Sitting on the Sidelines

By Mollie Bond  –

Sitting on the sidelines is where the ministry took place.

My friend, Leanna, went on a mission trip to Africa as part of the basketball team from a Christian college. They rode in a limo. They played basketball. They were on the national news where they visited. No street preaching, no dramas, no spontaneous worship. They played basketball. “Where’s the suffering for the gospel?” she wondered, “Where is the ministry?”

Leanna and her team visited a closed Muslim country, so some restrictions caused them to focus on what they came to do: play basketball. In the last game the refs were slightly against the Americans. Bad calls gave way to bad attitudes. Leanna was done trying to do ministry and played hard enough that she ended up on the sidelines. While sitting and internally grumbling, she listened to some of her teammates. They were upset, too. Their emotions didn’t come from hatred, but from wanting to play a fair game. The other team noticed.

A player from the other team, who happened to be sitting closest to an American named Tasha, said, “Why aren’t you guys more upset? Why are you not cursing? Why are you acting so nice?” Tasha explained that Jesus affected her team so much that they wanted to be gracious to everyone they met. Jesus had transformed they way they function, even in a game of basketball.

Leanna overheard this, and realized mission trips aren’t about accomplishing a mission. It’s not about saving so many people, or “doing” ministry. It’s about “being” ministry. She said “It’s important to keep in mind my identity in Christ because others are watching when you least expect it.” Ministry isn’t an action; it’s a state of being. Sitting on the sidelines is just as much a ministry as being in the game.

In Galatians 5:22, we’re given the fruits of the Spirit. Some people try to tackle these fruits, doing the work they think will bring ministry. Yet fruits don’t come from force. Hiding your life in Christ will bring fruit. Just like Leanna, who learned that sitting on the sidelines was a ministry to others, we need to sometimes take ourselves out of the game and let the fruit grow naturally.

PRAYER: Dear God, I want to produce fruit. I know that won’t come from me working harder, but from being with you so that it is a natural state of being. Please help me to see my ministry in my daily life.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness” (Galatians 5:22 NIV).

Promises, Promises

By Elaine James –

Fresh out of bed, I put on my robe and head for my favorite chair. I crack the window open and enjoy the bright sunshine and the sound of a distant woodpecker hard at work. I have a great sense of peace about me, and my head is clearer than usual as I pray and read Scripture. I love days like this. I feel no angst. No distractions. Just rest. Thank You, Lord, for this beautiful moment. I read, “Sustain me, my God, according to your promise, and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed” (Psalm 119:116 NIV).

The sun is going down. I am once again settled in my chair. My view is filled with blue sky and pink scattered clouds. The window still cracked open and my heart still peaceful. Negative thoughts try to ruffle my feathers, but God is my fortress, and He blocks all attempts. Thank You Lord. From morning to evening, You sustain me. Scripture being fulfilled. Should I be surprised?

“Sustain me, my God, according to your promise, and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed” (Psalm 119:116 NIV). I love this Word. I love You, Lord.

My greatest hope is that each day the fruit of God’s Spirit will continue to grow in me, bringing glory to my Lord. My end-of-the-day reflection also has me hoping that my family members will continue to grow in the Lord and experience precious restful moments like this. I am forever grateful that God has placed His “hope message” on my heart. I will live. My hopes won’t be dashed. My Father’s promise.

Have you been crushed by the weight of others’ unkept promises? I pray that you will find a secret place to sit and connect with God. To be filled with contentment beyond words. It is God’s pleasure! He looks forward to it! No appointment necessary.

Prayer: I come before You seeking rest for my soul. Right here, right now. Visit me. Fill me with Your promises, so my hopes will not be dashed. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Shade of Christ

By Cheri Cowell –

On my desk I have one of those flip-card-daily-saying things. I love flipping through it from time to time and am amazed at how many sayings I now incorporate into my conversations. I do not do a good job, however, of looking at it daily. It is not a priority. But, because I’ve used it intermittingly, its sayings have been planted in my mind. Growing up in Sunday school, being in church all of my life, and being involved in Bible study, prayer, and worship every week have had that same cumulative effect on me. My conversations and thoughts are infused with the things of God. The psalmist calls this being “like a tree planted by streams of water” (Psalm 1:3 NIV). What a beautiful image that is for us to carry as we struggle to make God a part of everything we do.

