Knowing the Enemy

Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:11-12

Satan is a schemer. As much as I do not want to write about Satan today and even discuss his evil and heart-wrenching deeds, I am convinced that we must learn to know our enemy if we are going to defeat him. The battle is intense and Satan's ploys are downright dirty. However, from what Paul tells us, he is also predictable. The word schemes means "methods, the following or pursuing of orderly procedure in the handling of a subject". Satan attacks in the same ways and in the same areas of weakness. He has studied us and knows which tactics work and which ones don't. However, he can be so predictable that when we have experienced him enough, we can begin to spot him quickly and resist.

Even though Satan is predictable, we would be wise to take his schemes very seriously. The word struggle in verse 12 is an athletic term. It is the same word that, back in Paul's culture, was used to describe a wrestling match where two competitors try to throw each other down and pin one another down by the neck. The loser would consequently get his eyes gouged out. That is how desperate, how serious, how intense our fight is with Satan and his demons. A prime illustration of Satan's depravity and evil intent is a note left by a 23 year old heroin addict found on the front seat of her car after she had killed herself. It read:

King Heroin is my shepherd. I shall always want. He maketh me to lie down in the gutters. He leadeth me beside the troubled waters. He destroyeth my soul. He leadeth me in the paths of wickedness for the effort's sake. Yea, I shall walk through the valley of poverty and will fear all evil, for thou, Heroin, art with me. Thy needle and capsule try to comfort me. Thou strippest the table of groceries in the presence of my family. Thou robbest my head of reason. My cup of sorrow runneth over. Surely heroin addiction shall stalk me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the damned forever.

This account breaks my heart. I wonder about this precious young lady. She knew Psalm 23. Had she known and walked with Jesus Christ earlier in life only to be led astray by Satan's deadly schemes? How subtle was her path to hopelessness? Reading her note, you can hear her desperation. Ironically in the midst of her confusion, she sees clearly. She knows she has been in a battle- one that she cannot possibly win on her own.

Satan knows he cannot contend with God directly, but he can hurt God's heart by contending with God's children. Scripture says the blood of Jesus Christ and the words of our testimony will overcome Satan (Revelation 12:11). Therefore, Satan's goal is to steal, kill and destroy- to discourage the children of God as to destroy their testimony. We are in a spiritual battle and it is imperative we follow the battle plan. Be strong in the Lord, know our enemy and prepare to put on the full armor of God.

Lord, give me wisdom to spot Satan's schemes in my life and those around me. You are my Strength and when he begins to mess with me, rise up and defend me. I depend on You so that I can stand firm.

Jocelyn Hamsher

Worry...

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34

OK, I admit it I worry. And the Bible is right when it says that who of you can add one day to your life if you worry? (John 6:25) On my way home from work today I started fretting about the fact that I was going to have to write another devotional for this site. It is such a blessing to be a part of this ministry, but when I have to keep posting my own stuff, it can become intimidating. I worry about the fact that people will get tired of reading my postings. But, nonetheless I am writing again.

Then, after worrying about that, I begin to worry about a million other things. Like our business. We are having issues with our business since the economy has taken a 'dive'. Then when we do get work, we have mistakes that can take hours to correct, and of course those hours are not free. I worry about having the funds to send our two boys to college. We have had one graduate and has a wonderful job, but we still have two that need to finish. I pray Lord, you know what we are facing. We have tuition for two boys, and not a lot put towards it. I know that You have everything under control, but Lord classes are going to begin soon.

Then I worry about finding the right publisher for my book, and I worry about it being good enough. So, I try my hand at bargaining with God. Lord help me to get this finished, help it to be blessing.. and so on.

Then when I get to the end of my day and I realize that God has most assuredly gotten me through that day, I am alive, I have a place to live and food to eat. We have work, even if it may not be a lot. Our two boys that are in school have had summer jobs and are making money to put towards school, and we are healthy for the most part. What has my worry accomplished? Not a thing except for making me tired. It has not increased my faith, it has not added one day to my life. The best thing that I can say that it has done is that it has driven me to my knees on many occasions!

What do you do when you worry? Where does it get you?

I know. Let's pray!

Jesus, help me to cast all of my cares upon You. I know that I do not have all of the answers but You do! Teach me to trust and to rest in You. Amen

Becki Reiser

A Relationship is Worth A Thousand Words

I will praise the Lord, who counsels me. Psalm 16:7

Words. What a concept. God created languages in order for us to communicate with each other. It doesn't seem that hard until you start living with people. How many times have you heard one of the following?

But I thought you said.

Why didn't you tell me?

If I had only known.

Did you hear what I said? (this is usually a parental statement)

How many times does our lack of communication with one another result in problems? Children quarrel, friendships disintegrate, marriages collapse, and nations go to war all because of a lack of communication. What is so hard about talking to each other? Is it because we are lazy? Is it because we do not want to make ourselves vulnerable? These questions and others like them keep coming to my mind more and more lately as I struggle with some very important relationships. What is so important in my day that I cannot stop and talk to my children? What is so pressing in my schedule that my husband is the last to know what I am doing? Why is my daily prayer time pushed further and further down my list of priorities?

I started doing some research on the importance of communication in the Bible. While I could not find the word "communication" in my version, I did notice something rather interesting. God is very communicative. He is constantly talking to people: Abraham, Moses, Noah, Enoch, Hagar, Isaac, Jacob, Joshua, Samuel, Elijah, Gideon, Solomon, David, Joseph, Paul, John. I could go on and on. When Jesus walked the earth He spoke to thousands upon thousands. And the very book that is lying in front of me, my own version of God's Word, speaks to multitudes. God does not leave me in the dark as to what He thinks about things. He does not leave me stumbling and ignorant. He tells me what He wants from me. He lets me know (on paper!) of the great love He has for me. He tells me of the past and the future. He gives me examples of His expectations and what happens if I blow it. And He tells me of forgiveness and mercy and how to obtain them. All of this He communicates with me. And not just once but over and over.

