Spiritual Lessons from Gallon Man

By Hally Franz –

“Gallon Man” reminds me a bit of the old character, Pacman. His head is formed from the letter G, and the opening appears to be Gallon Man’s mouth. If my interpretation is correct, he is viewed from a side profile, and is outfitted with four spots or eyes that are also visible from the side shot. Those are formed by evenly spaced Q’s, which of course have two P’s in each of them. His detailed and symmetrical design is completed with two little C’s that exist inside each of the P’s, inside each of the Q spots (or eyes). We know there are 16 cups in a gallon, 8 pints in a gallon, and 4 quarts in a gallon. Try drawing one for yourself.

When I arrived to pick up my daughter from a recent after-school tutoring session, this was the explanation I observed in the final minutes. This British-born teacher was working with my girl on American “standard” units of measurement. She had been through yards, feet and inches as well that day. And, as she wrapped up her lessons, she made a very simple, but profound comment in her wonderful English accent, which her students adore.

She said that “Heavenly Father is a God of order.”

My daughter attends a Christian school, so comments regarding faith are made often throughout the day’s activities. However, as I heard that simple proclamation, I was moved by its complete and utter truth.

There is order in His creation, perfection in His plans. In the workings of our human bodies, and in the functioning of plants and animals in our environment, we see innumerable examples of His precision. There is nothing random or left to chance, for He is in charge.

So, when we find ourselves in chaos or turmoil, whose counsel ought we seek to return order to our lives? Who provides the listening ear and the wisdom to make right a life that’s off track and out-of-whack? No, it’s not the master of measurement, Mr. Gallon Man. It’s another big “G” – the originator of all and author of order.

PRAYER: Most gracious Heavenly Father, thank You for the examples of precision, perfection and order in all You have created. May those wonders always serve to remind me to seek You at times when my life is anything but orderly.

“To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal?” asks the Holy One. “ Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name. Because of his great power and incomparable strength, not a single one is missing.” (Isaiah 40:25-26 NLT).

Be Quiet! I Can’t Hear God

By Michelle Lim –

If you have ever tried to get a large family in the car and on the way to church, you know that chaos is the norm. Everything from missing shoes to mismatched socks and a solid dose of arguments thrown in is just the routine.

One such morning my family and I were celebrating the close of the garage door as we backed out of the driveway for church, when my daughter asked to listen to some music.
We were more than happy to turn on the worship CD in our van and cruise to church with the sound of joy instead of the chaos we left in our wake.

Just when we thought we were in the clear, my son in the back seat started to complain.

“I don’t want any music. Turn it off.”

Like any good parent I reminded him that we don’t always get our way.

Like any sister, my daughter piped up with, “I want to listen to music.”

I was ready to intervene when my son said something that gave me pause:

“Be quiet! I can’t hear God.”

That day we left the radio off and were quiet on the way to church. My son needed to hear God and as a family we couldn’t stand in the way.

How about you? Do you feel the chaos is so overwhelming sometimes that you can’t hear the voice of God? I know that I do. It is difficult to carve out time in our crazy schedules to just sit and listen to the voice of God.

When we get in the toughest spots in life, we need to hear from God more than ever. We can’t fill the silence with chaos and our own solutions. We just need to be quiet so we can hear from God.

My son taught me something that day that I will never forget. Even in the midst of chaos we can quiet ourselves to listen to God’s voice. It is merely a decision to draw a line between the chaos and ourselves and stop to listen. Only then can we get the answers we need for our day to day lives.

“Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live” (Isaiah 55:3 ESV).

Eight Electrons

By Makenzie Allen –

You know what I love about God? He was, is, and forever will be the greatest scientist to ever live. Not in the sense that He studies and hypothesizes about things He cannot understand. God is a scientist because He created everything using the laws of science, which He engineered. He is the greatest because He designed science itself. You know Adam? Made out of dust, as soon as God commanded. You know atoms? God thought those up during His spare time. Which we all know was zilch time. Since when does God have spare time anyway? I can imagine Him speaking to the angels, “Schedule me a quiet time right between when those dear little children are praying to me and when those clanging cymbals need to be reminded for the seventy-seven times seventh time that stealing doesn’t go unpunished.”

So, in the beginning, God created Adam. And the atoms.

While it took God no time at all to come up with the atom, it has taken some of the greatest scientists centuries to come up with a model of what the atom could be composed of. And the model we now have as our closest representation is still just that, close, but not complete.

This year I am taking a chemistry class, which has sparked my love and fascination for science to a whole new level of awe. One night I sat in bed doing chemistry homework as my friend from Ohio read beside me. Sophia is her name. I call her Soph out of habit. Soph is amazing. She inspires and challenges me to not just offer a place in my heart to God, but to offer my whole heart and life to Him.

As I was drawing molecules—yes molecules. I was stoked!—a thought struck me. “Soph, you know what’s crazy?”

“What?” Soph asked, looking up from her book.

“Everything, not just people, but everything in some way is trying to gain perfection.”

Soph looked at me with curiosity and turned her full attention to me as I tried to explain.

Atoms are made up of three basic parts: the protons, neutrons, and electrons. Of the three, electrons are the most important part as far as chemistry goes. And every atom besides hydrogen has a strong desire for eight specific electrons. Once an atom has eight specific electrons, it is considered perfect and is satisfied.

