This morning, I was talking to God about the future spouses that He is preparing for my children. I was asking Him for specifics (someone who is friendly, someone who is outgoing, someone who has a desire to serve God, and someone to find Megan’s keys every day when she loses them). Then, this thought struck me—“What if my specifics are not God’s specifics?”

As adults, most of the time we think we know what we need for ourselves. Even more so, as parents, we feel certain of what our children need in life. We spend eighteen years or more preparing these tiny versions of ourselves for adulthood, only to release them into the wild while hoping and praying we will not need to bail them out of jail one day. We have concerns for them, starting from that first cry the moment they are born until they are well into their adult years. My mom used to say, “You think you will be done worrying for your children when they grow up and leave home. Instead, your worries are only different and, most times, bigger!” Even with all of the unknowns, the worries, and the concerns, almost all parents will say that they know what is best for their children.

Funny or not, God often has better ideas for His children than we do. His ways are not always our ways. Consider the life of Abraham and how he made decisions on what he thought was best for his family, but God had other ideas. He “helped” God with many things. This led to him lying, putting his loved ones in mortal danger, and his family committing devastating immorality. Abraham made a mess of life more than once by stepping in to “help” God.

One thing I learned from my friend Jennifer Beil when writing about her and her daughter with special needs, Brooklyn, for the Baptist Magazine was to pray that God would give my children struggles and trials. He requires them to endure difficulties so that they will learn to depend on God more. At first thought, this seemed to be crazy talk! Why would I want my children to struggle? However, this is what being a selfless parent is all about! Struggles make them stronger. Trials make them seek God on their own and learn to do it independently from Mom, Dad, Grandparents, or Pastor. It teaches them to walk with God and build a relationship with Him that will sustain them through the worst battles in their lives.

I want my children to be successful in life in many aspects. Mostly, I want them to find the joy of living in the center of God’s will. If I should pick where they live and what they do for a living one day, I would be dishonest as a parent who dedicated them to God when they were babies. I may disrupt them from seeking God to find the answers and from learning to listen to His voice. How will they hear Him when their mom’s voice is drowning out God’s voice?

I want my children to have happy, enjoyable marriages that honor Christ one day. If God already has the perfect mate for them, who am I to meddle in what God wants? I most certainly will make a mess of things if I attempt to choose the right person for them. I can only offer Biblical counsel (when asked) and PRAY as if there is no tomorrow.

All of this is to say that what I WANT for my children’s future, including their spouses, may be far from what God has planned to be a life of success. I know that my children will only find a lifetime of happiness by marrying the exact person whom God has already chosen for them. They will only have a joyous life if they follow the will that God has laid out for them. I would do better to pray for what GOD WANTS for them than to ask only for my own selfish desires.

I have no right to meddle with God’s plans. It does not matter if my future daughter-in-law or son-in-law is tall, short, brown, pasty and pale (like future their mother-in-law), from the north or from the south; it is not my choice. It does not matter if God wants my son to be a trash truck driver, a police officer, or a missionary in a faraway country; that is not my choice. It does not matter if God wants my daughter to be a stay-at-home mom, a teacher, or a business owner; that is not my choice. God has the plan already laid out, and I must teach them only the character to work hard and to listen to God’s leading so that, when He speaks, they will obey God’s voice.

As one would expect, I have preferences in all of these things, as all parents do. God already knows my heart as their mother; He knows what would make me happy. However, would it not be more selfless if I, as a mother, gave up that which does not coincide with God’s will? I think I can sacrifice my selfish needs for their lifetimes of happiness. I just need to remember that my God already has plans for these two crazy children. They belong to Him; He only granted me the gracious opportunity to raise them to serve Him. Even though I may imperfectly think I know what my children need in life, His will is better and is always, always, always perfect. 

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. – Matthew 6:33

by Tracie S. Burns

Sitting in my living room next to my dad, I listened as he told me a story I had already heard many times before: the day I was born. I knew every bit of this story so well from all the retellings through the years. Still, as Dad continued to share its details, hearing him tell it made me appreciate his love and care for me.

I came into this world three months early and barely two pounds. My parents thought I would pass away shortly after I was born. Dad said, “Your grandma put her arm around me that day as we watched the helicopter take off with you inside, and she said these words, ‘Everything is going to be just fine. Mandy is going to make it.’” Dad paused in his storytelling with a tear in his eye before continuing, “When we got to the hospital to be with you, I personally thanked those men for keeping you alive.”

