Speaking to another lady at church on Sunday, I reiterated how simplistic the male mind is, meaning most men do not care what others think. Men are perfectly happy with a snack, a nap, a hug, and the TV remote to watch some sports. They deal logically and methodically with day-to-day problems. Thank goodness for the great men who God has put in leadership over us!

In stark contrast to men, how complicated our womanly minds are! We ladies are multi-layered, emotionally driven, and hard to figure out. We are much quicker to judge and mentally analyze another lady, starting with our personal feelings about her choice in clothing and ending with the expression worn on her face.

“Are they talking about me?”

“What did they say about me?”

“Why did they say that about me?”

I wish that each of these questions were only asked by insecure, teenage girls, but sadly, these are thoughts every lady thinks from about the age of four until the grave. We spend too much time worrying about what others think of us and wondering if they are talking about us. We speculate as to why they would think certain things about us.

Sometimes people, even Christians, can be cruel and malicious. Believe me, I have been lied about by others, and there is nothing more hurtful and heartbreaking. There have been people in whom I have invested and for whom I prayed that later were found out to have said terrible and untrue things about me. It is a fact that we all will have people come and go throughout our lives who will not say nice things about us.

Regardless, wondering what is being said of us and then feeling the need to defend ourselves is totally carnal. I am not saying that others smearing another person’s name through the mud is acceptable. However, as Christians, we are not to live in such a way that we feel we must figure out the status of our reputations and go around fixing them everywhere.

Winston Churchill said, “You will never reach your destination if you stop and throw stones at every dog that barks.”

I have seen my pastor go head-to-head with Satan in the last decade. I have witnessed people who proclaimed their loyalty to him as church members and friends become the most evil-driven enemies a person could have. I have been shocked and heartbroken over the people who said they loved him and the church who then turned around and tried to destroy his family and his ministry. Through it all, I have noticed one key element: He lets God handle his reputation. He just continues with what God has given him to do and does not try to kowtow to the mob. He does not get on social media and try to defend his name or debunk the lies of evil people. He just pastors his people and walks with God.

In Philippians 2:5-7, God reminds us how Jesus handled false perceptions and slanderous talk. It reads, Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Not only are we to keep the mind of Christ (Who did not defend Himself, even on the cross) but we also are to make ourselves …of no reputation,… If Jesus had spent His years of ministry going from town to town debunking all of the fake news about Himself, imagine how many miracles might not have happened? How differently our Gospels would have read today! Those malicious Pharisees always tried to box Him into a corner. They wanted so desperately to see Him mess up and fail at His work on earth, yet He was always focused on those who wanted His help and not on those who sought to destroy His name.

Some days, I fail at staying focused on God and not on the naysayers, but I am grateful when the sun comes up the next day and God gives me another chance to be the best I can be in His service. I cannot let my growth in Christ be stunted by constantly worrying about what others think. My salvation did not come through others but through the Lord Jesus Christ. I would rather be …of no reputation,… myself so that I can make it all about Christ.

My friend, the dogs will bark. Do not be tempted to veer off from the path to throw stones at them. We simply are to focus on the path that God has set before us. Let them say what they will. Just let those dogs bark, and let us keep moving forward, living for and serving our Saviour!

by Tracie S. Burns

I Kings 12:1-15

I am not going to share a certain verse today because many jumped off the page at me. This caused me to stop and reflect a little on how relevant God’s Word is today, even in our current society. I was reading in I Kings 12 about King Rehoboam and how he handled his first conflict as king of Israel. The people came to Rehoboam and asked him to lighten their yoke. In exchange, they promised to serve him and be loyal to him forever. They wanted a little relief from their bondage.

