Thank You!

Thank you to everyone who helped make the Road Trip Series a success at First Missionary Church. We had a great summer full of fun activities, encouraging stories, and challenging preaching. God bless you as you continue your journey!

The Healing Power of Prayer

by Sandy Bunch

1 Kings 8:28 Yet give attention to your servant's prayer and plea for mercy, O Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day. 

I asked God what He would like me to share today. I kept being reminded of the first time He made himself known to me as my Healer. A new Christian at 40 years of age, I suffered from severe allergies all of my life. They were especially bad in the summer, when the trees bloomed, when we baled hay and when we were around animals (which I love). It was a constant battle with sneezing and itching, which was so severe that I wanted to claw the inside of my head out.
Right after I became a believer I had an attack in the middle of the night and asked God that He would take this from me, if it was His will. Immediately I heard a pop in my head and all the symptoms left. That was 30 years ago and I have never suffered from allergic symptoms again! I am reminded whenever I hear, “it's that time of year again,” to give thanks over and over that He heard and answered my prayer so beautifully and powerfully.
What can people learn and apply? Nothing is too insignificant or too hard for God. He knows the hairs on our heads and the sparrow that falls from the nest. He ASKS us to bring our requests to Him. He is a loving, caring God that delights in the prayers of His beloved.

Prayer: Dear Father, I need You. You are everything to me. Comfort me and make something beautiful from my life. I surrender all that I am into Your hands and I ask that You fill me with all of You. Whatever You have for me, I receive with open arms because I know it's from You and I trust You with my life.

Are You Listening?

by Annemieke Kosten

Psalm 37:7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him… 

Mom…Mom…Mom…Mom…MOM! This is the sound of my son trying to get my attention recently. The problem is I didn’t even hear him until the fifth “Mom”. I was so busy scurrying around the kitchen getting dinner ready while thinking about the phone calls I needed to make and helping my daughter with her homework and realizing that the dishwasher was full of dirty dishes. (No clean dishes for the dinner that will be ready in 5 minutes!) When I reacted to my son asking for my attention with less patience than I would like to admit, my husband asked, “Didn’t you hear him calling you?”
I have realized that Jesus must feel like my poor son—desperately wanting my attention. I mean, if I can’t even hear my son, who is standing right next to me calling my name, how can I expect to hear my Father whisper my name? I wonder how many times God has been trying to talk to me and I couldn’t hear Him? And how can I expect to be close to God if the noise filter in my life is left unchecked?
So, should we quit all that we are doing? I don’t think that is what God expects of us. But we can simplify. We can set aside time to turn off the radio, the TV, our endless “To Do” lists and take some time to listen to Him. Isn’t that what He told Martha in Luke 10:38-42? He asked her to slow down for a few minutes and listen to what He had to say.

Prayer: Lord, I want to hear what You are saying to me. Teach me to live in simplicity. Help me each day to look for the moments where I can turn off the “noise” so that I am able to hear Your voice.

Meditation

by Caleb Hoskins

Joshua 1:8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 

Christian meditation is misunderstood, seen as too complicated, and usually misused. My personal experience with meditation erred in all three of these ways until I read about it in Richard Foster’s book, The Celebration of Discipline.
Misunderstood meditation. Most people think of meditation in terms of Eastern religions—the emptying of the mind and letting go of the world. But the goal of Christian meditation is to fill your mind with the Word of God and to let Him change you.
Complicated meditation. I always saw meditation as something reserved for the so-called “Spiritual Giants,” perhaps for monks and priests or a super-spiritual pastor. Could an amateur Christian like myself actually meditate? The truth is that we all can!
Misused meditation. Even on the rare occasion that I did attempt to meditate on Scripture, I would close the door behind me, think really hard about the Word, and then, when I was done, go outside and try to do it—usually to no avail. I later learned that meditation is not a single act done apart from our day, but an attitude of prayerful contemplation. It is a choice to be mindful of God and His Word throughout my day. (This definition requires that I already read and study the Word.) So, if I hold on to God’s Word throughout my day then I have to let go of something else. I have to let go of my own understanding, which is usually wrong anyway.
Now that you understand how simple it is, it’s your turn. Read Proverbs 3:5-6 today. Read it again. Commit it to memory. Take it with you all day long. Trust Him, lean on Him, acknowledge Him, and He will guide you.

Prayer: Lord, teach me to meditate on Your Word all day long.

Service

by Jeanie Ogden

Ephesians 6:7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men. 

Fifteen years ago my husband Earl and I heard about an organization needing volunteers to do repairs, clean-up and painting homes damaged by Hurricane Andrew. We asked friends from church to join us and we worked two weeks in January for the next three years. The following year we learned that an organization needed volunteers to get Bibles ready to send to Russia. Again, some friends from church joined us and we helped collate, bind and ship Bibles for two weeks in January for seven years. We also painted and remodeled their buildings. We were getting to be “professionals!”
In 2000, we joined 18 others from Missionary Churches and flew to Russia. St. Petersburg Christian University had purchased an OLD building and needed volunteers to get it ready for the student’s classrooms, a cafeteria and dormitories. The building needed a kitchen, new floors, new walls, and a water heater. Since none of the Russian staff spoke English, we had interpreters and our own missionaries to help. Returning home our Mission Organization informed us about the needs of our Hispanic churches on the Texas border. For 4 years we spent two weeks every January doing minor repairs and painting. Part of our blessing each day was an authentic Mexican meal! We continue each year to find a place to be of service outside the church as well as in the church. A dictionary definition of service is “helpful acts.” Where will you serve?

Prayer: Lord, help me to be effective in service as unto You, as well as teach by example. Bless those we serve.

True Worship

by Tom Wiggins

John 4:24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth. 

There are times in my Christian life when God seems very distant and I have trouble finding Him. When these times come I go to a song on my computer’s “favorites” list; I turn up my speakers and listen. The song was written by Andraé Crouch and is titled “My Tribute.” It is sung by the Oslo, Norway choir. Here are some of the words:
“How can I say thanks for the things He has done for me, things so undeserved that He did to prove His love for me? The voices of a million angels cannot express my gratitude, all that I am or ever hope to be I owe it all to Thee.”
When I think of what Christ has done for me personally, God is suddenly very near and worshiping and thanking Him become easy. True worship only takes place when our spirit and the Holy Spirit commune with each other, whether in our daily living or when we come together as a church to worship God.

Prayer: Lord, help us to worship You in spirit and in truth. May we always have Your Name in our hearts and minds—giving You praise and thanks for all You do for us.

Staying Close to God

by Janice Leonard

Hosea 5:15 Then I will go back to my place until they admit their guilt. And they will seek my face; in their misery they will earnestly seek me. 

“Keep short accounts,” Pastor Dan has said a number of times. I wondered just exactly what it meant until I finally figured it out. What does that mean? Don’t let your list of unconfessed sins mount up.
No, I am not in the habit of stealing, murdering, or even lying, but I sometimes have negative thoughts about people, and that’s not good. Sometimes I get carried away and interrupt or monopolize a conversation or unintentionally say something that makes others feel bad. God wants me to build others up and be encouraging and be a good listener. I want to be a healthy part of the body, not a part that secretes drops of poison. Until I confess, these things come between God and me, they hinder my prayers, and I limp spiritually.
As soon as I have disobeyed God, and when the Holy Spirit lets me know I have disobeyed or displeased Him in anyway, I talk to Him about it. I think about why the words, or thoughts, or actions were wrong. I feel bad and tell Him so. God hears me ask for forgiveness and helps keep me from going down that road again. Sometimes I need to make something right. This is one of the ways I stay close to God.

Prayer: Dear Father, I want to be close to You and to please You. Please show me when I mess up and give me the strength to do what is right. Thank You! In Jesus Name, Amen.