My dad’s words caused my eyes to well up with tears. I recalled the many times in my childhood when Dad would ask me, “Whose girl are you?” as he put his arm around me and smiled. I would always reply, “Daddy’s girl!” Dad and I always were always close; we had a special bond. Just as he could tell me anything, I also knew I could talk to him about everything.

After Dad went to Heaven, I experienced the many emotions that came with knowing my Dad was gone and  the feeling of emptiness from his absence. This led me to think on my salvation and about my Heavenly Father Who will never leave me. This gave me such peace! Just like my dad had put his arms around me, my Heavenly Father continues even now to do the same for me. He guides, comforts, loves, protects, and keeps me.

The Bible says in Proverbs 23:26, My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways. The Lord wants our hearts, and we are to observe His ways. To do this, we must pay attention when we read our Bibles and apply what we read there to our lives. It is easy to get into a rut of reading to “check a box” for that day and then to move on about our business. Are we really observing the Lord and His ways? If we do not use what God teaches us to fine tune our lives for Him, then are we really paying attention to what He wants us to do?

My hard-working dad was also a man who was faithful to God. I had and still have a responsibility as his child to pay attention to learn from how he lived. In Proverbs 10:1, the Bible says, The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother. We should all strive to be as the wise child in this verse; we should not want to live foolishly. It should be our desire to please our earthly father, but even more so our Heavenly Father. Proverbs 7:1-2 says, My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.

Growing up, it may have taken me a bit longer than it did for my sister to understand that I must do right or deal the consequences of doing wrong. Often, we all must learn the hard way. The Christian life is no different. Our greatest desire should be to please our Lord and to do right. When we fall, we must get up and then do right. What a wonderful and comforting thought to know that we have a Heavenly Father Who will pick us up, hold us tight in His arms, and say, “Whose girl are you?”

by Mandy Harper

Have you ever been able to go somewhere or enjoy an unique experience because you knew someone important? As an example, imagine showing up and trying to get in to Buckingham Palace. When the guards ask what you are doing, you reply, “I know the king.” It is a guarantee that the guards would refuse your entrance because anyone can say that they know the king. On the other hand, if the king told the guards, “I know her,” you would be welcomed inside the palace.   

In John 10:27, the Bible says, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: The Bible clearly states that Jesus knows His sheep. I have read this verse hundreds of times and probably heard it preached just as many. However, this time I saw it in a new light. The phrase “I know them” really stuck out to me. 

I have no idea what it will be like when we reach Heaven’s gate. Will we be escorted in immediately? Will there be a “welcome home” party or any other number of events that our imagination cannot even fathom? The possibilities are endless. One thing I know for sure is that the reason I will be allowed to enter Heaven is because Jesus the King of kings knows me. 

Many will say that they are going to Heaven because they know Jesus, but that is not enough.  Matthew 7:22-23 says, Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. These “many” professed to know Jesus, even did works in His name, but Jesus said that He never knew them. What a sad day it will be when those people realize that knowing Jesus was not enough to get them into Heaven!

I will not enter Heaven because of any good deeds that I have done or because “I know” Jesus. It will be because Jesus knows me; I am one of His sheep. The sheep hear His voice and follow Him. That is how Jesus knows that they are His sheep. When I get to Heaven, how exciting it will be when the King of Kings looks at me and says, “I know you!”  Does He know you?

By Crystal Collingsworth

I recently had a conversation with someone about cooking techniques. Some folks will measure to the exact recipe. I am not like those people. I take liberties in my cooking and add a little more or less, depending on taste, mood, or availability of ingredients. This usually works out for me, but not always. In comparison, God’s miracles follow the same pattern of using what or who is available, adding a little more or less, depending on the need. Thankfully, we do not need to worry about His mood!

There is evidence of these measuring techniques in the miracles recorded in the Bible.

Parting of the Red Sea

Exodus 14:21 says, And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.

Notice that the wind was strong. God measured heavily as needed to create the dry land where the water once was.

Crossing the Jordan River

Another time God decided to make the land dry in a unique way, He changed up the measuring technique. Instead of sending a strong wind, He simply blocked the source of water feeding the river. Joshua 3:16 says, That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.

Handful of Meal and a Cruse of Oil

In the story of the widow woman who fed Elijah, God chose to measure in smaller increments. I Kings 17:14 says, 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. The widow woman was not given a storehouse full of meal and oil to sustain her and her son. Rather, God chose to measure a daily portion for them as long as they needed it.

