So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month of Elul, in fifty and two days. – Nehemiah 6:15

I have been taking my time reading through a couple of books of the Bible and just trying to get something out of each of them. One of those books is the book of Nehemiah. I marvel at all of the tiny nuggets of encouragement I get from this book.

Years ago, my husband taught a Sunday school series of lessons on this book to one of our Spanish congregations. We were in the middle of building another church, and he wanted to encourage the members to build something for the honor and glory of God. To be honest, I had a hard time understanding everything he taught from the book of Nehemiah, but now as I read it again, I am getting a lot out of this wonderful book.

Verse 15 in chapter 6 jumped off the page at me this morning as I was reading, and I could not get away from the fact that it took the people 52 days to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem! I was not surprised but did not think it would take that long. I do not know much about construction, but I do know that it can sometimes take longer than originally anticipated to build something from scratch, especially to repair it and to restore it back to its former state.

I was impressed and encouraged by the determination of Nehemiah found in this chapter, verses 11-13, where it says, And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in. And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me.

Recently, I decided to replace the flooring on the first level of my townhome. It took me a while to make this decision, but once it was made, there was no going back! I went through the process of meeting with the contractor, then weighing all of my options, and finally setting a date to complete the project. I was excited to get it done and enjoy the finished results, but of course, nothing ever goes exactly as planned.

The first obstacle I ran into was the materials not arriving on time. Because of this, we had to push our installation date back a week. This was frustrating because I had to rearrange my work schedule and other activities which caused a little bit of upheaval in my daily routine.

The second issue we came across was discovering that there was moisture in the wood beneath the flooring under the refrigerator. Basically, it was more than wet, indicating a leak somewhere. When I was told this and saw the wood, all I could see was dollar signs in my head! In order to rule out a leak in the pipes, we decided to wait 24 hours to see if it would dry out before they could continue to install the flooring under the refrigerator. Thankfully, it dried out.

The third and final issue was the discovery that the previous owners had installed the existing flooring over pieces of plywood that were tightly nailed together with no room to breathe. So this meant that my installers would have to make cuts throughout the plywood already on the floor and re-nail it to the cement before they could even think of installing my new flooring. This also meant that they would need to sand down the entire surface before installation, resulting in machine rentals on which we had not planned. More dollar signs!

I began to repent of my decision to replace the flooring. This project had become a big headache and an inconvenience, but there was no going back because half of the existing floor had already been removed. To make a long story short, the installers were finally able to fully install the flooring. This project that should have taken one day to install ended up taking three days. However, the new flooring was beautiful and well worth all of the obstacles we encountered along the way!

With the perspective gained from my “flooring experience,” I just had to take a few minutes after reading about Nehemiah’s “wall experience” to sit back and meditate about everything that happened to him, from the moment he began his mission to the point of finishing the wall. There was so much opposition to the rebuilding of the wall, and it was frustrating for Nehemiah and his men as they strived to do what God told them to do. I am sure they must have gotten angry and downright discouraged with all of the obstacles and setbacks they encountered along the way.

I know that I have often felt that way throughout the years as I served in the ministry alongside my husband and in general during my life. Just as Nehemiah never let any of the opposition stop him as he rebuilt the wall, we too must confront any and all obstacles in our way. This was a good reminder for me that whatever God commands us to do is well worth all of the effort that we will put into it. There will be trials and opposition through it all, but the end result is worth every trial and every obstacle that we may have to face on the road to completion. We have this promise in Hebrews 10:23, Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) In Galatians 6:9, it says, And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

We need to remember that God was in it when He gave us the charge. He will be in it through everything that tries to deter us from our task. Last, He will be with us when we finish and reap the benefits of a job well done!

by April Hernandez

Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. – Luke 10:38-42

Today’s society is consumed with busyness. It is always “go, go, go” and hustle-and-bustle with no time for stillness or quietness. Women in today’s society lead chaotic and hectic lives! They work jobs, clean their houses, take care of their families, go grocery shopping, cook the meals, keep track of everyone’s schedules, do the laundry, and the list goes on and on! They barely have time to take care of themselves, let alone have time to spend with the Lord. It may seem as if this is a recent struggle for Christian women, but truly it is far from new.

In the story of Mary and Martha, we find Martha cumbered about much serving, while Mary, her sister, sat at Jesus’ feet. Martha received Jesus into her house, but she was consumed with everything going on around her. Though what Martha was doing was a good thing, she was so busy that she had neglected something more important—spending time with the Lord. Women are usually very hard working, and Christian women in particular love to be of service. We often have a habit of overloading our plates; we do not know when or how to say, “No.” As Martha did, we get so busy doing things, even good things, that we become overwhelmed, stressed, and sometimes even depressed. We become tired and cranky, and even lose our joy. Nehemiah 8:10 tells us that the joy of the Lord is our strength. We will become weak and ineffective as Christians when we lose our joy.

