Leaning on the Lord?

Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. Proverbs 3:5 (Amplified)

It had been a long night and already a long day by the time I was standing at church for the 11:00 AM service. Our pastor instructed us to stand as he read the Word.

It was the week before Christmas Sunday, so we decided to get more dressed up than usual - to complete my ensemble, I had selected a pair of sparkly red pumps, reminiscent of Dorothy's ruby slippers, but with three and a half inch heels!

As our pastor continued to read, I almost subconsciously began to lean the entirety of my weight on my husband who was next to me. I bet I know what you're thinking; do you have visions of the entire row toppling like dominoes? But no, thankfully, I didn't catch him off guard and send all of us reeling across the sanctuary. You see he is used to this routine.I lean and he upholds. After nearly twenty-eight years it has become an unspoken ritual. He knows that either I am exhausted, ill or just made a less than stellar choice concerning my bedtime or my shoe selection or perhaps I just want the assurance that if I lean on him, trusting him to hold my weight, he won't let me down.

Of course Papa God spoke to my heart that day, sharing with me that He desires for His children to trust in Him, daring to lean our entire weight upon Him too. Just like my husband, only infinitely more stable and reliable; His footing is sure and our sudden "transference" of the cares of this life will never catch Him unaware. He is ready, willing and more than able to carry us and all the weight put upon our lives. You see, whenever we are exhausted, sick or in the throes of not so good choices, or just in need of His reassurance, He reaches out to us, imploring us to not lean on ourselves (or others), but to cast with reckless abandon the sum total of who we are, and what we are experiencing, onto Him.

At times, my husband puts his arm around me, offering me the perfect opportunity to lean on him, but instead I just try to balance my weight by holding onto the chair in front of me, preferring to trust in my own fortitude to see me through that unpleasant moment. Likewise, amazingly, sometimes even though I am physically, emotionally or spiritually depleted, I make the foolish choice to attempt to carry myself through the difficult times of my life. Papa God is waiting, with outstretched arms, but I know better! For some reason I have allowed the enemy or my own pride to convince me that I can direct and carry my life better than the One who knows me best and yet still loves me most! Additionally, my husband can tell if I am leaning on him or myself, because he can discern the weight transfer, and of course, our heavenly Father knows if we are leaning and relying on Him or ourselves.

So the question for you today is: "Is our Father feeling the weight of your burdens and the cares of this life, or are you holding onto the chair in front of you?" He desires for us to have the same routine I mentioned earlier; we lean and He upholds! Whether you are tired, ill, have made poor choices or are just in need of His reassurance, know that His arms are waiting to encircle you, shouldering your weights and cares! Let's be brave and lean fully on Him. He is infinitely worthy of our unquestioning and unreserved trust! It is His delight to carry you, let Him!

Papa God, please teach me to lean not to my own understanding, but to trust You with all of my problems and needs. Amen

Sandy Anderson

Winter Project

I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint. Jeremiah 31:25 (NIV)

This time of year is always thought of as a time to start new, begin a new year on different terms. Losing weight, cleaning out the closets and restoring relationships are high up on our to-do lists, but quickly slide off as the weeks and months progress.

Spiritually, we can stand to do those same things. Getting rid of emotional baggage that stands in the way of our relationship with Christ is a way we can shed spiritual pounds that drag us down. That cleans out of soul-closets, making room for Christ's love to flow through us. Taking time to be refreshed spiritually is important, and goes along with the mindset of this time of year. After the holidays are over, we need to take time to rest, reflect and clean our spiritual houses. Maybe the holidays left you feeling depressed or empty. Maybe family relationships weren't restored the way you thought they should be. Maybe Christmas went well, but now that it's over, you have the winter doldrums. Take heart, now is the time to dig into God's word and clean out the cobwebs in your soul!

The long days of winter are perfect for starting on this spiritual project. Make some reading goals, or make a list of friendships that need rekindled or an extra bit of work. Get your heart filled with the love of Jesus so that you can then pour that out to those around you. The first months of the year can be a down time for almost everyone, so giving a friend a call that you have neglected to do can give both of you a boost. Making connections that have fallen to the side not only helps you, but helps you spread the love of Christ. We can choose to be a shining light to those experiencing a dark winter.

God, help me to clean out my spiritual closet so that I can make more room for You in my life. Show me what baggage to get rid of so that I might be able to love people more effectively and show them the light of Your love. Amen.

Nikki Hamsher

Simeon-A Lesson on Aging

Simeon took the baby Jesus in his arms and praised God Luke 2:28 (CEV)

Simeon was an old man. Verse 25 says he was righteous and devout. He loved God and was waiting for God to save the people of Israel. Most Jews knew the Old Testament prophecies that spoke of the Messiah's blessings to their nation. Simeon believed Isaiah (9:6-7) about a child being born - The Prince of Peace. He also had a very intimate relationship with God. Verse 26 says that God's Spirit came to Simeon and told him that he would not die until he had seen Christ the Lord. Wow!