Pot of Oil

In another recipe involving oil, God chose to provide the oil in large measure, rather than the daily provision. This was necessary due to the circumstances involving the creditors. The widow had a pot of oil. God used those that were available to measure out a full miracle, as we see in II Kings 4:3-4: Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few. And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full. God measured a miracle that allowed the debt to be paid and sustained the family in verse 7: Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.

The Shunammite Woman’s Son

I have prepared many dishes that failed, or died, in my kitchen. I thought I had followed the directions, but alas, it was not meant to be. Perhaps, there was a greater plan in place. I see this in the story of the Shunammite woman’s son. The ingredients for this miracle seem odd, as does the process, but God had a miracle to measure out for the Shunammite woman. She was a great hostess for Elisha, and when he wanted to repay her kindness, God allowed him to predict the birth of her son, despite her barren condition. A few years later, her son died, and Elisha again was used to provide a great miracle only God can measure out. II Kings 4:35 reports the outcome: Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.

Jairus’ Daughter

In Mark 5:41, we see a different application of the recipe: And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. Jarius’ daughter had died, but Jesus came to her house, held her hand, and spoke life back into her.

Five Loaves and Two Fishes

In the story of the five loaves and two fishes, God used what and whom He had to measure a mighty miracle. The lad was willing to contribute his lunch for Jesus. John 6:9 says, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? I love how Jesus responded by showing rather than telling. He measured out portions to the disciples until the crowd of 5,000 had eaten …as much as they would. This all-you-can-eat meal graciously measured out from a small lunch was provided by a willing lad.

All throughout the Bible, we see evidence of God measuring out miracles. I love that He gave us these true stories of miracles, but I love even more that He provided us recipes for obtaining our own miracles. Luke 6:38 says, Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. I love the thought that God is willing to measure the miracles for me in such generous portions, freely doled out as evidenced in II Peter 1:4: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises:…

by Melissa Caperton

A verse that has become very special to me over the past few years is Ecclesiastes 3:11, which reads, He hath made every thing beautiful in his time:… We all are familiar with the beginning of this same chapter which speaks of the seasons of life. Some of the seasons listed would not be considered pleasant ones, but God has a plan and a purpose for every “time” in our lives. We are given confirmation in verse 11 that everything we face will be made beautiful, though we do not always see the beauty; but it will only happen in His time. There is a process by which God gets us to where He wants us so that we can be what we need to be in order to fulfill His will for our lives.

Joseph is one of my favorite people to read about in the Bible, other than the Lord Jesus Christ. He was the favored son of Jacob and was sold into slavery by his brothers, narrowly escaping a plot to be murdered. He faced loneliness, hardships of slavery, false accusations, imprisonment, and many other things throughout his young life. Everything that he faced eventually put him into a position that enabled him to save the lives of many people, including those of his own family. The Bible tells us that during all of this, the Lord was with Joseph. God was guiding every step of the way. These events did not take Him by surprise, nor were they outside of His divine will. Joseph worded it perfectly in Genesis 50:20 when he said, But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

There are many examples in the Bible of people who, like Joseph, were brought to a different place through less than desirable circumstances at just the right time so that they could fulfill God’s will. I think of Ruth, Esther, Jonah, Daniel, David, and Paul, to name a few. Of course, the greatest example of all is our Saviour. He endured mocking, slandering, and unimaginable physical torture which brought him to his final destination: a cruel cross. It was there that He fulfilled God’s will so that we could become heirs of God and have a way to Heaven.

We are carnal. We could not look at events such as those described in Scripture and call them beautiful. We do not look at imprisonment, punishment, torture, shipwreck, or death as being good. In fact, most of us would consider them to be tragedies. However, in God’s time, events such as these could be reflected upon fondly and even be considered beautiful because of the end result. We realize, through the passing of time, that God uses each and every situation in our lives for a purpose.

My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer not too long after we moved to Florida when I was in elementary school. She fought this battle for about two years and died at the age of thirty-three on February 25, 2005. She left behind five children and a husband. I was eleven years old and unsaved at the time. Our family struggled with her passing. We each dealt with our grief in our own ways, and none of them were good. I became increasingly bitter and depressed and even began to doubt that God existed.

Through a series of events, I moved in with my aunt and uncle two years later. During that time, they happened to be attending the church where I am currently a member. I did not want to go to church! There are some at the church now who remember those days when I first began to attend. They could testify that I was pretty rough, to say the least! Not long after this, I was forced to go to a youth camp with the church youth group, who I still did not like at that time. It was at this camp in Dayton, Tennessee, where I accepted the Lord as my personal Saviour.