Rehoboam asked them to give him a few days to think about it. He used those few days to seek counsel. This is the only good thing he did when confronted with this conflict: He sought counsel. He first consulted with the older men of his congregation—those who had counseled his father. Then, he sought the counsel of his peers—the younger men with whom he had grown up. After seeking counsel both of the young and the old, he chose to ignore the counsel of the older men. I find it interesting how God points this out twice in this chapter and uses almost exactly the same words. We find it first in the portion of verse 8 which says, But he forsook the counsel of the old men,… and then again in verse 13 where it says, …and forsook the old men’s counsel that they gave him;

It is interesting how Rehoboam so readily accepted and heeded the counsel of the young men with whom he grew up but forsook the advice of the older men who had counseled his father all those years. However, is that not how many of us tend to make our decisions, especially when it comes to those life-changing decisions that can alter the paths we take? We older folks are guilty of this, but the young people are especially susceptible, always seeming to run to other young people with whom they go to school or church. They ask them for advice and guidance regarding what they need to do in certain situations. They rarely want to ask the advice of the older generation because they seem to think that the older folks are outdated and could not possibly give them any advice that would be applicable to their situation. After all, the older folks’ thinking can tend to be as outdated as they are! I really think that is sad! We as Christians need to encourage our young people to look up to the older generation in the church and train them to ask the older generation for advice, especially when it comes to making important, life-changing decisions.

When I was a young preacher’s wife, I had many adjustments to make. I did not know the first thing about being a preacher’s wife, and I wanted to make sure I made the right decisions, especially when making decisions that affected my family and the ladies of the church. Can you guess what I did? I certainly did not go to some young lady who was barely starting out in the ministry herself and was in need of help as much as I was. No, I took advantage of the older women around me who had already been in the ministry a long time. I watched them and made mental notes of how they acted. I paid attention to what they taught, how they spoke, what they wore, etc.

I had the opportunity to work closely with Mrs. Hyles and to really get to know her. I even had the opportunity to spend some time with Dr. Lee Roberson’s dear wife when she accompanied him to one of our conferences years ago. I also spent time with the dear, older ladies in our Spanish church who had a great influence on my life as a young preacher’s wife.

I remember all of the ladies who were a blessing to me during this time, but I will mention only a few. There was Ana Martinez, with her beautiful smile and cheerful disposition, who was always in her place in the front row every Sunday. She waited for me to arrive with my children and would shower them with kisses and provide me with much needed, desired motherly advice. There was Grandma Garcia, the oldest lady in our church, who had been in the Spanish church from its beginning and was so accepting of me and my family. I could tell stories of many more ladies who were a help and a blessing to me. Oh, what a fountain of blessing they all were to me and my family!

Today, I can be counted as one of those “older” women, and although I do not know everything, I count it an honor and a privilege when a younger lady seeks me out for advice. I feel so unworthy at times, but I do not ever want to steer another lady in the wrong direction. Therefore, I make sure that I stay close to God in all that I do. In addition, I still seek to spend time with those who have been around longer than I because it is important to heed and to seek out the advice of the older folks around us. They have already been where we are currently or where we are going. They can help us get to where we want to be as a Christian and help us be better servants in the Lord’s work.

It did not go well for Rehoboam when he did not heed the older men’s advice. The people of Israel rebelled against Rehoboam. We can get into so much trouble as young Christians or as people in general when we think we know it all and we fail to heed the warnings and advice of those older and wiser than we are. Let us take this lesson from Rehoboam today as a warning to never discount and to always seek out counsel from the older, wiser Christians.

by April Hernandez

I believe all Christian women aspire to emulate the Proverbs 31 Virtuous Woman. Though unnamed, she has achieved legendary status; and countless books, devotionals, and articles have been written extolling her. I have often seen her virtues listed out, but as I reread this passage recently, I was struck by her actions:

She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. (vs. 13)

…she bringeth her food from afar. (vs. 14)

She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household,… (vs. 15)

She considereth a field, and buyeth it:…she planteth a vineyard. (vs. 16)

She girdeth her loins…and strengtheneth her arms. (vs. 17)

She perceiveth that her merchandise is good:… (vs. 18)

She layeth her hands to the spindle, and…hold the distaff. (vs. 19)

She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. (vs. 20)

She maketh herself coverings of tapestry;… (vs. 22)

She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles… (vs. 24)

She openeth her mouth with wisdom;… (vs. 26)

She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. (vs. 27)

Summed up in our common vernacular, the virtuous woman worked.

