In Times of Need

Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
Hebrews 1:14

Lew had outlived his three-month life expectancy by two years before hospice was called in. For those two years, Lew lived: visiting museums, taking walks with his beloved, Patty, and working in his garden from time to time.
On the eve of his death, Lew kept calling for Judy. Judy was, as she put it, Lew’s wash girl; her ministry had been to tenderly meet Lew’s bathing needs. Knowing Judy wasn't scheduled to work that day, Patty called hospice, asking that they send her anyway. “Lew is asking for Judy. Please tell her.”
When later the doorbell rang, Patty was pleasantly surprised to find Brenda, Lew’s RN, smiling through the door at her! “I just left the Healing Hands of Christ seminar and felt led to stop by and see Lew. Would that be okay?” she asked.
“Oh, yes!” Patty exclaimed, welcoming Brenda with a hug.
After simmering a pot of hyssop, frankincense, and myrrh, Brenda anointed Lew with the spices, salving his hands and feet and head while hymns softly played. As she finished, Lew lifted his right hand, pointing toward the corner of the room.
“Do you see someone, Lew?” Brenda asked. His head nodded yes. “Is this someone you know?” she prompted. He shook his head no. “Is this someone speaking to you?” she asked.
“Can’t you hear him?” Lew said in wonder.
“No, we can’t,” they replied.
“It’s the Angel of the Lord, come to take me home.” Trying to sit up, Lew remarked, “You can’t take a trip lying down!”

†

God’s conspicuous attention through the persons of Judy and Brenda, as well as revealing His Angel’s presence as He took Lew home, was personal.
And this is the hope we have in Christ Jesus when we choose to accept Him as our Lord and Savior.
It is appointed unto man once to die; we will not escape this life alive. But we can take great comfort in the knowledge that having made the choice to become one of God’s children, in times of need, we will be tended by ministering spirits.

Prayer

“Loving Father, be near to those who are in need today, regardless of the reason. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

The Root of Jesse

From his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
Isaiah 11:1

They planted the sapling in the corner of the yard. “Daddy,” his young daughter questioned, “can we use it for a Christmas tree someday?”
He chuckled at her optimism; she saw potential in this small, vulnerable sapling. “You bet, honey. We’ll nurture it to make it the best Christmas tree ever.”
She cocked her head curiously. “What does nurture mean, Daddy?”
“It means we’ll need to love this tiny tree, honey, and treat it with tenderness. We’ll need to cut away dead branches and unwanted growth. We’ll have to make sure the roots have a chance to grow deep so it will grow big and strong.”
Then, as an afterthought, he added, “The weather will actually cause the roots to grow deeper. As the wind and rain, sun, and cold weather beat down on the sapling above ground, the little tree will tell its roots to grow deeper, giving it the ability to stand against the harshest weather.”
So for eight years they nurtured the tree, shaping it by cutting back unwanted growth.
Over time, the pine grew strong and tall. Then something unexpected happened. Birds began building their nests in the tree’s sheltering branches and ate its pine nuts for life-giving nourishment.
When the time came to harvest the tree, the girl decided to leave it for God’s wildlife. And instead of cutting it down, they decorated it right where it stood, giving the birds the most beautiful home in the neighborhood.

†

Our heavenly Father is also optimistic when He looks at us. He sees great potential in each of us. He wants to be our refuge when spiritual winds blow, nurturing us, growing us to maturity.
When we are assaulted by spiritual elements, He patiently waits for us to seek His assistance. As we come, He prunes away unwanted, sinful growth, leaving us stronger and better equipped to stand against the trials of life.
As we grow, we can see our roots being anchored in the root of Jesse. Only there will we find the spiritual nourishment necessary for our own sustenance and be able to bear fruit for His kingdom.

