Castles in the Sand

Today's Bible Verse: Matthew 6:19,21 Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

Before the sun was up too high in the heavens, and it was hotter than blue blazes, my grandaughter and I ventured down to the beach.

Right away we noticed a beautiful sandcastle! It had survived the night somehow. Even though it was intricate and had obviously taken some time to do, the rising morning tide would surely wash it away.

We can build our lives on many things. Possessions, money, business, identity. They will all, one day, be washed away. We didn’t bring anything into this world, and we can’t take anything out of it – except our relationship with the Lord. That is forever.

I thought about an action Sunday school song the kids used to sing ( Luke 6:47-79 ) - The wise man built his house upon the rock… ……and the rain came tumbling down. The rain came down and the floods came up….…. and the wise man’s house stood firm. But- the foolish man built his house upon the sand…., and the rain came tumbling down. The rain came down and the floods came …, …..and the foolish man’s house went SPLAT!! So -build your life on the Lord Jesus Christ.........and the blessings will come down. The blessings come down and the prayers go up........so- build your life on the Lord!!

As beautiful as the sandcastles of our lives may be, they are still just that: sandcastles. How awesome we can build our lives on the love and faithfulness of the Lord and the principles of His Word.

That is good news.

Sally I. Kennedy sallyikennedy@bellsouth.net ©2008 Irish Thursdays Weekly Devotionals,

Announcements:

A Happy New Year to all of you! May the love of our eternal Father become more and more real to all of us! Enjoy experiencing God on a personal level during the New Year!

One Minute Till Midnight

Today's Bible Verse: Phil 3:13-14 Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

It's the eve of a new year. It's time to do some reflecting. Reflecting on the past year, reflecting on the upcoming year, and, most importantly, reflecting on our life! Think about it: Wouldn't it be sad to realize too late what is important in life?

It is a fact that futile attractions lead to emptiness. This is as true for the alcoholic as for the workaholic and the donothingaholic (Does this word even exist?). Only One gives us a purpose. Only One makes us realize what is really essential in life. Is this why He encourages us to love one another? "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." (John 13:34 NIV)

Oh the lamentations of those who recognize too late that they are leading a life devoid of meaning! What is left of the kingdom built with our own hands when our time is up? Were all of our empty pursuits worthwhile? Does our past haunt us with emptiness? With hurt? With broken promises?

"If I had only known! If only I had realized earlier the purpose of my existence! What a waste!!"

I hear so many uttering these words. However lamentations will not help our current situation. Once we realize where we came from and who is truly our guide to happiness, we need to start looking forward, not backwards and start thanking Him for giving us the opportunity to make a difference in someone else's life right now: "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Phil 3:13-14 NIV)

One of my good friends just lost his dad to a freak accident. At 75 years of age, the gentleman had a strong heart and was as active as a twenty-year old. I remember meeting this elderly gentleman once, and he impressed me with his determination, his genuine smile, and his German accent, which served to remind me of my own European roots. Just a few days ago, while helping a neighbour remove a tree, he tragically fell to his death.

This gentleman wouldn't have had any remorse. He had led a life filled with love for God as well as for others. But what if he had not realized how great God's love truly is? What if his life had not been filled with God's presence and he had had no idea how to truly love? Would he have wasted it on empty pursuits, like most of us?

Although grieving, this gentleman's son stated with a smile: "I know where my dad is, beyond any doubts. He is with God, and although I sure miss him, I can only rejoice."

He will have another opportunity to be with his dad in the future, the time interval between now and that next visit will only be a bit longer.

I am now asking myself: How will I spend the last minutes before my flame burns out? Will it be just futile attempts at self-glory? Or will it be to God's glory?

How will you spend this new upcoming New Year?

Rob Chaffart

Announcements:

What will be your New Year's resolutions?

The Fish Fry. Messages from Peter, Part 3

Today's Bible Verse: 2 Peter 3:13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.

While in Nassau, Bahamas, we enjoyed every minute of the delightful, tropical island. There was one little problem we had to overcome however. We are vegetarian, and with the national dishes being "conch salad", "fried conch", "conch fritters", etc., we experienced some difficulties finding eating establishments that could accommodate us.

