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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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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Night bloomers in their beauty

It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. Psalm 18:32 NIV

The sun had set and we waited in anticipation. We sat in our lawn chairs and watched for the slightest movement. Minutes later, the event began. The plant started to shake and one by one each bud popped open, revealing beautiful yellow petals. My five-year-old son jumped and clapped. I mirrored his excitement. We’d just witnessed an act of God illustrated in the evening primrose. Blooming after the sun sets is contrary to my understanding of plant growth. Isn’t the sun essential to the growth of plants? This act of nature ought to apply to flowers blooming.

My heart stirred. The evening’s entertainment reminded me of God’s timing. Many times in my life I thought things should have happened sooner than they did. I should have married in my twenties instead of my thirties. I should have been a mother before the age of 33. I should have found my life’s purpose earlier in life. “You’re not blooming when you should.” These were the thoughts echoed in others’ words who felt I wasn’t reaching my potential.

Learning to wait on the Lord’s timing is one of the most difficult things I’ve done. People around me appear to succeed without difficulty while I struggle. I’ve prayed and trusted God throughout this experience, yet relief is nowhere in sight. How much longer will this last, Lord, I’ve wondered.

Sometimes all we hear are the whispers of doubts. “Things will never change.” These whispers are not real. Instead, our God will give us the strength to endure as long as we wait on Him. The choice to wait on the Lord allows Him to create a beauty we could have never imagined.

Are there any areas of your life where you are waiting and wondering why you have not bloomed yet? God has made the promise He will give us strength and a place of refuge during our times of trouble. Isn’t that the perfect place to find rest?

April Parman is married and has a son. She is currently working to complete her seminary degree in Women’s Leadership and Biblical Counseling. She is a writer living in Kentucky. Visit her blog at http://brokenseashells.wordpress.com.

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The Sweetness of Christ

As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. Song of Solomon 2:3

Some tasty observations on a short morning walk and a simple grade school science fact have me rethinking a lifelong practice of early-morning berry picking. Better yet, my newly found berry fact reminds me of a God-truth. Time in the presence of the Son is sweet, and it sweetens the fruit of the Spirit dwelling in me.

The sun’s warmth persistently penetrated the morning fog as I walked along the wooded path toward town. The thorns of the blackberry bushes at trail side tugged on my jeans, and my delight in fresh berries tempted me to munch. Yielding to the lure, I popped a berry in my mouth. It was cool and juicy, but the sweetness that had enticed me was absent. I snacked my way to town never finding a sweet berry. A couple hours later, I made my way back up the now sun-drenched path. In the mid-day heat, the glistening berries tempted me with a promise of juiciness. This time the berries were delightfully sweet.

At the end of the trail, our neighbor — the caretaker of the bushes — happened to be working outside. He chuckled as I shared my puzzling observation.

“Of course. The sunlight draws the sugars up into the plant. Berries in the sunshine are always sweeter.”

Photosynthesis, of course. I should have known.

Out of that simple, natural-world truth, the Spirit reminded me of a more important truth: It is the warmth of the Son that draws wandering souls. There is sweetness in the Son’s powerful, persistent love that exists nowhere else. When I walk in the Son’s Light, my thoughts, words, and actions fill with the sweetness of the indwelling Spirit. Just as the berries grow sweeter in the sun, I grow sweeter in the Son too.

Are you getting enough time in the Son? Are you walking within His light? He loves to share His sweetness. Soak in the Son and let His sweet Spirit ooze out of you.

Billie Jo Youmans is a wife and homeschool mother in rural New York State. The transforming touch of Christ’s love continues to delight her soul. She enjoys writing as a means to share her joy of life in Jesus with others.

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Sweet Scents to God

Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand. Revelation 8:3-4

Who hasn’t been assaulted by them? They’re usually, but not always, big-haired older ladies with lots of rings…the ones whose scent arrives before them. Drenched in perfume, it’s obvious they didn’t just dab it, they doused it (and gargled with it, just for good measure). I am always amazed anyone can think their chosen scent actually smells good, but obviously some company developed it, marketed it, and sold it to the person in question who is approaching you.

The worse scenario is rushing into church late and plopping down next to them before your nose has a chance to catch up to the rest of your body. As you slide into the pew, you’re thrown into scent overload. Your eyes water and you taste whatever Chanel Number Phew smells like. Before long you can’t breathe and you get woozy from holding your breathe. People around you stare because you’re making strange gagging noises.

Revelation reminds us, just like the big-haired, heavily perfumed lady of my nightmare, we too have a scent. This scent is not apparent to those around us, but only to God. Our scent wafts up to God’s throne in Heaven, and He smells it.

The sweet smell of me that wafts up into God’s throne room comes from the prayers of the saints, of which I am one. Just like the lady who bathes in her perfume, I can choose to bathe myself in prayer before the Lord and send up a sweet smell into God’s nostrils. What a delightful opportunity to make God smile.