So many Christian ladies, especially new Christians, get involved in so many things that they neglect their own personal walks with the Lord. Like Martha, they have received Jesus, but they are not spending any time with Him. No amount of service can replace the time spent alone with the Lord.

My husband truly appreciates the work that I do by taking care of the house and children. However, no amount of work done around the house or in taking care of our children will measure up to spending time with my husband. He wants and deserves my attention. How much more does our Heavenly Father desire and deserve our attention!

When we allow ourselves to get overly busy, we may resort to complaining about being exhausted and even risk becoming unpleasant to those around us. No one wants to serve the Lord while wondering if the miserable person with whom he is serving was forced to help! For the sake of those around us and for our own sanities, we must make time to rest. We must spend time with the Lord! Matthew 11:28 says, Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. True rest is only found by coming to the Lord.

In Matthew 14:23, the Bible says that Jesus went apart to pray. If even Jesus needed to take time to get away from everyone and pray, how much more do we need to do the same?! In Mark 6:31, we see that Jesus told His disciples to come apart and rest a while. When a Christian quits his ministries, that void can become an avenue for the Devil to use to make the Christian become idle and even cause him to backslide. However, I do believe it is essential to have periods of rest. Vacations are good, but we must not let them become a vacation from God. When we take time to rest, we should rest in and with the Lord. Ecclesiastes 3 reminds us that to everything there is a season. We must strive for balance in our Christian lives if we want to be effective for the cause of Christ.

Ultimately, we need to learn to be like Mary and sit at Jesus’ feet. It is needful for us to choose to take time to hear His Word and talk to Him. I know how busy a day can be, but if we are too busy for God, we are too busy! We must mark it on our calendars, put it on our “to do” lists, or get up earlier. We must do whatever we must do to make sure we can be found at the feet of Jesus at some time during the day. I hope that each lady reading this devotion will remember that in this world of Marthas, we need to be more like Mary!

by Crystal Collingsworth

“I can do it!”

One of my kindergarten students grunted at me, as I walked around the table opening lunch containers for students as they needed help. He had a Lunchable to eat but was obviously struggling to remove the plastic on top of the tray. 

“Ok,” I replied.  “If you need help, raise your hand.”

Minutes ticked by, and the students were all munching on peanut butter and jelly or bologna sandwiches, except for Mr. Lunchable. (As a side note to all parents: please consider sending “easy open” foods to school with your young children. Their teachers will be forever grateful for this small act of consideration.) As he continued struggling to open his lunch, I walked back over to his table.

“Let me help you, so you can eat,” I said, reaching for the small plastic tray.

“No!” he said, his little, red face scrunched up as he swung the Lunchable away from my hands. “I can do it myself!”

I acquiesced and went back to my desk. By now, most of the students had finished their main courses and had moved on to snacks or desserts. I rang my bell and announced that all students who had finished their main courses were free to have talking privileges. Mr. Lunchable stopped struggling with his lunch for a moment and looked around at the other students conversing with one another. A strong pout formed across his face as he propped his elbows on the table edge and dropped his cheeks into his hands. 

Lunch was nearly over, and Mr. Lunchable still had not eaten one bite. The students happily chatted and giggled around him. He had all but given up trying to open the mangled but still tightly-sealed lunch tray. I rang my bell again, signifying that lunch was over. The look of sheer panic flashing in his eyes quickly turned to a red-hot anger as he snatched up the Lunchable tray and shoved it into his lunchbox. His head dropped to the table in an angry huff.

“Trash helper, please begin your job,” I called my student-helper to action. 

The trash helper carried the small can to each student as they swept wrappers and crumbs into the wastebasket. When the trash helper arrived at Mr. Lunchable’s seat, he tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention. Mr. Lunchable picked up his head and shook his sullen face at the helper, and the helper moved on to the next student. 

Once we were cleaned up and ready to move on, I announced that we would be having a special story time after lunch. The students all hurried over to the carpet in the corner by the bookshelf, but I called Mr. Lunchable back to my desk.

“Why didn’t you eat your lunch?” I asked him inquisitively, as though I had no idea why he hadn’t eaten.

“’Cause I couldn’t open it,” he pouted.

“Oh,” I said. “Didn’t I try to help you?”

“Yes,” he replied, staring at the floor.

“Well, you can’t go all day without eating. I’m going to open your lunch and give you fifteen minutes to eat some food, but you must sit on the other side of the room, away from the story corner. You can listen to the story, but you won’t be able to see the pictures or enjoy the book. At least, you won’t be hungry.”

A small pout and look of regret passed over his face before walking over to the small, round table by the classroom door. I opened his lunch, set him a place at the table, and then rejoined the rest of the class for story time. 

