Happy Monday. We recently celebrated Mother’s Day, but it should be every day that we remember Mama.

Mom—What a sweet name for the one who does one of the hardest, most rewarding jobs in the world! I was not offered a course in Mothering 101. No formal training was available for a job that would last for a lifetime!

Mom never gets a paid vacation or is given “sick leave.” She is not allowed to punch in at 9:00 a.m. and punch out at 5:00 p.m.

When I would come home from school or anywhere, I would yell, “Mom, I’m home.” She would be there, always. When I would go to the closet to dress for whatever occasion, I would find clean, ironed clothes. Had an elf been there? There might as well have been, for all the thought I gave it. I took for granted the wonderful meals she made daily. No McDonald’s existed when I was a child. There was no pizza night, just good, home-cooked, healthy food. I loved her chicken and dumplings. She blew me away with her delicious banana pudding. We always had fresh (not canned) vegetables. I learned to like them all.

She was a proper lady who taught manners and correct speech by her example. Was she perfect? No, but she was my mom.

Of course, we live in a different world, and so many moms work outside the home. We were not made to do it all. Wisdom is needed daily to choose the best part as moms. This bit of prose by an unknown author says it well:

“Between the getting up time and the going to bed time,

There are so many things to do.

Scrubbing and polishing, sweeping and making beds,

Kissing bruised fingers, baking a cake,

Setting a mouse trap, digging a flower bed,

And—spanking naughty children.

Between the morning prayer and the evening prayer,

So many things to hear:

The rhythmic sprinkler on the lawn,

The whistling paper boy,

Little voices calling for ice cream cones,

The whir of a mixer beating egg whites,

Tunes picked out on the piano with one finger,

The telephone’s shrill again.

All of these compose the kaleidoscope of life.

With all the fast-moving activities,

I feel submerged under earthly things,

And I know I must get alone with Christ

And shape my plans toward a larger end.

To have wisdom, I must get alone with Christ.

The lure of my heart is oft to return and dwell apart.”

The most meaningful thing my mom did for me was to point me to Christ!

by Beverly Hyles

From the Mondays with Beverly blog. Reprinted with permission.

A few weeks ago, my grandmother bought my sons some flower seeds. They have always wanted to plant anything they see with seeds, whether they be flowers, apples, or peppers. They have faithfully watered their seeds each day; and a few days ago, the seeds started to sprout. We have been watching these small plants as their leaves have begun to show. The tiny sprouts, of course, do not have flowers yet, but I noticed a few things as I was looking at them and pulling out a few weeds that had also sprung up.

With the flowers grew weeds that needed to be plucked. I was pulling a few weeds that had come up with the flowers and thought about Hebrews 12:15, which says, Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; I was thinking of how these little weeds were not intentionally planted, just as some of those thoughts that lead to bitterness are not intentionally planted. Some of the flowers had just started springing up, and I could not tell which plants were flowers and which were weeds. Sometimes, we cannot tell when these roots of bitterness are being planted and do not even recognize them when they start to take root. Maybe we have a situation that is legitimately unfair that upsets us, and possibly rightly so. However, if we let these thoughts fester, they can spring up into a root of bitterness.

It is easier to pull little weeds than big weeds.

I know this goes without saying, but it was much easier to pull that little weed that had sprung up than it would have been if I had waited until it was fully grown. I could grab those little leaves and just pluck up the weed with almost no force; however, when trying to root up a weed that has been there for a while, it is a much different story. What I learned from this is that we need to tackle those thoughts as soon as we recognize them. We may not be able to immediately recognize those thoughts for what they are—roots of bitterness—but as soon as we do, we need to be willing to get rid of them. Then, we must ask God to help us forgive and move past the situation.

Not all flowers grow at the same rate.

Even though all of these flowers were planted at the same time, they did not all spring up at the same time. This reminded me of the danger of comparison. Sometimes, it is easy to compare that person who comes into church and gets saved, then immediately gets on fire for God, changes his way of life, and gets involved with another Christian who, after being saved, merely sits in a pew for months or years. We all can be found comparing ourselves to someone else who seems to “have it all together.” I Thessalonians 4:11 reminds us, And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; We may not be growing as fast as we would like. Our “flowers” may not be as big or as beautiful as someone else’s seems to be, but as long as we are growing to the best of our ability, we are accomplishing all that God asks of us.

Not all seeds sprout, nor do they sprout at the same time as others.

As is true in soulwinning, sometimes we plant the seed and never see growth. Sometimes, we are able to talk to someone who immediately places his trust in Christ. Even Christ shared this in the parable of the sower. He described seeds that fell on the wayside, on hard ground, in the weeds, and in good ground. The great thing is that our command is just to go. Matthew 28:19-20 says, Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. We are not responsible for the results, but we are responsible for our obedience to the command to go.