Communication, however, takes effort. God Himself put a great deal of effort into putting together the Bible. He continues to put effort into communicating with me today through His Word, through circumstances around me, through other people. I need to take His example to heart. My relationships are worth the effort it takes to communicate.

Dear God, thank You for your wonderful example of communication. Please, help me with my communication efforts. Help me not to be lazy, not to be so distracted with the things I "just have to do" that I forget to talk to those around me. My relationships are such gifts from You, Lord. Thank you for them and give me the endurance to nourish and cherish them.

Janine Miller

Life Preserver

How I long for your precepts! Preserve my life in your righteousness. Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. Psalm 119:40, 97

Usually rules, regulations and laws bring to mind constriction and denial. No, you can't do this or that. No, that is not allowed. Putting restrictions on our human freedom feels claustrophobic to our minds. Not being allowed to do what we please usually drives us to want to do whatever it is even more. Our human nature has, since the perfection of the Garden of Eden, bucked the idea of constraints. Even in the most ideal environment God could place us in, we longed for something 'better.' There is always something else we desire just teasing us from around the corner. The words "if only" and "someday" drop in and out of our thoughts. Instead of being imprisoned by laws or situations, we become captive to our own desire for more or better things; things which we falsely believe will set us free. Somehow we twisted the law into hurting us, not helping and protecting us. We have also warped our selfish desires into things we think will set us free, not enslave us to them.

Enter Psalm 119. The longest chapter in the Bible has its central theme focused on the love for God's law. Love is not a word commonly associated with law. We have divorced the notion of love and law. To begin reconciling the two, we need to read God's law, the Bible. The only way you can develop a deep and lasting love for something is to spend time with it. Next, we need to surrender to it. Fighting against the law of God is only going to frustrate us. Sounds simple, but it becomes a daily, sometimes minute-by-minute challenge. When we learn to do these things, love for the divine law blossoms. We understand why God set up these precepts. We know that the love He has for us can feed the love we have for Him. True satisfaction sets in, and the selfish desires of our heart diminish. The challenge for today is to start cultivating love for God's law. Begin to understand the law is there for our safety, protection and ultimately so that we can truly praise and honor the Law-Giver.

God, I want to delight in Your law. Nurture the love for You in me so that I can better understand and apply the teachings of Your Word to my life. Amen.

Nikki Hamsher

God Is

God is our refuge and our strength, and ever present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose stream make glad the city of God the holy place where the Most High dwells God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at the break of day. Psalm 46:1-5 NIV

Do you see it? Are you able to view things from under the fog you are in? I have been in that place far more often than I would like to admit. Things that discourage me and cause me to simply want to give up and walk away. I sometimes feel as though all I ever do is walk over that same mountain range. Day in and day out. It feels like I will never get to the end and walk on flat land again.

Have you ever been that discouraged? C'mon admit it! Be honest.

This morning when I woke up after yet another trip across that mountain range, I received this scripture from one of my sons. He sent it to me in a very simple e-mail. Then he said "I love you" . Isn't it amazing how those three little words can speak volumes? I received them from my son, but as I write this I realize that they were from God! The above scripture is the reference my son sent. He knows me well. He knows that when my heart is fearful, when I am feeling overwhelmed that I need to be reminded that God is with me, and that I will not fall. That He will help me at the break of the day! Yes my friends, God is! And more than that, He loves you! (and me)

Lord, once again I realize that Your word is ever true. That You do care and You do carry me through the rough times, across those mountains. Help me to see You in those mountains. Amen

Becki Reiser

Supply and Demand

And my God will meet all of your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 (NIV)

Lord, I have no idea what to write! I need help. I have one more devotional to post for this week and I ended up using the usual Friday contributor's devotional for today. Please Lord give me a word.

That has been my prayer throughout the afternoon. You would think that since I have been talking on the COF radio program about the Bible and how God speaks that I would be primed to share. Alas, I will speak to you from my heart and I hope that it will minister.

I have struggled with having quiet time with the Lord. Yes, even after being a Christian for 39 years I have fought a battle that was worth fighting. I would be so' wishy-washy' in the time I would spend with God. I would go along just fine and would do well. Then suddenly something would grab my attention, and I would be off and running. I have a terrible time staying on task. I can multi task, but not complete all that I am working on.

Finally, in February of 2008 I went to another wonderful Circle Of Friends event and we all received a one year Bible as a gift. Since that time I have forced myself to sit down and take the time I need to spend with God. It has been wonderful. I had to force myself in the beginning, but now it is something that I do because I desire to. I need to have it a part of my day or I feel like I have lost something very important. Which if I do miss it, I really miss it!

God has been so patient with me. He has never stopped loving me because I did not spend the amount of time with Him that I should when I read His word. I did have a very active relationship with Him. I have a wonderful prayer life. I tend to have running conversations with the Lord. I often find myself talking to Him out loud and do not even realize it. We spend a lot of time together. I remember a lot of scripture because of songs that I have sung for many years, but there is still nothing that I have found that even vaguely comes close to spending time with God.

Take the time. You will find it is the most precious time and you will soon find that your day just is not complete until you do.

Lord, thank you for speaking to my heart, and I ask that You would speak to those that are reading this and minister to the needs in their hearts. You have the supply to our demand! Amen.