Send up a sweet savor to the Lord and lay your requests before Him in humbleness and faith. God will bless you.

Lori Hatcher is the wife of a youth minister, homeschooling mother of two lovely young adults, and a part-time dental hygienist. She is a regular contributor to South Carolina’s Reach Out Columbia magazine and author of the blog “Be Not Weary,” http://lori-benotweary.blogspot.com.
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The Love of Christ

I am the LORD; those who hope in me will not be disappointed. Isaiah 49:23

They looked as if they were out for a lover’s stroll, but in reality they were moving purposefully toward a destination. As they neared the Bastion Hill pedestrian bridge, the young Latvian man reached into his pocket and retrieved a simple padlock, only unusual in the initials and wedding date freshly engraved on its surface. His pretty new wife smiled at him as they mounted the bridge. Together they fastened the lock to the railing, turning the key to secure it in place. After a kiss for good measure, they jointly tossed the key into the water below.

This custom is a charming and romantic way Latvian newlyweds express their unending devotion to each other. The tradition has recently begun to spread into many countries around the globe. I love the graphic picture of eternal commitment it affords.

God has that kind of commitment toward us.

He has expressed a deep love for those who are His. “I have loved you with an everlasting love,” he told Israel through the prophet Jeremiah. “Can a woman forget her nursing child and have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you. Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands.”

God has proved his dedication by investing a great deal in us. It cost the life of his only Son to initially seal the deal. He then gave us a new nature, liberating us from the bondage of sin and creating new life within us. He provided spiritual abilities with which to serve him and the Holy Spirit to teach and guide. He continually strengthens and empowers us as we wait on Him. The list goes on and on, but you get the point. The evidence of His commitment is as palpable as a padlock fastened to a bridge.

Julie Coleman is a seminary graduate, speaker, and freelance author. With contagious enthusiasm, she brings hope and encouragement to everyone in her audience. Her warmly personal and insightful messages make her an effective and well-received speaker. More of her writing can be found at www.juliecoleman.org. While her days of teaching school are now over, her twenty-year career earned her the title of Anne Arundel County Teacher of the Year. Julie is a wife and mother and makes her home in the Annapolis, Maryland area.

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Harvest from the Work

This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. Titus 3:8

“They’re so thirsty. Oh, the poor things.”

Each year toward the end of June, my husband and I enjoy perusing the clearance racks of unsold annual and perennial plants at the garden centers.

“Why don’t they just give the flowers a little water?” I said.

“They’re just trying to get rid of them. It’s too expensive to keep watering them. It cuts down on what little profit margin is left.” My husband fingered over a row of tomato plants, the leaves yellow and their stalks wilted. I was impressed by the small green and red tomatoes the plants continued to produce.

It was as if the beleaguered plants shouted out to passersby, “See me. I’m still alive. Look at my fruit. It’s still good. Water me.” Seeing the tomatoes struggle to live amid neglect made me think of people in our communities who are still capable of “producing fruit” but like the tomatoes, begin to wither away for lack of attention and care.

Do we sometimes try to “get rid of” people that “cut down on our profit margin”—our time, our money, or our emotional and physical energies? These may be people who would produce wonderful fruit for the Kingdom, but like the forgotten tomato plants, are unattended and wilting.

Paul encouraged Titus to stress the importance of doing what is good. He insisted these things were excellent and profitable for everyone. Much is lost except for just one more action.
It’s easy to turn my back and walk away from necessary things I should do. I, like so many, needed to recognize the needs and work to meet them.

How often do we neglect situations until it is too late? Take time to nourish the neglected “plants and flowers” you meet. Remember Paul’s encouragement. We might not always see the fruit of our actions, but plants we nurture and love, grow.

Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.” Don’t pass up an opportunity to minister to those capable of producing fruit for the Kingdom . Like the tomatoes, they’re calling out for attention. It’s up to us to take action.

Lara Beard is an educator with a Master’s Degree in Exceptional Education. She has taught for twelve years and especially enjoys working with students with autism. She has published articles in local and state newspapers, environmental magazines, and is a secret poet. She has also published a church newsletter, served as a former children’s Sunday school teacher, and published three booklets of poems by her students. She recently attended the Kentucky Christian Writers Conference in Elizabethtown, KY, where she makes her home with her husband, Kenny, and welcomes home their three children on college breaks.
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Buckets of rain crashed sideways into the side of the house. The wind howled a mysterious sound. It was one-thirty A.M. and flashes of lightning illuminated our dark bedroom. A storm.

“Should we go to the basement?” my wife asked.

“Uh-huh,” I replied.