Sadly, we live in a culture that despises work. Self-care and relaxation are paramount. We are told that our rest is essential, that our needs and wants are most important, and that the ultimate goal in life is to be able to sleep in and follow our own schedule every day. Work is a bother, a drudge, and something to be avoided. If we are depressed, our modern day society tells us that it is because our children require too much effort from us. If we are anxious, it is because our work schedule is too taxing and rigid. If we are overwhelmed, it is because our housework is too rigorous.

We as Christian women should strive to avoid this mindset. Work is a gift from God and any work done for His honor and glory is a blessing to ourselves and to others. The work that the virtuous woman did was not easy (personally, I find the …riseth also while it is yet night… particularly difficult) and required much time and skill. The rewards for that work, though, were well worth her ceaseless efforts. Galatians 6:9 tells us, And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

At the end of Proverbs 31, we find the harvest that the virtuous woman received. In verse 28, we see that she received the commendation of her family: Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. In verse 29, we see that she received the commendation of God: Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Then in verse 31, we see that her own works commended her: Give her of the fruit of her hands: and let her own works praise her in the gates.

It is good for us to consider our own diligence. How is the fruit of our hands? Are our work ethics honorable to God and our families? May we strive to work as the virtuous woman worked.

by Abigail Medford

I recently slipped and fell outside in the snow, landing on the hard, frozen ground. I fractured my tailbone, and it really hurts. Because of this, I need time to heal. I have to be extra careful, so I cannot do everything I usually do.

As I lay there, looking up at the ceiling and reflecting, I decided to read Psalm 139—one of my favorites. While thinking about my fall, I also considered how we all experience spiritual falls or become overtaken by faults.

Before I walked outside and fell, God knew. God knew before we sinned or experienced a spiritual fall. In spite of this, He cares about us, loves us, and wants us to heal so we can get back up and run our race.

The psalm begins like this: O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising; thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. (verses 1–6)

Incredibly, the Lord knows everything about me, yet He still loves me. He knew when I walked outside that I was going to fall and get hurt. He was—and is—with me.

I began thinking of all the people my husband, David, and I have been in contact with through our ministry, Galatians 6:1 Ministries. Our Lord God knew about all their sins and hurts, and He sent them our way so we could help restore them. What a privilege we have!

To you who are reading these thoughts—whether you have taken a fall or are helping someone who has—God knows where you are. He knew this was going to happen. Will you return to the Lord and be restored? Will you help restore others?

These are such important decisions.

Let me say this to any wife who is helping her husband right now —do not give up without a fight. Walk in the Spirit. Let this be the beginning of a marriage that is better than ever.

Psalm 139 continues, speaking about how the Lord is with us everywhere, all the time, and sees everything we do. Please read it. It ends like this:

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

Let God search your heart, and talk to Him. He loves you.

by Brenda Hyles

“Now, baby dedication does not save a child. What these parents are saying is that they will do their best to live according to God’s Word, to raise this child in the love and admonition of the Lord, so that one day, he will have the opportunity to trust Christ as his Saviour and learn to live a life that pleases the Lord.”

I have heard my pastor begin our baby dedication services with his statement dozens of times. However, it was not until the day I dedicated my daughter that I learned what it really meant.

My husband and I had been married longer than ten years and still had not been blessed with the child we so deeply desired. We prayed and asked God for His will in our family.  We sought medical advice from at least a dozen specialists and tried various treatment options. The last appointment with a wonderful Christian doctor was a very discouraging meeting.  He ended with the words, “I just don’t think it’s going to happen, and I don’t want to keep wasting your money.”

While I was grateful to have an honest and Christian doctor, the disappointment was overwhelming. I went back to work and asked my boss if I could go home for the rest of the day. A few months passed, and just after my thirty-fourth birthday, I began to have severe headaches. I remember being at the grocery store and, midway through my list, having vision that was so blurred that I could not continue. I sat on a bench, gripping the cart, while my husband ferried the items on my list back and forth from the aisles to the cart.

