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. – II Kings 4:3-6

This story has been on my mind for a few weeks. We often hear that our vessel must be empty for God to fill it, and we relate that to a blessing God has solely for us. What struck me this time is the fact that the empty vessels were used to bless someone else!

The widow’s son was sent to borrow all the empty vessels which God used to provide oil in abundance. Note the vessels were borrowed. I cannot help but think about the mutual blessing here. With oil in abundance, the widow had more than enough oil to sell to pay her debts and save her sons from bondage. Although scripture does not tell us, I wonder if she also returned the borrowed vessels to her neighbors with some oil in them.

What a great reminder this has been! It is not always about me. Sometimes, God empties my vessel so that I can be a blessing to others. I hope that when He does empty it, I am always willing to do with it what He wills.

Friend, do not be afraid when God empties you out because He might just have big plans for you if you are willing to be used. What will you do when God empties your vessel?

by Melissa Caperton

Happy Monday. “Don’t ever lose hope. Even when life seems bleak and hopeless, know that you are not alone.” ― Nancy Reagan

“I feel so alone, especially in a particularly large gathering.” This statement was said to me recently and made me sad. Have you been there? Have you felt isolated and unnoticeable to people around you?

Job had an experience like that. What did he do? Remember his great losses when Satan set out to prove Job would “give up” on God in testing time. During his grieving process (and it is a process), he had the company of three friends who sat with him and conversed with him. However, as far as providing comfort, they might as well have not been there. Sometimes human contact is not enough.

Recorded in Job 23 are Job’s thoughts, Oh that I knew where I might find him!… …I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:

Despite living in his pain of body and soul, Job looked back and remembered God is good. He by faith declared in Job 23:10, But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. Good for Job! This is not an easy attitude to take when life hurts. The enemy might have been whispering, “You are known as a good man—why would God treat you this way?”

Do you recognize that argument? Maybe you have heard it in your time of pain. I am glad we know the end of Job’s story. He was given twice as much as he had at the beginning, but he did not know the conclusion until he got there.

Job made an A+ in his test!

Some things we can learn from Job are:

~ We will be tested, but only to the degree that God allows.

~ When we do not see or feel God, He is there—always, as promised.

~ We can anticipate the end of our tests as Job did, and know that when they are over, we shall be more like Christ if we keep faith and hope alive until then.

As the old hymn says:

“No, never alone, no, never alone;

He promised never to leave me,

Never to leave me alone.”

– Eliza Edmunds Hewitt

by Beverly Hyles

From the Mondays with Beverly blog. Reprinted with permission.

And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; (II Corinthians 3:4–5)

Unqualified.

Inexperienced.

Inadequate.

We may never say it out loud. Many of us would never dream of confessing verbally how we feel about our lack of ability in the will of God. However, I know many, if not most of us, have felt this way in our hearts numerous times in our lives while serving the Lord.

“Why would they ask me to teach Sunday school? I didn’t go to Bible college. Those class members deserve better.”

“I don’t want to speak to other ladies. What would I have to offer? I don’t even have my own life together!”

“I’m not good with babies. I’m the last person who should be helping in the nursery.”

“Soulwinning?! I’m terrified to speak in public—but to a total stranger at their front door? That’s not me.”

We look at ourselves in those moments when opportunities lay at our feet, and we see all the things that should label us as disqualified. We see our shortcomings, our lack of knowledge, our health problems, our past mistakes, and our broken pieces; then, we assume we know more than God.

Unfortunately, this is not what the Bible calls “the mind of Christ.” We may think, “Here am I, Lord! Send me,” but when we see what God has up ahead, we say, “Use me, BUT NOT THERE.” We often allow our carnal judgment to call the shots mentally; fear becomes our decision-maker. Instead of trusting God and letting Him make up the difference, we turn away from opportunities that may be the pathway to our own necessary growth.

We are never and will never be enough. Even as a confident person, I am extremely aware of my shortcomings. I know where I do not measure up to what I think I should be. However, I have learned that where my abilities, talents, qualifications, and confidence in myself end, God is waiting there to use the broken pieces for His glory. Our usability as a tool in the hands of the Potter is only enabled when we relinquish ourselves to let Him create the masterpiece that we could never make otherwise.

