This week we will be revisiting some of our previous posts. This was originally posted 1/27/09. We will return again new next week.

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

This week we will be revisiting some of our previous posts. This was originally posted 1/5/09. We will return again new next week.

“…for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” -Romans 3:23

Several years ago, I tried to make the U.S. Open Golf Tournament through the local qualifying tournament. I played pretty good all day but missed a few putts here and there and eventually missed going to the Regional Qualifier(the last one before the Big Tournament) by one shot…one stinking shot. Back in my young days, I had made it twice to the regional and was a first alternate for the big dance but not quite good enough. That’s the way were are in this whole redemption thing with God. The Greek word in our scripture here means to miss the mark or target. According to Paul we are all bad shots and it took Christ to come and take our shot for us. It is only through His perfect sacrifice that we even have a shot at making the grade for our eternal life with Christ.

I believe it was Dan Rather as a young reporter that needed to talk with John Kennedy, our President at the time.  Dan had befriended the President’s son and had struck up quite a friendship with the little boy. Unable to clear security, Dan sees the boy through the fence and says “hi”. The boy runs over to see his new friend and asks why he is so discouraged. Mr. Rather relates the situation, explaining to the boy his problem, he was ushered in by secret service hand-in-hand with the little boy to the Oval Office. He says Daddy, my friend needs to talk with you. That’s what Jesus did for us. He ushered us into the presence of His father when we have no right to be there.

All my life I tried to impress my Dad. I was always trying to gain his approval. If we are in Christ Jesus, we have APPROVED stamped on our hearts.  God doesn’t want our stuff, talent, filthy rags of righteousness or anything else for that matter.   He does however insist on our eternal devotion and love. Life is too short to roll through spending all our time and energy on impressing a God who made everything and can do anything. He does not buy into the whole works thing but depends on us to depend on Him. This is where the rubber meets the road. Will we continue to try to impress God with our goodness or just accept his grace and trust Him with the result?

Prayer: Father, help me to totally surrender my will to yours. There is too much pressure to please you when I dont and I will constantly fail. I trust you! Amen

by Rick Drake

This week we will be revisiting some of our previous posts. This was originally posted 11/28/08. We will return again new next week.

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
- Hebrews 4:12

Last week end Pastor Darrel stated what I would call a very compelling and convicting argument for studying God’s word. “God’s word is the truth that replaces the lies satan has told are truth.” Not just the lies told to us but more importantly the lies told to those who don’t know Christ.

Remember in the great commission, Matthew 28:19 Jesus said “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…” And in Matthew 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

How can we fulfill these duties as followers of Christ if we don’t know His word? I’m not talking about knowing a few verses to say here and there. I mean knowing His word well enough to live as an example to others, first of all. Second, know it well enough to speak it to others and help them see where and how it applies to their lives. God’s word is truth. Satan’s word is false. I’m willing to bet more people fall for these lies than don’t, believers included. I know I have and still do. But God’s word is “Sharper than any double-edged sword…; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart”. Also, remember what Paul said in Ephesians 6:17 about taking up “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”.

God’s instruction is through His word and that very word can and does overcome it all. And the better we know it and use it, the better protected we are and the better we can reach, help and protect those around us. Don’t forget one of the biggest lies out there too “it’s never too late”. It will be too late, someday.  Actually, in only a split second it will be too late and while I feel I’m ready, I am by no means done here, yet. I’m not done studying or reaching out. How about you?

God in Heaven forgive us for not knowing Your word as well as we could or should. Lord, we will arm ourselves against lies with Your truth. We will use that truth not just to protect ourselves but to protect those that need You most. The lost, the confused, those that are in the grip of those lies and need someone to help them find hope, love and protection in Your mighty word. Amen

by Rick Phillips

This week we will be revisiting some of our previous posts. This was originally posted 12/5/08. We will return again new next week.

And the tempter came… But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” -Matthew 4:3-4 (NAS)

Jesus Himself set the bar for our lives. He showed us the only way to overcome temptation is with the word of God.