Feeling like a broken toy, I went to bed that night with a cold washcloth pressed against my forehead. I woke the next morning and began my usual routine of getting ready for work. I glanced at the bathroom sink, cluttered with various medications and one lonely pregnancy test that remained. At this point, I felt so low that I did not want to see anything that even reminded me of our failed attempts to grow our family. I decided I would take one last test, wait for the single line to appear, and go about the rest of my day.

Just before turning on the shower, I glanced down at the test. Was that…? No! I must still have double vision from the migraine. I ran to the bedroom where my husband was sleeping peacefully for another five minutes. I pounded on his legs and ripped away the blankets. I flipped on the overhead light and shoved the test in the face of my husband.

“What does this say?!?!”

My poor husband will receive a crown in Heaven one day for enduring my shenanigans. I had forgotten that he could see nothing without his glasses. He did not even know what I was showing him or for what reason he received such an abrupt awakening.

“What does this say?!?!” I repeated.

His eyes slowly focused on the object in my hand.

“Are you serious?!” he replied.

“I don’t know?”

I called my doctor and made an appointment. I googled, “How likely is a false positive on a pregnancy test?” Two rounds of bloodwork and three doctor’s appointments later, it was confirmed. I was pregnant.

After all of those years of disappointments, specialists, doctor’s appointments, treatments, and medications, God did what no one else could. He gave me what my heart had desired most.

About two months into my pregnancy, I was at work—a day just like any other—thinking of names for my daughter. (At this point it was not confirmed, but I believed in my heart that my baby was a little girl.) Around mid-morning, I experienced a scare and called my doctor immediately. The nurse with whom I spoke was caring but remained neutral. Although she did not send me to the emergency room immediately, she did schedule an appointment for the following day.

I returned to my desk while holding back the tears. I still needed to answer calls and schedule crews. People were depending on me to do my job, but all I could think of was that I might lose my daughter. Overwhelmed with fear, I placed my hands on my belly and prayed quietly through my tears at my desk.

“God, please don’t take my little girl.”

As clear as day, I felt the Holy Spirit whisper in my heart, “She’s not yours.”

I asked my boss if I could take a short walk outside, and she graciously allowed me to go. As I walked down the sidewalk by the building, I was crying and praying to God. I thought of I Samuel 1:27: For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:

“God, You gave me the child I asked for. If You let me, I will raise her to love You and serve You. I will teach her to do right, and I’ll be an example to her of what a Christian lady ought to be. Lord, we’ve waited so long. Just, please, let me keep her.”

“She’s not yours.”

It echoed in my head repeatedly. I struggled with those words. “She is mine! I wanted her! You gave her to me!”

“She’s not yours.”

I walked back to the office and sat at my desk. Mentally exhausted, I gave up.

“Lord, if You want her…she was Your child before she was mine,” I whispered, and a calming peace came over me. I finally was ready to accept whatever God’s will was for this little daughter of His.

It was on that day, while only a couple of months pregnant, that I dedicated my daughter to the Lord. I realized that God has a purpose for every soul conceived throughout history. Whether that soul lived one hundred years or one hundred minutes, there was a purpose for each one.

Three months later, on February 9, 2016, Gabriella Angeline fulfilled the purpose God had for her. She taught her mother about dedication and surrendering her will to the Lord. Having fulfilled her purpose, this little daughter of God was taken home to be with Him.

As parents, we often find ourselves conflicted with our wills versus God’s will. Consistent discipline is difficult. It is easier just to let things slide; but will that prepare our children to obey the Lord? Providing a strong example of godliness is difficult. It is easier to relax our standards; but will that prepare our children to stand strong for God?