Many years later, in my personal devotions, I read a passage of scripture that reminded me of this event from my time as a kindergarten teacher. In Numbers 11, the children of Israel complained again about their food. God had provided them with exactly what they needed, but they murmured and complained about wanting the food from Egypt. 

In Numbers 11:11, there is obvious frustration in Moses’ words to God. And Moses said unto the LORD, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me? Then, in verse 12, we can almost feel his frustration in our own hearts. Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers?

I imagine a mother after a particularly trying day with her children, or a student overwhelmed with assignments, would feel this way as well. However, one of the most relatable phrases comes from Moses in verse 14.  I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.

We have all been there, facing situations in life where we have said, “I can’t do this. It’s too hard. It’s too much for me.” Mr. Lunchable probably said this in his mind also, when that second bell rang to end the lunch period, “I just can’t do it! It’s too hard!” as he succumbed to defeat.

Although Moses was struggling with the task God had given him, he went to God for help. God could have sewn shut all the lips of the complainers. God could have caused all the complainers to die, right then and there. Both options would have been a solution to Moses’ frustration. It is interesting how God chose to solve this problem.

Numbers 11:16-17 says, And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel,…that they may stand there with thee. …and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone.”

God instructed Moses to gather seventy men of Israel to help him bear the burden. God did not remove the burden. He simply provided the people to help Moses endure the difficulty. Imagine if Moses had done like Mr. Lunchable had done.

“No, God! I don’t want seventy helpers. Just silence the complainers!”

Moses would be sitting at a table alone, succumbing to his burden and watching all the other children enjoy the blessings of God. This is true for every Christian. God provides His church––His family––to help each other in times of need. I personally can testify that I do not know where I would be without my church family. I know that, besides the many gifts and acts of services, my church family also prays for me. This is God’s method of caring for His children. Many times, He uses people to carry blessings, assistance, or relief to His children. 

We must be willing to accept His help. Just like Mr. Lunchable, although frustrated and hungry, we often say, “I got it. I can do it myself,” when God is sending us the help we need. Then, in gloomy defeat, we miss out on even more blessings, while we sit alone and eat our humble pie. God gives His children an amazing benefit within the local church. It was not His will for Moses to bear this burden alone, and it is true of Christians today. We must simply humble ourselves, call on Him for help, recognize the help when it comes, and accept the help He has given to us.

by Krystal Salm

I recently listened to a story about a young man to whom the doctors had given no hope of survival due to a rare cancer diagnosis. Medical professionals were confused regarding exactly what kind of cancer it was, leaving them without answers for how to attempt to treat it. With little hope of living much longer, the young man—along with his family, church family, friends and acquaintances—was devastated. However, they all knew there was power in prayer. His family and church family committed to pray for him for minutes, hours, days, or however long it took for him to be given a miracle. These prayer warriors went to work, attempting to reach the heart of the Great Physician.

Just a few days later, the doctors miraculously were able to pinpoint what kind of cancer this young man had and how it needed to be treated. After a delicate surgery and eight grueling months of treatment, the young man was declared cancer-free. Now, several years later, this man is still cancer-free! This was nothing short of a miracle from God. The man went from hopeless and in need of hospice care to healthy and able to go home. What a testament this is of what God will do when we are willing to pray for a miracle for someone we love!

As I sat listening to this story, I heard a whisper in my ear from the person next to me who had experienced their own devastating health diagnosis in recent months.

“I want a miracle like that.”

My response was simple: “I know you do.”

This person’s words continued to run through my mind, and the realization struck me: Has their miracle depended on me? Have I done what that young man’s family, church family, and friends did in his stead? Have I reached the heart of God as they did? Have I begged for healing?

I considered the miracles that we know from the Bible. How about the man with the palsy that was carried by his four friends to Jesus’ feet? He could not get there on his own. His friends carried him all the way to Jesus, even breaking the roof to lower the man directly down to the Master. The Lord knew what would take place that day. Perhaps because of the multitude, the friends worried that the man would be missed, so they found a way to get him where he needed to be. They physically carried him to Jesus.

Today, we cannot physically carry anyone to the feet of Jesus, but we CAN carry them to Him in prayer to ask for His healing. Would I have physically carried someone as far as it took to get them to the feet of Jesus? What about in prayer?

When the woman with the issue of blood heard of Jesus, she touched the hem of His garment and was healed. It took a “touch of faith” for her to be healed. Maybe she thought, “I won’t bother Him. There’s a big crowd here, but if I can just touch Him and leave, no one will know.” However, Jesus knew. In fact, He knew she was there before she reached for His garment. I wonder who told her about Jesus: her family, her friends, or maybe even a stranger? She had no hope and was dying. Someone knew she needed to get to Jesus because He was Hope and the Healer!

