Don't Hide from God

…he returned home to his father. Filled with love and compassion he ran to his son. Luke 15:20 NLT

“Robbie? Robbie!” Her frantic voice called from a few aisles over in the grocery store. I could see he was around seven years old. He was at the end of my aisle, peeking carefully around the corner toward the voice.

Uh-oh, I thought, Robbie’s hiding.

Again she called. “Robbie?” As she rounded the corner at the other end, he took stiff soldier position, chin up, stared into the air and spoke in clipped robotic monotone, “YOU—ARE—TRANS—MITT—ING—I—AM—NOT—RE—CEIV—ING—RE—PEAT—YOU—ARE—TRANS—MITT—

I left the area.

Robbie had not gone far, but he reminded me of another disconnected son in another time. He moved away to a distant land and wasted his fathers’ money on wild living. It took others’ selfishness, a famine, the desire for pig food, and near starvation for him to want to reconnect. He was dying of hunger and feeling unworthy but knew he did not deserve to go home. A cancer patient put the same feelings this way: “I did what I wanted to do when I was young. I didn’t want to pay attention to God, so I didn’t. Won’t he know I’m coming to him because I have cancer and I’m so scared? Why would he want me now?”

When Robbie’s mother saw her son, she ran to him in tears, put her head down to his, and held him close (his lecture likely came later). When the father saw his prodigal son, he ran to him, welcomed him with open arms, and threw a party. My cancer patient friend accepted Christ’s invitation to her and received the spiritual peace and comfort of His welcome.

Would your heavenly Father do any less for you? He calls because he loves you. Make no mistake, now is not the time to play a game. He expects you to come. Don’t let cancer, whether cancer of the body or the cancer of sin, keep you from walking to His waiting heart. He will run to yours. Trust him enough to answer his call.

Venita McCart, founder of Faith Force Cancer Support Ministries has, with her group, ministered to hundreds of patients since 2005 through group meetings, personal contacts, writing, and speaking. A cancer survivor herself, Venita is currently working on materials to comfort and encourage cancer patients and their loved ones, and to help others create support ministries for the same. She and her husband live in central Illinois. Venita may be reached at venitamccart@yahoo.com.

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Dial up the "impossible."

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Matthew 19:26

A few weeks ago my wife celebrated her birthday by losing her cell phone — 400 miles from home, in another state, in a Wal-Mart.

We were on the first day of a much needed vacation and stopped to see an old friend, Tammy Shook. Tammy knew both of us before Charlotte and I knew each other, and she’s been a great friend to us over the years. When Tammy asked to see some pictures of our grandson Caleb, Charlotte reached for her phone.

“It’s gone. I’ve lost it off my belt,” she said.

We had one of those tracking program apps for our phones and by using my phone to look it up, we were soon watching Charlotte’s phone moving away down Highway 70. It was gone . . . stolen.

Charlotte was crushed. Her pictures, videos, songs from her home in Bavaria, Germany . . . all gone. And on her birthday too. The look on her face tore at my heart.

I silently prayed, Please Father, fix this. Please.

There was nothing more we could do except continue on. The phone was insured. Verizon would ship a new one to her within twenty-four hours wherever we would be, but it couldn’t replace the memories the old phone held. We got in the car and navigated our way out of Hickory to I-40 east.

Charlotte used my phone to call Verizon and cancel the number, but she couldn’t seem to connect. I suspected it had more to do with the tears in her eyes than the inability of the phone connection, but I didn’t say anything. Instead I continued to pray, Please Father . . .

The last turn before we hit the Interstate, I saw a Verizon store. Knowing they could cancel the number faster than we could, I pulled in and stopped. The Verizon employees were very helpful with cancelling the number and taking care of the insurance. Still, the loss haunted Charlotte. I felt so bad for her and although I continued to pray, I’ll admit I didn’t think there was anything that could be done. The phone was gone. Even the tracker had lost it.

Charlotte’s number was cancelled and we got the insurance information we needed. As we turned to leave, the pain was still evident in Charlotte’s eyes. The kind lady who was so helpful to us when we first arrived was busy with another customer, so I just caught her eye and waved good-bye.

“Wait!” she said as she reached in her pocket and pulled out a phone. “Someone just turned this in.”

As soon as I saw it, I knew it was Charlotte’s.

The joy on Charlotte’s face was priceless. She began to praise and thank God right there in the store and everyone started to clap. Obviously bewildered, the store manager shrugged. “I don’t understand it. This has never happened before. It’s impossible.”

Charlotte smiled sweetly at him and said, “Not for Jesus.”

As for me, I turned away so no one would see the tears in my eyes. “Thank you, Father,” I prayed. “Thank you so much.”

