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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Was Lost but now am Found

During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Hebrews 5:7 NIV

A hummingbird trapped in our garage furiously tried to peck his way out. The more my husband tried to help the bird by showing him the way out, the more frantic and stuck the bird became. After many fruitless attempts to get out, the bird decided to rest on the end of a broom that my husband held up. Once he stopped fighting and laid peacefully on the broom, my husband gently led him out of the garage to safety.

Sometimes I feel like the frantic hummingbird. A problem comes into my life and I begin to spend my energy worrying and trying to fix the problem. I want to take control of the situation and rely on my own abilities to fix the concern. The more I struggle, the greater the difficulty becomes and the wearier I grow.

Jesus offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and God heard Him because of His faithful submissions. When we choose to first stop and pray for wisdom, our problems are much easier to handle. Our concerns are in the hands of an almighty God who takes care of anything. Jesus regularly took his concerns to God in prayer and His willingness to do whatever God asked him to do drew God’s undeniable attention.

When you’re faced with problems, are you immediately filled with anxious thoughts or do you pause and take the time to talk to God about your fears and concerns? Cry out to Him first and avoid being trapped by worry. Take the hand of a powerful and wise God who will gently guide you to safety.

Kim Wells is married to her soul mate, Jeremy, and is the mother of three active young boys. She enjoys writing and has authored The Charter School Leader’s Guide to NCLB for the Center for Charter Schools at Central Michigan University. Kimberly takes pleasure in serving in her local church by teaching preschoolers and leading a small group with her husband.
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Finding Your Way

We must pay more careful attention therefore to what we’ve heard so that we do not drift away. Hebrews 2:1

Where was that steeple? The stone buildings surrounding me hid St. Stephens Cathedral, and I could no longer see the cross that was visible just moments ago. Earlier that day, my friend and I had arrived in Austria on different flights, so we agreed to meet at the steps of the historic landmark. “Just look for the beautiful Gothic church in the center of Vienna,” she told me. Looking out of my hotel window, I could see the church spire towering over the city, so off I went. But once I was in the city center, the once-prominent steeple promptly vanished.

I wandered down a cobblestone street in search of the famous church. Drifting past cafes, I saw folks sipping coffee and speaking rapidly in German. Though I hoped for an English-speaking passerby, I found no one. I started to panic; what if I couldn’t find my friend? Worse yet, what if I couldn’t find my way back to the hotel?

This wasn’t the first time I’d been lost—I do it all the time. I get lost when driving because I rarely look out my side windows and note the changing landscape. When walking, I fail to notice my surroundings and end up disoriented. In short, simple journeys become adventures because I don’t pay attention.

In our walk with Christ, we are warned to pay attention; to treat the object of our attention with care. The writer of Hebrews promises when we take note of our situation we will not drift away.

Now I pay careful attention when I read my Bible and pray. I pay attention to God’s prompting in my heart. Though I may continue to wander through the city streets, in my spiritual life I want to fully focus on God. For me, that begins with looking up and finding His steeple.

Are you paying careful attention? Make daily Bible reading and prayer a priority. Begin to take notes when you read a scripture that catches your attention and finally, find a few minutes to stop and listen to what the Lord is saying to you today. Don’t miss the sights He has for you by getting lost. Look to Him.

Nivine Richie is a women’s Bible study teacher in Wilmington, NC where she and her husband Pat enjoy raising their two high-school age kids. She writes and teaches women’s Bible studies to encourage women of all ages. She is the co-author of Growing through the Storms of Life: A Woman’s Perspective with E. Truman Herring. Nivine is an Associate Professor of Finance at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.
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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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Don't Throw Stones

…Neither do I condemn you… John 8:11

Throwing stones is dangerous. Windows can be broken, someone may get a bruise, or my camper might end up with dents.

When I heard plink, plink, I peeked out my kitchen window. Two young neighbor children were peppering stones onto our driveway and a few of those stones hit our family’s camper.

If I yelled at the girls, as neighbors often did, it wouldn’t accomplish anything; that didn’t seem to work with them. So I left my home, crossed the yard, and knocked on their front door.

“Your girls are throwing stones and hitting my camper,” I told their dad. “Would you have them stop?”

“Your sons started it,” he shouted. Then he said the girls were actually throwing rocks at my sons who hid behind our camper, teasing them.

“They were aggravating us,” the girls chimed in.

Red-faced, I apologized to the man. “I’m sorry, but if you and I can agree that they will stop throwing stones, then I’ll talk to my boys too.” He agreed. I had a session with the boys and the trouble stopped.