In this world, perfection is something we all strive for in some way or another. As atoms try to gain eight electrons to be perfect, we might try to lose eight pounds.

“For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot perform it. I have the intention and urge to do what is right, but no power to carry it out” (Romans 7:18, AMP).

No, we cannot achieve perfection. And God has not asked us to, not on our own. Adam’s descendants, and the atoms, can only attain perfection by the power of their Savior. As Paul said, we have not the power to carry it out. But then, God does. God has the power and by Him we are made perfect, whole, and washed clean. And on that beautiful day, when I am brought to my Father’s house, He will see His power in me, and not the imperfections and insecurities that I was bound to as a fallen human.

PLOP! PLOP! FIZZ! FIZZ!

By Elaine James –

I was feelin’ good about my clothing choice and pink lipstick for the day. Stepping out into the fresh air, I prayed my ritual prayer with a gentle whisper “God let me be in the moment and be in the right place at the right time for You.” I was digesting my breakfast and the scripture of the day:

“Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat—for He grants sleep to those He loves” (Psalm 127:1-2 NIV).

I was heading to the local coffee shop in response to a friend’s e-mail stating “We should get together for coffee. I want to toss around the idea of a prayer group for parents…what do you both think?” The “both” was referring to my longtime girlfriend and me. I was actually thinking “Really, God? Another prayer group?” Poor attitude. Shame on me!

To make a long story short, this lady was in fear of the bad influence the world is having on our children. So legit! I too can work myself up into a mind loop of despair questioning “What if they take that influence and make bad choices themselves?”

My friend and I shared many scriptures that morning. I took out my phone Bible and read the above scripture. Side note: taking a verse from the morning into the day is so important. If we don’t put Jesus first everything we do will be done in vain. I didn’t make this stuff up; God did. We prayed together and she invited Jesus into her house (heart). The day denoted a new birth for her future. We left committed not only to pray but study the Word together. She was convicted that a prayer for a new beginning and the prospect of learning the Word dispelled darkness of fear and shed light on her new found path.

If you follow my devotions you can sometimes expect to get a jingle out of me. The one that comes to mind at the end of this God story is this; PLOP! PLOP! FIZZ! FIZZ! Oh what a relief it is!

Jesus plops scripture in front of us and fizzles our anxious thoughts into a pool of water that gives medicinal relief.

Jesus loves you! You can love Him back with this simple prayer of relief!

Father in heaven I want to follow you today. I am a sinner. I know Jesus died for me and rose from the dead so that I can eternally be with You. Thank you for calming my anxious thoughts. From this day forward help me to rise early and build my house with You. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

The Shield That Never Slumbers

By Lori Freeland –

“But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield” (Psalm 5:11-12 NIV).

Today I’m glad God never sleeps.

Last night when I came home from writer’s group, the garage door wouldn’t go down. I asked Pat to check it.

He forgot. And went to bed.

I assumed he put the door down. And I went to bed.

So the garage gaped open all night—a beacon of vulnerability to anyone who drove down my street. Worse? The door to the house remained unlocked. While my kids slept upstairs.

When I woke up and realized anyone could have walked in my house, that thought shot me three quarters of the way to a coronary. I always check every door. Three times. Paranoia and safety top my priority list. I’m not one of those people who doesn’t worry about the what-if’s.

I play with what-if all day.

What if someone is stalking my children in a large, white, windowless van? What if my eleven-year-old daughter goes to the restroom in the Taco Bell and never comes out? What if there’s a fire in the middle of the night and we don’t wake up? What if my son falls asleep driving home from college late at night?

What if? What if? What it?

Then a great big wave of peace rolled across my heart and slowed the racing beats. That peace reminded of how often the Lord protects me when I don’t even see what He’s done.

Today I’m glad God never sleeps.

I’m glad He watches over me, whether I remember to ask Him or not. I’m glad He never misses anything as crucial as a deadbolt turned the wrong way. I’m glad He catches all the details I miss.

If I can trust Him to protect me when I don’t know I need protection, how much more should I trust Him when I do?

Yet, I have trouble giving my fears over.

How will we pay for college times three? Will my son pass the pre-nursing exam? Will he pass his yearly oncology screen? Will my fifteen-year-old finish chemistry and get the required credit to graduate? Will he figure out what he wants to do with his life? Will my daughter survive adolescence? Will I survive her adolescence? Will my husband’s job be safe? Will we be able to retire? Pay our bills? Will I accomplish everything I need to in the time I don’ t have?

And the list of will’s goes on. We all have a list. A list of concerns, needs, wants, fears and stumbling blocks. Some of us also tack on a list of what-if’s. And all that stress is enough to send any of us into a full-blown coronary.

Here’s a world shaker. What if I’ve opened my arms and invited all that stress? Embraced it. Breathed it in. Let the tension and fear lock me down.

For no reason at all.

Because God says:

“For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does” (Psalm 33:4).

If I believe the Word, and the Word says He is faithful in all He does, I need to believe He is faithful in all He does. Even when I forget to ask Him. He knows what I need. He even knows what I want. And sometimes His blessings include things I never imagined.

That’s the most comforting feeling in the world.

And so much safer than seven deadbolts and a steel-reinforced garage door.

Thank you, Lord, for being there for me. Even when I don’t know I need You.

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