The next time we look at flowers or weeds (and there will always be weeds), let us remember all of the lessons that God can teach us.

by Vicki Voorhis

Proverbs 22:6 says, Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. As I watch my daughter prepare for her upcoming wedding, I am reminded that my time of training my children is quickly coming to an end. I have spent much time reflecting on the path we have traveled together. In doing so, I realized that I have had several failures as a mother.

I failed to give in.

Proverbs 24:10 says, If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. There have been many days of adversity while rearing my children. I have a headstrong, opinionated daughter who was forced to grow up faster than most, given the situation with her father. There were days she did not appreciate the rules at her mom’s house or the direction I was taking us. She did not always understand why I took the stands I took, but she learned to respect them. It would have been easy to surrender to her wants and wishes. It would have been less challenging to relax the standards to keep the peace. It would have been simpler to give in to these things, but then I likely would have lost the joy of watching my daughter gain her own standards based on her confidence in Christ.

I failed to compromise.

This was a difficult failure to achieve. When my husband of 17 years decided he was done with God, he presented many opportunities for me to compromise. If I wanted him to stay, it would require withdrawing our children from the Christian school and leaving the church that had offended him. I was desperate to hold on to my marriage, so I was ready to compromise to hold my family together. I am grateful I did not compromise because I certainly would have lost the family I was desperately trying to keep. I reached a point where I personally had to accept the challenge in 1 Kings 18:21: And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. I failed to compromise because the Lord is God, and I needed to stick to the path that I knew to be right.

I failed to give up.

I cannot count how many times I clung to the promise of Galatians 6:9: And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Raising a teenage son while his father turned his back on everything related to God and church was not easy. During these critical years, my son pushed beyond every limit I had. When I met and married his stepdad, it did not get easier. When he turned 18, he decided that living in the garage of a friend was better than abiding by my rules. The endless tears and heartache caused me to question the stands I was making. It would have been easy to give up and just let him live with me without following my rules. The following years were difficult as he tried to make his way in this world. I clung to the promise that I would one day reap the benefits of not quitting. He called me out of the blue one day and told me he was ready to come home. While he has not yet returned to church, he did return to me, and that is a start I will gladly accept! I continue to pray for his return to God, for his sake and the sake of his precious wife and daughters.

I failed to let traditions die.

II Thessalonians 2:15 tells us to …stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. There are some traditions that needed to die, such as making a fruitcake every Christmas. The traditions that mattered most, including being in church whenever possible, could not die. I had to work hard at ensuring we maintained the traditions that honored God. I needed to fail at surrendering, compromising, or quitting if I wanted to keep the traditions alive. I needed these failures to guarantee my family would be one that honors God.

I failed to let go.

Romans 8:28 says, And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. I refused to let go of this promise as I made the aforementioned failures. I knew what God wanted me to do, and it was hard. Taking a stand was hard, especially when it seemed that I would lose my children in the process. What I learned through this is that God really is in control. No matter how ugly it seems today, He has our tomorrow planned. My relationship with my children is nowhere near perfect, but I can honestly say it is better than it would have been without my failures.

Your path may not be as rocky as mine has been, but there may be days when you feel like a failure in some way. Please be encouraged that the failures listed here are good reminders that sometimes you must fail as a mother in order to prepare your child for a solid future.

by Melissa Caperton

Dr. Jack Hyles said, “Character is more important than talent. Character will seek talent while, often times, talent will flee character.” We can all agree that our society, for a myriad of reasons, has a massive absence of character. Employers struggle to find employees who will show up for work on time, who will not call out of work for every little reason, and who will work hard while on the job. Churches are in constant need of laypeople who can be faithful and consistent while working in their ministries. God is looking for Christians with character who mean what they say and will keep their commitments to others and to Him.

Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find? – Proverbs 20:6

This absence of character can almost always be traced back to the home. Many parents are failing to instill character in their children, thinking that their children will just find it on their own or that they can teach their children “later.” While there are some small exceptions to this rule, from my observations in more than thirty years in ministry-related work, most young people’s character is set by the time they are eighteen to twenty years of age. According to the Bible, our children’s character matters now!

Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. – Proverbs 20:11

Waiting until “later” to teach children character is waiting until it is too late! Without the parents being conscious of the responsibility to teach character and being deliberately proactive to do so consistently, children will enter adulthood missing the vital piece needed for success in life and in usefulness to God. I have encountered young adults who were raised in Christian homes who cannot hold a job, make excuses why they cannot pay their bills, rarely or never show up for soulwinning, and will not commit to helping in the ministries of the church. Often, these adults who lack character struggle in friendships and marriages due to a poor work ethic and a lack of personal character.

How do we teach our children character? Well, it certainly takes us having character so that we can instill it into our children. Teaching character is not always easy or enjoyable, but as parents, IT IS OUR JOB. It is not the job of the youth director, the school teachers, the pastor, or anyone else. It is the parents’ job to teach character.