Things were not perfect, even after getting saved. I had much growing to do, and there were many trials from my past that I needed to overcome. Years later, after yet another battle, I found myself living with my Christian school teacher starting in my junior year of high school. She is a single lady who had one of her daughters (who was also a teacher in the school) living with her at that time. I cannot think of a better example of what a Christian lady should be in our day than these two ladies! I learned so much from these dedicated servants of God. The lessons I learned during this time were essential and came at just the right time in my life. Because of the sacrifices of these two ladies and the wisdom I was able to glean from them throughout my last two years of high school, I was able to graduate and continue my education in Bible college. There are many others who God put along my path who invested little bits and pieces into me to help to shape and form me into who I am today.

After I graduated from college, I had yet another waiting period. I had not yet found the mate God had for me. I thought I was going to be a crazy dog lady and live a lonely life with fifty dogs (because dogs are much better than cats)! Had I not followed the advice of my pastor and remained patient, I never would have found God’s perfect will in that area of my life. I could have taken things into my own hands or gotten impatient with the timing and settled for another path. I am glad that I waited for God’s timing because I needed that waiting period to continue to work on myself. There were more lessons that I needed to learn during that time.

I never considered my mother’s death to be a pleasant thing. I did not particularly enjoy being passed around from house to house and family to family while growing up. I enjoyed being single but did not want to be single forever. God used all of these circumstances to mold me each step of the way. He methodically chiseled away those things that did not need to be in my life and filled each and every void with something better. Now, I can look back at all that occurred, and I can honestly praise God for these things. I do not look back at them with sorrow or nostalgia. I stand in awe at the reflection of the beauty of God’s handiwork.

God’s timing and His plans are perfect. Who else could have worked such an elaborate plan? Even when we mess up or veer off course, God has us in His mighty hand and takes us to where He needs us to be. Because of my mother’s death, I was able to get into just the right home for that time so that I could be saved and could get established in a Bible-preaching church. Then, my teacher was available and willing to take me in at the time when I needed it so that I could grow further and could continue to follow the will of God for my life. I stayed faithful in church, serving God, while waiting for His will in finding my spouse. It all happened at just the right time! Now, I still am not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but I do try my best to serve God. I think I have lived a beautiful life thus far and would not trade what God has put along my path to bring me to where I am today.

Friend, are you in a trial? Do you feel as if you have been passed around and buffeted by the burdens you face? Stop to consider what God might be doing. He is with you every step of the way. He knows exactly what you need and when you need it. You might not be able to see it now, but in time, you too will be able to look back and see the beauty in each situation. Do not rush the process! God’s timing is perfect, and that ugly situation you face will be made beautiful in His time. I know this because it has been true for me. I know this because the Bible says, He hath made every thing beautiful in his time:…

by Alyssa King

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me. – Psalm 138:7

I underlined this verse in my Bible over seven years ago as I was reading my devotions. Then I continued reading in the next passage. However, I always find myself stopping and meditating on this verse each time I read through my Bible. Its words are like a magnet, drawing me in to get a closer look.

There are three words from this verse that always jump right off of the page at me. As is my custom, I just needed to look them up. Those words are midst, trouble, and revive.

1. The word midst means physically in the middle of something.
2. The word trouble literally means distress.
3. The word revive means preserve, restore, continue or sustain, particularly in regard to life.

Whether the distress we are experiencing be brought on by our own bad decisions or imposed upon us by circumstances beyond our control, we all have gone through situations that cause us distress, heartache and—dare I say it—worry and doubt. As I stop here and meditate on these words, I remember the many times that I or my family found ourselves physically in the middle of some type of distress. We all have had those times when we thought we were never going to be able to pull ourselves up out of whatever situation we were in; but then God stepped in.

God reached His mighty hand of mercy down to restore us, giving us back our joy in the Lord and in life! God is always there to revive us—to restore and sustain us in this life—no matter what we are going through. This verse gives us this promise! Even though we might be in the “thick of it,” and things may seem not to be going as we think they should be, this verse tells us God WILL revive us! God WILL go up against our enemies and fight for us! God WILL save us and bring us out of it, despite ourselves!

There is a song to which I enjoy listening, and I can never seem to get enough of it. It’s called God’s Great. Read the words of the verses and especially pay attention to the chorus.

