stores, texting customers things like, “There are no chicken thighs available. Would chicken necks be acceptable instead?” or “The only type of bread available is gluten free pumpernickel buns. Would those work for you?” or “I am so sorry, but there is still no toilet paper at all at this store.” or “Unfortunately, there are no frozen green beans today, and the closest substitute I can find is canned okra. Would that be alright?”

We continued to pray for God to provide for us. It took a few days for me to realize that He was answering our prayers in His own miraculous way. My husband, currently jobless, was able to stay at home with our daughter while I shopped. Customers showered down generous tips, even for orders with multiple unavailable items. My shopping region, which used to have perhaps a dozen orders on a good day, swelled with hundreds of available orders. Every week, the money I earned shopping empty grocery shelves for others went to stocking our own pantry.

Of course, the grocery panic of the early stages of the pandemic did not last for long, and slowly, things eased back to a new normal. Just as the number of grocery orders began to drop, my husband got a new job, and customers started to call me again, ready for insulation estimates. My husband and I continued to display that rough graph we had made on our refrigerator in a place of prominence. For, in the months of March and April 2020, we had asked God to provide our minimum, and He had filled our little thermometer chart to overflowing. He had used empty grocery shelves to fill our pantry. He had used what we had––available time, an old membership to a shopping app, a grocery panic, and a little faith––to work a miracle.

I am sure that there are many lessons that could be drawn from this life experience the Lord gave us, but my purpose in telling you this story today was simply to give glory to God and His goodness. I know that we all have our own stories of miracles; let us praise Him for His mighty acts in our lives.

I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. – Psalm 34:1-8

by Abigail Medford

Happy Monday. Happy “Decoration Day.” You may be wondering, “What’s that?” Decoration Day was the original name for Memorial Day, a day of remembrance for United States soldiers who died in military service.

Beginning in the middle of the nineteenth century, it became customary to decorate the graves of those fallen brave men. At any place where crowds gathered, there were people selling small, red paper poppies for ten cents. When a poppy was purchased, it was placed on the buyer’s lapel or in another prominent place. This signified the blood that was spilled on foreign fields.

I am glad that this day has continued to be celebrated and remembered through these years. Surely these heroes deserve a day when thought and gratitude is bestowed on them. Yes, it is okay to have fun and to enjoy the holiday. Meanwhile, why not fly a flag or take some time to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice to keep our nation free?

Memorial Day makes me think of the many people who have been a part of who I have become. Thinking of this makes me feel so grateful and so humbled. Just two days ago, I attended an event where I had the great joy of talking with a lady with whom I had gone to Sunday school and church decades ago when we were both children. My heart was warmed as we remembered the names of so many who had invested in our lives. I owe it to them to remember them and to be thankful for their faithfulness. They all have gone on to Heaven now, but I can say “thank you” by trying to fill their shoes when possible. I fear that we are often negligent to keep in our memories those who have influenced and mentored us. We must resolve to fix this!

God said so much to the Israelites about remembering as they were entering a new place, the long awaited Promised Land. Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget… (Deuteronomy 4:9) Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations:… (Deuteronomy 32:7)

“Precious mem’ries, how they linger,

How they ever flood my soul;

In the stillness of the midnight,

Precious, sacred scenes unfold.”

– by Lonnie B. Combs and J. B. F. Wright

by Beverly Hyles

From the Mondays with Beverly blog. Reprinted with permission.

We live in an instant world. We can get just about anything instantly these days. We can make an entire meal in the microwave. We can order almost anything online and have it at our houses in a matter of 48 hours or less. We have the convenience of someone else doing the shopping for us. We simply drive up, and they place our orders in our cars or drop it off at our front doors. I am very thankful that we have these resources to which we can go in a pinch.

Growing up, the only thing we had to microwave was popcorn, Easy Mac, and leftovers. Amazon did not exist, and the internet was just getting started. Wal-Mart did not have a grocery section at all. I grew up in a small town, but we had what we needed and were just fine with taking our time. No one seemed concerned about whether something was instant or not.

I am afraid we are so accustomed to instant things in our lives that we sometimes think that God will instantly answer our prayers. God’s timing is always best for us. The Bible reminds us in Philippians 4:11 to be content. When we are in a hurry or are dissatisfied in our Christian lives, we probably are not content with where God has us.

