Tag Archives: Example

Get Up and Pray – Harriet Michael
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The captain went to him and said, ‘How can you sleep? Get up and call on your God! Maybe He will take notice of us and we will not perish.’ Jonah 1:6 NIV

Susan is a joy. She loves the Lord and she’s someone I look up to. I enjoy hearing her opinion and getting her perspective on things. But in addition to being insightful, she’s also one of the funniest people I know.

Susan leads a women’s Bible study in her home. After each study, we share a casual lunch. At one of our first luncheons, I noticed an index card on Susan’s refrigerator that read: “Why are you sleeping? Get up and call on your God!”

“What’s this about?” I asked.

“Oh, this is a Bible verse. The captain of Jonah’s ship said it to Jonah when he woke him up as he slept in the bottom of the ship. Someone pointed it out to me once and I thought it was great. But sometimes I’m not so sure. When I wake up in the middle of the night for no apparent reason, this verse always comes to my mind. I begin to think of all the people and situations that need prayer. Often I get up and slip into the spare room to pray. After spending some time in prayer, I am always able to fall back to sleep but sometimes I wish this verse didn’t swirl around in my head in the middle of the night.”

I frequently think about Susan’s words and the verse that inspired them. Unlike my friend and others I know who sometimes battle insomnia, I don’t have trouble sleeping. I’m one of those people who can sleep anywhere, any time. For me the verse pops into my mind in the mornings rather than in the middle of the night. I wake up hearing the voice in my head telling me to “Get up and pray to God!” I’m reminded that the focus of my day should be my Lord.

When you feel God’s nudge to pray, don’t hesitate. He’s calling you to an important task.

Harriet Michael is a freelance writer in Louisville, KY. Her work has appeared in devotional and other Christian magazines as well as the anthology, Love is a Flame and the devotional book, The Women of Southern, A Walk Through the Psalms. Reared in Africa as the daughter of missionaries, Harriet has been married for 31 years and has 4 children and 1 grandchild. Visit Harriet at her blog www.whatHehasdoneformysoul.blogspot.com.

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Odd Duck Quacking – He Said
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Odd Duck Quacking

Odd Duck Quacking

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  – Psalm 139:13 (NIV)

Listen to Odd Duck Quacking – He Said

I damaged my DNA at birth. Apparently the umbilical cord strangled the “common sense” strand rendering me an idiot. This explains why I run aground in my sailboat, fail to read instruction manuals, can’t focus on details, speak up when I should shut up, stand when I should sit, and hold to the foolish notion that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof—even if that means allowing government employees to bring God into their workplace, courtroom, or oval office. I’m what you call an Eddie.

Eddies form when a current develops instability. (Plenty of volatility in our culture.) The circulation within an eddy usually has different temperature and characteristics to the water outside of the eddy and flows in the opposite direction.

For years I fought my counter-current nature. Odd is fine if you need a funny character in a movie or novel, but not when you want others to take you serious. And yet, no matter how hard I tried to “go with the flow,” I could not. I got bounced from class for talking back to the teacher, reprimanded by my boss for questioning company policy, and fired (sort of) as a Sunday school teacher for presenting the consequences of sin in stark terms. (Hell! Oops. Can’t say that in church.)

I’m an odd duck and I quack a lot.

Names matter in scripture and I’ve always been an Eddie. Never an Ed or Edwin or (God forbid) a Raymond. Was my name and shape by design? The Psalmist says God knitted me together in Mom’s womb. Did He know beforehand I would struggle to keep step with the crowd? If so, is that why he taught me to play with myself? Wait, that didn’t’ come out right. What I meant to say was play by myself. Apparently I’m DNAbnormal.

But God is fixing me from the inside out. He is transforming me into the image of Christ even if the state of repairs remains an eyesore to those passing by. Despite my quirks, the only thing that matters is that I allow God to make me holy; that I develop a right relationship with Him. It is God’s work through me that fulfills His purpose, not who I used to be or want to become. I may be quacked, but I’m His odd duck.

Do we reflect the peace of God? Can others see proof of his DNA in our words, actions, and attitudes? If we are not right with God we will never be right with our fellow man.