A local suggested us to try the Fish Fry. "Euh…" I answered. "I don't think so. You see we don't eat fish!"

However when we approached the location called "The Fish Fry", we were amazed to find numerous restaurants found there. And sure enough we located some that were offering side orders of rice and peas, salad, macaroni and cheese (Somehow my youngest son's favourite!), cooked plantains (Don't try them raw!) And our very favourite dessert, guava duff! And all of that at more than reasonable prices!

What was even more enchanting was how deliciously filling everything was! After we paid the bill we told the waitress: "We will be coming back!"

She smiled politely, but her appearance remained indifferent somehow. Either my garlic breath was too overpowering or the peas had started to act on my intestines!

The next day we went back to the same establishment, one of many among the Fish Fry. The waitres' jaw dropped open and her eyes were filled with astonishment. "You did come back!"

I guess many tourists had made similar promises, without actually fulfilling them! But how could we not? We liked the food and we had indeed made a promise.

After all, aren't we the people of promise?

"By faith Abraham, even though he was past age - and Sarah herself was barren - was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise." (Heb 11:11 NIV)

"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9 NIV)

We know our Lord and Master and we have experienced Him to be a keeper of His Word. This is why we can look at the future with a smile on our face, no matter how disastrous our economy and our political situations!

"But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness." (2 Peter 3:13 NIV)

Our word should just be as our Father's: "Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one." (Matt 5:37 NIV). In fact we should not only make sure to keep our promises, we should also be willing to walk the extra mile to help out someone, no matter how mean that person might be (And Bahamians are far from being the mean ones)! "If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you." (Matt 5:41-42 NIV)

We are not only the people of promise, but of hope as well, but with that comes responsibility: "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." (1 Peter 3:15 NIV)

We need to ask ourselves: Do we live consistently as the people of promise? Are we always willing to walk the extra mile? Are we prone to follow up with what we say?

May our New Year's resolution be filled with His promise, as well as His hope, and may we feel led to always follow in His steps.

"You sure you want to come back here?"

"Hmmm….Now that you mention it…"

Rob Chaffart

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How did you enjoy your Christmas? It sure wouldn't be the same without Jesus!

Until the End of Time

Today's Bible Verse: John 13:35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

Off in the distance the old record player is stacked with the sounds of the very best of days gone by. One by one the lp's drop, skid into place, and the sounds of Christmas fill the room.

Perry Como, Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme and Ella Fitzgerald take turns serenading the old man as he opens the box marked "Christmas."

"It's not the same, but it is the best it can be considering."

"Considering what?" I ask.

"Considering the fact that my love is not with me," he says quietly.

"Have yourself a merry little Christmas" he sings above the scratchy sounds of Perry Como.

If records are well before your time you would not appreciate this. But there are many who believe the purest sounds come from a 33 1/3 lp even with the scratches. You learn to tune them out.

He pulls the box a little closer, then resting his hands on it for a moment, almost like the laying on of hands at a prayer meeting, he pauses, then unties the string.

It appears that the string he used, like his dreams, is old, a little frayed and unravelled, but still serving a greater purpose.

Lifting the lid, he stops once more and gazes into the box.

"Ah, Christmas!" He says.

Like a surgeon, he places his hands gently, slowly into the box before him and carefully removes the contents placing it on the table.

Whatever this treasure may be, it is wrapped in plain brown paper.

Moving it side to side, he pulls and tugs until it is revealed.

"This, this is Christmas," he says.

Then lifting it up slightly above his head he looks underneath as if searching for something.

It is a classic old mantel clock.

"Oh, my friend that is beautiful!" I said. "Mahogany wood?"

He doesn't answer me.

He sat there lost in a place and time perhaps when you and I did not even exist. He held the clock, no embraced it like he was holding the most precious thing on earth.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I love this clock. It means the world to me," he said.

"I can tell," I reply. He smiles and glances back at me.

"This is Christmas," he whispers.

"May I ask why? Why do you see it as Christmas?"