GOD’S GREAT
Looking back over my life,
God’s good, so good.
And it’s a fact sometimes I took the wrong track,
But God’s good, so good.
And when I look at where I’ve been
And what He’s brought me through,
All I can say is God’s been so good;
But on second thought, God’s been great.

How great, how great, how great is God’s amazing grace.
Amazing grace, the grace that sought me,
Great, the blood that bought me, how great!
How long, how long, how long are His arms of mercy,
Reached way down to the bottom,
Picked me up, no problem.
Ain’t God good?
No, God’s great.

I’m moving on, and I’ve got a new song
Cause God’s good, so good.
And when I’m faced with trials in my way,
God’s good, so good.
And when I’m questioned about this smile on my face,
I must reply.
All I can say is God’s been so good;
But on second thought, God’s been great.

How great, how great, how great is God’s amazing grace.
Amazing grace, the grace that sought me,
Great, the blood that bought me, how great!
How long, how long, how long are His arms of mercy.
Reached way down to the bottom,
Picked me up, no problem.
Ain’t God good?
No, God’s great.

How wonderful to know that, no matter what our distress—financial, emotional or spiritual—God is there to revive us and bring us out of it! GOD IS GREAT!

by April Hernandez

One morning recently, we were running late. I was trying to motivate my two boys to get ready for school and gather all the things together that they needed for the day.  Of course, they did not see the need to rush as I instructed them to get their clothes, shoes, and lunchboxes together. They would much rather have continued playing with their Legos than put on their socks and shoes. I told them, “Will you just do what I tell you to do? Life would be so much easier if you just did what was asked of you.”

Then God reminded me that this principle does not just apply to my children; it also applies to me. I wonder how often God thinks of me and says, “Would you just do what I told you to do, the first time?”

I was reminded of the verse in John 15:14, Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. On the surface, this verse almost seems a little harsh and almost childish, as if it meant just, “I’ll be your friend as long as you do what I want to do.” That is not the case at all. Jesus is always our Friend, but He is also our Lord and our Authority. A good relationship with any authority requires obedience based on the trust that the authority can see the bigger picture.

I spoke with one of my boys this morning about which teacher was going to be in morning care the following week, and his face dropped as he said, “She’s a mean teacher.” I was shocked because this teacher is one of the sweetest teachers I have ever known. However, this teacher seemed mean to him because one morning recently, he was being disobedient, resulting in this teacher pulling him aside to speak sternly to him. I told my son that the teacher was only “mean” because he was disobeying, and he would find her to be a very kind teacher as long as he followed the rules.

Likewise, Jesus wants us as His friends, but that requires obedience because as it says in Amos 3:3, Can two walk together, except they be agreed? Our obedience should be ready and willing when the Lord tells us how and what to do. An obedient life is an easy life; hence, a surrendered heart is a happy heart.

Today, as with every day, we have a choice: will we choose to respect God’s authority and obey? Instead, will we choose to resist His instructions and authority to do what we in our flesh want to do? A good day is heavily contingent on which way we choose today. Choose to obey!

by Vicki Voorhis

As a young child, I watched my grandma as she tended her garden. She would till the ground to plant the seeds and wait for each seed to take off and grow. I am sure she wished the vegetables would spring up overnight, but she knew that it took time for them to grow and be ready to pick. We walked together through the garden, and I do not remember seeing her frustrated at or impatient with the vegetables as they grew.

Sometimes, we would see some of the plants not doing so well. Weeds threatened the young sprouts. Vegetables showed signs of bugs or squirrels having enjoyed them. Grandma did her best to protect her garden, but sometimes these things were unpreventable. My grandma knew that, even with all the work she put into tending her garden, she still had to rely on the Lord to bring enough rain and sunshine to allow the crops to grow. Grandma had to put in the work AND depend on God’s grace and help to reap a good harvest from her garden each year.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 and 11 says, To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. He hath made every thing beautiful in his time:…

As a mother of two teenagers and one wild 9-year-old, I can say that it takes time to train and teach children. I cannot expect my 9-year-old son to have the same maturity level as my 14-year-old son. Maturity should happen, but it takes time. No matter how much milk my youngest may drink each day, he will not grow to his full height overnight—at least, I hope not! Growth takes time, work, and patience.

As parents, it takes time and effort to rear our children. We must teach them that sin is bad and that we must always obey God’s Word. We should take them to Sunday school, encourage them to go soulwinning, and push them to do their devotions each day; but we also must be an example to them in our own spiritual walk. Our efforts are in vain unless, like Grandma, we also are relying on God’s grace and help to see our children grow. In fact, are we growing, too? Are we just expecting those around us to grow and do right but neglecting our own growth?

