Flip Flops and Rain

by Stephanie Gaines

 Verse for Thought:   
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
Ephesians 6:10-11.
 

I was rushing that day.  I was late for class.  I threw on the first thing I could find, slid my feet into the first pair of flip flops I saw and headed toward the door determined to be avoid any further delays.   Only to open the door and realize it was raining.   Determined to get to class as soon as possible, I only spent a brief second thinking about my feet getting wet in the rain.  I was on a mission and did not want to waste time putting on the proper footwear. 

Now, granted, in hindsight, I can see the wisdom in going back to change shoes, especially since I was already late.  However, at the time, I didn't see the problem until I rushed outside and in my haste slipped in the mud and almost fell flat on my face.  Hence, today's topic, "Flip Flops and Rain Don't Mix."

The 14th and 15th verse of today's scripture in Ephesians 6 goes on to admonish us to "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace."   It's one thing to get caught out in the rain in flip flops.  But, it another story if you know that it's raining and muddy out and to still go out with your feet unprotected.   That does not show readiness.

How many days do we get up and "go out into the world" without the protective armour of God?  We know what we need to do.  But, we allow the cares of life to keep us from taking care of ourselves.  If we are not at our best, we can not give others our best.  Is that where you find yourself today?  If so, it's not too late.  Just like I ended up having to go back and change my shoes that day, you too can change your path today.  You can choose the right shoes for the right path that God has for you.

Let's Pray:
Dear God,
Show me how to use wisdom in preparing to walk the path you have chosen for me.  Help me to understand that when I go out unprepared, the harm that I can do to myself is often greater than the inconvenience of taking the time to do it right.  Thank you for always being there to pick me up when I fall.   Amen.

Take the Next Step:
Spend some time reading the entire chapter of Ephesians 6.   Be a good steward of everything that God has blessed you with, your natural body and your mind and spirit.  Take care of it, keep it protected and keep it strong.

Waiting To Exhale

by Belinda Blevins

Verse For Thought:
But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; … Isaiah 40:31a           (NKJV)

One of the struggles we face as children of God is trying to understanding why our heavenly father sometimes delays matters that are so urgent to us.  Only God knows all the reasons.  However, there are several adjustments we can make in our attitude and mindset as we wait.

In the urgency of the moment, it is easy to center our attention on the need instead of God.  We start out waiting for the Lord, but end up waiting on the answer we want.  We become more interested in what He can do for us than we are in Him.

I believe God sometimes delays until we get our focus back on Him.   He wants us to delight in Him, not just what He gives us. The Lord is always working on our behalf.   However, we sometimes cling so closely to a desired outcome that He waits until we let go of our expectations.

Let go and wait on God, trusting that He knows what is best. We do get exalted. He always has our best interest at heart. He is God in the valley and He is God on the mountain!  Aren’t you glad?

Whatever you are dealing with today, release it to Him, sit back and wait, and keep your focus, believing he will answer and intervene…That is good news!   Just know God is working as you wait.  He sees the big picture.   As you draw closer to him your relationship is deepening and you are being strengthened.

Let’s pray:
Father God, thank you.  You didn’t tell us that the cross would not be heavy.  Thank you for being there for us in every situation. Thank you for the strength to wait on you as you work in our behalf. Thank you for teaching us to pray.  Father help us stay focused while you answer our prayer. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Take the Next Step:  
If you are waiting for an answer, keep your focus and release what you want.   Expect God to give you your heart’s desire according to His will.

Let Go

by Cynthia Edwards

Verse for thought:
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. John 14:1

You probably know people who prefer to go with the flow rather than to make a plan. They have a lot of things going all the time and often will overcommit themselves because they are afraid of letting somebody down. They end up being involved in or doing a lot of things simultaneously, but not doing anything effectively. I am learning to let go of some things. I am also learning that when we let go, all the terrible things we thought would happen, usually don’t. My focus is now on order and discipline. Instead of being afraid of not doing enough things, I am trusting God to show me the things he desires for me. I am living according to Philippians 1:6, confident that my belief and trust in God will lead to completion of the good work that he has begun in me.

Let’s Pray:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for teaching me how to let go, how to be at peace. Show me how to seek order instead of chaos, remembering that you are not a God of confusion, but of discipline and order (I Cor. 14:40). Amen.

Take the Next Step:
Read the fourth chapter of Philippians. Ask God to reveal to you things that are robbing you of your peace. Trust him to reveal these things to you and seek his guidance in releasing them. “Let go and let God.”