Victorious Prayer

by Rick Leonard

I Samuel 17:36-37: Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine... 
Several years ago, I had to have shoulder surgery twice on the same shoulder. I was off work for 12 weeks. This put me on disability checks, which amounted to 60% of a regular 40-hour paycheck. To make matters worse, the paperwork was sent to the wrong address, so I didn’t receive a check for five weeks.
Within the first week, the rear end on our main vehicle locked up, our garage door broke and the lawn mower quit working. Two weeks later, the transmission went out on our truck. A couple of weeks later, I had to have my wisdom teeth pulled, and then I needed a root canal and a crown put in. I needed victory! First Samuel 17:37 jumped out at me.
David based his prayer on what God had done for him in the past. He knew God was still with him and would give him victory again. That’s exactly what I needed. God had always provided for me, and there was no reason to think He wouldn’t do it this time. What a peace came over me! God took care of every situation that summer.
Sure, there are times stress, concern, and worries engulf me. I’m only human. But God delivered me in the past, and He delivers me now.

Prayer: Father, thank You for supplying all of my needs. You are my Rock and my Salvation.

Fasting

by Pat Strefling

Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God. 

I’m not one to fast but one day years ago when God said, “shut the door and don’t eat”, I did.
I slammed the refrigerator door shut, fasted and prayed, “God I want to marry him.” I loved a young man but we had broken up. Several long, difficult years had passed. Both his life and mine were a mess. I had recently recommitted my life to the Lord when he called to tell me he had prayed for Jesus to come into his heart. I was elated and “knew” the Lord had planned it all. He was now a Christian. What could possibly hinder us?
Exactly five months after I shut the refrigerator door, I received another call. He was dead at age 27.
God answered my prayer. Boy did he ever…not only would there be no marriage, but he was taken out of the world. I was devastated. After months of grief and not always understanding why God chose to answer my prayer the way He did, a question suddenly came to me. I knew it was God asking, “Would you rather have had this man be saved and know Me before he died or would you rather have Me answer yes to your prayer?”
God did not bring that man back into my life for marriage; He brought him into my life to be saved because He knew his time was short. I will always be grateful for that moment at the refrigerator when God said, “Shut the door and fast.” And that I obeyed.

Prayer: Lord, help me to obey—without question.

Hearing God in the Silence

by Dan Miller

Mark 1:35-37 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: "Everyone is looking for you!” 

Solitude and Silence…neat concept. But is it practical? Even more, is it even obtainable? This world is a noisy place because the fear of “being alone” frightens people. Consequently, we are bombarded by noise all day long from our cell phones, emails, Facebook and Twitter accounts (I fear that sometimes we think we are “connected” when we’re really not). Loneliness and inner emptiness drive us to noise and crowds. Ironically, inner fullness is found only in solitude and silence with Christ. Jesus invites us to leave loneliness and to join Him in solitude, calling us from noise to silence.
A few months ago, I started a professional relationship with a Life Coach. One of the sessions dealt with the lack of solitude and the abundance of noise in my life. My coach led me through an exercise to help me grasp the magnitude of my problem. It motivated me to make important decisions resulting in specific actions toward greater solitude and silence.
I am convinced that noise is one of satan's greatest tools to prevent us from becoming closer to God. It does not matter whether the noise is external noise or the internal noise of our mind. Solitude and silence are key to all the spiritual disciplines. The gospels say, “Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” The Psalmist said, “My soul finds rest in God alone.” The prophet said, “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.”

Prayer: Dear God, make the sanctuary of my heart and mind a silent and solitary place of fellowship with You. Speak to me today so that my witness to others reveals a life spent with You. Amen.

Doing What the Word Says

by Mark Slabaugh

James 1:22, 25 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says…But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom…will be blessed in what he does.

Over-promise and under-deliver was never true of my dad; in fact, he may have been on the side of never making a promise. His actions and work did the talking for him. Hard work was just an expected part of the day and your work would speak for you. The ability to get up every day and do the job without complaining was the fabric of his being—that’s who he still is today.
It is that desire—to let your actions speak for you—that gives me a hunger for the Word. I want to know how my heavenly Father wants me to live. What are the truths, the principles that should guide my life? I want that which I learn from God’s Word to be the fabric of my being. I want my life to reflect that which I read in God’s Word. So my study tends to focus on “How can I live more like Jesus?”

Prayer: Dear Father, please give me Your insights when I sit down to study Your Word. May my time be fruitful as I look for the principles and truths of God. Thank You for the Holy Bible that is Your instruction, encouragement, and training for me. I ask for an even greater hunger for Your Word. Please sew Your wisdom on the fabric of my heart. Amen.

The Power of Prayer

by Ruth Erickson

Ephesians 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayer and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. 

In the spring of 2003, my husband John was on his way to Southwestern Community College for his first class of the day. As he was en route another car ran out of control on the icy bridge and hit him nearly head on, which resulted in knee, back, and hip injuries. Rest, pain pills and therapy became the daily routine. The knee injury limited his range of motion to 70 degrees, but the doctor wanted 110 degrees. He sent a therapist out to the house and she worked with him about 3 times a week. We continued to pray as my husband and the therapist worked with his knee, but she was unable to break it loose. The doctor decided to put him in the hospital, as an outpatient, and bend the knee for him, but even this was unsuccessful. It looked like John would have a stiff leg the rest of his life. But we still continued to pray.
One day he was in the backyard with our granddaughter, Emily and her dog, Chayote. The dog headed for the woods and Emily called her back. Immediately the dog turned around and came running back so fast she couldn’t stop. She slammed into John and the impact was so hard that John found himself on the ground in severe pain. When the pain subsided and he began to get up, he noticed his knee had bent. His heel was touching his rump. He’s been able to bend that knee and walk without stiffness from that day on. God answers our prayers often in unexpected ways!

Prayer: God, when our problems look overwhelming, help us to stay calm and not grow anxious. Help us to trust You to work out our situation knowing You can answer our prayers in ways we never dreamed possible.

Spiritual Armor of God

by Shawn Oltz

Isaiah 59:17 He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head; he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak.

Do you ever think of each day as being a battle? I try to remind myself daily that I need the armor of God to be prepared for the spiritual battles ahead. Each morning I try to pray through each of the various pieces of the armor of God. Since memorizing scripture has never been easy for me, I imagine putting on the armor from the top and work down.
The first thing I envision is setting the helmet of salvation onto my head as I thank Jesus for dying on the cross for me and the people of this world. Next I attach the breastplate of righteousness and thank Jesus for being my mediator, forgiving my sins, and making me righteous in God’s sight. I am thankful that the truth of God holds everything together like a belt. I ready my feet with the gospel by asking the Lord to show me who to minister to. I ask Him to keep me from getting distracted by the pressures of the day. This is followed by picking up the shield of faith and asking God for the faith to carry out His will and to avoid the snares of the enemy. Lastly I grab the sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God, and ask to be filled by the Holy Spirit.

Prayer: Lord, now that I am fitted with the armor of God, lead me into the battle with fellow soldiers and show me the people that need to be freed today.

Opening Eyes

by Anita Belcher

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does…We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 

As Pastor Dan has said numerous times, “I’ve got problems; you’ve got problems; all God’s people got problems.” We all know this to be true. I heard a saying once, “If you haven’t run head on into satan, maybe it’s because you’re both going the same direction.” We must remember to rest in the promise that “the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
At one point in my life, I found myself in the midst of a very real physical demonic attack, virtually taking over my speech, movements, and vision. My thought process even escaped me. But deep down in my inner being, I was at peace, totally absent of fear. I knew God was with me. As directed in the Bible, the elders and pastor prayed over me. As the demonic power intensified, so did the prayers and soon I felt the power that had gripped me with so much force, loosen. Within minutes, I felt it leave me altogether and I was able to testify that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. Then my eyes were opened. A victory through my Lord! Alone “against the power of this dark world” I am nothing. Tossed around like a marble in a pinball machine. I must keep my focus on Christ. And never forget that He is on the throne. There is a battle at hand—no question. But there is power for victory in Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Dear God, help me to remember as I rise in the morning and prepare for my day that I need to be dressed in the full armor of God before I am ready to face the world.

