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God’s Table – Frances Gregory Pasch
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Feed on His Word

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Luke 12: 34 NIV

My husband regularly sets a beautiful table. It’s not your usual table covered with a cloth and filled with dishes, silverware, glasses, and condiments. This one is on our back deck and displays a variety of unusually shaped bird feeders—some plastic, others metal, some small and others extra large. Each is filled with a variety of different kind of seeds. Jim also sets out suet.

Our state bird, the gold finch, frequently visits our deck for a snack. Red-winged blackbirds, red poles, sparrows, doves, and cardinals also stop quite often for a meal.

It’s fun to watch the different tactics of each species. The small birds peck a little at a time, and seem to be in no hurry, while the larger birds swoop in, gobble up the seeds and quickly fly away. With so many winged friends dining with us, Jim often has to fill the feeders daily.

God sets an even more beautiful table. Throughout the Bible, He offers us a splendid variety of spiritual food for our souls—simple truths for beginners who, like the small birds, need messages that are easily digestible without rushing, and deeper treasures for more seasoned Christians to savor. Regardless of the level of our spiritual growth, there’s always plenty of food for everyone.

Once you start to taste the food that God has to offer, you’ll want to return frequently for more substantial food. The words you absorb from the Bible will stay with you longer than normal nourishment. You will discover they give you strength to deal with whatever situations come your way.

Why is it that we always find time to feed our bodies, often gobbling up more than we should, but somehow don’t concentrate on nourishing our spirits?

If Jim and I get excited when birds visit our feeders, and we get disappointed when they don’t come, God must feel the same way about us. He must smile when we regularly open the Bible and feast on His words. But He must be sad when we get busy and forget to spend time with Him.

Set aside time to surprise God with an unexpected visit. He’ll be happy, and you’ll be blessed.

Fran has had over two-hundred devotions and poems published in numerous devotional booklets and Sunday School papers. Her writing has also been included in over a dozen book compilations. Fran enjoys encouraging writers and has led her writers’ group for the past nineteen years. She creates her own holiday greeting cards, incorporating her poetry. Fran has been married to her husband Jim for fifty-two years. They have five married sons and nine grandchildren.

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Our Peace in Busyness – Frances Gregory Pasch
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Too much busyness

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3 NIV

We’re all on overload. The whole world is in a tizzy. Our minds are bombarded with too much information on a steady basis. Calendars are filled to the brim, and the television captures many precious hours of our day. Organized sports fill our Sundays, leaving no time for families to attend church. How sad God gets left out of the picture.

There’s no way we can keep up with all the world offers without serious consequences. Sooner or later stress will take a toll. There used to be only a few choices of things to buy and places to go. Now malls contain so many stores we don’t know where to shop first. To top it off… new products come out each day. Technology is obsolete the month after it releases. Keeping up with the latest inventions often becomes a financial burden for the average family.

Even our children’s schedules are too heavy for them to carry. In addition to their education and after school activities, kids spend countless hours text messaging their friends and chatting for long periods of time on their cell phones.

I recently saw a program on TV that emphasized that children need to “play.” They need time away from organized activities to relax and enjoy themselves. When I raised my five sons in the 60s, children came home from school, had a snack, and just had fun with their friends. Now they have the pressure to be involved in something every day.

Times have changed, but despite the turmoil, there is one thing that remains constant. Hebrews reminds us, Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. He is our peace in the midst of our busyness.

There is reassurance in knowing Jesus never changes. He is faithful, merciful, truthful, and always available—not bound by time, and able to be everywhere at once. What an awesome God we serve.

Relax. Slow down. Listen for God’s still, small voice.

Fran has had over two-hundred devotions and poems published in numerous devotional booklets and Sunday School papers. Her writing has also been included in over a dozen book compilations. Fran enjoys encouraging writers and has led her writers’ group for the past nineteen years. She creates her own holiday greeting cards, incorporating her poetry. Fran has been married to her husband Jim for fifty-two years. They have five married sons and nine grandchildren.

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*Photo used by permission FreeDigitalPhotos.net – by t0zz

God’s Perspective – Frances Pasch
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Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7

The recipe called for fresh ginger. I could have substituted ground ginger but for some strange reason, I felt compelled to follow the directions exactly.

Why am I making all this fuss? I thought, as I drove to the store. I would soon find out.

I had never seen fresh ginger before, so I had to read the produce signs to find it. I did a double take when I spotted the price of $2.49 a pound, but I was even more shocked when I saw the ginger itself. It looked grotesque. I almost changed my mind about buying it, but I selected a few pieces and headed for home.

As I started to peel the ginger, a delightful aroma came forth. How deceiving. Its ugly exterior had camouflaged its fragrant interior.

Things came into focus. God used this experience to teach me a lesson. He’d recently shown me the scripture, Stop judging by mere appearances and make a right judgment. He knew I always equated outer beauty with greater happiness and pleasure.