If we were to place ourselves in the life and times of Simeon, we wouldn't be too surprised because time has only changed our culture. Just like us, Simeon had been younger. There would have been moments in his life where he would have to choose the way of the world or God's way. Good decisions and bad have a way of teaching us lessons, and he would have been no different. Devout does not happen overnight. It takes time and experience and dedication to the cause. Right decisions become a way of life. As he grew older, the pattern was set and he found himself at a place in life where he really understood the message of the Savior and believed He would come as a child.

When Mary and Joseph brought baby Jesus to the temple to do what the Law required of them for their newborn baby, the Spirit told Simeon to go into the temple. It was then Simeon took the baby Jesus in his arms and praised God. He knew who the baby was! He went on to say in verse 29-30 "Lord, I am your servant, and now I can die in peace, because you have kept your promise to me. With my own eyes I have seen what you have done to save your people."

There are so many lessons we can learn from this passage and Simeon is such a great example to us. We too have a promise that Jesus will return again. As we grow older are we becoming righteous and devout in our faith? Do we know the Word? Are we longing for the day we see Jesus and stand in His presence? Is our relationship so intimate with God that we hear Him speak and He grants us the special desires in our lives?

Simeon's faith was old and genuine. And, as promised, God blessed him with His presence.

I Just Want To Be Where You Are

I just want to be where You are, dwelling daily in Your presence.

I don't want to worship from afar, draw me near to where You are.

I just want to be where You are, in Your dwelling place forever.

Take me to the place where You are, I just want to be with You.

I want to be where You are, dwelling in Your presence.

Feasting at Your table, surrounded by Your glory;

In Your presence, that's where I always want to be.

I just want to be, I just want to be with You. Author Unverified

Heavenly Father, we need your presence in our lives every moment. We long to see you - fill us with your Spirit as we desire to become devout in our faith.

Janet Stutzman

I Want to Be New

And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. Romans 8:11 (NIV)

I remember believing that I was alive. I remember submitting to the lies that confidence in self is the definition of happiness and that love needs to be created rather than accepted. I remember considering myself an experimental Buddhist, when in truth I was spiritually lost. I remember trying to be my own God. But most importantly, I remember giving my life to Christ last year on a beautiful July afternoon.

I walked out to my back porch to rest after a long day of tearful prayer. I slumped in the patio chair with limp limbs and leaned my head against the back of the chair. I closed my eyes, and gradually I began to find rest. My mind was still. I opened my eyes and saw the sky directly above me. The sky was a clean, pure blue and the clouds drifted so slowly. There was a soft breeze that blew the hair off of my face. Everything about the moment was overwhelmingly beautiful and perfect. Then, a tear ran down my cheek as I felt the Spirit in my heart speaking to me. He said, "Emily. This moment in all its beauty does not compare to mine and it does not compare to yours. You are mine; I love you. Rest, it is finished."

I slowly stood up, wiped my tears, and walked back inside as a new creation. That was the first day I ever felt alive! Beautiful, divine truths began to sink in one by one. I am worth dying for. I am forgiven. I will soon know God as He knows me. I am going to heaven. I know what Love is. I have something I can trust. God lives in me. It was more than I could handle, and my contagious excitement began to overflow. I was like a little Christian puppy and I could not contain myself! His love was so alive.

It is easy to be excited and joyful when you are young, and Christ's truths are still new in your heart. But as you grow older and fall into your daily routines, it is significantly harder to maintain that joy and "newness" you once felt. But, God does not change. Those things I realized as an excited Christian puppy are no less true today, than they were on that beautiful July afternoon. And you are no less new than you were the day you were first saved! God is still as good and as faithful as He ever was. You are still eternal and you are still perfectly loved. In fact, according to Lamentations, God's compassions are made new in you every morning.

The same Spirit that had the power to raise Christ from the dead lives inside of you this very moment. Now that is what I call life. It is not mundane. It is not easy to understand. It cannot be tamed. It is invincible and all-knowing. And it lives in you. So today, reclaim it- for you are a new creation, and there is nothing the God in you cannot do!

Lord, please remind my heart of the depth of your divine power. Revive me, making the truth of Your perfect love alive in my heart, so that I may praise You and honor You as you deserve. Remind me that I am new, and remind me that You are God. I love you. Amen.

Emily Jones

Peace Please!

For He Himself is our peace, Who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in His flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. Ephesians 2: 14, 15 (NIV)

Do you need peace today? Have you longed for it and searched for it, and no peace seems to be "in the cards" for you? Are there barriers in the way between you and your longed for peace? Do you feel as though you're standing on one side of a lake looking at "peace" way on the other shore, with no means to get to it?