Nothing is impossible for God. A lesson I seem to constantly be relearning.

Kevin Spencer lives in Tennessee with his beautiful wife Charlotte and grandson Caleb. He is a staff writer for ChristianDevotions.us. A former prodigal son, Kevin is now trying to use the gifts God gave him, and by the grace of God has a life far better than he ever deserved.

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Saved for the Party

There is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. Luke 15:10

My son was gone. I watched as my two-year-old treasure sank into the deep, murky lake water. “Get him! Get him!” I screamed frantically and hand-paddled my inner tube toward the floating dock. I couldn’t make it in time to save him, but my mother-protector instinct roared. My husband Tim lept to the edge of the dock, only to see Ryan’s tiny foot disappear. What started out to be a beautiful day enjoying extended family, instantly turned into a nightmare. As Tim stared into the water where Ryan had gone under, a tiny hand appeared. Tim grabbed the hand and then the arm and pulled Ryan to safety. Joy. Pure, exuberant joy flooded my heart as I saw my son fall into his father’s arms.

Angels experience that same joy. Whenever a person turns to God, reaching for God’s forgiveness, the angels throw a party. They know that, as we turn to God, He will grasp our hand and pull us into his arms. Into safety. Then the festivities start. Angels party because of us.

Do we party over our salvation? We should have pure, exuberant joy because God pulls us out of the murky darkness. Sometimes we forget the miracle of our salvation as we live day-to-day. We become complacent. We lose the enthusiasm. We forget the party.

Thank God for rescuing you. Ask God to renew your amazement and joy at his love for us. The angels are partying. Let’s join the party.

Tami Thurber lives with her pastor-husband and three children in upstate New York. She has degrees from Houghton College and Northeastern Seminary. Tami enjoys teaching at women’s events and is a children’s instructor with Walk Thru the Bible, UnveilinGlory, and SuperDoc. Tami and her husband co-authored the family devotional Handing it Down. She also blogs at www.tamithurber.com.

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*Photo by koratmember – used by permission FreeDigitalPhotos.net

His Way – She Said 

“your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10

I’m a seeker. Always asking questions, trying to understand, wondering and even wandering , too. I’m also a little stubborn—not my best attribute, but a part of me that at times works” for” and “against” me.

Through the years, I’ve found my love for seeking has gotten me in trouble. To me, there’s never a half-empty glass. It’s always half full. At the risk of being cliché, “Where there’s a will there’s a way” and most of the time my way is pretty good. It may not be the most conventional, but it generally gets me from point A to point B with little trouble.

Still there are the times when my mind is set on an idea and my way seems to be the only “right” way. Thus, I’ve turned my husband down a few roads off the interstate that led nowhere. And since I’m being honest, I’ve broken a few things by accident because I was sure I had the right way to fix them.

But one place I rarely wander as a seeker, is my way to God. I learned a long time ago that insisting on my way spiritually lead to nothing but disaster. I’ve sought after God’s kingdom , prayed for His will and bounced off the invisible wall label “NO” more times than I could count.

That’s when I ask questions. “I don’t get it God, I’ve asked over and over. And you said, ask and you’d provide. I don’t get it. Why are you ignoring?”

I feel Him nudge and whisper, “That’s your will, not mine. It has to be my will, Cin.”

Seeking God isn’t always as easy as the feel-good preachers say. Searching for God and His will can be very trying, and lonely. It can be heart- wrenching wondering if the steps I take are filled with discernment and wisdom or if I’m assuming my way is best

I’ve learned to ask God for His will and then let go and wait for His way. Praying for His presence to come—His kingdom to come and His will to be done means I have to concede, give up, and trust.

I’m a seeker, constantly praying, continually asking for God’s will in my life, then patiently watching. It isn’t easy but it’s always worth the end result. Walking within His will is peaceful and pleasing. Inside His will I never really want.

Won’t you seek His kingdom and will on earth as it is in the perfection of heaven?

Eddie Jones and Cindy Sproles are friends and cofounders of ChristianDevotions.us. They cowrite the popular He Said, She Said devotions and host Blog Talk Radio’s Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! along with Scott McCausey. Eddie and Cindy travel and speak at conferences across the country and they are available to speak at your church or conference. Contact them at cindy@christiandevotions.us.

Do you sense something vital missing from you relationship with your spouse, children, and God? Try He Said, She Said: A Devotional Guide to Cultivating a Life of Passion. This compilation of 54 devotions includes scripture verses, space for journaling, individual prayers and words of wisdom from two of today’s funniest and insightful Christian authors. This heart-warming collection of stories will inspire you to reach for the true source of joy: a life lived for and through God. These deeply personal devotions offer biblical insights and spiritual truths from the perspective of one man and one woman.