Moses begged God to send someone else (Exodus 4). Instead, God used him in spite of his past misdeeds, his wavering faith, and his physical shortcomings (his speech). His obedience led to the deliverance of God’s people from Egypt.

Esther could not see or understand how she was supposed to change the heart of the King, but she followed good counsel. She stepped out in faith, regardless of the possible devastating outcome, and saved the Jews from annihilation.

Jeremiah was well aware of his youth and lack of qualifications to do what God wanted him to do (Jeremiah 1). However, God made it clear that it did not matter; serving God as a prophet was what God had planned for Jeremiah’s life. Jeremiah trusted God, let God do the speaking through him, and became one of the most prolific prophets of the Bible.

Gideon had great doubts that he would be able to defeat the Midianites, so much so that he twice asked God for signs to make sure (Judges 6 and 7). Gideon’s doubts were on full display; he was aware of his weakness and inability. Despite his fear, he obeyed, allowing God to make up the difference. The result was a victorious miracle that can only be attributed to an almighty God.

Surrendering our inadequacies is a necessary part of seeing the miracles of God through our service for Him. When the doors of opportunity open, instead of looking down at our tattered, lacking humanity, let us look ahead on His perfection. When we are weak, He will be strong. Where we are imperfect, He is perfect. If we are willing, where our abilities end is where His miracles can begin.

by Tracie S. Burns

A few weeks ago, my husband and I went to the flea market. I had been looking for a zippered folder about an inch wide. I wanted a way to carry my Bible, notebook, and workbook to a class I am taking at church. I also wanted a space in it that would keep my class prayer list safe and unwrinkled. So, with these parameters, I began my search.

We found a little store that had dozens of folders similar to what I was seeking. My husband would pull one out and say, “What about this one?”

“No,” I would reply, “That one doesn’t have a place to put the prayer list,” or “No. That one doesn’t zip,” or “That one is too narrow.”

Finally, we found the perfect folder—it had all the features I wanted—except its front cover had writing in permanent marker all over it. I bought it anyway and took it home. I brainstormed a while, then pulled out my acrylic paint pens. I spent several hours creating a piece of art that covered the markings. This process made me think of how God is looking for us to fulfill specific roles and how He works to create something useful and beautiful with our lives—like an artist does.

I was looking for something to fulfill a specific purpose.

I needed a folder of a certain size that would hold a certain group of items. I required something with exact specifications to be used for a distinct purpose.

God is looking for you to fulfill a specific purpose. You are the only “you” there is, and whatever your purpose is, God chose you because you fit the parameters.

I bought it knowing that it needed work.

When I saw the folder, with letters and numbers scribbled across the front, my artist’s mind began creating art that could cover it. My artist’s eyes saw an opportunity to make it beautiful.

When God chose you for service, He did not choose you because of your perfection. In fact, He chose you to serve Him in spite of your imperfections. He chose to send His Son to redeem you. He bought you, knowing you would need work. His Artist’s eyes see how you can be made beautiful and useful.

I invested time and effort into preparing it for its purpose.

It took several hours to design and paint the picture I chose. I drew the lines carefully and made sure my art would cover the imperfections.

Just as an artist prepares a work, God plans our lives as He sees fit. An artist will study the whole canvas and painstakingly choose colors. In our lives, just like on my folder, there are imperfections to correct. God looks over our lives and takes the time to make corrections and shape us into the craftmanship He needs to serve His purpose.

I can now use it for its intended purpose.

The folder was not ready to be used until the artist was done and pleased with the result.

If we surrender to Him, God will take the scribbled mess we give to Him and make something fit for useful service. He then says, “You’re ready now.”

Ephesians 2:10 says, For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. The word workmanship in this verse is referring to the product of the Artist’s skill or quality of work. As saved believers, we already belong to the Master Artist. He has a design for each life, and His work is intentional and perfect. He wants to paint over our scribbles, making us beautiful and useful to Him. May we all surrender to the Artist and allow Him to create His beautiful artwork in our lives.

by Amber Slimp

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 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: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. – Philippians 2:3-8

Recently, I was asked at work to lead a team member recognition committee. Much of our discussion has been focused on what types of things our team members do that deserve recognition. The tasks mentioned were the visible or tangible actions related to customer service wins, revenue boosting efforts, or cost savings. It was interesting to hear someone say, “What will we do for the support team members, those who serve in the background?” Every day, someone quietly cleans up the mess left by someone else. There are team members who do their job so well no one recognizes what they do until they make a mistake. These members who work in the background are the difference makers. They are content to …esteem other better than themselves. These individuals are also worthy of recognition.