Becki Reiser

The Christian Soldier's Charge

Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Ephesians 6:10

My husband's friend tells a story from his younger years when he was challenged to a fight. As he and one of his friends drove into a small town late one evening, they were met with calls and challenges from some young Amish boys who had congregated at the local grain elevator. They continued on to their home where he told his father what had just happened. Chuckling to themselves the boys crawled in the back seat while their father got in the driver's seat. As the Amish boys saw the car approaching once again, they began to shout and run toward the car. As the father passed by he slowed the car and rolled down his window. In his husky voice he said in Pennsylvania Dutch, "Vella Fechta." In English, "Let's fight." That's all the Amish boys needed to hear and they scattered! His father's presence made all the difference.

In Ephesians 6 we read the familiar passage regarding the armor of God. However, before Paul describes the armor, he gives every Christian soldier this charge: "Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power." We can put on the armor but it won't do us any good until we first and foremost, "be strong in the Lord". How do we go about this? We must be filled with God, saved and surrendered, empty of self. We must acknowledge that the Lord is the source of our strength. We must be bound up in Him. His mighty power is the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead; Paul says he wants us to know that same power! How ironic that to be strong in the Lord is to be dependent on Him.

Are we depending on our Father or are we trying to fight this battle all by ourselves? When our "enemies" surround and challenge us, when fear rears its ugly head, when the uncertainties of life roll in one after the other, will we let Him behind the driver's seat? It is only when we hide behind the Father that we experience strength and victory. Submitting to Him as Commander in the spiritual battles of life places us in the best position possible for what's next- carrying out the rest of the battle plan.

Lord, forgive me when I grow impatient, irritable or attempt to fight the battles in my life in my own strength. I want You to take over so I'm giving up the driver's seat to You. You know my situation and I want to depend on You. Rise up and scatter my enemies- everything that sets itself up against You. Amen.

Jocelyn Hamsher

Offense or Defense

Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. 2 Corinthians 2:11 (KJV)

All of my children were involved in sports, so sports were a big part of our life. As mom, my duty was to wash the uniforms, run to and from practices and change whole schedules in order to have everyone where they were supposed to be. I did not realize until later how much I learned about life during this time.

One of my favorite lessons came as I watched and listened to my husband teach our boys to become good linebackers in football. They were smaller than you would expect for a linebacker, so he went at it a whole different way.

He looked at the schedule and then took them to see a game where the team they were going to face next was playing. He taught them that every running back gives away when they will be carrying the ball and in which direction they are going. He said they will point their toes in that direction or their eyes will automatically look where they are headed. When game time came they went with confidence, already knowing the 'hidden clue' as to who would be the ball carrier. When the teams lined up they looked for that clue and at the snap of the ball headed for the other teams ball carrier. It got to be very exciting and one son even made "All Ohio" defensive back.

I also got excited because I learned if I can spot what any enemy in my life does to tip their hand, I can beat them to the draw. Who would have thought knowing my enemies offensive give-aways was my best defense!

Father, may we truly mature spiritually so as to recognize the tricks of our enemy. May we know You and Your ways which expose so much of his work among us. As I study this Scripture, Father, it is talking about un-forgiveness being one of the things that hinder us. Search our hearts and reveal if we have not forgiven others and ourselves. Thank you for loving us so much.

Shirley Henry

Stepping Into Deep Waters

He walked to the east with a measuring tape and measured off fifteen hundred feet, leading me through water that was ankle-deep. He measured off another fifteen hundred feet, leading me through water that was knee-deep. He measured off another fifteen hundred feet, leading me through water waist-deep. He measured off another fifteen hundred feet. By now it was a river over my head, water to swim in, water no one could possibly walk through. Ezekiel 47:3-5 (MSG)

My father-in-law recently opened my eyes to this scripture and I immediately fell in love with the symbolism contained within it. When we first enter our new life in Christ, we step into the waters ankle deep. Some of us like it there. It is safe, comfortable and not scary at all. Nothing is challenging us, so we seem to like where were at. We can have the protection of the ever-present beach if we feel like our Christian walk is not so peachy or when we see a big wave coming at us. However, most feel a bit of nudging to go deeper with our relationship with Christ. So we wade out to our knees. For some others, this depth is fine. It still takes little or no faith to stand in water that is knee-deep. We get to feel the water, we can splash around and play, but the commitment of it is negligible. Again, some Christians find it comfortable to stay here, but most wade out to the waist-deep waters of faith. Still comfortable and secure, it contains a bit more excitement, especially if a big wave of circumstance comes rolling in. It takes effort to not get pulled by the current, but usually we can keep ourselves upright with little effort. Some faith is required, but we still can have full confidence that we can pull ourselves out if necessary. The river bed is still firm under our feet.

Then the fourth level comes into play. This time, the man led Ezekiel into the middle of the river, where the water flowed over his head, where swimming is required to stay afloat. No one, no matter how tall, could possibly walk through it. Waves can toss you. The current is strong, and with no solid footing, can easily pull you under or sweep you away. This is the level of faith I aspire to have. This part of the river requires us to have complete faith in God. Faith this deep is not based on what we have to give to God, but what He will guide us through. This is when we stop focusing on what we can do, how fast we can save ourselves, how quickly we can escape and where we start relying on God, what He can do and how dependent we are on Him for every second of our life. At this point, we do not second-guess God. When the Holy Spirit prompts, we listen and obey. If we have to give up friends, family, our home, our hometown or whatever, we do it, knowing that God has our life preserver ready to go. We are in full bore, over our heads and we are living on faith alone. This is the part of the river I want to be in. I want to have the excitement of knowing my next move has already been ordained. I want to know that I am in sync with God, that His will is guiding my actions and there is no way back. Scary? Yes. Exciting? Certainly. But the rewards, oh! the rewards! You will never want to look back at the shore.

God, infuse my life with the faith that leads me into deep waters where You are my only focus and where You have complete control. Help me to relinquish my own will in favor of Yours. Amen.