To love the Lord your God with all your heart and want to tell others isn’t odd. It’s normal. Be an odd duck. Quack for Christ.

Around the Campfire – Lil Duncan
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…In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ Tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever. Joshua 4: 6-7

I was slaving on the treadmill, singing along with my iPod when “I Love to Tell the Story” popped up. A scene flashed in my mind’s eye.

I was sitting around a campfire with Jesus and he was telling stories. Stories of His mysterious childhood, stories where He stood beside me, stories of His life and mine.

What a wonderful scene. Just think about it. Sitting on a cool fall evening beside a roaring fire, roasting hot dogs and marshmallows, and listening to Jesus tell stories.

Jesus loved stories. His stories served a multitude of purposes. He used them to teach a lesson, to pass along history, to connect with others, and sometimes to make a point. Stories were His way of breaking down the barriers so many would come to Him. People listened when He spoke and took in the meaning of the words He shared.

As a speech-language pathologist, I recommend parents use stories to develop and strengthen listening skills, vocabulary, and grammar skills. It’s a great way to pass down values and traditions you want your children to learn. And, if you share your stories, your children might just choose to tell you some of their own stories.

What parent doesn’t want that open communication with their children?

Scripture tells us that we are to be the storytellers for our children and our generation. “No way,” you say. “My children don’t want to hear stories of my childhood. That was too long ago. They only want to play videos and watch TV.”

Not true. Everyone loves a story and Jesus was living proof that even the most learned would listen.

Don’t cheat your children out of their heritage. Share the stories of Christ.

I love to tell the story of unseen things in glory… Please, pass the marshmallows.

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. You can visit her website at www.familyfriendlyfiction.net.
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Lost in Translation – Kellie Johnson
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For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom… I Corinthians 1:25

Translation doesn’t always apply to foreign languages. Sometimes, it’s required in simple conversation.

When I was younger, we played a game called telephone. A group of kids would sit in a circle and one person would come up with a secret phrase. That person would whisper it to the person on their right. Then that person would whisper the same to the person on their right… and so it would go. Around the circle, until the secret returned to the instigator.

Once the “rumor” returned to its owner, they would usually burst into laughter as they shared what ended up coming back around. After it had passed through the lips and ears of a handful of others, there might be a word or two left from the original secret, but the crux of it had gotten lost in translation.

This is a silly example for a serious issue. How can I know if what I’m being taught is the word of God if I do not know it for myself? God encourages me to spend one-on-one time in His word. When I study to know Him, He helps me recognize if what I am hearing from others is the truth or not.

It’s not only my responsibility, but also my privilege, to dive into God’s word and read it, meditate on it, and memorize it. I don’t want someone telling me what to do, only to find out later, it wasn’t at all what God would have me to do in life. If I’m going to live according to scripture, I’ve got to know it for myself. I can’t always assume what I’m being told is the truth.

Do you ever wonder if the truth of God’s word is getting lost when translated by others? Invest your time in reading and studying God’s word. Knowing God’s word intimately brings confidence and freedom for the believer and the translation will never be lost.

Kellie Johnson has been married to her husband, Tim, for 20 years and has two children. Kellie has been active in church teaching preschoolers, children, single moms, and now high school girls. Her greatest passions are to take care of her family, stay close to God and inspire others to do the same.

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It Is What It Is – Andrea Merrell
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Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. I Peter 5:7 AMP

My friend put her hands on her hips, stomped her foot, and glared at me. “If you don’t like it . . . change it.” she shouted.

If it were only that easy, I thought. Change is hard, whether it’s a change of heart, change of pace, or change of life. The problem is, I’ve spent too much of my life trying to change things over which I had no authority or control. I’ve learned that, in certain situations, it simply is what it is, and no amount of fretting, whining, or complaining will make it any different.

On the other hand, I’ve had to learn to recognize what can be changed – changed by patience, persistence and consistency – changed by hard work, determination, and time – changed most of all by prayer. If you, like me,  have a difficult time knowing when the ball is in your court, pay close attention to the Serenity Prayer:

God, give me the serenity to accept what I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and wisdom to know the difference.

When we take ownership of the things in our life that are under our direct control and stop wrestling with things that are not, we begin to walk in a greater measure of peace and a large percentage of our frustrations cease to exist. All of a sudden those mountains we made out of all the molehills in our life, don’t seem so ominous and threatening.