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Gossip Burns like a Wildfire

In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself. James 3:5-6 NLT

Wildfire! It’s a frightening word in the Southwest before the summer rains start. One Sunday afternoon my husband and I watched a small fire to the south of our home, causing smoke in the mountains. It was miles away but the following Sunday we were staying with friends– evacuated from our home just four days after the fire started.

For twenty-four hours we had no idea if our home was gone, damaged, or still standing. We knew several homes had been destroyed a few miles west of us. Emergency shelters filled with evacuees and pets while firefighters battled high winds with tinder dry conditions. The fire raged, threatening the city limits where we stayed.

Whatever started the massive fire was small in the beginning. It might have been coals from a campfire, a cigarette tossed into the brush, or an intentional act. It’s the same with our speech. A careless word can ruin a reputation in a short time.

I’ve been the victim of such careless gossip and it hurts. Sometimes gossip is piously mentioned by couching it as a “prayer request.” Other times we do it to ourselves. Before you know it, a reputation is ruined. A life is set on fire.

A fire is easy to start, but hard to put out once it has fuel. It’s the same once we have a reputation as a gossip, a liar, or a big talker. It took firefighters nine days to get any amount of containment, but it had already destroyed thousands of acres of beautiful mountain woodlands, over fifty homes, and several businesses. Our favorite hiking places won’t recover for years but by God’s grace, our home and neighborhood were safe. Lives were changed dramatically because of the fire. Some will never be the same.

Before you make that sarcastic comment about someone, keep truth as your focus and your tongue in check. Think about the wildfire.  Don’t start a fire of ruin for yourself and others.

Laurinda Wallace lives in the beautiful high desert of southeast Arizona with her husband David. Besides being the office manager for her church, she is a freelance writer and has published numerous magazine articles and devotionals. She is currently working on a mystery series set in her hometown area of Western New York. Laurinda and her husband have two grown daughters and twin grandsons, who are amazing miracles of God’s grace.
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Give to Those in Need

Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.    Matthew 5:42

I have a confession. When I’m asked for money by people on the street, I generally ignore them. They’d just spend what I give them on drugs and booze, right? I am doing them a favor to withhold a handout. They should seek out social service organizations that can give them real help.

One day I was talking with my son Sheridan, a young musician. He makes ends meet with a variety of teaching and performing gigs. He rarely buys new clothes. His cell phone and computer are veritable antiques. He can’t afford to waste a dime.

The subject of the homeless came up. I made my usual comments to justify my closed mouth and closed purse on city streets.

“I never turn anyone away who asks me for money. I like to buy them coffee and sit on the curb with them for awhile. Mom, they have amazing stories. I really think it’s the talking they need the most,” Sheridan responded.

Who is right?

Jesus makes it very clear. Sheridan is right. We are to give to those who ask of us and never ignore those who would borrow from us—even when it’s clear there can never be repayment. The poor do have amazing stories–heartbreaking stories of financial reverses and losses, overwhelming medical bills, mental illness. They swallow their pride to ask for a dollar or two, and endure the parade of no’s from people like me. Does some of the money fuel bad habits? Probably. But who are we to judge? Most importantly, these hard-luck brothers and sisters need a friend. A curbside chat. A chance to be treated as human beings.

Christ puts no conditions on giving. He sees into every heart, including our own. Maybe it’s us who need the transaction the most—to be the giver of a moment’s respite — a moment of light on a dark, dark day.

In the end, it’s only money. And when money stands between His children, Jesus demands we break down the barrier and level the playing field… even the tiniest bit.

Try it, next time you’re approached on a city street. Just give what you can — especially the gifts of your time and listening heart. Count on our Lord to do the rest.

Elise Seyfried is the Director of Spiritual Formation at a suburban Philadelphia Lutheran church, actress, writer, wife, and mother of five. She is the author of the book Unhaling: On God, Grace and a Perfectly Imperfect Life. Her work has appeared in such diverse places as The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Lutheran Digest, Simul: Lutheran Voices in Poetry, Guideposts Magazine and theWittenburg Door. She was lyricist for the Stanley Drama award-winning musical Flight, and is co-author (with her husband Steve) of fifteen plays for children.

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What is the Cost?

For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?  Luke 14:28

Taking my eyes off God’s plan is quite foolish and costly.

Several years ago, we purchased some rental homes without looking at them close enough. We figured we could make a profit on them if we fixed them up and resold them.