Are you seeking peace in a relationship, peace regarding a decision, or to live with a sense of peace in your heart? ".He Himself is our Peace." (Verse 14) How often we seek peace apart from Him Who is our Peace. The law and its commandments and regulations could show us where we had gone wrong. Maybe you can see where you went wrong in a relationship or a choice and yet can't see a way now. Maybe you are just weighed down more by being able to see and yet you don't know how to make it right. You can't make it right, dear one. But He can - in His way and in His time (which is always right). He took on Himself all our sins and offers in their place full and complete forgiveness, life, restoration, healing and Peace. He can do what following regulations can't do. He can now place in our hearts all that we need to be able to follow Him in love. Through His love barriers are destroyed, dividing walls are broken down and a way is provided where there was no way. Not always all at once, but more often slowly and patiently, He works with us and guides us.

The more we come to realize that time in His Presence makes all the difference; and the more we allow Him to speak to us through His Word, the more we realize that our lives are becoming more and more peaceful. Not because our circumstances may be peaceful, but because we are abiding in One Who is above all our circumstances.

Father, we ask You today for Your peace that passes all understanding. I pray for each one who reads these words that they may feel Your hand of Peace and Love on their lives in extraordinary ways. Help us each to carve out that time with You, that time that makes all the difference in our days. Thank you.

Wanda Nester

Christmas Secrets

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1 (NIV)

I love the anticipation of Christmas. As a child, it was tortuous to see the presents under the tree and have to wait to find out what those packages held. As an adult, I enjoy purchasing gifts for my family and watching them try to figure out what is in them. My six-year-old tries so hard to open them prematurely. Just last night, my daughter said that she decided she wants to celebrate Christmas early. I, of course, said no. Part of the fun is making her wait! My husband also made a statement that if the book he wants isn't under the tree, it will be our first purchase after Christmas. I just smiled, knowing exactly when he'll receive it. I want so badly to say, "It's coming! Don't worry, you'll get what you want," but I have to hold it in.

Through my human understanding, I can only imagine the anticipation God had as He waited for the right time to present the greatest Christmas present ever. All those years cataloged in the Old Testament, when the people were in so great need of a Savior. I can't picture waiting to give such a gift. I would have caved in, but then, I am not God (and for good reason!). The planning and prophecy that went into building up anticipation until the moment was pregnant (no pun intended) with the need for someone, anyone, even with a lowly birth like Jesus', to come and save a world so lost with desperation. The people wanted a king, someone mighty and powerful, but God chose to give them what they needed instead, someone who embodied humble humanity, but no less the power to save mankind.

Sometimes we don't get what we want at Christmas. Sometimes we are disappointed. All the excitement and preparation for a holiday that is as fleeting as any other day of the year. Sometimes we get what we need instead of what we want. God knew to give us what we needed instead of what we wanted when He sent Jesus to this earth. He had planned it along, steeped it in grace and love, and it turned out to be the greatest gift He could possibly give.

God, thank you for sending Your Son to save us. Thank you for giving us what we needed instead of what we thought we wanted. May our gratitude during this season honor You. Amen.

Nikki Hamsher

Mary - A Humble Offering

Mary said, "I am the servant of the Lord. Let this happen to me as you say!" Then the angel went away. Luke 1:38 (NCV)

This Christmas season has brought a certain depth of thought to my mind on the subject of Mary, the mother of Jesus. I wonder what her personality was like. Was she shy or outgoing? What was special about her that God would choose her to be the mother of Jesus, the Son of God, over the other young women? How awesome it would have been to know her; to be a part of her life!

Let's take a walk back in time and visit the life of Mary. She was a young woman, engaged to be married, and like us, she would be dreaming about her wedding day. The day the angel greeted her and told her the news about her miracle conception, her life changed drastically. She faced some cultural risks we would not. A young unmarried girl who became pregnant would face consequences such as being rejected by her fianc� and probably remain unmarried for life. If her father rejected her she could be forced into begging or prostitution in order to earn a living. Add to that the likelihood of being called a crazy woman when she tried to tell the story about being made pregnant by the Holy Spirit! Yet, in spite of it all, her immediate response was "let it happen!"

At that moment, she would not have recalled the prophesies, or understood the tremendous opportunity and privilege of being the mother of Jesus. She was unpretentious. She simply trusted the words of the angel and willingly offered herself to serve God. In the eyes of the world, her life was ruined. But she believed the words the angel spoke in verse 37; with God, nothing will be impossible.

I want to be like Mary. She was chosen to serve God; just an ordinary gal who made herself available to God. Her character was revealed by her response to the unexpected. She did not seek status or fame in the eyes of the world. She humbly offered her life and trusted God to use her to do the impossible.