Nikki Hamsher

Tabitha-Full of Good Works

In the city of Joppa there was a follower named Tabitha (whose Greek name was Dorcas). She was always doing good deeds and kind acts. Acts 9:36 (NCV)

My mom came from a family of twelve, and I am one of thirty grandchildren from that family. I have so many fun memories of my grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins. Soda crackers with cheese, salmon patties, and scalloped potatoes were my favorite foods at grandpa and grandma's house. In their last years they lived in a large two-story retirement home. We rode the elevator up and down for fun when the adults were visiting, and pushed each other on a luggage cart through the open community room, on the elevator, and down the halls. Occasionally, a door in the long hallway would open and a stranger would scold us for being too loud. My grandma never raised her voice at us!

When I read this passage I thought of my grandma. She was kind, and was always doing good deeds. The one that is very clear in my mind is the sewing and mending she did for others throughout her lifetime. I can still picture her snipping the thread and wetting it between her lips before inserting it into the eye of the needle. Her patterns were cut to perfection and the seams were sewn meticulously. The garments were fitted to perfection. She also tatted and crocheted hankies as gifts for others. I wonder how many ladies still have one of her hankies tucked away as a special memory of her. I can picture my grandma as being Tabitha in this story.

The story of Tabitha is very short, and is found in Acts 9:36-42. After she is introduced in verse 36, it goes on to say she became sick and died. As was the custom, she was prepared for burial and placed in the upper chamber. When some disciples heard of her death, they sent for Peter. They brought him to the upper room and all the widows stood by him crying and showing the coats and garments Tabitha had made for them. Peter sent them out and knelt beside her and prayed. He then turned to her body and said, "Tabitha, stand up." She opened her eyes and when she saw Peter, she sat up. He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then he called the saints and widows into the room and showed them that Tabitha was alive. People everywhere in Joppa learned about this, and many believed in the Lord.

Tabitha had made an enormous impact in the lives of the residents in Joppa by her good works and charitable deeds. When she died, her room was full of mourners, many very likely being ones she had helped. When she was brought back to life, the exciting, miraculous news raced through the town. By her testimony, many came to know the Lord!

We must never wish we had other gifts, or greater gifts. Rather, make good use of the gifts God has given you. God uses great preachers like Peter, and He also uses those who have gifts of kindness like Tabitha. In some versions of this passage, Tabitha is called a disciple; a pupil of a teacher. She learned from Jesus and used her knowledge and skills to be more like Him; full of good works.

Lord, thank you for Tabitha's example. Help us to see the needs of others and show them kindness. We want to learn from You and be full of good works.

Janet Stutzman

Life-Saving Stations

Do you not say, "Four months more and then the harvest?" I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. John 4:35

Author John Ortberg tells the story of a little museum located on Nantucket Island in Massachusetts. The museum is devoted to a volunteer organization that was formed over 300 years ago. In those days, travel by sea was extremely dangerous, and given storms in the Atlantic, and the real rocky coasts of Massachusetts, many lives were lost real close to the shore, within a mile or less of land.

A group who lived on that island could not stand to think about all these people going down so close to them. So, they went into the life saving business. They built little huts that dotted the shore which contained boats and rescue equipment. People were posted in those huts all the time. Their job was to watch the sea twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Any time a ship went down, the word would go out. They would devote everything and risk themselves to save every life they could. Everybody was willing. They did it for no money nor recognition. They did it just because they prized human life. And to remind them of the seriousness of their task, they adopted a motto: "You have to go out, but you do not have to come back."

It's a fascinating thing to read accounts in that museum of people who risked everything, even their lives, to save other people they had never met, faces they had never seen, names they might never know. But over time, things changed and the coast guard started to take over this task. The thinking that carried the day was, "Let the professionals do it. They are better trained. They get paid for it." So, the volunteers stopped manning the little huts. They stopped searching the coastline for sinking ships. They stopped sending out teams to rescue people.

And it is a funny thing. They could not bring themselves to disband, and still exist to this day. It meets every once in a while in New England to have dinners and hand out awards for community service. They enjoy each other's company, sponsor programs and get together. They are just not in the life saving business anymore. They do not know the thrill any more of what it is to risk themselves to save a life that could perish.

It happens all the time. It does not happen in a day or a month. But over time, a church forgets it is in the life saving business. It usually does not disband but continues to meet. People still enjoy each other's company. They still use words like community and have services, programs and buildings. They might even be involved in various forms of community service. They are just not sending out teams any more for people who are going down. They are just not scouring neighborhoods and offices, schools and networks and cities to see if there is someone who is injured and hurting-someone who needs to be saved. This can happen to a church. It can happen to a small group. It can happen to an individual. Jesus is looking for people who are willing to go into the life saving business.

What about us? Are we willing to open our eyes and scour the "fields" around us for the hurting, the injured or the lost? Are we willing to throw out the life preserver of God's message of grace and forgiveness, hope and restoration? Are we ready to exchange the social club busyness for the life saving business?

Father, give me a heart of passion for the hurting and the lost. Give me a burning desire for the Gospel and what it means. Lord, You saved me and set me free. I want to be a vessel of your Message so others may hear and know You personally and passionately. Be glorified! Amen.

Jocelyn Hamsher

The Dumb Row

Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. 1 John 3:2 (NIV)

When I was in fifth and sixth grade I was in a math class where the teacher seated the students in order of their intelligence. Really, it's true! Having taught my cousins in years past, she recognized the last name. Because of that, she had already decided my fate. I would be seated in the dreaded "dumb row". She would look over the top of her glasses and peer down the row with disgust on her face. I was so thankful I wasn't in the very front seat; I was about the fourth seat back.