Satan Is On A Leash

by Justin Pangle

I Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 

With the Word of God hidden in my heart and sometimes even written on my t-shirt, I have found that the enticement of sin is always prevalent in new forms and ways. Adam and Eve dealt with the problem of temptation in choosing to eat the forbidden fruit, while I have numerous temptations bombarding me on any given day.
I am not the type of person who would wish to hurt himself by jumping off of a building, or even by sticking my hands in an aquarium full of piranhas. But there is damage and hurt that is caused when we give into our temptations. For some reason, I am quick to forget that when I am being tempted.
It is helpful when I’m reminded that satan is on a leash and God promises that He will never allow satan to go too far. Your own battle with your own temptation is personal for you, to be sure. We are all tempted in different ways. Yet we are so fortunate to have a loving God who promises that the intensity of the temptation and escape route will also be uniquely tailored to us. Temptation will never be so strong that it will exceed our own ability to follow God's Word. With God’s power, we can overcome.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, You know of my struggle with [insert your temptation(s)]. Strengthen me and help me to stay away from and giving into [your temptation(s)]. Thank You for giving us a way out of every temptation that crosses our path.

One Long Week

by David Shier

Luke 4:6 And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor; for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.”

It was a long and tiresome week and I noticed that my actions were starting to reflect my attitude. I was working a lot, it didn’t feel like I was making any progress with the “list” and it was starting to take its toll on me. Like a constant annoying voice in my head I could hear lots of tempting ideas popping in there. Most of which were things of my past, before I was a follower of Christ. They were very distracting and appealing but through a little prayer I got through the first couple days. It didn’t take long for them to come back stronger and more direct. It was time to either knuckle up or give in to my selfish desires.

So, I decided to call in back up and asked my accountability partner to pray for me. I also dedicated longer quiet time and LOTS more prayer. Through all this I came through that week stronger and with a greater presence of the Holy Spirit in me. I know that those voices I was hearing were that of satan’s and the more that I put my faith in Christ the greater His protection was present.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I pray that You would give me a clear conscience and guide my actions today so that I would not falter and I would strive to do Your will. Give me the strength to stand firm in Your ways. Thank You for Your guiding hands and restful arms that I can only find in You.

Family Faith

by Kori Hurley

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

Kaia, my oldest daughter, hit a major mid-winter growth spurt. Her clothes and shoes collectively skyrocketed one size up. A lovely young lady she is becoming…but YIKES! An unanticipated wardrobe overhaul was not in the budget.

We had been reading about the missionary George Muller. Through prayer alone, God’s amazing provision was secured for hundreds of Muller orphans, a missionary fund, and a church. His biography had a profound impact on my four girls. They were eager to ask God to meet our needs. “Let’s just pray for Kaia’s clothes!” they suggested with wide-eyed faith. So pray we did. That very same weekend, an Upward Soccer teammate handed Kaia two pairs of top-notch shoes she had out-grown. Kaia was ecstatic, not only about the shoes, but about God’s obvious and immediate answer to our prayers. That was just the beginning. Later, my friend Petra delivered several huge bags of clothes and shoes from her girls. What a fun fashion show! Then yet another two bags of clothing came from Kaia’s teammate. “Wow,” Kaia exclaimed, “God really did answer our prayers Mama! I can’t believe how many wonderful clothes and shoes I have now!” It’s not something my girls will soon forget, and definitely a big win for our Answered Prayers Journal—a treasure of reminders that the Living God desires to move and act in our daily lives.

Prayer: LORD, You know the needs of my family. Help me to lead my children in trusting You to provide for us. Give us the child-like faith to ask expectantly and the patience to wait on Your sufficient answer to our prayers.

Game of Catch, Dad?

by Susanna MacDonald

Exodus 20:12 Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you. 
We had just moved back to Indiana. My sister had recently been diagnosed with cancer, and my dad with Alzheimer’s. This truly had all the earmarks of a terrible summer. My mom was caring for my sister, and it fell to me to take care of my dad. What some would have deemed to be an overwhelming task, turned out to be a truly blessed summer. True, we could not discuss current events with my dad, but this allowed us to enjoy the little things. The time I spent listening to dad’s stories and jokes, most of which I had heard several times, brought laughter and smiles to both of us. It was great knowing he enjoyed the time we spent together. I bought us baseball gloves, and we would go to the park for a game of catch, or just to walk and talk while holding hands, while enjoying nature. Dad went down hill after that summer, but the blessing the Lord gave me by giving me that one-on-one time with my dad was among my cherished memories of that otherwise sad time in our life.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for the blessing of two loving parents. I pray that the love I received from my parents will find its way into the lives of all the children of our church. I thank You for the blessing I received while caring for my dad, and pray that others who may find themselves in similar situations will find the blessing by enjoying the time they have. Lord, I pray that I will never forget the love You gave me through my parents.

Lunch Buddy?

by Kaia Hurley (daughter of Kyle & Kori Hurley)

Philippians 2:3-4 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 


One day at lunch, the new girl in my class named Ashley did not have any lunch money. She was just sitting there with nothing to eat and I felt sorry for her. So, I gave her half of my peanut butter and jelly sandwich and some of my carrots. She ate it, then shrugged her shoulders and told me “thanks.” It really didn’t sound much like a real “thank you.”

It really wasn’t a big deal to me at the time, but later, she ruined my friendship with my best friend named Tanya by playing with her and leaving me out. That really hurt my feelings, but I still tried to be her friend. She wasn’t interested, even though I had shared my lunch with her. Instead, God gave me two good friends, Bailey and Lana to take the place of the one I had lost.

What I learned was that God will help you love someone even if they aren’t grateful for what you have done for them. He helps me to be nice to Ashley even when I don’t feel like it.

Prayer: Dear God, please help me to remember that You can help me share and show Christ’s love to others. Help me to love others even if they make it hard for me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

In Whose Hands?

by Debbie Hancock

Ephesians 5:21-23 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. (See also James 4:1-2) 

My husband and I had already cared for our 4 year old grandson for 3 weeks during the time he was removed from his mother’s care. Now the inevitable had happened. More irresponsible behavior by the parents was grounds to remove him again. We had talked about it, and I thought I had come to terms with our decision that deep down I was struggling with. This time, the removal was deemed long-term, indefinite. “Will you take him?” My husband declined. “Foster Care then,” the judge said, as his gavel hit the desk. When I heard, my heart sank. How can I agree with that? It was his decision, not mine. Wait…remember the Bible says, “Wives submit to your husbands as unto the Lord.” Unto the Lord…would I willingly submit in this as unto Christ? I bowed my head and asked forgiveness. It wasn’t easy, but God supplied the grace and love I needed. When we submit as unto the Lord, we are in reality releasing our will into God’s hands. He knows the plan, He is in control, and He will work it out for His glory.

The Scriptures also tell us to submit to one another. What better example of Christ and the Christian walk than to submit to anyone who is in authority over us? It is also an indication of how we respond to Christ. Do we argue, ignore, or disregard His leadership?

Prayer: Father, may I be obedient to submit, not only to my husband, but to those leaders that are in authority to me. Thank You for the leadership and covering of protection that You have provided for me in this way.

Not A Silent Night

by Tim Pedzinski

Ephesians 5:21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

A few years ago I joined the Christian Motorcyclists Association. Our goal is to reach bikers by being Jesus’ hands and feet wherever we are. We have a big banner that we put up at the rallies; it says, “Here if you need us.” We put that into practice by giving away water, coffee, tea, cocoa and other items that bikers have a need for at the events that we attend. We also help out wherever we can.

