Crossing the Line

He sent someone to find out who she was, and he was told, "She is Bathsheba..." 2 Samuel 11:3

David got up from his afternoon nap and opened the terrace doors unto the palace patio. The gentle breeze mussed his hair as he strolled out for a breathtaking view of the city below. Looking out over the city, David took in the bustling activity on the streets,merchants selling their wares, children laughing, running to and fro. A smile graced his lips as he watched these little ones change direction and skip down the street arm in arm. As David gazed down the street after them, something else- actually someone else- seized his attention. And as quickly as his smile had come, it vanished. There before him bathing herself, was one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen. David could not take his eyes off of her and without a break in his stare, he called one of his servants and instructed him to find out who this woman was. After discovering her name and who she belonged to he sent for her. The rest is history.

When David inadvertently saw Bathsheba bathing, he had a choice. Unfortunately, he chose to continue looking. Not only did he choose to watch her but he also took one step closer to the hangman's noose and inquired about her. After finding out she was married, he chose to invite her to his bedroom. A commentary says that David knew she would come, for who would be foolish enough to refuse the king's invitation as to risk punishment or even death? David knew what he was doing. The moment he chose to continue watching her was the moment he crossed the line. His heart was caught by Satan's lure- hook, line and sinker.

I have crossed the line. Sometimes deliberately- choice after choice after choice. Sometimes, before I even knew what hit me I have stared head on at the same noose wondering how I got there. Maybe I have not been in the exact situation David was, but I have traveled his steps more than once. There have been times I have chased after something so hard, I have abandoned Who I was supposed to be following hard after. Perhaps it has not been physical adultery, but it has been spiritual adultery. There have been things that I may have gazed at far too long and my heart was led astray. At times, my heart has grown restless and discontented, looking for what's deceivingly "better" than what God has called me to for this time and season. What about you? Do you have a Bathsheba in your life? Is there something or someone that has enticed, distracted or deceived your heart and gradually pulled you from the path of protection? God wants us back and is waiting for us to come and seek His face and heart in repentance.

Lord, forgive us for committing adultery- whether physical, emotional or spiritual. Forgive us for focusing so much on ourselves and our selfish desires that we have turned our back on You, our First Love. We are running back Father, into Your open arms. Cleanse us and hold us close. Amen.

Jocelyn Hamsher

God at Work

Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working." John 5:17 (NIV)

My favorite Bible story is the one of Elijah and the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18). Baal's prophets try to show that Baal is the true god by convincing him to send fire to burn up a sacrifice they had prepared. (Guess what--it doesn't work.) God then dramatically demonstrates that He is the true God by zapping a sacrifice which Elijah had prepared with fire from heaven. This was definitely God at work. It was something that was hard to miss.

Does God still work like this? Well, I haven't seen any fire from heaven lately, but since God is constantly amazing me, I wouldn't be surprised if it happened. However, I can see definite signs that He is at work, but only when I actually take the time to look around me. This past weekend I looked--and found. I went to church on Sunday and heard, Tony, a devoted Christian, share a "God-at-work" story. Several weeks ago, our church had participated in a construction project for a burned-out home in our community. Tony was in charge of the project and was really concerned that it wouldn't get finished by the deadline. It had rained on Friday which made us lose a day of work and pushed the shingling of the house to Saturday, a day no one had originally planned on working. Sure enough, Saturday dawned and very few workers from our church showed up. Suddenly several cars pull up and a professional roofing crew jumps out. They had heard of our project and wanted to come and help. They had the whole thing done in about two hours. It was God at work. After the service, a lady in charge of our card ministry came up to me with a story. She had sent a follow-up card to a family who had lost a son several months ago. It just happened to arrive on their son's birthday. We had 365 different days to send that card and it 'just happened' to get there on his birthday. The mother had sent a note thanking us for remembering them on a very sad day, just when they especially needed some comfort. Once again, God at work. We serve a God who sees the needs of His people, who knows ahead of time what they will need and when, and works to bring about His help, His comfort, and His perfect plan. How often do I miss what He's doing because I'm not paying attention? How often do I miss a chance to join in because I'm too distracted with my own 'important agenda?'

Sometimes I forget why I'm really here on this earth. I forget that my purpose in life is not to see how clean I can keep my house or how many activities I can get my kids to in one day. My purpose in life is to serve the true and living God, to do His bidding, and to join Him in His work--a work that is all around me, a work that is apparent when I take the time to look for it. Haven't seen God at work lately? Look around!

God, thank you for working in our midst; for giving us the incredible opportunity to join You in Your divine work. Help us not to miss it because we're not paying attention.

Janine Miller

Whatever you do

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17 (NKJV)

I am not an early riser. In fact, I hate getting up in the morning. No matter how much sleep I seem to get, getting out of my nice soft bed is always a chore. I have to force myself to put my feet on the floor. Except on the days when I can sleep in. Why is it on the days when I do not have to get up, I am awake early and cannot get back to sleep and do not want to stay in bed and waste the day?

Attitude is everything. Everyday we face all sorts of mundane, reoccurring tasks that can become little irritants in our life. If we let them. Dishes, scrubbing the bathroom, driving in traffic, getting groceries, picking up things around the house (usually belongings of other people), going to work, dealing with co-workers, this is the stuff that makes up most of our daily living and usually we just do it without too much thought, and if you're like me, sometimes we do it with an attitude. The wrong attitude. We complain, we are grouchy with our families, irritated with our co-workers, we think, if not say aloud, 'it's not fair''.

