Dead or Alive

By Charlotte Riegel –

You’ve met them, people who are more alive than most. Almost too much energy sometimes. Cheerful, chatty, eyes sparkling, and seemingly dancing even when standing or sitting still.

My friend’s father, George, was like that, even at 80. He had been in a nursing home but very restless and unhappy; finding the facility stifling and confining. After communicating with the various staff at the home about ways to make George’s life more pleasant for him, yet not seeing him relax and settle in, Esther decided to take her father to her home for a while.

This was not an ideal setting. She and her teenaged daughter lived in a very small basement suite with two little bedrooms and another room that served as kitchen, dining, and living room. There was hardly room for the two residents to occupy the same space and now there were three.

George was a tall man but not heavily built. He loved his new digs even though he slept on the sofa in the living room. Esther delighted to see him dancing with his granddaughter around their living quarters, both laughing hysterically. They went everywhere together and he loved the freedom of this new living arrangements.

Esther was a devout Christian and although her father acknowledged there was a God, paid Him little heed. Now he chose to attend church with her. When he died somewhat suddenly just weeks after committing his life to following the ways of his daughter’s God, Esther grieved, and yet rejoiced at these last few months they had together, knowing they would meet again in Heaven.

At the funeral, I couldn’t help but think of George’s life as having been lived like river water caught in a cup. When running free it gurgles and sings, tumbling happily between the banks, but in a cup it looks lifeless, even while giving life to others. And now, George was free from the confines of his earthly body, free to dance and sing, and fly.

“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit” (1 Peter 3:18 NIV).

Quote: “Thou art not dead! Thou art the whole of life that quickens in the sod.” Charles Hanson

Exceeding Sweet Delight

By Makenzie Allen –

“They say there is a young lady in New Haven who is beloved of that Great Being, who made and rules the world, and that there are certain seasons in which this Great Being, in some way or other invisible, comes to her and fills her mind with exceeding sweet delight, and that she hardly cares for anything, except to meditate on Him—that she expects after a while to be received up where He is, to be raised up out of the world and caught up into heaven; being assured that He loves her too well to let her remain at a distance from Him always.” Jonathan Edwards

This story was titled “Sarah Pierrepont”, and it is believed that Jonathan Edwards wrote it as letter to his future wife whom he had never met. It goes on to say that Sarah could not be persuaded to do anything wrong or sinful because of the sweetness in her mind.

Meditating on God and being filled with the delight of Him deteriorates the strength of the flesh. In a culture where immorality is pushed, our thinking can easily become polluted with all kinds of evil. I’ve been noticing the grip Satan has on the media especially.

If we, as children of God, desire to honor Him in the decisions we make, we must remove the earthly lies from our thoughts and replace them with the loveliness of God and His word. The earth has fallen into sin, but the King is risen!

“If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you” John 15:19 (KJV).

So although it can sound convincing to believers that we should act like the world in order to reach the lost, it is far from what God’s word says. We are expected to have the exceeding sweet delight that Sarah Pierrepont had for our King, not the corrupt longing for sinful deeds. When we learn to fill our mind with whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable, we then naturally make decisions that honor and glorify God, and that is what reaches the lost.

They say there is a body of believers throughout the world who are beloved of that Great Being who made and rules the world. And one day, they shall be received up where He is, to be raised up out of the world and caught up into heaven being assured that the God of the universe loves them all too well to let them remain at a distance from Him always. Until that anticipated day, this body is needed here, on earth, to embrace the lost souls still searching for exceeding sweet delight.

The Holiday Letter

By Judy Davis –

I enjoy sending Christmas cards each year to family and friends. In each card I place a carefully written letter of love. This newsletter lets them know what all we did in the year.

Starting out I wish everyone a Merry Christmas. This year I mentioned how my husband and I both turned 70 on our birthdays and how we seemed to have celebrated all year.
My daughter and I went to New York City for a few days and had a great time shopping at Macys, eating delicious food, riding the subway, and seeing the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center and the Memorial at ground zero.

My husband and I went to Disney World in November with our son and his family (our three youngest grandsons). What a wonderful time to visit as the weather was beautiful and all the bright Christmas decorations were in every park. We also celebrated our 47th wedding anniversary during the year.