What a great reminder this was to me in the Christian life! Let us not forget the unsung heroes around us who keep the church clean, deliver the meals, always have kind word, or give a timely smile. Not every difference maker is in the limelight; in fact, most will never receive the recognition they greatly deserve. Some are quietly doing their best in the background to help someone else shine.

Think about a difference maker in your life today. Now, make a point to thank them. I know I just did.

by Melissa Caperton

At the time of this writing, my daughter is two years old, and though she is not a terror, she does enjoy having her own way. Her favorite phrase to say is, “I do it!” One of her favorite snacks is Babybel cheese (those little round cheeses that come wrapped in wax covered in a plastic wrap). Every time she is given a Babybel cheese to eat, she wants to unwrap it herself. The only problem is that she cannot! She manages to get the plastic wrapper off most of the time, especially if someone starts to open it just a little bit, but she cannot pull the tab to remove the wax layer. Therefore, every day she and I have this battle of her insisting she can “do it” herself; but alas, she cannot.

While reading Psalm 50 one day, I was reminded that we often are like my little girl. God tells us in verse 15, And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. So many times in my life, I have been in that …day of trouble:… Many times, I have faced circumstances beyond my control, but I wanted to “do it myself.” Just like my daughter with her little, wax-wrapped snack that she could not wait to open, I was determined that I could handle it. Meanwhile, God was waiting patiently for me to ask for His help. I can picture Him eagerly sitting up in Heaven while watching us struggle and saying, “Come on! Just ask for help. I want to help you! All you have to do is ask.”

Unfortunately, we often continue to struggle on our own because we are too proud or too stubborn to ask for help. Maybe we feel as if we did wrong and deserve to be in trouble (and maybe we do deserve to be in trouble), but God still wants to help us. He is just waiting for us to call out to Him. How many times do we miss out on God’s blessings because we are determined to “do it ourselves?”

I am always amazed at the Israelites. Exodus 2:23 says, And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. They did not cry to God when the Egyptians forced them to …serve with rigour: in Exodus 1. They did not cry to God when their babies were taken away and killed. Their cry came much later, when Moses was 80 years old and in the desert. How much sooner would God have come to their aid before that if they had just cried to Him?

We are often the same way. We do not want to “bother God” when we have a “little problem.” We may even think, “God helps those who help themselves.” We may even be thinking, “I messed up and got myself into this situation, so it’s up to me to get out of it.” This line of thinking is just as silly as that of the child who disobeys by going outside when he is told not to go, then ends up falling and scraping his knee. Imagine the mother expecting that child to take care of his injury by himself, even if his disobedience resulted in that injury. As a mother, I would draw him into my arms, hold him, clean his wound, and apply a bandage.

Our Heavenly Father cares even more for us. He does not sit in Heaven saying, “Well, if you hadn’t disobeyed, you wouldn’t be in this mess.” He wants to pick us up, care for our wounds, and help to get us going in the right direction. He tells us to call on Him in the day of trouble. He will deliver you and will do so in such a way that He gets the glory.

Just call on Him! You cannot do it alone; but with His help, you can!

by Vicki Voorhis

Happy Monday. “Keep on learning; don’t ever know.” – Dr. Jack Hyles

This week is the anniversary of my marriage to a man who lived life every day. He was always studying and learning from daily happenings. Someone once said of Jack Hyles, “He was interesting because he was interested.” I cannot recall a time in our more than 50 years together when he was bored. He was aware and conscious of the life around him. Never did he feel as if he had arrived. He would say, “When you get to the top, raise the top and climb some more.”

All types of people were his teachers. Whether they seemed to be big people or little people, to the mind of Jack Hyles, anyone who could teach him something was BIG. He was a student of all kinds of things, especially of what he knew I enjoyed. He learned about gardening, good music, art, opera, and even shopping (which he liked).