God's word tells us to do, whatever we do, for Him and His glory (1 Corinthians 10:31). Philippians 4:13 tells us we can do anything through Christ and by His strength. And Colossians 3:23 says "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men."

It seems simple then; our strength to do anything comes from Him and whatever we do is for Him, to make His glory known. Even in the little things.

God please help me to do everything I do with the right attitude- with all of my heart, and for Your honor and glory, and with praise and gratitude for the privilege of serving You. Amen.

Missy Horsfall

The Law of Love

What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him? And what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today? Deuteronomy 4:7, 8 (NIV)

We are blessed to have a God that desires a relationship with us, an intimate, close and personal connection that defines who we are and sets us on a particular path. God is complete without us, but yet took the time to fashion us out of His own image. He is complete without us, but cared enough to set up rules and laws to protect us from our own self. He is complete without us, but loved us deeply enough to sacrifice His only son. Understanding His plan is fundamental to being intimate with God. Knowing how much He loves us helps us to understand how to love each other. Realizing God is not far away, but is the one closest to us enables us to know He will never leave us or forsake us, even when we have forgotten Him.

Our Sunday school class was discussing the relevance of the Bible not too long ago. We were trying to tackle questions that unbelievers have, like how we know the Bible is truth, why God gave us the Bible and whether the Bible is relevant to today. This passage, in fact, the whole fourth chapter of Deuteronomy explains it very simply. God desires us! The chapter presents evidence for God’s love and proclaims us as lucky to have Him as our God.

Throughout the Bible, God's love is woven in Scripture. His desire to protect, rescue, nurture and save us is melted into every book. Even in His rebukes, God's love is evident. He simply wants to know us. He wants to know you. His master plan is one of bridging the gap that sin has caused. It is the great reconciliation of the Creator to his creation. The Bible is proof of that. No, we don't get the incredible blessing of walking with Jesus today in the physical world. We don't have the actual stone tablets with the Ten Commandments on them. We don't have Moses' brain to pick. We have an easily accessible book with it all written down. Yes, the Bible can be hard to dissect at times and there are many different ways to translate the verses found within. But what better gift could God give us than a full account of what He has done for us? Think of the Bible as a love letter written by God and meant for you. See the laws as protection, not as a list of "don'ts" that steal from our fun. God only desires one thing: that we love Him. And only because He loved us first.

God, open my eyes and mind to the wonderful Love Letter You have given me. Help me to desire and understand Your Word. Amen.

Nikki Hamsher

Desperate for God

But as he went, the multitudes were pressing against him. And a woman who had a hemorrhage for twelve years...came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak; and immediately her hemorrhage stopped. And Jesus said, "Who is the one who touched me? ... for I was aware that power had gone out of me." Luke 8:43-46 (NASB)

And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic... And being unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying. And Jesus seeing their faith said... "My son, your sins are forgiven." Mark 2:3-5 (NASB)

Both of these testimonies in the Word of God are life changing examples of people desperate for God. The woman in Luke must have heard of Christ's miracles. Imagine, spotting Jesus from far away, fighting through the crowds, and becoming overwhelmed with the need for just one brush against Him. Imagine the people, scowling over their shoulders as she "rudely" makes her way through, eyes fixed straight ahead, desperate for His touch, His power, His healing.

The men in Mark show the same determined resolve. They are so desperate to get their friend to the Lord that they too, fight through crowds, disassemble another's roof, and lower their friend to the Savior's side. Can we even begin to grasp the gift of their desperation? Could we ignore the comments and critical looks of the curious multitudes, and push our way through with such tenacity in order to come face to face with the One who extends His power, rewards faith, and forgives sin.

Holy God, open our eyes to see this precious gift of desperation. Make us a people that are desperate to be in the presence, experience the power, and walk in the healing of the Living God. Grow in us, a desperate hunger to know the fullness of Christ. Enable us to fight through any distraction or complacency that would keep us from experiencing all we are in You. Make our desperation become so powerfully evident that it draws others to grow desperate for You, as well. Amen

Elizabeth Ward

A Past of Preparation

But David persisted, "I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats. When a lion or bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it... and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the mouth and club it to death... The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!" 1 Samuel 17:34-35,37

David was looking at a man over nine feet tall, wearing a bronze helmet, a bronze coat of mail weighing 125 pounds, bronze leg armor and who carried a bronze javelin on his shoulder. 1 Samuel says that the shaft of Goliath's spear was as thick and heavy as a weaver's beam and tipped with an iron spearhead weighing 15 pounds! Can you imagine how intimidating this guy was? He had the entire Israelite army shaking in their shoes and they had been in countless battles with immeasurable experience! However David, a shepherd boy with no military training chooses to remember God's faithfulness to him in the past and pleads with King Saul to allow him to fight Goliath. As Saul heard the words voiced by David above, he consented and allowed David to fight this dreaded Philistine.

Not only did David recall God's protection and faithfulness as he tended to his flocks and herds, but through these words to Saul he acknowledged that God had been preparing him for this day when he would face Goliath. If David could fight and defeat wild lions and bears, he knew that with God's help he could take down Goliath.

