Oh boy, I thought to myself. I messed up big time.

It was bad enough I had to deal with the consequence of my action, but worse to have to look at my mistake and see that the hot water I was in, was because of me.

Sometimes, no matter how I try, my fleshly self finds a way to sin. My choice (and its result) hits me square in the face and I have no option but to repent – not only to the one I offended, but to God. These times I feel my worst; as if I couldn’t get any lower.

This is when God taps me on the shoulder and reminds me of his compassion. In order to move forward and not drown in the murky mess, I must lift my eyes to focus on Him; focus on His love for me even if and when I mess up and don’t think I deserve that love. He reminds me His love is unconditional. He cares so much for us that He even sent his own son to forgive our sin.

This comforts me through my trials, remembering God’s love and unending mercy, I can begin each day anew, thankful for a fresh start; ready to act like Jesus, and resting in the promise of his love in everything I do. It also reminds me to forget about my past. Once God forgives me, the sin is forgotten.

Look to God and find all the comfort you will ever need to refocus your gaze, renew your mind, and regain a Godly perspective in all things.

Lord, thank you for your unending mercies. Thank you for understanding my trials and tribulations, my mess-ups and flubs, so that I can learn from it all and be more like you. Amen

Heather Spiva is a freelance writer who lives in Sacramento, CA with her children and firefighter husband. When she isn’t writing, she is reading and when she’s not reading, she’s enjoying (or trying to, anyway) the crazy and joyous atmosphere with her two rambunctious boys.

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A couple of years ago, my husband and I traveled from the Pacific Northwest to the Deep South to speak at separate ministry events. That weekend, we were graciously invited to stay with an older couple who lived on Mobile Bay’s eastern shore.

On Saturday night, after our events, we drove to their home, rang the bell, and were greeted by our new friends and several guests they’d invited for a dinner party in our honor. The lady of the house grasped my hands. “Welcome, dear. We’re so glad you’re here. Would you like to go upstairs and freshen up before dinner?”

I stared. Freshen up? What exactly did that mean? Was I supposed to take a shower? Did she want me to change my clothes? Maybe she just meant, “Honey, you need to put on some lipstick.” But I don’t wear lipstick.

“I-I-I’m okay,” I stammered. “Thank you anyway.” Now it was her turn to stare.

I was mortified. I wanted to go upstairs, not to freshen up, but to hide where I couldn’t make any more social blunders. How was I going to make it through an entire dinner party?

That experience reminds me of how new believers must feel when they first go to church or attend a Bible study. The Pastor says, “We all know the story of Jonah.” The new Christian wracks her brain. “Did I miss it on CNN last week?” Or the Sunday school teacher asks the class to turn to Amos. She looks around. “Who’s Amos?” Can you imagine how confusing it is for her to hear, “Would you like to share your testimony with us?” She wonders, “Am I on trial?”

If we’ve been in the church for many years, we are comfortable with our Christianese. The terms, phrases, and Bible stories are woven into our vocabulary. But to a new believer, those same words sound like a foreign language, just like freshen up—which might seem obvious to some. But where I come from, we shower in the morning, get dressed, and call it good for the day.

Rebecca Stuhlmiller is a speaker, writer, and church worker whose mission is to help people live each day in a passionate relationship with God and then go out and impact their family, church, community, and world for Him. She lives with her husband Jeff on an Eastern Washington wheat farm where they raised their blended family of seven kids.
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It was a laundry accident. It wasn’t the same magnitude as a pink underwear incident—but it did involve a fuzzy pink robe. Without thinking, I tossed the robe into the washer at the last minute. When I pulled the clothes out to put them in the dryer, pink fuzz covered my black pants and shirt. Ugh!

The world has a way of attaching its fuzz to us. It clings easily to our hearts and they become divided. We lose our focus on what’s eternally important to run after physical pleasures, accumulating stuff, and feeling pretty good about that stuff. John tells us these pursuits are not from God. This fading world offers nothing of value in the spiritual realm and no satisfaction in the physical. Who has enough money or possessions? Don’t we want just a little bit more?

The problem is this—we can’t love both the world and our Heavenly Father. In fact, John tells us that we don’t have His love in us if we’re consumed with chasing after the world. We often straddle the fence, trying to be spiritual enough while keeping our hand in the world’s cookie jar. God wants and deserves our whole-hearted devotion, not just the leftovers. The pink fuzz shows up all too clearly in our lives through our desire for possessions, position, and how we spend our money.

