Instead of facing some uncomfortable moments, I caved like the coward I am.

Worst of all, my daughter witnessed it.

If I want her to live with courage, then I need to portray it. I need to provide an example.

Nehemiah’s enemies threatened to kill him and the other Israelites who worked to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. When the threats continued, Nehemiah knelt to pray. He didn’t ask God to save him or send the enemies away. He asked for strength.

When I’m in the middle of a struggle, too often I ask God to save me. I pray for His protection. I don’t want to endure the pain. I shy away from the battle.

God saves me when I request it, but is He disappointed with my lack of trust? Does He sigh inwardly and wonder when I will learn that these trials can bring Him glory if I allow Him to lead me?

God gave Nehemiah a burden to do what He called him to do. Then He answered Nehemiah’s prayer to help him do it.

Asking God to strengthen us for the storm, rather than to save us from it, may change the outcome as well as our attitude. It could change eternity for someone who silently watches.

God is up for the challenge. He is equipping us, even now, to do what He requires us to do.

Lord, strengthen our hands.

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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I am in God’s waiting room.

I’ve been praying and asking for guidance for a particular request for several years. While I have had some answers and direction, I am still waiting.

In the meantime, I haven’t been idle. I have worked toward the goal where I feel God is leading me. I’ve suffered through some painful times when it seemed that God was doing His part to prepare me for the future.

Sometimes I want to tell Him, “Surely I’m ready now, Lord. Can this be the time?” It’s not easy to wait when I can’t understand the reasons behind the delay.

“Could you not wait for me for one hour?”

His question brings me to my knees. My spirit is willing to trust His leading, but I’m so very weak.

Jesus spent tortured minutes in the Garden of Gethsemane, pleading with God to avoid the brutality of the cross. If there was any other way to save us, God would have cleared the path. But there wasn’t. Jesus had to go to the cross.

His disciples didn’t understand His agony and fell asleep when He most needed their support.

We don’t always comprehend the unseen struggle unleashed by our prayers. We simply look for an answer – yes, no, or not now. He says all three answers to our prayers at different times.

There’s another possibility. Maybe He wants us to trust Him for an answer He’s not yet ready to give.

Sandra M. Hart enjoys writing historical fiction novels set in the Midwest. She is inspired by the people around her. Those labeled as “everyday people” are the ones who inspire her most. She hopes to have a nonfiction book published about a couple of these ordinary heroes who fill our lives with hope.

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His Way

If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matthew 7:11

Listen to It’s All in the Asking – She Said

My son was on his knees swiping up a puddle of water from the living room floor. I blamed the cat but when Chase pointed to the ceiling, I knew I couldn’t have been that lucky. Our roof had leaked during a huge rainstorm.

My first thought…how will we afford a new roof? Since I retired last year, everything that could happen…has. One month after I retired (debt free by the way), the siding on the house cracked. The fence around the yard had to be replaced. One son moved out and we found mold on the wall behind the bed. The stairs going to the second level of the house split. I lost count of the dollars we spent. All I needed was another repair. So much for debt free.

Yesterday, as I headed home from work (retirement became semi-retirement), it rained a torrential downpour. Sheets of water blew across my windshield. The roof, I thought. I stopped the car and called a friend. “I know you’ll think this is crazy, but my roof is still leaking and there’s a massive rainstorm right now. Could you just pray God will cup His hand over that spot on our roof and keep out the water?”

“I don’t think it’s silly. God expects us to ask him about all our needs. That’s how we get provision.” My friend was right. If I didn’t ask, how could I expect to get?

God is good to me, but His provision is not always financial. I’ve asked for help in hard situations; He answered. I pleaded for a prodigal child; He redeemed. I cried out for my heart and He healed. How much more could my Father give to me unless I asked?

My God is a God of kept promises. He knows my needs long before I recognize them and He wants me to ask. It’s all part of the relationship. The deeper my relationship with God, the easier it is for me to trust in His promises. When I ask, I relinquish control to the Master who manages the universe. The key is in my faith. Ask first, then believe God has already taken care of the problem.

It rained for hours. Water stood ankle deep in our yard, but when I looked up at our ceiling…it was dry. We asked and God gave a good gift—a dry ceiling.

Take in your relationship with God. Build it. Trust it. Then learn to say, “How much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

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

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.

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

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The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit.