God has called me to women's ministry. I have had a heart for women's ministry for the last ten years and that call was confirmed seven years ago. As I look back over the years, I see how God has placed me in situations of learning and growth. He has eased me into some things while others required a crash course! Just like all of you, I am on a journey of maturation. Sometimes I make good choices, sometimes bad-but ultimately, I am on an adventure with God! I know He has and will use these previous experiences of ministry as I work with so many precious individuals at Circle of Friends and the surrounding communities. I also have experienced things as a youngster and teen that many of you have as well. I come from a family of divorce and dysfunction (whose family isn't dysfunctional in some way?) and because of that and my own foolish choices, there have been some issues. However, God is using those issues and has redeemed much of what Satan has stolen from me. Whether good or bad, rewarding or painful, God is in the business of completing us, refining us and using our past for His glory.

What has God allowed you to experience in your past that you have seen redeemed and fulfilled in your present? Be encouraged today that God is building you into the person He has created and called you to be. He will not fail you, He will not let you go. He is completing the work He has started in you and using your experiences and previous life lessons to shape and strengthen you. Our past may not always be pretty, but God can use it as preparation for what He is calling us to next. God can use our past to defeat the giants of our present.

Sweet Jesus, thank you that nothing that enters my life has not passed through Your hands first. Thank you that when I turn my life- past, present and future- all over to You, you will use it for Your glory and the furthering of Your Kingdom. Amen.

Jocelyn Hamsher

Beauty instead of ashes

And provide for those who grieve in Zion- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and the garments of praise instead of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. Isaiah 61:3 (NIV)

It never ceases to amaze me how God is able to give comfort just when we need it. The past couple of days have been extremely difficult for me because it is the anniversary of the death of my seventeen year old daughter. By days of the week, it was nine years ago Tuesday that she died, but nine years ago Wednesday that the police came to my door to tell me she was missing. But the actual date is May 23. Those days will be burned into my mind forever.

The beautiful part of the entire situation is that Liz is already in her eternity! She is walking those streets of gold, in total awe of our God! The comforting part of this situation is the total and complete miracle that God gave to us is His continual presence and grace in our lives. He has truly turned our mourning to gladness. Yes, the God of all comfort has been by our side
each moment of every day. He has allowed us to share our story with people across this nation, and we have seen lives forever changed.

The tears that we have shed have served many purposes. They have cleansed our hearts, allowed us to relieve the sorrow we have felt. The best thing that there is about those tears is that God holds all of our tears in a bottle. (Psalm 56:8) A few weeks ago I began the praying about these days and I was reminded of that scripture about God saving my tears. I asked the Lord just what His plans are for all of the tears that He holds for all of His people. I was very surprised when I received a response immediately. God spoke to my heart and reminded me of yet another scripture, where Jesus performed his first miracle. He turned the water into wine at the wedding at Cana. (John 2:1-11) Perhaps our tears will serve as the water turned into wine at the banquet table when we all join our heavenly Bridegroom in heaven. It's something to think about. Perhaps the next time you shed tears, whether tears of pain or tears of joy you'll think about the possibility of where they will go.

Lord, help us to put our trust in You even when we are in the midst of despair, knowing that not one tear will go un-noticed by You.

Becki Reiser

Green Leaves

Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord. He will be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. Jeremiah 17:5-8 (NIV)

The phone rang. The caller ID displayed the name of the school psychologist who just the day before had tested my 12-year old son, Ben, for placement into the local junior high school. After a year of prayer, my husband and I had decided to transfer Ben from our home school where he had been all his life to the public school. I was interested in hearing how he had done on the tests and more than a little apprehensive. Ben tended to struggle with reading and several years of reading intervention programs had not done much to help. The first words out of the psychologist's mouth did more than confirm my worst fears: "Has anyone in your family ever had dyslexia?" Dyslexia???!!! Where did that come from? As the psychologist went on to explain the plan for additional testing and so on, I struggled to focus on what he was saying. My mind was reeling. How could this have happened without me realizing it? I was a trained educator, for Pete's sake! How did I miss this? Did I totally misread God's calling to homeschool Ben? Had I ruined his life by keeping him from the specialists who could have diagnosed him earlier? I'd had several friends who had dyslexic children and had seen the struggles they'd had to endure. Was that our future as well? As these questions and more hit me, I finished my phone call and went to the Lord--my Rock, my Foundation.

He led me to the above passage in Jeremiah. It begins by telling me that when I place my trust solely in man (i.e., myself, my son's abilities, professional educators) that it will be like I am living in a wasteland. There is no life in that kind of trust; my heart and mind become shriveled and dried up and there is no hope. But when I trust in the Lord, I am like a well-watered green-leafed tree, able to deal with the worries and concerns and trials of life in a way that not only gets me through those trials, but gets me through them plus allows me to bear fruit--fruit such as peace, joy, goodness, patience, kindness, faithfulness, self-control, love, and gentleness (Gal. 5:22-23). Fruit that will not only increase my faith in Christ, but will make me a better mom to Ben, a better help to him when things get tough in school, a better cheerleader for his accomplishments, and a better encourager when he feels failure knocking at his door.

