Friday, May 27, 2011

SPINELESS JELLYFISH

We seldom hear the once ultimate insult, "you spineless jellyfish!" I don't know if it's because so many of us are spineless in the bravery department, or because we know that, even though they may be spineless, those jellyfish have painful stings. OUCH!
In the Alliance Life magazine this month, missionary doctor Dan Nesselroade and his wife, Marci, wrote of their busy lives working at the Koutiala Hospital for Women and Children in Mali, W Africa. One line of their brief report grabbed me. "Nothing puts steel in my spine like watching God do things that only God can do."
Sometimes we need to just "stop, drop, and roll" around in the amazing ways God works in our lives. Doing the things He alone can do.
Feel like you're needing some steel in your spiritual spine? I do. So I'm going to watch for things God alone can do. SDG.

Monday, May 16, 2011

The Day of Small Things

Last week another year of MOPS ministry concluded at our church. As a MOPPET worker, I met an assortment of 4-going-on-5-year old children. Some Wednesdays we were overwhelmed with the number of children in our care. Their imaginations, their transparency, and their changes and growth in just 9 short months boggled my mind. Their antics kept us on our toes; their comments and observations made us laugh. On our last day, we had notes from many of the moms of these preschoolers thanking us for caring for their children while they enjoyed some "mom time," as one called it. What a blessing to read over and again that not only did these moms enjoy their time at MOPS, but their children did too. One little boy, who may grow up to be an artist, often started his time making cards and pictures for his mom. Week after week he consistently included his dad too. Both dad & mom received loving creations from his small hands. God asked his people, "Who despises the day of small things?" (See Zechariah 4:10.) He makes it clear that "small things" aren't so small when He is in the mix. Small children value the truly valuable more than we know: fun with friends, learning about God, parents who love them. Most of us won't make headline news or do anything big. But that's okay. God doesn't despise our day(s) of small things. He started it all with 3 small words: "Let there be..." (Genesis 1:3) and there was. SDG.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Snakes, Snails, Puppy Dog Tales

Thanks to those of you who voted for my book for a Small Christian Publishers book of the year award. I didn't win, but one of the authors who won had a book published by the same publisher for Snakes.... Kudos to Rick Bates and his staff at Crosslink Publishing. For those of you who are authors in search of a quality publisher, check out this publishing house. And thanks again to those of you who voted for my book. "But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you...the hand of the LORD has done this (Job 12:7, 9 NIV). SDG. 5-7-11

Thursday, May 5, 2011

What Goes Around...

"All this disaster has come upon us, yet we have not sought the favor of the LORD our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth. The LORD did not hesitate to bring the disaster upon us, for the LORD our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him" (Daniel 9:13-14).
This comes from a prayer of Daniel recorded well over 2500 years ago. On this, our National Day of Prayer, we need to ask ourselves: Do we seek God's favor by turning from our sins? Do we seek His favor by giving attention to His truth? Have we obeyed Him when He brings disaster?
One thing is clear. God's favor doesn't come via any means but "turning from our sins and giving attention to (His) truth." Otherwise, what goes around...comes around. SDG. 5-5-11