When we as parents dedicate our child to the Lord, whether at church, at home, or at an old, wooden desk at work, we are making a solemn vow to God to choose His will over our wills. I think of Hannah, praying for a child, and then giving him away to be raised by someone else. Hannah understood the importance of her vow, and she knew the true definition of dedication to the Lord.

by Krystal Salm

I sighed as I adjusted my pillow again and flipped over trying to get comfortable on the couch. I was at my brother’s house with his two preschool-aged children, as he and his wife headed to the hospital to deliver their third child. As I lay there, I felt the heavy responsibility of caring for my niece and nephew. In the midst of all this, there were two who slept soundly and not worried. Those kids were not concerned about anything. They slept in complete peace. When they had gone to sleep that night, their mom and dad had tucked them in bed safe and sound. If anything happened during the night, they knew Mom and Dad would make sure someone would be there to take care of them.

I know we all worry and lose sleep when we ought to let God handle it. Just like those parents with those babies, God knows exactly where we are, available to help when we need Him. That same perfect peace and rest can be ours, also.

To have the peace of knowing that God is there to help us, we must be close to Him.

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.…He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler. – Psalm 91:1, 4

To be under someone’s shadow would mean to be rather close. To be under His wings means to be right there with Him. Being near the one shielding is necessary to be sufficiently shielded. Just as a child feels peace in knowing his mom or dad is close, we can have peace in knowing that our Father is close.

To find peace in God as our refuge and fortress, we must run to Him.

I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. – Psalm 91:2

Often, when a child is scared, he will run to one or both of his parents. He trusts them for safety. The parent will then reach out and surround their child with arms of protection. If we will run to Him, God will cover us with His protection.

To find peace in the deliverance God offers, we must heed the warnings He sends through scripture and wise counsel.

Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. – Psalm 91:3

Many times, I have watched a parent calling out a warning to his child. I have also observed a parent grabbing his child just before he fell or put himself in danger. When the child listened, he avoided getting hurt. God offers us deliverance from snares or injury through warnings from the Bible and wise counselors. Sometimes, we ignore the warnings and get into trouble, but the deliverance is available if we will listen.

To have peace from fear, we must have complete trust in God.

Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; – Psalm 91:5

As I mentioned previously, those little ones I watched slept soundly all night. They had no fear that their parents would leave them without someone to care for them. They had no worries that someone would come into their house and harm them. They had complete trust in their parents, resulting in complete peace and rest. There is no room for fear when our hearts are filled with faith in God. With complete trust comes complete peace. We can rest, knowing God has everything handled. 

by Amber Slimp

I recently had a conversation with someone about anger in which we discussed how everyone is different when dealing with the emotion of anger. Some internalize and then blow up, while others just blow up every time they feel angry. Those that deal with anger correctly are able to hold their tongue when emotions are involved until the right time comes to speak. As I was reading in Ecclesiastes, this verse jumped out as God’s answer as to how we should handle our anger. 

Ecclesiastes 5:2 says, Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore, let thy words be few. For context, the verses surrounding this verse refer to God’s view of our making a vow before Him and not keeping it; however, the verse is also true when applied to our daily lives.

Think about the last time your child, your spouse, or your dog crossed you. Did you utter out of anger something like this: “If you ever do that again, I’ll…(fill in the blank)?” Instead, did you hold your tongue to allow the anger to pass before properly addressing the issue? 

I know I am guilty of being rash with my tongue at times. God tells us to slow down and not…be hasty.  He tells us how to respond in Proverbs 15:1, A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. The next time that we feel angry, let us remember to hold our tongues and then when our emotions are under control to respond with a soft answer. Our families deserve our best, and God gave us the biblical principles to provide it by reacting and responding correctly.

by Melissa Caperton 

This year has not begun as smoothly as I would have hoped. The bumpy start to 2025 has reminded me over and over to rely on the Lord. Everything is not all about me.

At the beginning of a new year, we often hear this phrase: “This is going to be MY year.” Of course, the fresh start of a new year can inspire some ambitious goals. However, each time I have heard that statement recently, I am reminded that this is not “my year!” Setting goals can be a good motivator—reading a certain number of books, exercising more, eating healthier— but when the new year becomes about us rather than serving God and doing His work, these goals can quickly lose their value.

