Spoiled Fruit

By Cynthia Ruchti –

My daughter cracks me up. Her sense of humor, like her two brothers’, has grown more acute and cute in her adult life. She has a wonderful way of viewing life’s difficult moments—especially as they relate to parenting—with an eye for the humor in the situation.

A couple of weeks ago, on a Saturday afternoon that already had too many “time outs” and too few naps, daughter Amy showed up for worship team practice with her mommy-self dragging on the ground behind her.

Before practice began, the worship leader asked if anyone had a prayer need. Amy’s hand shot up. Well, as quickly as a hand can shoot when it’s exhausted.

“Yes, Amy? A prayer concern?”

“I’m having a little trouble with the Fruit of the Spirit.”

“Which one?”

“All of them. Except meekness.”

Her comment sent a wave of laughter around the room, blessing other worshipers who came to practice lacking in one or more of the Fruits of the Spirit.

She knew she didn’t need fewer children, or another read-through of a Dr. Dobson classic. Even if her circumstances…and the attitudes of her precious children…didn’t change, her true need was for a stronger complement of Fruit. Fresh Fruit.

How many days do I search for an answer I think I need—a solution I believe I ought to be able to find—when what I really need is a trip to the Divine Produce Department?

PRAYER: Lord God, I’m in awe of the way You can use the simplest, shortest little quip to sting my heart and jump-start it back into proper rhythm—Yours. Thanks for the sweet reminder that all I ever need more of is You.

BIBLE VERSE: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV).

Outta Sight, Outta Mind

By Susan Dollyhigh –

The Sweeper Vac’s battery charger resided on the counter in the butler’s pantry of my 1927 home. It was ready to connect with the batteries when they became weary and drained. After spending time in the charger, the batteries were rejuvenated and the Vac was ready to tackle whatever task the day might bring.

One day in a cleaning frenzy, I tucked the charger into a drawer instead of leaving it out for the world to see. As the saying goes, “outta sight, outta mind.” I soon forgot about my Sweeper Vac and returned to using a broom, even though it left me with a pile of crumbs to clean up.

Weeks later, I saw the neglected Sweeper Vac sitting forlornly in the corner of the cleaning closet. I pulled it out and pushed the button to turn it on, but all the life was drained from its batteries.

Just like that Sweeper Vac; I have a Charger, too. For many years, I kept it in a drawer instead of leaving it out for the world to see, and it became “outta sight, outta mind.”

But when I came to know my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, I discovered the importance of my Charger, which is God’s Holy Word. I removed my Bible from the drawer and placed it on my kitchen table where it resides, waiting for me to connect with my Father.

When I spend time in God’s Word each morning, I am spiritually rejuvenated and better equipped to tackle whatever task the day might bring. I’ve also found that with God’s Word hidden in my heart, there’s a lot less mess for me to have to clean up at the end of the day.

PRAYER: Father, I thank You for proving to me over and over that You are the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

BIBLE VERSE: “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds” (Psalms 73:26 – 28 NIV).

Seeking His Face

By Janet Morris Grimes –

I love this particular phrase from the Bible. It is so visual; describing an intimate moment with a personal God–as if God himself tilts our face toward his, just in time to catch the twinkle of approval in his eyes.

But seeking His face is not a one time occurrence. It is much more than a fading moment. It is a way of life; an ongoing journey; the defining characteristic of who we are as Christians.

To seek His face is to seek His grace. To seek His face is to seek His will. To seek His face, we must trust Him to direct our paths, just as He promised to do. To seek His face requires us to be watching. Always. To seek His face is to rise above our circumstances and challenges, redirecting our focus away from ourselves and upward to His ability to handle our struggles in a way that glorifies Him in the end.

To seek His face, we must become like a young child, riding a bike for the first time and periodically checking back over our shoulder to make sure Daddy is still watching. We feel the need to keep him in our sight at all times. Like a toddler playing peek-a-boo with his father, we break into a fit of giggles each time our eyes meet.