Facing off against Satan when He had fasted for forty days and nights meant that He was weak and hungry. Yet He fought His enemy not by man made wisdom but by the Word.

How often do we face temptation or see our loved ones facing it? It happens a lot doesn’t it? Our only weapon is the word of God.

But do we know it? Can we call it to mind so we can speak it?

Does it have such an impact on our lives that we run to it for help?

We cannot face our enemy on our own. We are too weak. We must be properly attired for spiritual warfare; therefore memorizing the word of God is an important and life saving preparation.

We cannot allow our Bibles to lie on the bookshelf gathering dust. It does us no good there.

The greatest legacy we can leave behind is a worn and cracked Bible. And the memory of often quoted scripture.

If I heard my mother say it once she said a thousand times “We are fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works and my soul knows it very well.” What an impact that had on me, watching her suffer poor health all my life yet still praising God often with this verse.

I realize now it was her way of fighting Satan as he tempted her to give up, or become depressed. Now I use that same verse as I walk a physically challenging path. For truly, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made!”

I challenge you today to follow Jesus’ footsteps and make His words your words.

Scripture Reading :  Matt. 4:1-11

Father God, help me follow in Jesus’ footsteps and make your words the bread of my life.

By: Becky Hutzel

This week we will be revisiting some of our previous posts. This was originally posted 12/15/08. We will return again new next week.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

The Word became flesh.

Why?

God gave us His Word. From the beginning of time, the Word was there, given to humanity for all to receive.  Why bring the Word to flesh?

We’ve all heard it said one way or another – words are words, actions make the difference.

The Word has been here always:

In the beginning there was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  John 1:1

We are mere humans.  God knew that for us to understand the Word, for us to believe the Word, we needed to see the Word in action.

Spiritually, all humans are from Missouri: “show me.”…

The Word became flesh.

Born to a virgin, the Word became flesh.  He opened his eyes in a small place of filth, of dirt, filled with the stench of animals.  He came to save us, in this larger place of filth, of dirt, filled with the stench of our sins.

Word became flesh.

Why? Because God loves us and desires a relationship with each of us.  He loves us so much, He gave us His Word.  He gave us a love note.  He didn’t say it with a Hallmark, He said it with Jesus.

My husband can send me love notes.  He can tell me he loves me a hundred times a day.  It’s not until I see his words become action that I can believe him.  Whether it’s through sacrifices of his time, his attention, even his comfort, the action shows me his words are true.

Jesus, God’s Word became flesh, for humanity to see, to receive, to learn.  The Living Word.  The ultimate sacrifice.

I encourage you to spend time in the Gospel of John this week.

Read: John 1:1-5

Father, thank You for giving us your Word, Your Son, Jesus Christ.  Lord, not only during this season, but all through the year, help me remember the wonderful, perfect gift you gave to us.

by Jeanne Roberts

This week we will be revisiting some of our previous posts

First posted 7/16/08

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your Book before one of them came to be.” -Psalm 139:14-16

Life is sacred and a gift from God. I sometimes think we have forgotten that each life is fearfully and wonderfully made. We seem to place a higher value on someone who fits a certain criteria: young, beautiful, intelligent. Who are we to place a value system on God’s creation? Unborn children as well as the elderly are His. People who suffer or don’t suffer from a disability are also His children. History records many horrific instances when people have judged and condemned others. Adolph Hitler and the Nazis evaluated others and decided who was worthy of life. The Holocaust was the systematic, bureaucratic, state sponsored persecution and murder of approximately six million Jews. The Nazis, who came to power in Germany in January 1933, believed that Germans were “racially superior” and that the Jews, deemed “inferior,” were a threat to Germany. German authorities also targeted other groups of their perceived “racial inferiority”: Gypsies, the disabled, Poles, Russians, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and homosexuals.

We must be careful not to fall into this same hateful trap even on a smaller scale. “He’s too tall, she’s too dumb, he has too many tattoos, her clothes are out of style”, or whatever our criteria. God doesn’t see us the way we see each other. He sees the condition of our hearts and loves each and every one of us enough to let His Son, Jesus, die for us.