When we read about the many miracles performed by Jesus in the Bible, we easily can forget these miracles happened to real people and are not just fictional stories. Why do we think God cannot perform miracles today? He can! We must believe that He can and will. When we do not believe, our doubt or worry can become a problem and even a sin.

What a convicting thought and truth this is: Am I hindering a miracle that God wants to perform simply because I am not praying for the situations as I should? Has a miracle been withheld because of my lack of faith? Let us ask ourselves honestly, “What if their miracle depends on me?” That person may need to be carried a short distance or for as long as it takes. Is it someone with whom we need to share Jesus to give them the hope and faith to reach out to Him?

When the Lord does not answer the way we would hope or does not perform the miracle in a way we would wish, we must remember that …He hath done all things well… (Mark 7:37) His plan is always perfect, even when we cannot understand. We may not see a physical miracle as expected, but we will have learned to pray on another level; our faith will grow. We must not be angry with the Lord if His answer is “no” or “wait.” We must trust Him and serve Him while we wait for the miracle. Never give up on the brink of a miracle; do not stop praying. If we do, it may never happen. Their miracle may depend on us!

by Taylor Hill

And Moses answered and said, But behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee. And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand: That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee…And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent…but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.…And he said, O my LORD, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite they brother? I know that he can speak well… – Exodus 4:1-5, 10,13-14

Here, we see Moses was preparing to go to Egypt. God wanted to use him to free the children of Israel out of bondage. Moses had been in Midian, a desert place, working as a shepherd. A tool that he used on a daily basis was a shepherd’s rod. The rod is a simple thing, with a curved end, used to keep sheep safe within the flock. In His preparation of Moses to go into Egypt, God showed him that he had just what he needed. Moses had his rod, and also, he had his brother Aaron to speak for him. Moses just needed to trust God with what he already had in his hand.

When I taught at a daycare, I was put in charge of the “art table.” I have never really been considered the creative type, and when my supervisor asked me to be in charge of the art table, I laughed. She reminded me that I was teaching four-year-olds and to keep it simple. The daycare was stocked with supplies, and thankfully, I was just a click away from a plethora of ideas on Pinterest. As I embarked on this weekly new adventure, I soon realized that teaching art was not that bad! I also discovered that I was enjoying creating arts and crafts. Plus, seeing the children having a fun time as they each made their own unique craft was its own reward. I never had to ask for supplies because they were already in the classroom within an arm’s reach. I could use what was already there. It gave a whole new meaning to the term, “Just use what you have!” Many of the crafts we did were simple and fun, and I did not have to run to the store each time we needed something. I just used what we had.

In our Christian lives, God asks us, “What is that in thine hand?” God has given each of us something that we can use for Him and for His glory. We should ask ourselves, “What is that simple thing I already have?” While it can be easy to compare what we have been given to what others may have, we should not. What God uses does not need to be fancy or extravagant. God used Moses’ simple, everyday tool, his rod.

Who can we invest in by using what is in our hands?

• Our family members
• Our friends
• Our co-workers
• Total strangers
• The lost
• Children in the nursery
• Students in our Sunday School class
• Our school students
• The pastor
• Our neighbors
• New Christians
• The home-bound
• Those who are sick and suffering
• People we sit next to in church

While this is a great start, the list could go on and on!

How do we invest in others by using what is in our hands?

• Make a list of others’ needs and pray for them.
• Write notes of encouragement, sharing how have the recipient has been a blessing.
• Give a simple smile.
• Listen without talking.
• Share the Gospel.
• Show compassion in deeds and words.
• Be present. The hurting often just need someone to be near and available.
• Be faithful.
• Write a devotion.
• Send a text.
• Bake cookies or a favorite dessert.
• Offer to babysit.
• Take them to lunch.
• No matter what, strive to be an encouragement, not a discouragement.

We should each ask ourselves, “What has God given me?” Living for God is not rocket science or some strange mysterious thing. Just as God asked Moses, “What is that in thine hand?” He is asking us, “What is that in thine hand?” What I have in my hand may be different from what God has given someone else. We each have something God can use if we will trust God enough to give it to Him. Who can we invest in for the cause of Christ? When God asks us the question, “What is that in thine hand?” may we respond with surrendered hearts. Let us all be willing to use the simple tools He has already placed in our hands.

by Mandy Harper

And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel. – Judges 2:10

I stopped in my Bible reading this morning and was drawn to this verse. Up to this point, God had performed many miracles for the children of Israel. They had their ups and downs after leaving Egypt, but God always watched out for them. He had used Moses and Joshua to lead them through some very difficult times. Even during their wanderings in the desert, He never failed them. They marveled every day at His provision and talked about it all of the time amongst themselves.

