Digging Deeper

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. -Romans 8:28

I admit it.  I’m a control freak.  My closet is organized by colors progressing through the spectrum of the rainbow. Even my socks are organized by color in their drawer.  And of course, my M and Ms are carefully sorted by color so they all come out evenly before that last bite. When the kids were small, all their toys were in labeled totes. They learned to read early in order to put their toys away!  My need for control has rubbed off on my kids as well. When they learned to walk, they demanded to be out of the shopping cart so they could organize the merchandise on the shelves as far up as they could reach.  Being neat and organized does have its advantages, but I’ve learned I really am not in control of most things.

Conception, birth, employment, where we live and in what, relationships, marriage, health, and death are a few of the things I have learned to give to God.  I can talk to Him about everything and tell Him my desires, but ultimately He is in control.  When I think about it, I am relieved that I don’t have to be in charge.  My little world would definitely be colored coded, but God knows and wants what is the very best for me. He knows how all the pieces are going to fit together, when I don’t even have a clue.  Now back to something within my range of control…who put my yellow shirt in with the reds?

Bible Reading:  Romans 8:24-30

Dear Father, I praise You for taking the burden of control from me.  Forgive me when I try to control circumstances and other people which should be under Your authority, not mine.

by Dianna Brisco

Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace. -Romans 6:14

I just finished the book Unlikely Angel written by Ashley Smith.  Her book describes her seven hour ordeal being held hostage by Brian Nichols, an escaped murderer.  During those hours, she was able to witness to him about her faith in Christ and about the book she had begun reading The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren.  Ashley prayed for strength and wisdom as she told her captor about her life.  She had been a good student, athlete and daughter until she started experimenting with drugs.  She convinced herself that she could stop at any time as the line between right and wrong began to fade.  She found herself stealing in order to finance her increasing addictions and spent time in prison after being convicted for theft.  Ashley didn’t know if she would live through the night, but she put her life in God’s hands.  She prayed for the right words as she tried to connect personally with Brian Nichols.  As she was telling Brian about her own addictions, she realized she would recover with God’s help.  She had lost her husband in a drug related stabbing, custody of her daughter because of her own drug addiction and tangles with the law, and she had lost her close relationship with God.  Ashley also realized that her losses didn’t happen in a day.  She could look back and see how over time her life began a slow, downward spiral one bad decision at a time.  The song Slow Fade by Casting Crowns depicts this journey of destruction.
It’s a slow fade when you give yourself away
It’s a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It’s a slow fade, it’s a slow fade

The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you’re thinking
Be careful if you think you stand
You just might be sinking

People never crumble in a day
Daddies never crumble in a day
Families never crumble in a day

Click Here to see the music video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-8SYA6rfbs or

Casting Crowns’ interview           http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9JgrJjyNzg

Brian Nichols understood what it was like to be on the right side of the law, but then with each bad decision drift farther and farther away from what was true, good, and right.  Brian was a wanted man and Ashley not only pleaded for him to spare her life, but his own.  She convinced him to turn himself in and seek God’s purpose in prison.

Bible Reading:  Romans 6:1-14

I put my life in Your hands, Father.  My thoughts and actions of today will result in tomorrow’s blessings and consequences.  Guide my decisions and make my life pleasing to You.

by Dianna Brisco

“Don’t lay a hand on the boy!” the angel said. “Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son.” -Genesis 22:12

God knew we already loved this baby, that wasn’t the issue.  The issue was giving this little one back to Him even before we could hold and cuddle it.  I knew there was nothing I could do to save our baby.  God was in control and He could take our baby home to Him at anytime.  I cried and pleaded with God to let us keep this baby.  I stroked my expanding belly protectively. I had to realize this situation was totally out of my control.  Regretfully I got out of bed and decided to take a shower.  The warm water mixed with my tears as I stood pleading with God.  I tried to convince Him to let this baby live.  I caught myself in the middle of a bargain and stopped.  Closing my eyes, I let that warm water wash away my selfishness.  This baby was His creation.  This baby belonged to Him.  I remember relinquishing my possessive attitude right then and there.  I was ashamed.

