In the early 1950s, Vacation Bible School (VBS) ladies welcomed my two brothers and me for three summers even though we were dirty, smelly, and uncivilized.

 Vacation Bible School teachers are impackful people. They touch lives long after a week of cookies, Kool-Aid, and felt-board gospel stories. Their kindness was something to behold. The snacks were real foods that we didn’t have to steal to fill our empty bellies for the day. But the Bible stories they told filled our souls for eternity.

These ladies never knew the life-long effect they had on me. Their willingness to teach in VBS introduced me to our Beloved, Jesus Christ. Their example of acceptance has been at the core of my being ever since. I continue to try and pass loving acceptance on to this day; some days with success and other days not.

Even though I didn’t know how to hold a fork or speak properly when I was seven years old, these women of faith showed me hospitality with a welcome hug and kind words. They were Christ’s servants setting me on a journey from a beggar to a teacher. Today, I teach fine dining etiquette and communication skills. Only God’s plan and fulfillment can make such extreme changes in a life.

This year when the role call for VBS volunteers is called, my hope and prayer is that many will be willing to serve. The ones answering the call will be today’s impackful people. They will be touching our future generations with food, acceptance, and the gospel story.

I may not have said “thank you” to the ladies at VBS who lifted my brothers and me up, but the Lord will not forget to say “well done good and faithful servant” to each one of them.

Carolyn K. Knefely is an inspirational speaker, a certified etiquette consultant, and professional development trainer. As a people polisher and co-director of Christian Communicators, she educates, validates, and launches women in their speaking ministries through conferences, retreats, and workshops. Her passions and experiences include equipping students in how to successfully transition from high school to college with ease; taking college students from backpack to briefcase with polish, poise and professional leadership skills; and showing women and teens how to use a teacup as an outreach tool through simple hospitality. Her speaking engagements are entertaining, interactive, and loaded with fun. Carolyn and her husband live in South Carolina to be near their daughter and her family.
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Teach Your Children

Prodigal? ME? – She Said

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6

Listen to Prodigal? Me – She Said

“We’re all prodigals, aren’t we?”

The Sunday morning message blared from the television. I dropped a tissue into the trash. My head throbbed and my body ached from the flu and I wasn’t sure I could listen to this hell-fire and damnation preacher scream at me. Chills crawled up my arms as the country pastor slammed his hand on the pulpit. “It’s true. We are all prodigals.”

I covered my head with the pillow, wishing I could will the remote into my hand. I’m not a prodigal. Not by any means. I pray every day and try to be the person God wants me to be; honest, truthful, loving. No. I’m not a prodigal.

There might have been a time I wandered but never very far. Maybe I questioned, but not very hard. Things were…well…status quo. My love for Christ never faltered…it just wasn’t pressing.

I sat straight up in the bed.

“Oh my gosh. I was a prodigal.”

Sometimes our view of God becomes so skewed by the world we wander away, searching for anything that might fill the void in our lives; never seeing the loving God who waits.

I was raised in the church and though my love for Christ never died, I succumbed to the world for a time…searching. At thirty-six I sat teaching a young adult Sunday school class. “How active are you in Christ’s life?” I asked. Then it hit me. Not very, but He was certainly active in mine. I was a prodigal. That was the turning point in my Christian life. I grasped hold of what I’d been taught and crawled home.

Solomon understood we eventually return to what we are taught. It never really leaves us, we just shove it away for a time. His words were not only a warning but an encouragement to parents. Teach them and they will not turn from it. We have sons who, like me for a time, search to fill the void. They’ve been raised beneath the wing of Christ. They’re fine young men and though their love for Christ has not died…they wander. We pray daily they will remember and not turn from the love of Christ but become active in Him again.

Raise them up in the ways of Christ. A time will come when they wander and seek. Eventually what they’ve been taught will resurface. God will work in their prodigal hearts and they will become active in Him. My job? To pray without ceasing.

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HE SAID, SHE SAID RADIO IS MOVING TO MONDAY NIGHT…Join us as we delve deeper into the meaning of God’s word and apply it to our own lives.

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 on He Said, She Said Radio. at their new time, MONDAY’S at 6 p.m. (Call in number, 646-929-0706 ).