When a woman in the Bible was caught doing wrong, the Pharisees and other leaders wanted to stone her as the Old Testament Law dictated. Appearing to care what Jesus thought, they asked Him what they should do. Jesus told them to go ahead and punish her . . .“If any one of you is without sin . . .”

Each man stood there for a minute and thought about his own life. They individually decided they didn’t qualify as a stone-thrower. No one flung a rock her way. No one was sinless.

Throwing stones, whether they are hard rocks or harsh words is not God’s way of dealing with sin. He offers forgiveness instead of condemnation.

When we feel like flinging a stone at someone, let’s consider if we’ve ever committed a sin. If we have, let’s just back slowly away offering a kind word or a prayer.

Phyllis Qualls Freeman has over two-hundred-fifty published devotionals, human interest, and other articles. She is working on her first book. Phyllis loves reaching out to touch those who have long-term, life-altering situations to share God’s love. Married to her college sweetheart for fifty years, they have three children and five grandchildren. Pqfreeman40@yahoo.com.

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About Midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.

Rained out for our third gig in a row. It’s hard to shine God’s love into the dark places of the world when you keep getting rained out. And that’s not all. My car won’t sell. And it’s a cream puff Mini Cooper with low miles. My house won’t sell either — great house with location, location, location, but nary a nibble. I keep thinking my life will improve when the car sells, the house sells, or at least the band gets to play past the first half of the first set.

Then I read that pesky Bible of mine and find the story of Paul and Silas singing … in jail. Which, by the way, was after a dreadful public flogging. Justice (or the lack thereof) could be swift and deadly in those days. Beaten, sore, chained up in a miserable place, they defied desperation and sang. Maybe they were singing the blues. For all Paul and Silas knew, they were done. Toast.

I like to think they were singing God’s love and light into that dark and dangerous place. The storyteller says, “All the prisoners listened.” Miracle enough right there. But, there’s more — we read in Acts an earthquake shook the jail and loosed their chains. God freed them to move to their next place of ministry.

Maybe it’s time to start singing (and I don’t mean the blues). I don’t know the end of my story and I’m not sure how an earthquake might help me sell my house or car, but Jesus promises to never leave us or forsake us. Good word that… “never.”

Life will improve when the car sells and the house sells. And they will sell some day—but by then something else will have crept up onto the “wish-this-would-happen-soon list.”

Between now and someday, on the road from here to there, what warrants our attention? God freeing us to move on. He tunes in to our families and co-workers who need help. Look for God from moment to moment. Griping or singing?

Jana Dean is a globe-trotting missionary kid who resides in Kentucky. She supports her writing habit as a corporate communicator and sales trainer. She also teaches youth Sunday School, and performs as keyboardist and vocalist with Aaron Austin and the Bootleg Preachers, as well as women’s trio, Rahab’s Rope. About a month after this writing, she sold the Mini Cooper… and there was much rejoicing.

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Be still. Wait patiently. Do not fret. Simple words. Difficult assignment.

Unless you catch and understand three other words. Before the Lord.

All of us live in a super busy world. Noise is a constant for most of us. Our to do list grows exponentially. Electronics dominate our lives. With the click of a button, we communicate with others around the world. Another click and we get the latest updates on news, entertainment, fashion, or our friends. Then there are the play dates. Sports teams. Business meetings. Each of us has our own busy schedule.

I recently had surgery. A week later, a migraine cluster hit and that lasted four weeks. With migraines, sometimes the only thing to do is be still in a dark, quiet room. As a mom with five kids, that’s hard to do. How was I to get my daughter to her college classes when I couldn’t drive? My son to swimming?

Thankfully the body of Christ stepped in. I had wonderful people I’d never even met bringing meals. Someone drove my daughter for me. Others picked up my son. And through all of it, I came to realize that the surgery and migraines were part of God’s reminder for me to slow down. Way down. And be still. Before Him.

It took a while to understand that the suffering is ultimately for my good. The surgery will help in the long run and the migraines made me step back and evaluate what’s important in life. It hurt me to not be so active with my kids, but I spent more time just holding them, as well as praying for God to step in and work on my behalf. I saw God using my suffering in their lives to develop sensitivity and compassion. Is this a path I would have chosen if God had asked me first? No. But has He taught me through it? Yes. And I am thankful.

How has God tried to slow you down to be still before Him? Don’t fight Him. Instead, take a moment and be still before Him.

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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Oftentimes, we get caught up in the differences in Christian worship, whether it is within a church, between denominations, or within the Christianity community as a whole. The Apostle Paul admonishes us to put aside our differences and be of one mind for the sake of peace. No matter what our personalities, tastes in worship, or how we envision our particular church progressing into the future, we’re all part of the same fabric, woven together as the body of Christ.

