Slurp!

By Cheri Cowell –

Have you walked through your garden lately and heard the slurping sounds? That’s right, slurping coming from your plants as they soak up all that wonderful rain. For weeks I was watering for at least a half-hour every night because there had been no rain. Lately, though, we have been getting those terrific steady rains. I know my plants appreciated the water I was giving, but there is magic in the water that comes from heaven. The plants show it by how strong they get, how green they become, and how much they grow. It’s as if they are saying, “Praise God!”

We are like that. We can go along for quite a while with a little watering by the water this world has to offer. Our thirst is temporarily met by lunch with friends, a walk, ice-cream, or a good movie, but after some time we begin to show how sun-scorched and parched we are. We may become irritable, easily frustrated, tired, overwhelmed, and needy. When you and I see these warning signs we need to call upon the Lord to send in the rain. The scriptures tell us He will satisfy our needs if we are willing to cry out, and do a few other things.

Isaiah tells us true faith is not just about us, but also about what we do in relation to others. We are being called to take what we learn and let it transform us so much that we stop pointing fingers, talking maliciously, and holding onto our pride. When we do this we will begin to serve others and shine like the noonday sun. When we do this God will quench our thirst in a way that only the Lord can.

“Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and God will say, “I’m here.” If you remove the yoke from among you, the finger-pointing, the wicked speech; if you open your heart to the hungry, and provide abundantly for those who are afflicted, your light will shine in the darkness, and your gloom will be like the noon. The LORD will guide you continually and provide for you, even in parched places. He will rescue your bones. You will be like a watered garden, like a spring of water that won’t run dry” (Isaiah 58:9-11 CEB).

PRAYER: Praise God for hearing my cries for help. Thank You for being the Living Water that my spirit needs. Show me the ways in which I point fingers, talk wrongly, and harbor pride. My heart’s desire is to be like a well-watered garden, watered by the Spring of Living Water that never fails.

Rainy Day Prayer

By Anne C. Johnson –

Rain poured down like water gushing over Niagara Falls. A shiver ran down my spine as I glanced at the truck’s digital thermometer, 38 degrees. One last stop and we would be done with our chore list. Oh, why did I have to procrastinate and leave the dreaded weekly grocery shopping ‘till last? If only I had done the shopping first, then I wouldn’t have to get out of the car at all, just drive through at the bank, pharmacy and library. Now I had to hustle two small children and myself into the store in a freezing deluge. Great.

I glanced in the back seat, the kids were quietly examining their new library books. The umbrellas that often clutter up the floor of the car were AWOL. Figures, why do I have to be so neat and tidy and put things away in their proper place?

Frustration mounted in my heart. As I drove up and down the parking lot aisles I allowed a loud sigh to escape.

“Well, I guess we could shop later,” I grumbled.

“Why, Mommy?” my daughter asked. “All you have to do is pray for a spot.”

I snickered, “Yeah, for a spot close to the front door, right?”

“Amen,” my two children said in unison.

As I came to the head of the aisle, a car backed out of the first stall right in front of me. I pulled in, dumfounded. From the back seat my children said, “Thank-you, Jesus.”

“See, Mommy, God does listen to and answer our prayers,” my son offered.

“I guess Jesus doesn’t want us to get soaked,” said my daughter.

“Neither do I,” I laughed. “And children, thanks for reminding me to pray, even for the silly things.”

When I became a mom I knew I would do a lot of teaching, but today was my turn to be taught. God showed me through my children, how much He cares about even the little things in life. That night as we snuggled on my son’s bed to say our prayers, we thanked God again for the great parking space.

Funny when a parking space can bring to life that verse in 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 “Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus” (NLT).

Glue

By Elaine James –

“Faith, get on your mat!” I yelled at the dog.

She ran to her mat, sat down and looked at me with those puppy eyes as if she was saying,  “Look, I’m in my safe zone. You can’t touch me now.”

Did you play “it” or “tag” as a kid? To play the game, someone had to be “it” and the one important thing you needed to know was the location of “glue” which is your safe zone. Glue was the spot you touched or hung onto so you couldn’t get tagged by “it.” You’re out if you get tagged. You win if you don’t get tagged.

That is what I thought of in that moment when I stared at the dog. She was in her safe zone.
I have played the game as a child. The game is different as an adult. My mind is the playground where instead of getting tagged by kids, I get tagged by the evil one. He catches me and I am out; it feels like I am inundated with all sorts of negative thoughts. As a child after I got tagged I was out. I liken being “out” to not feeling secure in life. When I’m insecure others’ comments, betrayals, stubbornness, impatience, bad moods…make me feel out! The Holy Spirit reminds me to go to the B.I.B.L.E, which can be an acronym for “Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.” I run to God, I get glued, and then I am in a safe zone where I cannot get tagged.