These days the Middle East and fear go hand in hand. I fought so many fears while my son was deployed to the Middle East. Probably the greatest was that somehow my prayers wouldn’t be enough to keep him safe. I remember one night in particular. I awoke from an unknown dream, screaming in my mind. Drenched with sweat and tears streaming down my cheeks, I couldn’t remember the dream—only the terror, that horrible feeling of helplessness. 2:52 a.m. blinked on my clock. I could hear my husband’s soft snores and they reassured me I hadn’t disturbed him. Too often he lost sleep because of my fear.

I knew sleep wouldn’t return anytime soon, so I grabbed my Bible and headed downstairs. I settled into my chair in the den and began to thumb through the pages, searching for comfort. I tried to focus enough to pray for my son, but my prayers seemed common, not good enough to inspire God to go to great lengths to keep him safe.

In my page turning, I found myself reading verses in James. As I read I felt even worse. Did I have to be Elijah to pray effectively? I would never consider myself in the same category of righteousness as him. Even more discouraged, I thought about these verses. As I did, God brought something to mind I’d never considered. I remembered early on in Israel’s history, God had warned them if they didn’t obey Him, He’d withhold blessings, specifically the blessing of rain. I felt hope begin to blossom. I immediately turned to Deuteronomy 11 and there it was—God’s warning that He would shut up the heavens if they turned from Him.

My heart leaped. Righteous prayer wasn’t based on my goodness, but on God’s! Elijah’s prayer was effective because he knew God, and he just prayed God’s own words back to Him. God would always be true to His Word. I felt a floodgate of possibilities open up. I could pray scripture over my son and know that God would hear and answer.

Seek out the promises of God in His words and pray them back to Him. God hears every prayer.

Edie is a freelance writer and editor with over 16 years experience in the publishing industry. She’s a prolific writer, publishing over 700 articles in 2010. She also has a popular writing blog www.thewriteconversation.blogspot.com and is a frequent contributor to many others. As a sought after writing instructor, her heart to help others define and reach their dreams has connected her with writers all over the country. In keeping up with the leading edge of all things digital, Edie has become known as one of the go-to experts on Twitter, Facebook, and social media for writers wanting to learn how to plug in.
Fighting Fear, Winning the War at Home, is one of Edie’s latest projects. This devotional book for those with family members in the military will debut in the fall of 2011 with Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. She’s a member of numerous professional writing organizations, including The Christian Pen, The Christian Writer’s View I and ACFW, where she serves as the Editor for the Southeast Zone Newsletter and staff reviewer for Afictionado Magazine. She’s also an assistant proofer/editor for the Voices E-zine, a publication of My Book Therapy and a part of the My Book Therapy Special Teams Blog. Married 30 years to husband, Kirk, they have raised three sons.
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Secret Word

In the beginning was the Word…John 1:1a  NIV

Listen to Word for Word – She Said

Bird, bird, bird, bird is the word. Bird, bird, bird, bird is the word…

I never figured this one out but it sure made my kids dance around the room and laugh. The boys always thought Pee Wee Herman singing Bird is the Word, was such a hoot (no pun intended). Me, I never figured it out. For that fact, I never really figured out Pee Wee Herman but in the beginning, his show was filled with fun, silliness and well…words.

There was the secret word, the word of the day, and the infamous Bird is the Word song. Pee Wee even had a robot whose primary job was to spit out the word of the day. From Pee Wee, to Sesame Street, to Mr. Rogers (and for us baby boomers – Captain Kangaroo) words were always a vital part of their shows.

Elmo has taught children how words can hurt or make you happy, Mr. Rogers taught the importance of choosing wise words. Politicians sway public opinion, writers string them together in a melodic phrase, and parents use them to make or break their children.

I’ve been by the bedside of a sick friend and waited for “word.” Held out for the word to begin and wondered who gave the word. Words are important. But no words have ever meant more than the words of John. In the beginning was the Word.

That kinda says it all.

God put enough value in His son to tell us Jesus was the beginning. Within Christ were the Words God wanted us to hear and they…He, was with God. He was the word. The whole thing is almost too much to take in.

Every question, every need, every situation in life is found in the Word either by the stories Jesus told or in Christ himself and we have direct access to Him at our fingertips. We could say, He’s a page turner. Daily I praise Him for who He is—the beginning, the end. All that was and all that is. I am in Him and He is in me.

I’ll probably never figure out the meaning of that silly song Pee Wee Herman used to sing and I’m sure I’ll never understand what is fully encompassed in the Word. But what I do understand is the Word is all I need.

What words make a difference in your life? Let Christ be the only Word that counts.

Read Cindy’s devotions.