We lift our voices, we lift our hands
We lift our lives up to You
We are an offering

Lord use our voices, Lord use our hands
Lord use our lives they are Yours
We are an offering

All that we have, all that we are
All that we hope to be we give to You
We give to You

We lift our voices, we lift our hands
We lift our lives up to You
We are an offering, we are an offering. Dwight Liles

Janet Stutzman

Countdown to Christmas

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.' So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. Luke 2:15-16 (NIV)

Christmas time.a wonderful time. Yet, so often it's a season of "hurrying". There's gifts to purchase, trees to decorate, cookies to bake, presents to wrap, cards to mail, company to get ready for, holiday meals to prepare, etc. The lists of things to do just seems endless. No matter how much we hurry, sometimes we feel like we're not accomplishing much on our never-ending "to do" list.

But the first Christmas was much simpler. It was not as complicated as Christmas is sometimes made to be today. Yes, the shepherds "hurried" to go see the newborn King, but it was a good and exciting time for them, not a stressful or anxious one.

How are you feeling as the countdown to Christmas begins? Are you feeling a little stressed or anxious instead of excited? I know I have been feeling overwhelmed with all of the preparations that still need to be done. So to help myself refocus my thoughts and calm my spirit, I recently stopped in the midst of all my hurriedness to write the following poem:

Countdown to Christmas
Only seven more days till the big Day arrives
Will we be ready? Will we survive?

Sometimes I wander as I look at my lists
Of things still to do and things I might have missed
But then I remembered it's not about me
It's not about presents or putting up the tree

It's all about Him - the newborn King
Born to die - what an unexpected thing
Yet that was God's plan for His Son He loves dear
And God loves us too! So I will rejoice and not fear

What gets done will get done; what doesn't, just won't
But all that's OK; I'm not going to mope
Instead I'll give thanks and do what I can
To make this year special, wonderful and grand!

For this is the day when we remember His birth
God as a babe came to the earth

No other gift could be better than this
So let's celebrate! Christmas Day will be bliss!
Thank You, Lord for Your wonderful Gift to us in Your Son, Jesus Christ. He is not just the reason for Christmas, but the reason for everything! May we truly honorYou this Christmas and every day of the year.

Beth Wehr

King of Glory

Who is this King of glory? The Lord Almighty.He is the King of Glory Psalm 24:10 NLT

Waiting has never been one of those things I do well. From the time I was old enough to realize that there were Christmas gifts hidden under my parent's bed I became a world class snooper. As a teenager my behavior bordered on the criminal as I would actually un-wrap gifts, try them on for size, and then re-wrap the gift. My mother was on to my scandalous ways and devised ways to try and get me to wait until Christmas morning for my gifts, but alas to no avail. One year however I saw I was getting a yellow sweater and was completely thrilled because I was always told that since my complexion was pale and hair color was blond I couldn't wear yellow, and naturally it is my favorite color. Unfortunately, I had been less than savvy that year in disguising my knowledge of what was going to be under the tree that Christmas which cured me from my snooping ways forever. My mother, having realized that I had seen the sweater walked into my room wearing the yellow sweater that was intended for me and coyly asked, "How do you like my new sweater?" I nearly swallowed my tongue. What could I possibly say that would not reveal my illicit ways?

I think about how the Christmas season for many of us is a time of waiting and doing. Now I completely understand the doing part of Christmas, decorating, shopping, cooking and baking. All of these things I am well acquainted with, and even though I am less than skilled at waiting, I am an excellent doer, I love to do and even love to tell others how, or what to do.

The thing I realized is, I don't have to be a waiter anymore, at least in respect to the reality of Christmas and that is King Jesus. But how do I translate that into my life when I am so busy doing, that I forget that the thing that is most important has already been done, the wait is over?

My mind is drawn to the wise men of the Christmas story. They had been studying the prophecies for centuries, waiting for the birth of the King of Kings. When this particular generation of Magi had the revelation of the birth of Jesus, they left their lives behind and with great passion went in search.

Unlike the wise men, we do not have to wait. We don't have to leave our lives behind and go out in search of something that might be completely elusive. Jesus is not elusive. He is the one waiting.waiting for us, waiting for our lives to be passionate about Him, and waiting for our hearts to put our doing aside, even for a little while.

In October we had a little bit of snowfall that managed to stay on the ground for a couple of hours. My son came home and told me that he got so excited when he saw that snow, because it reminded him that Christmas is coming. For a brief moment I remembered exactly what he was talking about. That joy that wells up inside of us as we remember that something fantastic is coming. How terrific would it be if we never lost that excitement for Christmas, not because of the possibility of a yellow sweater the morning of December 25, but because our waiting is over, the greatest gift of all, the King of Glory was delivered over 2000 years ago.