Each person grows at a different rate. We each are running an individual race and will struggle with various things. There will be circumstances that come into our lives that we cannot control, like those bugs or squirrels in Grandma’s garden. Therefore, we must guard our hearts with Scripture to be ready to respond correctly when troubles come. The Bible reminds us in Ephesians 6:11, Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

How is your growth? Are you relying on God to help you grow and to help you enable others to grow? Are you taking time to hide God’s Word in your heart? Are you being an encouragement or a hinderance to others’ growth through the example of your own personal growth?

May we take this as a challenge to continue serving the Lord by cultivating our own growth through hard work while depending on God’s help. Keep growing!

by Mandy Harper

I recently received a gift card that can be redeemed online, and I was able to choose the restaurant where I wanted to use the gift card. Once I made my selection, I received a confirmation email and was informed that my redemption was complete. As I saw the words “You have redeemed your gift” appear on my phone screen, I was drawn to the word “redeemed” and began thinking about all that came with that gift card redemption and my spiritual redemption.

Someone paid a price for that gift.

That gift card was free of charge to me, but someone paid for that gift because they loved me. What a thought it is that Jesus loved me enough to pay for the gift of eternal life for me because He loved me!

I had to make a choice to use that gift.

I could have let that gift card sit in my purse and never used it, although it would have been available to me at any time if I had chosen to use it. What a shame it would have been to let that gift card expire simply because I refused to use it! At some point, if Jesus tarries His coming, I too will reach my “expiration date.” What a shame it would have been if I had let His gift of eternal redemption expire simply because I refused to choose to use it. 

I received confirmation of that gift.

As soon as I finished filling out my online information, I received an email confirmation that the gift card had been redeemed. I am now free to use that gift and enjoy the blessings that come with it. When I got saved, Jesus gave me confirmation by giving me the Holy Spirit Who now helps and comforts me every day!

This little gift card gave me such a sweet reminder today: I am redeemed! It is not by anything that I did; the price was paid for me. All I had to do was accept it, and now I have confirmation that His redemption is mine! Just like showing off a dress because it has pockets, it is exciting to tell others about the redemption that Jesus gives!

I love that hymn that says,

“Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it!

Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.

Redeemed through His infinite mercy,

His child and forever I am!”

– Fanny Crosby

I hope that song gets stuck in your head all day because it truly is amazing to be redeemed! Are you redeemed? Is it not a wonderful feeling to know you have the gift of eternal life? Go tell someone about it today!

By Beth Payton

Are you among the millions who rely on their daily cup of coffee? Do you find yourself sluggish, grumpy, or generally unpleasant without it? For many, it is as if they cannot even function if they do not get their daily fix. Coffee lovers crave it; they must have it. They will go out of their way to get it, will not let anyone or anything keep them from drinking it, and will even spend hundreds—if not thousands—of dollars a year to have it. Why? The answer is fairly simple: They are addicted to it and have made it a necessary part of their lives.

Let us imagine the effect it would have on the world if Christians would treat their personal Bible study as they do their morning cup of coffee! What if we were so addicted to the Word of God that we could not function without it? What if it were evident to others when we did not have our daily fix?

Job treated God’s Word in such a manner. Job 23:12 says, I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. Job was saying that the Word of God was vitally important to him. How did we go from people being like Job, who valued God’s Word above his daily meals, to today’s Christians who value a cup of coffee more than they value God’s Word?

Unfortunately, we have allowed the value of personal Bible study to be diminished by irrational excuses. We claim that we are too busy and do not have enough time to read the Bible. After all, we work 8-12 hours per day. Our forefathers spent more time reading the Bible than they did reading any other book, yet they had no modern conveniences and no electricity. In fact, many were uneducated. Our forefathers cherished the Word of God and based every aspect of their lives upon its principles. Today, however, even with all of our conveniences, we cannot seem to find the time to spend in God’s Word.

We also tend to excuse our lack of personal Bible study with our church attendance. Because we go to church, we seem to think that we do not need to study the Bible on our own. Going to church is wonderful. In fact, we are commanded not to forsake going to church (Hebrews 10:25); however, going to church is no substitute for our personal relationship with the Lord. Prayer is us talking to God, but Bible study is God talking to us. A proper relationship involves both talking and listening. When we read our Bible, we are allowing God to talk to us. It is rude for us to do all of the talking but to never stop to listen. We can improve our relationship with the Lord and grow as Christians by reading the Bible.