One of the first rallies that my wife and I camped at was a real learning experience. We headed back to our campsite, where several other CMA members had also set up camp. It was past midnight and we were scheduled to take our turn serving in the morning. The night was warm, so many bikers would be up all night. Music was blasting from several campsites and the roar of V-twin engines filled the night air. We had settled in for sleep when a bike not 10 feet from our tent revved to its maximum. When the roar outside calmed down I heard a voice from a couple of campsites away call out to the rider. “Hey, could you take your bike down the road a bit and do that?” I could hear him coming closer so he didn’t have to shout. “You see those tents there?” he continued, “Those are the people that will be serving you coffee in the morning and they need to get some sleep.” As I lay there I was reminded that even the small things we do for others are seen and as we offer a cool drink of water or a hot cup of coffee to those around us it is as though we are doing it for Him.

Prayer: God help me to be a cheerful servant so that others will see You in me.

Alone with God

by Gary Blank

Colossians 2:6-7 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 

Whether walking along a beautiful shoreline, stopping off at one of those scenic lookouts in the mountains, or sitting up in a tree stand waiting for deer, I’ve always been impressed by the magnificence of God’s work in His creation. Sometimes I will just look, taking in the grandeur of it all, and pause, whispering, “God, the beauty of Your creation is before me…but you Lord, are so much greater than my mind can imagine…” At times, while I’m giving God thanksgiving and praise, His presence is overwhelming. It is so amazing, that the Almighty God would bless us with His presence in that way.

There have been other times when giving thanks was a sacrifice (Lev. 22:29), not an easy thing to do. Going through a trial, chastening, or some other difficult season, it may seem as though God is not nearly as concerned about the storm as we are, yet His care is toward us, toward each of us individually.

I believe that true thanksgiving to God can only spring from a grateful heart. Of the many things that I give thanks to God for, I’m especially thankful for my wife and family, and a very deep gratitude for the truth of His word, eternal life, the great privilege of knowing Him. Thanksgiving is a vital part of our relationship to our Lord. What are you truly grateful to God for?

Prayer: Thank You Lord. Thank You so much for… (tell God what you are thankful for).

Being Baptized in the Holy Spirit

by Vicky Gamble

Acts 19:4-6 Paul said, “John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 

A friend invited me to her church. When the sermon had been preached, the speaker asked if any one in the congregation would like to receive the infilling of the Holy Spirit. So I went forward to receive this gift from the Lord. After instructing me to allow God to have complete control of my will, my thoughts, and desires, I was to ask Him to fill me completely with the Holy Spirit and His gifts. I didn't feel anything different and I came home. The next day when I began to pray, a language, which I didn't understand, began coming out of my mouth. I asked the Lord if this was the gift the disciples received on the day of Pentecost and it was. When I received Christ it was such an explosive, emotional experience that I thought receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit would be even more so, but it was a quiet loving gift between my Lord and me that day. This gift of the baptism of the Holy Spirit has made such a difference in my life.

The person of the Holy Spirit gives you power, boldness and ability to do all God asks of you. Be open to the Father, allow the Son to come into your heart and let the Holy Spirit be your comforter, guide, discerner, the one that empowers you and you will never be the same again.

Prayer: Father, You are All in All to me and I thank You for loving me and desiring to fill me to overflowing in my life and in my spirit. I will never be the same since You came into my life and saved me and filled me with the gift of the Holy Spirit. I love You Lord.

To Hell and Back

by Jim Zaleski

Ephesians 5:18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 

As young men we think we are bulletproof. No matter what we do, we don’t think we’ll have to deal with consequences. Alcoholism is a vein that runs in my family, but I was “so smart,” thinking there is no way it would catch me! My friends at the time would party at every opportunity. I would drink when my team won, I would drink when my team lost, and eventually I would drink when they didn’t even play! But I couldn’t admit that I had “a problem.”

After several years of this kind of drinking, I started spitting up blood. My dad took me to the hospital, where I stayed for three weeks while my stomach healed from the effects of the alcohol. The doctor told me, “If you continue to drink at this pace, you will be dead within two years.” Back at my job a fellow coworker, who happened to be a pastor, asked me to attend his church. It was there made the decision to accept Christ as my Savior.

God revealed to me that I could not stop this addiction alone. Only through God’s power, grace and mercy, was I able to break those chains in my life.

Prayer: Dear Lord, I know every day is a new opportunity to reach others in Your Name. Help me to be the best example possible for Your Kingdom.

Overcoming the Shadows

by Marcia Pedzinski

John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of Life.” 

Spiritual warfare? Armor of God? If victory is promised, how do we get it? What does it mean to follow Christ? When we encounter the big obstacles it’s easy to acknowledge our need for God. Brief times of hardship are more manageable when we know it will be short-lived; even when there are no rest stops, we refuel and keep going because the end is clearly in sight. It’s the enduring burdens that plant doubt and discouragement; the months and years of adversity and seemingly unanswered prayer. Long-term battles require daily seeking Christ. It’s the day-to-day trials that beat us down and overshadow our hope. I remember a day when my granddaughter came over and expressed a fear of the “dark shadows” that she would see at her house. Sadly, she lives in an environment where evil abounds, but thankfully she has recently claimed Christ as Savior. I told her that when she sees the shadows she should just pray and say Jesus’ name out loud and they would go away. Too often I do not claim the power that He has promised in His name. It’s so easy to focus on just getting through the day instead of focusing on the One who made the day. Life and even ministry go on but I let the busyness of the daily grind suppress my joy. And if the world cannot see my joy, how can I convince anyone that I have a hope that they do not?

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for the power that is in Your Name! Nudge me to daily claim victory to dispel the shadows that would cloud my walk with You. Jesus, lead me and I will follow.

Wisdom in the Little Things

by Peter & Rachel Pappas 

1 Kings 3:7-12 Now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 

We make decisions every day…those of less consequence are made more flippantly than others. But God desires to grant us wisdom in every decision if we just ask. There’s one decision our family needs to make that will radically change the rest of our lives. As adoptive parents of foster children, we are required by the state to provide more room for our six children, so we must decide to either build a fourth bedroom or move to a larger house. Neither option is ideal, but a change is necessary in order to keep our children. This is not one of those flippant decisions, so we are desperately seeking wisdom and insight from above.

Meanwhile, one of my children rubbed red Chap Stick on the carpet, but none of them admitted to doing it. The decision of how to handle this seems inconsequential, but I cried out to the Lord for wisdom anyway. After asking my children a series of diagnostic questions, the culprit finally confessed, allowing us to deal discerningly with the act of lying. 

As I consider Solomon’s impressive request, I see that he also recognized his own need for discernment to govern the people God placed under his charge, so he asked for wisdom for the everyday challenges he would face as a leader. We may not lead a nation of people, but like Solomon, who admitted that he was like a little child, not knowing which way was up or down, we need wisdom in every aspect of life from the all-wise God of the universe. 

Prayer: God, give me eyes to see my need for wisdom even in the mundane. Help me to recognize the reality of my own simplemindedness and that man’s ways are not Your ways. 

Don't Bother the Driver

I (Dan) remember sitting behind my dad in the back seat of the car. I would sometimes stick my feet on the back of the seat in front of me. It would usually take a total of not more than two bumps and I would here these words, “Don’t bother the driver!” I could never figure out how just a little bump was such a big deal…but I had to submit to my father’s request.

Fast forward many years and I am the driver. The infant car seat is positioned right behind me. As the kids grew and their feet extended beyond the shrinking car seat I shouldn’t have been surprised when they began to kick at the back of my seat. Now I understood my father’s words.

In the Christian’s life we are called to submit to one another and to Christ. Don’t be foolish, understand what the Lord’s will is and then do that. Submission…so I bet you guessed that word would come up some place in a devotional book on Ephesians. Nobody likes to submit—we’d rather do whatever we want to do—and that’s the problem. What if what I want to do bothers someone else? Scripture says, “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” How do you do that? The only way to submit to others is to submit to the Holy Spirit and His will for your life. Be filled with the Holy Spirit. Submitting to God and others is hard work. Let’s take some lessons from this week’s stories on submission and learn how to live in the unity God desires for His Church. 