The fascination of the kaleidoscope was the way the colors worked together to form a pattern and then changing into another beautiful design. My brothers and sisters in Christ are just as beautiful when they pull together to accomplish good for the Kingdom. Equally important is our willingness to transform for necessary progress.

Imagine my childish disappointment when I peered into the end of my kaleidoscope one day and it no longer worked. No matter how much I turned the tube, the colors were askew as the little broken lenses didn’t come together anymore to form a beautiful design. We’ve all seen this happen within the body of Christ as well.

Are you part of the peaceful work in your church, striving to be of one mind, meshing with those around you in a beautiful godly design? If so, you’ve experienced the peace and love that God showers on His believers.

Prayer: Father God, guide me to be a fruitful part of your design within the body of believers of which I belong. Help me to keep my focus on You and not the differences amongst my brothers and sisters in Christ, so that we may do Your Kingdom work effectively. Amen.
Laura Hodges Poole is a freelance writer whose articles have appeared in media such as Reach Out Columbia, Evangel, Christian Home and School, Our Town, and the Independent Mail. She currently writes Christian romance novels and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). Her most recent non-fiction work includes a book she co-wrote, Laurie’s Story: Discovering Joy in Adversity. Laura lives in South Carolina with her husband and they have two children. Her passion is encouraging others in their Christian walk. Visit her blog, “A Word of Encouragement,” at laurahodgespoole.blogspot.com.
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“Do not come any closer,” the LORD warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground.”

The gym floor might as well have been holy ground at my elementary school. Like Moses, we had to take our shoes off before running amok on the natural beauty of its hardwood grain. If not, our shoes would have left behind unwanted scuffs, scrapes, and black marks as permanent reminders of our romping about.

To a kid though, the funny thing was there were already permanent marks all over the floor. There were lines defining boundaries, blocks indicating where to take position, and timelines to mark progression. But to the school those marks were useful and full of purpose, meant to be helpful in the course of one event or another.

Just as the school revered their gym floor as holy ground, there is a sacred place we Christians are to revere even more. We won’t find it in a church, a cemetery, or a site of historical importance. Rather, it’s found in the lives of every person we meet. We know this ground is sacred because if we look closely at the grain of its floor we’ll see a familiar pattern reflected back at us. It’s the image of God.

And whether we mean to or not, our encounters with others will leave permanent marks on this ground. If we don’t remove the scarring footwear of judgment, self-righteousness, and insensitivity, we risk forever marring the beauty of that hallowed place. But if we tread lightly and are careful of our footing, these marks can be lovingly laid to provide guidance and direction to those struggling through the trials of life.

My prayer is to indeed leave permanent marks on the holy ground of another’s life. Not the ugly scars left behind by my ill-chosen footwear, but the sort of marks that will help guide a person to the goal that is Christ.

What marks are you leaving on holy ground?

Greg Watson is an environmental engineer at a chemical plant in far western Kentucky. He likes to view himself in the role of secular minister based in the workplace. Greg enjoys spending time with his wife and three children and enjoys blogging when he gets the chance. His blog of essays and devotions can be found at www.RiverGroups.com and www.quesoveritas.wordpress.com.

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I was touring a small textile manufacturing business in Lancaster, Pennsylvania with a friend from college. Kim worked there as a supervisor, and her job was to oversee a small shift of seamstresses who spent their days making handcrafted Pennsylvania Dutch items.

As I marveled at the rows of ladies sewing at their machines, I noticed an elderly woman dressed in Amish garb moving quietly among the sewing machines. While I watched, she traveled from one work station to the next with a broom and a dustpan, sweeping up the small scraps of fabric the ladies had discarded as they cut out their patterns. Intrigued, I asked my friend about her.

“Oh, she’s been doing that for years,” she answered. “She came in one day and asked me what happened to the leftover scraps of fabric. When I told her we threw them away, she asked if she could have them.”

“What does she do with a bunch of useless scraps?” I asked.

“Believe it or not,” my friend replied, “she uses them to make quilts.” She led the way to an office area, and there on the wall hung an intricately designed Amish quilt.

“Who would have thought,” I said, “that something so beautiful could come from leftovers you throw away?”

What a comfort to know that God uses the leftovers of our lives. All the mistakes, all the failures, all the hurts, and all the pain that we would rather throw away, are raw materials in His hands. Like the little Amish lady, God moves quietly among the events of our lives, gathering up the pieces, fully able to link them together into a beautiful tapestry of grace.

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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