Historian Henry Adams said, “They know enough who know how to learn.” Could it be that the youth of today are bored with life before they have lived it? Instead, if they are not careful, they may find themselves dabbling with harmful things while looking for a thrill.

Abigail Adams said, “Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence.” Staying alert and always learning from people and circumstances is to purposely live life every day.

My husband studied mainly to show himself approved of God. He always wanted to be …rightly dividing the word of truth. (II Timothy 2:15) Thus, his bread which was served in his messages was always fresh and satisfying to every listener. No, he did not miss out on living life.

One day, will the same be said of us?

by Beverly Hyles

From the Mondays with Beverly blog. Reprinted with permission.

When my family goes to a restaurant, we are a family of five, so the wait is longer than when my husband and I go alone. The hostess usually tells us how long the wait will be and seats us in the waiting area. When my children see a family walk in after us but get called to a table before us, they may ask, “Why do they get to go before us?” Or, “We were here first.” I try to quiet them down with the words, “Maybe they had reservations; they may have called ahead.”

When going to the doctor, the actual waiting is often worse than the appointment itself. Many times, there are others in the waiting room, listening to be called back as well. No matter the reason that we are there to see the doctor, we all must wait. Some people wait in quiet patience, while others grow tired and frustrated of waiting. 

In the Christian life, God requires times when we must simply sit in His waiting room. The reasons vary: waiting for a prayer to be answered, not knowing what the next step in life should be, enduring hardship while unable to move forward, or even feeling sidelined in the work of the Lord. These times will be peppered throughout our lives; we should expect them, while also being prepared to know how to handle our times in God’s waiting room.

What should we do when we are sitting in God’s waiting room? First, we must realize that we are not the only ones waiting. Everyone has a reason they are there, but no matter the circumstances, we are not alone. There are others who are also waiting. Frustration can set in, making it seem necessary to ask God, “Why?” However, we must remember there are others waiting as well. Philippians 4:11 reminds us, …for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Second, just because we must sit for a time in God’s waiting room does not mean we should remain idle in our Christian lives. The Bible promises in Isaiah 40:31, 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.  Micah 7:7 says, Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me. We need to look to God and to keep serving God while we wait. Staying faithful to our Bible reading, prayer lives, and soulwinning is vital while we are in this waiting room. There are others around us who are waiting but also watching to see what we do. How we live for God during this time of waiting should be an encouragement to them. Instead of asking God, “Why am I waiting so long?”, we should instead be saying, “Who can I help while I am waiting?” I always try to speak to people, even if it is a quick, “Hey, how are you?” Some reply in a nice manner, while others may think, “What is her problem?” Still, I always try to be friendly. Who can we help while we wait?

Next, we must accept that we are in the waiting room for His purpose. Accepting where God has us is an act of trusting and submitting to God’s will for our lives. “God, I am here to serve you, not to ask why, but to just do what you want me to do.” I do not need to understand the why; I just need the strength to serve. It is true that, in our minds, prayers seem often to take forever to get answered. The truth is that if those prayers got answered in our timing, things would probably not turn out the way we thought they would.

Lastly, we need to endure in the waiting room. The Bible says in 2 Timothy 2:3-4, Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ…that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. Enduring means “to last or to suffer patiently.” Suffering patiently does not sound exciting to most of us. No one enjoys suffering. I, for one, am not a patient person. To be a good soldier, we MUST endure, according to the Bible. Endure the unanswered prayers. Endure the heartache. Endure the health problems no one knows about but God. Endure the long nights of grief that seems to never end. Endure the broken relationships. Endure the hard times. Endure the storms in life. Whatever the reason for being in God’s waiting room, He expects us to endure and will help us to do just that.

The Bible says at the beginning of James 4:8, Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. I believe God places us in His waiting room of life just so we will draw nigh to Him. If we find ourselves in one of these waiting rooms frustrated and asking, “Why?,” or we are struggling to accept being in this place, it is necessary to turn our eyes upon Jesus. Instead of looking at the why, we must look to the One Who is waiting with us. He is there to give the necessary strength and to help us endure. We may never understand the waiting, but we can grow closer to Him through the waiting. May we not grow weary in the wait, but grow closer to God because of it.

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus.
Look full in his wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of his glory and grace.