First God chided me about buying something we hadn’t truly checked out thoroughly. Should you buy something without figuring the cost? What I couldn’t really see was how much it would truly cost to fix them. And we went into the deal with our son Joel, who really couldn’t afford these properties any more than we could. Finding ourselves and Joel struggling with the costs and backbreaking work, I saw I should have listened to God’s chiding spirit.

As we have worked and remodeled a great portion of the houses, we’re finding God’s greatest lessons.

Making mistakes, whether it be finances, faithfulness, or a myriad of other mistakes, teaches me. I find that the more difficult the task — the more it costs me and the harder I struggle to put things right to keep our heads above water —  the more it teaches me . . . far more than all the things I get right.

Sometimes it is difficult to pay what must be paid. We’re trying to work our way out of the disaster so we might retire. At times, it is taxing, yet, it is a joy to fix up old houses, give them new life, seeing what they can be. For the moment, it also gives our sons a place to live.
At times, our new knowledge has exacted an awful price. Jesus knows that good things cost. After all, He paid the highest price anyone could pay. That is one lesson He has taught me well.

How can I not praise him for that gift? Praise God through your mistakes, for He teaches His children by them.

Anna Gregory lives in Macon, Illinois with her husband Dennis. She is the mother of five sons and fourteen grandchildren plus two. She is a devotional writer having written for the Secret Place, Pathways to God, Upper Room and Haven. She is the author of Searching for Charlie.

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We are Broken

The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all… Psalm 34: 17-19 (NIV)

“Broke,” my grandson Drew said as he held up his red Matchbox car in one hand and a set of wheels in another. I watched as a frown furrowed Drew’s forehead while he turned the car over and tried to snap the wheels back into place.

With all of the manual dexterity of a two-year-old, Drew worked to replace the wheels on the underside of his small car. But it soon became evident, even to Drew, that this problem was too difficult for him. I expected Drew to become frustrated, perhaps cry or maybe even throw his toy down, but he walked over and calmly placed it on the coffee table; looked over at his mama, and said, “Da-Da fix it.” Drew left his broken car on the table and turned around to play with something else.

“Whenever something breaks,” Amy said, “Drew just puts it down and says, ‘Da-Da fix it.’ He thinks his daddy can fix anything.”

I have many things in life that I hold up and say, “Broke.” Relationships, finances, health – “broke.” A frown furrows my forehead while I try to put the pieces of my life back together.

With all the spiritual maturity of my fifty-four years, I work to fix my problems until it becomes evident that they are too difficult for me. Unlike Drew, sometimes I do become frustrated, cry, and even throw up my hands in despair.

Yet the Lord tells us to give him our broken pieces; to place them at the foot of the cross, walk away, and have enough faith to say, “My Heavenly Father will fix it.”

I know He can fix anything.

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us and hearing us when we cry out to You. Thank You for being close to us when we are brokenhearted. Thank You for the promise of delivering us from all our troubles. In the sweet name of Jesus, Amen.

Susan Shelton Dollyhigh is a freelance writer and columnist who won the Women of Faith Shine the Light Contest and three awards at the Blue Ridge Christian Writers Conference. She resides in Mount Airy, NC. www.inspirationfrommayberry.com

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The strength of support

That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. II Corinthians 12:10

My eighty-year-old mom passed out. As I cradled her bleeding head in my arms, my heart wrenched. When she finally came around, she spent the next few days in the hospital, recovering from a stroke. Mom fractured her paralyzed arm and had a hemorrhage on her brain, not to mention a nasty headache.

My parents came back to my house for a few days after her release from the hospital where I had the opportunity to serve and care for her. I learned a great life lesson through her care. I wanted to do everything for her. I wanted to make everything as easy as possible because she was weak and in pain. But as I watched, I realized I couldn’t do everything for her. It was hard—the things she had to do relearn were a struggle. A struggle to stand . . . to walk. A struggle to keep her balance. As much as I wanted to do more for Mom, I realized she had to struggle. She had to push herself up and walk. If not, she’d grow weaker . . . and weaker. She’d stand from the sofa and I’d walk alongside, holding her gently, making sure she kept her balance.

That’s when the picture of God’s presence came to me. God doesn’t do everything for us, making life simple and easy. He’s certainly able, yet He allows us to struggle because it is in that struggle where we grow strong . . . in Him. It is when we are weak that He walks patiently beside us, steadying us, helping us get where we need to go.

As you struggle in life, ask God to let you feel His loving arm wrapped around your waist—holding you close—supporting you when you’re unsteady. Lean into Him and grow strong. Mom did.

Mary Denman is an author and photographer and, in her words, an observer. She’s a homeschool mom of five kids. Mary’s keen eye through the camera has allowed her to capture much of God’s beauty in new and unique ways. You can visit Mary at http://marydenman.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html.

