Into the Furnace!

By Liz Cowen Furman –

Late last year we had a severe cold snap. Thirteen below for over a week. Very unlike our mountains, especially that early in our winter season. One particularly windy morning I had the fire burning briskly in the fireplace as I sat writing at the computer on one side of the hearth that opens to two rooms.

All at once, a startling urge to look at the fireplace washed over me. The flames were so huge, and in the next instant the terrifying realization hit me that those flames were not IN the fireplace.

I dashed to the other side of the rock wall to see our parrot’s cage engulfed in flames, with Meyer in it. When he saw me, he screamed. I in turn screamed for my son, Matthew, to come help as I grabbed the half-full glasses of coffee and juice sitting on the table. I threw the contents at Meyer’s cage door so I could open it and attempt a rescue. As the fire raged around my head, I entered the inferno and reached for my terrified bird. I felt like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.

He tried flying to me, but his left wing feathers were burned off. He fell onto the red-hot metal cage bars then immediately let go. I caught him midair just as Matthew appeared and began throwing the jugs of Kangen water (twelve gallons in all) we miraculously had sitting in the dining room at the rapidly growing flames.

I raced our panicked bird to an upstairs bathroom, away from the flames and smoke. We wanted no fried bird for dinner! I then dashed back down to help Matthew.

So many miracles surround that terrifying event. First of all, I wasn’t supposed to be there. But for a phone call from a dear friend, I would have been gone. We surely would have lost not only the bird, but Grammie downstairs, Matthew upstairs sleeping, our pooches Timo and Price, and our home.

The insurance is replacing the flooring in our kitchen, which I have always hated, and not only that room, but much of the downstairs. Not to mention that a very nice crew of folks came and washed EVERYTHING in our house, including every knick-knack, every wall, and even washed our laundry. Our house had never been so clean.

The most miraculous fact is that I practically crawled into a blazing furnace and all that happened to me was that I burned off my eyebrows and arm hair, and I have very short eyelashes now. Meyer bird is recovering nicely, too. His feathers are all growing back in and he doesn’t have to fly in circles with just one wing intact.

The big take-home for me is that God is with us, in the good times and there leading, guiding and directing in the scary horrifying times too. I can rest more securely in that great verse from Psalm 46:1, knowing we had angels working overtime that day.

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (NIV).

The Wonder of It All

By Gillis Killam –

While waiting in the examination room of my eye specialist, I was awed by a colored graphic of the human eye. I studied it for a moment and was astounded at the intricacy of the creation of the eye. I wondered how anyone could deny the existence of a Master Mind that made this amazing organ that can send millions of pictures and messages to the brain that ensures I see where I’m going, that I can be alert to danger, and causes me to appreciate the wonders of God’s creation all around me.

So often I take the things of God for granted; just as Job who complained about things he knew nothing about. Sometimes I forget the wondrous life I have, being part of God’s glorious plan of salvation, and all the benefits that come with it. Job’s response to God’s inquiry shows me that I know so little of the awesomeness of God in His creation, and human life on this planet.

When I think that all this creation of the heavens and earth, the animals, plant life, man, and the intricacy of the system that God has put in place, and how it is all held together, I marvel at His great power.

We read in Colossians, “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth…all things have been created through him and for him” (Colossians 1:16 NIV).

The human body is a fantastic work of the Creator. Why should I ever question anything, or take all of this for granted?

When Job was questioned by God he acknowledged his insignificance and how little he knew. Acknowledging the wonder, knowledge and power of The Almighty, he surrendered to God’s will, without question. He repented for the questions he had levelled at God.

When I get a glimpse of the Creator’s work in the human body, and in the mountains and the forests, I too feel I need to repent of any questions.

PRAYER: O Lord, Creator of all things, I thank you for speaking to me through your creation and causing me to bow in adoration. O the wonder of it all that you should love even me! AMEN

Clinging to the Gift of Communion

By Diane Mayfield –

The woman I knew as my mother is slowly slipping away. Alzheimer’s disease claims her mind. She no longer answers her phone. She either doesn’t hear it or doesn’t know what it is. She’s unaware of the day, the year or the season. She can’t work her air conditioning unit in her room. Recently she has given up putting on eye make up and she never remembers her hair appointments. She wears the same clothes every day, not really seeing all the others in her closet. These aren’t really the important issues but they are telling of the changes in her.