– Helen H. Lemmel

by Mandy Harper

I was a child of the ‘80s who got to enjoy watching “Sesame Street” before it went “woke.” That was even the pre-Elmo days when it was just fun learning disguised as entertainment. I loved all the characters and had no idea I was memorizing my letters and numbers from all the silly songs and skits.

As I am sure most children had their favorite characters, mine waffled between many of them. Among these, Oscar the Grouch never fell off the short list for me. Yes, his attitude stank, literally and figuratively, but there was something about the fact that I never had to guess what he was thinking! If he thought it, he said it. Plus, even when he was wrong, he could admit as much, but always with a bit of attitude. Then he would sling some sarcasm so things never got too serious!

Oscar lived in a trash can, which seemed fitting, because his negativity about anything and everything was part of his character. He even proudly sang his theme song from time to time, “I Love Trash.” Is it no wonder that even all these years later when I encounter a “Negative Nancy,” I immediately think of Oscar, complaining as he sat in his trash can house?

My mom used to warn me as a girl to never be someone’s trash can. What she meant was to never allow someone to dump their negativity into me. This could be complaining, gossip, disloyalty, or a poor spirit some people seem to wear like a winter coat. While Oscar’s grumpiness was endearing on a television screen, the “stinking thinking” encountered in the real world has a way of staining our own spirits if we are not careful.

It is so easy to let this happen. Often, we think we are just being a good friend by listening to a long vent session or a biting bit of gossip. However, without vigilant awareness, we can quickly find ourselves wallowing in that same heap of trash, feeling just as cynical as the person who brought it to us. The Bible provides a perfect “quality control” checklist for the thoughts we allow to take up residence in our minds: Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Philippians 4:8)

When someone starts dumping all her trash, we should weigh it against this verse. Is it true, honest, just, pure, or lovely? Can this information be called a “good report?” If it is just trash, we should not let it past the threshold of our hearts and minds. Being a good friend is possible without sacrificing the health of our own spirits.

We also must not add to the pile ourselves. Negativity is contagious. Without diligence, we can go from being the listener to being the one hauling the trash to the next person. Proverbs 18:21 reminds us that Death and life are in the power of the tongue:… When we refuse to join in on the grumbling, we effectively “put the lid” on the trash can. Ephesians 4:29 commands, Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

Oscar the Grouch was content in his trash can because he loved things that were rotten and negative. However, as daughters of the King, we are called to something better. Solomon put it plainly: Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. (Proverbs 4:23) We can love the “Oscars” in our lives and offer them the light of Christ, but we must be diligent about protecting our own spirits.

We all must choose what kind of vessel we will be. We must refuse to become a receptacle for the world’s trash; instead, let us choose to be a vessel of honor, set apart for what is precious and pure. With our vigilance in keeping a clean heart and mind—free from negativity—God can use us in amazing ways to do His greater work.

Today, let us keep our lids tight against the gossip. Keep our eyes on what is good, and remember that we were made for the King’s palace, not the neighborhood trash can!

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. (II Timothy 2:20–21)

by Tracie S. Burns

It has been said, “Secrets are made to be found out with time.” At some point in our lives, we all have kept a secret. Secrets, no matter the reason for keeping them, generally are not good. We can end up lying to cover up the secret we are trying to keep. Keeping most secrets is not good, but we as Christians especially should not keep our love for Christ secret.

John 12:42 says, Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him;… What a wonderful statement! As Jesus was going through Jerusalem days before His crucifixion, the Bible records that some of the rulers of that city believed in Him. However, the tone changes as we look at the rest of the verse. It says, …but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: How sad! These rulers believed on Jesus but were too afraid to confess Him openly. The Bible gives an even sadder statement where it says in verse 43, For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

As I thought about this passage, I felt sadness. These men were chief rulers. They were leaders among the people and were looked up to by many. Imagine the difference they could have made if they had openly confessed Christ! Imagine the souls that would have been saved! Yet, they did not do this for a few reasons. First, they were afraid of the Pharisees. Second, they preferred men’s approval over the favor of God.

As I read this, my first response was to criticize and judge. How dare these men not openly confess Christ! What cowards! However, upon further reflection, I began to feel convicted. I asked myself, “How many times have my actions closely resembled those of these rulers? How many times have I acted like a “secret” Christian?”