It took awhile to get the fuzz off all those clothes—another washing and some Scotch tape helped me remove the stubborn fibers. It was worth it, because I really wanted to wear those black Capri’s again. It’s the same with our hearts. It takes time and perseverance to reshape our worldly desires into godly ones. Knowing that it’s God’s will gives me encouragement to press on. It’s God’s will for you too. The rewards ahead are well worth our efforts.

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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Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

I remember when I first learned how to ride a bike. I was a four-year-old—a cynical four-year-old at that. I was convinced if I took the training wheels off my bike I’d never be able to ride it again, forever lost in a purgatory of skinned elbows and scraped knees. I was perfectly content to ride my bike with four wheels forever. I had no faith in my ability to keep it upright on only two. But my dad thought otherwise.

That dreadful, terrifying day is still burned into my memory. Dad walked outside—no doubt after watching me perform uninspired loops in the driveway.

“It’s time,” he said. I stared, wide-eyed as my dad dismantled the training contraption and prepared the bike for its christening.

My heart thumped against my chest as I climbed onto the bike. My courage failed me, and I let Dad know just how futile this exercise of adolescent maturation was. Dad wasn’t about to let me go flinging myself wildly about the street on two wheels alone, so the next words he spoke calmed my fear and gave me the confidence to press on.

“Don’t worry, Eli. I won’t let you go. I will be right here the whole time. I won’t let you fall.”

From that moment on I knew I could ride my bike. For the rest of the day, no matter how violently I drove my bike, or how wildly I swerved, he was right there to catch me, encouraging me the whole time.

“You can do it, Eli. You’re doing great.”

God does the same for us every day. No matter where we go, how far we swerve away, or how far we ride, He is always by our side—encouraging us along the way. Just like my dad held the back of my seat as I learned to pedal straight, God is there guiding us. All we have to do is trust Him. He’s there for you too.

Eli Linton is a senior at Oral Roberts University. He is studying History and Journalism, and plans to attend the Graduate school of Education next summer. Linton also writes for ORU’s student newspaper the Oracle. The Oracle was recently named winner of the OCA (Oklahoma Collegiate Association) Sequoia award, given to the best college newspaper in the state of Oklahoma.

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Another sob racked my nine-year-old body. A puddle of tears already soaked the pillow beneath my head that served to muffle the sound. It was another three-day weekend away from my mom and the comfort of my home. I was visiting my dad’s house like I did every weekend, but this weekend was especially hard because it was the monthly long-weekend – a day longer than all the other weeks. I had woken to the familiar heartache of being homesick and lonely, feelings that plagued me almost every time I came to stay in this place.

In that moment I had forgotten that Jesus said He is with me to the end of the age. That means every second of the day He is inside me comforting me, urging me, and reminding me of the truth. He is a constant companion to my heart. He never leaves me just because I forgot what He said, and He never grows tired of helping me through my darkest moments. God is forever with me.

There are still times I feel alone. But now I know I have a constant friend who will stick by me no matter what. Other friends will come and go at different times in my life, but God never changes his affection for me. When I start to get that empty feeling in the pit of my stomach from being homesick or lonely, I remind myself I am not alone. I don’t have to feel lonely or homesick because God himself is my best friend and He never leaves.

Maybe you feel alone in a big world, or maybe you have just been deserted by someone you were depending on. Remember, Jesus is your constant friend. Develop your friendship with the only One who will never leave you.

Aimee Lynch is a high school senior hoping to major in communications. Her own experience with divorced parents has given her a passion to help other teens in the same situation. Her articles are published regularly on spiritualcandy4girls.com and the-washington-project.com. She maintains her own blog at allfilledup.wordpress.com and she is currently working on a book to guide teen girls through the hard issues caused by divorce. Aimee enjoys reading, getting involved in various youth projects, interning at NASA as a science writer, and writing articles.
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We were poking around for some tools in the shed. While doing some chores around our farm, my nine-year-old son Tommy spotted some old honeycomb that had been removed from one of my bee hives and picked up a piece to examine it.