After my daughter was born, I decided to go back to work part time as an EMT. I worked two or three days a week. At the time, I was excited. I could do something for myself, get out of the house (away from bottles and diapers for a few hours), and earn some extra money for our family. All was fine at first, but more often than not, I began arriving home from work late, tired, and stressed. There were some days when my husband needed to pick up the children from the babysitter. He also needed to make dinner on many of those nights, and he even changed the diapers.

After seven months of earning just enough money to pay the babysitter and buy gas to drive back and forth to work, I decided to quit my job and stay home. I found myself frustrated, and it was obvious that me working outside the home was putting our family in a stressful situation. It was not my plan to stay at home with two babies. I enjoyed my line of employment and wanted to work. It took some time and a stressful situation for me to realize that God wanted me to stay home with my children. It was better for me to be the wife and mother God wanted me to be without all of the extra stress of a job. I have had to learn to be content with where I am.

A couple of years later, God asked me to teach a Sunday school class. I know now that if I would have continued working, refusing to be content, I would have been too busy and stressed to say “yes” when God asked. Being home has not only allowed me to enjoy my children and to be able to teach them, but it also has allowed me to be in my Bible and in prayer more. I have been able to focus more on my Christian life. As my Christian life continues to grow, I know that my husband, children, and even my Sunday school girls will benefit.

The Christian life is not based on how instantly we can grow. We should be content with where God has us. This kind of contentment does not mean that we are to be complacent and not grow. Situations in our lives will continue to change. Circumstances will come. Most likely, we will endure heartaches and frustrations, and those are the times when it is hardest to be content. Remember, friends, the words of Philippians 4:11: …for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Wherever you are, learn to be content! 

by Mandy Harper

For those who do not know me, I am a sourdough fanatic. If it can be made with sourdough, I have made it. If not, it is on the list to be made soon!

Baking has always been a favorite hobby of mine. My true love was always baking chocolate chip cookies, brownies, and the occasional cake—all things I would consider easy to bake. Sourdough requires much more care and upkeep. The environment where it is stored, the amount it needs to be fed (adding equal parts of flour and water), and the cleanliness of its “home” (the jar in which it is stored) are all necessary to have good results when baking sourdough.

At the beginning of my foray into sourdough baking, I did not understand the importance of keeping the home of my sourdough starter clean. I figured that as long as I fed it and kept it in a warmer environment, it would be good to go. However, I went into my kitchen one day to feed my starter and discovered there the fear of every sourdough baker—MOLD! How in the world had my starter grown moldy? I had taken care of it just as I should have, I thought.

To explain briefly, sourdough contains live cultures of yeast and bacteria, allowing it to consume carbohydrates to produce the fermentation necessary for the characteristic sourdough flavor and for it to rise. So, naturally, when you combine a warm environment and the moisture from feeding the starter, this can create the perfect scenario for mold to grow.

I quickly realized I had forgotten to care for one thing—I had not kept its home clean. The sides of the jar had sourdough starter all over it. This is where the mold had taken hold and grown, contaminating the whole jar. Sadly, there was no saving that starter, so into the trash it went.

We may be doing everything we think we are supposed to do as Christian ladies—dressing right, attending church, going soulwinning—but we often fail to focus on our hearts. We neglect our hearts by allowing jealousy, bitterness, anger, pride, and even grudges to accumulate and grow. This is a result of not taking time each day to clean up our “homes.” I cannot count how many times I have witnessed respected Christians, who looked and acted the part, fall into sin and out of God’s will because they did not keep their hearts clean and stay right with God. No matter how good we play the “part” of the spiritual Christian outwardly, if our hearts are not kept clean, we will allow ourselves to become contaminated by sin. Eventually, God will not be able to use us in the way He intended.

Just as my sourdough starter needs to be fed and kept clean so it can be baked into delicious concoctions, we must maintain our hearts to continue being useful to God. We should daily spend time with the Lord through Bible reading and prayer. God wants to use us to do His will. Let us never stop seeking Him so we can be fed and kept clean.