In my mind that experience labeled me for life. I always felt inept and dumb. I could not get beyond the dumb row mentality. How can that affect you? When seeds are planted, they grow. Maybe not well, but they try. According to the type of soil in which they are planted is how they will grow. My seeds grew spindly and weak, no light and no water except for the sweat being whisked from the brows of the smart people. I never received nourishment.

Have you been labeled by someone? Have you yourself been guilty of labeling? To what have you been associated? I know that the most important association I will ever have is my "Heavenly Father". That is one name I desire to be associated with. My seating in His classroom has me at the front of the smart row where air, light and water are abundant.

Father, I am so thankful that my name is in your book, that I am included in your family, and that you have provided everything I need to live, grow and be nourished, and to make smart choices.

Becki Reiser

Abundance of Blessings in a Cursed World

From the fullness of his grace we have received one blessing after another. John 1:16 (NIV)

On my way to my sister's house five minutes away, to welcome our parents from a six hour drive from their home I realized something. My heart filled with such joy and excitement that I was going to see them. We had so many fun activities planned for their visit and I could not wait to get started. As I began thanking God for family, and laughter and fun, I started realizing all of the abundant blessings he gives daily. The thought came to me how this world is cursed by sin, and yet God continues to allow us to have an overflow of blessings. Creation alone is unbelievable; the fact that he made this world in color, and gave us the all our senses to enjoy it is unreal.

When you think of a cursed world what do you think of? My first thought when I asked myself this was dark, cold, and absolute constant suffering. You do not really think of sunshine, a laughing child, or the warm hug of a dear friend, do you? Not only did God make a way for us, sinners bound for hell, to someday spend eternity with him in a perfect world. In the mean time He gives us glimpses of all his wonder. Make it a priority to thank God for the things we so often over look and take for granted, blessings, one after another.

I know there are days when it is very obvious we live in a cursed world, where sin and death are very real. But take hope in this temporary life we do live. Be so blessed in the fact that we have the privilege to take part in Christ's work, to be a light to the lost. That someday they will join us in eternity and will get to be forever blessed in the presence of our amazing loving Heavenly Father.

Father, Thank you for loving us so much for making it possible to someday be with you in heaven. Thank you for the little rays of sunshine you provide daily in the mist of this dark and sinful world.

Sarah Hostetler

Chick Flick

You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush. Philippians 1:10 (MSG)

I do not like chick flicks. You know the movies where boy meets girl, they fall in love, then some horrible situation threatens to keep them apart, but they find a way to stay together. Enter Kleenex. Or even more tear-inducing, they cannot stay together. My best friend, on the other hand, loves this type of film. She likes the comic variation, too. For myself, give me a movie that involves a chase or an explosion and I am happy. My husband appreciates this quality, although he has dragged me into some chick flicks.

This verse from Paul instructs us to separate the superficial and "sentimental gush" from true love. Love, as described in this verse and the immediately preceding and following verses, is no feeling. It is an active part of being a Christian. It means taking care of each other, whether we feel like it or not. Sometimes we do not feel love. When our spouses or children or friends do something we do not like or hurts us, "love" tends to escape us. The "sentimental gush" I associate with romantic movies and novels (no offense to anyone who likes that-to each his or her own) is the fluff on top of love we usually think of as love itself. It's like ordering an ice cream sundae and only eating the whipped cream on top. Sure, that's a tasty part of the sundae, but if I stopped there, I'd be missing the best part! Love as a feeling is great, but like real whipped cream, it quickly dissipates. What is underneath that sweet, creamy layer is the real deal. What is underneath the superficiality of affection is love that would sacrifice, love that would choose the other person over selfish desires, love that cares and just plain works hard for someone else. Christian love can be beautiful, even when it is taking someone a homemade (or store-bought) meal or an afternoon visit. It can be a formidable foe when fighting evil. Love can really overcome many things. Loving and caring for someone who is mired in sin can do so much good. It can be tremendously painful, too. Loving someone who is not receptive to it can cut deep. But it is the example Christ gave us. He showed love when He died on the cross for someone who will never accept His gift. His love was no less painful when He died for someone who readily accepts Him.

Whether or not your preferred entertainment choice is sentimental or not, let your love be sincere. Our lives have no room for false love, feelings that are fleeting and contrary to our Christian call to genuine love. Keep that for the movies.

God, rid my heart of sentimental gush. Enable my feelings of love towards others to develop into real love, willing and able to sacrifice for Your purpose. Amen.

Nikki Hamsher

Lydia-Open to God

Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. Acts 16:14 (NKJV)

I have had my own household since 1981, the year I was married. I am a people person and I love to cook. So, naturally, I host family gatherings and luncheons with friends. In the early years, I found it very stressful. I would clean the entire house and cook for my guests, thinking everything had to be perfectly presentable. Enjoying my company was impossible because I was exhausted when they arrived! Can any of you relate?

Through the years I gained a little wisdom in the matter and solved my problem. A few days before my guests arrive I try to straighten up so that the day they come, I can concentrate on preparing the food. The accumulated little messes and specks of dust seem to go unnoticed. After all, they come for fun and fellowship, not to check out my house; right? Now, I love to invite guests for dinner, and even encourage anyone to just drop in. I have an open door policy and I always enjoy hospitality. I refuse to say, "Excuse my mess." The purpose is not to impress, but rather provide a place where people feel cared for and loved.

