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.

In Wisdom and in Truth

By Cheri Cowell –

Balancing the desire to be honest and truthful with our need to be compassionate and sensitive is a difficult bill to fill. I loved the Jim Carey movie Liar, Liar. I’m not usually a Jim Carey fan, but this movie was wonderful. He played a high power lawyer who for one day, because of his son’s birthday wish, could not tell a lie. There is one hilarious scene after another as he makes his way into the office. First, while in the elevator he encounters a voluptuous woman and honestly makes a comment that gets him smacked, he then passes a receptionist who asks if he likes her new hairdo, and finally he is honest with his receptionist about cheating her out of a raise. The movie is funny, but it raises some serious questions. Is this what God meant when He told us to always be truthful? Well, we are to be honest, but we do need wisdom for the appropriate time and manner to deliver the truth.

The scribes and Pharisees had set Jesus up in a trap. If He condemned the woman before Him, He would not be showing mercy; but if He did not allow the stoning, He would have broken temple law. But they didn’t realize they were dealing with the One in who grace and truth are perfectly blended into wisdom.

PRAYER: I praise You for Your perfect wisdom, mercy and grace. My heart’s desire is always to be truthful and at the same time be wise. Thank You for standing ready to share Your perfect wisdom with me, whenever I may need it.

“Jesus bent down and wrote on the ground with his finger. When they persisted in asking Him, He stood up straight and replied, ‘Whoever among you is guiltless may be the first to throw a stone at her.’ Then He bent over again and wrote on the ground. Now when they heard this, they began to drift away one at a time, starting with the older ones, until Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up straight and said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?’ She replied, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said, ‘I do not condemn you either. Go, and from now on do not sin anymore’” (John 8:9-11 NET).

Today’s devotion is by Cheri Cowell, who writes and speaks on topics of Christian discipleship. In addition to her books and articles, you can learn about her speaking ministry and sign up to receive her daily devotional at www.CheriCowell.com

Win or Lose One Detail at a Time

By Peter Lundell –

I live near a city that has two professional basketball teams that oddly share the same home arena. One consistently ranks around the top of the NBA. The other loses most games. Read more

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