—Pastor Dan

Living to Please God

by Karen Blank 

1 Thessalonians 4:1 Finally, brothers, we instruct you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 

We were only married a few months when we started attending a “home-based” group that called themselves a “church.” It really started out as being some well-meaning people that had a heart for God, but after time they were more concerned about pleasing the leader than pleasing God. They lost sight of what was really important. Fortunately after years of mental and spiritual abuse we broke free of the lies and manipulation. (I know you are thinking—years???) There are many stories I could tell about what I experienced, but it would fill this book. The bottom line is God commands us to love Him and put HIM first. That is what PLEASES God. The Bible gives us instructions on how to please the Lord. It is so important to stay in the Word daily; it helps keeps us on the right path. 

I can remember as a child, being so happy knowing I did something that pleased my mother or father, and seeing the smiles on their faces. I know God loves me so much more than my earthly parents. So, can you imagine the smile on God’s face when we please Him? Let’s make God SMILE today! 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I love You and put You first in my life. I want to please You. Please help me to do what You ask and to be sensitive to Your leading.

This Little Light of Mine

by Roianne Pangle 

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. 

Almost three years ago I experienced what I consider to be one of the darkest moments in my life. An unexpected pregnancy led me to an even more unexpected miscarriage. I really didn’t know how to process through what had happened because I had never been through something like this before, nor had I really known anyone who’d been through it, or so I thought. At a point where I felt like I really had no one to talk with who knew what I was going through God started to bring people into my life. I now consider them little bits of light that began to bring me out of the darkness that I was feeling. Little by little the comfort and peace that those people brought began to brighten my days and helped me to feel like I wasn’t alone anymore. Now that the Light of Christ has been brought back into my life I know the reason I went through this experience was so that I can be a light for others. God calls us all to use our experiences, both good and bad, to help bring others out of the darkness they might be experiencing and into the Light of Jesus Christ. 

Prayer: God, Your word is like a lamp. I ask that You let Your light shine in my life and the lives of others in my life. Point me in the right direction and help me to discern any spiritual danger so I can avoid it. Thank You for always being a light in my life, so I can be a light to others.

Sonrise

by Marcia Pedzinski

Isaiah 60:2 See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you. 

There are places even in our community where people live in the deep darkness of sin. And though a Christian should not constantly dwell there, sometimes we must enter that world to reach the lost.

While preparing for my first secular motorcycle rally, I was asked how I could spend a weekend where “that” was going on. So often we expect unbelievers to behave in ways we consider appropriate, but much of the time their idea of living is participating in fruitless deeds of darkness that they hope will make them happy and free. It is not easy to be in the midst of such living, but I felt God calling me to go.

What I found was a group of people who were just lost…coming up fruitless because they were searching in all the wrong places for something to fill the void. Yet in that darkness someone would wander over to our ministry tent, where the lights are always on, and we’d share Jesus and pray with and for them. Though we may not see immediate fruit, the seed has been planted. Now a glimmer of light shines as the fruitless deeds become less satisfying to them. I did not have to participate in the sin, but I did need to be willing to be among sinners and reach out to them where they were.

Prayer: Father, help me to be open to Your leading to share the Son with those in darkness. May I live a life among others that will allow Your glory to dispel the darkness and draw them to Your Light.

Daily Fruit

by Jeremy Belcher

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 

To be healthy, I always hear the phrase, "Eat an apple a day to keep the doctor away." But for my soul, I think of that phrase in a spiritual way, "Spending time with God every day to keep satan (darkness) away."

In a world of darkness I need to rely on God to help me be a better husband and father for my family. It is so easy for me to be selfish and think of myself first and my family last, but I lean on God to give me patience with my kids and faithfulness to my wife. Throughout the day I will pray for that spiritual fruit to fill me up so I can shine the Light of Christ to the people around me. As I shine Christ’s Light, I hope that it encourages other Christians around me to do the same. May the lost see God’s Spirit in me and desire Him in their lives as well.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me walk in the light as You are Light. Help me to use the fellowship I have with those around me to shine Your Light on them so they will see You. Cleanse me from all sins with the blood of Jesus Your son.

Light in Today's World

by Tony Sergio

Psalms 56:13 For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life. 

In a world of darkness, a glimmer of light is sometimes all I see from under my bowl, but when I lift the bowl by opening my heart and mind to God, the light will shine. This gives me strength to get through each day and turns what was a glimmer of light into a beam. Without the beam I will quickly loose my way. Picture yourself out at sea in the dark of night, vast, dark and deep. A bottomless pit known by no man. You feel helpless, lost and without hope, but off in the distance you see a glimmer of light. With focus and concentration, you adjust your course and direct it to the glimmer of light in the distance. As you stick to the plan and stay on course the glimmer soon becomes a beam. Your panic becomes a calm. Your hope becomes reality.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You for helping me walk in Your light and for never turning off the light even when I have strayed toward darkness. Help me continue to stay on the narrow path and never lose site of You. Through You, may I be a godly example so that others may see Your Light and experience the grace You have so generously given me.

Do Lord, O Do Lord, O Do Remember Me

by Orrin Belcher

When I was a young boy, my uncle Frank would play his guitar and sing, “Do Lord, O do Lord, O do remember me.”  I really liked the song back then because of the way the tune and his bass voice combined with his guitar. Now when I hear that song, I think of him, but because I am now a Christian, the words mean a lot more. There are other songs that remind me of scripture.

“Do Lord, O do Lord, O do remember me...”

Luke 23:42-43 says, “Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ Jesus answered him, ‘I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.’”

“I have a home in glory land that outshines the sun…”

Acts 26:13 tells us, “About noon, O King, as I was on the road, I saw a light from Heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions.”

“I took Jesus as my Savior, you take him, too…”

2 Peter 1:11 says, “And you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”

“Way beyond the blue…”

Psalms 57:10 reminds us, “For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.”

God remembered me by giving His Son so I could have eternal life. What a great inheritance.

Prayer: Dear Lord, make me more like You.  

The Joy of Gratitude

by Amy Oltz

Jeremiah 2:13 For my people have done two evil things: they have forsaken me—the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all! 

I attended a Bible study based on the book Choosing Gratitude by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. The reason I attended the study was to encourage a friend to participate. I thought it would be an easy study because I believed I was a very thankful person. This belief was soon shattered as God’s view of ingratitude was revealed. Our leader, Carrie, shared from the book of Jeremiah how God’s people had committed two sins. First, they had forgotten to thank God by rejecting His love, wisdom and power. Second, the Israelites turned to their own strength to find joy and fulfillment in other things. They gave up the overflowing fountain of living water and instead turned to the foolishness of digging their own wells. Challenged by this teaching, I evaluated my own actions. I soon discovered my sin of ingratitude toward God’s many blessings and how I had abandoned God’s plan. I had turned to my family, my home, and my job to define who I was and to find joy. I realized that through Christ I am a child of the King, and the only source of true joy is the living water that God so willingly provides. It pleases God when we forsake ourselves and our own strength, and then cry out with a heart of thanksgiving to worship our majestic Lord and receive His living water.

Prayer: God, thank You for Your grace and mercy, and for the incredible gift of salvation. Give me a thankful heart and let the joy that results be a witness to those that I encounter today.

Imitate God in Word and Deed

by Margret Askren

Ephesians 5:4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.

Before my husband and I were saved we would get together and play cards with four other couples, gossiping, and telling jokes, some of which were slightly off-color. After we were saved, we played cards with them for a short time, and the usual talk continued. We had witnessed to them how we had accepted Christ, and invited them to attend church with us. They were uncomfortable with us since we “got religion,” as they put it. We were uncomfortable too, because the kind of talk in which we had formerly participated was no longer acceptable to us. We also realized that if we continued with them there would be as much chance that they would influence us as we would influence them for Christ, being such new Christians. For the sake of witnessing, though, we remained friends with them, but we did not see them make a decision for Christ.