He then went on to explain.

His wife had been very ill for some time. In the spring of that year she could no longer walk. By fall, her interest in things around her dimmed. Then with the approach of Christmas she seemed to rise above it all. Her husband thought that this was a sure sign that she would recover.

Just before Christmas she told him to go to the local store. He was to ask for the "Christmas Box" with her name on it. She made him promise not to open it nor ask what was inside.

He did and as requested he returned with the box in hand.

"Place it under the bed," she asked of him.

It was on that Christmas Eve that she presented him with the box. Now weakened from the cold dampness and the return of her symptoms, she could hardly make it through the night.

"Open it," she told him.

He untied the string, unwrapped the contents and read the small card inside.

"This is a symbol of my love for you...forever until the end of time."

She reached under the clock and removed a small key. Opening the front glass covering the face of the clock, she took the key and began to wind it. With all her strength she could only manage to turn the key a few times.

She carefully closed the door and laid her head on his shoulder.

"We fell asleep that way," he said to me.

The next morning, Christmas day, she was gone.

"With all her strength she could not manage to wind the clock completely. It stopped just minutes short of midnight on Christmas day," he said.

Then turning toward where I was standing he said, "She loved me until the end of time, her time. I have never wound that clock again. It holds Christmas, our last Christmas inside."

We sat together until the last record dropped.

How appropriate it was.

"I'm dreamin' tonight of a place I love, Even more then I usually do And although I know it's a long road back I promise you. I'll be home for Christmas ..."

May the most valuable gift you receive this Christmas be found not in a box, but in the hearts of those you love... "until the end of time."

© 2001 Bob Perks 2believe@comcast.net

Announcements:

Enjoy the presence of Jesus tonight! He is our special guest tonight! Let us celebrate the love He has towards each one of us! His love is for eternity!

Disease, Bubonic Plagues and Devastation

Today's Bible Verse: John 13:34 As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

"Merry Christmas!"

Oh the joy of being surrounded with family and friends to commemorate one of the greatest events on earth: the birth of our Lord and Savior! Just as Jesus came to our planet as a present to those who will accept Him, we can also share the joy of giving.

However, not everyone feels festive during this season of the year. Many spend their Christmas time alone, abandoned and without an inkling of a present. Dinner is from the stale cereal box, with maybe some peanut butter and jam on a piece of hardened toast. "Joy" is far from their heart in such circumstances. Instead they are facing gloom and depression.

But then, some presents may also be filled with hatred and devastation.

In 1345, plague infested hordes of Tartars from Southern Russia laid siege to the city of Kaffa on the Black Sea, a siege that would last two years. Just that by itself was demoralizing enough, but the plague brought by the Tartars was terrible, and thousands died on a daily basis.

The symptoms of this plague were far from appealing. Sudden fever overtook the victims, followed by chills and weakness. Then huge swellings would occur, especially under the armpits and in the groin. Sufferers would experience fatigue, lethargy and delirium. After just 4 days of distress, these victims would succumb to respiratory failure. At the end, their bodies had an overall purplish tint, hence the popular name: "Black Death".

Initially it was the Tartars who suffered the most from the plague. In fact, thousands of their army died on a daily basis. They found that they had an immense problem: What to do with all those dead bodies! Digging a thousand graves a day was tiresome and demoralizing for the troops.

Then one of them came up with an idea: "Why don't we let our enemy take care of them?" The next day they began to catapult the bodies of their soldiers who had succumbed to the plague over the walls of Kaffa and into the city itself.

How would you enjoy such a Christmas present?

Within days the plague started to infest the city dwellers. Although they took every precaution against the disease by placing tapestries to cover windows, the plague indeterminably hit rich and poor alike and death abounded.

The Tartars had successfully barricaded the land around the city, however not the sea behind it. The Venetian merchants, frightened by the disease, quickly retreated to their boats and sailed back to their beloved country, Italy. Unfortunately, they took the disease with them. The bubonic plaque reached the soil of Sicily in 1348, then quickly spread to Genoa and into the rest of Europe, England included. The Black Plague claimed the lives of an estimated 75 million people around the world. In just a few years Europe had lost between 30% to 60% of its population!