Bible Reading: Romans 8:31-39

Heavenly Father, forgive me when I judge others and think I am better than someone else. Open my eyes and let me see others through Your eyes of love. Help me treat everyone with respect and kindness.

by Dianna Brisco

This week we will be revisiting some of our previous posts.

First posted 11/21/08

“May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father, who has enabled you to share the inheritance that belongs to God’s holy people, who live in the light.”  Colossians 1:12

Thanksgiving – the act of expressing one’s gratitude

‘Tis the season of family, turkey, dressing, pumpkin pie, and a thankful heart.  I love Thanksgiving!  It is a time when our families can all gather together and enjoy each other.  We hold hands and say a prayer before the big Thanksgiving feast. We pitch in to cook and then clean up the kitchen, play games, talk and giggle, we watch football and Thanksgiving Day parades, challenge each other in ping pong tournaments, sing around the piano, the little ones wrestle dads and uncles in the middle of the living room floor, and then we all head back to our own homes after a full day of family.  The psalmist praised the Lord for His goodness and blessings in Psalm 116:12-19.

“What can I offer the Lord for all He has done for me?…I will offer You a sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the Name of the Lord…”

Our Christian inheritance of salvation and eternal life should inspire our thanksgiving to God.  What a great day it will be when we stand before our King and offer our gratitude in His holy presence! But let’s not wait for eternity.  We can begin to honor God during the Thanksgiving season, and every day of our lives.  God is pleased and glorified with our praise.

Bible Reading: Psalm 50:23

I offer to You my life. Make it pleasing and acceptable to You, Oh Lord my Strength and my Redeemer.

Dianna L. Brisco

This week we will be revisiting some of our previous posts

First posted 6/5/08

From time to time you know it’s going to happen. You have to write one of these things that just really bites you. Yeah, I have held grudges in the past. After a while they really get heavy. They become paralyzing. Sometimes you can’t even remember why you feel the way you do. Just let it go! Sure people hurt you. My grandmother used to say when you have pain you realize you are still alive. Sometimes things between people destroy a little piece of our heart. Some of you have given your total lives to a partner that turns on you and tries to destroy you. Been there and done that. So do I let it rule the rest of my life? Is that what God wants for me?

Forgiveness has to be intentional. Like in euchre, eventually, all the cards must be on the table. If you don’t win, you play again. Whatever they did to you, let it go. It is eating away at you like a cancer. Write it down, tell a friend, give it to God (novel idea), have your friend pray with you about or go to the person that has hurt you. Are you serious? They may not even know. They may wonder what happen to you guys. Once you have given it away…let it go! How do you know a balloon can fly? Let it go. How do you know how far you can throw a ball? Let it go. How can you be totally free from the stuff that keeps you from being all that God has planned for your life? Let it go!

One more thing before we go. FORGIVE YOURSELF! If God is willing to forgive you, give yourself a break. Somethings and relationships don’t always turn out the way we planned but your life is what God planned. The older I get, the more I realize that it’s not so much what we do or accomplish in life but how we react to the challenging things that come our way. It makes us who we are. O, one last thing…How do you know how it feels to fly from a rope swing? You have to let go.

Assignment: Pick out that one thing that you have been holding on to and let it go. Tell someone about it. Maybe the person that is involved

Read Hosea 14

Prayer “Lord if I have hurt someone, give me courage…

“We can forgive but we never forget the pain. God can heal the pain, then we can move on.”. Dr. Billy Graham

bt Rick Drake

This week we will be revisiting some of our previous posts.

First posted 5/29/08

“For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.”
- Galatians 5:13

What should I do with my Servant Towel?  After teaching about how Jesus chose to serve others as an example to us, Pastor Darrel challenged us to go and be servants too.  We were instructed to place our towel where it would remind us to be a servant.  When do I grumble the most?  What is it that I don’t like to do?  Is there a time when I’m not really joyful in my service to others?  I knew exactly where my Servant Towel would need to go.  I folded it nicely and stuck it in my rag box under the sink.  Once a week I take it out and it helps me remember to joyfully serve my family as I clean up spills in the kitchen, remove toothpaste from the bathroom mirror, wash fingerprints off the walls in the hallway, and yes, even the wonderful job of cleaning the toilet!  When I begin to grumble, I remember how the Son of God came to earth and humbly kneeled to wash the disciples’ dusty, and probably stinky, feet.