Too many people are more concerned with looking good than doing good. My generation has lost sight of what is truly important because we focus on whether we look good to others, if our social media is perfect and aesthetic, and whether we are doing good things just to feel good about ourselves. We even fool ourselves into thinking we are doing just fine: “I am doing the best that I can.”

I want this year to be a great year. Do I have goals for myself in the coming months? Of course, but how can I consider it a good year if I continue claiming it as my own? As Christians, we must remember that this year, given by God, is another chance to serve Him, fulfill His will for our lives, and encourage others to keep going.

When we focus on what truly matters, God will take care of the rest. Some days will be harder than others, and some will not go as we expected. However, when we have the mindset of “This year will be a year to serve the Saviour more,” the coming months will unfold as He planned.

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

by Ashley Myers

Not long after I got saved, I chose a life’s verse. It was an easy choice for me.  The first sermon I ever heard my pastor preach was a sermon called “Eagles.” I never forgot that sermon. One of the verses on which he focused in that sermon was Isaiah 40:31, which says, But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Since I am not a very patient person, this verse was a great reminder that I needed to learn to wait on God and His timing. I clung to this verse many times. It proved to be a great life’s verse.

Many years later, I had a job with a company that seemed great on the surface. It was a fun work environment with many perks and benefits. The problem was that everyone there was related or was friends with each other; I was an outsider. I had my own office but really did not have anything to do. I pretty much stared at the walls for eight hours a day. The owners asked me how everything was going, and I expressed that it would be better if I knew what it was that I was supposed to be doing each day.

One afternoon, I was eating lunch in my office. While I was eating, I was reading one of Mrs. Marlene Evans’ books. In the book she referenced Job 23:10, which says, But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. Immediately the Holy Spirit spoke to me and told me that this was to be my life’s verse. I laughed and said, “No, thank you! I already have a life’s verse.” I literally sat at my desk and argued with the Holy Spirit. He kept pressing me and telling me that this was to be my new life’s verse. I kept arguing and refusing to accept it because I knew what it would mean if I were to accept it as my life’s verse.

Having Isaiah 40:31 as my life’s verse was hard enough. That verse had the purpose of teaching me to be patient. Everyone knows not to pray for patience because, when we do, God will give us plenty of opportunities to be patient. If I were to accept Job 23:10 as my life’s verse, I knew what was coming; I was going to be tried. I do not think anyone, including me, wants to be tried. Sure, the Bible promises that once God has tried us, we will end up as gold, but I was content where I was. I did not need to be gold. After all, the Bible also says, …in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Try arguing with someone who does not raise his voice. That person does not really argue but just gently and lovingly tells the listener what is right, even when he might not want to hear. That is the worst kind of argument. There is no sense in even arguing. The Holy Spirit is a still, small voice. He does not force His will on us but gently and lovingly speaks to our hearts, encouraging us to do the right thing.

I knew that I needed to listen to Him, though I REALLY did not want to listen. As I sat right at my desk, I yielded to the Holy Spirit. I cried and told the Lord that I was afraid to accept Job 23:10 as my life’s verse because I did not want to be tried, but I trusted Him and would do as He was leading.

I had barely finished praying when someone knocked on my office door. I was asked to go see the owner. I walked into the owner’s office and was told that I was fired; things just were not working. I was in complete shock. I had never been fired, but worse than that, I was wondering what I was going to do. I needed that job! My family could not live on my husband’s income alone. I packed up my things and walked to my car. I made it to my car and could barely drive because I could not see through the tears.

I drove to a park near my house because I could not bear going home. What would I tell everyone? I parked in the parking lot and pulled out my Bible. I read, prayed, and wept. What I did not do was blame God. It would have been really easy to say, “See, I knew this would happen if I accepted that life’s verse; this is why I didn’t want it!” Instead, I praised God and thanked Him for His perfect timing and His loving watch care over me. I was so thankful that He had given me that life’s verse. I did not have any idea when I yielded to the leading of the Holy Spirit that I would need that verse so soon. However, there I was clinging to it and begging the Lord to bring me through this trial as gold.