She doesn’t know her grandchildren. She confuses me with my sister. Lately she thinks my brother is her husband, my dad who has been dead for 20 years. She lives in the past, thinking she is 45, instead of 86. When I walk outside with her, she asks, “Where is my car?” Then we begin the loop discussion about her car. She hasn’t had one for five years, but she can’t remember that.

It’s all so very sad but only for me and my brother and sister, really. It’s not sad for my mom. She doesn’t know that she’s forgotten. Her reality is just what it is, the world as she knows today.

Gone are the shopping days, sharing of holidays at the family gatherings and talking about the grandchildren and what they are doing. She cannot engage in conversation. Oh, at times, I can direct her attention to the changing color of the leaves or the children getting out of school. But then we go back to the same conversation loop about her car that no longer exists. There is no communication, no engaging in life together, no connecting. And yet, she is still the woman who gave birth to me. She is still my mother.

What am I to learn from this sad reality in my relationship with my mother? To live without communication is empty. It sucks the life out of me. This is a slow death with my mom and I am helpless to change it.

However, there is a parental relationship that I can do something about. It’s my bond with my Heavenly Father. That relationship never has to die. His salvation brings me into a connection with Him. He becomes my Father for all eternity. Nothing can change that. But to stop there with no communication, no conversation with Him, no connecting in prayer would be like death, though I live. I have the assurance of eternity, but that’s not enough for me. I have to have more. I have to be in communion with Him.

Once again I’ve learned a valuable lesson from my mother. Not one she would have liked to teach me if she had a choice. In the absence of real communion with my mother, I’ve seen the immeasurable value in constant communing with my Lord. I never want to lose that. I don’t want to experience a slow death there.

In this New Year, I’m clinging to the gift of prayer that makes it possible for me to have constant interaction with my Father. My goal for the New Year is to “pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5:17 NIV), receiving the gift of constant communion with my Lord.

Blue Ribbon Worthy

By Cheri Cowell –

One of the highlights of a good old-fashioned county fair is the farmer’s market. Here locals compete for the title Best in Show with flowers, fruits, vegetables, and livestock. I particularly like the flowers and vegetables because it is easy for me to see what the judges saw. They (and I) are looking for the perfect specimen—the one without blemish or spot. God is looking for the same thing and He’s placed a blue ribbon on you and me.

We are blemished. Sin has disfigured and scarred us. We are no longer perfect. God presents us at His county fair for judging. But miraculously, we are presented as unblemished—our scars removed, our disfigured souls replaced with souls that are perfect, holy, and blameless. God, in grace, places a blue ribbon on each of us. We’ve been forgiven and judged Best in Show.

“Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation” (Colossians 1:21-22 NIV).

PRAYER: Thank You, Judge, for the miracle of forgiveness, for presenting me as blameless and deeming me Best in Show. I praise You for daily making me blue ribbon worthy.

Storm Warnings

By Charlotte Riegel –

The media warned, over and over again, “A big storm is heading our way. High winds, drifting snow, and plummeting temperatures will arrive sometime overnight. The commute to work tomorrow is expected to be very challenging. If you can work from home, please do.”

Twenty-four hours later major highways were closed after several multi-vehicle accidents and huge drifts made travel impossible. No one was going anywhere while the winds continued to blow and the snow continued to pile up everywhere.

People were told to stay home. “If you choose to be out there and get into trouble, slide off the road or get stuck in a snow drift, you will be on your own because no one will be able to come to your aide,” cautioned the authorities. “The plows and emergency vehicles are unable to maneuver the roads because of deep snow drifts and zero visibility. For the sake of everyone, please stay off the roads and wait till the storm passes by and road crews can clear the snow enough for driving on.”

And yet, people considered themselves invincible, disregarded all the warnings, and proceeded to drive, usually meeting a snow drift too big to plow through or a ditch too deep to exit.
This reminds me of the ‘storm warnings’ in Revelations. Lots of cautions are listed. Signs of the coming ‘storm’ at the end of this age are abundant. Yet, people choose to ignore these warnings believing themselves invincible and continue on their merry way, perhaps looking for adventure.

Adventure is sure to be found, both for the prepared and the unprepared. The final storm blows ever nearer. When exactly it will hit, no one knows, yet we are indeed foolish not to prepare because it WILL come. Perhaps it’s time to read the Book of Revelation and be reminded of the intensity of the coming storm.

Prayer: “Lord God of Heaven and Earth, help me not to take lightly Your storm warnings but to prepare well for its arrival.”

“The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near” (Revelation 1:1-3 NIV).

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