As I unclutter the house and put away other people’s things, I pray a prayer of thanksgiving for each person.  I pray for our kids to have a closer walk with Him, for their learning at school, for their future spouses, and for maturing spiritually through challenges in their lives.  And for my husband?  I should serve my husband happily as well.

“It is not so among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:26–28)           In twenty five years of marriage, I have picked up countless pairs of dirty underwear from behind the bathroom door.  This used to infuriate me!  Finally I had a shift in attitude as I began to pray for my husband when he left “gifts” for me to pick up, clean up, or put away. Instead of gritting my teeth and muttering under my breath that he doesn’t know where his dirty clothes go after a quarter of a century, I pray that I will become the wife God intended me to be.  I thank Him for the wonderful husband, daddy, teacher, and coach he turned out to be.  As I pray, I notice my attitude improves.  Todd’s things are reminders to me of his presence in our family and in my life. And when he gets exceedingly messy, I just gather up his things and dump them into his closet or office chair.  Every servant has her limits too!

But even as I wash fingerprints from the walls, I realize the fingerprints are becoming higher and fewer.  My days of being a servant to a house full of children are numbered and I thank God for the privilege of being able to care for them.  My Servant Towel is my constant companion on cleaning days.  I make sure it is clean, folded, and ready for the next round of joyful serving with specific prayers for each member of my family.  With the help of a changed attitude and focus, my cleaning days go quicker and are more enjoyable!

Bible Reading:  Mark 13:1-15

Help me to remember that when I serve others, I am serving You. “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.”  Matthew 25:40

by Dianna Brisco

This week we will be revisiting some of our previous posts.

First posted 5/14/08

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

As a sixteen year old, I felt called to be a missionary. I prayed for God to send me where He wanted. One year later I found myself on a jumbo jet looking down at the sparkling Atlantic Ocean. I was on my way to the Dominican Republic as an Overseas Summer Missionary! I spent ten weeks far away from my family and my country. Ten weeks of being totally immersed in a foreign language and culture. Those weeks were filled with Bible stories, songs, and smiling Hispanic children. My homesickness for my family was mixed thoroughly with rice and beans and delicious tropical fruits. Dysentery and cashew poisoning left me weak and itchy, but a child’s tears of joy upon understanding that Jesus had died for him sustained me. I lived in the country near Santo Domingo at Camp Good News. My mosquito net, securely tucked around my mattress on my army cot, became one of my best friends. Local girls washed my clothes by hand to earn a little money for their families. Once when my clothes were left on the clothesline to dry overnight, everything was stolen, even my under garments!

I became a fast learner of the dos and don’ts. One day as I was passing a sugarcane field, I stopped to snap some photographs of the Haitian workers. I learned quickly that I should not take anyone’s photograph without his permission first. The Haitian men began chasing me with their machetes raised over their heads. I ran terrified back to the van as our driver sped away. I learned later that many Haitians believe a photograph taken of them steals their soul for eternity. No wonder they were angry! I learned to ask many questions to assure myself I was acting appropriately in this new culture.

We do not have to go to a far away country to share Jesus with someone. Since the greatest commandment is to love God and others (John 13:34), we can practice being loving in our own little part of the world. Let Jesus shine through you today to your family, friends, a person who cuts in front of you in the checkout line, a hungry man sitting on the sidewalk, or even the most unlovable person at work. “Love doesn’t make the world go ’round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.” Franklin P. Jones

Bible Reading: Matthew 28:19-20

Heavenly Father, use my hands, my smile, my talents and my life to bring glory and honor to You with everyone You send my way today.

by Dianna Brisco