I lifted my hands to Him and asked for forgiveness.  I gave Him our baby for His safe keeping.  If He decided to take the baby away then I would not question His authority.  I knew in my heart that God knew best.  My tears of pain turned to tears of joy and relief.  I hadn’t realized how demanding my own way had weighted me down.  Marcus Todd Brisco was born six month after his threatened miscarriage.  He is God’s wonderful gift to us, and we know each one of our children belong to Him.  I can surely identify with Abraham and his love for his son, Isaac. In Genesis 22, Abraham was called to sacrifice his only son to God.  God stopped Abraham just has he and took his knife ready to slay Isaac. God knew Abraham reverenced Him more than anyone else since he was willing to offer his son.

Bible Reading:  Genesis 22:1-17

Forgive me Father when I hold tightly onto my earthly possessions.  Everything I have belongs to You. You are the Keeper of my yesterdays, the Sustainer of today, and the Giver of my tomorrows.

by Dianna L. Brisco

And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? -Luke 12:28

On April 1, 1986 our world fell apart.  At first I thought it was surely a cruel April Fool’s joke.  I wanted it to be, but it wasn’t.  A good friend, Rick, came into my classroom that morning and told me since Trotwood’s levy didn’t pass, my teaching position was being cut for the next year.  Instinctively my hands caressed my swollen womb as our unborn baby kicked.  My friend then got a chair for me and told me to sit down.  I searched his troubled eyes and knew he had more to tell me.  My husband’s teaching position was also being eliminated. We were both new to the district and eighteen low seniority positions were being eliminated by the reduction in force mandate.  My hand flew to my mouth and I began to panic.  We had a new baby on the way, had bought our first house just six months ago, and now we had both lost our jobs. What in the world were we going to do? I will never forget what Rick told me that morning.  He reminded me that God was still in control.  We didn’t know what was going to happen, but God knew.

My husband was able to go back to college that summer and begin his recertification to teach in the classroom instead of Physical Education.  He began teaching fifth grade for a fellow teacher who decided to stay home with his twin girls and newborn son. (He never did come back and Todd was able to keep the position permanently!) I kept busy substitute teaching until passed my due date.  After Anitra was born, I was hired as a teacher for children with Learning Disabilities.  The position was just in the mornings which allowed me to spend the rest of the day with our new daughter!  We were able to make our house payments and breathe a huge sigh of gratitude and relief.  No, we didn’t know what was going to happen, but God certainly knew.

Bible Reading:  Luke 12:22-31

I declare my loyalty to You no matter what tomorrow may bring.  Thank You Jesus for already knowing my needs.

by Dianna Brisco

The Law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. -Romans 8:3

I’m ten years old standing in my grandma’s hospital room with tears streaming down my face.  I’m almost afraid to hold her hand.  It looks so weak and thin.  But then I remember that these are the same hands that taught me how to play checkers.  She let me win just enough so I wouldn’t get frustrated.  These are the same hands which rubbed my arms, gently tickling me in order to cool me off as I shared her bed on a hot, sticky summer night with no air conditioning.  These hands added just the right amount of pepper to her delicious mashed potatoes and threw wood into her old cook stove.  I walked closer to her bed and held her frail hand tenderly.  She turned and looked at me and stroked my wet cheek.  I could barely hear her as she tried to talk to me.

“Promise me”, she whispered.

“Yes grandma, anything.”  I choked on my words and leaned closer to hear her.

She managed her request, “Never smoke or drink…promise.”

I would promise her anything if she would just get better.  But my grandma didn’t get better.  She died shortly after I made that promise.  Her organs painfully consumed by cancer caused by years of addiction to alcohol and cigarettes.  Those same hands which brought me such joy brought her own self destruction.

In the years to come when the temptation to smoke or drink crossed my path, I’d see grandma’s face and hear her pleading with me.  I have learned from her mistakes and changed my future.  Ultimately God is in control of my tomorrows, but He also gives me opportunities today to make life altering decisions.