And that doesn't just apply to me. The other day Ben and my husband were discussing some long-ago sports event. "Was I born then?" Ben asked. I smiled at him and said, "You weren't even thought of yet." "Mom," he gently reminded me, "I was thought of before the world began." He knows the Lord. He will get through this with green leaves.

Precious Lord, we know that trials are a part of our world. Help us to root ourselves in you, so that when the trials come, we will not wither and die, but remain well-watered, green-leaved, and able to bear fruit. Thank you for being so worthy of our trust.

Janine Miller

Wit Versus Grace

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:5,6 (NIV)

I was schooled in the fine art of sarcasm by a family of masters. Biting wit and whip-smart remarks were, and still are, highly honored among my people. If you couldn't keep up with that at the Thanksgiving dinner table, you quickly (and quietly, lest anyone should notice) excused yourself from the conversation. If you wanted to participate, you put on a thick hide, because the pack would quickly turn on their own if they sensed weakness like hyenas on a lame zebra.

Enter Colossians. Here are two verses that completely reverse what I was taught. My words should be full of grace, not wit for the sake of itself. I am to be ready to answer everyone with polished words, not rough talk. The verse says "seasoned with salt," which is different from "salty" words which can be rude or inappropriate. My words can be lively, but not life-stealing. Creativity is not being quelled, but rather indecent or hurtful language that can tear-down rather than build up or explain. Words can be surprisingly difficult to effectively communicate our thoughts and ideas. Written words, without the benefit of nonverbal language, can be even more so. It is easy to mix-up and completely negates what you are saying with an ill-used phrase. The advice to "be wise" should be taken seriously. Once again, we are to think of the consequences of our words and how they sound to others before we spout off. Once spoken, words are hard to take back and even the best explanation cannot always remove the residue of a hurtful word.

God, cleanse my mouth and fill it with well-seasoned and wise words. Amen.

Nikki Hamsher

You Cows of Bashan

Hear this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who say to your husbands, "bring wine, let us drink!" Amos 4:1 (NKJV)

"Excuuuse meee, Amos! What did you just call me and my friends? Is that any way to talk to a woman?" Seriously, I don't mean to be blasphemous. I may have said that if I had been one of the women he was addressing in this passage! I just learn so much more when I place myself into a story and pretend I am there in that situation and culture.

Amos was a shepherd and a fig grower in the southern Judean countryside. He was not famous son of a prophet or priest. He could have remained in his job as a shepherd, but when God gave Amos a vision of the future and told him to take his message north, Amos obeyed and proved he was a man of God. The future was grim for the Israelites. Amos traveled with a message of judgment and punishment from God for their sins. In this passage, Amos arrives in the mountainous area of Bashan, known for its lush pastures and large oak trees. The cattle there were well-fed and strong. He relates his message based upon his knowledge and experience as a shepherd.

My Study Bible (Tyndale) summarized this verse for us: Israels' wealthy women were called "cows of Bashan":. They were pampered, sleek, and well-fed. These women selfishly pushed their husbands to oppress the helpless in order to support their lavish life-styles. Their luxury was extended to them through the profits of wine at the expense of oppressing the poor. They pushed their husbands to ignore the needy and begged them to "bring wine" for their drunken parties.

This passage really is not far off from what we see in our culture in America. We are so blessed and spoiled with luxury. Are you consumed with material possessions? Have you caused anybody distress in your longing for more? Would your husband, children and family say you are content, or do you push for more and more? What would Amos call us? The women of Bashan were looking pretty 'spiffy' and living it up. What kind of honor did this lifestyle allow their husbands in order to keep 'the wife' happy? When we as women sink to such a low moral state, God's judgment must be around the corner for us, just as it was for the women in Bashan.

Life is not about impressing others and indulging in our possessions. Be thankful for the blessings and benefits you enjoy in life; they are from God. Honor the man in your life. We must never grow complacent or allow other concerns to stand in the way of God's place in our lives. We cannot ignore the needy or degrade the poor. Act with compassion and help those in need. Let's be faithful to God and take a stand against sin.

God, help us to honor You in every aspect of our lives. Keep us thankful and faithful to Your call in our lives.

Janet Stutzman

Waiting in Hope

Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your hearts be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord. Psalm 27:14 (Amp.)

What we wait for is far less important than what God is doing while we wait. David Roper

One of the hardest things to do for humans is wait. We quickly realize this as we wait at the traffic light or in the grocery line and listen to ourselves and others grumble and complain. These trivial waiting times challenge our patience, but the very sobering and heart wrenching 'waits' of life can challenge our faith. A couple that longs for a child of their own continue to look at an empty crib. A woman waits helplessly in frustration for the ability to move her arm again after her stroke. A family pleads for reconciliation with their husband and father, hoping he will choose to come home. A man waits on God's direction to know which job to take in his striving to be obedient. As the days and years pass, individuals continue to wait for dreams to be fulfilled. Life is full of simply waiting

The word wait in the above passage means,"to bind together (by twisting), to be joined, to lie in wait for someone. To hope for, be confident, to look for patiently, to trust." The passage implies that there is a battle in the wait as we are told to be brave and courageous, that our hearts need to be steadfast and immovable. But we can't be those things if we are not twisted up in and joined with Christ. We are to be so confident in Him that we lie in wait and look for Him. The biblical definition of hope is not one of wishful thinking but one of confident expectation! In the wait we can expect the struggle, but in the wait we can also expect God.