I thought about the many times I have failed to pass out an invitation to church or to witness to someone. Why do I do this? I am afraid of what people will think or am afraid of being rejected. Many times, I have felt great excitement for the things of the Lord, but I have tempered my excitement. Why do I do this? Perhaps it is so that I do not look like a fanatical Christian.

Now more than ever before, we need to be enthusiastic about confessing Christ before men. We ought not to be afraid to be a witness for Christ. We have the greatest news in the world, and this world needs to hear it! Fellow Christians, especially the younger generation, need to see that serving Christ is still worth it. Do not be a secret Christian!

by Sara Martinez

At this writing, we are only a few days into the new year, and I am already wondering when it will be over! This year has come in like a whirlwind, like a storm ready to destroy everything in its path. I have been confronted with one problem after another; but as is true of any other storm, it is out of my control. So, what do I do now?

The natural human response is to have a pity party and to worry, but I am not supposed to follow my flesh. If I claim the name of Christ, my response to trouble should be spiritual. Being spiritual does not mean I must celebrate when things go wrong, nor does it mean that I will not have moments of frustration or anxiety. What it does mean is that I should turn to the Lord, seek His help, and trust that He will bring me through whatever He has allowed me to experience.

We have so many examples in the Bible of people in terrible situations who gained the victory because they trusted the Lord. I think of Moses’ mother who laid her infant son in the bullrushes, trusting God to take care of him. I consider the endurance of Job; the bravery of Daniel; the boldness of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; the consistency of Peter; and the world evangelism by Paul.

In Matthew 14, Jesus told the disciples to get into a ship and go to the other side. He already knew that a storm was coming, but He sent them anyhow. When they encountered the storm, the disciples were afraid. However, when Jesus showed up in the midst of the storm, Peter experienced the miracle of walking on the water. He only began to sink when he took his eyes off Jesus.

We can just as easily sink into the storms of life when we stop focusing on Jesus. When these storms arise, we usually get concerned and begin to fear. It is human nature to focus on the howling winds, flashing lightning, and booming thunder instead of look for something good to come from them. Our attention is captivated by the devastation and destruction that storms bring, and because of this, we may fail to realize the most important thing about the storms. Jesus often leads us into the storms to teach us our limitations, to remind us that He is in control, to refine us, and to reveal Himself to us.

As this year continues, we know that storms will come; but we cannot forget that with the storms come opportunities to see God’s hand, to grow and learn, and to experience His blessings and miracles. When the storms rage, we can trust that Jesus is with us. If we trust in Him, we too can “walk on the water” and experience amazing miracles that only come from storms!

by Crystal Collingsworth

Happy Monday. I am pulling for you!

We are already into the first week of the new year. Some may have set some new goals or “resolutions.” How is working toward those goals going so far?

Goals should always be something we have before us to keep life interesting, no matter our age or stage of life. Caleb was in his eighties when he claimed the mountain that was his.

After eating everything that was not “nailed down” during the holidays, I set a goal (along with others) to get back to eating the delicious fruits and veggies that promote healthier bodies. I realize anew that my body is where God dwells; it belongs to Him. Exercise is also on my agenda. I feel “smug” today because I have taken a walk. I have discovered that goals do not work unless I do.

Many times, we will not set a new goal because of the fear of failing. It is important to remember that failing does not make one a failure. The greatest calamity is not to fail, but to fail to try. Failures are temporary.

I recently read that in 1922, a thirty-eight-year-old man named Harry Truman was in debt and did not have a job. Twenty-three years later in 1945, he became the most powerful leader in the free world, President Harry Truman. Certainly, he knew that failing was not a life sentence!

Paul so eloquently stated in Philippians 3:13-14, …but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. I say, “So should we!”

Let me give three thoughts regarding goals. First, the first two letters in the word goal are “go.” Second, some people dream of worthy accomplishments while others wake up and do them. Third, anyone who brags about what he is going to do tomorrow probably did the same thing yesterday.

Let us cheer each other on as we press forward toward our goals in life with the mindset of one day hearing a heavenly, “Well done!”

by Beverly Hyles

From the Mondays with Beverly blog. Reprinted with permission.