If you read Acts 16:13-15, you will see that Lydia was a dealer in purple cloth, a valuable and expensive material. Commentators say she was probably wealthy and an influential merchant. When Paul and Silas came to Philippi to preach the gospel, they discovered there was no synagogue - apparently the city did not have the minimum number of Jewish men required. Instead, they found a group of women gathered by the river to pray on the Sabbath. One of the women was Lydia. After hearing Paul speak, she allowed God to work in her life and she responded to Him. The Lord opened her heart and she accepted the gospel (v 14). Lydia and her household were baptized and she immediately offered hospitality to Paul and his companions. Lydia's invitation to her home was more than a cultural politeness; her offer was motivated by her belief in the Lord and her desire to serve others. "Immediately" did not suggest she felt she had to make special preparations for her guests before they arrived. Later in this chapter (v 40), her house became the meeting place for the growing number of believers in Philippi, and the basis of the church in that city. Lydia's hospitality demonstrated an open door policy.

It is easy to bring this story into perspective of our current culture and ask ourselves a few questions. Are you influential in a trustworthy way? Are you open to God's word and His work in your life? Do you respond immediately when He is asking you to serve Him, or do you delay in order to make special provisions first? Is your heart and home open to the people God places in your life? If we were to be honest, none of us will 'live up' to this standard day after day. However, we can use these questions to measure our commitment to God, and motivate us to maintain a servant's heart. Like Lydia, keep an open door to His work in your life and home, and be influential in the lives of others.

Lord, shape our attitude toward hospitality and give us opportunities to bless others.

Janet Stutzman

A Smile of the Heart

Be joyful always. 1 Thessalonians 5:16

I have a friend who is always joyful. He is 95 years old. His health is failing, his friends are mostly gone and his family lives at a distance. This man still reads the Word daily and is constantly singing. His prayer and hope is that he would continue to sing as he passes into glory. His smile is not one of continual happiness. I have sat with him as he has cried over the death of his best friend, the grief of a wayward child, the sins of his youth. There is no doubt he has felt the sting of life on earth. However, he continues to praise. His smile is a radiating joy- a smile of the heart.

The word "joyful" obviously means "to be glad, to rejoice". But look a little further. "It is a joy that is a direct result of God's grace. God's grace is unearned and unmerited favor and acceptance. Grace is a favor done without expectation of return.its only motive is in the free-heartedness of the Giver." One commentary says that not only does God's grace affect man's sinfulness and forgives the repentant sinner but brings joy and thankfulness to him (Zodhiates). What does all this mean? The Christian's joy is not dependant on circumstances. It comes from what Christ has done and because of that, remains constant!

Are we, as Christians, joyful? I believe too many of us have forgotten what we have been saved from. Have we become distracted and allowed ourselves to lose view of who and what Christ is really about, why He came and what our mission is? Do we have a heart of complacency or one of joy and thanksgiving?

Thank you, Jesus, for reaching down and rescuing me from death, from hell, from myself. Forgive me for having a complacent heart. Pour Your joy to overflowing in my heart so that others may see You and be saved. Amen.

Jocelyn Hamsher

Details, details

A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cured of his leprosy. Matt. 8:2, 3 (NIV)

As part of my quiet time each morning, I read the day's devotional from the publication, The Upper Room. The Upper Room always has some kind of picture on the cover and the picture for this month is a reproduction of a painting of Jesus healing a leper. Jesus is bending down holding the leper's hand and there are people watching in the background and so on. It is a very interesting picture, but this morning something about that picture caught my eye that I hadn't noticed before. Near the leper is a dog. This dog is lying in the dirt and is nothing but skin and bone. As soon as I noticed this dog, I started studying the picture a little more closely to see what else I had missed. I noticed that the leper is sitting in a pile of rags. Behind him, it looks like he has a makeshift shelter built from a couple of sticks. His foot is all bandaged and he's sitting under a scraggly tree which gives him very little, if any, shade. Nothing about him is very clean or nice, but he and the skinny dog are sitting there looking up at Jesus.

As I studied the picture again, I was reminded of how often my reading of Bible stories just really skims the top of what is really happening. I do not visualize all the life going on behind the words I am reading. The authors of the Bible wrote in such a way as to make a point about who God is and how He works in the lives of His people and they quite often did not go into as much detail as I would sometimes like. My mind is used to televised versions of stories which leave nothing to the imagination or paragraphs upon paragraphs of elaborate descriptions of background from the novels I sometimes like to read. It was not the style of the time for biblical story writers to go into how hot the sun was or how thin the people were or to tell about the soft breeze that brushed their faces, but those details were there in the actual event. Quite often I am left to figure out some of these details from historical finds, from hints in the text, or even from my own understanding of human nature. Seeing this painting helped me to fill in some of the details of what this scene may have actually been like.

The detail that struck me most from this picture is that this man and this dog were starving, dirty, and scorned. They lived with absolutely nothing of value, and this type of situation is probably what Jesus saw everyday. He saw people who had nothing of physical value, but even worse, he saw those who had nothing of spiritual value. I often miss those hints about details that the Bible drops here and there, but this picture reminds me of the detail that I sometimes forget-that Jesus lived in a world much like mine, filled with filth and disease and evil. A world which needed Him desperately then and still does today. The evil I see around me is nothing new. Jesus, however, did not run cowering from it like I am tempted to do sometimes. He did not just sit back and hope someone else would do something about it. He reached out and touched the sick and gave them the joy of knowing their sins were forgiven. He gave them unconditional love and acceptance. And He gave me an example to follow, an example of what I am to do for the world around me today.

Lord, thank you for loving that leper so much that You stopped and healed him from his terrible disease. Thank You for loving me the same way. Help me to follow Your example, reaching out to those who are lost and unloved.

Janine Miller

Trust

Let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. (Psalm 5:11)KJV

And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. (Psalm 40:3)KJV

A man fell off of a cliff, but managed to grab a tree limb on the way down. The following conversation ensued: "Is anyone up there?"

I am here. I am the Lord. Do you believe in me?"

"Yes, Lord, I believe. I really believe, but I can't hang on much longer."

