You Have No Idea

By Charlotte Riegel –

We moved to a Hamlet two years ago with the dream of establishing another tourist attraction, adding to the few gift shops, restaurants, art gallery, museum, and live theatre already there. My husband’s passion is model trains and this hobby has been slowly expanding over many years.

I often chuckle as people stop in front of our house in summer. They “ooooh” and “ahhhh” about the small G Scale model train display we have in our front yard. “It’s just a teaser for what’s to come,” I tell them.

I attempt to describe the large indoor layout currently in storage but discern ‘they don’t get it’. “There will also be trains running throughout our yard with one track going completely around our house.” Their happy expressions while watching the ‘teaser’ chug around a small oval track makes it hard to wait for their sure delight when they see the final product.

I often say to my husband, “They have no idea what’s coming.”

Early in February while travelling west on a major ring road around Calgary late in the afternoon, I noticed an amazing display of sun dogs. The north one was so bright, it was hard to look at directly. Because I was driving I dared not take a concentrated look. As I glanced at it from time to time there emanated a gorgeous rainbow extending both up and down, coming from this sun dog. Sometimes the rainbows were quite short and other times they were very long. It was breath-taking.

The next morning while waking up and talking to God, I thanked Him for the amazing sky scene I had seen the previous day. He whispered, “You have no idea.” He knew I would immediately understand this phrase, having used it often in relation to our model trains.

“What God has planned for people who love him is more than eyes have seen or ears have heard. It has never even entered our minds!” (1 Corinthians 2:9 CEV).

Start Spreading the News!

By Hally Franz –

The 8th Annual Walk for Missions was introduced yesterday at my daughter’s school. The kick-off assembly included a student drama depicting how to properly solicit sponsors, a rousing song with dance moves led by students, the reveal of prizes for most laps and most money, and, most importantly, an explanation of the six mission projects the children will walk for.

Among them were an individual and one family serving in mission fields around the world, an inner-city center serving impoverished families while sharing the gospel, a Christian camp for deaf youth, a team of youth bettering communities each summer, and a large disaster relief effort. What a wonderful list of serving endeavors! What wonderful ways to glorify Him!

Last night, when I attended my home church’s Wednesday evening Bible class, we began a new study on how to share the gospel with others. Many won’t ever serve as missionaries in remote parts of the world, but we can certainly work to win souls in our own backyard. However, that is easier said than done.

Our leader spoke about the challenges of introducing the topic of salvation to others. She discussed the fears we have about conversations like this. She pointed out the importance of timing and having a relationship with the other person first. And, she reminded us we should be prepared when we broach a topic that may well have eternal ramifications. We are to plant a seed that will hopefully grow into a life-long faith, and we are to do it in the best possible way.

We are a culture hungry for information. We take dance lessons and exercise classes. People sit through full-day courses on how to use self-defense and hunting weapons safely. We attend lectures and author talks. We seek information about nutrition, self-sufficiency, crafts, and an infinite list of other subjects. But, how often do we sit and learn how to share with others the most important information that exists?

In our Bible class, we’re going to be taught where to go to find answers for specific questions a new believer may have. We’re going to learn to field questions that may distract from the immediate issue of salvation. And, we’re going to be given the tools to be effective witnesses.

I am happy my daughter will learn about missionaries serving abroad; I’m grateful for instruction on how I can be one here at home.

PRAYER: Almighty God, give me courage and wisdom to be an effective missionary for You. Help me to recognize and seize opportunities to tell others, and help me to do so as prescribed in Your word.

“The one who plants and the one who waters have the same purpose. And each one will be rewarded for his own work” (1 Corinthians 3:8 ERV).

A Wise Young Man

By Peter Lundell –    

The world we live in is good at caring for the disabled, and they get lots of government benefits. But rarely do I see anyone learning from them.

I was invited for supper, where I met a young man named Justin. He has Downs Syndrome. Such people used to be called mentally retarded. Now they’re referred to as developmentally disabled. But no one ever calls them character advanced.