Do you sense something vital missing from you relationship with your spouse, children, and God?

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He Said, She Said: A Devotional Guide to Cultivating a Life of Passion
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The jangling of Salvation Army kettle bell ringers competed, ironically, with the music of Jingle Bells, as the sounds of the season flooded the Wal-Mart parking lot. I really didn’t want to be here with Charlotte, Caleb, and Father Kirby, and what seemed to be every man, woman, and child in greater Middle Tennessee, but at the least, the Christmas shopping was over, and we could go back home.

I was just fastening my seat belt and setting the key in the ignition when a rap-rap-rap came at my window. A man in frayed and faded overalls and a blue plaid flannel shirt, also frayed, stood at my window. I pushed the button to lower the window.

Before the window was halfway down, Mr. Overalls started in on his spiel. He sounded just like Larry the Cable Guy as he rolled his hard luck story of being stranded with a broken car and his wife and kids, and how another kind stranger had put his family and him up for the night at a local motel. He needed money to get the car fixed, he said, and to feed his family for the night.

It was a practiced spiel. Or it sounded practiced to me. I asked him what was wrong with his car. This seemed to throw him off stride, and he mumbled something about a 4-wheel drive being converted to a 2-wheel and…he kind of trailed off toward the end. Abruptly, I told him to call the local Red Cross or a local church; maybe they could help him. I rolled the window up, backed out of the parking space, and headed out of the parking lot.

That’s when the Lord nudged me. A hard nudge, more like a smack upside the head, really. “That money in your wallet is mine,” he reminded me. “I’m just letting you use it.” That was true. The jobs we had were just the spigots He used to dispense His money to us. “And,” he said, “if I wanted that man to have some of my money that you are carrying around, who are you to say no?”

I turned the car around and headed back to Wal-Mart.

“Did you forget something?” Charlotte asked.

“Yeah,” I replied. “I forgot I was a Christian.” I cruised the parking lot until I found Mr. Overalls. He shuffled up to the car window and I pulled some money out of my wallet. Pressing it into his hand, I said “God loves you.” He started in on what I’m sure was a practiced thank you spiel, but I cut him off.

“God loves you,” I repeated. “Remember this, and help someone else when you get a chance.” It wasn’t what I really wanted to say, but then I haven’t had much practice with face-to-face charity. Evidently it’s something I’m supposed to work on.

In this case it wasn’t up to me to judge the man’s truthfulness. God would handle that, in time. I was simply supposed to do what He had told me to do: Give, with love. It took me a couple of tries and a smack upside the head, but at least I eventually got it right.

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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My husband tells me he wouldn’t have stopped had the dog not been on his side of the busy intersection. He has a heart for animals, but isn’t one to veer from his schedule. Unless, that is, a tiny collared dog is running amongst traffic on a Thursday afternoon. He pulled over in the parking lot of a corner gas station to pick him up. At the time we thought it might be a Shih tzu. I’m highly allergic to furry animals and our children’s caregiver agreed to keep the pup while we actively looked for an owner.

Sandra had the best time with Peanut. All weekend she and her husband, a local youth minister, toted the pup around. It sat in the car on rides, barked to go out for potty, and was quite picky about meals – weanies, not dog food. By Tuesday afternoon, “Lost!” signs had appeared on telephone poles.

The call came and a meeting was arranged to return the dog to its home. The elated owners tried to give us a reward for the dog, who turned out to be a Yorki. Sandra and her husband tried to turn them down, expressing how glad they were to have helped. The couple insisted and a sealed envelope was carried away. Sandra told the owners she would put the funds toward the youth at their church, and thanked them. It wasn’t until they were halfway home that the plain white envelope was opened, revealing $500 cash. Such a large amount was tempting to keep, but Sandra and her husband proved faithful and kept their word, donating it to the youth group as promised.

God often provides us with opportunities to prove our faithfulness. Some think of these occasions as tests. Has God ever provided you with more than you needed? Share the goodness of God’s provision and be blessed more than you can imagine. Each day in our lives is important. Every moment is a chance to mature as a believer and demonstrate that devotion to others.

What will you do when given such an opportunity again?