Heavenly Father, Thank you that You have revealed Yourself to us as the King of Glory in such a precious, personal way, that we do not have to wait, that You have come near. Help us remember the pure joy that comes from knowing Jesus.

Monica Mueller

Celebrate!

They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. Psalm 145:7 (NIV)

I was on a walk one day when a familiar aroma stopped me. I sniffed a bit before it hit me: it smelled like my Grandma's house at Christmastime! I closed my eyes and remembered many years of opening presents and Christmas traditions, none of which actually had anything to do with the birth of Jesus. My grandparents are still as yet unsaved, as is most of that side of my family. I still have positive memories and the smell I was savoring brought me back there. I opened my eyes, though, and realized what I was walking past: the little bar in our town! My grandparents, aunts and uncles were also all smokers. So, the mixture of smoke, food and a bit of beer was what I actually smelled! I guess there is no place like Grandma's!

Our Christmas traditions have now changed, but the cause for celebration has not. The verse above, from Psalms reminds me of Christmas. We are to rejoice and celebrate all that God has given us, most importantly, Jesus. We are to sing of His righteousness! What other holiday has so many songs associated with it. Christmas is the birthday party for everyone, for it marks the point in history when we could truly become sons and daughters of the Father in a unique and personal way. We can have the indwelling of the Spirit, thanks to the sacrifice that Christ would eventually make for us. We can start fresh, for the New Year is right around the corner, full of hope for transformation, both personal and as a body of believers. Christ's birth gives us no reason to be saddened, but once again renews are spirits with expectation and the promises of God to come. Take time this Christmas to remember what God has given you, and let that fuel your hope for the year to come.

God, thank you for the gift of your Son Jesus. Remind us to celebrate with glad hearts His birth this season. Help us also to touch those around us with Your love who haven't yet experienced it. Amen.

Nikki Hamsher

What's In Your Closet? Part 6 of 6

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)

Have you ever seen any ugly bride? Most people would answer no. From the day the bride begins to plan her wedding to the moment she walks down the aisle, there have been hours and hours of thought and preparation. Magazines full of pictures and instructions as well as conversations with friends and family have been a part of everyday life for the bride-to-be. When the day arrives, the guests enter the decorated church. The bridal party is dressed to perfection and the music begins. Then she appears. The bride takes our breath away and everyone smiles as she passes. All are in awe at the transformation and beauty of the moment.

In our final part of the CLOSET acrostic is the letter T - Transformed into the new you. From the moment the decision was made to make a change in a cluttered closet, there have been hours of thoughts and choices. Each item has been evaluated; it either fit or it didn't, and it was a keeper or it wasn't. Some of the favorites, ones with memories attached, and the pieces that made us laugh at the thought of why it was purchased have remained or been removed. We are no longer wearing the old clothes or the ones that didn't fit quite right. Suddenly, there is realization that the items removed, the ones that were being held on to, were what caused the closet to be cluttered. Why were they held on to so long when they were not of great value or being worn?

We can probably say that about our spiritual closet as well. The things we hold on to - are they valuable? Are they keeping us lost and discouraged? As we remove the clutter of sin in our life, we begin to realize the consequences of hanging on to those.

There is one special advantage we now have as we gaze into our clean, and organized closets. There is room for the new! Little by little, item by item, we now have a clearer vision when we shop. We know what is in our closet and we know what will compliment what is in there. It is also more clear what will not be a proper fit. As we plan what to wear, we have that "look good, feel good" attitude. The new physical changes have created a new kick in our step and a smile on our face. We have a new sense of joy and contentment and confidence grows in other areas of our life.

Guess what? The same will happen in our spiritual life as well. A new relationship with God will change us and others will notice! When we accept God's gift of salvation and overcome sin in our life, we become set apart for God and we are made pure. As believers, we are the bride of Christ. He will never reject us because we belong to Him. We no longer are lost in sin. God has given us clear guidelines for a new life, given us instruction in His Word, and joy and peace preside. Others will see the transformation - the new you. Just as our verse says, the old is gone and the new has come.

Revelation 3:5 says, "He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life."

What is the condition of your closet today? Is it transformed? Are you allowing God to search your heart? Does he find a willing spirit? There will be bad days and good days, but as we trust God and daily obey His instruction, we can expect blessing. The Bible is packed full of truth for living. Read it, love it and live it!

What's in your closet?

Lord, thank you for your love for us and for the gift of salvation. As we allow you to search our hearts, our spiritual closets, help us to be free from the clutter of sin and maintain a life full of blessing from obedience.

Janet Stutzman

The Power of Forgiveness

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14-15 NIV

I heard a statement on the television a little while ago. It said "The power of forgiveness defeats fear."

