Yours Free—At a Price …

April 5

But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the

Christ … and that by believing you may have life in his name.

John 20:31

Art was skeptical. He’d seen mail order offers before: “This is your big chance,

Art Minot!” “You could win millions!” Then, in smaller print, “Or … ” and they

listed several “alternate” prizes ranging from plasma TVs to a keychain. He’d

always won the keychain.

But this offer was different. This was an offer for free dental care. The local

dentists were dedicating one day to give back to the community by providing

free dental work, regardless of economic standing. All you had to do was con-

tact the offices between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on the prearranged date and

schedule an appointment.

So on that day, Art began calling at 10:00 a.m. promptly, finally getting

through around 10:40 a.m. Two weeks later, Art underwent a double tooth

extraction he’d been in desperate need of.

He later learned that these two dentists had performed over ten thou-

sand dollars worth of free work for the community that day. The dental work

had been free. All Art had to do was hit re-dial until he got through to the

receptionist—a small price for such a large reward.

h

Not all offers or promises are genuine and valid. Nor is everything we read

in print true. Many times, unsuspecting participants lose their life savings in

elaborate schemes. People believe what they read simply because it was printed

on decorative paper.

Most fraudulent offers rely on a desperate desire to find relief from a dif-

ficult life. The sad truth is that they offer big promises with little or no reward.

There is, however, one promise we can count on no matter what it’s written on.

It is free to those who would receive it.

John was an eyewitness to the price that was paid to give us life in His

name. Our cost is faith, faith that what we read in Scripture is true. This is the

sweepstakes we were born to win. The price was great; our free reward is huge!

Will you believe, let Jesus pay the price, and enjoy the reward?

Prayer

“Thank you for Your written Word, Lord. Send Your Holy

Spirit to testify to the truth in Scripture. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

 Made for Laughter

April 4

A cheerful heart is good medicine.

Proverbs 17:22

Nancy and Craig constantly looked for little ways to make each other laugh

and enrich their marriage. This particular morning found Nancy headed out

the door for the day as Craig was finishing breakfast. 

They never parted company without a what-if kiss: What if something terrible happens and we do not see each other again? So, getting up from the table, Craig joined his beloved at their favorite spot: the doorway between the dining room and kitchen. 

Nancy stood on the step above the threshold, Craig on the kitchen floor, several inches below her. This offset their height difference, making for the perfect fit.

As they embraced and kissed, a mischievous thought came unbidden to

Craig. 

Not given time to brush his teeth prior to Nancy’s heading out the door,

he realized, with increasing amusement, here was a moment given by God!

Leaning back while still holding her around the waist, he looked into Nancy’s

eyes and said, “I guess this makes me a cereal kisser!” Spontaneous laughter

with a twinkle in their eyes gave testimony to the love they shared. 

These precious moments given of God deepened their relationship with each other and God.

h

We were created with an expressive nature, and it testifies to what’s going on

in our heart.

Many of us suffer from heavily burdened hearts, rarely displaying any sign

of joy or happiness. God Himself desires to bring complete joy to our lives that

we might recognize His nature and learn to emulate it.

It is my belief that we bring a smile to our Creator’s face when we laugh

with abandon. One of my favorite paintings is of a head-thrown-back, all-

teeth-showing, belly-laughing Jesus.

We weren’t created to walk around with a downcast countenance, showing

everyone how miserable we are. We will find what we look for; joy is optional.

Yes, there will be sorrow, but if we look for a light heart, we just might find one

filled with laughter.

Prayer

“Help us look to create those seemingly insignificant moments in

life, Lord. Teach us to laugh as You intended, to love each other

passionately with fervor and great joy! In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

 In the Fury of the Storm

April 3

I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm.

Psalm 55:8

Clarence watched in horror as the funnel cloud dropped from the sky. He

turned and shouted to his wife, “Michelle, grab Christy and Tim and head for

the basement. Now!” He took one more look before turning to join his family.

The twister was bouncing from point to point as if it were choosing spe-

cific geographical locations. Every time it touched down, debris was lifted sky-

ward. The closer it came, the darker the funnel got. Clarence stood, paralyzed

by the awesome display of destruction.

“Clarence? What are you doing?” came Michelle’s anxious cry.

Snapped to his senses, Clarence descended through the basement door,

pulling it closed as the updraft threatened to rip it from his grasp. Descend-

ing the stairs two at time, he forced a measure of calm to his voice and said,

“Over to the corner. Take this blanket and cover up under the workbench.”

As they huddled beneath the meager protection, Clarence began reciting the

Twenty-third Psalm. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of

death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me … ” As the family joined him, the

storm raged above. They could feel the house shake and hear windows break-

ing. Through it all, they would remember the peace that surrounded them in

the fury of the storm.

h

God’s promise to us is a place of shelter away from the storms of life. He does

not promise we won’t experience trouble, only that in the midst of the storms

we can find peace and comfort beyond what the world has to offer.

Our response in times of crisis determines whether we will continue to be

tormented or receive strength from above. Just as Clarence was mesmerized

by the power of the tornado, we too can be held in a dangerous place longer

than we intend. And like Michelle’s cry, David urges us to take shelter from

the storm. He’s telling us to hurry and not delay in fleeing from our pursuers.

Prayer

“Storms come upon me so quickly, Lord. Help me see the clouds

before the tempest is upon me. Rescue me from my enemies,

for I am in need of Your strength. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

 We Can Expect a Complete Recovery

April 2

I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has

passed.

Psalm 57:1

A sickening snap could be heard above the noise in the crowded gymnasium.