The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him. – Proverbs 20:7

One of my Bible college teachers, Mrs. Marlene Evans, taught many character lessons from her classroom lectern to us. Of the many lessons I heard, one quote comes back to me often as I raise my children. She said, “It is the father’s job to teach the children the Bible. It is the mother’s job to teach them to work.” Now, I know in many instances that these lines can blur, and that can be a good thing. As mothers, we should be putting the Bible in front of our children constantly. Likewise, a young son needs to work alongside his father (yard work, fixing the car, repairs around the house, etc.) to see how a man is supposed to work and to provide for his family. However, we—the moms—are RESPONSIBLE to make sure our children are taught the character to work.

This means WE must work in order for them to learn to work! They should see us working hard and keeping our commitments. We should be busy in helping at church so they can see what kind of church member they should be one day. We should be helping to provide for the family in the ways God has made for us, whether in the home or at our jobs.

My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck. – Proverbs 1:8-9

Many years ago before my dad went into the ministry full time, his job was to be the head of maintenance at a commercial photo lab. This meant that my mom did not need to work to provide for the family. She was able to stay home during those years and homeschool us. However, she knew that, in addition to learning traditional school subjects, her children needed to see how to be industrious and how to make a way for themselves.

In the mid-1980s, recycling had not gone mainstream, although many people still sorted out their recyclables and bagged them separately for the trash truck. At that time, recycling was a very lucrative way to make money. Once a week on trash day, Mom, my brother, and I would get up before dawn and drive through nearby neighborhoods, collecting stacks of newspapers and bags of aluminum cans from the curbs where the garbage sat, waiting for collection. We would load our van once a month and take all those cans and newspapers to the recycle center. In less than a year, we had earned enough to pay for a SeaWorld vacation for our whole family!

This took much work on my mom’s part, but the character my brother and I attained was priceless. There were many other “jobs” we had through the years in which my mom worked alongside us: delivering newspapers, delivering phonebooks, etc. I attribute my strong work ethic and entrepreneurial mindset to all those laborious days my mom spent, surreptitiously teaching her children the character to be consistent, goal-oriented workers.

These days, I am always finding ways to teach my children to work, for I know that their futures depend on strong personal character. As for myself, I am careful to be consistent and to keep my commitment to church ministries because my children are watching, and they are learning from my walk. They will either learn how to be faithful or how to make excuses by viewing my actions. My personal character will reflect in them one day soon as they grow through their teen years and into adulthood. I want to instill that character from which my future son-in-law, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren will benefit. Our children’s futures depend on our own present character.

Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. – Proverbs 6:6-8

by Tracie S. Burns

My husband and I have spent many patient (and many not-so-patient) hours over the past few months teaching our preschool-aged daughter how to ride her bicycle. Before any foray into bicycle riding instruction, we considered the task at hand to be a rather simple process:

1. Place child upon bicycle.
2. Tell child to pedal.
3. Tell child to steer.
4. Celebrate successful bicycling.

She even had training wheels! What could go wrong?

In fact, training a new bicycle rider happens to be a much more complicated, involved task. Our daughter excels at pedaling confidently and steering correctly until she reaches a hill. Then, all of our training, wheedling, encouragement, bribes, and threats go unheeded. She panics by jerking her handlebar to the side and ceasing to pedal. Losing her balance, she and her bike hit the pavement. She approaches each subsequent hill with even more fear, and the same scenario repeats itself again.

We have continued to shower her with encouragement, “Just go straight, and keep pedaling!” As adults, it seems obvious that bicycling to the top of a hill is done the exact same way as bicycling along a flat sidewalk. The only difference is the amount of effort.

Recently, I heard our pastor reference Proverbs 16:17 in a sermon. The second half of that verse reads, …he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul. In that moment, God reminded me of our bicycle struggles. I realized that this simple philosophy works for so many more things than just pedaling up a hill.

Our lives are filled with many hills God expects us to climb. It is in our human nature to panic, jerk the handlebars, and stop pedaling the moment we encounter these hills of difficulty. However, we can overcome them if we are willing to follow biblical instructions to do so. We can “keep the way” through following two simple commands.

First, go straight.

Proverbs 4:25-27 commands us, Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil. When we encounter those hills in our lives, it is so important to stay on the path where we know we should be. Stay in the Bible; stay in church; stay in the company of good counselors; and stay in the place God has put us.

Last, keep pedaling.

Galatians 6:9 says, And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. It is undoubtedly harder to keep the way when we are struggling, but that does not negate God’s commands. Through His strength, we must keep going no matter how difficult our circumstances are.

