No Counterfeits

By Rhonda Rhea –

When I was a kid, I always wondered why anyone would ever choose Frankenberry over Count Chocula. Because…chocolate. That was my entire reason. Of course, even though I was only a kid, I still instinctively knew that cereal chocolate didn’t really count as true chocolate. It was actually the first bite of Cocoa Krispies that tipped me off. It was more like: snap, crackle, I don’t think so.
I’m sorry, but I’ve just never been all that cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs. I think it might be simulated. Simulated what, I don’t know. It doesn’t even smell right. It’s like a cross between old baby oil and sweetened aluminum. Spoiled, oiled or foiled—I don’t know that either.

Calling cereal chocolate real chocolate would be like calling cereal marshmallows real marshmallows. I know it’s supposed to be to a breakfast cereal’s credit when it stays crunchy even in milk, but I don’t think that’s supposed to go for the mallows. Whenever you bite down on a marshmallow, you shouldn’t be able to hear it. That’s just not right, people. They’re not marshmallows. It’s not chocolate.

Crumble Ho Ho’s in a bowl. Add milk. There’s your chocolate cereal.

There’s always disappointment in encountering the fake. So much more so when you’re talking about what is meant to distinguish us as Christ-followers. Jesus said in 1 John 13:35, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (ESV).

We’re called to love each other without anything counterfeit or artificial. Without hypocrisy. Without self-centeredness, secret agendas or ulterior motives. Self-seeking fake-love? It’s just not right, people. Because we’ve received the forgiveness of Christ, our love is to be sincere, deep, heart-felt—just as His is. “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart” (1 Peter 1:22, NIV).

There’s no place for counterfeit love among those who know Christ. Only the genuine article will do. Paul said in Romans 12:9, “Let love be genuine” (ESV).

So how do we do that? We love the Lord first and foremost. We obey His commands and allow His Spirit to work out His love through us. Jesus said in Matthew 22:37-39, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself” (HCSB). And He will never command us to do something He won’t enable us to do.

Love is more than just an emotion. It’s the ability to sacrifice for another. Jesus lived and died showing us how to walk it out. “And walk in love, as the Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God” (Ephesians 5:2, HCSB).

No weird aluminum smell. A fragrant offering. When we’re walking in His love, there’s simply nothing artificial about it.

Because…Jesus. That’s my entire reason.

Hidden in our Hands

Rosemary Flaaten –

Take a look at your hands. What do you see? Is your skin soft and supple? Do you have callouses from years of hard work? Are they petite and well groomed? Are they broad and muscular?

These upper extremities are a part of our body often taken for granted. We use our hands to wash dishes, send a text message, stroke our child’s hair and entwine our lover’s hand. With our hands we have the opportunity to communicate love, abuse or control.

Jesus used his hands to bless people and to make them feel welcome in His presence. When He placed his hands on people they were healed of their infirmities. Jesus’ hands were a conduit of his Father’s power and peace.

The Psalmist declared, “Hidden in the hands of Moses and Aaron, You led your people like a flock of sheep”. (Psalm 77:20 TM) God used the hands of Moses and Aaron to infuse His power. These two men simply became the channel through which the Most High God passed on the clarity of His will, His power and His love. God used their hands to bless others.

Are you allowing God to use your hands? Are your hands, whether petite or enormous, silky or rough, being employed as an instrument of God’s love? Do people feel touched by the breath of God in your presence? As people who have a personal relationship with Christ, we have hidden in our hands the presence of God. Think of the responsibility. Think of the potential.

What’s hidden in your hands? Take a look at your hands and renew your commitment to use them for His glory.

PRAYER: Dear Father, infuse my hands so that they may be a conduit of Your love and blessings. Amen.

Quote: “Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of Thy love.” (Hymn – Take My Life and Let It Be by Frances R. Havergal)

My Prayer

By Elaine James –

“Lord, in the midst of not knowing what is going to come next, I want to know what to do. If I have the answers now, then there won’t be any hurt, pain or surprises involved. I don’t like when others say ‘Things are going to change. Boy, are you not going to be able to handle it!’

When my mom died it was a complete surprise. I got up that day getting ready for Christian camp. I was full of energy praying for the students and the camp. My mother’s health was poor. That day I prayed for her. I even wrote a note to my mom saying ‘I’ll spend time with you when I get back; I love you and will pray for you.’ I felt so confident about going to camp. Driving along about five hours away, my phone rang. I pulled over on the side of the road and answered the phone. My mom was gone.

Lord, You helped me drive to camp. A beautiful lady named Ruth took me in her arms. She loved me. Fed me. Stayed with me. She let me talk about my mom. She was the hands, feet and voice for You. I acknowledge your provision that day. Camp was the perfect place to be. You made things easier so I could deal with the situation.