In my opinion the power of forgiveness defeats not only fear, but a multitude of other things. To name a few there is: bitterness, anger, hate, retaliation. I know this from personal experience. When our seventeen-year-old daughter was abducted, and murdered, we were quick to offer forgiveness to the man that committed the crime.

It began in the heart of my husband, Jeff. He spoke the words to the detectives, and when those words hit my ears I knew it was a life/death choice. I could choose to forgive and have a life that would include peace, and the knowledge that I too was forgiven for many things. Or I could choose to not forgive and be filled with anger, hatred, malice, un-forgiveness, bitterness, and myriad other things.

Neither choice would bring Liz back to us, but knowing that we were not harboring un-forgiveness gave us great freedom. It has remained true for nearly ten years. Never once has it wavered or changed. I know for a fact that never once has Jesus regretted dying on the cross for our sins, so that we could receive forgiveness. And I can honestly say that, never once have we regretted our choice of forgiveness to the man that took our daughter's life.

The power of forgiveness has defeated not only fear, but it has released me from being an angry, bitter, defeated woman. I am perhaps unusual, but I am better for my choice.

Dear Father, help me to always be willing to forgive, so that I may be forgiven and saved from so many things. Amen

Becki Reiser

When you least expect it!

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Matthew 10:29-31 NIV

Have you ever wondered about how much God cares about even the little things in our lives? A few years ago, I began to wonder about some of my 'old' friends from when I was in junior high, high school, and college. I had lost touch with so many because of all the moving I did as a child. I attended eleven schools and moved twenty one times before I was married. I had made some wonderful friends! Yet, when I moved away, I lost touch with them. It is not that I didn't care, my life just changed and I had to adapt to where I was at the time. I have often tried to find friends through a couple of internet sites. Lo and behold, I have found many! It is so exciting.

Three days ago, someone sent me a friend request and it turned out to be the friend that I had searched for, I looked for a long time but never found her. It turns out that she too had tried to find me, but was more successful. This woman has had so many difficult things happen in her life, and physically she is not well. I believe with all of my heart that God brought her back into my life for a reason. The biggest reason is to share my most precious possession, and that is Jesus.

God cares about everything that happens in our lives. He cares what we are doing all the time, and He cares about the things that concern us! He knew that my friend had tried to find me. She shared that she never had a friendship as we had after I moved away. She was lost without me!

That thought made me feel good in some ways, and sorrowful in others. We don't seem to know just how much of an impression we make on people. I actually spoke to her on the phone yesterday and she said some things that really made me think. I am so glad that I was memorable.

Have you ever 'lost touch' with God? In our busy lives, we have a tendency to overlook that part of our life. We think that we will catch up later, but later never seems to come. God is searching for us, or rather for our hearts. Are we searching too?

Lord, thanks for helping me in those areas of my life that seem so small, yet mean so much. Keep me in remembrance of relationships I have especially my relationship with You. Amen

Becki Reiser

Longing To Hear

I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. Psalm 116:1, 2 (NIV)

"Please call me just one more time. I need to let you know how much I love you." Those were just some of the words my heart was crying out hours after our oldest son left for the army. I remember lying on the bed with my head on a tear covered pillow, unable to stop the flow of tears streaming from my broken heart. This wasn't like me.to be so emotional and desperate for the sound of my son's voice. When he was a teenager, sometimes the sound of his voice made me want to cry! (I'm sure some of you moms with teenagers can relate!) Why did it hurt so badly this time? I had never felt so desperate to hear from him before. It was not as if he would have anything new to tell me, yet I just wanted him to talk to me. As I lay there crying out, it was as if God.ever so gently, but firmly.spoke to my heart. "Susan, now you know how I feel. You don't have to wait until trauma or a special occasion comes your way to talk to me. How will you know how much I love you if you don't talk with me?"

How many times has my Father's heart hurt longing to hear from me? What was it that He wanted to say to me that I missed out on? Knowing He loves me more than I could ever begin to love my own children also tells me He longs for me to talk to Him and spend time with Him. When did I last take time to talk to God without asking Him for anything, but just wanting Him to know that I love Him?

Try to imagine not hearing from the people you love the most, and how you would hurt longing to hear from them.

Dear heavenly Father, thank you for Your great and unconditional love for me. Forgive me for not returning that love to You more often. Help me to communicate with You and love You the way You deserve. Amen.

Susan Yoder

This is another fine example of what is available in the Circle of Friends devotional available at the right side of this page.