Prayer

“Lord, grow my roots deeper. Make me a strong branch, able to bear fruit for those in need. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

The Coming Storm

The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds beat against the house; yet it did not fall.
Matthew 7:25

Her husband had always known what to do: stay and ride it out or to seek shelter inland, away from the fury of the storm. Yet he had died six years ago, and this decision was hers alone.
As the surf pounded the sand with increasing intensity, she sensed the fury of the coming storm. And although the storm was still hundreds of miles out, she realized it might be a direct hit. They’d prepared for storms many times over the years, closing shutters against the strong winds. They had even rebuilt twice, saying, “We will not give in to this unwanted aggressor.”
She watched the waves pound with a force that belied the storm’s awesome power and knew this one would be bad. Having been through some rough storms in the past, she decided to board up and head inland, taking the kids to her sister’s, not risking their lives to protect inanimate objects.
The storm bore down on the coast, rending wooden structures as if they were made of cardboard. When she was finally granted access to her neighborhood, she found only piles of debris shoved up against the palms; not one shred of the house was left standing.
Only now did she realize with clarity how important the decisions of life could be. She was thankful for having made the right one.

†

Many times, spiritual storms strike without advance warning, giving no sign of the coming struggle. They develop quickly, like a tornado out of a supercell thunderstorm, leaving no time to prepare or run for shelter.
Because of this frequent lack of warning, we must take steps ahead of time to shore up the structures most vulnerable and valuable: our spiritual being.
Jesus says the only way to assure survival from these storms is to build our lives on a solid foundation by immersing ourselves in His Word, spending time with Him in prayer, and meeting with others of like mind. We can prepare for the coming storm.

Prayer

“I need Your protection, Lord Jesus. Teach me how to stand on You and Your Word as the Foundation for everything I do. Amen.”

Words of Life!

The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.
John 6:63

“Mom?” Steph said, calling for her attention. “Jesus said that our flesh counts for nothing and that only the Spirit gives us life. Then He said the words He spoke are spirit and life. Is He referring to the written word alone? Or do His spoken words have more meaning for us?” Steph had been given a religion class assignment to explain what spiritual life meant to her. She’d focused on the New Testament, the red-lettered spoken words of Jesus, to be more precise.
“Well, what do you think He’s saying?” her mom prompted, wanting her answer the question for herself before she received any outside influence.
“I guess I think it’s a combination of both,” she said with a tinge of unresolved doubt.
“So why do you feel He meant both?” Mom asked.
“Well, first of all, I believe He’s talking about the natural life versus the spiritual life, specifically, eternal life versus eternal damnation. And that if we rely on ourselves for all the answers, we’ll become introspective and self-deceived by thinking we can walk through life apart from God without any need of a Savior.” Then she added, “I believe when we speak God’s written word, it comes alive, you know, sharper than any two-edged sword. So what do you think?” she asked.
“Sounds to me like you've got things well in hand, honey,” Steph’s mom said, noting the twinkle of satisfaction in her daughter’s eyes.

†

How many times have you read, read, and reread the same verse of Scripture only to have it jump off the pages in one blindingly revealing moment? Everyone who has ever been a student of Scripture will have this phenomenon occur many times over his or her studies of the Bible. It is the inherent Word of God, our lifeblood, which the Holy Spirit opens for our understanding as we prayerfully read. God intended us to study His Word in order that we would, through that nourishing act, receive the life of the Spirit.

Prayer

“Lord, reveal spirit and life to me as I read Your written account of the story of Your love for me and all mankind. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

The Enemy Within

Who am I?
Exodus 3:11

“Why did you just up and quit?” Reece was trying to understand how someone with Tim’s drive and intuition would abandon his life’s goal. So far he hadn’t figured it out. So once again, he asked, “Why’d you pull up short, Tim? And why now?”
“You really want the truth?” Tim seemed to resent the questioning of his motives.
But as Reece looked into Tim’s eyes, he recognized something from having seen it in the mirror himself: fear.
“You’re afraid, aren’t you?” he said, bewildered. “I can’t believe it. You of all people, afraid of what the future holds. So you’re pulling the plug before you lose control?”
Reece was dumbfounded. He’d never suspected his closest friend wasn’t as sure of himself on the inside as he appeared on the outside.
This had him stymied. “Tim … ” He struggled for the right words with which to encourage his friend. “I’ve watched you take on challenges that would have brought many a good man to his knees. You always stressed that to believe in myself only required the knowledge that God’s always got my back. You gonna tell me now that you really don’t believe that?”
“It’s not that simple,” Tim blurted. “What if people don’t respond favorably? Then what?”
“Well, my best friend is always telling me, ‘Just put one foot in front of the other and see where God leads you.’” Reece said, knowing that had been what Tim needed to hear.

