The Green Iceberg

By Rosemary Flaaten –

Monstrous chunks of ice littered the seascape. Balmy weather had resulted in pieces of the glacier breaking off and drifting into open water creating oversized ice cubes with jagged edges, pinnacle spires and a glossy sheen. Icebergs, though magnificent to behold, create a menacing and deadly reality. If seaman only had to concern themselves with the ice that towers above the water surface, these icebergs would need nothing more than their brief attention. But, it is the enormous mass (almost 90% of the iceberg) that looms below the dark surface which poses the greatest risk and requires serious attention.

There is a matter of the heart that presents itself as an iceberg in our lives. We may show glimpses of it occasionally, but most of the time the bulk of this sin looms deep in the darkness of our hearts and minds. This iceberg has a green tinge to it. This sin that threatens our environment, our relationships and our soul is envy.

The wise King Solomon knew of the disastrous effect when he wrote “envy rots the soul” (Proverbs 14:30 NIV). Socrates called envy the ulcer of the soul, and C.S. Lewis referred to it as “the most odious of vices.” Our propensity to compare ourselves to others produces either a prideful superiority or self-debasement. At times we may verbalize these comparisons, but public scrutiny usually keeps these thoughts deep in our hearts and minds. Unfortunately, the relational effect is not hidden. Envy rips apart friendships, lacerates trust and erodes love for others, self and God.

As Christ followers who desire to have an inner spirit that reflects our Savior, we must melt the iceberg of envy. What’s the best way to get rid of ice? Sunshine and salt. Allow God’s light to expose the rot of envy beneath the surface. Let His word be the salt that directs you to love and respect others. Look for the good in others, celebrating who they are, their uniqueness and accomplishments. This will produce a much safer relational environment.

Beware! Icebergs may look harmless above the water surface, but danger looms below. Comparison may make us feel good, but envy destroys our relationships and soul. Let some sunshine and salt bring about a change.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You see my heart. Illuminate for me the relationships and situations where envy has taken root and help me to celebrate each person You bring across my path.

“Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original” (Galatians 5:25-26 The Message).

Today’s Devotional is by Rosemary Flaaten. Her successful book, A Woman and Her Relationships helps women process their outside-of-work relationships, so now she’s delving into these 9-5 relationships in A Woman and Her Workplace. Her Relationships book won The Word Guild Award, which is Canada’s top Christian literary honor. A dynamic speaker—Rosemary challenges women of all professions to view their work as a calling and their workplaces as opportunities to live out Christ’s love. Rosemary lives with her husband and three children in Calgary, Canada.

Everyone Needs Compassion

By Gina Stinson –

According to the dictionary, compassion is a deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with the wish to relieve it.

Over the last few years, God has really been working on softening my heart. I’ve been a pretty cut-and-dry kind of girl most of my life, but when I get into God’s Word I notice that Jesus handled so many situations very personally. He connected differently with the woman at the well, the leper, Nicodemus and even His own mother. No two interactions were the same. But, His goal was the same: to draw them closer to Himself. He was compassionate.

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to be part of a non-profit and my eyes and heart were opened to the many situations in which people find themselves needing help. Whether it was a physical, spiritual or emotional need, some of these people where just looking for compassion. More recently, I spent a few moments with a young mother who just buried her twenty-week premature baby and, I assure you, she needs compassion. An elderly widow who I’ve had the honor of getting to know this summer also reminds me that she needs compassion.

Because this attitude only comes from the Lord, I’m so blessed to know He’s working on me. It’s a little uncomfortable sometimes. I find myself making sure I have tissues in my purse in case I need them—or someone else does. But more than tissues, I find myself needing to be equipped with God’s Word, so that in that moment, when God allows, I can speak His words of compassion over a friend, young mother, widow, needy, overwhelmed one that God places in my path.

In the last few years, Laura Story penned the words to the now well-known song, Mighty to Save. The first line says, “Everyone needs compassion, a love that’s never failing, let mercy fall on me.” I love nothing better than to hear my kids singing this loudly as we drive down the road. I think that’s how God must feel when He sees us demonstrating compassion to this hurting world.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You so much for demonstrating the greatest compassion for mankind by sending Your Son to die for the world. Help me imitate Your nature as I walk in this harsh world. Help me be more like You.

“Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble” (1 Peter 3:8 NIV).

This devotion was written by Gina Stinson, a minister’s wife and mother of two. Gina writes from a mom’s perspective on life issues, the home, and the church. There’s never a dull moment on her blog, http://journalinggina.blogspot.com , where you can always be sure to catch a word of encouragement or a thought to ponder.

Holey Socks are Good for the Soul

By Hally Franz –

Crayons, colored pencils, erasers… Scissors, rulers, pencils… Backpacks, lunch boxes, and so on. Each year, I anxiously await the August school newsletter, which provides the year’s calendar and, more importantly, the school supply list. Since Missouri offers a tax-free weekend for school shopping, I eagerly listen for the announcement of that fabulously-fun weekend. Procuring the supply list and shopping on the tax-free weekend—it doesn’t get much better!

Not a shopper by nature, I shop primarily for two reasons: preparation for Christmas and formal events requiring something new to wear. Other than that, school shopping is the biggie of the year for the Franzes. It’s an event, involving adrenaline-charged supply searches, restorative lunches out, and nail-biting sizing challenges. In addition to the classroom supplies and requisite clothing, my custom has been to purchase new socks and underwear for both my children.

This year I broke tradition. Instead of robotically getting each supply item listed, we did something wacky. My daughter and I examined the list and began going through the numerous pencil boxes accumulated over the years. We explored desk drawers and pencil cups for supplies with lots of life left, soon finding perfectly good rulers, calculators, scissors, obviously, pencil boxes, and more that could be used. We greatly reduced our lists without suffering a bit.

