School Supplies and Snowstorms

By Hally Franz –

Second semester of school is underway, and my sixteen-year-old sophomore has begun looking for a part-time job. He feels comfortable with driving now, so we’ve decided a job would be a good thing for him as the weather warms into spring. Hence, there is a new teaching opportunity. I am explaining how to approach a potential employer, fill out an application, and exhibit the skills and traits employers desire in their employees.

While many applications are online, there is still some of the paper-pencil variety. Thank goodness for Wite-Out supplies. I prefer correction fluid over tape, so as my son muddles through the tedious application forms, he has occasional errors that need to be “erased” or painted over. These tools do a good job of concealing the sloppy writing or wrong information so the correction can be in its place. However, a random shadow sometimes bleeds through, and the new writing may betray the error underneath. It’s as good as we can get.

Here in my hometown, we have been pummeled with ten inches of snow today, which ranks as quite a big snow for this area. Though it is an inconvenience, people always comment on the beauty of snows like this. Brown, dead grass and floral remnants are covered over. Ruts made in sloppy yards by new drivers are unseen. Dog toys and clutter is buried. An unsoiled glistening carpet resurfaces dreary yards with a brilliant white. When the snow melts or is sullied by tracks and machines, though, that perfect white layer is spoiled.

When Jesus washes our sins away, along with the mistakes, sloppiness, dirt and grime of our lives, we are made clean—white as snow. The old is eradicated leaving no trace of what existed before. We are made new in Him. More life-changing than a handy tool, more beautiful than a fleeting landscape, is the transformation He provides through salvation.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of salvation, for forgiveness of sins, for the promise of eternity, and for the joy found in being one of Your children.

“That is why we never give up. Our physical body is becoming older and weaker, but our spirit inside us is made new every day” (2 Corinthians 4:16 ERV).

Am I Real Yet?

By Charlotte Riegel –

I bristled while reading a blog post by an acquaintance. Her writing is gutsy, a bit raw at times, Velveteen Rabbit-real, and captivating. Because she has accomplished some things I aspire to achieve I thought reading her blogs might encourage me and guide me in the direction I choose to go. So I read, every post. I’m learning some things, about her and about me.

She’s beating herself up for not being ‘like this person’, not looking ‘as good as that person’, not being ‘a good enough mother’, not ‘doing more’. There is definitely an undercurrent of remorse about where she finds herself in life. I want to comment and give her some ‘life advice’, but I hesitate, choosing to play it safe. I want to be liked. Will she brush me off as a ‘know it all’? How can I possibly comment about her life when I haven’t walked a mile in her shoes? She is divorced and pines about being a single mom having to financially support herself. I sense she is focusing on the greener grass on the other side of the fence, and forgetting it grows over a septic tank.

Yes, I’ve been there. Not the divorce or single parent road, but seeing the greener grass and being blissfully unaware of the ‘crap of life’ that created the elements for the beauty I saw. It always exists. I often pined, and complained, and moped, eventually learning to take my eyes off all the others who seemed to have it better than me. I learned to focus on the goodness God had given me, right in my own backyard and under my roof. I learned to thank Him for what I had instead of complaining about what I wanted but did not have.

This shift in focus completely changed my attitude about life and about others. A few years after I embraced this concept God began surprising me with things I had previously longed for but no longer focused on. It was not about having or not having this, that, or the other, but rather about understanding where my focus needed to be.

Perhaps I’ll step outside my comfort zone and comment on her blog, and attempt to encourage her after some time in prayer over the matter. I need to explore the world outside my safe zone; become bolder without being a blinding, glaring light. I need to become more real.

Prayer: Lord, help me to know when it’s okay to be gutsy; real. Grant me courage to be a shining light without blinding the person I’m lighting the way for. I pray for wisdom and discernment to play it safe or to be bold for Your Kingdom’s sake.

“Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16 NIV).

An Answer for the Weary

By Anne C. Johnson –

One morning I found myself weary of the long week and burdened by the day’s tasks before me. I closed my eyes and cried out to the Lord. At once I saw the cross; blood-stained and horrifying. I felt panic and fear creep toward me and overtake me. I wanted to close my eyes and hide, but I heard Jesus’ voice say, “Come.”

I recognized the soft yet commanding voice of my Savior. Beyond the cross a nail-pierced hand reached for me. Numerous times that week I had failed to take the hand offered to me. Instead I had looked behind, turned away, tried to do things on my own, or allowed panic and fear to conquer me and make me ineffective.

“No!” I heard His gentle spirit within me say, not today. “Come!”

I thrust my weary hand forward, praying I had heard right. Doubts flooded my soul, but Jesus’ warm hand pulled me to the other side. Brilliant light chased away the fear and smashed the panic to pieces. I fell to the ground at Jesus feet and confessed my sins, my failures, and my lack of faith.

Though I cried, my cheeks remained dry. When I looked up, I saw my tears glistening on His hands. His eyes searched mine. There was nothing in His gaze but love.