If you can’t move the mountain, climb it, find a way to go around it, tunnel through it, or learn to appreciate it and enjoy the view.

If you’re dealing with a problem, situation or person you know you cannot change, stop beating your head against that proverbial brick wall and give it to God. Cast the whole of your care on Him. Ask Him for His wisdom and the grace to accept it. Then, let it go. If it’s something that can change and God gives you the green light, go for it. Do all you can and let God handle the rest.

You’ll be delighted and amazed at what He’ll do in your life.

Andrea Merrell is a freelance writer and editor with a passion to help others see God’s Word as practical and relevant for ordinary, everyday life. She has written material for ladies’ groups, marriage retreats, skits, websites, and brochures, and is currently working on three novels and countless devotions. Andrea is a staff writer and copy editor for www.ChristianDevotions.us and www.DevoKids.com, and lives in South Carolina with her husband (and best friend), Charlie. Visit her website at www.andreamerrell.com. Read Andrea’s devotions.
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Been Misbehaving Lately? – Beth Tilson
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…warn those who are unruly… I Thessalonians 5:14

“Behave boys,” I heard as I watched two boys and their mother interact at my cash register. “Make up your minds,” she said. The children fussed and whined while the mother pleaded with them to behave. She wanted them to have nutritious food; they wanted milkshakes. In the end, the mother gave in and ordered what the children wanted just to get out of the way of customers behind her.

What a shame. While I am sure there were other reasons involved in her decision, it appeared on the surface she was guilty of rewarding bad behavior. Paul reminded the church in Thessalonica that Jesus calls us to glorify Him through holiness and pure living. He knows we will fail – often – but He is dedicated to making us look more and more like Him, not like the world. And He loves it and rejoices when we get it right.

The word unruly literally means “out of step.” Out of step can be displayed many different ways. Disagreeing with church leadership over an issue, then encouraging others to agree with you. Participating in gossip rather than praying and offering to help. I struggle the most with insisting that God answer my prayers my way instead of His. Talk about being out of step.

I’m grateful God doesn’t give in to my every desire and demand. My life would be a mess if He did. And I’m glad He loves me and gently guides me when I wander off. I pray regularly He’ll keep me, my family, and my church family on a course toward holiness and purity, forgiving us when we stray.

Are you living out of step with God? Look around and see if you are on God’s path instead of your own and take God’s command seriously to talk to and help others when they stray.

Prayer: Dear God, forgive me for wrong attitudes and for being out of step and harmony with You and others. Please set me back on the right way and give me courage to share with others that are struggling, so You may bring them back as well.

Beth Tilson is a Southern Baptist pastor’s wife and beginning freelance writer who lives in Moultrie, GA. She is currently an MSC missionary with the North American Mission Board, and she and her husband Robert are also involved in ministry work in Nigeria, Africa with their church. They have two grown children and four grandchildren.

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Washed and Hung Out to Dry – She Said
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Aaarrrggghhh!

Washed and Hung Out to Dry – She Said

Then Asa called to the LORD his God and said, “LORD, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, LORD our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. LORD, you are our God; do not let mere mortals prevail against you.” 2 Chronicles 14:11 NIV

Listen to Washed and Hung Out to Dry – She Said

I slam dunked the phone onto the couch. If I thought using it for infield practice would have helped, I’d have tossed it up then smashed it with a baseball bat. All I gained from the frustration was a headache that laid me out the biggest part of the day.

Really, how hard is it to purchase major appliances? I walked into the store, picked out the washer and dryer I wanted, and paid. I expected my purchase to be simple and quick but instead of easy, the ordeal turned into a week-long fiasco with no real resolution… and I ended up angry.

They say you can’t fight city hall and I’m inclined to agree. The bigger the department store, the thinner the knowledge of customer service runs, so when the washer and dryer arrived and the dryer didn’t work, I assumed I’d get some help from customer service. Instead, I got rude, disrespectful associates who insisted (despite my canceled check and receipts) I hadn’t purchased a new dryer. Four hour-long conversations, countless minutes on hold , six customer service associates, two store managers and a partridge in a pear tree later, I finally got my appliances – at least on paper. We’ll see if they deliver.