Just as the Israelites, Hannah, David, the prophets and so many more waited on God, we too wait for what He has for us. It may even be something far better than what we had been longing for. As we look to Him, what is He doing in us? What is He teaching us? How is He transforming us? We don't always understand His timetable, but we can trust His heart as we wait in hope!

Lord, help me to stay so twisted up in You that my heart is immovable when trials of waiting come. Help me not to become distracted by obstacles or swayed by impatience, but find me faithful to You alone.

Jocelyn Hamsher

Easiest way to win the toughest battle

A righteous man may have many troubles but the Lord delivers him from them all. Psalm 34:19

Have you ever faced a battle so tough you just knew that victory would require more than the talents or skills or strength that you have, that things were far out of your control? You are not alone. The Bible is full of stories of people in similar situations. One such story is that of Jehoshaphat. His story is found in II Chronicles, Chapter 20. Jehoshaphat, king of the Israelites, is told that three armies have joined together to attack. His story reveals a strategy to win the toughest battles.

First, he ACKNOWLEDGES HIS LIMITATIONS. Verse 12 - We have no power to face this vast army. I am sure Jehoshaphat had already consulted with his war strategists.

Second, he APPEALS TO THE COMMANDER FOR HELP. Verse 12 - We don' t know what to do, but our eyes are upon You. We must keep our eyes on the Commander or we will find ourselves leaning toward our own devices and resolutions (strategies). We begin to look at the battle going on around us and not at our Commander.

Third, Jehoshaphat LISTENS TO WHAT THE COMMANDER HAS TO SAY. Verse 15 - Listen King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Jerusalem. "Do not be discouraged or afraid." God would reveal the plan. Our anxious thoughts, the frantic behavior of others, the noise, the demands, the chaos can keep us from hearing what God has to say to us.

Fourth, Jehoshaphat TRUSTS THE COMMANDER. Verse 15 - Do not be afraid or discouraged for the battle is not yours, but God's. Verse 16- God said "Tomorrow march down against them". Then He let the Israelites know specifically where the enemy was located. God knows what is going on in our lives and in the lives of all involved. He knows when things are beyond human limitations. He instructs us, as He instructed Jehoshaphat "Don't be afraid. I will fight this battle for you! It’s mine!"

Fifth, and lastly, Jehoshaphat OBEYS THE COMMANDER. Verse 17 - Position yourselves, stand firm. Verse 21 - He (Jehoshaphat) appointed those who should sing to the Lord and praise the beauty of His holiness as they went out before the army.

When my young daughter was at the Mayo Clinic for a month after being diagnosed with a rare cancer, I was at home preparing for my own surgery as I was diagnosed with breast cancer five days later. That month alone, with my husband at Mayo with my daughter, I was given the time to 'position' myself for the days and months ahead through spending time in the Word, through prayer, listening to God's voice, singing, praise and worship. "See the deliverance the Lord will give you." God provides affirmation for carrying out the strategy. The Israelites did their part and found when they arrived, God had already done His. The three armies had slain each other and the Israelites had only to take the spoils - the rewards and blessings of trust and obedience.

Lord, help me to be obedient to what You are speaking to me and to know that You have everything under control.

Faith Jones

I have something to tell you

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)

I had just started a new job and my children were trying to adjust to being with daddy instead of mommy. My four year old daughter came up to me, right before I left and asked "Mommy what am I going to do if there is something I want to tell you?" I replied, "you can tell daddy." She quickly responded with, "but mommy I really want to tell YOU!"

Do you have the type of relationship with God that you can't wait to tell him something? That no one or nothing else will do. That your one desire is to just sit down and have a cup of tea with God and tell Him everything that happened in your day. Even if that doesn't describe you, God feels that way about you. He wants to spend time with you, hear about your day, and encourage you in your walk of faith.

Let God be a part of your life, your everyday happenings. Sometimes we try to replace God with stuff. We think that if we could just get matching furniture, go on a vacation, or get a faster computer that life would be better. It doesn't work, you will continue to be discontent. Don't settle for anything less then a genuine relationship with your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Lord, thanks for always being right at my side. Thanks for listening when I want to tell you about my day. Help me to be content with you and nothing else at my side. Amen.

Elizabeth Ward

The Fight with Self

Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves. You lust for what you don't have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what isn't yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it. You wouldn't think of just asking God for it, would you? And why not? Because you know you'd be asking for what you have no right to. James 4:1-3 (Message)

Ouch. The book of James has always been a two-edged sword for me. Packed with righteous living tips, James cuts with cold steel right to the truth of our actions. Our basic desires drive us to do things our hearts know we shouldn't do. I know this is true for me. I am willing to put aside morals, ethics and outright commandments to satisfy my own wants. I turn a blind eye to injustice, inequality, bias and sometimes law to get what I desire. James hits right where it hurts for me. I may not be outright killing to get my way, but how far does my negligence go?