After a particularly-rough bike riding training session, I turned to my daughter and asked her a question, “Who knows how to ride a bike better? Mommy or Juliet?” Without a moment’s hesitation, she said, “Me!” Therein lay the heart of her problem. She had never seen me ride a bike. She was trusting by faith that I knew how to teach her, and apparently, her faith was very small! I fear that many of us tumble to the pavement because, although we would never admit it out loud, we think we know more than our Heavenly Father. Our faith is too small to trust the words of our Instructor Who will help us overcome life’s hill.

If, like me, you are facing a hill today, determine to keep the way by faith. Go straight, and keep pedaling as fast as you can. Soon, you will find yourself on top of that once-impossible hill in your life through faith and trust in God.

by Abigail Medford

Happy Monday. Remember to keep your words sweet; you might need to eat them.

On Mother’s Day, you probably thought about “Mom,” as did I. A memory that comes to my mind was of looking through my mother’s well-worn Bible shortly after her death. I found a handwritten verse stuck in the pages. It said, Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. – Psalm 141:3

I pondered that finding. Did Mom feel she needed a special reminder in this area of her life? I do not know. However, through the ensuing years I have thought of that verse and even prayed those words many times.

Words are wonderful. My husband used to say he loved words, thus he painted good word pictures in poetry, sermons, etc. Words have the power to make a gray day suddenly beautiful, to make a discouraged one take heart, and to bring comfort where there was sadness. Why do we not use every opportunity to speak them? They are free.

Words reveal what we are. Matthew 12:34 says, …for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. What is in the bucket of the mouth comes from the well of the heart.

God’s Word says so much about words and the tongue, and in no uncertain words says if one thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue, his religion is vain. (James 1:26) In this day of “information overload,” it is time we come into agreement with God, Who says in Matthew 12:35 that good things come from a good heart and evil things from an evil heart. Can we argue that or disregard it?

In Jesus’ own words, He said that we would give an account of every idle word.

One of the saddest ways we can use our words is to harm another. The following is an article I cut out of the newspaper many years ago:

Nobody’s Friend

My name is Gossip. I have no respect for justice.

I maim without killing. I break hearts and ruin lives.

I am cunning and malicious and gather strength with age.

The more I am quoted, the more I am believed.

My victims are helpless. They cannot protect themselves

against me because I have no name and no face.

To track me down is impossible.

The harder you try, the more elusive I become.

I am nobody’s friend.

Once I tarnish a reputation, it is never the same.

I topple governments and wreck marriages.

I ruin careers and cause sleepless nights,

heartaches and indigestion.

I make innocent people cry in their pillows.

Even my name hisses. I am called Gossip.

I make headlines and headaches.

Before you repeat a story, ask yourself:

Is it true? Is it harmless?

Is it necessary? If it isn’t, don’t repeat it!

~ Author Unknown

“If you think some praise is due him,

Now’s the time to slip it to him,

For he cannot read his tombstone when he’s dead.”

– Berton Braley

by Beverly Hyles

From the Mondays with Beverly blog. Reprinted with permission.

We will celebrate Mother’s Day this weekend. It is hard not to notice because of all the advertisements, television commercials, store signs, and even calendars showcasing the day! This time of year, I am filled with thankfulness for my mother and for how she influenced my life.

Mother’s Day is set aside to honor and to show appreciation to all mothers. The Bible says in Exodus 20:12, Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. We honor our mothers by how we live our lives. We are to live in a way that brings honor, not just once each year but every day. Honor means “to have a high respect or great esteem.” Our mothers deserve no less than honor.

This Mother’s Day, many ladies will receive special phone calls, flowers, chocolates, or even nice dinners from children showing honor to them. For those whose mothers are in Heaven, this day can be difficult; however, it still can be a special time to remember and to honor those who have passed on before us. My mother went to Heaven several years ago, and while Mother’s Day brings some feelings of sadness, I purposefully try to do things to honor my mom on this day.

• I always try to spend extra time with my own children, knowing that being their mother is such a gift and a blessing to me.
• I work to remain faithful in reading my Bible, praying, and attending church.
• I write notes of encouragement. One of Mom’s favorite things to do was to write encouraging notes to others. I have not mastered this yet, but when I do write notes, I think of Mom.
• I sing for the Lord. Mom also loved to sing and play the piano. I have many opportunities to sing in church, and I often think of times together at church when she encouraged me in my reluctant youthfulness by saying, “Sing!”
• I honor others. The Lord has blessed me with many “mother figures” in my church in the years since my mom went to Heaven. These ladies love me and are always there when I need to call to ask for some advice. Mother’s Day gives me the opportunity to honor these ladies for their faithful examples.

Today is a day to thank our Lord for giving us godly mothers and “mother figures” who have loved us and have shown by example how to live for the Lord!