Before I finished the letter the doctor had found a spot on my husband’s lung and he had to have a needle biopsy. He had a set back as his lung collapsed and he had to stay in the hospital for a week. A few days after the biopsy, the doctor walked into his room grinning and said “Looks like you have a guardian angel sitting on your shoulder. Your biopsy came back and shows no cancer.” We both were so happy to hear this good news. It was an infection and being treated with antibiotics. I added this good report to my letter.

It’s always nice to hear from our family and friends especially during the holidays. As I closed I shared that we were praying the New Year is a year of even greater things! At the bottom of my stationery I noticed the following words were written in bold “Good news of great joy for all people” with a tiny picture of a manger with Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus.

PRAYER: Father, we humble ourselves under your mighty hand for we have seen a miracle not only in my husband’s life, but the greatest miracle is Jesus Christ, the Son of God who lives in our hearts.

“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people’” (Luke 2:10 NIV).

2014 Resolutions

By Carin LeRoy –

I’m not good at New Year’s resolutions. Taking off those extra pounds, exercising five times each week, or getting up at 5:30 a.m. each day are resolutions that will get lost in my own excuses. Instead, I’ve learned that self-discipline and moderation are spiritual goals that need adjustments in my own life.

When we consider resolutions, let’s think about some spiritual goals for 2014. I’m sure God is not as worried about the few extra pounds we might carry as He is about our desire for more self-discipline in our lives. Where does our heart lie in our relationship with Him? It is easy to let our heart drift from the goals and desires that God may have for us. The world and its pleasures can creep in and take precedence unless we are diligent to examine ourselves spiritually.

What do we cling to in life, or what has a hold on us? Is it comfort, financial stability or prestige? Do we long for pleasure and entertainment? Do we focus on having the latest gadget or clothing style? What desires do we have that are without worth in view of eternity? Many goals seem good, but can still carry us away from God’s priorities.

The prophet Jonah reminds us that it is easy to lose sight of God’s goals and go our own way. The transparency of his heart is evident as we read his story. His obstinance in running from God and his fear to obey God’s command and go to Nineveh is apparent. We see Jonah’s selfishness and resentment against a people God wanted to reach. His walking away from God’s direct command is shocking. With a change of heart he declared, “Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them” (Jonah 2:8 NIV).
Anything that takes precedence over God is an idol, and we all have them. As David did, let us pray to God, “Examine me, and probe my thoughts! Test me, and know my concerns! See if there is any idolatrous tendency in me, and lead me in the reliable ancient path” (Psalm 139: 23-24 NET). Let’s ponder our New Year’s resolutions in view of a God who passionately loves us and desires our love and obedience in return.
PRAYER: Thank you for your love and faithfulness and for another year to serve You. Help me, Lord, to see where You desire change in my life. Show me what eternal values to invest in this year, and help me to evaluate where I should place my priorities.

“But carefully obey the commands and instructions Moses the Lord’s servant gave you. Love the Lord your God, follow all his instructions, obey his commands, be loyal to him, and serve him with all your heart and being” (Joshua 22:5 NET).

Jack Frost

By Charlotte Riegel –

What a glorious summer we had this year. Playing with plants in my yard and in our community was delightful. But alas, the seasons change and the flowers die as Jack Frost visits our little corner of the world. The warmth of summer always seems too short.

As I cleaned out dead plant material from flower beds and planters it was a struggle to feel positive. I was reminded autumn is part of the natural rhythm of nature.

Jack Frost, like John the Baptist, is a forerunner of what is soon to come. Autumn is the herald of winter, warning us to prepare. It’s time to make sure our furnace is working properly, to empty the water barrels, to turn off the outside taps, to collect any remaining garden produce, etc. I was also reminded to look for the beauty of this season.

I was still working on this attitude adjustment when, BAM, winter arrived. Earlier than I wished, but nonetheless, we had heeded the warning and were ready.

It all reminded me of the ten virgins and their waiting for the bridegroom, some were ready and others were not. These changing seasons are also a natural reminder to prepare for the coming of Jesus.

Will you be like the five wise virgins or will you be like the foolish ones? We don’t know exactly when He will come but we are reminded in His word that He IS coming again and we are to be ready.

Father God, thank you for the many warning signs you give us, both for the changing seasons and for the return of Jesus.

“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut” (Matthew 25:1-10 NIV).

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