I called out for help to customer service and no one answered.

I’ve called on God for help too. When the world’s armies press against my lines of defense, and have at times broken through, I’ve relied on Him to protect me. Through His wisdom and plan, He helps me every time.

Asa called out to the Lord and praised Him. He claimed the promises of God and His sovereignty then pleaded mortals would not prevail. Asa knew the power in lifting his hands before God. He knew God was a God of His promises. He could trust the Father’s plan, even if he wasn’t sure what the plan was.

There is comfort in knowing God stands ready when I am powerless against the enemy. Just calling His name holds immense power and when I trust in that name, He brings me peace, protection, and victory. When you feel as though you’ve been washed and hung out to dry, call on the powerful name of God. He will cover you in protection.

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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. And now you can catch them each Friday evening at their new time, 6 p.m. on He Said, She Said Radio. (Call in number, 646-929-0706 ).

This week Cindy will be joined by author, Tim Shoemaker, as he pinch-hits for Eddie who is traveling.

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.

Perfect for your quiet time. No matter if you are newlyweds or newly retired, this book of devotions will help you put the spark back into your love life and explore the precious relationships God desires for you. Begin this new year committed to spending a few moments each day connected to God. He Said, She Said: A Devotional Guide to Cultivating a Life of Passion touches the heart, tickles the funny bone and brings you to your knees in worship.

He Said, She Said: A Devotional Guide to Cultivating a Life of Passion
by Cindy Sproles & Eddie Jones

That's Why They Call It Making Love: A Devotional Guide to Cultivating a Life of Passion

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He Tried To Be a Nice Guy – He Said
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He Tried To Be a Nice Guy

During His earthly life, He offered prayers and appeals, with loud cries and tears, to the One who was able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence. Hebrews 5:7 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Listen to He Tried To Be a Nice Guy – He Said

“He wasn’t doing anything particularly strenuous—or creative—when he left this earth to be reunited with his cat, Iris, and meet the Almighty. Evidently, it just was his time. He was a hopeless romantic and a hapless husband. He was married twice. Neither marriage produced any children or any particularly fond memories. A curious man in his old age, he presided over a dusty home filled with neatly arranged books, awards for his occasionally coherent writing, and a disconnected TV. In 1997, he started his own communications company. Its most notable achievement was that it remained solvent until the end.”

“While somewhat believing in ‘someone or something that somehow started everything moving and kept it all more or less on track,’ he did not attend church in his later years. He contemplated Buddhism, but with his bad knees couldn’t kneel long enough to satisfy the meditation requirement. He was a good listener and an okay dancer. He always wanted to be taller. And when he got older, he wished he had his red hair back. He just tried to be a nice guy.”

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I read the obituary and laughed out loud; not the sort of response you expect when perusing the weekend obits, but this man wanted to write the final chapter of his life and he did in fine fashion. As I studied his accomplishments—two marriages, a business, the cat—I was struck by how little of what we think is important, really is.

Contrast our striving for survival, success, and a legacy with the energy Christ poured into his heartfelt prayers, and loud cries to His Father. Did the man in the newspaper cry out to God during his final hours? Will we? Christ knew His Father could save him from death and yet, though God heard the appeals of His Son, He let the boy die.

Tragic.

Then triumph.

And still we wonder: “Is there a God?” If so, why does He allow suffering? What sort of God would sacrifice his only Son when the power of life resides in His very words?

Perhaps the better question to ask is: Why do we allow suffering? What sort of person, people, or nation would allow others to die when the power life resides within our wealth, technology, and natural resources?

At the bottom of the obituary was this short sentence. “A short memorial service will be held for (him, you, me) on….” I pray when we go to meet the Almighty we’ll have more than an eight-column inch obit to show for our time on earth. I pray we’ll expire knowing we heard the cries of those in need—and helped.

The Tongue vs Brain Race – Martin Wiles
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The godly think before speaking; the wicked spout evil words. Proverbs 15:28 NLT

Archie Bunker of All In The Family was famous for his demeaning remarks to his wife Edith. In one episode, Edith commented on a subject Archie had “forbidden” her to talk about. As she covered her mouth and apologized, Archie was quick to point out her problem. Her tongue always raced with her brain, and her brain always lost. While degrading, there is an element of truth in the remark. We often have the same problem.