Today’s He Said, She Said marks another in a new series with a focus on God’s promises. Join us over the next few weeks as we claim the goodness of God in our “weakly” lives. – EJ & CS

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 ).

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.

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

Print version $9.95

Kindle eBook $2.99

NOOK eBook $2.99

This is what the LORD Almighty says: All this may seem impossible to you now, a small and discouraged remnant of God’s people. But do you think this is impossible for me, the LORD Almighty?

I looked at the list of prayer concerns written on the 3×5 card and released a sigh of frustration. I’d been praying about some of the situations for months . . . years . . . decades. Why don’t I see any progress, Lord? I wondered.

Across the top of the card, I’d written Zechariah 8:6. I knew the answer to God’s question. Of course nothing is impossible for Him. He is the LORD Almighty, Jehovah Sabaoth, the Commander of Heaven’s Angel Armies. His power is unlimited. I didn’t doubt God’s ability to answer my prayers, but His delay chaffed me. The fabric of my faith had worn thin—too fragile to protect my spiritual skin from the irritation of His apparent inactivity.

So I whined a bit in my prayer that morning and admitted my discouragement: “I’m tired of praying about these things, Lord.” But even as I whispered those words, guilt pricked me. You don’t doubt His power. Why do you doubt His timing? That’s when the Holy Spirit seemed to say to me, “What do you think faith is, Denise?”

I read Zechariah 8:6 again. One phrase stood out—“this may seem impossible.” What seems to be true and what is true are often opposites. The people to whom Zechariah spoke, thought God had forsaken them. But He hadn’t. God asked them to trust His goodness, His wisdom, and His power by focusing on what they knew was true about Him.

He asks me to do the same thing. For some reason it’s easier for me to say, “I know He is able to fix this some day” than to say, “I know He is doing just what needs to be done today.” The first response is a wistful “maybe” faith; the second response is a confident “absolutely” faith.

God’s not indifferent to our requests. Every day He is doing just what needs to be done according to His eternal plan. Therefore, I’ve changed the way I present my prayer concerns to God. Instead of saying, “Do something about this, Lord,” I now say, “I know you love this person, Lord, and are working in his life” or “I know you are working on the solution to this problem, Lord. Help me wait patiently, confident you have everything under control.”

If we believe in His power, we can wait for His timing.

Denise K. Loock is a freelance writer. Her devotions and stories appear in best-selling books and magazines. She is also the founder of and writer for DigDeeperDevotions.com, a website dedicated to enabling Christians to dig deeper into God’s Word. In 2010, Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas released Denise’s first collection of devotions—Open Your Hymnal: Devotions That Harmonize Scripture With Song. Find out more about the book at www.digdeeperdevotions.com/books.aspx.

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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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Past Lives Regression? I first heard the term at a business networking event. It sparked my curiosity when I heard a lady say it could be used to unleash one’s full potential. With further explanation about its involvement of hypnosis and past lives, my curiosity radar withdrew. I turned to the Bible to find out if there was a spiritual technique that would yield the same outcome.

With my recent calling to lead a teen ministry, I have become more aware of the barriers that need to be addressed before I can reach my full potential. The first—my fear of public speaking. I’ve often wondered how effective I would be for God’s kingdom if I was afforded the ability to go back mentally and serve from the initial point of my existence, before the world had any impact on my cognitive thinking. Jesus had a wealth of insight as He said, Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. As we know, He wasn’t talking about a bodily transfiguration.

As I meditated on the Psalms, I realized there was great depth to the work that  took place at the moment of my creation. The same God, who with a command of His voice created the grand scheme of the universe, took the genes of my father and mother and brought forth a one of a kind creation. He wove within my genetic code the details of my interior and exterior characteristics in a manner that would enable me to carry out His purpose and plan to the fullest extent.

If you’re not operating at your full potential, may I suggest the technique I refer to as Biblical Present Life Regression. It involves not hypnosis, but meditation on scripture. Allow yourself to mentally explore that magnificent moment when He handcrafted your genetic code. Consider the fact that the code is chalked full of pertinent tools for a successful journey and with these God-given tools you are equipped to extinguish every adverse effect that attempts to keep you from operating at your full potential. May this technique refresh, restore, and unleash His original plan for your life.

Leah Gonzales and her husband, Juan, blended their families together over 4 years ago. Leah lives in Pearland, Tx. She is a freelance writer and currently volunteers with Younglives. Leah enjoys spending time with family and friends, making a positive impact in the lives of others, writing devotions, bargain shopping, cooking, exercising and watching lighthearted movies.
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My coworker’s words were unkind and untrue. How could this woman say such a thing about me? I fumed. All day her words simmered in my soul. Each time my mind hit the rewind button, my eyes narrowed and my jaw tightened.