Amazingly, it is said that the bubonic plague itself is not overly contagious!

So what was it that caused the disease to rampage through Europe?

There may have been many causes, but the one that stands out in the forefront is "fleas".

Yes, these tiny black insects seem to be the probable cause of the rapid decimation of this horrid disease. Fleas feed on blood, and when they bite a plague-infested rat, they ingest not only the rodent's blood, but the bacteria as well. The bacteria then begins to multiply in the flea's foregut, completely blocking its stomach from receiving food. Now the plague-infested flea starts to be intensely hungry, but it never seems to be able to satisfy its voracious hunger. It frantically jumps from one host to another, injecting each one of them with a single bite, with saliva containing about twenty thousand bacteria.

It seems that those plague-infested bodies catapulted over the city of Kaffa were not the real cause of the decimation of the Black Death, but rather, the fleas these bodies carried! Once inside the city, they fled the dead bodies in search of more lively hosts!

A bigger devastation was introduced into our world when our forefathers decided to go their own way instead of God's. Eve and Adam gave in to temptation and sin entered our world. "Sin entered the world through one man…" (Rom 5:12 NIV) However the word "sin" seems so impersonal and uninvolving. Just like the people of the fourteenth century who wrongly believed that tapestries were able to protect them from deadly diseases or that the "Black Plague" could be caused by dead bodies, labeling all of our woes as "sin" may lead us to error! Let me explain:

What caused the entrance of sin in this world in the first place? Was it sin? That wouldn't make much sense. Isn't the cause of sin lack of love? Or perhaps, more precisely, an overabundance of love of self? "When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it." (Gen 3:6 NIV) The "I" becomes our primal focus when we contemplate sinful desires! Others seem inconsequential while temptation has our full attention!

Now all of a sudden this seems to be much more personal! You know what I mean! Aren't we all guilty of lack of love for those we encounter? Are we really all that much involved in the needs of others? Do we even care for the lonely neighbours who are celebrating Christmas by themselves with no presents? Do we even pray for those who are less fortunate than ourselves? Do we share their burdens of need? Do we really know what the word "love" means?

With more than 50% of marriages on the brink, and prostitution, drugs and abortion, homelessness and abandoned children on the increase, do we really understand what the word "love" means?

Are we looking at prophecy with indifference? "Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold…" (Matt 24:12 NIV) Are we making a difference in our neighbourhoods, in our city, in the countries we live in? Or are we bound by tradition? Do we only attend our once a week church excursion with a fake smile plastered on our face while remaining indifferent to the plight of others?

Our forefathers introduced us to death. Only One introduced us to life: "If death got the upper hand through one man's wrongdoing, can you imagine the breathtaking recovery life makes, sovereign life, in those who grasp with both hands this wildly extravagant life-gift, this grand setting-everything-right, that the one man Jesus Christ provides?" (Rom 5:17 The Message).

Isn't this why Jesus urges us to love above anything else? Isn't this why relationships are so important to God that Jesus willingly died on a cross so that we could be reconciled with our divine Father?

"As I have loved you, so you must love one another." (John 13:34 NIV)

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." (Matt 22:37 NIV)

Love is the antithesis to the word "sin", it is the opposite to selfish living! Love is the cure to all of our troubles. Relationship is of utmost importance to God!

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16 NIV)

This is why Jesus willingly left heaven and entered our human race: to show the way to reconciliation, to show the way to real love!

If we do celebrate Christmas in honor of Jesus, shouldn't we at least try reaching out to one hapless soul who will not have the honor of celebrating this event with anyone else?

If we want a revolution in our neighbourhood, we need to follow in Jesus' footsteps! What would Jesus do if He was in our locality? Are we bringers of life or death?

What is your choice?

Rob Chaffart

Announcements:

In three days it will be Christmas. Let us celebrate fully what Jesus has done for us!

Bobby's New Shoes

Today's Bible Verse: Matt 25:40 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

On a cold winter morning in the late 1930s Bobby awoke early.