Amy grabbed her leg, severe pain evident on her face. The conspicuous bulge

below her right knee gave mute testimony that the leg was badly broken. 

While teammates and coach watched from a few feet away, team trainers tended to the injured girl. Mom and Dad had been courtside and now hurried to Amy’s

side. 

EMTs took her vitals, stabilized the leg in a temporary air splint, and

loaded Amy into a waiting ambulance to the crowd’s empathetic applause.

Amy was transported to the local hospital where surgery was required

to mend the break. 

After removing tiny bone splinters, they reset the break by realigning the jagged edges and placing surgical screws through the bone.

They finished by placing the leg in a cast. There had been no complications; the

break would heal just fine. Amy would be on crutches for eight weeks and then

placed in a walking cast. They could expect a complete recovery.

h

We would never leave a broken leg unattended. Yet there are those who, for one

reason or another, fail or refuse to admit to their broken spirit. It is God’s desire

that we bring Him our brokenness.

When spiritual breakage occurs, it leaves jagged edges that rub together,

causing scar tissue to form. Left unattended, our spirits cannot heal correctly.

We live in turmoil, never finding the joy or peace promised us and possibly

never realizing our full spiritual potential.

We live from our hearts; they must be safeguarded! When David was hurt-

ing, he took refuge in the shadow of God’s wing, allowing the threat to pass.

In the same way Amy’s broken bone was realigned, our broken spirit must

also be brought into a position that will promote healing. We must seek refuge

in Jesus Christ. The wound must be stabilized and given time to heal so it can

bear weight again. Jesus says if we come to Him, we can expect a complete

recovery.

Prayer

“I don’t admit to this kind of pain easily, Lord. I don’t want

people to know I am wounded. Help me put aside my foolish

pride and begin the healing. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

 Stick Close Now

April 1

There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Proverbs 18:24

Mason and his men scanned the jungle with practiced eyes. 

His platoon had

come under heavy fire west of Dalat, South Vietnam. They were just twenty

clicks north of Ho Chi Minh City. Everyone’s safety depended on trusting

your life to the man on either side of you. 

Looking at Sgt. Bowman, Mason gave him a one arm up, hand in front of the face, two fingers pointing to his eyes, then extending them toward the jungle in a flat, arching motion, ending with a closed fist. They would hold here until the scout returned. 

Bowman moved closer to Mason. “Whaddya think, L.T.? Seems too quiet.” Bowman barely heard the lieutenant’s reply. “We hold tight for now. Majors’ll be back soon. Stick close now. I want everybody close enough for visuals. No matter

what you see or hear—nobody moves until I give the order. Pass it on.”

Majors returned two hours later. The VC had pulled out. There’d been seven of them, and he’d found indentations from the bipods of two fifty-caliber machine guns. Mason signaled the men to gather. “Okay, small fires for coffee and beans. Put ’em out and get some rest. Mitchell and Byrnes, you have first watch.”

h

There is a bond of trust in the military that transcends almost all others. To

share your life with family brings closeness; to have shared the fight for life and

for the freedom of others brings inseparable devotion. 

As close as those bonds are, there is one closer: an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. And the reason it is the closest bond of all is due to His unyielding faithfulness to us. 

Our undying love will, at times, fail us and others. We are well-meaning people, yet

fallible. Jesus, however, will never fail us. His love is unconditional; His mercy

freely given; His grace goes as deep as necessary. He is constantly seeking to

bring us under His protection. And in Him, we truly find a friend Who does

stick closer than a brother.

Prayer

“I am weak, Lord Jesus. And so thankful that You are

not. Draw me into the deepest part of Your love and

protection. Stick close to me now, Lord. Amen.”

 Left at the IGA

March 31

Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does

he not leave the ninety-nine … and go after the lost sheep until he

finds it?

Luke 15:4

They were headed for the nursing home to visit Gramma. Sally, one of five girls,

was asleep in the back seat when Momma stopped at the IGA. Living twenty-

plus miles from the grocery store meant taking the opportunity to shop when

it presented itself.

Awakening, Sally found the car empty. Getting out of the car, Sally entered

the store undetected. Drawn to the shiny aluminum strip along the display

cases in the cold-food section, Sally momentarily forgot her objective. The cool,

variegated silver bar (at just the right level for a four-year-old) called to her,

inviting her to run her fingernails against its irregular surface. Sally giggled as

she ran to the meat case at the back of the store. From one end of the store to

the other she went, fingernails gliding over the shiny, diamond-plated surface.

It tickled her fingers!

As she turned to make her next pass, she could see up the long aisle and

out the doors at the front of the store. She froze! Momma’s car was mov-

ing! She was being left behind! She ran for the front of the store screaming,

“Momma!” As she reached the doors, she was gently scooped off her little

feet by a kindly woman. Comforting Sally and holding her close, she tenderly

whispered, “Momma will be back, hon. Don’t you worry.” She knew the young

mother would return. And sure enough, ten minutes later, through bullet-sized

tears, Sally saw her Momma jump from her car, running, arms extended toward

her.

h

Everything changed when Momma realized her child was nowhere to be

found. Her purpose shifted from a visit to Gramma to a mission of finding

her lost child.

Jesus feels the same way about those who have strayed from the flock. He

will not rest until they are safe in the fold. Like Sally, we can become side-

tracked by the things of this world. And like the kindly woman, Jesus will send

one of His own to comfort and embrace the lost child until, through the tears,

he sees Him coming.

Prayer

“Thank You, Jesus, for always looking

for us when we’re lost. Amen.”