Blessed Is She

Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished! Luke 1:45 (NIV)

How can I become the woman Elizabeth is portraying in the verse above? Elizabeth, the woman described as Mary's relative, is who Mary visits and stays with for about three months during her pregnancy. She is excited to have Mary visit, and is also pregnant with her son, who will become John the Baptist. Elizabeth also fully acknowledges the one Mary is carrying in her womb, and she even refers to Mary carrying "her Lord" in Luke 1:43. The encouragement she gives to the young Mary is invaluable, and I am sure Mary, even though she has accepted what God has done in her life and how He has used her for His will, needed a friend like Elizabeth.

So, back to my original question and also an added one: how can I become like Mary, believing in the promises of God? How also can I be like Elizabeth, a comfort, encouragement and also a believer in God, no matter how unbelievable the circumstances? Elizabeth describes Mary as "blessed" for believing in God's plan, even before it is seen to fruition. I am sure Mary felt some trepidation, even though she believed. It would be hard to believe the plan, presented through an angel, no matter how strong Mary's faith was. But yet she did, as we all must do. She believed, and replied simply to the angel in verse 38, that it may be as the angel said. She only had one question for the angel before making that straightforward answer. She wanted to know how a child could be conceived as she was a virgin. The angel explained, and Mary accepted.

Why do I have such trouble, then, with less complex and magnanimous duties laid before me? Why do I agonize over small tasks? I need to remember the clear-cut answer of Mary, and the unbridled encouragement of Elizabeth. To remain plain with my responses to God's nudges, to accept them and carry them out, is how I should respond. To encourage and lift up those who have been given tasks, no matter how great or small, is how I should also respond. To truly be blessed, I must do as Elizabeth said above: to believe that what the Lord has said will be accomplished. It's as simple and yet demanding as that. But when I do, I will have peace knowing I am obedient, knowing that God is pleased, just as He was with His servant and daughter, Mary.

God, give me the strength You gave Mary, to do the task You have laid out before me, no matter how outrageous or how simple. Amen

Nikki Hamsher

What's In Your Closet? Part 5 of 6

But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him. I John 2:5-6 (NKJV)

Evaluation is a powerful tool. My children were told they could not leave the house to play with the neighbor kids until their room was clean. The evaluation was based on my definition of clean. After reviewing a game tape with the basketball team, the coaching staff commented on my husband's cocky attitude after he was charged with a foul. I knew him by his nick-name (Cocky) before I knew his given name. Employees are hired and fired based on someone's evaluation.

E - Evaluate your progress. We've been candid, cleaned out the clutter to escape our lost condition, chosen to obey important guidelines, and focused on the details by sweating the small stuff. Now it is time to step back and evaluate our progress. It is not safe to assume we will never go back to the old habits, nor can we feel comfortable with the perfect little world we've created inside our closet. It is going to continue to be a process. There will be obstacles along the way. Even if we maintain a great attitude, the closet will not automatically stay clean. There will be days of neglect due to rushed schedules, backload in the laundry room, and unexpected circumstances. Another guideline to remember: If there is not enough time to get your closet in order, try to do one or two things each time you enter. It won't be long before the weakness and cause of the unwanted clutter is identified when we are evaluating our progress.

The same conditions are present in our spiritual closets. We have good days in the Word and in prayer, and some days of neglect. Life is full of busy-ness and we cannot control each obstacle that comes our way. Our heart's desire is to maintain a close relationship with our Lord but Satan has a basket full of clutter ready to throw at us. Take the time to evaluate weaknesses and strengths. When time is too short to read an entire passage, find a verse to meditate on for the day. As you pass a house of a friend or someone you know is struggling, pray for them as you go by. Plan ahead to spend time with the Lord when a busy week is ahead. Failure can be avoided through evaluation. How would God evaluate your progress?

Obey is an action word. Day by day, moment by moment, we can experience God's love complete in our lives. Do you see blessing in your life? It is always a great feeling when we conquer a cluttered closet and it is no longer a place of dread. Our obedience to God is a great thing as well. We can know we are in Him when we obey Him! Is there a better place to be?

When we stop evaluating, we no longer have a tool to motivate. The clutter will return and we will find ourselves hopeless and in a lost condition again. Be willing to allow God to evaluate your progress.

Our prayer.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalms 139:23-24 (NKJV)

Janet Stutzman

Don't Take It Personally

A man's wisdom gives him patience, it is to his glory to overlook an offense. Proverbs 19:11 NIV

Have you ever been in the situation where something happened and you felt totally left out? This is something that I am personally struggling with, and it is very painful. It seems I have struggled with this all of my life. Wanting to belong to or be a part of something. Somehow I thought that because I am an adult, that those feelings would just disappear as supposedly wisdom comes as I get older.

Not so. It has shown me just how childish I can still be. Nevertheless, I still feel hurt. I am not quite sure what the Lord is trying to show me. Perhaps it is the fact that people will always disappoint me because they are human. Sometimes I even feel disappointed in what God does. Yes, I admit it, God has disappointed me. Just because I prayed and really thought that God was leading a certain way, then things fell through. I was heart broken!