When I awake at night and my mind is racing I focus on Him because He alone calms my racing thoughts. My approach is to acknowledge God by practicing the presence of Him. I do this by singing a hymn, praising, thanking, and praying to Him. I know the power of praying scripture and I find that this is the perfect time to pray for others too.

“The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress” (Psalm 46:11 NIV). At one point in my life I focused on this verse and asked myself if God is my fortress, what would it be like to be in God’s fortress? I let my mind wander further. What would it look like, who would be allowed in? I feel physically safe and that can be attributed to the Lord. This verse was my safe zone and I was stuck to God.

With all that said, I look at my darling dog with my puppy eyes and bark back “I’m glued to Jesus. He’s my free zone and you can’t bother me.”

Warning: The devil’s version of “it” still exists. Don’t be caught in the game. Stay glued in your safe zone, a place you can stick to Him!

Prayer: Lord Almighty help me to remember You are with me; You are my fortress. I want to stay glued to You and be in Your safe zone. Teach me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Rains Came Down

By Charlotte Riegel –

A song I learned as a child about rain coming down and floods coming up came boldly to mind in recent weeks as the skies opened and the rains came down and down and down and down… Thousands of people in Calgary fought for several days to survive the deluge. Nearly 100,000 people were evacuated, some on short notice. Many homes were lost and much private property was destroyed.

A meteorological event that typically would drop some moisture and move along was stalled and rivers rose rapidly. People did their best to move items from basements and areas that might be affected before escaping to shelters in community centers, churches, or the homes of friends or family. It became a bizarre, historic event without precedent in our area, catching everyone by surprise.

As the rains kept falling, I thought about ‘in the days of Noah’. I pondered how the people in that time might have reacted, even as the people here were. First disbelief, then panic, and anger, especially anger towards authorities. Most of the people were cooperative but some rebelled and refused to leave their homes. When the rain finally did stop, these folks who defied authorities had no water, no power, spoiled food and no way to get food. They were also without sewer except in the sewage that backed up into their homes causing desperately dangerous situations for them and emergency personnel sent to rescue them.

Hearing and reading many horror stories made comparison to the ‘days of Noah’ an easy mental journey. I was also reminded that ‘in the days of Noah’ the rain did not stop for a very long time and all the people and their belongings, except Noah and his family, perished. There were a few deaths in this flood but God spared major loss of life. He did allow major devastation, and I wonder how long people will continue to defy His authority, accrediting ‘climate change’ to all the unusual phenomenon the world has been experiencing in recent years. Climate change, yes, but God controls the climate, not man. Do we contribute to it? Perhaps.

May we be diligent about getting our lives in tune with God’s ways and faithful to echo the words of Habakuk, who after describing much destruction and devastation says:
“yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior” (Habakuk 3:18 NIV).

Playing it Safe, Sharing our Faith

By Hally Franz –

Michael Buble over The Biebs, tennis shoes over 7-inch heels, and book-club evenings over a night at the “clubs”—these preferences surely brand me a 40-something mom. I own it and am proud of it.

The thing I enjoy most about book-club gatherings is discovering differences present in our cohesive little group. While often we agree on a selection, I love times when we see things differently. When two or three of us find a main character whiny and self-absorbed, and others admire her process of self-discovery, it makes for lively conversation. If a few see the plot twist as being known by the book’s hero, but the rest feel he was as equally in the dark as we, that’s fun debate.

It’s a joy to get to know people who don’t always think like we do. I appreciate friends with interests, outlooks and personalities unlike mine. I can learn from them. But, how often do we really step out of our comfort zone?

While I enjoy the perspectives presented in book club, we are all very alike at the core. If we weren’t, we’d never have come together as a body. We all have groups in our lives. There are work-related groups, extended family groups, school-related groups, parent groups, faith groups and others. Perhaps of all those group types as a whole, I most closely align in thought and attitude with my church family. There is great safety among my brothers and sisters in Christ.

So, what expectations does God have for us to connect with those different from us? People of other cultures, near and in faraway places? Folks with opposing political views and faiths?

This is a confusing issue for me. I’d love to have a cut-and-dried rule on this, but, as with many questions we face, I think it boils down to observing an imaginary line.

Christians should take some risks to bring God’s word to people in other places and of other minds. We should be courageous enough to interact with those we might not normally, in the hopes of showing and sharing our faith with them. For me, the line may be the point at which interaction or association would further a sinful activity, or foster an ungodly belief.

More importantly, what would He do? Would Jesus observe any type of line? It’s a difficult question. How do you answer it?

PRAYER: Almighty God, when I’m faced with tough questions of faith, guide me to Your word and the example of Christ Jesus for answers, so that I may further Your kingdom and fulfill my role in it.

“I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness In the great assembly; Indeed, I do not restrain my lips, O LORD, You Yourself know” (Psalm 40:9 NKJV).

« Previous Page — Next Page »