Her children arise up, and call her blessed;… – Proverbs 31:28

by Mandy Harper

Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. (Job 1:20-21)

Recently, I was convicted after speaking to a friend about a burden I had been bearing. I was finding it difficult to overcome this trial. I made the statement, “It is hard to find help from people of like-minded faith on this issue. People just don’t talk about it.” We were discussing the challenges of recurrent pregnancy loss that I have been facing the past few years. I became convicted because I realized that I have learned some things throughout this journey, but I was not willing to talk about it. I kept telling myself, “When God answers our prayers and we have a healthy pregnancy (or a happy ending), I will tell my story.” I realize now that my thinking was flawed.

I consider myself to be a relatively private person. I would rather go through things on my own or with the support of just a few people in my “inner circle.” However, I do believe God brings things into a person’s life not only for that person’s benefit but also for the benefit of those around that person. So, I am here to talk about my burden.

A few years ago, my husband and I were excited to find out that I was pregnant for a second time. In 2021-2022, I was blessed to have a healthy twin pregnancy, and we were looking forward to our family growing with this pregnancy. Unfortunately, shortly after we found out I was expecting another child, I miscarried. Not long after that, the same thing happened again. We were disheartened at this point, but we tried to remind ourselves that God’s timing is best and that everything happens for a reason.

Just a few short months later, I was able to get pregnant for a fourth time. At this point, we were cautiously optimistic. It was hard to enjoy that period of time because we were fearful of what we knew could be in our future. Weeks went by, and the pregnancy seemed to be progressing normally. I was experiencing terrible morning sickness (which is normal for me, so that was a good sign) and was beginning to feel more and more like I had during my twin pregnancy. My doctor would not allow me to be seen for an initial checkup until I was at nine weeks. When nine weeks had passed, we went in for our first appointment and ultrasound. It was clear just moments into the ultrasound that things were not okay. I looked at the screen beside me, anticipating seeing the jerky, excited movements of our baby. Instead, I saw complete stillness, followed by a look of remorse on my doctor’s face. The baby had no heartbeat and had passed just days prior to our appointment. I had experienced what is called a “missed” or “silent” miscarriage.

A year passed before we found out that I was pregnant for a fifth time. We had been praying and begging the Lord not to allow me to get pregnant if I would be unable to carry the pregnancy to full-term. We clung to a belief that God had answered that prayer. As the weeks passed, I began to feel more of the typical pregnancy symptoms that I had experienced in the past. Everything seemed to be going well.

We went to the doctor at seven and a half weeks for an early ultrasound because of being diagnosed with recurrent pregnancy loss. It seemed unreal seeing our tiny baby on the screen. The baby’s measurements were exactly what they were supposed to be, and we were able to hear a strong heartbeat. The ultrasound technician and the doctor both assured us that the appointment could not have gone better.

Several more weeks passed, and I grew increasingly more anxious as we awaited our 12-week ultrasound appointment. I began to become convinced that something wasn’t right. I didn’t have many symptoms to prove that anything was going wrong, but I honestly was having a hard time having faith that everything was going to go right. I remember praying and telling the Lord the night before my appointment, “Lord, I really want to carry and deliver a healthy baby and rear that child for You, but if that is not what You have planned, please help me. Help me to handle it correctly this time. You are the giver, and I know You can also take away. Please help me to praise You no matter what happens.”

The day of our 12-week ultrasound appointment finally arrived. We went in at 12 and a half weeks. This day was particularly exciting because I knew if this appointment went well, the chances of miscarriage past this point would dramatically decrease. Our plan was to go to this appointment, then announce our pregnancy to friends at church that night with our brand-new ultrasound pictures from the visit. The ultrasound scan began, and my eyes were focused on the screen, searching for just one thing—the heartbeat. A baby was quickly detectable on the screen; but once again, there was no movement and no heartbeat. In just seconds, our plans were decimated.

I have had many things “taken” from me throughout my life, but these were some of the hardest losses I have ever experienced. Yet, no one talks about miscarriage, so we put our heads down and suffer silently. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) says that only around 1% of women experience three or more miscarriages in a row. I am among those who have experienced losses such as these described. If you also are in that 1%, you are not alone.

I know what it is like to hear terrible news from a doctor and to feel that you are in an alternate reality. I know what it is like to carry a baby in my body for weeks, while already knowing there is no life and waiting for closure. I know what it is like to labor at home, anxiously awaiting the finality of the result. I know what it is like to hold the tiny baby I lost in my hands, to see each little finger and toe, and wonder, “How could this have happened? Is it because of something I’ve done?” I have faced surgery on two different occasions because of these physical trials. Through it all, God was and is still good.

To sum it all up, I have felt as though God had taken from me something very precious; but in reality, He has given me the most precious gift that could ever be given—His only Son! God has given me so much more than He has ever taken from me; and through what He has taken, He has given me a testimony to help others in their times of need. He deserves all the praise and honor and glory, no matter what challenges I face in this life and even if my prayers are not answered in the way I hope for them to be.