All the time

by Shelia Gaines

Verse for Thought:  
To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under the heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1

Many years ago, the daughter of one of my good friends came into my office as I was eating. She reminded me that it was “way past lunchtime”. I told her that I had been very busy that day and did not stop for lunch at noon. By the time I got around to eating, I did not realize how late it actually was. She responded by telling me about a poster she had seen with a message at the top that read, “I was put here on earth to accomplish a certain amount of things before I leave”. The bottom of the poster read, “At the rate I’m going, I don’t think I will ever die.” She was only in the third or fourth grade and I was a little surprised that she could make such an excellent analogy, but I just laughed at her and went on with my meal. However, what she said always stayed with me and I think of it often. It’s actually a very funny way of reminding us that our time is not our own. Whether we like to think about it or not, today’s verse for thought reminds us that we were indeed put here on earth to accomplish a certain amount of things before we leave. The bad news is whether we accomplish those things are not, our allotted time here does not change. So many people leave this earth never fulfilled in life because they squander it away waiting for a better time to do what they would like to do. Sadly, this is even true for those of us who feel led of God to accomplish things in and through ministry. We allow fear, hurt, disappointment and other challenges of life to rob us of many great accomplishments. Do you ever wonder how many missed opportunities you have had to touch the lives of others or even enhance your own life for the better? Think about that as you go through your day today and take inventory of your daily accomplishments. Are you satisfied with them? Is God?

Prayer:
Lord, thank you for your precious gift of time. Show me how to make the most of it by yielding it to you, always mindful of the fact that everything I have belongs to you. In the precious name of Jesus, Amen.

Take the next step:
Everyone has the same twenty four hours each day. Try making a list of things that take up your time. Estimate how much time you spend on those things. Ask God to help you manage your time in a way that is pleasing to him and helpful to you. You might be surprised at the results.

It's Time To Sow

by Belinda Blevins

Verse For Thought:
Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. Still other seed fell on good soil. Mark 4: 3-5,8 (NIV)

I have had so much fun sowing my garden this year. I love to see the seeds that I plant come up.  Just about everyday I go out to see how much the seeds have grown. I didn’t get it plowed with a tractor this year. I just used the pick and hoe to turn the dirt before I planted. This is the trick, if you don’t have your dirt really loose and without lumps the seed just does not grow like it is suppose to. Yes its lumpy!

It reminds me of the stony grown that is mention in the scripture verse for thought. The seed that falls on shallow ground needs to be deeper so the sun comes out it won't scorch.  The stony ground is too hard.  This story I am sharing now is a daily reminder to sow into good ground on my journey.  If I sow love , I will get love.  If I sow peace, I get peace,etc.

I like to sing the song, This Little Light of Mine, I’m Going to Let it Shine. If I am in the mall and meet people, I realize that sometimes all they need is a smile. There are so many frowns.  All that is needed in most cases is to turn the frown upside down.  In the world today everyone seems to be in a hurry. Thorns, trials and troubles seem to cloud our way and literally choke up our garden..

The secret to my garden has been given to me to share with those every where I go.Words are seed. They can bring joy or cause pain. If the words take root you can be troubled.  However when we hear lies, we must not let them stay on our mind. Refuse to accept them and they don’t take root.   They only last a short time making them unfruitful. Hearing and believing the truth only brings good fruit producing a crop. Remember what we sow is what we reap.

Let's Pray:
Father God I am so glad that you sow into us your goodness, I ask that you help us to sow what it is pleasing to you. Father help us to sow into others as we meet each day on our journey. Father we only want to see your crop, and your fruit in Jesus name amen.

Take the Next Step:
Why not take inventory in your "garden of life" today?  Are you allowing weeds of hurt, anger, disappointment or bitterness to stunt your spiritual growth.  Think of your closest friend or loved one.  Sow some unconditional love into their life today.  Then offer a smile as a ray of hope to the first person you see and watch your own "garden" will grow.

Hitting Snooze

 





by Stephanie Gaines

Verse for Thought: 
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.    Psalms 139: 11-12

My mother, of all people, can tell you that I am not a morning person.  If I don’t have to be up for any particular reason, there’s no telling what time I’ll actually roll out of bed.  When I have to get up early, I always set my alarm at least 30 minutes before I have to get up; just so I can hit snooze.   After hitting snooze at least six times, I realize I should probably go ahead and get up.   As I hit the snooze button this morning I realized how this can relate to our walk with God.

