Downsizing

By Gillis Killam –

Over the past three months my wife and I have been downsizing. In the past we have moved a number of times, but this last move was very different. Moving to a smaller space made us look at everything we possessed, and decide what we needed. We found that there were many things that were no longer useful although good in their day. There were memorabilia: pictures, videos, DVDs, letters, cards, poems from special occasions; then there was furniture we didn’t have room for so asked the family and others if there was something they would like. Some items were taken but most people already had their houses filled and didn’t want any more.

We decided that a good piece of advice to others would be to not wait until you are in your late 70’s to do this. One should do it year by year, or at least every other year! We had to get rid of a lot of things that for years had been just taking up space and were no longer needed. We took most of it to organizations that distribute items to those in need.

This caused me to think that we should not wait to the last minute to clear up our lives from grudges, feelings, and thoughts that have cluttered our minds over the years. We should make sure we are right with God and have our sins forgiven (1 John 1:9-10). We should ask forgiveness of anyone we have wronged; we should do the things we should have done many years ago.

We all accumulate unresolved relationships, practices or habits that we know we need to put away because they are not God’s will for us. There may be things that are not wrong in themselves but take up too much of our time and occupy a place that should belong to God or our family. The writer to the Hebrews said, “…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles” (Hebrews 12:1 NIV).

I was reminded of the scripture which tells us to put off the old life and put on the new which is renewed in righteousness. “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Ephesians 4:24 KJV).

Prayer: Search me, O God; help me to remove those things which hinder Your will in my life.

Wright on Right and Wrong

By Hally Franz –

Harold Bell Wright wrote “The Shepherd of the Hills,” published in 1907, while living in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri. His novel tells the story of a man named Dad Howitt, who leaves the city and trappings of success to live in the mountains where his artist son (believed dead) had worked and fallen in love years earlier. Dad goes to Mutton Hollow to right wrongs and become closer to his son, if only in spirit, but his true identity is not known to those in the community. Dad develops a friendship with Grant “Old Matt” Matthews; however, Old Matt would never have accepted Dad if he’d known who he really was. There is romance, tragedy, and a shoot-out with Baldknobbers. Ultimately, though, there is forgiveness that replaces hatred and repairs pain.

Branson, Missouri is the home of the stage production of “The Shepherd of the Hills.” The play has been seen for over fifty years now at the very homestead where Harold Bell Wright penned his famous novel. My family and I had the opportunity to see the production this past summer. Our tour guide told us more copies of “The Shepherd of the Hills” have been sold than any other work of fiction. I’m not 100% sure of that statistic, but I am certain of the enduring appeal and importance of stories like this one.

Life is about gaining and giving, learning and serving. It’s a process of growth that comes from making mistakes and making them right, both with people we’ve hurt and our Heavenly Father. Sin and repentance, forgiveness and redemption—these are themes we ALL connect with.

God gives us time in this space to have experiences landing all over the joy and pain continuums, so that we may gain wisdom and grow faith. It’s all in preparation for eternity in His place. That process is quite an adventure! It’s a romance! And, it’s real-life stories very much worth telling and hearing.

Let’s seek out stories in print and on television that offer something of value to our families. And, if I may, let me give a shout-out to Branson, MO—famously family-friendly, profoundly patriotic, and courageously Christian.

PRAYER: Merciful and Mighty God, walk with us as we encounter and endure challenges in life. May each be a cherished story in the furthering of our faith and relationship with You.

“They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:10-11 NIV).

In The Shade of the Family Tree

By Cindy Martin –

Like many of you, my summer vacation included attending a family reunion. In fact, this seemed to be the year for reunions so I attended a few. Amidst the individuality of each of them, two recurring themes emerged – family legacy and the value of belonging.

I am always amazed that even though we as family members may not have seen each other for months or even years, there is a bond of love and acceptance that exists just because we’re part of that particular family. We’re members. We go to the reunion because we belong there. We belong, not because of anything we have done or will do, but by virtue of our last name (or our mother’s maiden name). There is something very anchoring about belonging. It creates a sense of security and stability as well as helps to clarify our identity.

Notable at each of the reunions was that fact that there were folks that had been unofficially “adopted” into each of the families. Their name may not occupy a branch on the family tree yet they belonged – not by virtue of their last name but by the place they had found in the family’s collective heart.