It wasn't a day that would be remembered by many, nor would it go down in history as especially important. But it was a day that Bobby would never forget.

Bobby, his mother, and his three younger brothers were once again abandoned by Bobby's father. When times got hard, the man who was supposed to be the head of the house left home. He couldn't handle the responsibility of a hungry family. It wasn't the first time he left, so Bobby wasn't surprised.

Bobby searched the bare cupboards and realized there was no food in the kitchen. His tummy was growling. So he put on the warmest clothes he had. He pulled on an old pair of socks and placed cardboard in his worn-out shoes. With holes in the soles, he hoped the cardboard would help keep his feet dry, at least for a little while. Bobby hit the roads looking for work. He was a strong child and had worked many times before. His goal was to earn enough money to purchase food for the day along with a few cans of vegetables for Christmas dinner.

A few blocks from home, Bobby came across some men working on the side of the road. "Can I help?" Bobby inquired.

"Sure," one of the men answered and tossed him a shovel. Bobby worked hard for hours. Suddenly, the rain and sleet pounded down.

"Here's your money," one of the men shouted, as he tossed him a few coins. "Go home and get out of this weather."

Bobby clutched the change in the palm of his hand. He then ran to the nearest grocery store. He used the money to buy as much food as he could afford. His socks were soaking wet. His feet were numb. While holding a small bag of groceries, Bobby stopped to adjust the cardboard in his shoes. A man in uniform, a representative from The Salvation Army, witnessed Bobby's distress.

"Hey son," the kind gentleman said. "Are those the only shoes you have?"

"Yes Sir," Bobby confessed.

The uniformed man took Bobby and bought him a brand new pair of shoes. Bobby danced and skipped all the way home.

I wasn't there on that cold December day. But I've heard the story many times and could always picture my father, as a child, dancing and skipping, wearing a shiny pair of dress shoes home. Daddy often spoke about how he could see his reflection in those special shoes.

Several years later, Daddy joined the Navy. He continued to send money home to support his family. But Daddy always saved enough money for the Salvation Army, hoping that another little boy somewhere may receive a new pair of shoes for Christmas.

The tradition lasted until my father became too ill to shop. Daddy passed away six years ago.

It is my hope that many people will remember this story when they hear the Salvation Army bells ring at store fronts and malls all over this country. And in Daddy's memory, I pray that little children everywhere will have the opportunity to dance and skip.

While the new shoes kept Bobby's feet warm in the 1930s, his act of giving back for several decades warmed his heart in a much greater way.

Each time I drop money in a Salvation Army bucket, I remember my father, his story, and his first new pair of shoes. Then I count it as a blessing to be able to give.

In my mind's eye, I can see a child somewhere -- dancing, skipping and wearing a new pair of dress shoes -- and my heart is warmed, as well.

Nancy B. Gibbs nancybgibbs@aol.com

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Christmas is an ideal season to reach out and touch someone!

The Mystery of Sand. Bahamian Church Experiences, Part 2

Today's Bible Verse: John 17:22-23 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

Sand.

If you are a visitor to a beautiful tropical island, it is soft and delightful to your feet.

If you are stuck in the middle of the Sahara Desert without water or transportation however, it becomes dreadful and depressing!

But wait a minute…what does sand have to do with a Christmas devotional?

Well, to be honest, for those who live in the southern hemisphere, the only "white Christmas" they ever experience is laying on the white sands of their beaches! Christmas finds them just at the beginning of their summer season! While those of us who live in the Northern hemisphere are freezing to death, they are lounging in the sun!

Getting back to our topic: Sand… Humm… I am a major fan of sand. Unfortunately, my wife is not. The differences lies in the fact that I had the luxury of being born on a coastal outlet, where sand and sea were a part of everyday life. It became part of my blood, and I will always feel the sea drawing me with a force that is irresistible. My wife, on the other hand, must be part mountain goat, as she would far rather climb a mountain than lounge on the beach!

If you have the opportunity to examine a grain of sand, you will notice that every one looks different. Some are coloured, others are not. Some are tiny, others are more voluminous, and together they are irresistible.