Maybe it’s just me, but there have been times when I’ve hit snooze on my walk with God.  Life will wear me down and I get so tired that I just keep saying, “Just give me five more minutes, God.”  Snooze.   I silence the alarm and go back to my life.  The life I feel I should have when I’m being selfish. The stress of trying to do everything right will get to me and I’ll just want to give up on it all.  Snooze.  I feel like I’m trying to please others and God and, again selfishly decide, I’m tired of this.  Snooze.  I continue to go through life and an opportunity presents itself, an opportunity to wake up and get back to my relationship with God.  Of course I think to myself, I’m not ready and not at a place where I will fully put my heart into it.  Snooze.  I go to church and just go through the motions, not wanting to fully get involved.  Snooze.  

This morning helped me realize that no matter how many times I hit snooze, my alarm is still there telling me to get up.  No matter how many times I tell God I’ll get back to him, that alarm will still go off and I realize it’s time to get up and continue my walk with God.  I get over my weariness and pain, I stop complaining about how hard life is, I get up and put on my “big girl” pants and get ready for the life God wants for me.

Let’s Pray:
Dear God, I thank you for your love and patience.  I know that even when I have strayed, your love has still remained.  Help me to be encouraged to be a faithful servant.  Give me the strength to challenge myself to continue to strive towards a closer relationship with you.

Take the Next Step:
Take some time to evaluate your life and relationship with God.  Are you running away from God’s calling by hitting snooze?  If so, don’t be afraid to ask yourself, why?  Be completely honest with yourself.  Make a list of things you need to work.  Don’t just remember it, WRITE IT DOWN!  Put the list somewhere you will see it every day as a reminder.

*If you feel you need an accountability partner, make sure you’re actually going to let them keep you accountable. Don’t ask them to keep you accountable if you plan to lie about your progress.

Till Death Do Us Part

 









by Rachel Evans

Verse for Thought:
Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.  A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.  Ecclesiastes 4:12

My husband and I were married in 2008.  On the day we registered for our marriage license, the clerk seemed surprised that both of us listed our parents as still married.  We were very blessed to have good godly examples of marriage. However, we still had a lot to learn on our own.

Many couples assume that just the act of getting married will make life better.  They marry on the premise that their partner will “complete them” and unrealistically expect that partner to take up the slack for all imperfections they possess. Brides and grooms all across America spend as much as a year or more planning a wedding that usually last less than an hour.   Unfortunately, not many of them put in that kind of effort into building a lasting relationship with one another.  After the music fades, the presents are opened, and the guest leave, reality sets in for most couples.  The fairy tale ends with the daily stresses of life.   Sadly, many marriages fail because the couples do not realize that learning to handle those everyday trials is what will make their relationship stronger.  Instead of working on the relationship, they either give up and end the marriage or go through the motions for years, pretending that everything is okay.  These are the very ones who committed so much time, energy and money in order to create the perfect wedding.

This concept also describes how some Christians view their relationship with Christ.  They feel that when they make a commitment to Christ they are signing up for a fairy tale life.  He will give them new jobs, cars, houses, and anything else that they think they deserve.  When life throws them a curve ball, they think God has failed them and that the fairy tale is not going to come true.  When trials and tribulations come, remember God gives us those experiences to test our faith.  The next time you face a tough time in your marriage or in your life, ask yourself if you are really committed to Christ or are you using him as fire insurance.

Let’s Pray:  
Lord, in this season of wedding preparation, I pray that couples and families prepare not just for the wedding but also for their future lives together.  I pray that they will always allow you to be the third member of their relationship.  In Jesus’s name, Amen

Take the Next Step:
Read Psalm 34:19-22.  Ask God to show you how to apply this to your marriage and your everyday life.

A Wake-Up Call

by Shelia Gaines

Verse for thought:  
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and will remind you of  everything that I have said to you. John 14:26 (NIV)

Although the conveniences of cell phones have made them less popular, wake up calls are usually requested by hotel guest who needed to be up for a meeting or on the road by a certain time.  A wake up call can startle you out of a deep sleep.  Even if you are an early riser, that first call in the morning can still be a little irritating.  However, the thing to remember is you don’t receive a wake-up call unless you request it. What you do after you receive the call is up to you.  The hotel employees will not come to your room to get you out of bed, but they will give you a call to let you know that it’s time for you to wake up. You have a choice when you receive the call.  You can say thank you and go back to sleep or you can go ahead and get up and get about your business.  If you go back to sleep you run the risk of over sleeping and missing an appointment.  It’s possible that you will wake up on time anyway, but you still take the risk.

