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

Week 7 · Friday

Free or Ensnared?

by Eric Hoppstock

Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

In high school I spent a couple summers on the maintenance team at a summer camp in Ohio. This particular camp had trouble with raccoons and the destruction they would cause when trying to get into the garbage for a gourmet meal. Then someone got the great idea of setting traps to catch the raccoons so that they could be relocated to a different geographic area. I’m not sure, but I think some of them eventually received swimming lessons as part of their relocation. In trying to catch these raccoons a problem that emerged was catching a particular cat over and over again, but no raccoons. So one night a buddy and I stayed up to watch the traps. Sure enough the cat arrived, darted straight into the trap and then along came the raccoons. They looked in on the trapped cat and proceeded on to their dining reservations. It wasn’t until the cat was relocated that we started to catch some of the raccoons.

Unfortunately, we’re not much different; God has set us free to live fully in Him and we return to bad habits that ensnare us all over again. He saves us from the world and then spends the rest of our lives, this side of heaven, getting the world out of us.

Prayer: God, may I be a good student of what You are trying to teach me about me. May I grow and move past those traps that so easily ensnare and make decisions that You approve.

Week 7 · Thursday

The Holy Spirit's Power

by Brett Elms

Acts 16:7 When they came to the border of Mysia they tried to enter Bythynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.

One day, when I had gotten lost while driving, I simply bowed my head and prayed. Literally within a moment, I found the street I was looking for. While some will call that incident fortunate or lucky, I think there is another distinct possibility—the power of the Holy Spirit. There are many accounts and perhaps you have heard of times where people were stopped from doing something by something they could not explain. This does not have to just be a figurative power. Some people have the wrong idea. They equate the power of the Holy Spirit to a sixth sense or a whim.

The Biblical model of this is far different. The Biblical authors do not make excuse for the direct intervention of the Spirit of God. There are many instances similar to what happened in Acts 16 where the Spirit physically did not allow them to enter into an area. Critics might suggest that God does not work this way any more. If you have ever read the book of Acts, you will notice there is no salutation at the end. Almost every book in the New Testament has a salutation. Why? Could it be because the Acts of the church are still ongoing and continue today? The Holy Spirit still manifests the same power in situations today. It is up to us to allow the Spirit to work in our lives in this manner, and to ask for that power in our lives.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, help me to allow the power of Your Spirit to work in my life every day. Help me to recognize the Spirit's leading and not to hinder Your work in my life.

Week 7 · Wednesday

Discovering Salvation

by Cassandra O. Carter

1 Kings 18:21 Elijah went before the people and said “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God follow him; but if Baal is God follow him. But the people said nothing.

The summer after fourth grade I went to my first Christian summer camp with my best friend. The theme for the week was finding salvation through Christ. To illustrate the different aspects we went on treasure hunts in separate teams to find different colored beads—black, red, white, blue, green, and gold—to put on a leather string to make a bracelet. This was the first time I had been introduced to the salvation bracelet, so each day I learned something new about what the color represented and how I could follow Jesus and be saved.

At the end of the week everyone went on the last hunt to locate the final treasure. That treasure turned out to be the Bible. God gave us the Bible so that we could understand what He has done for us and what He wants for us in life. As we all stood in a giant circle listening to the pastor speak I asked Jesus into my heart as my personal Savior and was later baptized by Pastor Dan at our church.

The thing I remember most about that time is that I never felt pressured to accept Him, but once I made that choice I felt a feeling of calm relief fill my heart and that feeling is always there when I need reassurance.

Prayer: God, give me the understanding of Your Word so that I may help others and so that through You they will see the way to eternal life.

Week 7 · Tuesday

Bondage Breaker

by Eric Hoppstock

I Timothy 2:3-4 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

In reading the story of Israel’s delivery from the bondage of the Egyptians, I was struck with the fact God does not change. He intervened with Israel just as He does with us today. He is still in the business of breaking our bondage to sin and giving us a future that is hard to fully grasp.
In Exodus 6:6-7 God tells Israel what He will do for them: 1) relieve their burdens, 2) deliver them from bondage, 3) redeem them, 4) and make them His people. Jesus says the same thing today. His burden is light; it is for freedom that He came. He redeems us, and we become the bride of Christ. What a wonderful message to take to someone carrying the burden of the world on their shoulders, enslaved to the bondage of sin, desperately seeking redemption in their lives. They can find it, and they can become the bride of Christ.
Just as God heard the cry of the people of Israel He hears the cry of people today. You know the one, “someone help me.” It may not even be directed toward God, but, just as with Israel, our God has the answer.