But, was God really disappointing me, or was I just wanting my own way? Oh my, that hurts to think about it like that. Is that what is going on? Do I really just want my own way? Is God protecting me from harm, or even the possibility of walking away from Him if I get what I want? I certainly don't want that to happen, yet that is a possibility. I want to serve God with my whole heart, but if that heart is too involved with "things" I very well may miss what God really wants to do.

I am really hoping that by bearing my heart, that I am making myself vulnerable to not only you, but also vulnerable to God, and what He is trying to do in my life. Do I still want to be a part of a certain group of friends? Do I really want to go to that Christmas party? I must be honest and say that yes, I do. Perhaps my invitation was accidentally missed, or lost in the mail. I don't know. I do not want to take things personally, but I truly want to learn to trust God. That He will help me to grow through my offenses.

Father, help me to forgive those that have offended me. Whether they have done it on purpose or accidentally. Teach me to accept things the way that they are, and to run to You with all of those hurts and misunderstandings. Thanks Lord! Amen

Becki Reiser

They Just Want to See the Baby!

Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to His temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come, says the Lord God Almighty. Malachi 3:1b

It was the Christmas season, and our younger son, still a pre-schooler, was spending the afternoon at Grandma's house. Now, Grandma's house is always beautifully decorated, but at Christmastime, it is nothing short of magical. An array of greens, poinsettias, and wreaths; the Christmas tree done up in a color-coordinated theme; carved, wooden Santa's of every shape and size; the warm aroma of cookies baking; yes, there is nothing like Grandma's house at Christmas. And in the living room-proudly showcased along the mantel top-stood a display of her prized, hand-carved creche figures, posed into an artistic Nativity scene. Our little guy felt quite at home as he wandered from room to room in wide-eyed wonderment. But that manger scene! Oh, that manger scene!

Hours later, after he had gone home, a quick survey of the house revealed that someone had done a little decorating of his own. In fact, he had somehow climbed to the top of the fireplace and completely re-arranged the Nativity! The imported, hand-carved figures, once perfectly posed just so, were now bunched together into a huddle, as if strategically planning their next big play. The Christ child that Grandma had carefully placed in the center, was now completely hidden by the swarm of figurines. Puzzled, but undaunted, she made it right again, re-posing the scene for optimum dramatic effect.

But his next visit produced the same outcome: shepherds, wise men, angels, and livestock all massed together into one big group hug. Time and time again. After each succeeding visit, the manger scene required reassembling.

She just had to ask. "Something tells me you don't like the way I arrange that manger scene!"

"But Grandma!" he responded, "They just want to see the Baby!"

And there it was. He had it right. Just how the real manger scene must have looked. Everyone excitedly crowding in-not posed for a mantel or greeting card-everyone just wanting to get a good look at that Baby.

Lord, may this Christmas be our greatest desire to see Him too. Amen

Suzie Thomas

Just Waiting.

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11 (NIV)

Do you ever find yourself waiting for something spectacular to happen in your life? Some single event that changes your life in some dramatic fashion? I think that is why our adrenaline-junkie culture eats up big apocalypse movies and is addicted to 24-hour news. We are waiting for something, and we don't want to miss it. What if the world was ending in three days and we had to find a way to survive? How exciting and scary that would be!

But it seems those events never come. Life goes on, normal and mundane. We may get life changing events, but they are never the kind that we want. They don't always turn out happily like the movies. And all-day news is just repetitive and kind of boring.

I wonder if the people who surrounded Jesus' birth felt the same way. Did they know, really know, who He was? Did they feel the power of God surround Him, even as He lay in the manger? Do we still get that excitement today?

The everyday life can be numbing to our spiritual sensibilities. It can rob us of sustained joy and excitement. Christmas comes to remind us of what we have been given. New life in the form of a new life: Jesus. He came fresh into this world, not placed here fully grown or in some other form, but as a baby, humble and weak, just as the rest of us. His absolutely ordinary entrance into this world is what makes His story so unexpected. We don't look for saviors in barns. We look for grandiose entries into the upper crust of society. We don't look for pregnant women on donkeys; we look for magnificent kings riding in with ostentatious style. Our modern culture gets gift-obsessed and greets each other with holiday tidings, so as not to offend people with the real reason of Christmas.

This Christmas, are you still waiting for that savior to come galloping over the hills on a white horse? Or is your joy and excitement founded in the One who already is here, just waiting for you to come to Him?

God, thank you for the gift of salvation through Jesus. As we go through the celebrations and rituals of Christmas, remind us that our hope, our Savior has already come. Sustain our joy and help us to spread that good news we already have received. Amen.

Nikki Hamsher