Impartial Eyes

By Makenzie Allen –

Sitting beside a rosy-cheeked, bubbly little girl, I listen as she describes things about her room that bring an element of excitement to her childhood. One by one, she introduces me to her dolls who are all tucked in bed. Moving from one thing to another, she reaches her bookshelf and pulls out her favorite book. On the cover stands the main character. With a smile she says, “I always pretend she is you.” In that moment I am struck by the realization that she claimed me as the living, breathing version of her favorite character. I feel a grin spread across my face that beams with happiness at her admission.

Something I’ve noticed recently is how real children are. They don’t plaster on a smile when they are upset, nor do they say things just to gain an alliance. If something is on their mind, they say it without hesitation. The more I think about it, the more I realize how refreshing that kind of honesty is.

Scary as it can be, she looks up to me. And I wonder how many times I haven’t been the kind of example I should be for her and other children. How can I be worth looking up to? What can I do to be a true and beneficial example?

Walking along the lake with my little cousin, I look down at her tiny hand clutching mine. My heart melts at this small gesture of companionship. Peering up at me through blue eyes, she giggles at the silly face I make. And she laughs some more as I reach down and weave sticks through my hair. In her slowly improving speech, I hear her say, “Makie so silly.” Makie. I love it when she calls me that. And on we walk, everyone thinking I’m the one blessing her when really, it’s just the opposite.

Have you noticed the moment a child accepts you, a day that felt like failure practically shouts with success? For me, not many other things bring more happiness than when a child decides that I seem fun to be with. Maybe it’s because I know that the friendship they give isn’t just for show. They truly want to be with me, not because of what I look like or who I’m associated with, but because they enjoy my company. It’s as if children see things through impartial eyes, worldly qualifications don’t matter to them. It is so reviving to see how children look at the heart, just as God does.

Rascally Roundabout

By Hally Franz –

Running is all the rage these days. Runs exist for every cause, celebration and group imaginable.
Why, there are breast cancer and autism runs, sunshine and moonlight runs, zombie and Santa Claus runs, freedom, flood and mud runs. If you want to run, there’s a time and place to do it!

So, naturally, the completion of our small town’s latest and most thrilling traffic-easing structure will be commemorated in similar fashion—“Run the Roundabouts!”

Do you remember the first time you encountered a roundabout on the road? It’s overwhelming initially, trying to quickly decide where to get off and who has the right-of-way. Sometimes, we stay a few laps longer just to make sure we’ve accurately accessed the circular situation.

Life can be a bit like a roundabout. There are times when we’re moving in circles, not sure when to start something new or change course. Or, we may recognize needs or opportunities in our lives, but be confused about which direction to choose. Those around us may be urging us to take action or just get out of the way. And, it can leave us feeling dizzy.

I imagine our upcoming community run will have stations at each arm of the roundabout. There will be water or fruit available to keep runners hydrated and energized. Friends and family members will congregate at points along the way to offer cheers of encouragement. There may even be literature available to teach guests about the project and growth in the area.

Why would God do anything less for us as we travel through life? When we face new challenges or simply seem to be going nowhere, He can offer sustenance, encouragement and instruction from His word. So, we need not fear any real or proverbial roundabout. We should just run it!

PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for being eternally there for me as I travel through life. Whether I am barely moving or at a run, unclear of my direction or confident about where I’m headed, You always provide the perfect guidance and support needed.

“I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you” (Genesis 28:15 NIV).

Invisible Barriers

By Charlotte Riegel –

When cool autumn winds reminded me summer was over I started seasonal cleanup, gathering and cleaning flowerpots and gardening tools for ready use next spring. Once inside the greenhouse, its warmth offered relief from the cold blustery wind and made this chore more pleasant.

A rustling sound coming from one corner of the greenhouse soon distracted me and I desperately hoped it was not a rattlesnake, a creature common to our community. My fears were quickly alleviated as a little bird flew up, hit a window, and fell to the ground. Apparently it had entered through a partially open window and now desperately sought an exit.

“You poor little creature,” I thought. “You see your world out there but you don’t see the barriers of glass preventing you from being there.” Each time it flew up and hit the glass it tumbled to the ground or work bench, lay there a few moments regaining composure and then flew off again, only to repeat the agonizing crash.

I watched helplessly for a while until it fell into a planting tray near a partially open window. Gently picking up the tray I prayed it would stay still long enough for me to move the tray through the small opening. Once the tray was placed on the window ledge, the bird sat there a moment then hopped onto a nearby woodpile and quickly flew off to its freedom.