True joy waits for those who learn to do this. To seek His face, we must constantly be looking upward, and there will be no mistaking the moments that God allows His face to shine on us.

PRAYER: Dear God, Thank You for allowing us to seek Your face, and for revealing Your love for us in return. Our souls crave that approval; we long to make You proud. Make Your face to shine on us, shielding us from the darkness that waits around hidden corners. With You, we can do anything. 

BIBLE VERSE:  “My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek” (Psalm 27:8 NIV).

 

The Hand that Nailed Itself

By Heather Allen –

Yesterday my little boy swung his feet in rhythm with mine, as we dipped our toes in the cool lake water. He said “Mom you don’t talk as much as dad.” “Really?” I smiled.  “Well, did you want to talk about something?” I asked.  He looked out over the green blue water and then up at my face. “I just want to talk about how good God is mom.” He then listed how God has been good to him. And then in typical little boy mode, darted off.

But he left me smiling with my face lifted to the sky “God, You have been so good.”

The hand that nailed itself to the cross is the same hand that holds my life.  And the same love that sacrificed itself says I made a way for you. I am good and kind. I love you.  I am the way, the truth, the life, the only way to the Father (John 14:6). The only way to be reconciled is Christ Jesus. And contrary to popular lies, the Lord God and Allah are not one and the same.  The culture that worshiped Allah was pantheistic first. And then gradually their other gods were diminished leaving Allah the moon god and his partner the sun goddess. In time she also was diminished.

God sent his son to Earth to make it really clear that He alone is God. And He alone is able to save.

Apart from Christ, self-destruction is what humanity will tend toward every time. I know this is true like I know I need air to breathe.  God’s word is clear.  It is not because of the works we have done, but according to His mercy that we are saved (Titus 3:5).

I have been in a night season for so long I have forgotten what it feels like to be able to see the horizon. But when you walk in the dark you learn to trust. You see faith become something you do not just talk about, but rest in.

Isaiah 50:10 (KJV) says, “Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.”

“And stay” in this verse means lean upon, support oneself on. And I love that because the uncertainty in my life has taught me to place my hope on what is certain. The process has been painful and slow, but He is the one I want to be my foundation. And so I find myself immensely grateful for this season because He is building a faith that holds.

God chose to make us. And when we rebelled and sinned, He chose to save us.  He is so good.  And like my darling little boy, I just want to talk about it.

Anticipate, Commemorate and Appreciate

By Hally Franz –

Shopping for souvenirs was once an important part of the vacation experience. I remember the first time I ever flew. I, along with five other schoolmates, had been awarded a two-week trip to Saltillo, Mexico to study Spanish. It was the summer between my sophomore and junior year of high school, and I had done very little traveling prior to this. I remember diligently shopping for trinkets for family and friends. I bought ceramic ashtrays for my grandfathers and dad. I purchased several dazzling, velvet sombreros for my sister and others. This trip was a big deal to me and my family; I wanted to remember it.

In the thirty years since then, travel has become much more commonplace. Typically, people don’t buy souvenirs for those at home. I’ve even noticed that cameras are sometimes left behind. While at one time, we wouldn’t dream of taking a vacation or trip somewhere without commemorating it with photos, these days people may not even bother, except of course to post a phone photo on facebook. The art of anticipating and reflecting on special events, trips and family vacations seems to have been lost.

Today, we have less time to look forward to exciting events, because they seem to happen with greater frequency. As soon as one event has come and gone, there is another to plan and prepare for. Likewise, we rarely have and/or take time to review pictures and talk about special memories made.

While it’s important to fully appreciate life as it happens, it is also good to savor feelings of excitement before and cherish moments after special times in our lives. As we approach fall, take time to recall and relish special memories made throughout this summer. Thank God for the blessings of family and fond memories to last well beyond this season and years into the future.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for the blessings of good times spent with family and friends. Lord, help me to hold these memories in my heart, appreciating each of them as gifts from You.

BIBLE VERSE: “It is good to give thanks to the LORD, And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High” (Psalm 92:1 NKJV).

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