God knew what I needed and when I needed it. I am happy to report that I did come through that trying as “gold.” My relationship with the Lord was increased dramatically that day, and in the end, all worked together for the good.

I can honestly say that I have cherished this verse so many times in my life since that day. I cannot say that I am “gold” continually, but He is not finished with me yet. I know that there will be more testing in my future, but I also know that His promises are true. When He is done with me, I shall come forth as gold—valuable to Him and for Him.

Have you heard that still, small voice speaking to you? This is the best advice I can offer: When He speaks, listen!

by Crystal Collingsworth

And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. – Matthew 28:2-9

There are many lessons to be learned from the passage of Scripture, but I was touched by the actions of the women who went to the tomb after Jesus was crucified; they were Mary Magdalene and the other Mary. Three things in particular spoke to my heart.

They sought Jesus early, in the dawn of the day (vs. 2).

This was just a simple reminder to me that it is important in my busy schedule to seek God early each day, or I will not seek Him at all! We must never get too busy to read God’s Word and talk with Him in prayer EVERY day. That is when our minds are fresh, clear, and ready to learn from Him.

They were told to go quickly and tell the disciples that He had risen (vs.7).

So many times we are slow to do what God tells us to do. He tells us to witness by telling others of salvation, but we often drag our feet, thinking, “Oh, geez. It’s time to go soul winning again!” I know, especially after a long week at work, that it can be difficult to get up on Saturday to go tell others about Jesus, but we need to remember that this is more important than anything else we do in life. We need to be quick and consistent in our witness for God in every moment of our lives.
I was reminded of this when we had a car accident in Michigan in 2014 during our Thanksgiving break. Three men stopped to help us all get out of our van, and the furthest thing from my mind was to tell them about Jesus; however, my daughter, Sara, was prepared. Although we had just endured a horrific experience, Sara took the time to give each one of those men a Gospel tract. Life is too short NOT to be sharing Jesus with others, no matter what the situation!

They encountered Jesus along the way (vs. 9).

This reminds me to be mindful of God’s presence as I serve Him. If I am not, I will miss the many blessings and little miracles that happen along the way.

I remember when we held the Christmas banquet for our small congregation in Georgia. It was December of 2014. We all went to a Colombian restaurant to eat. Everyone knew that there would be a cost for the meal, and although many would be able to pay in full, we had others who would not be able to do so. Regardless, we took everyone by faith and were prepared to pay, if needed, for those who could not afford their meals. When we were almost finished with our meals and fellowship, the waitress came to tally up the “damages.” Before she could do this, a gentleman who was not part of our group but was dining in the other part of the restaurant called her out of the room. We thought this was strange but did not pay any attention to it. The waitress soon returned to calculate our bills, and then left. Shortly after, my husband left the table to find out the total cost for the meals for everyone. When he returned, he said, “Attention, everyone! Something wonderful has just happened. The man who came in here a moment ago was so impressed with our church that he has paid our bills in full! We only need to leave the tip!” Everyone was so surprised by this that no one said or did anything for a couple of seconds. Then everyone applauded and praised the Lord!

This was a sweet reminder from God as He showed us that serving Him is not in vain! It does not matter how big or small the work is; God sees our efforts and will show us He cares through little miracles such as this!

Let me encourage us to remember that now, and always, God is good to His children. Let us just keep seeking Him early and telling others about Him. When we do this, we will see His hand moving in the midst of everything we do!

by April Hernandez

Hebrews 12:1 – Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

From the time I was seven years old until the time I was seventeen years old, I played sports. Whether playing softball or volleyball, I was “all in” and played with my whole heart. I enjoyed playing in these games, but I enjoyed winning even better. In those ten years of playing sports, I experienced wins and losses, and sometimes even had a defeated spirit because the other team just seemed better. I would always enjoy hearing the fans in the stands cheer on our team.

“You can do it!”