"That's all right, if you really believe you have nothing to worry about. I will save you. Just let go of the branch."

A moment of pause, then: "Is anyone else up there?"

I had to laugh when I read this story because I saw myself. Isn't it so easy to say we believe in you or we trust you but not so easy to let go, especially if the other person has hurt us and not been there to catch us in the past.

This was my struggle with God. Would He really be and do what He said He would be and do. Well, I have lived a long time and I have never "let go" that He was not there. Through five children, farm life, births and deaths, He has been the one steady force that has always been trustworthy.

This knowledge has put a deep desire in me to now be trustworthy to others. I ask myself, "Can my family, friends and even strangers find me under them to catch them when they have fallen off the cliff or are my words just words thrown out to them without a safety net? Do I really take their calls to me serious? Do I even hear them?"

God help me to be trustworthy.

Father, these are not just words without meaning from our hearts. Holy Spirit, we welcome You to teach us, to reveal to us and give us the help we need to be what we need to be to our Father, our brothers and sisters and the world. In Jesus' name, Amen!

Shirley Henry

I Wanna Be Like Mike Paul Me!

To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:-10 (NIV)

What a tough pill to swallow. We all have those 'thorns' in our side. Something we repeatedly have to deal with and just won't go away. Yours could be poor health, addiction, depression, destructive thought patterns, just about anything. There is even a theory that Paul's 'thorn' was a wife! Maybe yours is an uncooperative or even abusive spouse. Whatever it is, we plead and plead with God to relieve us. We ask over and over again for Him to remove us from it or the situation or just plain 'fix' whatever is wrong with us (or sometimes another person) so we can move on. Sometimes we feel our thorn is holding us back. We think that without it we could go on to be Super Christian, saving the whole world if it was not for this. But that kind of thinking is incorrect. We see that demonstrated in the verses above. We usually think of Paul as a Super Christian. Traipsing all over the world, getting beaten up physically and mentally, thrown in jail, put in house arrest and being generally hated, all the while saving people and making disciples left and right. We do not think of him having a weakness. "Why can't I be like Paul?" I have found myself asking that question on more than one occasion. I tend to romanticize the trials we have, thinking he wore the scars he inevitably collected as badges of honor, showing them off to those he came in contact with. But here Paul is, laying out his humanity to show us that everybody deals with something.

I know many people who I look up to and think, "Why can't I be like that?" But I would not be me if I was like them. I could not reach the people I do if I was like someone else. I would be a cheap imitation, as easy to spot as a fake Rolex. Paul was truly unique. But he was also flawed. He was not Jesus, as I sometimes make him out to be. He was human. He had faults and 'thorns' just as we all do. He suffered through real difficulties, too. The difference between him and me is that he followed God's call in spite of that. He didn't let it hold him back. He understood that, after much prayer, God uses our weaknesses. Sometimes we need those weaknesses so that we do lean on Him. Those are part of His master plan. We are not supposed to become God; we are to strive to let Him shine through us, reflecting Him. We are made perfect through Christ when we let work through us despite our imperfections. So, my job on earth is not to become like Paul or like anyone else. My job is to let God shine through me, with all my thorns, flaws and humanity, so that I may reach those who share the same condition.

God, allow me to shine for you even in the midst of trials, difficulties and my own flaws. Show me your strength even in weakness. Amen

Nikki Hamsher

Disobeying God

Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. James 4:17 (NKJV)

The cookie jar always comes to mind when I read this verse. How many of us as kids were told by mom not to take a cookie out of the cookie jar before supper, but chose to sneak one out anyhow; in spite of knowing there were consequences when we got caught? Raise your hand if you were as guilty as I was!

James nails it right down in this little book. He gets right to the point of many sin issues we may find ourselves in. Pride causes disobedience. We know what is right but we prefer not to do it. That is like telling God we know more than He does. When we accomplish personal success, invincibility and self-dependence surface and we begin to feel like we don't need anyone's help or support; not even God's. At times we face difficulties and try to escape, leaving us with lessons unlearned. Feelings of loneliness and desperation emerge. Misery settles in and we find ourselves chastened by our loving Father; evidence of His ownership and love for us.

The spiritual downward spiral reaches into every area of our life and confusion and dissatisfaction appear. Is it God's will that we are miserable? What about heavenly reward and earthly reputation? Do we ever ask what we stand to lose when we choose to disobey? Sin has its consequences. Disobeying God today may not seem too serious, but it will appear serious when the Lord returns and examines our work. The negative phases of sin and the unsettled feelings should be red flags in our daily life. When you find yourself in this state, do you run to God?

Colossians 3:22-24 offers sound advice and a great example of a good work ethic. Slaves, obey your masters in all things. Do not obey just when they are watching you, to gain their favor, but serve them honestly, because you respect the Lord. In all the work you are doing, work the best you can. Work as if you were doing it for the Lord, not for people. Remember that you will receive your reward from the Lord, which he promised to his people. You are serving the Lord Christ. But remember that anyone who does wrong will be punished for that wrong, and the Lord treats everyone the same. Our decisions in life can reflect this same attitude!

Let's regard obedience and the decisions we make as an act of worship or service to God. Remove pride and self-dependence, and replace it with a willingness to give our obedience as a sacrifice for the wonderful work Jesus did for us. We have God's Word as our pattern for life and instruction for living. We do not have to choose disobedience!

Lord, help us to run to you when we find ourselves falling into sin and keep us on the path of obedience.