An article in the Experiencing God Study Bible, Amos is described as “a prophet who spoke God’s words faithfully to a people who had grown complacent in their life styles and asleep in their faith.  He was sent to wake them up.  They were doing well, enjoying the king and everybody was prospering, but they were spiritually dead.  Have you ever found yourself at a place like that?  Maybe things seem to be going well, everybody seems to be happy, but something seems to be missing for you.  Well, maybe God is nudging you to “wake up”.  Often we are going through the motions but we don’t have a real relationship with the Lord.  If this is where you are today, why not wake up and take to heart the words of one recording artist who said, “I don’t wanna spend my whole life asking, what if I had given everything instead of going through the motions?”  Sometimes God has sent us someone to give us a wake-up call, but we are just saying thanks and going back into a complacent sleep.  

Let’s Pray:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for allowing your Holy Spirit to “wake us up” when we get on the wrong track.  Help us to answer your call willing, trusting that you always have our best interest at heart.   Thank you for your unconditional love.  Amen

Take the Next Step:
Give yourself a wake-up call. Ask God to show you what you need to do to grow your relationship with him. Look around at the people he has placed in your life.  Is there someone who needs a wake-up call?  Why not listen to what God has put in your spirit and give them a ring?

The Stars are Still There

by Stephanie Gaines

Verse for Thought:
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.  2 Corinthians 4:16-18.

I’ve always been one to enjoy a simple night under the stars. The beauty of a vast universe created by an awesome God never ceases to amaze me. Whenever I have a stressful day, there’s nothing more calming than looking up at the stars. I remember a particularly long day when I went outside to de-stress, but the sky was cloudy and I couldn’t see any of the stars. In my mind, my horrible day ended on a depressing note! I was telling a close friend about this and he said to me “Even though you can’t see the stars they’re still there.” This statement rings true in our walk with God. There have been plenty of times that I’ve failed to see God, but he was still there.

There are days and even weeks when I feel God is nowhere in sight. Recently I’ve been trying to transition into the “real world.” It’s really not that much fun at all. Especially since trying to maintain a relationship with God at the same time can be stressful and confusing. I may not have to deal with “grown up” issues like mortgage, light bills, full time careers, or kids driving me crazy; but the stress of trying to figure out the next step in life while barely, and I do mean barely, managing to pay the rent every month has made me lose sight of where God is in all of the mix. Time and time again I want to just give up because I don’t see the point of it all.

My stress level seems to cloud my vision. I don’t tend to see how God will bring me out of all this mess, and when he does I feel that the only lesson I’ll learn is financial struggles aren’t fun. Still, in the back of my mind I have to keep reminding myself that there will be better days and more blessings to come.  And no matter how cloudy my starry night is, the stars and God are still there.

Let's Pray:
Dear God, I pray that you continue to give me strength through all the hard times in life. I know I may doubt you and continually question where you are and what your plan is for my life.   However, in the end I know you’re still there watching over my life. Help me to continue to trust in you even when my life doesn’t make sense. Wrap your loving arms around me and continue to show me your grace and mercy. Amen.

Take the Next Step:
Take some time to truly take in the glory of God. We get so wrapped up in the business and drama of life that we tend to forget that God is there. Find a quiet place where it’s just you and God without any distractions. Tell him your fears, stress, hopes, and dreams. Then let him speak to you. Sometimes we think God’s not there because we won’t take the time to listen.

When Healing Hurts

by Shelia Gaines


Verse for Thought: 
Jesus turned and saw her.  “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.  And the woman was healed from that moment.
When my daughter was in middle school, she fell from a slide on a playground and injured her arm.  She did not break it, but she had to wear a sling for a while.  She got used to keeping it held up in that sling position, close to her body.   Even after she took the sling off, she still held it in that same position.  My mother noticed this and “suggested” (in a way that only grandmothers can) that she start relaxing her arm and stretching it out regularly so that it wouldn’t be weak.

My daughter didn’t think she could straighten it out without it hurting.  She was right.  It did hurt a little to straighten it out but once she start straightening it out, it became easier.  The more she used it, the easier it was for her to keep using it.  Even though it hurt to begin to exercise it, that was the best thing for it.

Likewise, if we want to grow in our faith, we must exercise it.  James lets us know that faith without works is dead (2:26).  It’s not enough to just believe, we must also act.  When we have been hurt, we have a tendency to hold our pain close instead of releasing it to the Lord.  Sometimes it’s easier for us to nurse the pain of the past hurt instead of trusting God through the pain of healing.

If this is where you find yourself today, it’s not too late for the healing to begin.

Let’s Pray:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for taking care of us when we are hurt and loving us through the healing process.  Help us to continue to trust you even more.

Take the Next Step:
Don’t be afraid of the healing process.   Why not start today by making a list of the things that have keep you “in a sling position.”  Prayerfully consider each one and trust God to move in your situation.  Let Go and Let God!!!