For instance, in a song written by, of all things, a parody band, we aren't upset at our expensive clothes and other goods being manufactured by children in foreign countries because of the abuse they suffer. We are more upset because if the goods are being made so cheaply, why are they still so expensive? Let that sink in for a moment before you dismiss it. Don't we do this kind of thing everyday? As long as we get what we want, the wrongs behind it matter very little. Besides, who knows what really goes on behind the stuff we use or people we come in contact with? I know I plainly tell myself it is none of my business. I push ahead thinking it is someone else's problem, someone else's wrong that they are responsible to right. James brings me back to center, so then I know what I ought to do, not what I want to do.

Making conscientious choices and diligently seeking truth in the everyday is responsible and right living. Know what you are doing, and consider consequences. I am not trying to paralyze your decision-making, thinking that if you sneeze, will it cause a brutal stampede halfway around the world. I want us to be attentive to our actions, thorough in what we choose to do. James calls us to think about others, even at the expense of our own personal comfort. He knows our desires can get out of hand if not kept in check. Our humanity, unchecked can lead us astray and cause dire heartache and extensive consequences. Sometimes we know what we want is wrong, so we steer clear of that when praying. To me, if I can't pray for something, then I probably need to let it go. Maybe the root of that desire needs resolved or corrected. Selfish choices and desires are a symptom of our sin-nature and we need to address those choices honestly, not exacerbate them by giving in. James is calling us to honesty and selflessness, not greed and selfishness. The duality of our sin-nature versus our Christ-nature is always going to war within. But we have hope! James 4:7 provides the solution to our twofold nature: submit to God and resist the devil. If we are willing come near to God, He will come near to us (verse 8). We then find peace with God, not war with ourselves.

God, I submit to You. Grant me Your perfect peace and strengthen me to resist temptation. Amen.

Nikki Hamsher

I Miss My Time With You

The Lord hears good people when they cry out to Him, and He saves them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, and He saves those whose spirits have been crushed. Psalm 34:17-18 (NCV)

Shortly after my family moved to Ohio (I was in sixth grade), our house was broken into while we were away. My dad knew immediately as we drove up beside the house something was wrong. He cautioned us to stay in the car while he checked the situation out. The police were called and we determined what was taken by the thieves. One item stolen was my brand new flute, purchased just days before. I was crushed. Our house had been locked; nobody allowed them access. Those items were not theirs to take.

There is another thief in my life, however, this one I have allowed to enter. It's wealth of information and instant communication is intoxicating. Initially this robber did not pose as a threat. It entered my home as a tool for work and for a long time that was its sole purpose. Somehow, each little sideline of interest and intrigue it offered outside of my work began to creep its way into my work time, and the impulsiveness of my nature allowed this thief to devour my time. Have any of you seen this perpetrator? It is sitting right in front of me, on my desk; the computer.

Our lives are busy, and it is so important that we prioritize the necessities. It is a reality computers are valuable in our culture. However, how much time are we substituting feeding our impulse for fun and information over precious time spent with our loving Father? I am tired of this thief in my life and I am brokenhearted that I choose time with my computer over time with God. I am claiming the verses in Psalm 34 and choosing to utilize my computer in a way that would bring pleasure to God and peace to my life. I realize Satan uses the computer deliberately to distract me from what should be my number one relationship; that is with the Lord of All!

Larnell Harris beautifully penned a song of a conversation Jesus would likely want to have with us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtDoQUQuQBQ (copy and paste into your browser)

I MISS MY TIME WITH YOU

There He was just waiting, in our old familiar place
An empty spot beside Him, where once I used to wait
To be filled with strength and wisdom for the battles of the day
I would have passed Him by again but I clearly heard Him say

(chorus)

I miss my time with you, those moments together
I need to be with you each day and it hurts me when you say
You're too busy; busy trying to serve me
But how can you serve me, when your spirits empty
There's a longing in my heart; wanting more than just a part of you
It's true
I miss my time with you

What do I have to offer; how can I truly care
My efforts have no meaning when your presence isn't there
But you will provide the power if I take time to pray
I'll stay right here beside You
And you will never have to say...

(chorus)

Take a moment to listen to the music and as you read along. I hope and pray we all recognize the thieves in our lives and cry out to God to save us from them and their troublesome outcomes.

Lord, may our spirits be crushed and repentant as we realize what is robbing our time from You. You love us and You long to spend time with us. We need Your presence in every moment of our lives.

Janet Stutzman

My Soul's Satisfaction

Oh God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you... Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you...I will praise you as long as I live...My soul will be satisfied as with the riches of foods...Psalm 63:1, 3-5

What satisfies you? Lots of money, time with friends, food, work, your children, success? Look at your life... are you satisfied?

Psalm 63 is David's prayer while hiding from his enemies in the desert of Judah. His prayer centers on his source of true satisfaction- God Himself. David says his soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods. Satisfy means "to fill to satisfaction, have enough, be full of, have plenty of". In the King James version, the "richest of foods" is translated "marrow and fatness". As unappetizing as this sounds, marrow and fatness means "the richest, the choice part, the best and finest part, abundance". Think about sour cream or butter- it is the fat in our food which makes us lick our lips. It gives our food taste, it gives us pleasure and enjoyment. Just like we enjoy those kinds of foods, we were made to enjoy God! God is what brings the "taste" to living!!