While continuing my cleanup duties I kept thinking of that precious little bird and how much like it I sometimes am, getting trapped in some sort of prison and then flying madly about in an attempt to regain freedom. I see the freedom I desire but fail to see the barriers preventing me from attaining it. While becoming increasingly frantic in my endeavors to be free, the situation often worsens rather than improves. As I learn to be still, calm and quiet, trusting God, He leads me through the escape, which exists but in a state of franticness, I have failed to see.

Several days later on my final yard cleanup I discovered yet another bird trapped in our greenhouse. This one was dead.

Oh Lord, I desire to be calm and still so You can lift me to the freedom that allows me to be all You created me to be.

“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart… Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him” (Psalm 37:4, 7).

“He says, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10 NIV).

No Chisels Needed

By Anne Johnson –

The worship team began to sing. I stood reflecting on our pastor’s sermon. He had preached about developing a deeper relationship with God. The choir members’ voices filled the air, seeming to lift the roof right off the church and carry me into God’s heavenly cathedral. With eyes closed, I sensed in my heart the peaceful whispered words, “You should learn how to carve and whittle like a carpenter.”

In Matthew 13:55 I read that Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father, was a carpenter. As Jesus grew, His father would have taught Him this trade. Was God telling me to take up a new hobby? In keeping with family tradition, was I to learn the trade of my distant spiritual relatives?

I know very little about wood. It comes from trees, and can be classified as either hard or soft. My dad worked with wood, and explained to me why he used certain types for each project he was building. But, my ability to carve or whittle or create anything out of wood is nonexistent. Not to mention, I lack the tools needed for such a venture.

I dropped onto the pew as the choir continued their song. What had God’s whispered words meant? Opening my Bible I was drawn to Matthew 14:23. I discovered that Jesus wasn’t only familiar with carving wood, but time, too. Early in the morning and late at night He would seek out a place to be alone with God. Withdrawing from the crowds and His disciples, He carved out private moments to commune with the Creator and Designer of all things. In those times God spoke His plans and desires to His Son.

Whistles. Bells. Shouts of joy. Once again, the Bible made clear in my spirit what God desired from me. He wasn’t expecting me to become a carpenter, rather He wanted me to learn to be a carver and whittler of time. Like Jesus, I’d been asked to carve out time in my hectic life to hear God’s voice and learn of His desire for each day.

It has been said that it takes up to six weeks to start a new habit. So, I have aspired to set my alarm earlier and carve out time each day to read scripture and journal my prayers. I hope this new whittling venture will be a daily experience.

I have enjoyed my new hobby immensely. Some mornings when my children oversleep, I am blessed to sit in the quiet stillness and absorb even more of God’s presence. The best part of carving out this special time is how smoothly my day seems to flow. Even on the most hectic of days, when I recall my morning solitude, a familiar peace calms my spirit and lifts me above the chaos.

I may never carve anything out of wood, but each week the whittled time I spend in solitude with God helps me develop a deeper understanding of His love and character, and gives me the tools to make the most of every day.

Satisfaction

By Kim Stokely –

It’s tough to be satisfied in our crazy world.

We stop at a restaurant for a light lunch and somehow get talked into ordering a triple bacon deluxe with extra cheese and super-sized fries.

We invest in a new computer, only to be disappointed the following week when its next generation arrives on the shelves with ten times the previous processing speed, 100% more storage and new technology so it’ll pay all your bills while it cooks your dinner.

My husband’s mother was recently singing his praises to family members we hadn’t seen in years. “John performs with his band around Omaha. He’s really good. You should hear the songs he’s written for Kim.”

My husband’s cousin, Cathy, turned to her spouse in mock reproach. “You’ve never written me a song.”

My mother-in-law continued, “John’s written Kim lots of songs! Funny ones. Romantic ones. They’re all wonderful.”

Cathy playfully smacked her husband Todd on the arm. “How come you’ve never written me a song?”

John, embarrassed by his mother’s attention, jumped to Todd’s defense. “He built you a house! I think that’s enough!”

“Yeah!” Todd laughed, thankful for the back-up.

It’s true. The deck we were sitting on had been designed and built by Todd. Not to mention the entire beautiful house.

In Cathy’s defense, we all tend to forget the blessings of the past because we are constantly bombarded with the message that to be happy, we need something new. How much time do we spend asking God for more; instead of thanking Him for all he has already provided in our lives?

Psalm 90:14 says, “Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days”(NIV). It’s my goal to wake up each day, rejoicing in all God has given me, instead of striving each day for more.

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