When I got home I wept uncontrollably. I was saying ‘I can’t do this Lord. I can’t go see my mom with no life in her.’ I looked at my Bible. ‘You say this book gives life and peace.’ I read the words ‘Blessed are those who are mourning for they will be comforted.’

God, I sat and waited. ‘I can do all things through You who strengthens me!’ I can’t! But You can! I got through the next days. I love You. You are God alone. You are all knowing. You work all things together for me because You love me.

Lord, today I plead with You to barricade my mind with this truth. I want to be Your hands, feet and voice like Ruth was for me. Help me to stop doubting and have faith and trust You. I acknowledge Your sovereignty. Thank You for all that You have done and will do to help me. In Your mighty name. Amen.”

Friend, what do you want to say to God today?

Christmas Stocking Surprise

By Carin LeRoy –

“Come see what you have in your stocking!” My brother awakened me early one Christmas morning. Groggily sitting up in bed, I kicked off the covers and stood. “You’re going to love it,” he said as we tip-toed down the stairs to where they hung. I snuck a peek. This was my favorite part of Christmas as a child. This year was even better as I saw mine bursting with something special. Whispering on the stairs, we waited impatiently for our parents to awake.

Overflowing from my stocking, I saw doll furniture carefully crafted by my father for my Barbie dolls – a table with chairs, a bed with a cloth canopy, and a little wooden sofa. My father had spent time designing, cutting, and putting together my doll furniture to give me a special surprise for Christmas. All the small cuts and tiny detail took effort and time as he patiently crafted something he knew I would enjoy. I loved it and played with it for many years. Although my father has gone to Heaven, I still have that gift.

Christmas is a special time as we select gifts for others. We desire to please others with our gift-giving, yet before long most gifts will get worn out, used, outgrown or discarded. Let’s ponder for a moment some gifts that are lavished upon us by our heavenly Father.

• His son, Jesus. Without His birth, life, death and resurrection, we would not have the forgiveness of sins nor the hope of eternal life in heaven.
• Family. Placing people in families displays the wisdom and brilliance of the Father. From birth to death, we have a connection with others—somewhere to belong and be cared for and loved.
• His Presence. God’s love and presence with us is constant, faithful and unchanging. He walks beside us through all parts of life to give comfort, wisdom and direction.
• Nature. What is more soothing than a walk on the beach, more majestic than a mountain view or more exquisite than a delicate flower? As we enjoy the beauty of our surroundings, realize this is a gift for our enjoyment.
• His Word. God has sent a manual to lead us – the Bible. Passed down through the centuries, His word lives forever to give us hope, truth, comfort, rebuke and guidance.

This list cannot do justice to all that God has given, but today let’s remember these and think about others that He has bestowed on us. What are His gifts for you? Let’s praise Him today for all the wonderful things He lavishes on us.

PRAYER: Thank You, Lord, for all the gifts You bestow on me. Help me to recognize Your hand in my life and keep me mindful to thank and praise You.

“He who did not spare His own son, but gave him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things,” (Romans 8: 32 NIV).

The Little Drummer Boy

By Janet Morris Grimes –

I have this odd little quirk. Call it crazy. Call it focused. Call it annoying. Call it brilliant. Call it my attempt to slow down enough to absorb the message of something that matters.

I leave the television off, turn on my music, and listen to it on repeat. All. Day. Long.

It’s whatever I need to hear on a particular day. The music lays the foundation while the lyrics pierce my soul. I find it comforting Freeing.

Today, my song of choice was The Little Drummer Boy, by Jars of Clay.

I adored the television special as a child, until the part where the little lamb was run over by the ox cart. But later, as he is healed and dances to the music of the drummer boy, I melted. Every time.

Even back then, I recognized that this was the one true Christmas special that had nothing to do with Santa Claus, reindeer or misfit toys. It was the only one that focused on giving instead of getting, on Jesus instead of Santa, and on people instead of things.

Today, as I listened to the lyrics, minus the pa rum pa pum pums, I was fascinated by the simple message.

Come, they told me
A newborn King to see
Our finest gifts we bring
To lay before the King.
So to honor Him
When we come.

Little baby,
I am a poor boy, too.
I have no gift to bring
That’s fit to give the King

Shall I play for you?
On my drum?

Mary nodded
The ox and lamb kept time.
I played my drum for Him.
I played my best for Him.
Then, He smiled at me.

Me and my drum.

The Little Drummer Boy is a fictional story, but is still so very true.

All Jesus asks from us is whatever we have to offer. For this boy who was hurting, it was a song on a drum. Nothing more. Nothing less.

For me, it is my writing. It is all I have to offer, and the only way I know to give back to Him.

As the song says, “so to honor Him, we come…”

I will show up, bringing all that I have to offer.

And when He smiles at me?

I can think of no greater gift.

Me and my drum.

Pa rum pa pum pum.

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