†

Our greatest enemy to accomplishing God’s tasks is the one within. We all, at some level, fight Moses’ battle against inner fear. Satan introduces doubt couched in the fear of rejection and failure or even our past. He intends to use them as a means to stop us from reaching for a higher level of accomplishment.
Self-sufficiency is a weighty and dangerous thing. Only when we realize that God will equip us completely for His work will we forge ahead.
Only God can defeat this enemy within. And then it’s only if we allow Him into the battle.

Prayer

“Lord, I hate being afraid. And I don’t readily admit to fear. Please send someone to encourage me to reach higher for Your purposes if I begin to falter. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Listen to God, Then Do What He Says

To prepare God’s people for works of service …
Ephesians 4:12

It had been a rough year. Medical issues had left a seemingly insurmountable amount of debt. Yet they trusted in the Lord’s provision. This morning’s mail brought an unexpected bill. Molly had forgotten to include the quarterly water bill in the budget. She prayed, asking God to meet the need. Then Molly sent her pastor an e-mail asking if the church’s benevolence fund might cover half the water bill; they could handle the rest.
The phone rang. It was the bank asking Molly to please come and pick up an envelope someone had left for her.
So, grabbing her coat, she headed out. Upon arriving, she was handed a nondescript, white envelope. Thanking the young woman, she returned to the car to open it. To her amazement, she found two five-hundred-dollar money orders with an unsigned note. “Molly, we know how God uses you and how you say, ‘Listen to God, then do what He says.’ We are listening to God. Please receive this gift and use it as you see fit.”
Molly, tears in her eyes, ran back into the bank and asked the young lady, “Who did this?”
“I’m sorry, but they asked to remain anonymous,” the girl answered.
In her excitement, she drove to the church to share the miracle with her pastor! Unknown to her, he had responded to her e-mail, telling her to drop by with the bill so they could pay it. When she showed up, he assumed she was bringing the bill.
His smile grew as Molly shared her story of how God had moved on the hearts of His people to meet her need before it was known.

†

God wants to move us to do good works on His behalf. He’s given us Scripture to help us understand how to hear His voice. He has also raised up others to aide us in distinguishing between His voice and the world.
Through their instruction, His Word, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and with persistent practice, we can learn to filter out the world’s noise.
The Father’s desire is for us to listen to His voice and then do what He says.

Prayer

“Speak, Lord. Then help me do what You say. Amen.”

Unsuspecting Martyrs

Isaac spoke up and said … ”Father?”
Genesis 22:7

Gabriel watched in horror as the woman in front of him pulled into oncoming traffic. He wasn't sure whether it was a mistake or intentional. And there wasn't much he could do to stop it from happening. Honking his horn for lack of another option, Gabriel prayed she wouldn't be hit.
The first two oncoming vehicles reacted instinctively, slamming on their brakes and swerving to miss her. Those following closely behind were faced with snap judgments. Many responded defensively, pulling over in time to allow the wrong-way vehicle to pass by, unharmed yet unyielding.
Gabriel watched as car after car avoided her. Then, without warning, the woman pointed her car right at the overpass abutment and slammed into it at somewhere around seventy miles an hour.
Paramedics responded quickly but were unable to save the woman. She had not been wearing her seat-belt and had been ejected through the windshield. State patrol investigators later determined the woman was mentally unstable. They found a suicide note on the passenger seat, the distraught woman saying she could no longer live without her children. Further investigation revealed they had been killed in an accident seven years before. She had been driving.

†

Life can be cruel. And many suffer for reasons not of their own making.
Just like Isaac, this woman’s children did not ask for their fate. Yet tragedies happen, and we must do our best to deal with the loss.
But what of the unsuspecting martyr and what of those times we suffer when we feel it isn’t fair? Jesus told us we would have trials in this world. He did not make the statement to scare us, rather to prepare us to choose how we will respond as we meet life’s trials in our walk with Him.
If we find ourselves walking a road full of peace and prosperity, walk in grace. If, however, we find ourselves on a road marked with sorrow and grief, walk in communion with God, trusting Him to go through it with you.

Prayer

“Walk with me, Lord. Help me cope with the troubles of today. Show me how to be gracious in the good times and to lean on You in the bad. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”