Then it came time for Moses and Joshua, God’s appointed leaders, to leave and go to Heaven, along with all of “that generation” who had seen the wonders of God during those years. This verse says, …and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.

This must be one of the saddest verses in the Bible. Think about it. The children of Israel had so many years to teach the next generation about the wonders of God and about all that He had done to bring them out of bondage, but they failed to do so. The Bible says clearly in this verse that they …knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done…

I think we as Christian mothers need to be careful to teach our children, who are the next generation, about the goodness of God and about all that He has done to bring us to where we are today. We can become so complacent and reliant upon the Sunday school teachers and the church to teach our children what they need to know about God; however, nothing compares to what their parents can show and teach them. This does not ensure in any way that they will always do what is right and pleasing to God in their lives, but it gives them a good foundation on which to build and an example on which they can look back and say, “I want to have that in my life.”

Here are a few ways that my husband and I tried to keep God before our children as they grew up in our home:

Teach them what the Bible is.

When my children were babies, I used to think my husband was crazy as he stood above their cribs, holding the Bible and saying, “This is the Bible! It is the Word of God!” I mean, they could not read or talk, but he was telling them what the Bible is! We must teach our children that the Bible is not just a book we take to church on Sunday and Wednesday and then forget about the rest of the week! We must teach them that the Bible is God’s Book of instruction on how to live life and serve Him.

Teach them about the miracles of God.

We must not only teach them about the miracles recorded in God’s Word but also teach them about the miracles God has done in our lives, as well as in the lives of other great Christians of the past! I am so saddened by how many of this generation know nothing about the great men of God such as D.L. Moody, John Rice, and Jack Hyles who all did so much for the cause of Christ before going to Heaven! Teach them how God used these men and, most importantly, how God could use them some day!

Teach them to read God’s Word every day.    

We decided before we had children that family devotions were going to be part of our everyday life as a family. Even before my children could read, we would sit down as a family to read one chapter from the Bible every day and learn something practical from it. I believe this plays a big part in whether or not they will make time for the Bible when they are adults and on their own.

Teach them to write out the Scriptures.

I took it literally when God said to write His words …upon the posts of thy house,… (Deuteronomy 6:7-10) When my children were growing up, even before they could read or write, I would print out verses of the Bible and hang them on the walls of our house. I wanted the Bible to be ever before them. It helps with memorization and keeps the words of God before their eyes!

Teach them to serve in the ministry.

From the time they were two weeks old, my daughters were always in church. They grew up not only being taught that it was important, but they also were able to see firsthand all of the wonderful things God could do with and through the church. They were taught about the importance of reaching others for Christ, and they were able to experience it for themselves.

I could continuously talk about this topic. It is just so very sad how the next generation of Christians sometimes grows up never being taught about the wonderful things God can do in and through them and through others! Every Christian generation should know God and be able to tell others about Him.

It does not need to end with just our own children. It can continue with our grandchildren. We need to remember that the time we spend with them is also important, and we need to use it wisely. We must not be afraid to speak to our grandchildren about Jesus and tell them how much He loves them. My husband always did that when we were with our grandchildren. He always told them that Jesus loved them and wanted them to go to Heaven someday. They may not have understood it when they were very tiny, but he always told them. Because of this, he had the privilege of leading two of my grandchildren to the Lord, and I recently was able to lead one of them to Christ as well.

It is up to us to make sure that the next generation of our families knows all they can about this wonderful Lord Who we serve!

by April Hernandez

Miriam Booth was a brilliant, cultured woman. She had much success serving Christ; however, disease came to her body to the point of death. It was then that she said, “It is wonderful to do the Lord’s work, but it’s greater still to do the Lord’s will.”

What is His will? Often, we think of God’s will as a place or a position to fill. While that certainly can be true, His will sometimes comes in the form of suffering, difficulty, and heartache.

His will may be a season of failing health.

We may experience an illness that we do not understand, and there may seem to be no answer for why it came into our life. We once were able to be at church services, go soulwinning, and serve in various ministries, but now we no longer can do these things. We long to be able to do more, but health prevents us from doing what we once could do.

Paul also had a season of failing health. II Corinthians 12:8-10 says, For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. Paul had a thorn in the flesh which made it difficult for him to do all the things he longed to do. He asked God to remove it. However, God chose not to remove it. His infirmity was something that he had to endure during this time in his life. He could have gotten bitter; however, he chose to depend on God for strength in his weakness and to glory in his infirmity.

His will may be a season of financial struggles.

We may find ourselves in financial hardship through no fault of our own. Everyone feels the strain at the grocery store checkout and at the gas pump these days. Perhaps the bills are paid and essential needs are met, but we long to give more to special church projects, yet lack the extra funds. Realize that God is in control. He has put us where we are for a reason.

