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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Christian Devotions SPEAK UP!
May 22 – Steven James
6:00 p.m. EST

Join us this week on Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! when Scott McCausey chats about thriller novels with one of the best in the business, Steven James.

Steven James has penned 30+ books spanning the genres of psychological thrillers, prayer collections, dramas, monologues, a nine-book series on creative storytelling, YA fantasy, and inspirational nonfiction. He has received wide critical acclaim for his work including four Storytelling World Honor awards, two Publishers Weekly starred reviews, and 2009 and 2011 Christy Awards for best suspense. His latest thriller, The Queen, is a finalist for four 2012 writing awards: a Retailers Choice Award, a Christy Award, an International Thriller Writers Award, and an ECPA Book Award.

Steven earned a Master’s Degree in Storytelling from ETSU in 1997 and is an active member of International Thriller Writers, the Authors Guild, Mystery Writers of America, and International Association of Crime Writers. He is a contributing editor to Writer’s Digest and has taught writing and storytelling principles on three continents.

He lives in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains of Tennesseewith his wife and three daughters. When he’s not writing or speaking, he’s rock-climbing, playing disc golf, or (shh….) slipping away to a matinee. You can discover more about Steven at www.stevenjames.net.

Christian Devotions Radio is a live call-in show. Call-in Number: (347) 884-9367

If you know someone who would be a great guest on Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! contact Scott@christiandevotions.us.

2012 Schedule  

May 29 – Brenda Lancaster, Author & Boot Camp Graduate

June 5 – Lori Hunter, Author – Boot Camp Graduate &

INCH Kid’s Track

June 12 – Frank Zitzman, Healthy Living & Speaker

June 19 – Chris Fabry, Moody Radio Voice and Author

 Every Tuesday evening from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern

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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.

Print version $9.95

NOOK eBook $2.99

Receive He Said, She Said on your Kindle!

“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?

Read Cindy’s devotions

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

NOOK eBook $2.99

Receive He Said, She Said on your Kindle!

Spread the Gospel - Plant the Word

The sower sows the word. Mark 4:14

I love to pluck up dried dandelions – the ones that hold the white seedlings set in the form of a globe – and blow. It was a favorite pastime as a child. I would watch the wind escort these seedlings to faraway places. My father discouraged me from doing this, so I practiced this pastime away from our own yard.

I didn’t realize when I blew these seeds into the atmosphere, I was acting out a principle of the word of God. Jesus said, “The sower sows the word.” Like farmers, we are to scatter the seed of God’s word all around us. We are to tell others about the goodness of God.

Each of us has a story to tell about how we received Christ into our hearts. Directly or indirectly, someone sowed the word of God into each of our lives to bring about the miracle of salvation within us.

When I was a new believer, I would look at a crowd of people and feel guilty because I was not reaching them for Christ. Now, I am more grounded in God’s love for me and I realize I cannot reach everyone with the gospel — but I can do my part.

I’ve created my own tracts to minister. I pass them out at restaurants and places of business. I simply hand them out with a smile and say, “I’d like to give you this. It is something I have written and I believe it will be an encouragement to you.” 90% of the time they receive it gladly.

Jesus told us to go and preach the gospel to all creation. He wants us to be encouraged in the unique ways that He has made us. We each have gifts and talents that God wants us to use to win the unsaved.

Pray and ask God to show you what your part is in the Great Commission. He is waiting for you to draw near to Him. He desires to use you to scatter the seed of God’s word within your sphere of influence. Who knows, He may even use you to reach those in far away places.

Tom Toya lives with his wife Lou and his Maltese Muy-Muy in Carol Stream, IL. He has been writing for several years and is a graduate of the Christian Writers Guild. He has written articles that were published in magazines and newspapers. You can read more from him through his blog at                                www.sendme-tomandlou.blogspot.com.

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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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