Bible Reading:  Romans 8:4-14

Dear Heavenly Father, take control of my decisions and actions.  Only You truly know the long term consequences, so through Your Holy Spirit make me pleasing to you. And thank you God for my grandma.  Please tell her I’ve kept my promise.

by Dianna Brisco

My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him. -Psalm 62:

We’ve all made plans that had to be canceled and we’ve all felt the sting of disappointment. In this weeks devotions we’ve covered a lot about how we cannot handle life on our own. We see how God has provided help for us through His Son and the body of Christ. We’ve learnt worrying steals precious worship time with God. We agree surrendering to Gods’ will is best, yet I think it’s safe to say we have difficulty doing it. I’ve been pondering this and I think one of the reasons it is difficult, is because we have all experienced disappointing cancellations in our life. We think we have it all together and then something unexpected happens. So we begin to protect ourselves. What we end up doing is isolating ourselves from Gods’ blessings and His plan. We give up hope when we see financial plans crumble because of  unexpected long-term health problems, or an economy that spirals out of control. We see our perfect family of four torn apart because of a sudden teenage death. Our plans go up in flames so often we see only the smoke rather than God at work on a greater plan. We want our circumstances changed so badly we forget He is more interested in changing our hearts. We begin to resist Him crying no fair refusing to see He has a purpose that is part of a divine plan.
It takes faith to trust that everything works together for good. It means stepping back, surrendering and being flexible to Gods calling. It means giving Him our dreams, hopes and fears, and trusting Him for good plans, plans that have a future and a hope.

Surrender: the act of giving up or yielding oneself or the possession of something to another.

Now go ahead surrender your life wait upon the Lord and hope only in Him, I dare you.

Read Jeremiah 29:11

Father God my soul waits for You, my hope is in You. Show me the path O Lord I should take and instill within my heart the plan you have for me. Amen.

by Becky Hutzel

“Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her. -Luke 10:41-42

Worry, Worry, Worry. Some days that is all I seem to do. I’m not proud of it, I don’t even want to do it but so often I slip back into my old ways and try to handle the stuff on my own. Like I really can. I mean really how silly can I get? Worry has never gotten me anywhere except a free pass to the Funny Farm. LOL No I haven’t been and I don’t belong but I would if God hadn’t got hold of me and is patiently, (very patiently) teaching me His way. When I became ill this past fall it was without medical help and with decreased hours at John’s job. My natural instinct was it’s time to WORRY! Guess what, I chose not to. Every day I have to make this choice willingly and God has blessed me for it. I have begun to experience the sense of Gods’ control for myself. When the bills are stacking up and it’s time to get my meds, (very expensive meds) I literally and figuratively throw up my hands and say God this is your business not mine. You know our needs and we can’t make things happen only You can and I’m trusting You. It’s all Yours Lord thank You, Amen. Then I go about my day striving to praise Him no matter what. Guess what, He hasn’t disappointed us yet, and He won’t. The Martha syndrome is so easily bought into and yet defeats us at every turn. Mary had it right. She let the Lord have the tough stuff and just sat at His feet and worshiped Him. Worry steals our worship, our peace and our health and it doesn’t solve the problems anyway.  Staying in touch with God through prayer and worship keeps us connected to the One who is peace and allows Him to show us the right way to live each moment of our life.

Read Psalm 46:10

Father forgive me for wasting precious time worrying when You are in control. Help me let go, be still and breath Your presence into my life. Amen

by Becky Hutzel

Two are better than one…if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart. -Ecclesiastes 4:9,10,12

We know we can’t handle life on our own and need to surrender to God because He is the One who can. But did you know He created us the Church to be helpers as well, to bear one another’s burdens. We have a role to play as Scripture testifies to over and over. Here are a few examples.

• Exodus 18:17-18 Moses’ father-in-law saw that he was wearing himself out trying to care for the people himself and advised Moses to share up the burden with other trained God fearing men.
• Philippians 2:4 encourages us not to merely look out for our own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
• Galatians 6:2 Bear one another’s bur dens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build up one an other.
• Hebrews 12:12 Strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble.