“Go, Patriots!”

Whether we were behind or ahead on the scoreboard, they would always cheer for us. The fans were our family members, parents, friends, and even people who would just stop to watch the game. Some fans, specifically the ones who probably played sports when they were younger, wanted to run onto the field to play with us and help us win the game. As we made winning catches, hits, spikes, and scores, the excitement could be felt in the air. I imagine some parents were saying to one another, “Did you see my kid catch that?” or “Look at them go!” After those exciting plays, the one who made the play or scored the winning point would look in the stands to see how proud and excited the fans were, and maybe even caught a glimpse of a smile on a parent’s face.

Sometimes during these games, I would stumble as I ran to the next base or would get hit by the ball as it came toward me. Even when I fell or got hit, the fans never left the stands. They continued to support and cheer for the team. In our Christian lives, we have fans who are cheering us on. We cannot see them, but the Bible reminds us that there is …so great a cloud of witnesses,…

If I had to guess, I would say that we all have a few people in that crowd who have gone before us, whether they were great men or women of faith or our loved ones. They are there in Heaven, watching us and cheering for us, even when we fall or stumble in this Christian life. I would like to think that they see us as we knock on doors, invite people to church, care for babies in the nursery, teach Sunday school, pray for one another, encourage each other, sit next to a visitor, show an act of kindness, and stay faithful to church. I imagine them saying to each other things such as these:

“Did you see my child?”

“Did you see my loved one?”

“Did you see them keep going?”

“Did you see them get up and continue in the faith?”

We have a …great cloud of witnesses…, and they are cheering us on! What are they saying right now from the grandstands of Heaven?

“Don’t quit! Get up! Keep going!”

by Mandy Harper

While shopping at the local Aldi the other day, I rounded the corner and was faced with scores of one of my favorite things: storage bins! Aren’t they great? They keep things organized—so neat and tidy, all put together—unlike me. There were big wire baskets for blanket storage, uniform clear bins for bathroom storage, and little bamboo storage bins with lids for kitchen gadgets and gizmos. Some even included labels for the utmost in organizational satisfaction. There is something so nice about having things fit neatly right where they are supposed to go.

When it comes to my mind, I have become adept at mentally storing thoughts in storage bins to deal with later. I then organize my time to sort through them when time permits. There is a lot in there—pallets of stuff! Sometimes I think I need a forklift to get around.

Last night, as I lay in bed and went through my storehouse of mental storage bins, it was too much for me. I had things in my mind that simply could not fit into those bins, so they ended up falling to the floor of my mind in complete disarray.

As I stared at the scattered ruins of shattered dreams, unfulfilled plans, and seemingly impossible hopes, I was reminded of the saying, “God doesn’t give you more than you can handle.” Yet here I was, surrounded by things that I could not handle, lying on the ground all around me.

I had a little conversation with God.

“God, I thought You weren’t going to give me more than I can handle. Over here, I have all these neat little storage bins (okay, some might be a little wonky-looking, but hey, I make it work) filled with things I can handle. But look at all of this on the floor—these many broken pieces that I can’t handle.”

As I tried to clean things up, stuffing back in all of the things that I could not handle, I felt God taking them out of my hands and placing them out of my reach. It was as if He was telling me, “I didn’t give you more than you can handle. All these things on the floor—these shattered dreams—those are for Me to handle, not you. Just leave it there. It’s Mine to handle.”

What a comfort that was to me!

When the Bible tells us in Hebrews 13:5, Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee, God meant it. If it is more than we can handle, that means God has it covered. He will take it from here—if we will just leave it there for Him to handle.

I love this song. What comfort is found in these words:

“Leave it there, leave it there,

Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

If you trust him and never doubt, He will surely bring you out.

Take your burden to the Lord leave it there.”

—Charles Albert Tindley (ca. 1906)

God gave me this beautiful reminder last night: When something does not fit in our mental storage bins, or if something seems too big for us to handle, we can simply take that burden to the Lord and leave it there. God will handle it from here!

by Beth Payton