Prayer: God, give me extra-sensitive perception to those crying out for help and then to provide a message of hope. To share Your story, then let You work the wonder of redemption and hope.

Week 7 · Monday

Geo-caching Gospel

by Ron Hoskins (father of Pastor Caleb)

Ephesians 3:12 In [Christ] and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

This winter I visited family in Arizona with the express purpose of building a stronger relationship with my young nephew, Tyler. I was able to introduce him to the world of geo-caching. Tyler found it hard to believe that there was such a thing as a worldwide treasure hunt going on! I explained that people had taken the effort to place a container of treasure (a “cache”) in hidden locations all over the world. Some might be buried, some under a rock, others in a tree, or maybe just sitting in the open. The global coordinates are recorded and placed on the Internet for anyone who desires to retrieve and go hunting. All you need is a GPS and a little geographical savvy. Tyler was definitely ready for a treasure hunt, but he wondered, “What would this cost?” I explained that it was open for anyone. No cost. No hidden fees. After a fun morning of hunting and discovering in the desert mountains, Tyler and I sat on top of a mountain and talked about how great it was to be able to do this fun activity…at no cost to us! I was able to talk with him about how our opportunity to follow God is similar to geo-caching. The provision has been made. Someone else (Jesus) has done the work for us. To discover the truth of salvation, we simply follow the instruction of the Scriptures (like the GPS) and act on them (faith) to experience new life in Christ (the greatest treasure!). I’m grateful for the opportunity I had to share Christ with him.

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for the free gift of salvation that You offer to us. Help me to live a life of grace toward others, and to look for opportunities to share Your love, and Your gospel message, with others.

Week 7

Trusting the GPS

Do you own a GPS (Global Positioning System) device? It is a great tool to have for the “directionally challenged.” But it seems like those times we need things most are when we leave them at home. Being lost is terrible. Once, while hunting, I (Dan) got lost in the woods at night. I got turned around, lost my sense of direction and had a hard time finding my way back. I unwittingly walked a long distance before finally making it back to base camp. It was such an unnecessary and unproductive back-and-forth trek through the woods.

The truth of God is like a modern day GPS for our spiritual walk. Paul tells the Ephesians some important truths to keep them on the road of faith. He reveals the mystery of the Gospel, in that it was made known to all people, and not just exclusively to the Jews. He points out the work of the Holy Spirit (God’s Positioning System) to give us direction and power to follow God’s will.

We realize that the coordinates of God’s love for us surpass any human knowledge and guide us in Christ. You can trust God to lead you home to heaven. This week’s stories share about how God’s guidance, His power and His salvation direct our lives.

 —Pastor Dan

Week 6 · Friday

Lifeblood

by Brent C. Wolfe

Hebrews 9:22 …without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

August of 1976 turned out to be a very defining time in my life. I discovered that “vampires” weren’t the only things that like to drain the blood out of humans. Hospitals also seemed determined to get every last drop out of my small, six-year-old body. I was on vacation with my parents when I contracted juvenile diabetes. Nurses would come 3-4 times a day and draw blood to check sugar levels, trying to bring them under control. Back then it wasn’t a quick finger prick; they would draw a couple vials. I remember by the end of my two-week stay it took thirteen doctors and nurses to hold me down because my arms were swollen black and blue from all the blood tests. But it was necessary. I would have died if my sugar levels continued to rage out of control. 

Scripture says in Leviticus 17 that the life of a creature is in the blood. That is why Christ’s blood is so precious to us. When you think about it, it is kind of an oxymoron. Christ shedding his blood and dying on the cross is what brought us life. Hebrews 9:22 reminds us, “…without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” His death (a perfect unblemished sacrifice) was the necessary requirement of our holy God. Think of it as a spiritual transfusion. Only his blood type (perfect/sinless) could heal a world dying from the deadly disease of sin.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your gift of life—the blood of Christ that has given me eternal life. I am forever grateful for the sacrifice You poured out to save a dying people…including me.