The “law” in this scripture reference does not refer to a legal code but rather to the guidance and instruction of God. The psalmist uses the metaphor of a tree as it symbolized abundant prosperity, productivity, usefulness, and the strength to endure hardships when planted near the living water of the Holy Spirit. The message is clear—like my flip-card sayings, planting God’s Word in your mind will yield deep roots of faith.

“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers” (Psalm 1:1-3 NIV).

PRAYER: Thank You, God, for Your laws that are a delight to meditate on day and night, and for providing the Living Water that nourishes my spirit. Help me find ways to infuse my conversations and thoughts with more and more of You so my branches may reach others with the shade of Christ.

The Wedding Wall

By Hally Franz –

My grandparents would have been married 80 years this November, and while they didn’t reach that milestone, Grandpa and Grandma did celebrate 69 years of marriage. I always remember what year they were wed, because their 60th anniversary occurred the year my husband, Tim, and I were married. We just celebrated our 20th anniversary.

My aunt has a display of family photos I dearly love. One wall holds 5×7 photographs of every marriage our family has celebrated over the years; only three, which ended, have been removed. My grandparents’ black-and-white photo is at the top. The next row includes photos from the weddings of their four children. Eight of us eleven grandchildren, along with our spouses, fill the third row in full color. And the bottom group consists of wedding ceremonies for five of the 23 great-grandchildren. There are currently five great-great-grandchildren, with more weddings and babies added yearly.

My cousins and I sometimes gather at the photos and laugh at the ever-changing wedding styles. Big hair and bunned hair, full skirts and sheath dresses share the space. Long sleeves and sweetheart necklines evolve over generations to sleeveless and strapless. It’s fun to see how fashions have changed and how our family has grown in eight decades. The wall is a source of family pride.

Like wedding fashions and families, marriages evolve over time. Looking back, I can recall trials and triumphs Tim and I have experienced over the years.

Growing our family was a struggle, but eventually we experienced the joys of having a biological son and bringing home a beautiful adopted daughter. Tim recently celebrated thirty years of employment with his company, and he has supported me in my various endeavors outside and inside our home. There have been losses and times of turmoil – some years and memories better than others.

We’ve grown a lot in our faith since 1993, and our Heavenly Father has been with us during our most difficult and joyous times. If He had not, we may not have reached this anniversary.

So, what will the next twenty years bring? More photos added to my aunt’s wedding wall? No doubt. Perhaps a return to sleeves? I hope. Grandchildren? Not during the first ten, please. New goals and dreams? Of course. The comfort that each day we share will be because of Him, shared by Him, governed by Him, and blessed by Him. Absolutely!

PRAYER: Gracious God, thank You for the gift of marriage! Help us make each day count as a couple, enjoying our relationship while serving You in our home, church and community.

“Give to the LORD, O families of the peoples, Give to the LORD glory and strength.” (1 Chronicles 16:28 NKJV).

Everybody Loves…

By Elaine James –

…. Raymond. Do you know the show Everybody Loves Raymond? If so, then you have seen Raymond blurt out something to Deborah and right away you think, “Oh no! He shouldn’t have said that!”

My husband had one of those moments. He said it, and he could not take it back. I immediately put up my defense. He’s not going to get away with that. I’m going to make him pay. At that moment, I was making his lunch. The thought came to me, I just won’t give him lunch.

Then a whispering, sweet voice said, “Elaine, have you ever said anything wrong?”

If I have to be honest, yes.

“Have I forgiven you and given you grace?”

Yes, Lord, you have.

“If My grace is sufficient for you, then my grace is sufficient for your husband. Can you make him the lunch for me?”

With you, Lord, I can do it. Without you, Lord, I want to ……

I made the sandwich. My mind and heart were battling the whole time. I will throw the sandwich at him. Honestly! I can make this sandwich and serve it with Christ. I made the lunch and gave it to my unsuspecting man. I got to thinking, I can really only do this because of God’s grace. I didn’t deserve what my husband said, but I chose to give him grace.

Have you ever felt that way toward anyone? When the whisper of God speaks, sometimes I ignore it and do not listen. It is hard at times.

“Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit” (Romans 8:5 NLT).

I did have revengeful thoughts. My insides hurt. I did not want to serve, but when I finally did, I felt really good inside. I was able to move on. Only God can do that for me, and for you. What do you do with your revengeful thoughts?

Let’s Pray: Father, sinful things sometimes dominate within me. Help me to stop and listen to You. Forgive me for the times I have not listened. I want to please You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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