God is not pleased with me when I do not measure my words before they are out of my mouth. Even when I have thoughts of being critical or judgmental about someone, God checks me in my spirit and I must confess it before Him. Only then can I have peace.

Today, I am thankful that God showed us that gossiping and off-color jokes should not be in a Christian’s vocabulary. It is my sincere desire to be pleasing to God in my speech and actions.

Prayer: Lord, keep watch over my lips and my thoughts (which can be destructive). I purpose to guard my mouth and my tongue so people may see Christ in me.

Driver's Ed

by Faith Hill

Hebrews 2:14-15 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 

Driver’s Ed can be an interesting experience no matter where you are, but for me it was an entirely different experience in Africa. I learned to drive with a four-wheel drive truck on what most people would term “off-road” conditions that included ruts, large rocks, swamps, and un-bridged rivers. My first time driving on the road I got a flat tire because I cut too close to a sharp rock on the edge of the road. Since our spare was at home being fixed, this resulted in a two-mile walk home and returning the spare to the truck using a Honda 50 trail bike and a sulky cart while crossing a river bridged with two logs and gap in between. The point: I learned much from my driver’s education that I continue to apply in my life as I endeavor to imitate Christ.

One of the best ways to avoid the dangers of the road was to follow the tracks of the truck before me. Many of the drivers have, through experience, found the safest, smoothest way to go. By following in their path, I was more likely to arrive at my destination unscathed. Christ did this for us. He walked the path before us, leaving His footprints to follow through His Word.

What grief we can save ourselves by simply following His example! We are called to be imitators of Christ, not to restrict us, but to give us freedom and the easiest way to arrive at our destination with the least amount of heartache. All we have to do is imitate Him.

Prayer: Father, help me to trust Your footsteps and follow them. Teach me to see the wisdom of Your ways. Thank You for Your grace when I steer off course.

Reflections of God's Love

by Rhonda Rohl

1 John 3:1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God…

Sunrises, sunsets, the laughter of a child, rainbows,
the first crocus of Spring, the warmth of the sun, cardinals, the smell of rain, the first snowfall, squirrels, stars on a clear night, the moon, music, waves crashing on the shore, the crunch of leaves in the fall, hugs,

Forgiveness

Trees, flowers, pumpkins, peace, color, refreshing breezes, that no two snowflakes are the same, joy, fuzzy caterpillars, waterfalls, fluffy clouds, laughter, giraffes, butterflies, chocolate,

The Spirit at work in us

Seashells, friends, bird song, grace, real maple syrup, a clear blue sky, faith, green grass, prayer, honey, frogs, mountains, eagles, hope, sunflowers, walking sticks, the ocean,

The Cross

Prayer: Lord, thank You for all the ways You show us love—both those that we see, and those that we don’t.

I Was Right!

by Jenny Sergio

Ephesians 4:22-24 You were taught…to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

One summer day our family was outside tending to the garden when a discussion turned into an argument between my then 11 year old son and me. I was intently making my point, knowing I was right, when my husband stepped in and said, “That’s enough!” I was ticked. I am the mother! I walked away trying to regain my composure, when in my spirit I heard, “You do not have to prove you’re right. Give it up!” When I accepted Christ I accepted all of Him in exchange for the rights to my life. He has promised me eternal life, an abundant life, joy, peace patience, gentleness, meekness and self-control and I am to give Him my rights. Days later I swallowed my pride and asked my son to forgive me for my selfishness and need to be proven right. By God’s grace I was able to heal that relationship and he has developed into a respectful, joyous teenager.

Then the other day my husband and I were preparing to travel to an event. I reminded him of how he handled something the last time we traveled, saying, “You forget things sometimes.” With which he replied, “and you do a good job of reminding me.” Gulp! I learned to respect my husband’s wisdom and to daily surrender my rights to God. It makes for a peaceful home!

Prayer: Thank You, Lord for all You have given me. Today and everyday I give You all my rights and expectations and humbly ask You to replace them with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, meekness, and self-control. Amen

Present Living

by Steve Brindle

Ephesians 4:17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.

Many sermons and Sunday school lessons have dealt with the subject of “breaking down strongholds,” and the importance of memorizing scripture to arm yourself against satan’s attacks on your soul. 1 John 4:4 says, “the one who is in you [Christ] is greater than the one who is in the world [satan].”
Our mind is extraordinary, as it tirelessly analyzes information from past, present and future. The conscious fantasy of thought about possible future events and replaying of past events, real and imagined, laden with the baggage of hurt and disappointments tend to weigh us down. And worse, the inherited sinful nature with its selfishness, greed, pride and hate, battles to defeat us daily. Without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit we are destined to continually feel insecure, defeated, and incomplete. God wants a relationship with you. He wants to spend time with you, participate in the events of your life in the present tense—now. He wants to free you of the “strongholds” that hinder your relationship. He wants to create a holy place in you where He can dwell—a different kind of stronghold! He promises to transform you by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12). He will be present…when you are.
Find a quiet place. Turn off your conscious thinking and listen. Experience the present and take a deep breath. Now, ask Him to create a stronghold for your soul, secure for eternity.

Prayer: Lord, take the sinful nature from me and come reside in me. I submit to Your will and ask for the healing of my mind through Your Word. Remove the things that hinder fellowship with You and establish Your stronghold in my soul.

Living in the Light

by Carson Slabaugh (Son of Pastor Mark & Deborah Slabaugh)

John 3:19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 

Sometimes, when I don’t get the things that I want, I get angry. And that anger affects my attitude, which leads me to trouble. When I think I’m going to get angry, I go to my room for a little bit to calm myself down. I pray for God to help me not be angry.
It is a great thing to be able to ask God to help me and then He does. I’m glad when I no longer have a bad attitude because God has helped me. God wants us to live in the light and not in darkness; and living in the light means doing good things and having a good attitude that reflects Christ to others.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, help me to control my anger and not get angry a lot. Help me to live in the light as You are in the light. Amen.

Trust Him for the Journey

by Steve Brindle

Ephesians 4:17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 

This winter I was feeling overwhelmed with concern about cutbacks at our company due to the economic slowdown, the negative TV news and plenty of stress at work. (All of us in the office have been pulling double duty since we were shorthanded and we had been taking pay cuts.) As I pulled out onto the dark, snow-covered by-pass at 5:45 a.m. to begin my 45-minute commute to work, I wondered if this would be the morning I was dreading. How many trips can a person make on the same treacherous stretch of highway before being involved in a traffic accident?
But that morning, a Monday, I recited Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” I recited it again, putting emphasis on different words and thinking about how the meaning changed. Finally, I prayed out loud, “Lord I need to experience a miracle today.” I got to work without incident and later in the day an event that I had been worried about simply evaporated into a great afternoon. Unexpectedly, I had accomplished what I wanted and all was well. On the dark drive home it occurred to me that I had experienced a miracle, so I acknowledged God. This routine continued all week and I was not disappointed; I daily experienced some event that I chose to recognize as a God-given miracle. One was not so small: once when I started to pull out into traffic, a truck narrowly missed me as it blew past. Once again I thanked God.

Prayer: Lord, I have been blessed with safety, health, family, a job, a home—all I need. I believe that Your pleasure is why I have been spared tragedy in my life. I’m learning to look for and expect Your presence throughout the day. You make me smile. Thank You, Lord.

I'm as Holy as a Meat Fork!

by Jeff Mann

Exodus 40:10 Then anoint the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils; consecrate the altar, and it will be most holy. 