If a doctor must read and study medical books to succeed in his profession, then it makes sense that a Christian must read and study the Word of God in order to succeed in his profession. In II Timothy 2:15, we see that God instructs us to Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. It should be our greatest desire to be approved unto God, but unless we study and rightly divide the Word of truth, that is an impossibility.

If we truly love the Lord (the way most people love coffee), we will want to hear from Him on a daily basis. Imagine a husband and wife only speaking to each other occasionally. A marriage without daily communication will not last very long. Just as we make provision for our daily cup of coffee, we need to make our personal Bible study a necessary part of our day. We need to be so dependent upon it that we will not be able to function properly without it, nor will we let anything prevent us from having it. It is amazing how we seem to find time to do the things that we enjoy, such as watching TV, reading a book, scrolling through social media, shopping, or even drinking that cup of coffee. Why do we not start enjoying spending time with the Lord? If we actually enjoy it, we will be sure to make time for it. As a thought, we could always read our Bible while enjoying that daily cup of coffee. Psalm 1:2 says, But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. If we start delighting in God’s Word, it will become necessary! We will need to have our daily fix!

by Crystal Collingsworth

I am a forty-something mother of three, and anyone who knows my children knows that they are very busy children! I also teach science in our high school and am the 11^th grade homeroom teacher. I grew up in church and in the home of faithful lay people in the church. I cannot count the many times I have heard my dad’s name mentioned by people who were giving testimonies or were thanking other Christians who had influenced them.

As a mom, I try to do my devotions early in the morning, and this morning was like most. On this particular morning, I had gotten up early, put on my makeup, and sat down to read my Bible. Fortunately, my children had actually decided to sleep past 5 a.m. I honestly do not even remember what I was reading that morning because my mind was so full of everything that I needed to accomplish that day: making lunches, washing and folding the never ending laundry, grading homework for classes, planning labs, finishing up things for spring break, and redecorating my classroom.

As I sat there, God brought to mind the verse Psalm 46:10, which says, Be still, and know that I am God:  I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. This verse has been quoted by many and probably hangs in many homes. There have even been songs written about it. Many times, I can manage to get my body still, but getting my mind still is a whole different story! However, that is what God calls us to do in this verse—Be still,… One definition for still is “deep silence and calm.” That is what God tells us to do: to have deep silence and calm. We are not just to be still, but we are to be still AND know that He is God. We must quiet ourselves and realize that He is God. He has it all under control.

This verse also says that He will be exalted among the heathen. What struck me about this phrase is not that He will be exalted but among whom He will be exalted. When we allow ourselves to be still and acknowledge His power, He is exalted not just among those who claim His name but also among the heathen. In this world today, we see people (or maybe saying “hear of” is more appropriate because we do not really “see” them) hiding in their houses because of this virus. As Christians, we do not need to live in fear. As a result, our testimonies of a calm assurance that God is in control can cause God to be exalted.

Even in the midst of the craziness of life, we can be still. In doing so, not only will we find rest and blessings ourselves, but we also can be a great testimony to others around us of God’s promises fulfilled!

by Vicki Voorhis

II Chronicles 14-16

On my second visit to Israel in 2023, our group traversed an area where the Old Testament kings reigned and built their cities and fortresses. It is mind-blowing that these ruins still exist and can be viewed by the public. Unlike in the United States, where these relics would be gated off or covered by plexiglass, the ruins and hills surrounding them are open and accessible to all visitors. Again, it is mind-blowing! I assume their thinking is that, if the ruins have been there for 3,000+ years, they are not going anywhere.

Recently, while reading about the kings in II Chronicles, I immediately thought of a spot where we viewed a display of chairs, all different sizes, on the hillside of a significant ruin from that period. Each chair had the name of a Judaean king. The height of the back of each chair represented the length of that king’s reign. Some chair backs were short, some tall, and others fell at heights between them. These chairs gave a perspective of the significance of each king and his time of influence on his generation.

When I came across King Asa in my reading, I remembered his chair specifically. It was the third and among the tallest because of his lengthy reign. As I read, I was reminded how much good he did in his first few decades as king of Judah. While God gave them 10 years of rest, Asa worked, using the time to fortify the country and make them stronger.

