Praying the Small Stuff

By Carin LeRoy –

I remember as a little girl that my Mom would pray about all the trivial things in life. Like, “Lord, can you help me find a parking spot?” Sure enough, we’d find the perfect place. Or, “Lord, can you help me find my keys?” Growing up, I used to think it strange that my mother would pray about such things, and even thought it was silly. I thought we could figure those things out without bothering God. But as I grew older I realized that God does care about even the smallest concern, and He loves for us to involve Him in our lives.

For my daughter’s wedding a few years ago, I needed to find yards and yards of material to decorate the reception. Being on a tight budget, I decided to look in Wal-Mart at their discounted fabrics. Praying hard, I walked over to the $1.00 per yard table. Sure enough, there were several bolts of a white material and the perfect color for her table centerpieces and runners for the buffet table. I walked out of the store spending less than $50 for everything I’d bought. Her wedding reception was beautifully decorated with all the inexpensive material. I don’t doubt that God helped me find exactly what I needed for the price I could afford.

I believe God loves to orchestrate things for us. Imagine my surprise and delight when I found exactly what I needed. I also believe that God was smiling when He had answered my prayer and made my day. I am reminded of the verse that says, “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are attentive to their cry” (Psalms 34:15 NIV). God hears our prayers no matter what our concern might be. I believe He loves to answer them. It’s another one of the ways that He shows His power and love for us.

Do you think to pray about the little things in your life? Let’s remember to ask God even about the small stuff. God would love to surprise you with an answer!

PRAYER: Father, thank You that You are concerned about small things going on in my life. Keep me mindful that You love to surprise me with answers to my prayers. Help me to include You more in my daily life and concerns.

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him” (I John 5:14,15 NIV).

Today’s devotional is by Carin LeRoy, wife to Dale, mother of three grown children and one high school teenager. She has served as a missionary with PIONEERS since 1982. Her passions are family, playing and teaching piano, missions, and writing stories that show glimpses of God.

Intricate Creation, Magnificent God

By Carin LeRoy –

Recently my family and I went to the Florida Aquarium. It was inspiring to see the many underwater creatures, but that day I was fascinated with the sea horses. One in particular caught my attention, the leafy sea dragon.  He was camouflaged to look like a plant floating around. As I watched him in the tank, I was amazed at God’s creative design, and amused by His ability to make a living thing look like a plant to help protect it from prey.

From snow-capped mountains to a majestic waterfall to a newborn baby, we see His handiwork.  The intricacies of His artistic skills are everywhere. A delicate flower with its tiny petals, stamen and colors all beautifully woven together create an exquisite work of art. The vastness of the oceans with myriads of creatures swimming in its depths causes us to wonder all they contain.

God has a great sense of humor in many of His creations. My polka dot plant with its pink spots, the giraffe with his long neck, the zebra with his stripes, or the prickly porcupine with its quills protruding are a few that make me smile. Who would have ever thought to make a cuddly-looking skunk with the ability to spray stink for ten feet? Or a turtle that carries his home on his back that retreats into it when threatened?  The platypus is another unlikely creature. He is a semi-aquatic mammal that lays eggs and looks like the mixture between a duck, a beaver and an otter.

God gives evidence of His presence. Everywhere we look we see His hand. I often wonder how people can ignore the presence of a living God when He has left His fingerprints in every corner of our world. Just as His word says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands” (Psalm 19:1 NIV).  As we go through the day, let’s remember that God is worthy of our honor and praise. The same mighty God that created all these living things is the same God that has power to work in your life today. Let’s worship Him by giving Him the praise He deserves.

PRAYER:  Lord, when I look at Your creation and all Your intricate designs, I am in awe of Your power, for You are great and mighty. Thank You that I am Your child, and You created me to reflect Your glory. Help me, today, to give You the honor You deserve.

“How many are Your works, O Lord! In wisdom You made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number – living things both large and small. There the ships go to and fro, and the leviathan, which You formed to frolic there. These all look to You to give them their food at the proper time. When You give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things” (Psalm 104: 24-28 NIV).

Today’s devotional is by Carin LeRoy, wife to Dale, mother of three grown children and one high school teenager. She has served as a missionary with PIONEERS since 1982. Her passions are family, playing and teaching piano, missions, and writing stories that show glimpses of God.

Rooted in Christ

By Carin LeRoy –

For years I grew African Violets, collecting them in every color—pink, violet, lavender and purple. I loved seeing their tiny delicate flowers bloom. Because African Violets are fussy plants, it took time for me to learn how to encourage good growth. They need constant care. Too much water rots their roots, while too little makes them wither and die. Bump them, and you break their brittle stems. The right amount of filtered light helps them flourish, and they like a constant temperature range—not too hot or cold. The right amount of fertilizer encourages dark leaves while too much burns them.

One day I wondered what caused the difference between two of my plants. I found that the plant that had copious blooms was root-bound. The one without many blossoms wasn’t. Plenty of dirt and the plant became comfortable. Without a strong root system it didn’t have the ability to provide generous flowers. But when the roots were squeezed tightly in the pot, the result was a bountiful, colorful display.

That reminds me of our lives as Christians. When life is easy, we tend to coast through life. Others might not see much growth in our spiritual walk. When life is hard, we have a need to rely on God to get us through. When we feel squeezed with the pressure of hard times, God has the ability to teach and prune us. He begins to develop strong roots of faith in our life as we learn to trust Him. When those lessons are learned, we bloom. Others begin to see the beauty of change in our lives.