We gladly have open hands when we perceive God as the giver of precious things. We even sometimes remain open-handed when God removes things from our lives that harm us or weigh us down in our spiritual race. Sadly, we become tight-fisted when we are convinced God is taking something we believe is ours. The truth is that everything we have is God’s. God is justly the giver and the taker.

You may not be able to relate to me on this issue, but I am sure something would come to your mind if you were to consider what you feel has been taken from you. Maybe for you it is a dream, a career, a relationship, a loved one, or even your health. It hurts to lose things, but God always fills the voids. What has God given you through what He has taken? What can you then give to help others?

Let me share seven survival strategies that helped me during my time of grieving:

• Stay close to God through Bible reading and prayer. God is nearer than ever when you are hurting—don’t push Him away. (Psalm 34:18, Psalm 147:3) Start a Bible study on a particular subject or find encouraging verses of Scripture to memorize.
• Stay faithful to church and church activities. (Hebrews 10:25) Find ways to stay busy, serve others, and fellowship. Isolating yourself will feel natural but will be detrimental.
• Make a list of things you are thankful for and take time to meditate on at least one of those things every day. (I Thessalonians 5:18, Psalm 107:1) It is easy to perceive everything in a negative light when you are lost in grief. Peer through the darkness and find the bright spots in your life to help you find your way out.
• Seek for ways to help others. (Galatians 6:2) Use this time to be more attentive to the needs of others. You can now relate to others who are hurting, and God can use you to be a blessing even while you are hurting. You may find that helping to heal the wounds of others helps to heal your own.
• Spend time outdoors. It is a scientific fact that fresh air and sunshine provide many mental and physical benefits. Find a quiet place to refresh yourself.
• Participate in some kind of physical activity. Find something you enjoy doing, set apart some alone time, and go do it. Though you will feel like doing nothing, activity will help to level out your emotions and give you time to process.
• Talk about it. Everyone processes emotions differently. It may happen quickly for you, or it may take months or years. One thing that will help you to process those emotions quicker is to talk about it with trusted friends and family, a Sunday school teacher, or your local pastor.

 by Alyssa King

I often struggle with an intense competitive drive. I want to be the best at anything and everything I do. There are some who consider me to be a perfectionist. I strive for perfection in most areas of my life, unless I feel that I cannot attain the level of achievement that I desire; then I tend to shy away from the challenge. Such has been the case throughout my Christian life as well. There have been times when God has put challenges or opportunities in my path that I thought were impossible to accomplish well. In these times, I have often found it hard to tackle these tasks diligently or with the right attitude because I felt that I lacked in those areas. I did not feel that what I could do was good enough. I doubt that I am the only one who has faced times such as these!

We must realize that God will never ask us to handle anything that is more than we can bear. We must also realize that God has equipped us with everything that we could possibly need to fulfill His perfect will for our lives. He does not even expect perfection from us, though we sometimes put that pressure on ourselves! He just expects us to obey and to answer when He calls.

The story of the widow woman in I Kings 17 has been on my heart recently. I Kings 17:9 tells us that the Lord commanded this woman to sustain Elijah when he was sent her way. When he came into town and met the woman, he asked her for water. Verses 11-12 say, And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand. And she said, As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. What great faith it must have taken for this lady to trust the man of God as he spoke to her the Word of the Lord and bid her to do as the Lord had commanded! Verses 15-16 tell us the result of her faith: And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Elijah.

There are a few things in this story in particular that made an impression on me. This woman was not wealthy. The Bible does not tell us of any special abilities that she had. In fact, we are told that she had only a small amount of meal and a little bit of oil left to provide for her and her son. She had planned to make a final meal for herself and for her son so that they could eat and then die. I am sure she felt the weight of the world on her shoulders, knowing that she had no ability of her own to meet the needs of her family. However, God did a miracle in this lady’s life, not because she was anything special or because she had any extraordinary ability but because of her availability. She made herself available to do the will of God when the opportunity arose. She did not possess anything great—she did not possess much at all. God did not need anything special to perform the miracle; He just needed her to make available what she had in her hand. Verse 11 says, And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.

God knows our capabilities. He knows our strengths, our weaknesses, and our needs. He knows the talents He has given us; yet, sometimes He puts us in situations where we have nothing upon which we can lean! Just as this widow woman did, we sometimes feel that we are at the end of our ropes. We feel the heaviness of the situation and are ready to make our final preparations and give in. Our talents are meaningless, and our strengths become weak. It is then that God can do a miracle in our lives; He only needs what we have in our hands to do a great and mighty work.

We all are talented in one aspect or another, but I contend that the best ability we could have is availability. There are many with talents who are not serving God today. Instead, they use their God-given talents and abilities to serve themselves and this world. God can take our inadequacies and use them in ways that we never thought possible. He does not ask that we meet a certain standard or have any talents; all He asks is that we make ourselves available when He calls.

