Devotional: My Secret

“Indeed He says, ‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’” Isaiah 49:6

            Back when I was in college, I worked at a health club that had quite a few wealthy members.  I was one of a half-dozen exercise and fitness instructors who catered to folks with maids, gardeners, and assorted other servants at home.  I often thought about how nice it would be to walk in their shoes, and I dreamed of the day when I would graduate, find a high-paying job, and live the life I assumed my clients led. ) Although my boss told me that I’d never make a lot of money doing what I did, but I’d find some satisfaction from helping others.)

            A couple of years after I started, one of my favorite clients invited me to lunch.  My boss gave me the go-ahead (I didn’t want to do anything unethical), so I accepted.  I was excited to have even a slight taste of this woman’s endlessly glorious life.  But I was shocked to learn she was miserable.

            We spent the first half hour ordering and chatting about mostly insignificant things.  Then she fidgeted for a moment, gulped, and reached out her hand.  “Debby,” she said softly, “what’s your secret?”

            I tilted my head and gave her one of those clueless looks.  What secret?

            “You always seem so happy. I never see you without a smile.  I want what you have.”

            I was stunned into silence.  She wanted what I had?

            “But you have everything you could possibly want,” I squeaked. 

            A smile slowly crept over her face as she shook her head.  “It might look that way, but I’m miserable.  I spend most of my days trying to fight depression.  I go to the health club every day hoping that some of your joy will rub off on me.”

            That was a major eye opener. I really was a happy person, and it certainly wasn’t because I had a lot of external things to keep me that way.  Between tight quarters in my dorm room and a car that I prayed would start every time I got in it, there was always something that could be improved.

            My joy came from within – that felling of knowing Christ was always with me.  I wasn’t sure how I’d be received, but I took a chance and told my client the source of my happiness.  To my surprise, she teared up and said, “I thought that might be the case, but I wasn’t sure.  I haven’t been to church in years.  Do you think it would be okay if I went sometime?  With you?”

            Of course I said I would love it!

Today’s Prayer

Lord Jesus, I pray that You’ll keep me content with a servant’s heart.  Fill me with confidence to accept where I am, and give me opportunities to share the good news with others. Amen.

Devotional: You are what you say (and do)

And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. Luke 6:31
 You've heard it said that reputation is what others think you are, but character is who you are.

Two of my favorite quotes come to mind when mulling over that one.  the first is the one my grandfather quoted when one of us grabbed a cookie before dinner, crossed the street without looking both ways, or snooped in his attic without permission....and stretched the truth when he caught us red-handed at any of those things: "Your thoughts," he'd say, pointing at each of us in turn, "become words. Words become actions.  Actions become character.  And character is everything."

I don't imagine any of his little cookie thieves knew what in the world he was talking about...until we grew older and spent some serious time in the real world.  Then the hazy meaning of the adage became clearer, and we began to understand that it's synonymous with my other favorite, the Golden Rule.  "Do unto others as you'd have them do unto you" has long been the center point for morality, ethics, religion and politics.  It's the worldwide litmus test for fairness and decency.  And Matthew and Luke weren't the only Bible scholars who believed in the concept.  Quite the contrary!  Mark, John, James, Paul, and Jonah cited it and similar passages can be found in proverbs, Leviticus, Deuteronomy and others as well.

More than 20 world religions have adopted some version of its intent and meaning as doctrine.  Confucius touted it as a moral truth, and in 1963, President Kennedy reminded citizens of its intent in an anti-segregation speech.  "The hear of the question," he said, "is whether we are going to treat our fellow Americans the way we want to be treated."  To apply it, we must first try to identify with our brothers and sisters and, as my American Indian ancestors would have said, be willing to walk a mile in their moccasins.

I try to remember these famous sage-isms when a driver cuts me off in traffic, people at the grocery store dump whole cartloads of merchandise on the conveyor belt in the 15 items of less line, or someone says something to hurt my feelings.  Instead of an in-kind knee jerk reaction, I recite Luke 6:31 and Grandpa's maxim too.  Because I hope that by living by the Golden Rule, my reputation as a woman of Christian character will preceded me and follow me everywhere.

Today's Prayer
Jesus, Lord and Savior, continue to teach me the true meaning of turning the other cheek.  Let the life I lead prove to the world that a Christian's heart becomes caring and forgiving through the strength found in Your Word.