One grain of sand however, if left by itself, is at the mercy of shifting winds and tides. No stability and no steady home for it, ever! One year it might be covered with snow during Christmas season, and the next it may be trampled by the running feet of those bearing surfboards and heading for the enticing Australian waves! Constancy will never be the norm of that grain of sand! No, it is destined to lead a life of excessive adventure and tribulation. Imagine being swallowed up by a huge fish, and being slowly digested in its yucky stomach, and finally to find itself rejected through less-than-pretty means!

When grains of sand are all together however, they are often used to resist the worst hurricanes of the season! Mixed together with pebbles and cast concrete, they form one of the sturdiest building materials in the world, cinder blocks!

I often wondered how Bahamians could survive the damaging effects of weather, as there are no mountains to speak of in the Bahamas. While snorkeling at Love Beach however, I noticed several workmen building a dwelling next door. You should have seen the cinder blocks they used! It looked like it could resist the harshest weather ever. In fact, if I had been able to drive a truck into that wall, full speed, I would have ended up with a bunch of twisted metal, while the wall would have sustained only minimal damage!

You see, unity pays off! With unity you can face the worst trials of life and be victorious! Unconditional unity, which lovingly accepts everyone into their midst, will make us strong beyond imagination! John 17:22-23 "I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." NIV

However just as the sand needs to be mixed with cast concrete to form cinder blocks, unity needs to also be mixed with the Holy Spirit. Only through Him can we find direction and purpose. Only through Him will we be made aware of the dangers that attempt to rob us of our rightful lives!

And only through Him can we ever stay lovingly united! Eph 4:3 "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." NIV

This is the message Jesus tried to convey us when He came to our planet. His message was clear: "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34-35 NIV)

Jesus' purpose was to bring us to God, experience His love and through Him experience true unity. "For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God." (1 Peter 3:18 NIV) Once you have experienced God, you can't stop hungering to spend time alone with Him. Just like natives to the sea long to see their beloved ocean once again, we pant irresistibly to be with God. His love is unbelievable, beyond anyone's expectations!

You want a revolution? You want victorious living? They both go hand in hand. Spend time with God and fall heads over heels in love with the Lover of your soul. Through His guidance you will not only experience victory, but you will also start loving others the way Jesus loves each one of us! Unity will be a natural consequence, and before you know it, your whole neighbourhood will be wondering about the One you serve.

Don't be a single sand grain at the merciless grip of temperamental outside forces. Unite yourself in love with those who are madly in love with God. Let yourself be driven by God's Spirit to make the impossible possible! This is the message of Christmas. The Christ is with us!

What will we do about it?

Sand… so small, but still so majestic! I wonder if it could teach us a lesson or two…

Rob Chaffart

Announcements:

In less than a week it will be Christmas. How special this day will be, depends on what you plan to do with it. Will your Christmas be special?

The Strand I Couldn’t Fix

Today's Bible Verse: Revelation 22:16 I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.

Like fog in the morning, the spirit of Christmas had vanished. Still, I shuffled in the garage. One by one, I retrieved the bins I’d stored the previous Christmas. While the aroma of sugar cookies wafted through the air and “Silent Night” played in the background, I began the decorating.

Placing the nativity scene as the focal point of our family room, I spread the rest of the decorations around the house: red and green candles, musical boxes with winter scenes, and bright red poinsettias framed with green garland adorned with burgundy, velvet bows. They all transformed our home into a lively winterland.

Next, I retrieved three stockings to fill the marked places above the fireplace; each embroidered with our sons’ names: Jaso n, Jeff, and Joe. Once Jason and Jeff’s were hung, with tears burning my eyes, I clutched Joe’s against my chest.

The empty stocking sears my heart. It’s been five years since the Lord called Joe home. Five years that Joe’s absence left an emptiness we can almost touch. And five years that God’s grace wiped away portions of the grief that flogged our hearts. But often, it’s the scorching pain that opens our eyes to a bigger picture.