The widow in II Kings 4 found herself in a season of financial struggle. II Kings 4:1 says, Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen. Her husband had died, and she was in great financial difficulty. She was desperate! The creditor had come to take her two sons to be slaves. We see that she went to the man of God for help. It is always good to seek help from the pastor that God has placed in our lives.

Elisha told her what she needed to do. II Kings 4:2-7 says, And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil. 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. So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out. And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed. 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. In these verses, we see that everything worked out for the widow when she followed Elisha’s advice.

His will may be a season of heartbreak.

God may have called a loved one home to Heaven. Our hearts ache with a longing to see them again. While we must wait to see our loved one, God has given us the blessed promise of Heaven. We can rest in the knowledge that, if they have put their trust in Him, we will see them again one day.

Mary and Martha found themselves in a season of heartbreak. John 11:1-3 says, Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. We see that Lazarus was sick and that they had sent for Jesus; however, Lazarus had died before Jesus arrived. Mary and Martha found themselves in a time of great sorrow. They did not know that Jesus would raise Lazarus from the grave. They mourned during their season of loss.

When what we are experiencing seems hard, we must remember that He will help us and give us strength. God has a purpose for what we do not understand. Just trust Him! Remember that even in the midst of a trial, God is still good. We must never forget to thank Him for what we have and all He has done for us. He will supply our needs, and He cares about us. Remember that God is the God of all comfort. He will comfort us, and He will sustain us. Lean on Him for help in times of sorrow.

Isaiah 55:8-9 says, For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. His ways are higher than ours. We must trust and surrender our will to Him. He wants to use us for something beyond our understanding.

Psalm 37:23 says, The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Our steps, one by one, are ordered by the Lord. Even our “stops” are directed by Him; He knows when we need to slow down and wait on Him.

While we will never be perfect, we know that our God is always perfect, as is His perfect will for our lives. Let us echo the words our Saviour said to His Father in His own darkest hour in Luke 22:42, …nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

by Teresa Corzine

My sneakers were covered in the trail dust. My knees and legs were burning. The worst part was that my socks were sinking into the backs of my shoes and bunching up under my heels. I had reached down so many times to irritably yank them up that I literally had ripped holes in the backs of my socks. With frustrated tears pricking the corners of my eyes, I plopped down on a large rock on the side of the trail, done with the hike!

The trek up to Castle Crags in Northern California should have been a fun family outing, but as a result of the mosquitos, the heat, my worthless socks, and the fact that my four-year-old legs were tired of walking uphill, I was done! I sat on the rock defiantly while my mom stood next to me saying all the things in the sing-song voice like mothers do to motivate weary, whiny children and waving her arms in “come on, get up” motions.

I swatted a mosquito that landed on my cheek and tried to reason which was the best way out of this hot and bug-laden climb. I looked down the trail that we had hiked from the trailhead, which seemed to be a million miles away now. Staring down that dirt path through a tunnel of trees and foliage, I considered bolting down the trail toward the bottom of the mountain, but I knew I would earn some unwanted punishment from my parents for that. It also might mean I still would have to hike back up to where we were headed anyway.

While my mom was still talking, her words of encouragement tinged with exasperation at my stubbornness, I looked up the trail to where my dad and brother were walking leisurely and happily. They were swinging sticks, stopping to look at bugs or leaves, and genuinely enjoying the journey up the mountain. Certainly, their legs were tired like mine. Perhaps their socks were sliding into the back of their shoes, too. (The thought made me grit my teeth.) However, they showed no signs of defeat, irritation, or a desire to quit. In fact, they had not even noticed that Mom and I had halted and were no longer in step with them on the hike. They were absorbed in the joy of the journey up the trail to Castle Crags.

Then, I turned toward the side of the trail that faced the drop-off to the valley below. Across the sweeping, green valley dotted with lodgepole pines stood the sheer side of Castle Crags. The granite spires towered like the front of a gothic, medieval cathedral. Even in my simple yet frustrated preschooler mind, I could see the beauty and could almost understand why my parents had started this hike in the first place. I found myself wanting to see that monolith up close and to stand on its outcroppings to view the valley and surrounding Sierra Nevada mountains.

Looking back at the already-hiked trail, I sensed the mounting frustration of the last hour of the climb. Looking ahead, I felt the joy of my dad and my brother happily anticipating the completion of the hike and the resulting reward of the beautiful view. I leaned down and pulled off my shoes. My mom’s words of encouragement changed to a desperate “What are you doing?!”

I peeled off the problematic, holey socks and shoved them into my pockets. Putting my dirty sneakers back on my weary, bare feet, I looked up at Mom and said, “Okay, I’m ready to climb the mountain.”

