Tiger, Turtle or Trust?

By Cindy Martin –

The winds of adversity blow at us from many directions: sometimes it’s the howling sting of poor choices; sometimes it is the gale force winds of unfounded persecution and sometimes it’s just the steady breeze of the fallen world in which we live. Regardless of where they come from, they all have a bite to them.

Two common responses to pain include reacting like a tiger where we lash out and fight back or retreating like a turtle into the perceived safety of our shell in an attempt to shelter ourselves from the outside world.

While there are definitely times to speak up and times to be quiet, I believe the underlying response God desires is that of trust. Trust in God’s complete understanding of the situation and His overwhelming desire to meet us in the midst of the struggle so that He can carry us through to victory. Isaiah 30:15 tells us “in quietness and trust is your strength” (NIV). Often times this is perceived as a weak and almost lazy response to the trials in our lives. I beg to differ. It is hard work to bow your knee before God and ask Him to have His way in the midst of the seeming chaos; to align your will with His and to have the grace and faith to wait until He in His sovereignty intervenes.

As this process unfolds, God knows we often need shielding from the storm and He reminds us in Psalm 3:3, that He is a shield about us; our glory and the Lifter of our heads. We can take further instruction from the prophet Daniel who was falsely accused and maliciously conspired against. He did not pick up a placard to protest the actions of his perpetrators; he didn’t even go to the king to plead his case or try to explain the deviousness of those plotting his death. Instead he faithfully and quietly continued to obey what God had asked him to do – to pray. God honored His faith and delivered him. To be sure, he was thrown to the lions, but what the enemy intended for evil, God intended for good. The backdrop of his situation provided an amazing opportunity to put God’s magnificent power on display.

Personally, I take comfort in the fact that no matter how fierce the winds may get, when Jesus says, “Peace! Be still!” (Mark 4:39 RSV), they have no choice. They must obey!

Prayer: “Lord Jesus, thank You that You anchor us in the storm and that the winds of adversity are silenced by the sound of Your voice.”

So Much for Which to be Thankful

By Gil Killam –  

My wife was in the hospital for two weeks recovering from hip replacement surgery. The operation went well but the recovery has been very slow. We had lots of time to observe a lot of what was happening among the patients and nurses. There were many patients who were in worse condition than my wife. One woman who was in the bed nex to my wife had cancer and there was not much doctors could do to help. Her groans and her breathing made us know that she was suffering great pain. My wife began to think of what she was thankful for: illnesses that she didn’t have; her family; her children who are now grown and married, still loving and caring for her; her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Being in the hospital reminded us of how much we have to be thankful for! It gave us a new perspective about what is really important in life.

Paul said, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonian 5:16-18 NIV).

Have we ever stopped to give thanks to God in the midst of the suffering in our lives? This was Paul’s secret as to why we may be suffering: that you may have a ministry in comforting others in their time of need (2 Corinthians1:4).

A characteristic of the generation in the last days is ungratefulness. Along with this come pride, abusiveness, disobedience, envy and strife (2 Timothy 3:1-2).

If we were more thankful, many of our problems would disappear. If world leaders would be thankful for what they have, the more peace they would experience. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV).

Something wonderful happens to each of us when we say thank you. Note how people’s faces smile when they are appreciated.

PRAYER: “Thank you Lord for the tests you allow in my life. Help me realize you may be preparing me to help someone in need. Amen

Umbrella

By Elaine James –

Spring is in the air; you know what that means? Rainstorms! Time to take your umbrella out, because the storms will come. When I was younger and a storm started I would brace myself, plug my ears when thunderbolts sounded, and close my eyes tight when the lightning flashed. Scary!

When a personal storm arises in your life, do you get tense and brace yourself? The Bible tells the story of a storm that arose and frightened the disciples. “Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, and the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm” (Matthew 8:24-26 NIV). They ran to Jesus scared not knowing what to do. After Jesus calmed the storm they asked “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him: (Matthew 8:27 NIV).

The apostles were learning firsthand who Jesus is. We have the Bible to explain to us exactly who He is. By reading the Bible it builds our faith and helps us to remember who Jesus is and that He walks us through the storms in life. Picture yourself with an umbrella open over your head. Written all over the umbrella with permanent marker are Jesus’ names: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Jesus and umbrellas are a lot alike. They both cover us from storms.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6 NIV).

PRAYER: Thank you God for protecting and guiding me through life. Help me to stay calm during the storms. Amen.

Do the Happy Dance

By Elaine James –

“If someone prays for patience, do you think God gives them patience, or does He give them the opportunity to find patience?” That’s a line from the movie, Evan Almighty. I feel like the wife in that movie at times. When life gets uncomfortable, I can become controlling and perfectionistic to a fault. Sometimes I don’t see eye to eye with my spouse, one of my children or a co-worker. When I realize that they aren’t going to respond the way I want them to, frustration wells up in me. Fortunately, I’m not always this uptight. This usually only occurs when life is moving too fast and I have a lot on my plate. I want peace, and I want it now! Why can’t everyone just cooperate with me?

Do you ever feel like that? Do you catch yourself asking the same question?

The Bible teaches us to “glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:3-4 NIV).

This reminds me of the saying, “God cares more about our character than our comfort.” We are all on a path full of trials. Those trials sometimes lead us to a fork in the road where we can either choose to make a stink, insisting on our own way, or we can adjust our expectations and pray about the next step. From there we can walk in God’s way and maybe, just like the ending of Evan Almighty, we can celebrate by doing… the happy dance!

PRAYER: God, what do You want me to do? How should I react? Guide me and help me with Your wisdom so that I can truly celebrate as I walk in Your way. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

God’s Power and Majesty Demonstrated in Nature

By Gillis Killam –  

I remember as a child living in New Brunswick, that my Dad purchased an old CN train station with living quarters, a waiting room, and a baggage room. The tracks had been moved to another location, and my father moved our family into this old station. The baggage room had a large door that opened to the tracks which had previously passed close to the station, and baggage had been picked up and dispersed through this door. The door had a large overhang where I would sit in the open door shielded from the rain and wind and watch a storm.

When a thunder and lightning storm came up there would be calm before the first thunder clap and then there would be a blinding flash of lightning that filled the sky and surroundings. Again another earth shaking thunderclap; and so it continued until the storm was over. I was so awed by this, and terror would strike me for a moment. Feeling the greatness of the storm, I would sit there quietly and wait until it all ended.

As I read Psalm 29 it brings to my mind the terror that would strike me for a moment, causing me to feel the awesomeness of the storm. Was this God showing His power?

David must have had something like this in mind when he wrote this Psalm of praise to Mighty God. He visualized large trees being split and the trunk of the large cedars of Lebanon lying wide open. He saw this as the voice of God. He also observed it in the desolation of desert, and among the animals. God was even enthroned over the floods. He said, “The voice of the LORD twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD is enthroned as King forever. The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace” (Psalm 29:9-11 NIV).

This comforts me because He has been my God since I was very young, and I know that my life is in His strong hands.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands…Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world” (Psalm 19:1, 4 NIV).

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