That night as I lay in bed, I thought about what I’d do the next time I saw this woman. Avoid her? Confront her? Simply pretend I didn’t know what she’d said?

I also thought about what I should do. I knew what Jesus said in Matthew 5, but I wondered how I could possibly pray for this woman with a sincere heart. I wanted to tell her exactly what I thought and then complain to other people. I wanted to harbor a grudge and avoid her. But Jesus said that if I want to please Him, I would pray for those who hurt me.

The next morning when I sat down to have my devotions, my heart was restless, so I wrote my coworker’s name down on my daily prayer list. Then I admitted my feelings to God. “Lord, I don’t like this person or what she did to me.” God knew what had happened. I didn’t need to airbrush what she had done or camouflage how I felt about it.

Next I confessed my unwillingness to change my attitude. “Lord, I can’t get over this. I’m too angry, too hurt.” Then I reminded myself that God loves this woman as much as He loves me. He offers the same forgiveness to her that He offers to me. “Help me Lord,” I said. “Help me to see what You see when you look at her.”

Several weeks passed. One day my coworker and I were both working in the copier room. She seemed agitated so I asked, “How’s your day going?” As she revealed details about an ongoing trial in her life, I realized why she might have misjudged me and recognized that I’d misjudged her too. I felt the Holy Spirit nudge my heart and the stone of resentment that I’d been cradling in my spirit cracked.

My attitude toward those who offended me didn’t change overnight. Sometimes it took months. But gradually God has changed my perspective. He instills sympathy for others in me and provides humility about my own faults.

Pray for those who have hurt you. Give God an opportunity to work in your heart.

Denise K. Loock is a freelance writer. Her devotions and stories appear in best-selling books and magazines. She is also the founder of and writer for DigDeeperDevotions.com, a website dedicated to enabling Christians to dig deeper into God’s Word. Denise’s first collection of devotions—Open Your Hymnal: Devotions That Harmonize Scripture With Song is now available. Find out more about the book at www.digdeeperdevotions.com/books.aspx.

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Listen to Blessed Barn – She Said

My barn wasn’t blessed. It was rusted and the floor was falling through. My husband and I stood staring at the metal barn we’d erected twenty years ago. We’d look at the barn, look at one another, look at the barn and sigh.

It was an eyesore that had long outlived its usefulness. The door refused to close (the result of a son who put the riding lawn mower in reverse instead of drive). The floor had collapsed from the weight of two bags of concrete mix that, over the years, had gotten damp, hardened and added one-hundred pounds to an already warped and critter-chewed floor. That one screw we missed adding  a rubber washer to; leaked when it rained and over time became like poison ivy, spreading rust and wear year after year.

My barn was not blessed.

When we bought the metal building we were told up front, they weren’t rust proof. “Even galvanized metal rusts over time.”
“Don’t waste your money on a blessed old metal building.” Dad said. “Save your money and buy a wood building with a shingle roof. We heard dad’s warning. Considered the consequence, and promised ourselves we’d watch for the first signs of rust then repair it. Our metal building would last a lifetime. But we failed to remain faithful in its care and now we paid the price.

Now we stood staring at the albatross in the yard and in the humid hot weather, we tore down the dilapidated barn.
Moses told the Israelites if they would faithfully obey the voice of the Lord, He would command blessings on them…right down to the content of their barns and the tasks they undertook. Like me, they didn’t always heed the advice and the promises that were theirs, sometimes rusted.

Our God is an amazing God and sometimes it’s hard to get my head around the tons of promises He made. None of which He has ever failed to fulfill when I am obedient. Abba Father loves His children and nothing pleases Him more than to meticulously care for us but He requires our faithfulness and obedience. We learned from consequence Dad was right, so we tore down the metal barn. In one corner of the yard stands a nice wood building with a shingle roof to protect all our outdoor items and in the place of the barn…a peaceful sitting area.

Is there rust in your life? Look to the Father and love and obey Him faithfully. He will bless you fully.

Read Cindy’s devotions

Today’s He Said, She Said marks another in a new series with a focus on God’s promises. Join us over the next few weeks as we claim the goodness of God in our “weakly” lives. – EJ & CS

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 ).

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

Print version $9.95

Kindle eBook $2.99

NOOK eBook $2.99