Devotional: Practice Makes Perfect

Therefore submit to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  James 4:7

     At one time in my life, I was going for long walks about 5 days a week.  However, after a foot injury, I realized one day that it had been almost 2 months since I'd gone for a walk.  Just hoofing it from the parking garage into my office set my heart to pounding and the rest of me to huffing and puffing.  This was my body's way of telling me that it was time to lace up the walking shoes and get my fanny into gear!
     So on Monday night, when the weather was cool and a soft breeze was blowing, I did just that.  I was tired after only a fraction of the distance I could formerly walk, but I pressed on.  At least I was moving again.
     On Wednesday night, I went again.  I couldn't rack up much more distance than the previous time, but I felt pretty good about following through with my Monday, Wednesday, Friday plan.
     On Friday, though, my head was turned by an invitation to join a girlfried at our favorite Mexican restaurant.  And by the end of the weekend, my MWF plan had slipped from my mind and out th edoor without so much as a creak on the floorboards.
     "So how's your walking schedule going?" I was asked a couple of weeks later.
     "Oh well, umm, not so great lately."
     The truth was, I'd forgotten all about that schedule.  With new resolve at the reminder, I hit the REFRESH button on my brain and decided to start anew.  But after a week or so, the distractions won out.
     "I don't know what my prolem is," I heard someone say on a morning talk show.  "I mean to get fit and stay active, but I just don't have the time."
     The guest was a fitness trainer, and he explained the importance of keeping a routine for at least one full month.  He purported that, after a certain amount of time of doing the same thing again and again, something clicks inside the brain and it becomes a habit - and for most people that span of time is a month.
     I remembered when my neighbor quit somking; she'd been told the same thing by her pastor.  "Resist and keep resisting until the devil flees," the pastor had said.  I supposed the same premise would hold true for forming good habits as well as destroying old ones.
     Recently, when a girlfriend called on a Wednesday night to invite me to the movies, I sang, "Resisting you, devil! I'm going for a walk."  Later we laughed at the idea that by joining me for my walk rather than crunching buttered popcorn at the movies, she was doing a little resisting on her own. 
Today's Prayer
Thank you Father, for Your Word that somehow applies to every corner of my life, in every situation.  Help me to dig deep into scripture so that I can create for myself a reservoir of promises and reminders to keep Your grace alive in my heart. In Jesus' precious name I pray, amen.

Day 1 craft - pretty notebook

So I know it's a little late to post our first craft of the semester, but it was on my list of things to do since September!  For those of you who were not there, it's easy as pie if you'd like to do this on your own.  First, we purchased a composition notebook.  Next, put glue on the cover and stick a pretty paper of your choice on the cover (front and back) and cut off the extra piece around covers.  Add embellishments at will and tie a pretty ribbon on the front cover lengthwise.  Voila!

Devotional: Little Mary

This has been weighing heavy on my heart.  I say,quite often, that many hands make work light.  And I've asked for volunteers countless times to help with drying a few dishes, rinsing out the coffee pots, helping with the yard sale, bringing a new mom an easy meal, the list goes on.  I know that

all of you are at a different place in your motherhood journey so that perhaps bringing a new mom a meal is too difficult.  I hope this devotional speaks to all of you in such a way that you will put yourselves out there just a little bit, to be just a little bit uncomfortable as you grow as a Christ follower so God can bless you in so many more ways than you could ever imagine.  I am guilty of having a difficult time saying "No" to anyone.  I even practiced saying "no" at work with one of my

co-workers one night, though that hasn't really done me any good.  MOPS would not be the same without all of you.  You've all brought so much joy to this ministry.  On the same token, MOPS would not be the same without your steering committee who keeps doing "just one more thing" because they made the committment last summer to bring you MOPS wrapped and tied with a pretty bow each time we meet.  They just need a little bit of help this semester because a few of our regular helpers are no longer in MOPS. 

 

I know many of you are also graduating to a place where your servant's heart is restless and you're ready to join the steering committee for next fall.  I welcome you all, in ANY capacity, to come serve with me.  Being on steering and being the coordinator has blessed me with such strong friendships that I never could have developed otherwise.

 

As always, I urge you to pray about the ministry and ask the Lord if you should take on a bigger role or if you should take an extra 5 minutes to rinse out the coffee containers just one time this semester.  Whatever the prayer request, be still and wait for the holy spirit to move you.

 

Your devotional follows:

 

³⁸ Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38(NIV)

 

It's been said that I should have been born a century ago, mostly because I'm so fond of the Wild west and its cowboys.  In all honesty, I'm quite content with paved roads, electronic gadgets, and the miracles of modern medicine.  It's the simple, straightforward way of the cowboy that I so admire, along with the down-to-earth terms they used to describe every element of life.

     Take, for example, the term "Little Mary," the name given the fellow charged with driving the blatting cart-a vehicle designed to carry newborn calves unable to keep up with the herd.  The guy holding the reins probably wasn't always tickled pink at his title, but he took it on the chin, knowing that someone had to look out for those babies.

     Cowboy life often mirrored biblical principles.  Those rowdy, dusty trail riders could have adopted a "survival of the fittest" mind-set, sparing the Litle Mary driver's ego...and an equine team the grueling job of pulling the wagon.  Instead, the cowboys looked to the future, knowing that every day the newborns grew more steady-legged anad that by the time they reached the end of the trail, most of the calves would have the strength to stand on their own and keep up with the herd.  So the riders outfitted the rig and turned a deaf ear to the chronic "blatting" of the young'uns, who were terrified by the rough ride that separated them from their mamas.