Staring down the past mountain trail of our lives can be a mixed bag of emotions. Some may momentarily remember the triumphs but then mourn the things that never came to pass. Some may find that the feelings of defeat and disappointment come rushing back to them. We all have heard variations of the quote which says, “Stop looking back; you’re not going that way!” Cute saying or not, this is true! Why look back at a journey we cannot change or redo?

The Bible says in Philippians 3:13, …but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, Paul was not interested in reflecting on the past but was focused on the future, so much so that he was encouraging others in this letter to look ahead and to focus forward! In the next verse, Paul continued, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. His perspective was not based upon what could have been done for Christ but upon what is yet to be done for Christ!

Yes, 2024 has been quite the year for all of us. Looking back, there certainly would be things we would do over and change. However, why are we looking back and not ahead? We are going forward, whether we want to or not, and it is up to us to make it count for Christ. Instead, let us remove the things that are hindering us from climbing up the mountain toward the …prize of the high calling of God… and begin hiking once again!

Subsequently, in these early hours of 2025, I encourage each of us to take a moment to sit down on that rock by the trail of life. Take off those socks that are bunched up in your shoes and are holding you back or are in your way. Now put the shoes back on and continue hiking! The journey is not always easy, but the endless eternal rewards are worth every single mile. 2025 can be the best hike of your life, as long as you are looking up the mountain!

by Tracie S. Burns

My husband and I planted some banana trees earlier last year. Each day, there seemed to be new growth. They flourished, growing healthy and strong.

While it is unusual for us to have freezing temperatures in Florida, the weatherman told us near the end of December that freezing temperatures were coming. We covered our banana trees with tarps for a few days to save them from the cold snap. In a few days, the weather turned back to warmer temperatures, and we removed the tarps. To our dismay, our banana plants looked dead! It appeared that our attempt to keep them from the elements was unsuccessful; from the leaves to the stem, they seemed to be goners.

Not willing to give up completely, I went out a couple days later to trim back the dead leaves to see if they could be salvaged, even though I was not sure if they would grow back. Just today, I looked outside, and to my surprise, there are some new leaves growing! 

The trials of life can sometimes send us through a bitter cold snap. Often, we focus on our circumstances, not sure if we can overcome our difficulties. We may be doing the best we can, but life’s struggles seem to leave us out in the cold, no matter what we do. In times like these, we must keep our focus on the Lord. His mercies are new and available for us every day! Lamentations 3:22-26 says, It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

Because of Him, we have a fresh start each day. Because of Him, we are not consumed. We must seek Him and wait on Him. Just like those banana trees needed some attention, and then some patience, so that they could get back to thriving, we must take advantage of what God can do to us and for us so that we can overcome our tough seasons and get to growing again. In this new year, new growth awaits for us all!

by April Pineda

As a child, I remember specifically asking my mom for her help with studying or doing homework. She stayed up late just to help me, and there were some nights when it seemed as if we would never finish. However, she was there with me through each homework problem, helping me to accomplish them. Now that I am a mom myself with three children, there have been countless times when I have been called upon by my children for help, whether they needed help with their own homework or because they fell down and hurt themselves. Because we are the “mom,” our children come to us when they have a need or are in some kind of trouble, and we, of course, want them to come to us for their needs.

Psalm 86:7 says, In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me. This verse reminds us of how God will answer us if we just take the time to ask Him for His help. This verse is so personal when it says, In the day of my trouble… We all face troubles in our lives. Troubles can come in any shape or form. Some troubles may be big or small, but they are troubles nonetheless. As a child, my troubles came in the form of homework and tests. As an adult, my troubles have certainly become bigger and harder to endure.

Just as children go to their parents when faced with trouble, we have a Heavenly Father to Whom we can go when we are in trouble. Psalm 61:2-3 says, From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. In both of these Scripture verses, David spoke of his calling out to God for help: in Psalm 86:7, …I will call upon thee:.., and again in Psalm 61:2, …will I cry unto thee,… He knew that he needed to pray. He knew that if he would just cry to his Heavenly Father, God would help him.

I never like it when my children are sick with a fever. I can remember a time when my oldest son was extremely sick. I put him to bed that night while his fever was high, and he could not settle down enough to fall asleep. I told him, “Mommy will hold you until you fall asleep.” I got into his toddler bed, and I held him and prayed, asking God to take away his fever. I ended up falling asleep and woke up a few hours later, realizing I was still in his toddler bed. I felt his head and found that his fever had broken! When I was lying next to the bedside of my feverish child, asking God to take away the fever, I remembered that He is my strong tower, and He was ready to help me!