I believe God allows hard times because we may not learn the lessons He has for us any other way. It is during those difficulties that we become pliable and willing to learn and change. Just as I cared for my African Violets to encourage their flowers, God lovingly cares for us. He desires us to bloom and become a sweet fragrance for Christ. He wants us to bear fruit for Him. If you are facing a difficulty, let it be a time when God can grow strong roots of faith in your heart. Trust Him. Soon you will see beautiful blooms of growth in your life.

PRAYER: Lord, give me strong roots of faith in my heart as I learn to trust You through hard times. Keep me mindful that You are working in my life to help me grow and bear fruit for You.

“That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, so that, because you have been rooted and grounded in love, you may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and thus know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3: 17-19 NET).

Today’s devotional is by Carin LeRoy, wife to Dale and mother of three grown children and one almost-grown teenager. She has been a missionary with Pioneers since 1982. Her passions are family, missions, piano, and writing to challenge others to live faithful lives for God.

Hold Onto Faith

By Carin LeRoy –

My once-youthful body is now riddled with little aches and pains. My shoulder hurts. My knee throbs, and every time I do garden work my muscles scream in protest. My middle-aged body no longer has its former vigor. What I once took for granted, I now need to attend to diligently—taking vitamins, exercising, eating right and getting rest.

The same can be said of our Christian lives as we age in our faith. Young believers, new in the faith, have an excitement and zeal to grow, learn and make a difference in others’ lives. They look toward a great future of walking with God and growing in their faith. Young David was eager to prove that God would deliver Israel when he stood to face Goliath. His faith and passion became an example and inspiration to a whole nation. Then in his later years he strayed far from his youthful enthusiasm. He committed adultery and murder. How do you go from defeating a giant to stealing someone’s wife and then arranging his death?

As we age in our spiritual lives, the responsibilities and concerns of life can cause us to step back. We can begin to watch from the sidelines, rather than be an active participant. I’ve seen some turn their backs and walk away from a once-vibrant faith. People who’ve made a difference in the lives of many have thrown their faith to the wind and turned away from the God they once served. Instead of remaining faithful, they embrace the sidelines, or worse, a life of sin. What a tragedy.

How can we stay strong in our faith and consistently walk with God?

The answer, in part, may lie in Paul’s admonishment to Timothy to hold firmly to faith and a good conscience. Faith keeps us anchored in an omnipotent God. It is the foundation of our salvation and carries us through our lives as a believer. A good conscience keeps us free from the guilt of sin. We are clean before God, ourselves and others. That brings us peace.

As our bodies age and need more attention, I think the same can be said for our spiritual lives. Be diligent in holding onto a deep trust in God and tenaciously maintain a clear conscience, keeping free from sinful habits. Faith and a good conscience walk together hand in hand as we strive to live a life that is true and authentic.

PRAYER: Lord, help me to be diligent in following after You. Keep my faith strongly anchored in You and in the promises of Your word. Give me peace and a good conscience. Help me to stay free from the guilt of sin in my life.

“I put this charge before you, Timothy my child, in keeping with the prophecies once spoken about you, in order that with such encouragement you may fight the good fight. To do this you must hold firmly to the faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck in regard to the faith” (1 Timothy 1:18-19, NET).

Today’s devotional is by Carin LeRoy, wife to Dale and mother of three grown children and one almost-grown teenager. She has been a missionary with Pioneers since 1982. Her passions are family, missions, piano and writing to challenge others to live faithful lives for God.

It’s Not All About Me

By Carin LeRoy –

My son works in a popular coffee shop, and the other day a lady walked in and ordered a drink. After completing the cup, my son handed it to her only to be assaulted with a barrage of complaints. He forgot to dribble the chocolate syrup over her whipped cream. He was shocked by the verbal outburst she displayed in the store. She took a simple omission and made a huge deal out of it at the expense and embarrassment of my son. Perhaps she experienced a rotten week, but her anger and rage were misdirected.

A polite response to the error would say, “You forgot my syrup. Could you please add that?”   Instead she found it necessary to cause a scene in the middle of a coffee shop, even calling the manager later to complain more. Graciousness did not seem to be a part of this woman’s character, and her actions show that life was more about herself than being polite. Her performance reminds me of a two-year-old having a temper tantrum.

We will encounter such people as we walk through life, but we can choose to act with courtesy toward them. Graciousness in answer to an uncomfortable response from others comes only as we respond to the Spirit of God. As our culture strays from the constraints of self-control and civility, we should be the people who stand out from the crowd. I am reminded of the verse that says, “A fool lets fly with all his temper, but a wise person keeps it back” (Proverbs 29:11 NET). Let’s show a gracious spirit that displays courtesy toward others. Use your words to uplift rather than tear down. Kindness is like a boomerang; it always comes back to you.

PRAYER: Lord, give me a kind tongue and a gracious spirit as I encounter people today. Help me to stand out from the crowd as one who loves You. Give me self-control when I encounter a difficult situation.

“The heart of the righteous considers how to answer, but the heart of the wicked pours out evil things” (Proverbs 15: 28 NET).

Today’s devotional is by Carin LeRoy, wife to Dale and mother of three grown children and one almost-grown teenager. She has been a missionary with Pioneers since 1982. Her passions are family, missions, piano and writing to challenge others to live faithful lives for God.

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