     Cynics might say the efforts could be explained by a stoic realization that, eventually, each calf would deliver dollars by the pound.  But that doesn't explain why the crusty cowpokes tenderly loaded and off-loaded critters hardly bigger than my clumsy dog at the start and finish of every parching day.  or why they crooned soft and low to calm them as the moon rose in the vast and inky sky.  or why tose dog-tired men painstakingly fashioned "bottles" of leather gloves and hand-fed those lil calves whose mothers couldn't or wouldn't provide nourishing milk and affection.

     I believe we can all benefit by their example.  The next time I see a brother or sister in need, I'll study them hard to find out what I can do to soothe them.

     Fortunately for me, I won't have to bear the Little Mary moniker or clomp around on "yelpin' puppies," blistered and chafed by the grit and hear of a long, hard ride.  Lucky me, I can ease on over and deliver comfort on well-padded Reeboks!

 

Today's prayerLord Jesus, no matter how tired You were, You saw to the needs of ohers.  No one remained sick or lame or poor for very long in Your presence! Teach me to have a sympathetic heart, so that I will recognize a need when i see it.  And grant me the loving-kindness to meet those needs as best I can.  Amen.

 

Devotional: Quiet on the Set!

Hollywood never disappoints, does it?  No wonder we're inundated with nicknames for the city, like "La-La Land" and "Tinseltown"! Those who live and work near that big white sign on the hill provide us with hours of mystifying entertainment.

And how about DC?  Most of us view politicians as wannabe actors in a race to see who's made the morning news.  Not a day goes by that some elected official doesn't open his door to accept a subpoena for not paying his taxes, for embezzling money from his campaign fund, for cheating on his spouse.  Sometimes there's a news crew on his porch, waiting like hungry hyenas to catch his shocked reaction.

But the media could save its time, because stuff like that is so routine and ordinary that it doesn't even shock me anymore.  Is it any wonder Americans are thirsty for good news?

I praise Him for blessing me with a loving family, devoted friends, helpful neighbors, and wonderful coworkers, because when the headlines deliver bad tidings, I need only look to them and their everyday achievements for my good news "fix."  I'm surrounded by loved ones whose simple, godly lives are a constant source of peaceful inspiration.  And if this quiet life ever grows boring, we can count on actors and politicians to spice it up...without ever having to leave the house!

Today's Prayer-
Thank you Lord, not only for the many blessings in my life, but for your constant care and love.  May I never take them for granted, Amen. 

Devotional: Are We There Yet?

So you may walk in the way of goodness, and keep to the paths of righteousness. Proverbs 2:20

Every person who has ever traveled with a child has heard, "Are we there yet"  And after the first dozen or so times, the answer is almost always preceeded by a sighn and what feels like a recorded answer: "Not yet, Why don't you take a nap, so the time will go by faster?"

My children were always excited to go anywhere that involved packing their little purple "I Love Grandma" suitcases and loading up the car with snacks and coloring books.  They were generally pretty good for the first hour or so.  However, it didn't take long before we started hearing noise from the backseat - little voices whining, "Are we there yet?" "How much longer?" "I'm tired," "Tell daddy to drive faster," or "Why is it taking so long Mommy?  Are we lost?"

No, we weren't there; it would be another 4, 6, or 8 hours.  I often said, "Daddy can't drive faster because he's already going the speed limit" and "No, we're not lost."

Since most of our trips were to one of the grandparents' houses or our favorite beach in Florida, we knew the way.  As long as we stayed on the familiar roads, there was no problem in getting there.  We knew that if we took a detour, we might get lost, so we rarely did that.

Every destination has its own path- some extremely popular and others not so crowded.  The times in my life that I've followed the enticements of the not-so righteous target, I've quickly learned that the fun is short-lived.  After the part was over and everyone was gone, a sad, often listless feeling overwhelmed me.  The popular path may look shiny and pretty, but beneath the very thin surace, I've discovered slippery mud and quicksand. 

Sometimes when things get rough, I wonder why I'm "not there yet."  Then there are times when I'm offered little tidbits and signs that help to keep me focused on Him.  Getting there is going to be amazing, but the journey is necessary and should be appreciated. 

Fortunately for all sinners, God is ready to welcome us as the best earthly father should welcome his child.  Are we there yet?  Not yet, but I know that my journey down this solid path is much  more rewarding than any created by my sinful nature. 

Today's Prayer
Dear Lord, thank You for always welcoming me back after I stray.  I pray that You'll be with me as I try to stay focused on Your Word, regardless of how tempting it is to stray.  Amen.