No doubt you’ve heard it said of someone, “they are a person of few words.” While there is no inherent value in being quiet, we tend to get in trouble when we talk too much. It’s almost inevitable we will say something we shouldn’t when we have “diarrhea of the mouth.”

Solomon said the godly think before they speak while the wicked have no concern about what they say. We experience the truth of this statement at retail stores, gas stations, concerts, movies, sporting events, and malls. Our beliefs are evident in our speech. Filthy talk erupts anytime hearts are unhealed by the balm of Christ’s love.

Comfort comes in realizing there are no super saints. We are all in process; evolving into the person God desires. I was reminded of this growing up as a PK (preacher’s kid). Everyone expected me to act and talk like a good little boy when all I wanted to do — and did as a teenager — was demonstrate how bad I could be. Eventually I understood my tongue was outpacing my brain and shimmering defectively on my “God’s child” status.

Scripture repeatedly warns us our speech is a reminder that our talk can be a poor reflection of who we are. Learning to ask God for the right words to uplift those who confide in us takes dedication and practice. When our heart bows to the love of Christ, filthy language and off-color jokes become a thing in our past. Instead of comments that reflect prejudice and hatred, our testimony builds credibility.

When you find it hard to control your tongue, seek God’s help. Let Him determine the adjustments you need so your brain wins the race.

Dr.Martin Wiles is an ordained minister currently serving as Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church, Harleyville, South Carolina. He holds degrees from Baptist College of Florida and Southern Baptist School in Jacksonville, Florida. He has authored two books and has served as a regional correspondent for the Baptist Courier. He has also been published in Proclaim, The Sounds of Poetry, Fires of Genius, as well as other anthologies of poetry. Martin and his wife Michelle, currently reside in Harleyville, SC. They have two children.
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Is Envy an Old Friend or a Beaten Enemy – Neil Wyrick
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A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. Proverbs 14:30

Envy paints some pretty terrible pictures. I, like many others, have learned this fact and doing so, I’ve been the fool trying to wear a crown when it was actually a dunce cap.

There is a horse farm close to my home. On this farm they have a donkey. I passed by the farm a number of times and saw the donkey, and each time I thought about the donkey that carried Jesus into Jerusalem. I wondered if the animal might have been envious about all the crowd praising Jesus. After all, he may have thought, “I am the one carrying him. I certainly deserve some praise.”

I looked at the Bible on the corner of my desk and thought of all the examples of envy beneath its cover. Cain and Abel – envy that led to murder. Christ and the Chief Priest – envy that caused a crucifixion.

A sadness fell over me and in the midst of the sadness, I began to give thanks for two solutions to solve the sickness of envy.

1. Keep your mouth shut Neil. I learned this one the hard way and I am still learning, but it is true. Don’t put other people down as a way of lifting myself up.

2. Get to know better the person I may envy. Train myself to admire a trait or talent they have that I don’t enjoy rather than making myself ill because I don’t possess them.

I put my hand on the Bible and held it there. Feeling the Bible helped me learn to feel for others rather than envy them. It taught to me love my neighbor as myself, which after all is a pretty good antidote for envy…now isn’t it?

If you struggle with envy, take time to look into the pages of God’s word. Let Him guide you to the joy in your own gifts. He can help you beat the enemy.

V. Neil Wyrick is an ordained Presbyterian minister/evangelist. He served twenty-one years in the pastorate in Virginia and Florida, and since 1971 has traveled the world as a dramatic evangelist. He presently writes, speaks, and presents his one-man dramas. Author of nine books published, The Spiritual Abraham Lincoln is his latest. He has authored and created nine one-man dramas which he has presented over 8,000 times from coast to coast, in Europe, Puerto Rico, and Bermuda. Currently he writes a syndicated column, Senior Snippets. He has written and directed over one dozen Orange Bowl extravaganzas, both secular and sacred. He was Director of radio/television for the Miami Council of Churches and is President/Founder of Pageantry, Inc., The Church Without Walls. Read Neil’s devotions


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