This is such a poignant example to me of our place in God’s family as believers. We belong because God calls us His (we have His last name as it were) and we have a place in His heart.
My husband and I are blessed to be part of families where unconditional love, acceptance and a desire to have fun together are part of our heritage. Without question, that legacy has been handed down by those who not only loved us, but loved God as well. Historically, we have not only shared the same last name but also the same faith. As the family continues to grow, I feel challenged to steward our spiritual legacy well. I am mindful that our faith is the foundation on which our expressions of love and connection are built. Without it, there is little of lasting value to pass along to the current and future “buds” on the family tree.

“Let me rejoice in the joy of your people; let me praise you with those who are your heritage” (Psalm 106:5 NLT).

“Lord, thank You that You created families and a sense of belonging as a reflection of Your heart for us as Your people. May all who come behind us find us faithful.”

Sheila’s Faith

By Judy Davis –

“Our attitude as a saint to sorrow and difficulty is not to ask that they may be prevented, but to ask that I may preserve the self God created me to be through every fire of sorrow.” Oswald Chambers

Sheila had been a nurse when diagnosed with aggressive hepatitis. Through the years of suffering, she continued to shine with the love of Jesus Christ. And on the morning she went home to be with her Lord, it was as if a light had burned out. She had gone to her heavenly home-no more tears, no more pain. Sheila was finally set free from the suffering that had been such a part of her life. Her sister softly stated, “Everyone grieves when they lose a loved one but we feel like we lost an angel.”

Her neighbor said, “Sheila was one-of-a-kind. She had a certain flair. Her walk, her talk, even the way she batted her eyes were in her own inimitable style. She was unlike any other person; completely charming and one-of-a-kind; fun loving and playful. A wisp of a girl, Sheila was beautiful, with big expressive eyes that lit up her entire face. But more than the beauty of her face was the sweetness of her heart.”

During the holidays Sheila’s church was involved in sending “shoeboxes” full of needy supplies to Bosnia. Even though she was barely able to carry her own weight, it did not stop her from getting her sister to drive her all over town so she could fill her “shoeboxes.”

There were times in her last few years when her pain was unbearable. She would lay in bed listening to Christian music while holding her hands up toward Heaven. This would ease some of the pain. The love the sisters had for one another had shown throughout their lives. Sheila’s sister mentioned, “One of the symptoms of liver failure is forgetfulness. I’ll never forget her calling, waking me up in the early morning crying, ‘I can’t remember the Lord’s Prayer.’ I assured her that God remembers her and I said a prayer for her. The next day, she wanted to get out of the house, so we went to the grocery store. As we were riding, we recited the Lord’s Prayer together. Sheila passed away soon after.”

Her pastor shared a part of the eulogy: “Sheila fought the fight of faith as a valiant soldier. She was always smiling and refused to give in to adversity. The peace of God that passes all understanding was upon her countenance, even though her condition was desperate she never complained and if someone had a problem, she was more concerned for them than herself. She was always doing something to make others feel better. If asked how she was feeling, she would say, ‘I’m fine,’ even though her condition was serious.”

Heavenly Father,
We praise you from whom all blessings flow. We know heaven is rejoicing for a warrior has gone home.

“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14 NIV).

Your Spiritual Checkup

By Cheri Cowell –

I often went with my mother-in-law to her doctor appointments. Every doctor’s office staff does the same things: checks blood pressure, weight, prescriptions list, and inquires of the reason for the visit.

For those who are older, such as my mother-in-law, a few other things are added to the list of checkup questions: “How are you sleeping? Are you depressed? Are your feet swelling? Do you have any questions?”

It made me think, “I wish God had a list of questions for my spiritual check-up.”

The Corinthian church was acting like a wayward child, and in his second letter Paul was writing to let them know they had better straighten out before he got there or else… In chapter 13 verse 5 he tells them how to begin the process. He instructs them to look inward. To test themselves to see if what is inside is that which is showing outside. To take this test and if they find themselves lacking, do something about it! Verse 7 not only tells the Corinthians what do, Paul demonstrates it. He prays for them.

Verses 7-10 are referred to as Paul’s prayer. He prays that if anything is lacking in them that it not be counted against them but against him. Paul took his concerns to God, the Great Physician, who can do more to heal our infirmities than any prescription ever could.

“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not so that people will see that we have stood the test but so that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is that you may be fully restored. This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down” (2 Corinthians 13:5-10 NIV).

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