“Daddy,” he asked, holding it close so he could see the cells, “how do the bees know how to build each of these little hexagons?”

I recognized we were having one of those “teachable moments.”

“God tells them how to do it,” I said. “The bees just follow the instructions He gives them.”

I thought about that for a while and realized it had been a teachable moment for both of us. Those bees go about their jobs every day, doing things exactly the way God taught them. Each bee has a job for which they are well equipped, and they do it without worrying about the future, stressing over who is going to get the credit, or with satisfying their own desires. Their tiny minds cannot grasp the chemical process that makes the honey, nor do they understand the implications of what their efforts will produce; but they start each day with only one goal, to do what God wants them to do. When they each do their part, the colony thrives and is able to produce the sweet golden honey we all love.

Imagine then, what sweet rewards we could produce if we had the same single-minded dedication to doing the jobs God gave each of us to do. Whatever the task He sets before us, He provides us the ability and the instructions for how to accomplish the job. We do not have the long view to know what God has in mind for us, nor can we understand how what we do will work out God’s plan. But if we do His will and follow His instructions, we can be sure the end result will be just as sweet. Go to work daily seeking and doing what God wants you to do.

James P. Willis is a freelance writer who lives on a small farm with his wife and three children in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Visit James at www.jamespwillis.blogspot.com.
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“Me!” three-year-old Erin screeched. It didn’t matter that there were dozens of miniature doggies in the bag of toys she had dumped on the floor. My granddaughter wasn’t about to share any of them with her brother and sister. Of course, that made Ryan and Laura more determined to take them.

“Me,” Erin insisted, pushing her siblings away.

“Erin, you need to share,” Mommy said.

Erin’s defiant “no,” resulted in the threat of time-out in her room, but even that did not deter Erin from defending her right to keep what she obviously felt was hers.

Erin has childhood apraxia of speech and is able to say only a few words. She’s lost words she was once able to say, but “me” and “no” are a consistent part of her limited vocabulary. Despite all the times they get her in trouble, she guards her “power words” the same as her toys.

No one knows when or if Erin will outgrow her speech problem. The therapy she’s been receiving for almost two years hasn’t seemed to help. As for her problem with sharing, she’s not alone.

It’s not just toddlers who struggle with possessiveness. Far too often my actions show that I’ve not outgrown the “me” mentality. Even though I’m old enough to know better, the desire to have what I feel is rightfully mine is powerful.

What a different example Jesus has set for me. He willingly chose to give up his rights as the Son of God to come to earth as a helpless baby. By word and deed he has shown me his way is far better than expecting and demanding my way. And best of all, he promises to help me and to forgive me when I fail.

Lord Jesus, thank you for loving me so much that you went to the cross. Help me to outgrow my childish ways.

Marlene Bagnull has been married to Paul for 48 years. They are the parents of three grown children and the grandparents of Erin, Ryan, and Laura. Marlene is the author of Write His Answer – A Bible Study for Christian Writers and three other books. She is also the compiler/editor of For Better, For Worse – Devotions for Married Couples and My Turn to Care – Encouragement for Caregivers of Aging Parents. She is the founder (in 1983) and director of the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference and has been directing the Colorado Christian Writers Conference since 1997. Visit www.writehisanswer.com.
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I’m dreaming of a white Christmas . . .

These are beautiful song lyrics and the inspiration for a wonderful movie I watch every holiday season. In fact, watching Christmas movies is one of my favorite things to do in December. I love the heartwarming stories, the music, the elaborate decorations, and, especially, the fact that it always snows.

Maybe I’ve watched too many movies but for me, Christmas and snow just naturally go together. Living in Florida for years and wearing shorts throughout most of the winter, made me long for the cooler temperatures of my hometown in South Carolina. I remember happy times and lots of snow from my early childhood, but now that I’ve been back in South Carolina for over twenty-five years, all we ever get is ice.

While I realize there are many who pray for NO snow, I’m part of the crowd who prays FOR snow every year. Last year, the Lord answered with an incredible blanket of white on Christmas day. We watched the flurries all day as we celebrated in front of our cozy fire with our family and friends. I felt blessed beyond measure.

The Bible says God will give us the desires of our heart when we take delight in Him. He knows those desires, whether spoken or unspoken, and I believe He takes pleasure in granting them—sometimes when we least expect it.