While on a roll, I inventoried the kids’ socks and underwear needs, and found that those customary new whites weren’t really warranted this year. I recall how my sister and I sorted through my father’s clothes after his sudden passing in 2003. Dad’s drawers contained a fair number of socks, falling into one of two categories of condition. They were either well worn, nearly thread-bare with the occasional hole. Or, they had hardly been worn. In his closet, we found dozens of company-provided personalized work shirts still in packages, while he wore the same ten or so as long as possible. He was never cheap, but never wasteful.

Today’s economy requires that most of us be a bit more conscious of our spending. God approves when we wisely use the resources He generously provides. On those days when I’m not feeling as appreciative as I should be, perhaps God will lead me to a random pair of holey socks. And, perhaps a chilly and protruding little toe will remind me of my blessings and my responsibility to be a good steward.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for the abundant blessings You have given me. Remind me, when I fail to remember, to be appreciative of and conscientious in my use of those gifts.

“Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all? And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom the lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing” (Luke 12:41-43, KJV).

Today’s devotion is by Hally Franz. Hally is a former teacher and high school guidance counselor, turned homemaker. She enjoys volunteering at her childrens’ school, teaching Bible classes, leading 4-H projects, writing, reading, scrapbooking, and rousing (though, sometimes, not pretty) zumba classes.

Sailing on the Ships of Life

By Kathy Carlton Willis –

We are all sailing on the ships of life as we journey to our Heavenly destination. The key to success is realizing that it takes more than a good wind to get us there! There is a song sung by children, about these ships. It gave me a seed thought for this article.

RelationSHIPS: All of us have relationships. The first group of people we have relationships with are our relatives. How we get along with our parents, our spouses, our children and our extended families is a key ingredient to happiness. The book Five Love Languages gives good insight regarding communicating with people by speaking in their love languages. We also have relationships with those we aren’t related to. How do you get along with your in-laws? Your co-workers? Your fellow church-members? Your neighbors?

FriendSHIPS: Once I led a friendship study with other women. We met during our lunch hour every other week to discuss thought-provoking questions from Dee Brestin’s study, The Friendships of Women. We realized that most people have been burned by at least one friendship in the past, and often hide in their comfort zones because of this. But if we want a fulfilled life, it is essential to step out of our comfort zones and develop friendships at deeper levels than we presently have. This might mean reaching out to new friends or strengthening existing friendships.

HardSHIPS: No life is exempt from hardships. I believe trials make a person who he or she is. A person with an easy life might not have an opportunity to develop rich character traits and virtues. It’s not wise to try to avoid struggles and strife. The Bible even says we should count it all joy when we are going through hard times. There are many kinds of hardships, including finances, health, relationships and more. What will you allow your trials to make of you?

LordSHIP: The key to sailing through life in these ships is to realize one thing, and that is the principle of making Jesus Christ LORD of our lives. I’m not just talking about living your own life and adding God to it. I mean allowing God to be your Master. We must ask Him to mold our lives and lead us as we sail through life. By letting God guide your ship, when you hit the storms in life, you will discover the calm assurance of the Peace Speaker.

AUTHOR QUOTE: Where will you go as you sail on the ships of life? No matter where it takes you, may God be your Captain.

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into diverse temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience” (James 1:2-3, KJV).

Today’s devotion is by Kathy Carlton Willis, wife to Russ, member of Christian Humor Writers, editor, publicist and a certified CLASSeminars speaker. Kathy Carlton Willis Communications encompasses her many passions.  Learn more about how she reflects Christ as she shines the spotlight on others at: http://kcwcomm.blogspot.com/ or http://www.kathycarltonwillis.com/.

What Do We Do with God’s Garden?

By Peter Lundell –

The BP oil disaster is finally over. Or not. Millions of gallons remain unaccounted for, some coagulating and settling on the ocean floor, some dissolved with toxic dispersants dumped in the water. Underwater oil clouds and oil-soaked beaches and wetlands are creating toxic waste zones that will continue to decimate the environment and the food chain long after the spill becomes history.

And the drilling goes on. The oil that wasn’t spilled gets burned in engines, then belched into the air. Every four days, California sends as many tons of pollution into the air as the oil spill sends into the ocean in a day. But California does it nonstop. And it’s just one state.

Oh, well. Jesus is coming and the world will burn up anyway. But until then, what about our health, our lives? What about our children? What about God’s command to take care of His garden (Genesis 2:15)?

I don’t hug trees or sing about mother earth, but I want to take good care of what God gave me, whether my soul, my body, my relationships or this beautiful world He created for us. I do it because I want to honor God. And because I’m compelled by mercy toward those who would be harmed if I didn’t.

I can’t do much about large-scale disasters, but I can control how I live. There’s nothing particularly religious about going green. But I can take care of the creation in honor and love to my Creator—which becomes a witness to the world.

Would you join me? Trust me, if Jesus tarries, your children will thank you.

AUTHOR QUOTE: Lord, beyond the politics and science of the environment, I choose to be a good garden keeper of this beautiful world You gave me. Lead me to care for this great gift and to do it with a daily attitude of worship toward You.

“The Lord God took the man and placed him in the orchard in Eden to care for it and to maintain it” (Gen. 2:15, NET).

Today’s devotion is by Peter Lundell, author of Prayer Power. A rising new voice on connecting with God, he is a pastor, Bible college teacher, and conference speaker. Visit him at www.PeterLundell.com for his inspirational “Connections” and free downloads of articles, parables, short stories, and book chapters.

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