Julie P. Jones, PhD is an educator in Spartanburg, SC. She received her doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction in 2009 from Clemson University, a Master of Education in Administration from the University of South Carolina, and a Bachelor of Arts in Deaf Education from Converse College. She maintains an active research agenda that includes both practitioner and family-oriented articles. Julie is married with two daughters.
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When I was nine, my parents gave me a green dress for Christmas. Money was always tight, and the dress was my big present that year.

I didn’t like it. I planned to complain and say it didn’t fit so I could exchange it.

My dad immediately said, “How do you like your present? I picked it out for you. When I saw that dress, I knew it would look pretty on my little Sandy.”

Dad never shopped for our clothes. That was my mother’s department. His favorite color was green and he was excited about his gift for me.

I couldn’t disappoint him, even though I knew I wouldn’t be receiving any new clothes until school started the next fall. I would receive one gift for my birthday, but it might not be anything to wear.

I thanked my dad and tried on the dress. To his immense pleasure, it fit perfectly.

I wore that dress often to please my dad. “Sandy’s wearing that pretty green dress again,” I would hear him say. In time, the green dress became my favorite outfit.

Long into my adulthood, my dad bragged about the time he picked out that Christmas gift for me and I answered truthfully, “I loved that dress.”

I did love the gift. My father chose it especially for me.

Sometimes God gives us gifts we would really like to exchange. One person might desire to sing like an angel rather than have the gift of encouragement. Another person wishes for an outgoing, vivacious personality, but instead displays the gift of hospitality. Someone else wants to be a great speaker, but possesses a generous spirit.

The gifts we would rather exchange may be the way we offer the greatest blessings to our loved ones. God is the most generous giver of all, and He knows what we truly need.

At this time of year, we remember God’s most precious gift, His only Son. That baby, who laid in a manger, brought salvation to the world. God, in His infinite wisdom, knew what we needed most and He gave it freely.

Sandra M. Hart writes for the A Hart for History link on DevoKids.com, where she serves as Assistant Editor. She has written for The Secret Place, Voice, Afictionado, and Common Ground. She is a contributor for Faith & Finance: In God We Trust, and writes historical romance novels.

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It seems no matter how much I do, there is always more to do. I wait for the rewards to come from a job well done, only to find a never-ending pile of work instead.

I wonder what Cornelius thought of his reward. An angel comes to him and says, “God has seen your good works. Here is your reward…” and then proceeds to give him instruction to send men for Simon. So… his reward was more work?

When we are working hard in ministry, tithing, giving to the needy, giving of our time, if we’re being honest, we’re hoping for a reward—a blessing from God either in this life or the next.

Do we consider that the blessing is simply the honor of doing even more work for God? It’s a tough concept, but God does not give bad gifts. Cornelius was given more work, yes, but he also got to see an angel!

He was given more work, yes, but he is also mentioned in the Bible. Imagine God telling not only everyone you know, but everyone through the ages that you did a good job. Cornelius couldn’t know that would happen. If he had, he might have constantly questioned his own motivations. As it was, he did good because he loved God. And God blessed him with more work and a few other fringe benefits because He loved him.

The most important reward Cornelius received was the message of salvation straight from Peter’s mouth. Imagine if Cornelius responded to his original reward of more work with an eye roll? How often do we do just that?

Gina Holmes is the President and founder of Inspire a Fire and Novel Rocket, and award-winning author of Crossing Oceans and Dry as Rain. In 1998, Gina began her career penning articles and short stories and ten years and a stack of rejection letters later, she held her first published novel. She holds degrees in science and nursing and currently resides with her husband and children in southern Virginia. She works too hard, laughs too loud, and longs to see others heal from their past and discover their God-given purpose.
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**A very special Merry Christmas to the readers and supporters of Christian Devotions Ministries. May the love of Christ fill your home and may the joy of His love surround you. – The Staff of Christian Devotions

I never cared for the Christmas breakfast. It was a mandatory affair at the college where I worked, an event that occurred every Christmas just before semester break. To me, it was always kind of a waste of time. A little boring really. But the Christmas breakfast of 2001 was anything but boring. In fact it changed my life.

“Can I have your attention, please?” The Dean of Health Sciences tapped her microphone. “It’s time to eat. Now, I hear Pat says a good prayer,” she continued, smiling and looking my way. My eyebrows rose. “Pat? Would you say the blessing for us?”