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. – Psalm 51:10

by Ashley Myers

Our family is a bit addicted to Dunkin’ Donuts. Every Sunday morning, my husband will leave early to get us some coffee and something to eat from Dunkin’. He often brings it home, or if we are running a bit behind, we will just pick it up on our way to church. Either way, it is a regular for us.

This past Sunday, we all rode together. It was our turn to order, and it was evident that the girl working in Dunkin’ was accustomed to seeing us come for breakfast. She stated our coffee orders perfectly before we could say anything! My husband and I just laughed, realizing we are faithful to go to the Dunkin’ Donuts drive-thru every week! When we got to the window to pay, the girl told us that the person in front of us had paid for our meal! Wow, what a blessing!

Our Pastor recently reminded us during a sermon that when we get a blessing or an answer to prayer, we should share it with our children. We told our boys that sometimes God gives us blessings even when we have not asked for them. We challenged them to just imagine what God would give us if we would just ask. Jeremiah 33:3 says, Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. God gave us a blessing that may be a little thing to others, but it was big to us! Thank you, Heavenly Father, for the little things!

Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah. – Psalm 68:19

by April Pineda

I was asked recently to speak at a friend’s baby shower. As I began praying and asking the Lord what to share with those attending, I considered those months when I was expecting my first child. I was faced with all those questions that most mothers have when waiting for a new baby:

Who will she look like?

What will her personality be like?

How will her voice sound?

However, when my daughter was placed in my arms for the first time, I could not help but to consider all the potential that was held in that little body that God had entrusted to me. What a great responsibility I had to raise her for the Lord! Then, my mind went to all the “little” things mentioned in Scripture on which God places great importance. Here are a few of them:

Little Coat – God’s Protection

I Samuel 2:19

Hannah prayed desperately for God to give her a child. He granted her request and blessed her with a son, Samuel. She kept her promise to God by giving her boy back to Him, but every year, she would bring Samuel a little coat that she had made for him.

This “little” coat is a picture of God’s protection. There is no better way to protect our children than to point them to the house of God and to the man of God. As couples begin to have their own families, it is important for them to determine to raise their children in church, showing them that the greatest life is found in serving the Lord.

Little Cruse of Oil – God’s Provision

I Kings 17:12

Elijah was instructed by God to go see the widow woman of Zarephath, and she would provide him a meal. As he approached her, he asked for some water. She immediately went to fetch him some water, but as she was walking away, he also asked her for a morsel of bread. She informed Elijah that she did not have any bread. In fact, she only had a handful of meal and a little cruse of oil as a last meal for her and her son before, she believed, they would die. Elijah gently told her to go ahead and make that bread for him, assuring her that God would not let her meal and oil run out. The Bible says in I Kings 17:15, And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.

This is a wonderful example to all of us of God’s provision after obedience. I have seen so many of my needs met through God’s provision throughout my life and my family’s ministry. I believe the reason for this is that God blesses obedience. 

As ladies and as mothers, we should not be afraid to share with our children the needs of our families. While all the details are not necessary to share, we can pray together for those needs and be obedient to God’s call. Then, it is wonderful to be able to tell our children when God provides for those needs. Hearing about and then seeing God’s provision for their families will help to build their young faith, teaching them to obey God’s voice and to trust Him to provide.

Little Lad with the Little Lunch – God’s Power

The story of the feeding of the 5,000 is found in all four Gospels with slightly varying accounts. What I love about this story is the fact that this “little” lad, who remains unnamed, gave something that seemed insignificant. However, his “little” lunch was used by Jesus to perform a great miracle for thousands of people. I often wonder what was going through the boy’s mind, as he watched Jesus bless his lunch and then saw the disciples distribute it to all the people in attendance that day. What an amazing example of God’s power this was!

What we may think to be insignificant or useless to God can be used in a mighty way if we will give it to God and let Him do with it as He sees fit. We must realize that the children with whom God has entrusted us are important to Him! God can and will use them mightily in His work if we will give them to God to use for His honor and glory.

I love the passage of Psalm 78:1-7. I would encourage you to read it for yourself, but let me share verses 6 and 7, That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: When our testimonies to our children are of the big things God has done with our little things, they too will know how to teach their children to …set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments.

by Erin Montgomery