My mind drifted back to several events in the past. I recalled the vacation my family spent at a beautiful motel. Yet when I thought about it now, I realized we had more fun on our camping trip in the rain—in a tent. I remembered our large home which I was sure would make me happier than our smaller one. But looking back, I knew nothing could ever replace the twenty years of wonderful memories we spent in our first tiny home.

Finally, I remembered the Thanksgiving Mom and Dad took our family to a restaurant so I wouldn’t have to cook. But even that couldn’t hold a candle to the meals we enjoyed crowded around our small dining room table.

God seemed to tell me to look at things from His perspective, from within, from the heart. I knew it would be hard for me to change my habits after so many years of judging people and things by their external appearances, but I decided to try. Today, through the Lord’s help, I am making significant progress.

What kind of glasses are you looking through? Take them off and let God clear your vision. Look at things from His perspective.

Fran Pasch has had over two hundred devotions and poems published in numerous devotional booklets and Sunday School papers. Her writing has also been included in over a dozen book compilations. Fran enjoys encouraging writers and has led her writers’ group for the past 19 years. She creates her own holiday greeting cards incorporating her poetry. Fran has been married to her husband Jim for 52 years. They have five married sons and nine grandchildren.

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A New Perspective On Father’s Day – Frances Pasch
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Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise. Psalm 145:3, NIV

He could never say I love you. I had a good childhood and knew my father cared for me, but unfortunately he never could say, “I love you.” As a child, he didn’t hear these words spoken openly, so it was difficult for him to verbally express his feelings to my brother and me. We felt that he loved us, but how wonderful it would have been if he could have said so before he died.

On the other hand, God, my Heavenly Father, tells me page after page in the scriptures how much He loves me. He even states that He knew me and loved me before I was born. How awesome.

God loves us unconditionally, with an everlasting love. He promises never to leave us nor forsake us and to supply all our needs.

Earthly fathers have limitations and cannot meet all our expectations. But in spite of their shortcomings, each year we still set aside a special day to honor them.

The week before Father’s Day, people rush around shopping for cards and gifts. Some buy them out of duty, while others spend quality time seeking the perfect choice. Those who have lost their dads depend on memories to sustain them.

The world is caught up in honoring earthly fathers. Families congregate for picnics and parties. Relatives that hardly ever get together throughout the year somehow manage to join in the festivities. But isn’t it strange that most of us never think of honoring our Heavenly Father in a special way on Father’s Day.

I really hadn’t thought about it before, but wouldn’t it be a nice gesture to do something to honor the Lord in a special way. There is no gift that we can buy Him, but wouldn’t He be pleased if we took time for praise and a personal prayer of thanksgiving? This Father’s Day I plan to do that. Maybe you will too.

Fran has had over two hundred devotions and poems published in numerous devotional booklets and Sunday School papers. Her writing has also been included in over a dozen book compilations. Fran enjoys encouraging writers and has led her writers’ group for the past 19 years. She creates her own holiday greeting cards, incorporating her poetry. Fran has been married to her husband Jim for 52 years. They have five married sons and nine grandchildren. Read Frances’s devotions.
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The Best for Last – Frances Pasch
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“He is not here; he has risen.” Luke 24:6

As a child, I always loved going to the Memorial Day parade. My brother and I would sit on the edge of the sidewalk and watch with excitement as different groups of marchers passed by.

Military and school bands, dressed in a variety of different uniforms, kept in step as they serenaded the crowd. Local scout troops marched behind their leaders, and beautifully decorated floats added a special touch to the festivities. Fire engines and police cars passed by, polished to perfection. Vendors sold candy, ice cream, and soda—refreshing treats in the hot sun.

The parade lasted three hours and ended with a spectacular float display. The committee always saved the best for last.

On Good Friday, people lined the streets as Jesus walked the road to Calvary, but unlike the happy crowd at a parade, many were mourning and lamenting. Others shouted obscenities.

Instead of a precision march, Jesus struggled beneath the weight of the cross. He had no fancy uniform, just tattered clothes covering His whipped, blood-stained body.

Instead of a victory celebration at the end, His executioners brutally nailed Jesus to the cross. Instead of a cool drink to quench His thirst, they offered Him vinegar. Instead of applauding, as parade watchers do, the crowd cast lots for His garments and sneered at Him saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself.” But, little did they know that all of this was part of God’s plan.

Like my childhood parade that lasted three hours and ended with a special attraction, the crucifixion also lasted three hours. But the finale did not occur immediately. Three days later, the most spectacular event of all time took place—the resurrection.

Like the parade committee, God saved the best for last! Won’t you join the parade?

Fran has had over two hundred devotions and poems published in numerous devotional booklets and Sunday school papers. Her writing has also been included in over a dozen book compilations. Fran enjoys encouraging writers and has led her writers’ group for the past 19 years. She creates her own holiday greeting cards, incorporating her poetry. Fran has been married to her husband Jim for 52 years. They have five married sons and nine grandchildren. Read Frances’s devotions.