Does God alone satisfy you? Who is He to you? Is He someone you speak to only in church? Does He make up one of the many different compartments of your life, much like work, church or community commitments? Or is He more than that? I have heard various teachers ask, "When Jesus fed the 5000, who did He call Himself to those around Him? When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, what did He call Himself? When Jesus met the woman at the well, how did He refer to Himself? When Jesus healed the blind man, how did He identify who He was?" Here is the fascinating truth- Jesus is the answer to our every situation! When He fed the 5000, he was the Bread of Life. When He raised Lazarus from the dead, He was the Resurrection and the Life. When He met the woman at the well, He was the Living Water. When He healed the blind man He was the Light of the World! He was the exact thing each individual was looking for and needed.

Look at your own life. If you're lonely,then Jesus says He has called you friend (John 15). If you are insecure, Jesus says He is your confidence (Proverbs 3). If you are anxious, He is your Peace (Isaiah 9). If you feel rejected, He proclaims He is your Acceptance (Isaiah 41). If you are in some life storm, He is your Stronghold and Refuge (Psalm 18). If you are broken emotionally, He is your Healer (Psalm 107). If you are exhausted or just plain burned out, He is your Resting Place (Matthew 11). If you are discontented, He is your Satisfaction (Psalm 63). The list can go on and on, my sisters.

There is nothing that can satisfy like Jesus Christ. For whatever the situation, He is the Answer. What are you dealing with today? Will you allow Him to be your Answer?

Lord, You are the Answer to my every situation. Help me to find my soul's Satisfaction in You. Amen.

Jocelyn Hamsher

Safe Under His Wings

May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge. Ruth 2:12 (NIV)

Not only is the book of Ruth an inspiring story of her amazing character, but her life is also an example of how God's love and protection is offered to everyone. The key word in that sentence is offered, not everyone accepts that gift.

Ruth was not a Jew, she was from a pagan land, and worshiped pagan gods. When her Jewish husband died along with her father-in-law and brother-in-law, she was left with a decision. To either start a new life, fresh, and leave her mother-in-law all alone, to travel back to her homeland. Or to leave her family, gods, and all she ever knew and go with her mother-in-law. She bravely left everything for the love and loyalty of her mother-in-law. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Ruth 1:16b (NIV)

Throughout the Bible God has been described as a safe haven of the protection with his wings. Psalms 91:4 says, He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. (NIV) I love to watch the birds in the spring, so active, preparing their nests. How peaceful it is to wake up to their songs. It is amazing what the mother's wings are for her baby birds, protection from all things that would bring them harm. That same protection is offered to us through God. When we believed in Him we were marked with a seal, and everlasting, eternal seal. (Ephesians1: 13) In John 10:28 Jesus uses another animal illustration, the Shepard and his sheep. I give them eternal life and they shall never parish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. (NIV)

It can be a scary thing to think about all the evil in this world, seen and unseen. It is such a peace to know we have no reason to fear it. And what a relief to know God's protection is offered to all of us, no matter what our past. What a good decision Ruth made to take refuge under God's wings.

Thank you father for your protection, your everlasting love. Thank you for your mercy and forgiveness. Protect us all today, shield us with your armor, and give us the strength to fight the good fight.

Sarah Hostetler

Pure Joy???

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4 (NIV)


My baby daughter's body jerked and twitched as seizure after seizure wracked her tiny frame. The paramedic's hands looked absolutely enormous against her skin as he worked over her. I tore my eyes from the nightmare before me and glanced around the crowd of people standing in my kitchen-the emergency squad team, my husband, a church member who had heard the call on her scanner and had come over to give us support-all standing over my baby who I was sure was only minutes from death. As I wandered through the daze of the next few hours, focusing only on my daughter, God surrounded me with His people. I didn't know it, but Christians all over the community were in prayer for our family. My precious sister left her small son with a friend and drove an hour and a half to bring me a sandwich and to hang out with me in the hospital. My mother-in-law came to stay with my toddler. God allowed me to go through this trial, but not without friends and family by my side.

This past weekend, I attended a Circle of Friends women's conference which happened to be in my area. (By the way, it was the first one I've been to and it was awesome!!) The speakers talked about the trials in their lives and while they were all very different kinds of trials, they each had something in common-the women learned something from these trials. And not just something they thought about for a few seconds and then forgot-these trials were major, these trials were something to dwell on over and over again-and so the lessons learned from these hardships were something that was going to stick.

I had to think about how often I sidestep unpleasantness. How I abhor emotional discomfort and sadness and problems. Anything that mars the smooth sailing of my life, I try to avoid with a passion. Unfortunately, life is not all fun and games. And the problems are not all little ones. Although I'm sure not out to look for trials to go through, thanks be to God, when they come they don't have to be a wasted, miserable experience. God can use them to make me like Him, to make me grow into the person He desires me to be. So do I now consider trials to be "pure joy" like it says to do in James? Um, well...no. But hopefully, with God's help, I'm moving in that direction.

What did I learn from my particular trial? I learned that God will not leave me to flounder on my own. He will surround me with His presence and the presence of others. I learned that even when I am not thinking of Him, He is thinking of me. I learned that our children's lives are a precious commodity, not to be taken lightly. And as I watch my daughter, now a vibrant, spunky 13-year old, I appreciate her all the more.

Precious Lord, I thank You for the trials You send our way. I thank You for the lessons we learn from them. When we must endure trials, I pray that you will help us to remember that You do not leave us to go through them alone, but that You will be there with us.