Years ago, when our three sons, including Joe, were still young, I focused on providing a perfect Christmas; a perfect tree to wrap a perfect celebration. As a result, little things tended to roil in me such as a light strand that refused to shine because of a burned bulb. Annoyed at the glitch, I promptly set off to resolve it —I fussed, I rearranged, plugged and unplugged until frustration grew hot in me.

How foolish and silly. I focused on that one bulb, dismissing the glow of the star atop the Christmas tree. I’d done the same with light bulbs that burned in my life—from broken relationships to shattered plans. Exerting tons of energy trying to fix them, I missed the star; the one that gave significance to my life.

When that void in our heart aches to be filled, it’s the star of comfort that makes it whole. When bitter sorrow robs the spirit of Christmas, it’s the star of His genuine love that whispers joy. When a health diagnosis shakes our world, it’s the star of reassurance that shines the certainty of new tomorrows. It’s the same star that never loses the brilliance of hope, incomprehensible hope; one we can only embrace when all strands of life burn out.

With eyes focused on the star, I hang Joe’s stocking along with his brothers’; not empty anymore—but filled with sweet memories--his wit and laughter; his hugs and kisses.

For that reason, God called it His “Morning Star"; to dispel our darkness, dry our tears and repair strands we cannot fix.

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” (Revelation 22:16)

Janet Eckles Jeckles@cfl.rr.com http://www.janetperezeckles.com/ Janet Perez Eckles--Faith and Love with a Latin Flair For nuggets of inspiration, visit me at: www.janetperezeckles.com To receive my free monthly newsletter, please send a blank email to: splash_of_inspiration@getresponse.com

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Our hope is on Jesus, the Messiah! He is our guide in everything and our example to follow! Will we make a difference this Christmas season?

One True Bahamas. Bahamian Church Experiences, Part 1

Today's Bible Verse: 1 John 4:11-12 Since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

When Sunday morning rolled around in our beautiful, tropical paradise in Nassau, Bahamas, we decided to attend a nearby Baptist church. Awestruck by their zeal and enthusiasm, I wondered if we had entered a Charismatic assembly! The demonstration of faith was so vivid around me that I had to ask myself what would happen if we all, as Christians, were as full of fire, were as unified?

Does the existence of myriads of denominations really matter? Does it matter if you are Lutheran, Baptist or Charismatic? Aren't we all more alike than different? Aren't we all followers of the Christ? Aren't we all encouraged to love one another beyond the dim realities of this world? Why stress our dissimilarities?

The Bahamas are made up of well over 700 islands and 2400 cays. Doesn't this sound a bit like the Christian church? There is just one major difference: Many churches proclaim to be the "One True Church", while none of the islands or cays claim to be the One True Bahamas! Instead, all of the inhabitants of these islands are united, proud to be Bahamians!

Can you imagine a single small island tearing itself away and claiming to be the only true Bahamas? How would the world see this? They would discern that another country has just been formed, but that new country would not be considered the One True Bahamas when there are more than 700 other islands and 2400 cays who could claim that title!

We better wake up from our stupor and do what Peter urges us to do: "Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps." (1 Peter 2:21 NIV)

What example did Jesus leave us? Is it a model of independence and pride? Is it an illustration of the concept "My way or the highway"? Absolutely not! Here are the words He left us with: "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." (1 John 4:10 NIV)

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16 NIV)

Jesus has set us an example of love, LOVE, LOVE!!!

What should be our reaction to this kind of love as followers of Christ?

"Since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." (1 John 4:11-12 NIV)

"We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, 'I love God,' yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother." (1 John 4:19-21 NIV)

Moreover, one of Jesus' last prayers while on earth was this: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34-35 NIV)

If we want to revolutionize the world, we need to clean up our house first! We are not proclaimers of a certain denomination. None of our denominations really matter! Remember, Jesus never proclaimed to be a Presbyterian or a Wesleyan or even a Non-denominational! In fact He never even proclaimed to be a Christian! The focus should never have been directed on our inner self or on our place of worship, but on the One who loved us so much that He willingly died for us so that eternity was made possible to each one of us!