Week 6 · Thursday

Start Right to End Right

by Ray Mechling

Acts 4:10-12 Then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. He is the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.

I remember when I was growing up on the farm helping my Dad as he was preparing to build the foundation for a new building. It was so important to him that the “chief corner” was square and true. Every step of that building process was then built off that chief corner, because, as he would say, “you must start right to finish right.”

Years later I learned just how important that lesson was. I once joined a group of volunteers to finish a building being erected on a foundation that was not so square or true. Because the foundation was not square or true we had trouble with everything from the sheeting on the floor to the sheetrock on the ceiling. Nothing would line up or fit correctly. In short, it was a real mess, not to mention all the extra effort required to try and make it “look good.”

I have found that the same holds true in my daily life. If I build upon something not founded in Christ, nothing lines up. If I continue on that way, my life becomes a real mess. Believe me, no amount of spackle or paint will help.

Prayer: Father, help me to build my life only upon the foundation of Jesus Christ and faith in Him.  For only Christ is true and unchanging.

Week 6 · Wednesday

The Styrofoam Cup

by Heidi Williams

Ecclesiastes 4:10 If one falls down, his friend can help him up.  But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

I am a survivor of sadistic child abuse and have lost a beloved sister and brother to suicide. Following my brother’s death, I struggled to get back on track, but only became more distressed; I began to think I would be the next one in the family to commit suicide. But I didn’t really want to die; so, I began to meet with Pastor Dan.

During one of my visits, he said that if he knew I was about to be drowned by thoughts of suicide, he would “throw” everything he owned to me so that I could hang on and not slip under the waves of despair. The counseling visits and email replies have been helpful through the years, but that statement truly touched me and stayed with me. The following day at work, I was having a hard time and went to get a drink of water. I felt my mind struggling to tread water, trying to keep my head above the swirling sea of hopelessness. As I grabbed a styrofoam cup, I remembered those words. I had a vision of several people appearing and throwing things toward me so that I could remain afloat. Moments passed, and it appeared they had exhausted all their resources when one of them said, “Wait, here are some styrofoam cups—they float! Let’s throw them in too cause we’re not giving up!”

I am so grateful that God is using many of you to help me, thank you for being one of my lifesaver styrofoam cups.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for giving me many brothers and sisters in Christ who support me. Please continue to penetrate my life, so that I will be able to help to others in their time of need.

Week 6 · Tuesday

Peace in Christ

by Don Gamble

Romans 15:7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

I am sometimes challenged or tested in my walk with the Lord in ways I don’t understand. One such incident occurred over a year ago when my adult son moved back to our home. My first reaction was anger and I wondered how this could have happened. I soon realized this was a problem Dad could not fix.  And I had to place my trust in Jesus. He has since given me peace that can only be found in and through Him.

This process has led me to see that I also need to make peace with my son. This has required me to repent, and is drawing both of us together into a new and closer relationship. I continue to praise God and look to Him to see where He takes us on this journey.

Prayer: Father, I thank You for taking me through this time in my life, and I look forward to seeing Your work in the life of my son and me. Please help me to seek Your peace and guidance in every area of my life. In the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

Week 6 · Monday

A New Creation

by Kimberly Mechling

2 Corinthians 5:17 If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come!

Remember what you were like before you decided to accept the free gift of salvation from Jesus? I was a mess. I kept looking to fill the void in my life with relationships—pathetic ones actually. I depended on a mere human being to give me everything I needed to feel satisfied with my life, and to confirm that I had some kind of value.  I got married only to decide years later that I had a right to walk away if everything wasn’t perfect and found I was still unhappy.

Not long after the divorce my Dad died.  This was too much loss in a short amount of time. I asked myself, “Is this all there is to life?” Thankfully, my boss and his family invited me to church.  Then my brother told me about a church in my city that I should check out because he had heard the pastor speak on the radio. Of course, my brother was saved and was praying for me, even though I didn’t know it. So, I checked out the church because I was searching for something better; I wanted to know there was a purpose to my life. That was 13 years ago.