Justin was positive and enthusiastic about everything he did and said. When I smiled at him, he beamed. And he’d give a thumbs up. He took it upon himself to clear two large tables covered with serving trays, dishes, cups, and utensils. It took a long time, and while the family members chatted, he carried every last thing with joy, never once asking anyone to help. When I passed him a plate, he thanked me as if I had done him a great favor. When I thanked him, he thanked me back more. When I simply picked up my wife’s purse, he wanted to help. That’s enough, Justin. Thank you.

It didn’t seem to occur to Justin that a person should act any other way. His family says he’s always cheerful and helpful. He never stops.

And I thought of how many “smart” people don’t come close to Justin’s character. I wondered how many could even hope to approach it. I want to be one.

Justin helped me to see more clearly than ever: While the world may consider him the least of these, Jesus would consider him among the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Justin loves Jesus very much. And I have no doubt of how much Jesus loves him.

Thank you, Justin, for helping me see, helping me love, and helping me serve.

What a wise young man you are.

“The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7 NIV).

Father, open my eyes to see as you see, to know the heart as you do, and to grow in character as Christ enables me.

A Day on the Freeway

By Peter Lundell –   

February 19, 2014. 2:30 p.m.
57 Freeway northbound, right lane. 65 mph.
Siren behind me but nothing in the rear-view mirror.

Out of nowhere—a white four-door sedan careens across four lanes right at me. About to collide, I slam the brakes. The madman clears my front bumper by inches. He barrels up Pathfinder exit and looks back.

Flashing lights in the mirror. The siren. A highway patrol car veers across the lanes right behind me, misses the exit and tears up the embankment beside the exit, bounces over the curbs, and keeps charging after the lawbreaker—who apparently thought no pursuing cop would dare make such a move.

I’m now passing under the bridge. My hands are shaking. What just happened? And what didn’t happen is more terrifying. I could have been killed or grievously maimed for life if that sucker had hit me. If I had flipped. If I had been crushed by cars behind me. If I had not been paying attention as I drove. All in an instant.

The cars on the merging freeway drive along in their normal day. And we all live the same way, as if nothing will happen to us. Until it does. Or almost does. And it certainly does happen to someone every day. Like the four kids in our church who died on a nearby freeway when things didn’t go so well.

How our lives hang in a precarious balance. How the veil between earth and eternity can be so porous. How we must always be ready. We’re wise to put ourselves in God’s hands.

If you can grasp this as it relates to your own life, I’m sure you will appreciate the precious gift of life in the face of eternity. Live every day God gives you as a gift back to Him.

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. . . For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways” (Psalm 91:1–2, 11 NIV).

“Lord God, my Protector and Shield, I know my days are numbered, yet as I live each day I do so by Your grace and protection. My life is in Your hands.”

Eternal Prizes

By Gillis Killam –

The 2014 Olympics were held this year in Sochi, Russia amid some of the most difficult circumstances ever. There was the threat of terrorists, causing great fear that this would erupt and put many lives in danger. Another concern was the controversy in Russia over gay and lesbian rights and their safety at the games.

Many game participants will have labored throughout their lives for these few moments on the stage of time to gain the recognition of the world as the best in their field. Thousands of hours and dollars have been expended to enable hopefuls to even qualify to be there. So much was on the line for each one of them. I truly admire their physical and mental tenacity, willpower, and endurance to be able to gain a gold medal. I admire the sacrifices that have been made in order to stand on the Olympic platform.

Not to downplay the importance of their achievements, but it causes me to ask the questions: “For what gains? Recognition by the world? A medal to possess for the rest of their lives? Then the benefits of being a Gold Medal winner on the world stage and being able to make great gains through being icons for the advertisements of powerful companies?”

I watched the athletes with wide smiles raise their medals, proof of their accomplishments. I do honor and admire them. However these are wonderful attainments in the temporal world, but are not lasting in terms of the eternal.

The Apostle Paul spoke of the Olympics of his day and made this comparison to the race for eternal rewards or prizes: “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever” (1 Cor. 9.25 NIV).

We spend so much time, energy, and money to attain accomplishments and to get a lot of things that will pass away, but the things we do for the Lord will last forever. His rewards are eternal. The prizes of the world fade away, the medals tarnish and in a few years everyone forgets what we attained; but God never forgets, and His rewards are forever. Why then do we not spend more time and energy on that which is eternal?

PRAYER: O God, help me to fix my eyes and my energies on things which are eternal. AMEN

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