Janine Miller

Puzzle Pieces

We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. Romans 12:6-8 (NIV)

I am what you would call mostly an 'indoor girl.' Not that I mind going outside; I just happen to be terribly un-athletic, which is an indispensable prerequisite for most outside activities. Making my limbs move in a carefully constructed and almost symphonic way, like when you throw a ball, is impossible at worst and inconsistent at best for me. There are a few outside activities I do like, but those typically involve chlorine and cement. I am more the sit-inside-and-read type. I especially like rainy days, which serve to absolve any guilt concerning not going outside.

However, there is one sport I absolutely fell in love with when we played it in high school gym. (I never thought I'd use those two concepts, love and gym, in the same sentence!) Field hockey involved the cutthroat competitiveness, pardonable brutality and lack of skating ability that meshed with my personality seamlessly. Finesse was not part of the game, at least at that level. I remember scoring two goals in one game! This came from the girl who scored only two points when, in the same class, we had to attempt one hundred free throws. When we played field hockey, I flourished. I had found something I loved to do, within a situation (gym requirement) that I dreaded.

Spiritually, we all have gifts; hidden (sometimes) things that we chance upon and find we are naturally bent to do. In the past several years, I have discovered and cultivated some of the gifts I am blessed to have. It is easy, as with most blessings, to compare ours to others. Why can't I be athletic? It doesn't matter and stewing about it won't help. Why can't I be a dynamic personality that people are naturally drawn to? Same thing, it doesn't matter. Teaching adults? I would have written that off as quickly as I did field hockey, before I got a chance (or was forced) to try it out. Reluctantly, I found both are something I like to do and would like to pursue further. Reading, writing, acquiring knowledge, even cooking are gifts that I can use to further Christ's kingdom. Not all seem spiritually-minded, but all can be used as such. Sharing what you have with those around you is a basic call we Christians all have. God has gifted us differently, though, so we can all be used as a piece in His puzzle. Even something as simple as encouraging or showing mercy is a lofty pursuit and considered a gift in God's eyes. I was recently blessed by a woman who has a natural penchant for encouragement. She made my week with the things she said. All it took was a minute of her time, and she gave me an incredible boost.

So, whatever you are good at, do it. Go for it completely unreserved. Do it as to the Lord. If He made you a server or an encourager or a cleaner or a voracious hockey player, make your piece of the puzzle count.

God, reveal to me the gifts I need to nurture in myself. Enable me to encourage those around me and to help them become the people You designed them to be. Amen

Nikki Hamsher

Right? Wrong?

So I have learned this rule: When I want to do good, evil is there with me. In my mind, I am happy with God's law. But I see another law working in my body, which makes war against the law that my mind accepts. That other law working in my body is the law of sin, and it makes me its prisoner. What a miserable man I am! Who will save me from the body that brings me death? I thank God for saving me through Jesus Christ our Lord! Romans 7:21-25 (NCV)

Huh? That is what I feel like saying after I read passages in Romans sometimes. Paul has incredible truths to reveal to us but he can really mix it up. I wonder what the people in the Roman church thought the first time they read this part of his letter!

In chapter six of Romans, Paul discusses the freedom that comes from being saved - freedom from the power of sin. Chapter seven is where Paul loses most of us the first time we read it. The frustration and confusion he portrays is really a good picture of what we as Christians feel when we try to do everything right, but end up failing miserably in some way. Aggravation and discouragement set in and we feel like quitting.

Paul talks about "the law" repeatedly in chapter seven. He is so frustrated with himself because he knows the right thing to do, but ends up doing the wrong thing. He was a devout Jew before he gave his life to Christ and knew the law to the letter. Why then did he struggle with sin and doing what was right? Why do we? The problem is in keeping the law. We simply cannot. Our sinful bodies and spiritual minds are at war. What wretched people we are! We are left with no other choice than to cry out to God.

Romans 7:6 says, "In the past the law held us like prisoners, but our old selves died, and we were made free from the law. So now we serve God in a new way with the Spirit, and not in the old way with written rules." When Christ rose from the dead, we rose with Him. The rules changed! Grace abounds! Sin no longer has power over us. Right and wrong are no longer the dynamic. Our motivation changes from keeping the law to serving Christ. As we serve Him and seek His approval in everything we do, then the law is accomplished!

What are you doing to become a better Christian? Most people will dig into a spiritual "how-to" book, attend a seminar, listen to audio messages, seek counsel, etc... Do you go to church every Sunday, read your Bible every day, listen to Christian music only, stay out of the bars, and follow the speed limit? These are good things, but they are man's interpretations of doing good and keeping the law. These actions are not focused on Christ, but on trying to do the right thing according to our standard; our interpretation of the law. We fall short every time and find ourselves in the same situation as Paul did. Our minds delight in the law but our sinful bodies cause us to do things we do not want to do.

Paul thanked God for saving him "from this body that brings me death." (Romans 7:24) When we consider the sinfulness of our sin and the price Christ paid for our sin, we can only thank God, as Paul did.

Lord, we thank you for the law and how it reveals our sin. Forgive us when we do not rely on Your grace. Help us to stay focused on serving You and becoming more like You.

Janet Stutzman