Thank God that because of His work in my life I am a better person now and a much happier person. I know that Jesus Christ is all I need. He is my purpose in life.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for saving me. Thank You for the Holy Spirit making me a new creation that no longer dwells in darkness, but shines in Your holy light. Give me a heart to share the good news of Your free gift of salvation with anyone who will listen!

Week 6

Visiting National Landmarks

One of American’s greatest national monuments, Mount Rushmore, lies in the Black Hills of South Dakota. There, carved into a mountainside near the small town of Keystone, are the faces of some of the greatest Presidents in the history of our nation: George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson and Theodore Roosevelt.

Gutzon Borglum was the one who undertook the enormous project of carving the faces into the granite cliffs. He worked on the monument from 1927-1941. While most of the work was completed under Gutzon, he actually died before its completion. His son Lincoln carried on his father’s work for a short time. Today Mount Rushmore proudly stands in testimony of the greatest and most free country the world has ever known. If you have never experienced Mount Rushmore…I strongly encourage you to see it.

The Bible says Jesus Christ is our Chief Cornerstone. He stands in testimony of the greatest news to ever reach the ears and hearts of humankind. God loves us and saves us by His grace. God’s Son, Jesus Christ, came to earth to accomplish the work set out by the Father, namely to free us from sin and adopt us as His own children. Today, His Church is built on the foundation of Jesus Christ…and we exist for His purpose and glory, being held together in Christ. This week’s stories celebrate Christ as our foundation. Put your faith in God and in the sure foundation of the Chief Cornerstone…Jesus Christ.

—Pastor Dan 

Week 5 · Friday

A Recipe For Pride
by Kori Hurley

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 

Take a girl. Cut her into the role of spouse (ingredient substitution for Dad in California). Add valedictorian and anorexia. Blend in religion, without Jesus, tossed with anti-Born-Again-Christian prejudice. Beat in top honors in Purdue’s pre-vet program. Pour into a crust of distrust, layered with secret insecurity. Overcook into fierce independence.
Yuk! Who wants some of that?! Fortunately for me, God did. Breaking through a dish like that takes a mighty sharp knife. For me, it took a truck ramming into my bike…and my head. The resulting brain injury forced me to re-learn adult behavior (no, I have not mastered this…not sure I want to) and re-think my beliefs.
I was living in Purdue’s Christian women’s house—strictly for the study environment and cheap board. The ladies had been faithfully praying for me. Now God was opening a door for them. Overnight, Miss Autonomous was stripped of her brazen self-sufficiency. One gal took upon herself the task of helping me graduate. While she patiently tutored my studies, she passionately shared Jesus. A month after the wreck, I asked Jesus into my life as LORD and Savior.
No one is beyond God, whether too good or too bad. Keep praying, keep sharing your faith, keep asking God for opportunities to be His hands and feet to the lost. Sometimes, He simply has to pull out a few stops to help them hear His soul music.

Prayer: Lord help me not to lose heart when praying for unbelieving loved ones. Let me be Your hands and feet to them. Let my mouth declare Your praise—that they may know.

Week 5 · Thursday

Gas Station Obedience

by Bill Harvey

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 

Many times in my Christian journey, God will quietly prompt me to help someone. One evening, after dark, I was driving through Buchanan on my way home. As I drove past an old gas station, I noticed a woman with 3 or 4 kids parked there with obvious car problems. Instantly, God prompted me to stop and offer help. I really don’t know much about fixing cars, so my flesh started an inward battle and I began justifying to God why I shouldn’t turn around and go back. I’m happy to say that night I did obey God’s prompting, but it took much longer than it should have. After two miles, I turned around and went back to ask if there was any way I could help. She told me that someone was already on the way, but she thanked me.

Obedience was the lesson that God was driving home in my heart that evening. I was taught that obedience is doing what you’re told to do, when you’re told to do it, with the right heart attitude. If you don’t exercise all three of these aspects, it is disobedience. That evening I disobeyed God, but the Spirit of God living in me didn’t give up, He kept working. Praise the Lord He doesn’t give up on us and is still molding us and shaping us to be like Jesus!

Prayer: God, give me ears to hear Your voice, even when it’s a quiet whisper. Help me to exercise instant obedience in every situation. Thanks for never giving up on us.