Janet Stutzman

The Big Top- Week 3

We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. 1 Thessalonians 2:8

I walked in the door and did not say a word. The door slammed behind me and throwing my things on the table, I marched upstairs to change clothes. Returning downstairs I entered the living room and my husband asked me about my day. I managed to give him a grunt. My day had been maddening and I was not in the mood to talk about anything. However, just then the phone rang and picking it up, I became a different person. I smiled and talked pleasantly into the phone while my husband's jaw dropped. After I hung up, I warped back into Cruella deVille, still frustrated. As the evening progressed I had no patience with my kids and snipped at them repeatedly. The phone was ringing off the hook that night and every time it rang, I answered politely exchanging pleasantries with friends only to hang up and withdraw from my own family once again. I was sitting at the table working when the phone rang once more. I picked it up and answered cordially. On the other end was a very familiar voice- my husband. With an ornery smile in his voice he said, "Hey there, I thought I would call and talk since you are so happy and joyful when you are on the phone." At that moment, I put my head back and laughed, my frustration melted and my foolishness was clear. I needed to ask my family for forgiveness. I should have taken the time to become vulnerable and "real", sharing with them rather than sneering at them.

The Big Top. Living the circus. Managing to keep it all together. Or so we try.

However, when it all comes down to it, the most important thing we can do is tell the next generation about Jesus Christ. We must nurture our own relationship with Jesus Christ (week 1), we must teach our children to apply the Word in their own lives (week 2) and we must share our own faith walk with them. Paul said to the Thessalonians, "We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us." Our lives- our faith walk. That means not only the joys and the good times, but the tears and the struggles as well. It means we have the privilege of being real with our children, with those we mentor, with those whom we have become a "spiritual parent" or anyone God has placed in our sphere of influence. When we are real and share with them what we are dealing with, prayer concerns that we may have, where we saw God that day or asking them for forgiveness when we make mistakes, they see a demonstration of walking the talk. When we depend on God, trust Him in the uncertainties, praise Him or cry out to Him, they see a living, breathing faith in Christ. Faith becomes more than just a concept preached from the pulpit. It becomes a way of life.

One Saturday evening, my husband was studying his sermon he had prepared for the next morning. He felt uneasy as some things just didn't seem to be coming together.

As I put the boys to bed, Bruce entered the room. I shared with them some of their dad's concerns and we proceeded to lay our hands on him and pray. To hear our sons' precious prayers for their father was priceless. Walking the journey together. Being real.

Oh God, teach them, show them who You are, grow their faith in You. Amen.

Jocelyn Hamsher

Persistence Pays

And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. Luke 18:7-8a (NIV)

I have a confession to make. I am the neighbor with the barking dogs. I feel terrible. They are soooo annoying. But I cannot get them to be quiet on a regular basis. We used to be a nice quiet family with one fairly quiet dog. And then, in a weak moment, we adopted a dog with issues. Riley is a very sweet, loving dog, but she came from an abusive home and she definitely has some baggage from her past. She deals with one of her issues by barking at anything that moves, including cats (of which we have four-all constantly moving), known or unknown people, leaves, bees (of which we have several hives worth), and imaginary objects. Or sometimes she barks because she wants attention. Since she cannot be in the house during the summer (Issue #29), she wants us to come out to see her, so she barks until we do. And once Riley begins barking, our other dog joins in. They do not just bark for a few minutes, get sore throats, and quit-no, this goes on for hours. At least I imagine it would, but actually it just goes on until I am totally fed up and go out and see what the problem is and somehow, fix it. Then we have sweet peace until the next object moves or she wants more attention.

To me, Riley is the picture of persistence and makes me think of the parable of a determined widow who had a request and kept bugging a judge to help her (Luke 18:1-8). At first he ignored her, but he was finally worn down from her persistent requests and gave her what she asked. Like Riley, this lady did not quit just because she did not get what she wanted right away. She kept at it and at it and at it. And through this parable, God is encouraging me to be persistent in my prayers. Not that He is like the judge and ignoring me-far from it, but through a continuing problem, I am drawn to Him again and again. He wants me to come to Him. He desires my company. Will I eventually get what I ask for? Maybe, maybe not. But because I am constantly going to Him, my relationship with my Heavenly Father grows and deepens. He is always there listening to me. And until I get a clear yes or no from Him, God wants me to continue to ask Him to help me with my problem, over and over.

Precious Father, thank you for hearing me when I pray and for not getting tired of my persistent requests. Thank you for desiring my company. Help me not to get frustrated because You do not answer by my timeline. And once again, please help Riley to stop barking.

Janine Miller

Did you see me?

We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. Romans 12:6a

Not to sound immodest, but I believe I have never felt more beautiful in my life. I was five years old and, after months of lessons, was ready to perform in my first ballet recital. To everyone else, we were the beginners' class of Martha Galvin's Dance Studio, all decked out in our brand new tutus, loaded with sequins and nylon net ruffles. But we knew differently. We were really delicate flowers in a Japanese garden. All of those long, painful hours of obeying our instructor's voice, "plie ... jete... arabesque... and again." had prepared us for this one big night.

In the audience patiently sat my parents, enduring hours and hours of other people's children performing their dance routines. At long last, our little group of Japanese flowers was led on stage. And let me tell you: we plied, jeted, and arabesqued our little Japanese flower hearts out. We were in the zone. Our efforts were not lost on the audience; we were rewarded with thunderous applause. It's a fun memory.

Afterward, dozens of aspiring ballerinas each made a beeline to the most important people in the audience, their own moms and dads, crying out in one voice, "Did you see me?"

Now, as a mom myself, I think this might be my favorite part of the parent-child relationship. The parent gives a gift to delight the child. In turn, the child uses the gift to delight the parent. It never fails. Give him a new paint set and he'll create a masterpiece for your refrigerator. Give her ballet lessons and she'll dance just for you.

It is God's very nature to give. He delights in it. And when we, His children, use those gifts to serve and please Him, He delights in that as well. Are you using the gifts that He gave you to delight Him today?

Suzie Thomas