She quickly gathered our twelve-pound red poodle and started toward the basement. I grabbed a flashlight and guided my wife down the cellar steps. There in the corner of the basement we listened to the thunder crash. Flashes of lightning illuminated the room as the storm howled overhead. I prayed the Lord would look after us and take care of us. Then the storm was gone.

As we emerged through the darkness from the basement, I sat in the comfort of my easy chair and watched the miracle of this storm disappear. I was awed in God’s power.

Man, in all of his wisdom and knowledge, cannot come close to producing anything like we had just witnessed. I remembered the time Jesus and his disciples sat in a boat while a fierce storm tossed the craft back and forth. They, like us, were scared, but He was with them. In their fear, the disciples woke Jesus and pleaded for safety. “Where is your faith?” Jesus said and then told the storm to be still. Instantly the storm listened and the waters were calmed.

If He is so powerful that even the storms and weather listen, what’s our excuse? Shouldn’t we pay attention when he tells us something? O ye of little faith. Listen and see what He tells you to do. Sometimes it’s hard to hear through the noise and distraction of the storm but he always answers, in His time. Listen and have faith. He is in control.

Charles Arndt enjoys writing Christian devotionals, hunting, fishing, and riding his Harley. He and his wife live in the middle of a big wood outside a small town in South Carolina.
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I took the crisp white sheet, carefully unfolded it, and spread it out with care, brushing away the wrinkles. The daylight from the bay window cascaded just the right amount of illumination on the objects there. Perfect, I thought. Now the background for the photos of items I was selling on eBay was ready.

I’ll admit it. I’m an eBay addict. If I’m looking to purchase an item, I will often pursue eBay first. I’ve listed treasured household items that have collected dust over many years, and I’ve also bought hard-to-find items on eBay. Whether buying or selling, I take great care to prepare items for sale or to examine photos of items for sale and email questions to the seller. My pulse races when I’m going head-to-head with another bidder at the end of an auction.

As I laid out the white sheet to take my photos, the question came to my mind: Do I take the same care when I prepare myself for everyday service for Him? Do I take the time to feed on His Word with my breakfast and digest it so I can apply it to my life that day?

Noah was a godly man who followed God’s commands exactly and prepared 100 years for a flood when he’d never even seen rain. God gave Noah a visual blueprint of the ark, naming the materials he should use and the exact size and location for those materials. When God calls us to a task, He will give us all the details needed. He wants us to pay attention to those details and carefully use our talents to prepare for this task.

I don’t always read the Bible and my devotions with passion and concentration. Many times I glean wisdom for my day, but just as often I quickly read it with my mind distracted. I don’t always like working out the wrinkles of my life or the details God gives to put my feet on a level path, yet I know my time spent in the Bible and in prayer is the most valuable time of my day. When I’m attentive to the details, God blesses and surprises me!

Take a cue from a man who lived for 950 years, prepared for God’s task for 100 years, and walked faithfully with God, and do all that the Lord commands you.

Jackie Confalone lives in Pennsylvania with her “groom” of thirty years, Gary. They have two grown children. She loves God, Jesus, her family, ministering and teaching with her husband, teaching fitness classes, sleeping, technology, writing, and cherry pie—in that order. She has started posting some writings at http://jackieconfalone.wordpress.com/.
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“Teacher,” he said, “I can’t find my pockets.” As the wind picked up at recess, one of my kindergarten students had his coat on inside out. He frantically pulled at the coat in search of his pockets. I calmly removed his coat, flipped it, and slid his arms into the sleeves. Puzzled, he tried again. This time he succeeded in putting his hands in his pockets. A smile stretched across his face and his eyes lit. “There they are.” he said. Contented, he joined his friends to play.

There are many times when I feel like I have lost something. I feel frustrated and fear takes over as I search frantically for comfort. I try everything I can to get it back—coffee with a friend, a hug from my husband, chocolate. But the truth is I haven’t lost it at all. I simply need to be still and recognize His presence. God is near and He calmly sets things right. There is no better feeling than to be found after feeling lost. Only in Him can we find the peace we seek.

When you feel lost, when you can’t find your way—be still and know He is God. He will press His hand against the small of your back and nudge you forward.

Dear Lord, help me to not be frustrated and frantic. Show me how to be still and recognize that you are with me all the time. Thank you for being calm and patient. Amen.

The writings of Sara Holley draw from her past roller coaster ride in life, including childhood as a pastor’s daughter, motherhood, divorce, poverty, multiple jobs, remarriage, and the accompanying feelings of joy, doubt, abandonment, fear, and contentment. She learned that only by loving and serving as Jesus taught, can true peace be found. Currently a kindergarten teacher holding a Masters of Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis on the young child, Sara fills her time loving on young children through literature and the Lord. She encourages her five grown children and three grandchildren and is devoted to her husband in the mountains above Lyons, Colorado.

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