The weatherman said 2010 was the first white Christmas for our area in forty-seven years. I know I’ve prayed for one every year for almost half that time, and I know others have as well. This time, God granted our request and gave us an awesome gift.

What are the desires of your heart? If you’ve been praying and believing God for something, don’t give up. Bring your petitions before Him. Delight in Him and give Him the honor and glory He deserves. You never know when your White Christmas will come to pass.

Andrea Merrell lives in the upstate of South Carolina and is a freelance writer and editor with a passion to help others see God’s Word as practical and relevant for ordinary, everyday life. Andrea is a staff writer and Associate Editor for www.ChristianDevotions.us. She is a contributing writer and copy editor for www.DevoKids.com.  Her work has been published in Spirit & Heart: A Devotional Journey, Faith & Finances: In God We Trust, The Write Life, and Extraordinary Answers to Prayer. She also writes for www.cornerstonegreenville.com. Visit her website at www.andreamerrell.com.

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If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

“Is Santa Claus real?”

What parent hasn’t heard this dreaded question? If not, with Christmas just around the corner, many of you may hear it this holiday season. Your heart breaks just a bit for your child’s loss of innocence.

So, what’s a wonderful parent like you supposed to say in that moment? There are lots of choices, but how about the truth in a way you may not have thought of?

“Santa Claus is real, but now that you’ve asked that question you’re old enough to learn his real name—Jesus.”

Turn that dreaded question into a learning experience that will begin your child’s journey with Jesus. After all, Jesus is better than Santa any day. He’s always with us—not just at Christmas time. He gives way better gifts than Santa ever could—peace, joy, love, and an eternity in heaven with Him.

Bring out a picture of Santa and use it to teach your child even more about Jesus. The red suit signifies the blood of Jesus. The white in the suit shows the purity of Jesus. His white hair, beard, and kindly smile shows the love of Jesus. And that ample belly that shakes like a bowlful of jelly shows the abundance of God. And his never-ending bag of toys symbolizes God’s never-ending grace.

And what about Santa’s helpers—the elves? Teach your child we are Jesus’s helpers here on earth. We should help others wherever and whenever we can.

The more you think about the analogy of Santa Claus as an alter ego of Jesus, the more similarities you’ll discover. Everyone knows Santa lives at the mythical North Pole, but exactly where is that? It’s heaven, of course!

Is Santa real? You bet he is…and his name is Jesus. Happy Birthday, Jesus! And Merry Christmas to all!

Lil Duncan–writing stories where faith, hope, and love mingle with murder and mayhem. She believes that fiction can be entertaining without being tasteless. Besides writing, Lil is a Speech-Language Pathologist. She and her husband live in a (very) small town in the Amish country of Ohio.

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The small department store was not the best shopping place in town but there was a special reason we visited it each Christmas. There was a life-size make-believe Santa rocking in a chair who spouted a jolly “Ho Ho Ho” as folks walked past.

But the sad look on the face of my young son, Ben, at the end of December made my own heart ache. His first question as we walked the sidewalk past the spot Santa had adorned was, “Where is he?” The store manager heard Ben’s question.

His words of assurance didn’t help much, but it was kind of him to pat Ben on the shoulder and say, “Oh, he’ll be back next Christmas.”                                                  
That afternoon when we returned home, I began to put away the manger scene and other decorations.

“Penny for your thoughts,” I said to Ben. As I carefully wrapped the baby Jesus, I wondered what he was thinking.

“Will baby Jesus be back next year?”

When we pack away the decorations after Christmas, it’s the perfect time to teach our children Jesus is not going away. What better time to express how He continues to live in our home and in our hearts forever.

Whether he has been born anew within or whether we have rededicated our lives to a deeper Christian walk, we are assured of having a living Jesus who never leaves our side. Take hold of His promise.

PRAYER: Oh Father, we thank You for Jesus’ birth. May His presence be our guiding light. May our faith be radiant and proclaim our acceptance of Your greatest Gift to us.

Lucy Neeley Adams is an author who lives in Lake Junaluska, North Carolina. She has written articles in numerous publications. Her book with Abingdon Press, 52 Hymn Story Devotions is ideal for anyone who enjoys hymns and leads devotions at church meetings, choir rehearsals, and Sunday school. www.52hymns.com

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