My sins and burdens had been carried far from my heart. I glanced over Jesus’ shoulder toward the cross and found to my amazement a sight of wonder. The cross was full of color and radiating with life. Christ had risen from the dead to raise those who call on His name out of our sinful and heavy lives and into a new life with Him. And as I rested my head on His shoulder I felt renewed, remade and refreshed.

“Return again,” He says to me.

My heart swelled and I realized Christ wanted me. He wants me to be close, to confide in Him, to seek Him. I am wanted. I am cherished. I am someone to the God of all things. And He wants me to be near Him, to come again and again.

As I opened my eyes, I realized my burdens of the week and the tasks of the day had faded in their importance and heaviness. I felt light and ready to take on a new day. Standing hand in hand with my Savior, Lord, Comforter and Friend.

Though I’m not one for New Year’s resolutions, I realized the need for change in my life. I must daily spend time to press my hand into the one who can make all things new. To seek God constantly through the day. To walk and talk with Him and be renewed in my mind by His presence. To allow His strength to be mine.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30 NIV).

Worried About Money?

By Rachel Indihar  –

Like a lot of teenagers, I took money for granted. I wanted to go to France when I was fifteen and assumed that my mother could afford to pay for the trip. Growing up in middle-class suburbia, I was fortunate to be able to attend plenty of summer camps and field trips. I praise God now that I was able to do all these things without worrying about what it was costing my parents.

Now that I’m an adult and living on my own, I realize that “supporting yourself” means more than just paying for rent and food. I also have to pay for electricity, Internet, dental and medical insurance, and the never-ending college debt. Only after that is all paid can I consider spending money on activities for my own enjoyment.

Although I am single, I’m already starting to worry about the future and the possibility of one day supporting a family. The cost of raising one child to adulthood in America has been estimated to cost $10,000 or more. Regardless of whether this is an accurate estimate, I worry that I won’t be able to give my future children all they need and deserve.

When Jesus was on earth more than two thousand years ago, humanity shared our concerns about money. Although they didn’t have to pay for medical insurance or send their children to college, people still had plenty of fears about supporting themselves.

And what was Jesus’ response? Did he tell them to buy more stocks or lottery tickets? Quite the opposite: “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, —you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well” (Luke 12:27-31 NIV).

Remember the story of Ruth? She had lost what was considered in those days her life insurance: her husband. A widow who could not find a new husband and was not taken in by her family was the least fortunate of all. No one had more reason to worry than Ruth and Naomi. And yet, how did God provide for them? A wonderful kinsman-redeemer named Boaz saved both women from poverty, and through their marriage a son came into the world who was in the direct family line of Jesus. It’s more than a good story with a happy ending; it’s proof that God cares for and provides for those who love and trust Him.

Happy endings and good results do not always happen instantly when we pray. Jesus did not guarantee an easy life to His followers. However, through heartfelt trust in Him and constant prayer, our faith in God can lift us up above our circumstances and give us peace within the storm. And who knows? Our own Boaz may appear when we least expect him.

A homework assignment for those ready to look through God’s promises: search the Bible, especially the Psalms, for verses that have the word “trust” in them. Ex: Psalm 31:14-15

As White As Snow

By Susan Dollyhigh –

His bald head glowed, his brown eyes sparkled, and his toothless grin made my heart skip a beat. His right arm rested on my shoulder while his left hand grasped mine as we twirled around in the kitchen. Cole laughed. For now anyway, he seemed to think dancing with Nana was fun.

I looked into the eyes of this five-month-old grandson of mine and relished the pure innocence of his life, as yet, untouched by the world.

“When God looks down at you, Baby Cole,” I said, “He sees you as white as snow.”

We twirled around again, “And when God looks down at me…” and suddenly the trance was broken.

My life has been touched by the world, and I have sinned greatly.

Satan, the great deceiver and peace-stealer, used this opportunity to hiss past sins at me. I could imagine the ugly, jagged scars on my soul. Our twirling slowed, and came to a stop as I felt my heart sink. Baby Cole’s smile faded, and he looked at me as if to ask, “Why did we stop dancing? What happened to our joy?”

But the Lord spoke to my heart and reminded me of Truth.

I know who I am, I am a child of the King. God loves me so much that He sent His one and only Son, Jesus, into the world. Jesus paid the price for me, Baby Cole, and all mankind when he shed His blood on the cross. All I had to do was believe in Him, and not only does He forgive my sins, I have the promise of eternal life with Him in Heaven.

My sins have been forgiven.

My sins have even been forgotten.

My sins have been removed from me as far as the east is from the west.

I looked back into Cole’s eyes, and the magical moment returned. Cole and I continued to twirl while God the Father looked down on us and saw us as both as white as snow.

“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be wool” (Isaiah 1:18 NIV).

Prayer: My Father in Heaven, thank you for Jesus. Thank you for the assurance You give us through Your Word that our sins are indeed forgiven, and that we can approach Your throne of grace as white as snow. Amen.

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