What is in your hand that could be used for the Lord today? He can and will use it, if you will only make yourself available to Him.

by Alyssa King

Several months ago, we had a series of terrible storms come through our area. Thankfully, no one was hurt, and no permanent damage was done; however, a particular storm came through late one Sunday night that left us without power for several days. There were many trees felled in our neighborhood, power poles snapped, and power lines that had fallen down on the ground. Knowing the history of our power company having delayed power outages, and in order to continue our children’s homeschooling and to enjoy modern conveniences (such as coffee, internet, and hot water—in that order), we decided to “camp out” at the church until power could be restored. We packed up some air mattresses, our schoolbooks, and a few days’ worth of groceries, then up to the church we went.

We were able to hook up our generator to keep the refrigerator and deep freezer from defrosting; however, it could not handle powering the entire house. We went by the house throughout the week just to check on things, but toward the end of the week, we decided to call the power company for an update. To our surprise, they informed us it had been restored two days earlier! My daughter mentioned to me, “If we had just tried to plug something in yesterday, then we could have come back home and started using the power!” Then, this thought came to me: How many Christians are like that in their Christian lives? How many Christians go through life failing to plug into the “Source” of all power? I know I have been guilty of trying to go through the Christian life in my own power instead of getting “plugged into” the One Who can provide the power for us.

Ephesians 3:20 says, Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, According to this verse, we as Christians have access to God’s power, and He is able to do more than we could ever ask or think if we would just get “plugged into” His power and allow Him to work through us. We are simply a conduit through which God can work if we will access the power that is available to us.

If we had just plugged into the proper power source, we could have slept in our own beds for two more nights! If we had just plugged into the proper power source, we could have done our homeschooling at home for two more days! If we had just plugged into the proper power source, we could have enjoyed the comforts of home for two more nights! That experience taught me a lesson not only for future power outages but also in my Christian life. I want to be sure to “plug into” the Source of all power instead of attempting to go through the Christian life in my own power.

by Erin Montgomery

A few weeks ago, I gave a devotion in my junior homeroom titled, “Be a ‘But.’” We looked at how Samuel lived in a day when everyone around him was doing wrong, including the priests; but Samuel ministered before the Lord. This brought to light how many great men of the Bible are introduced with a statement similar to how Samuel was introduced: But Samuel. (I Samuel 2:18) That night, our pastor preached about the faith of Noah, who is introduced in Genesis 6:8 with the words, But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Then I started really trying to research, and I came across Daniel 1:8. It says, But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

I know whole series of sermons and Sunday school lessons have been preached and taught about Daniel and how he purposed in his heart and made those decisions. That is not something to be taken lightly, but I noticed something else in this verse: Daniel is mentioned, but no one else is. Daniel stood alone. However, when we come to verse 11, Daniel is listed along with Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (better remembered as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego).

This made me think, What would have happened to these three men if had Daniel not taken a stand? What if Daniel had decided to just go with the flow? Daniel made one right decision, and because of his right decision, these three friends followed him. We know that later in the book of Daniel, these three men also stood for right and refused to bow before the idol. Certainly, that courage took root back when they followed Daniel’s lead in refusing to eat the king’s meat.

In our lives, we have people looking up to us, whether as a mom who is watched by those little people sitting at her own table, as a single lady who helps on a church bus route or sings in the choir, or as a widow who might feel unnoticed in her later years. Someone can find the strength to make the right decision from watching the right decisions we made. I cannot count the number of times I have faced a struggle that I knew I could get through because another Christian lady did. I have also seen those who left when times became hard (the blessing and curse of being in the same church for over 20 years); thankfully, there have been many good examples as well.

I challenge us all: There is another generation who will follow us. They need to see us stick with what we know is right and stand against sin and Satan. We must stand with our Saviour, even when we are afraid or uncertain of whether or not we will make it. With God, we will prevail, but we must continue to do what is right. In the future, to whom will our children look when it is their turn to take a stand?

by Vicki Voorhis

When I was a little girl, I complained often to my mom about some random ache or ailment in some arbitrary part of my body. Of course, these complaints were imaginatively detailed, legitimate in all their earnestness, and sincere in their urgency.

“Mom, the tip of my little finger is really hurting!”

“Mom, the skin just below my knee—not on my leg but just below my knee—feels itchy.”

“Mom, I think my shoulder bone is broken.”

Oh, how I long to return to the days of those aches and pains!

My mother was so patient and very loving. She simply replied, “Oh, those are just growing pains, Sweetheart.”

As I continued to grow and endure all the awkward growth phases kids experience, my complaining did not lessen. However, my mother, in all her gentleness, would simply reply, “It’s just a part of growing up.”

To which, with the stomp of my foot and with arms crossed over my chest, I stubbornly and defiantly replied, “Well, then I won’t grow up! I don’t wanna grow up! I’m gonna stay a little girl forever!”