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*Photo by worradmu – used by permission FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Our Father who is in heaven… Matthew 6:9

My Father, who is in heaven. Can I ask? Will you tell me?

You remember Gayle don’t you? Of course, you do. You’re God. Do you recall how, when she was alive, she demanded that her sister carry her outside for a smoke? Remember how the snowflakes stuck to her oxygen tank and formed icicles as she inhaled one cigarette after another? And how she cursed you, saying it was your fault she got cancer. Well I heard from a friend that with those same nicotine-stained lips she called your name and said, “ I surrender. Take me Jesus. I want you to be my Lord.” Is Gayle there?

My Father, who is in heaven. What about that blond-haired boy who sat next to the preacher? The one who wore the white robe, lit the candle, and barely made it through confirmation class. Did he make it to heaven, Lord? Do you see him much? Or did those later years of binge drinking and promiscuity keep him from your throne? You know, God. Will you whisper his name in my ear? I need to know that boy made it.

My Father, who is in heaven. Do you see Dad? God, I hope so. Sorry, I didn’t mean to say it that way, but if Dad didn’t make it then I don’t know what I’ll do. Remember Dad? He goes by Raymond. Or did. You may have given him a new name. I hear that’s what happens when you get to your kingdom. Assuming he arrived. He promised me he gave his life to you, but really, how can I know? How can any of us know the heart of those we love?

My Father, who is in heaven. Do you see empty chairs beside my seat at your table? O Lord, I hope not. Please, tell me my family is there. Or will be. And that my friends have a reservation.

My Father, who is in heaven . . .

“Not enough, Eddie. Not enough.”

Who makes your joy complete? Introduce them to Christ.

________________________________________

For the Love of God – She Said

This, then, is how you should pray: ” ‘Our Father in heaven…

Right there. The place where there’s nowhere else to look, but up. That’s the entrance to heaven, I’m sure of it.

When you scan across the ridge, your eyes catch a glimpse of the outstretched arms of the pine trees and the breeze carries the sweet fragrance of the Father. This is the opening of heaven. Here I wave, and here I wonder if He sees me.

Most little girls adore their dad. I’m no exception. As a child, I loved my father, but we weren’t close. His time was spent working at the local paper mill which left him tired and grumpy most of the time. In fact, Dad was a gentle man, but rarely friendly. So I stood at a distance and longed to know his heart.

Things changed when I became an adult. Dad met the Father and his demeanor changed from the inside out. We drew close—inseparable. Then Dad died. He left me.

When I sit on the mountaintop and gaze across the valley, there is no doubt in my heart Dad is there. As the clouds sift their way through the cliffs and down into the pass, I see them form the illusion of stairs climbing their way upward and vanishing into the depths of the blue ocean. That’s when I lean back and pray.

Our Father in heaven…my father is in heaven. Thirteen years after his death, I miss him the same as I did the day he left me.

I find my heavenly Father in the breath of the mountains. Maybe that’s why I love coming to the summit. It’s here I search. And like a little child, I find myself peering under bushes and pulling back limbs to see if He is, by some slim chance, hiding there. I can’t see Him physically either and that makes me lonely and hungry for His presence. Sometimes fear tells me my heavenly Father will leave me too. Even when I know He won’t.

So on the rare opportunities when I get to climb the face of the mountain, I sit there and pray. I rest assured that God is close. And though at times I feel lost and alone, sometimes abandoned…I know I’ve never really been left. He’s never very far away.

To pray the prayer of Jesus and know that it’s for His love, ever present in me, filling me—keeping me, tells me both of the Fathers I love completely are in heaven.

Eddie Jones and Cindy Sproles are friends and cofounders of ChristianDevotions.us. They cowrite the popular He Said, She Said devotions and host Blog Talk Radio’s Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! along with Scott McCausey. Eddie and Cindy travel and speak at conferences across the country and they are available to speak at your church or conference. Contact them at cindy@christiandevotions.us.

Do you sense something vital missing from you relationship with your spouse, children, and God? Try He Said, She Said: A Devotional Guide to Cultivating a Life of Passion. This compilation of 54 devotions includes scripture verses, space for journaling, individual prayers and words of wisdom from two of today’s funniest and insightful Christian authors. This heart-warming collection of stories will inspire you to reach for the true source of joy: a life lived for and through God. These deeply personal devotions offer biblical insights and spiritual truths from the perspective of one man and one woman.

Print version $9.95

Kindle eBook $4.95

NOOK eBook $4.95

Receive He Said, She Said on your Kindle!