All eyes turned my way.

“Umm—” I gave an embarrassed shrug. “Sure.”

I felt honored as I accepted the microphone, but also a bit confused. Who told her I said a good prayer? And if I did pray, would people be, well…offended?

I shrugged, asked them to bow their heads and began. I thanked God for America, and that in the wake of 9/11 we still had our families, our homes, and our lives. I thanked Him for our jobs, and for freedom and friends and peace. I thanked him for the food, and everything was going well, but then I went and did it. His name rolled off my lips.

“And thank you most of all for Christmas, and for what it still means to us. That two thousand years ago our savior was born, The Lord Jesus Christ.” I ended the prayer in his name, and closed with a hearty, “Amen.”

When I opened my eyes I realized we had a problem. No one moved. I saw confusion on many faces, anger on many others. Most looked stunned, several definitely offended. I felt like running for the exit doors, but then I saw a timid smile appear on one person’s face. And then another. And then slowly, and meekly at first, someone began to clap. Soon others joined in, and after a moment half the room was caught up in celebration. The other half still frowned.

Now I felt stunned. But then several people wandered over. “Thank you,” someone whispered to me. “Oh, thank you!”another exclaimed. “That was so great!”

A friend walked up to me shaking his head. “Are you nuts? Don’t you realize the Dean’s a Jew?”

“Jesus was a Jew,” I replied. “Merry Christmas!”

You can’t say Christmas around here anymore; it’s now the holiday season or some nonsense like that. And they never asked me to say the blessing again, but that’s okay, I learned a valuable lesson that day: Some people are truly offended by His name, others are filled with courage. So this “holiday season”as you get caught up in the bustle of buying gifts and running here and there, share his name with others, and then tell them, “Merry Christmas.” Some will be offended, but others will be filled with hope. It’s not the holiday season—it’s Christmas.

“Merry Christmas!”

Pat Patterson is a writer, a photographer, a paramedic, a volunteer chaplain, and an instructor of Emergency Medical Science. He is the author of Answering the Call. Pat’s stories are true, based on real experiences from the streets of Durham, North Carolina where he served as a street paramedic for seventeen years. Contact Pat at psquare@nc.rr.com. Pat is a winner of the Blue Ridge Christian Writers Conference.

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But not every experience was as traumatic as the one with Evelyn. My most memorable experience was of a little girl with long curly brown hair, soft brown dancing eyes, and a bright warm smile.

“What is your name?” I asked as she hopped up on my lap.

“My name is Amy,” she said ducking her head.

“How old are you, Amy?”

Amy held up five fingers.

“And what do you want for Christmas?”

“I want a Cabbage Patch Doll, My Little Pony, a necklace, and Jesus things,” replied Amy.

“Jesus things?” I asked. “What are Jesus things?”

Amy shrugged her shoulders and smiled. “I don’t know. Just Jesus things.”

I wished Amy a Merry Christmas and told her I would do my best to get her everything on her list.

A week later the job was over.

As I walked past Santa’s throne one last time, someone asked what we were going to do with all the children’s letters to Santa that had been stuffed in his mailbox. I volunteered to take them and once back home began to look through them. Among them was one written in crayon from a little girl named Amy.

Dear Santa,
I want a Cabbage Patch Doll, My Little Pony, a necklace, and Jesus things.”
Love Amy

At the bottom of the page was a picture of each gift, a manger scene, and a cross…and then I got it.

In a way that few adults rarely understand, Amy had grasped the true meaning of Christmas; that Jesus had been born in a manger so that he could die on a cross. But Amy not only understood that Jesus had been sent to earth to die for the sins of the world, she also understood that he had come to give us all a present – eternal life. She could not put her understanding of this gift of life into words, but she could feel it in her spirit. It was a gift God had given her, and the gift she wanted the world to have; salvation that comes only from the only begotten Son of God – Jesus things.

Tim Wade is married to Shannon and is the father to four daughters and one son. A former college pastor and current part time teacher of grades K5-12 in a private Christian school, Tim has a heart for kids, loves to teach the Bible, and has a passion for learning. Tim has degrees in Religion and Divinity and has written for Deeper Devotion Magazine, and Focus on the Family’s Clubhouse Magazine.