Do you see a recurring theme here? Lets recap for a moment. We have established life is too big and messy to handle on our own. God is the only one who is equipped to handle it all. Now we see we are not meant to be lonely islands but are created to support and help each other out. We are encouraged to reach out for help for ourselves as well as being a support for others.
Twelve years ago I came face to face with my God in a very real and personal way. But it took a near physical and emotional break down before I got the help I needed. Since I was a tiny tot I had endured abuse at the hands of several male relatives and for 29 years I kept it all to myself. Then one day God got my attention and I reached out not only to Him but also to Pastors, Christian counselors and my beloved husband. The burden became lighter and lighter until it no longer existed. We are like that cord of three strands when we join someone in their difficulties. Together with God our lives will not be easily unraveled. I challenge you today to take inventory of your life. Do you need a Christian friend to partner with you and Christ to face difficult times or is there someone who needs your helping hand?
Read 1Peter 4:8

Father God, help me reach out to others when they are hurting and help me not to hang on to pride when I need the support myself. Thank you for always being there and providing for us in all things. Amen

by Becky Hutzel

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. -Philippians 4:13

I wonder how many times when they where young I have heard my children whine, “I can’t “or “It’s too hard.” Most of the time they didn’t want to expend the energy necessary to achieve the goal especially if a little whining would get me to do it for them. And most of the time with a little encouragement they found out they could reach the goal of tying their own shoes or cleaning their own room. I believe it is good for us to realize we really can’t handle life on our own. There will always be surprises and messes we are not equipped to handle. That is when we need to know the One who can. Scripture is full of people whose “I can’t” met the power of Gods “I can.” There was Moses with a speech problem, Jeremiah complaining he didn’t know how to speak to people and David always hiding for his life. Then there is one of my favorites, the Apostle Paul. Paul knew what it was like to face seemingly insurmountable odds. He tells us in Philippians that he was intimate with the feelings of going hungry and suffering need, or having plenty and living well.
In 1 Corinthians 2 Paul admits to being fearful, weak and trembling as He ministered to the people of Corinth. He couldn’t do it on His own and He knew that, even admitting to His reliance on the power of God in Him.

In the Book of Romans chapter 7 Paul discusses his conflict of two natures, the one that wanted to follow Christ and the one who was apposed to Christ. “O what a wretched man am I.” Who he wonders will set him free from this death trap, his answer, God through Jesus Christ. In 2Corinthians 1 Paul describes being burdened beyond his strength. You can hear His cry of I can’t come through but just as loudly we hear his answer “trust not in self but in God alone.” We are no different than Paul. We live in uncertain times. We are part of a messy life and we can honestly say, “I can’t handle it.” Our power comes from knowing we are not alone. The God of the universe is working on our side. When we surrender it all up to Him the “I can’t of our lives meets the “I CAN” of the Cross and that is the very best place to be.

2Corinthians 11:23-29

2Corinthians 12:7-10

Father God I can’t handle this life on my own. It is all too much. Help me surrender myself more fully to You and trust in Your divine plan even when I don’t see it clearly. Amen

by Becky Hutzel

“I love You, O Lord my strength.” The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. -Psalm 18:1-2

Well here it is January 15, 2009, three months and twenty days later and still I cannot swallow. The doctors are concerned that I am not responding faster to the medicines and strict diet yet they are stumped as to what else to do for me. We are all hoping time will heal. On my own I can’t handle this. I’m not tough enough, strong enough or brave enough. Yet through it all God has shown me His loving kindness and mercy. He has loaned me His strength when I thought I couldn’t go any more. He has been my loudest cheerleader when I ‘m at my lowest, promising to never leave me nor forsake me encouraging me through scripture to trust in Him, be courageous and wait. Wait, that’s key in our lives as Christ followers. We wait on His timing when the economy crumbles and jobs are lost, hours cut, and bills still arrive in the mailbox. These are times we can’t handle on our own and a close relationship with Christ is everything.
We know we can run to Him because He is the one thing in our lives that is sure and unchanging. He is solid, nothing shakes Him; nothing will cause Him to drop us. We are sealed in Him and He can handle it all. Though we feel weak, and out of control our God is not. He is the shield that holds back the fiery darts of fear and discontent. He is a fortress no bank can foreclose on. When you find life is anything but perfect and it feels like the walls are tumbling down, run to the Lord and find rest for your souls. You know I am slowly learning it is okay when I can’t handle it; it is a good place to be. Maybe that sounds crazy but when I can’t handle it I throw up my hands and let God have it all. I am learning there is freedom in being unable to handle life’s messiness, freedom in giving in to the will and time table that is all God’s. I’m not saying I’ve reached perfection only I’m learning to let go and find the blessings of brokenness.

Read Matthew 11:28-30

Father I can’t live this life without You as my fortress and my refuge. I seek Your protection from it all. I love You Lord. Amen

by Becky Hutzel