Just the other day, my pastor delivered an amazing message from the book of Mark. He spoke about the story of when Jesus calmed the sea, just before He and His disciples encountered the maniac of Gadara. While Pastor was reading the passage, the Holy Spirit pointed a flashlight at a small section of the Scripture.

And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. – Mark 4:36

I have never been to this part of the world, but I can imagine this scene as Jesus and the disciples boarded the ship. The beginning of Mark 4 says, And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land. I imagine a small harbor with many ships floating on it. Perhaps they were the small ships that belonged to fishermen who were just going about their daily business. Perhaps, as Jesus began to teach from His ship, people on the land began to board smaller ships to get closer to Him as He taught. Whatever the purpose for their presence, Mark 4:36 makes it clear that the ship holding Jesus and the disciples was not the only ship on the sea.

As my pastor continued reading the story of Jesus’ calming the storm, I thought about those …other little ships… God thought it important enough to mention them in Mark 4:36, but they were not mentioned again after that. In fact, Mark 4:37 says, …and the waves beat into the ship… It does not say “ships” as plural, but rather “ship” as singular, referencing the ship in which Jesus and the disciples were sailing. There is no indication that those …other little ships… entered the storm, not to mention that there is no indication they even survived the storm.

This brought to my mind a conversation I had had with a former employer. One day, he decided he would take the sales staff out on a fishing trip as a team-building exercise. He brought his boat, which I thought was extremely large, to the office to meet up with the men. I asked him if they were going deep sea fishing on the Atlantic. He chuckled and said, “No. We’re just going on the river. There’s no way this boat could handle being that far out at sea. It’s way too small.” This boat, that I saw as massive, could not handle a normal day at sea. I wondered how those little boats near Jesus would have fared against the stormy sea.

That day, while sitting in church, the Lord used this passage to teach me about growth.

Little ships are not made for big seas.

There is no evidence that those little ships ever journeyed with Jesus’ ship out into the sea. Perhaps those in the little boats had no intention of following Jesus. Perhaps they had always intended on returning to their normal daily activities. It could have been simply the providential hand of God that kept those ships near the shore. Regardless of the reasoning, those little ships could not have weathered that great storm without God’s intervention. Just as my employer’s large fishing boat could handle only river fishing and not ocean fishing, those little ships were not prepared for what would transpire on the sea that day.

Big seas will come.

We can stomp our feet, cross our arms, and scrunch up our faces in defiance; these things will not keep those big seas at bay. We can stubbornly declare our abstinence or immunity, but we will be making our declaration amidst the soaking waves and hurling winds. It does not matter how much we declare we do not want to grow; the storms that bring the opportunities for growth will come.

Staying small does not prevent the big seas from coming.

When I was a child, I did not enjoy all the growing pains and discomfort, but wishing to stay small did not keep all those aches away. Sometimes we may think, “If I don’t get all the way involved in church, or if I don’t surrender everything to God, or if I just don’t grow in my faith, then God won’t send the really hard trials my way.” However, this is not true. It is through these hard trials that we have the opportunity to grow. The trials will come whether we feel ready for them or not. It is up to us: We can use these trials as excuses to become bitter or stubborn, or we can use them as opportunities to grow and to become better equipped to do more for the cause of Christ.

Growth is uncomfortable but necessary.

When the storm came, the disciples were uncomfortable, to say the least. They were fearful and worried. I am sure there may have been some seasickness, too. Maybe in the motion of the ship on the waves, some tumbled and hurt themselves. It was not a pleasant experience. They likely did not realize it at the time, but their faith was growing. Their faith had to grow so that they could go from having a fear of the storm to having a fear and an awe of God.

A bigger ship enables us to see miracles.

We do not know if the ship Jesus and His disciples were in was larger in terms of size or if the reference to …other little ships… was emphasizing the word “other” as opposed to the word “little.” However, what made their ship “larger” was Who was in the ship with them. As we walk with Christ through our trials, we learn to depend on Him more. We grow in faith and see His mighty miracles in our lives.

If we want to do big things for God, we are going to need a bigger boat.

Christ knew they would survive the storm. He knew the task that was awaiting them on the other side of the sea. He knew the disciples would need faith to encounter the maniac among the tombs. He knew they would need faith to endure the criticism and the backlash from the townspeople afterward. Jesus allowed the storm on the sea to strengthen their faith, preparing them to endure the storms they would face on the land.

God never intended for us to remain static. He wants us to grow in our faith, in our love for Him, and in our service. Sometimes, those growth pains are the itchy knee skin or the “broken” shoulder bones. Other times, those growth pains are the deadly, terror-inducing storms of life. Regardless of the discomfort, we must allow God to grow our faith so we can see great miracles from His hand.

by Krystal Salm