This altar of fire was in the tabernacle. Chapter 38 tells us that among its utensils were some meat forks. I’ve always found it amusing to think that a meat fork can be holy.
That word—holy—can sound so pious that it seems unattainable, but it simply means chosen by God for a specific purpose. That meat fork was made for only one purpose.
At our house we have a set of knives that we use for just about everything: cutting tomatoes, opening packages, and prying open the battery compartments on children’s toys. But there is one knife that is... (cue music and spotlights)... the bread knife! It is only used for that purpose. Anyone who uses that knife for anything other than cutting bread will suffer the wrath of the one who chose that knife and its function—that would be Mom. Even though we didn’t anoint the knife with oil, it could be considered a holy knife. It was designed and created to be a bread knife, and the master of the kitchen has set it aside and instructed that it is not to be used for anything else.
I used to think that I could become holy by keeping a list of do’s and don’ts, but I’ve already been made holy—chosen by God for a singular purpose: the glory of God. I just have to live my life knowing that I am as holy as a meat fork.

Prayer: God, help me filter everything that presents itself to me today through the grid of my true purpose—don’t let me act like a regular old fork.

Limiting the Luggage

The typical vacation is sure to fall victim to over-packing. There’s always someone who wants to bring every item they own, plus the kitchen sink. And everyone else is not far behind. First, the comfort of the familiar is sought and so everyone has to have a pillow. Second, they want all the entertainment, so it’s one big bag of toys per child. Third, it would be a crime to go without your electronics for a week, so don’t even think about it! Finally, those appetites never get left at home, so everyone gets their own special snacks. By this time there’s barely any room left for a suitcase of clothes (which, by the way, is a necessity). What’s a dad supposed to do? I’ll tell you what…limit the luggage! Some things are just better left behind. Do you have baggage from your past that you’re carrying around today? We need to limit the luggage of the past to make room for today…and our future! Paul says there are some things from the old life that should be put off and some things from the new life that should be put on. Those old habits we like to fall back on should be left behind. Those things we did before coming to Christ, which may have been fun at the time, but empty now; leave them behind. Those things that it seems “everyone else” is doing that God calls sin—leave them behind. Limit the luggage. Clothe yourself with holiness…put on holy living. This week, let’s hear how God desires holy living in all of our lives.

—Pastor Dan 

I'm NOT Stubborn

by Roy Hill

Ephesians 4:7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 

I can be a very stubborn person. Most people probably don't realize that. Usually I am a pretty easygoing type of person but if you bruise my pride, or offend my sensibilities I will dig my heels in and react to the situation in a way that oftentimes is not Christ-like.
For example: If I'm not on top of my game when I have to discipline one of my kids I tend to be harsh. Then if my lovely wife says something about my method I will dig in my heels and defend my actions. In recent years I have been trying the "guardrail method" of discipline. A guardrail doesn’t push back when a car strikes it; rather, it remains stationary, keeping it within the intended borders. I have found that the steadier I remain, the better the disciplining seems to go. Conversely, when I just react to a situation, the lesson I’m trying to teach is usually missed, resulting in an argument—not at all productive. I have concluded that the main cause of spiritual growth is pain.
The Apostle Paul embraced his "thorn" and allowed God to use it for His glory. I must do my best to live every minute submitted to the Holy Spirit so that God can use the painful or challenging or difficult situations in my life to further change me into the immaculate bride of Christ.

Prayer: Help me today to live with my will surrendered to Yours so that in every circumstance I walk through You will receive the glory and honor due Your Name by the actions I take and the decisions that I make. I love You.

I'm Just an Accountant

by John MacDonald

1 Corinthians 12:4-6 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. 

I had taken the “spiritual gifts assessments” and talked to the pastors about where I fit in God’s kingdom. But it always came down to the same ending: I am just an accountant, I cannot make a difference. And then it happened! Our church wanted to start a personal finance class! All of a sudden, it did not matter that I wasn’t good at evangelizing or working with children. My skills and my heart came together in something I truly have a passion for—helping families get their finances in order.
A presenter at a recent seminar stated that if your heart is not in your ministry, you are not in the right ministry. God does not want us to struggle at working for His kingdom! What we do for God should be a joy, and if it is, your joyful spirit will show through to those you work with.
I still wish I was a more dynamic speaker, but I truly believe that God has put me where I am, to use me as I am, until He needs me elsewhere. My desire to be a more skillful presenter has more to do with pride than doing the Lord’s work.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for the skills You have blessed me with. Help me to reach out and make a difference in the lives of those I can touch. I ask that You continue to bless the members of my Financial Peace class, and allow me to continue working with families in our church and community.

Making It About Him

by Rhonda Belcher

Mark 10:43-45 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

I was 18, and I was leaving home for the first time with one goal in mind—to become a great teacher. I never missed one education class. It was immensely important to me. It was the one thing I was good at, the one thing I enjoyed doing. But I was selfish; it was all for me. It was like I needed to prove that I could do it and make a difference. I look back at that time in my life and it saddens me, my goal was not to use my spiritual gift to build the kingdom of God, like it is today
At 21 I met my husband, and I became closer to God than I ever had been. When I got married and started a family, my entire mindset had changed. I did graduate and get my teaching certification, but have been unable to find a permanent job. I’m a substitute teacher—a true servant in the field of education. The phone rings at 5:30 am when a teacher can’t make it that day, so I go in. Reading the scripture above helps me remember that I work for one person and one person only, and that is Christ Jesus.
If someday he wants me to have a classroom of my own, I will and if not I will be just as content and joyful as I am today, because I am a child of God, and blessed beyond what I deserve.

Prayer: Lord, please help me remember that I am Your servant in everything that I do. Help me use my spiritual gifts to glorify You.

Gotta Love A Gift

by Dayleigh Miller (daughtor of Pastor Dan & Rhonda Miller)

1 Corinthians 12:1-11 Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant…to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good…All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

My dad has always told me that I am really good at some things. He tells me I am really good at talking (hmm…guess where I got that from? “The nut does not fall far from the tree,” they say). I like to organize things…I even asked for a daily organizer when I was six. I think I might like to be a teacher someday. I also would like to be a doctor…blood and stuff does not bother me. There are so many things that I think I would naturally be good at.
I am also learning that God has given every Christian a spiritual gift. They are different from natural gifts. Only people who have a relationship with Jesus Christ get the spiritual gifts. Makes sense to me. He only gives these special spiritual gifts to people who love Him. That is because Christians have the Holy Spirit living in them and that is what it takes to make a spiritual gift work.
I am still young but I want to learn more about my natural gifts and my spiritual gift(s). I am going to take a spiritual gifts inventory. It will help me know what God wants me to do with my life. You can do that too, because Dad told me there are spiritual gift inventories on the church website. Happy downloading.

Prayer: Dear God, help me to use all my gifts to worship You and to help others. Thank You for giving me a spiritual gift(s) because I love You. You are over the top God and so are Your gifts. Amen.

Week 9 · Monday

What Do I Want to Do When I Grow Up?

by Michelle Yager

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.

I remember being a sophomore in college and being greatly distressed over the decision of what to declare as my major. I had experimented in two areas of study, both resulting in less than stellar results. I was a new Christian at the time, with very little knowledge of Scripture, but I knew to pray and ask God for direction. God led me to a class that the college was offering that focused on career exploration. I spent a semester intentionally studying my personality traits, my interests, skills and values.  This self-discovery led to a summer job as a camp counselor. Finally, I had found my niche. I discovered I enjoyed working with people, I was a good listener, and I could easily empathize with others. God opened the doors for me to do an internship in a psychiatric hospital, to get a teaching license and to work for many years as an elementary school counselor.

God KNEW the plans He had for me. He laid in my spirit a personality, passion, and talent needed to serve His Kingdom. I still chuckle today when I look back at the path God used to bring me to my current area of ministry…working in Bethel College’s Career Services Center!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the way You knit me in my mother’s womb. You created me for Your perfect plan. Thank You for opening doors along the way to allow Your plan to unfold in my life. I also thank You for closing those doors where I did not belong.