Christmas Message for Easter

by Shelia Gaines

Verse for thought:  

"The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again.  No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”    John 10:17-18 (NIV)


Last week, I heard a Christmas sermon on a radio broadcast.  Since this is the week before Easter, I wandered what was going on.  It seemed an odd time to re-broadcast a Christmas sermon.   I didn’t get it.  That is until I heard it a second time.  Toward the end of it, the pastor said, “I can’t say Merry Christmas without saying Happy Easter.  If it had not been for Christmas, we would not have Easter.”  There it was.  That one statement tied the Christmas message to Easter.  He went on to say how the two holidays are connected for us. I don’t know if the church intentionally planned it for this week, but either way, it ended up being very appropriate.

I thought about that this morning when I heard a commercial for the Easter weekend suggesting that Easter means different things to different people.  Some of the things named included comparing recipes, hunting Easter Eggs, and sitting down to dinner with the ham as the center of attention.

I am not suggesting there is anything wrong with celebrating with your family during any holiday.  I am certainly looking forward to seeing my children and grandson.  However, I don’t ever want to lose sight of what it really means.  Have a wonderful Easter weekend.  It is truly a special time.

Let’s Pray:
Dear Heavenly Father,   Thank you the blessing of the Easter weekend.  Thank you for sending your son to die for us and for our sins.  As we enjoy this Easter weekend with family, friends and loved ones, help us to remember the sacrifice that your only son made for us and appreciate the life that we have even more.  Amen

Take the Next Step:
As you enjoy the Easter weekend, Go ahead and put on your Easter bonnet, color some eggs with the kids and eat some peeps, but  take some time to remember the sacrifice that was made for you.   Why not make a sacrifice for someone else?  Give a little extra of yourself to someone in need.

Let Go

by Cynthia Edwards

Verse for thought:
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. John 14:1

You probably know people who prefer to go with the flow rather than to make a plan. They have a lot of things going all the time and often will overcommit themselves because they are afraid of letting somebody down. They end up being involved in or doing a lot of things simultaneously, but not doing anything effectively. I am learning to let go of some things. I am also learning that when we let go, all the terrible things we thought would happen, usually don’t. My focus is now on order and discipline. Instead of being afraid of not doing enough things, I am trusting God to show me the things he desires for me. I am living according to Philippians 1:6, confident that my belief and trust in God will lead to completion of the good work that he has begun in me.

Let’s Pray:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for teaching me how to let go, how to be at peace. Show me how to seek order instead of chaos, remembering that you are not a God of confusion, but of discipline and order (I Cor. 14:40). Amen.

Take the Next Step:
Read the fourth chapter of Philippians. Ask God to reveal to you things that are robbing you of your peace. Trust him to reveal these things to you and seek his guidance in releasing them. “Let go and let God.”

Not what I expected

by Shelia Gaines

Verses for Thought:

A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. John 16:21 (NKJV)

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33 (KJV)

The doctor spoke calmly to my oldest daughter, “I know you wanted to do the water birth,but I think there’s a little too much stress on the baby. We need to go ahead and get him out of there. Are you o.k. with that?” I suspect that my daughter’s quick agreement came more from the pain of labor than any resignation concerning water birth.

As soon as she received my daughter’s permission, the doctor’s calm manner was immediately replaced with medical emergency protocol. She whipped a cell phone out of her pocket and spoke rapidly into it. “I need you in here now!” The nurse she spoke to was coming down the hall at a dead run even as the doctor closed her phone. They moved the bed so fast they forgot to unplug the IV from the wall. My oldest daughter was whisked off to surgery as my youngest daughter, my son-in-law and I stood there momentarily stunned into silence.
The next few minutes were difficult ones for us. We called family members and called on our faith. Our prayers were answers and we saw a healthy baby boy minutes later. Today’s verse for thought reminded me of the morning my grandson was born. I was disappointed that my daughter had to experience an emergency C-section and my son-in-law experienced one of the most joyous events of his life in the midst of great danger to the most important person in his life. However, that precious bundle of joy made it all worthwhile. What a blessing it is that even when circumstances overwhelm us, God stll blesses us with small miracles.

Let’s Pray:
Heavenly Father, I thank you for being a loving God and for always doing what's best for us,even when we don't understand. When things don’t go as expected, help me to turn to you and remember the promise from Romans 8:28 knowing that you have a purpose and will work things out for our good. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Take the Next Step:
Read John 16 and Roman 8. The next time you find yourself in adifficult situation, meditate on those things and remember that while trials and tribulations will undoubtedly come, you do not have to face them alone as long as you know the overcomer. Don’t make the mistake of allowing the cares of life to keep you from living.