When the wars came, Asa called out to God for help (14:11). God delivered them, and in chapter 15, the prophet Azariah gave Asa some encouragement to continue turning to God. Afterward, Asa took drastic steps to make sure all of Judah was wholly dependent on God. He abolished idolatry; he built the altar of the Lord; and he demanded that everyone swore allegiance to the Lord. Asa even removed his idolatrous mother from being queen. He was serious about making sure God was honored throughout the kingdom. In return, God spared Judah from wars for another 20 years, keeping them safe and giving them peace.

In his 36^th year as king, Asa did something out of character for him. Under threat of conflict with Israel, he took the treasures from the house of God and sent them to Syria. He essentially paid off the Syrian king to fight Israel, distracting them from causing conflict with Judah. Syria prevailed over Israel, and while the threats stopped and Judah seemed to have been saved, Asa had made a grave mistake.

Hanani, another prophet, reprimanded Asa for his foolishness. The issue was not that he had used the house of God’s treasures to pay off the Syrian king but that he had not relied on God to negate the threat of Israel. Asa took the safety of Judah into his own hands, made a pact with a godless king, and never once called on God to save them. His strategy, although seemingly effective, left God out: the God Who gave them 10 years of peace, delivered them from the enemies in the second decade, gave them great spoils from the wars won, and followed up with 20 more years of peace.

I do not know if Asa purposely left God out of this conflict. Perhaps, he grew too self-confident in the years of peace and strength. Maybe this was a panicky, emotional response from the sudden threat of conflict. No matter the reason, Hanani told Asa that …from henceforth thou shalt have wars. Asa’s country would be plagued with the one thing Asa had tried to avoid. At this point in the story, I expected Asa to fall on his face and repent. After all, his reign had been so wholly focused and dependent on God up until this incident.

Instead, Asa got mad at the chastisement. The Bible says …he was in a rage with… Hanani and threw him in prison. His anger was so great that the Bible says he even …oppressed some of the people the same time.

I believe the last 5 years—the sad end—of Asa’s reign are more remembered than the first 36. In the rest of Asa’s story, we never see him repent, show deference to God, or even pray. In fact, when disease touched his body, he never sought the Lord; rather, he depended on the doctors to heal him. At his lowest, after a lifetime of honoring God, he let his anger, pride, and selfishness drive a wedge between him and the Lord. He died with a broken legacy.

If he had remembered the advice from the prophet Azariah from all those years ago, Asa could have ended his life with repentance and a return to trusting God. Azariah said in II Chronicles 15:4, But when they in their trouble did turn unto the LORD God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them.

All Asa had to do was call out to God and turn back to Him. God waited 5 years to hear from Asa. Instead, Asa ended his life with a painful disease, a bitter heart, and a broken relationship with the Lord.

The times of conflict will come, but do we turn to God to carry us through them? How do we respond when God chastises our unfaithfulness and reminds us where we are supposed to be?

Sure, we all fall short from time to time in our Christian walk. We get busy with life. Illness distracts us. Stress compounds. I know Christian ladies who were faithful, involved in the work, making a difference in others’ lives, and then life happened. Health knocked them out for a while. The death of a loved one, a broken heart, or a severed relationship derailed them for a time. Some eventually got back on their feet and back in the work. Others, sadly, did not.

Some quit opening the Word of God every day. They continued going to church but disconnected from the people who helped “sharpen” them. While their health allowed them to go on vacation, out shopping, and out to eat, it was never quite good enough to enable them to go soulwinning. They stopped helping in the nursery or attending Sunday school. Some even quit church altogether. Their idolatry became their stress, their poor health, their hurt, or life’s unfortunate circumstances. They allowed their “reason” to be bigger than a God Who promises to sustain them.

For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him… – II Chronicles 16:9

Asa let one foolish mistake morph into something the former him never would have believed possible. He allowed his anger and his damaged heart to shut the door on his godly influence on an entire nation. I wonder if he would have been healed from disease if he had turned back to God. How many more years would God have given him as king of Judah?

Asa allowed his self-centered ending to overshadow his decades of faithfulness.

Friend, all of us get knocked down, but please do not stay there. Do not let discouragement, disillusionment, or pride define the end of your story. Come back to God. Jump back in and be faithful. Do not allow the troubles of this life to be bigger than your God. Just as Azariah reminded Asa, that mistake is an opportunity to turn back to God instead of away from Him. Your loving Saviour wants you to return. Set down the things that are besetting you. Simply turn around—He’s waiting for you.

Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. – Jeremiah 33:3

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. – James 4:10

by Tracie S. Burns