Week 9

Stay in Your Assigned Seat

Assigned seats…ah the thought of an assigned seat brings mixed emotions. Do you remember having assigned seats in school? The teacher usually seemed to have a different understanding of who should sit by whom—and it was almost never with best friends! But in other situations an assigned seat brings peace of mind. It is great to know that when you go to a ballpark or board an airplane a seat is reserved especially for you. If you’ve got a ticket, you’ve got a seat. (By the way that is not true in regard to a church pew…there are no assigned seats…so move over already!)

Do you know that God has assigned you a seat—not to limit you but to anoint you? Every believer has a unique gift to use to bring glory to God and good to others. We call these spiritual gifts, and every believer has at least one, given by God upon our salvation. You should consider yourself blessed to receive a gift. God chose the gift He gave to you—it was not a haphazard kind of deployment. Your spiritual gift helps determine what role you play in the Church, a role that only you were meant to fill! So don’t unbuckle yourself and try to get into someone else’s seat. God put you there for a reason. Learn to enjoy the view from the seat God assigned you. This week we’ll hear personal stories of how people learned and use their spiritual gifts.

—Pastor Dan

Week 8 · Friday

Washed by the Water

by Todd & Tiffany Obren

Acts 2:38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Our baptism was such a meaningful experience for both of us. I had accepted Christ several years prior to our baptism, Todd only about a year before. The years between my conversion and his were wrought with struggle and we questioned at several points along the way whether we would even survive as husband and wife. After Todd accepted Christ, we saw amazing things begin to happen in our life together. We both clearly recognized that it was only by Christ’s power in us that we were able to love one another the way God intended.

Baptism is the outward expression of inward faith, and the two of us were so excited to share with our church family how Christ had impacted our life together, our marriage, and our family. Our baptism was most meaningful because we were able to do it together (Todd actually dunked me), fully expressing the fact that we owe our “togetherness” to rebirth in Christ. What an exciting new beginning!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the transformation You have performed in our life. We give You all the glory for the strength of our marriage now. Please help us to continue to love and respect one another as You intended and help us to always remember the joy and excitement of the new birth we had in You on the day of our baptism.

Week 8 · Thursday

Keeping the Peace

by Amy Wolfe

Hebrews 12:14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy…

Finally, I had met the man of my dreams after waiting and waiting for God to bring him into my life! I had dreamed about my wedding day for as long as I could remember. Before getting married, I couldn’t help but take mental notes of all my “must-haves” at the weddings I attended. I knew exactly what my very important day was going to look like! After years of anticipation, I started the planning by examining bridal magazines, attending bridal shows, and dress shops, but my dreams were suddenly dashed when they met the fundraising team—my parents.

Somehow their plans didn’t quite line up with mine. It didn’t feel like we could agree on anything! We disagreed on the number of guests to invite and what should be on the reception menu. We even disagreed on the table decorations! It’s amazing how we find ourselves in situations that quickly spiral out of control. I never intended for my wedding plans to interfere with my relationship with my parents. Our relationship was definitely lacking peace. It took me awhile to realize that my parents were just looking after my best interest and what their checkbooks could handle. 

I had to humble myself and make peace with them. Hebrews 12:14 says, “Make every effort to live in peace with all men…”  God calls us to make EVERY effort to keep the peace in our relationships. Living in peace with others takes hard work.

Prayer: God, help me to glorify You in all my relationships.   Help my words and actions toward others to be uplifting. Give me strength to be at peace with all men, even when it’s hard.

Week 8 · Wednesday

Happy Anniversary

by Jason Teeters

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

Although it was 15 years ago, I remember our first year of marriage very well.  It was a time of excitement, where we were starting our lives together, but it was also a time of great conflict for my wife Hope and me. 

I remember two independent lives struggling to find the common ground that our marriage needed. Coming out of college, I was probably as far away from God as I had ever been, and Hope did not grow up in a Christian home. As a result, our marriage did not have a solid foundation upon which to build. After many arguments and threats of divorce, Hope sought biblical truth from a co-worker’s pastor, and I re-dedicated my life to Jesus. Together, we were baptized, and we finally had the one and only foundation to build a marriage upon. 

Looking back on that first year of marriage, although very difficult, it was paramount in establishing the foundation that our marriage needed. I am thankful for that conflict in our lives, as it strengthened our marriage for the future and preserved my soul-mate as my wife. Praise God!

Prayer: Jesus, it is difficult to thank You and praise You during times of conflict. But I hold onto Your promise that You will never leave me, and through Your grace alone I will get through it. I pray that I can be ready to learn from it as You teach me along the way.

Week 8 · Tuesday

Just Do It Already!

by Kimberly Mechling

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control….

I have always been a “just get’er done” kind of person.  Patience is not one of my stronger virtues. However, God uses my dear husband Ray, whom you could say moves at a different speed than me, to help me grow in the patience area. Ray talked about quitting his job for about two years before the day finally came when he decided he was free to do so. I had been praying for at least that long for him to “just do it” already. I could see the job was harming his health, affecting our marriage, and he dreaded going to work every day. When he told me he had finally given notice I cried tears of joy! 

 Before that day, I was forced to wait. And wait. I thought it was all perfectly clear what needed to be done but, it was out of my control. It wasn’t my job, or my decision. I couldn’t tell Ray what to do—God could do that.

 God in his wisdom knew Ray would be the perfect partner for me as he has patience beyond knowing. Sigh. The actions we take in life do not affect only ourselves. In order to bear with another in love, and keep unity in the Spirit, it may take sacrifice, and in this case, I needed patience.

Prayer: Thank You God for giving me just what I need to be obedient to You and helping me grow in those areas where I am weak. Thank You for Your faithfulness and perfect timing, in everything.

Week 8 · Monday

Humility

by Vicky Gamble

Luke 14:11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

There are times God may ask us to do things that may be very uncomfortable when done in and of ourselves. You might even think, “that’s too dirty of a job for me.” I had a neighbor that had 10 dogs in her house, maybe 25 dogs outside and I don’t know how many cats. Did I mention that none of them were housebroken? One day the Lord impressed on me to take her some cinnamon rolls and introduce myself to her. Over the next few months we became friends. One day she asked me if I would help her clean her kitchen. While we shoveled out and mopped with almost straight bleach water, I shared the love of Christ with her. I told her how much Jesus loved her and how He even died and rose again for her.

Before I left that day to go to her house I wasn’t sure I wanted to or that I could even do this task I was being asked to do. But I received so much more than I imagined because my new friend accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior and became brand new inside! So when God asks you to do something that seems out of your comfort zone, know this: God may have some hidden plans and purposes that will really bless you. All it takes is a little humility.

Prayer: Father, help me to humble myself and do whatever task You ask me to do—No matter how great or small. Amen.

Week 8

"Don't Make Me Stop the Car!"

News flash—not every family vacation is conflict free! You may have a few experiences flashing on the screen of your memory right now. I can remember the first time my father spoke those infamous words, “Don’t make me stop the car!”

We were less than an hour into our family vacation and all three of us kids were in the back seat fighting over the good toys. After several attempts at stopping us, even using that phrase, my dad finally whipped the car around taking us toward home. Silence! He had our attention, so he explained that a family vacation was supposed to bring us closer together, and if we couldn’t do that, we weren’t going. After a few miles, he turned the car back around and we had a great vacation.

Paul tells us to live a life worthy of our calling. Be Christ-like in all your dealing with others. Be humble and gentle and patient and loving. Keep the unity through the bond of peace.  Unity does not mean everyone agrees on everything all of the time, but it does mean that everyone agrees to protect the body, the church, from division and unresolved conflict. For if we are truly believers then we are called to one Lord, one Baptism, and one God and Father of all. And if the Christian community is going to be an example, rather than a part of the problem, then we must be fully committed to unity. This week, as you read stories about conflict and unity, make a conscious effort to look into your own life and seek unity.

 —Pastor Caleb