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Remember How the Grinch Stole Christmas, one of the fondest Christmas movies there is? The Grinch was miserable, angry, bitter, and determined to make everyone around him the same. He was wrapped up in the affairs of the world and knew nothing of joy. But when the Whos in Whoville got up Christmas morning and celebrated, even though the Grinch had stolen all their gifts and festivities, he realized true joy is found only in your heart.

Right now, the stores are swamped, traffic is thick, bargains are being paraded in front of weary shoppers, money is being depleted that may be needed elsewhere, and many people will spend Christmas in a state of despair and depression. This is one holiday each year that can be filled with awe and merriment, but beleaguered with sadness and pain.

Nehemiah, through opposition and with extreme faith, enlisted the people to rebuild Jerusalem and was able to provide all that they needed. Each group of families repaired a section of the wall until it was complete. After, they celebrated with much merriment. But the people were told to give gifts to those in need so they, too, could join in. Celebration was not to be self-centered; it was to be connected with giving. When we celebrate and give to others, we are strengthened spiritually and filled with the true joy of Jesus.

This Christmas, give tangibly to someone in need—not someone you know, but someone you’d not thought of before. Be like the Grinch, who turned his heart back to the true spirit of the season.

Cindy Scinto, author and speaker, writes full-time since 54 operations, three near death experiences, a heart transplant, and cancer took away her ability to work. “My friends and family don’t think writers work,” she giggles after recounting her busy schedule. Cindy now shares hope and encouragement through her writing and speaking ministry. Her husband John’s emotional and spiritual support, along with his love and devotion, make it possible for her to pursue God’s vision and will for her life. Cindy has one child, her son, Jonathan, who is attending college. Cindy is Editor of www.iBegat.com .The Scinto family lives in Spokane, Washington and you can visit Cindy’s website at www.cindyscinto.com. Be sure to pick up a copy of her first book, A Heart Like Mine, Finding God’s Will for Your Life. Book two, A Heart Like Yours, Understanding God’s Will for Your Life, will be available in 2011. There will be a third book in the Heart Like Mine Series, A Heart Like His, Living God’s Will for Your Life. Read Cindy’s devotions.
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Too weak to care for her puppy, my mother shipped her pug to me as a Christmas-in-July present. I peered into the pink crate at a black-faced beast, crossed my arms, and wondered how to manage an untrained puppy.

“Don’t give me that look,” I said to the pup. “I’m not your mommy.” Then I began to enforce an hourly regimen of “go-potty-on-the-grass,” while the pug chased bugs, chewed on my housecoat, and wore me out. For weeks, the eight-pounder trained me. The dog preferred to roll in the dew-kissed grass at 5:00 a.m., and then leave “presents” in her crate. What have you sent me, Mother?

Mom listened to my daily descriptions of the pup. “Liddy isn’t feminine at all, Mom, and pink is not her color. She’d rather roll in dirt and eat bugs. I bought the best dog food for Liddy. I had her spayed. Free-range playing and pottying are on the way—we finally ordered a fence.”

Visions of freedom danced in my head as I snuggled Liddy and kissed her fuzzy forehead. “Can you keep a secret, doggy? I’ve always wanted a pug.”

Visions of freedom for my mom danced in the Lord’s head. The same week a crew installed the chain-link fence, I traveled five-hundred miles to peer into my mother’s casket and kiss her cold forehead.

Like the wise men who brought frankincense and myrrh to baby Jesus, my mom presented me with her finest treasure. This year for Christmas, I can only dream of mom because she’s home for Christmas—really home. In His presence.

Are you missing a loved one? We can embrace the most precious and personal gift God gave, eternal life. As part of God’s extended family, we can celebrate Christmas knowing we will be united with Jesus and our family members.

Between now and the grand reunion with my mother, I cuddle Liddy. “Ah, look at your adorable face. Come sit on mommy’s lap.” I don’t bother to wipe the dog hair off my housecoat, but squeeze Liddy close.

Thanks for the present, mom.

Terri Kelly is the Editor of DevoKids.com and a staff writer for ChristianDevotions.us. She is a featured faculty member at conferences, teaching the art of writing devotions for children and how to start a children’s ministry website.

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