Our routines have changed in our house these last few months. My husband is now working from home, and I have gone from staying home to working full time. We have had some challenges to face, and it has been an adjustment. When our routines have changed and we find ourselves growing frustrated, we must remember that we have a Heavenly Father Who has not changed! He is ready to hear our prayers and our cries. In the midst of our troubles, we can go to the One Who wants to answer us. He wants to help us in our troubles, no matter how big or small they may seem!

by Mandy Harper

During this time of year, my mind is always drawn to whom I believe to be the most famous mother in the Bible and whom is most highlighted around Christmas after Jesus: Mary, His mother. While many false religions attempt to deify Mary, I realized as I was studying her life that she is not so different from us in many respects. We can learn from many of the traits of Mary and can implement these characteristics in our lives to help us to be successful ladies for the Lord. 

She was favored.

Luke 1:28 says, And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed are thou among women.

No doubt, Mary knew of the promise that the Messiah would one day come. She had possibly read or heard the Old Testament prophecies that the Christ-child would be born of a virgin. I cannot even imagine how she felt when she received the news from Gabriel that SHE was the one God had favored to carry the Christ-child. God is not a respecter of persons, the Bible says. Even for those ladies who are not wives or mothers yet, God has chosen each lady to carry out a certain purpose for Him. For those He has favored to be mothers: out of all the ladies in the world, He has chosen you to be your child’s mother. With that favor comes a great responsibility.

She was fearful.

Luke 1:29-30 says, And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

Obviously, Mary had a fear of the unknown like most first-time mothers do. She not only was startled by the angel appearing out of nowhere but also was fearful of what the actual message was. She must have had a multitude of random thoughts going through her mind: “What will my parents think?” “How am I going to tell Joseph?” “How will my friends react?” It is perfectly natural to have a fear of the unknown; but when fearful, we must put our faith in the Lord and trust Him. We all have been put in positions that have made us fearful, but it is then that we must put our trust in God and realize He has everything under control.

She was full of the Holy Ghost.

Luke 1:34-35 says, Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Mary understood that it had to be a miracle of God in order for her to conceive of the Holy Ghost. Although she did not fully comprehend it, she accepted it by faith. We all must understand that we can do nothing without the Holy Spirit’s help and leading in our lives. There have been situations in my life, especially as a mother, when I could not find the answer in a parenting book. I had to rely on the Lord and ask for the Holy Spirit to help guide me through that particular situation.

She was faithful.

Luke 1:38 says, And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

I could have begun with the truth that if she had not been faithful, she would not have been the one God chose. However, I want to point out that she continued being faithful after this announcement and throughout the birth, life, and ministry of Jesus. She was faithful to Him, not only as her Son but also as her Saviour. We can recall the time in the Bible when Mary tried to use her relationship with Jesus to gain attention from the crowd (Mark 3:31-35). At the marriage of Cana, she asked the Lord for a favor when the people ran out of wine (John 2). Now, I do not think she was being sinful in these instances; she just realized the potential of the Lord. However, Jesus reminded her, …mine hour is not yet come… It was not time for Him to reveal Himself as the Messiah. Mary responded in faith and said, …Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. We know the rest of the story: Jesus did perform His first miracle that day.

Here are a few applications from Mary’s life:

Like Mary, we have a great responsibility. Just as it was Mary’s responsibility to rear the Lord Jesus, it is our responsibility to rear the ones whom God has entrusted to us …in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4)

Like Mary, we must remain humble in order to accomplish our responsibility. We can be sure Mary grew weary of washing His clothes, cooking His meals, and doing all the “mundane” tasks required of a wife and mother. We can become weary of the daily tasks as well. However, we must stay humble and take our responsibility seriously because it was given to us by God Himself.

Like Mary, we must be willing to make sacrifices in order to carry out our responsibility. As already mentioned, Mary did not understand all that the Lord was going to accomplish, but she did realize her Son’s purpose was to die on the Cross in order to save the world from their sins. It took sacrifice to take a step back and watch her Son be mocked, scourged, and ridiculed. She had to be willing to sacrifice her Son so that the whole world could be saved. We can learn from this that it should be our goal to raise our children for the Lord, not for us. We are rearing our children to become someone’s spouse, pastor, pastor’s wife, teacher, or youth director one day. We must be willing to invest in our children so they will have the opportunity to invest in another life in the future.

Like Mary, we must carry out our responsibility by faith. Luke 2:19 is one of my favorite verses. It says, But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. Mary did not have a cell phone to use to document her Son’s every move or social media to remind her of past memories. Instead, she pondered these things in her heart. That night in Bethlehem, as she was watching the fulfillment of a prophecy unfold before her very eyes, I believe she pondered all these things in her heart. When she got discouraged with her day-to-day tasks as a wife and mother, she would recall that night when her Saviour was born and carry on by faith.

As already mentioned, God is not a respecter of persons. Let us learn from the life of Mary how we all are to fulfill the specific purpose God has given to each of us.

by Erin Montgomery