We are not here to build our kingdom! We are here to proclaim God's kingdom and the only way we can do that is by loving not only God with all of our heart, but each other above anything else as well!

You want a revolution? Focus on Jesus! You want change in this world? Reach out towards your brothers and sisters across the myriads of denominations and love each other the way Jesus' showed us the example! Only then will this world really realize what Jesus is about! This is my prayer for this Christmas season!

I wonder which tropical island I should visit next in the Bahamas.

Does it really matter? They are all part of the true Bahamas!

Rob Chaffart

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Forgiven, Not Forgotten

Today's Bible Verse: Matthew 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

I have worked with teens for the last several years, and one of the things that bothers me is the careless way they often speak to each other. I have developed a couple of short workshops to show, in a hands-on, visible way, how our words affect others. My favourite one is called "Do Your Words Raise People Up or Weigh People Down?" When I was younger, I heard a speaker who said that once you have spoken, what has been said can never be taken back, and that whoever you were speaking to may forgive you your unkind words, but they would never forget. That is a powerful thought: forgiven, but not forgotten.

Lately, it has shown up in my life that I am not as careful with my words as I thought I was. During Vacation Bible School this past summer, my four-year-old Isaac lay down on the floor and refused to sing or do the actions to the songs. When asked why, he said, "I am not a singing and dancing guy."

That is almost a direct quote from me. The day before, he was trying hard to do the actions and sing along. Like me, his gift is in the enthusiasm he brings, not the actual singing, and he must have overheard me say to someone that he was not really a singing and dancing guy.

Oh, my heart, that my careless words should take the joy out of singing for him. I had to take him aside and tell him I had made a huge mistake, that he was a great singing and dancing guy. He has since recovered from this, but it was a wake-up call for me about taking care when I speak, even when I think others are not listening.

Jesus always took care with the words He used with people. His words shared love and wisdom, never gossip or malice. They brought hope and encouragement, never insults or put-downs.

Prayer: Father God, we pray for Your help in guarding our tongues so we utter words of hope and encouragement. We pray that we will not use our words in a careless or thoughtless way that may wound the people around us, so that by our words, people will know we are Christians. Amen.

Patricia Shepherd pickonpat@yahoo.com Mission, British Columbia, Canada

Thanks to http://daily.presbycan.ca

Let's go Fishing! Messages from Peter part 2

Today's Bible Verse: John 21:5 Friends, haven't you any fish?

Let's go Fishing! Messages from Peter part 2

They were so demoralized and discouraged that they couldn't even decide what to do next. Oh, Jesus HAD appeared to them after His resurrection. They knew they were supposed to go out in this world. But they weren't exactly sure WHERE to go, and they had no clue WHAT to preach!

After his tiresome betraying, Peter was a bit subdued. He recognized however, that someone had to step forward and lead this group, so he said the first thing that popped into his mind: "Let's go fishing!"

And why not? Maybe they wouldn't exactly be going out into the world, but they would be going OUT - onto a lake! And they KNEW what message they would be preaching there: "I am out to get fish to stop the rumbling in my stomach!"

And so they fished and fished and…well, they fished all that night. The only problem is, their nets, as well as their tummies, remained completely empty! They hadn't caught anything, not even the tiniest herring (Do they even live in lakes?), and by morning they were even more depressed than ever.

I remember one time when my oldest son went out on our property with a butterfly net hanging from his shoulder. He, too, had a purpose. He, too, was going out into the world. He, too, wanted to catch something: a butterfly! Unlike Peter, his purpose was not to eat it, but to admire it.

Although he didn't spend a whole night on his task, a couple of hours are quite a bit when you are eight years old! Especially when your butterfly cannot be found! Unlike Peter however, he didn't come back empty-handed. When the butterflies made themselves invisible, he simply shifted his attention to the caterpillar. This he easily caught in a plastic container, and came back to the house proud of his accomplishment. After all, wouldn't the caterpillar eventually turn into a butterfly?

The disciples were tired and deflated, and when a stranger happened to ask them a silly question: "Friends, haven't you any fish?" (John 21:5 NIV), their response was less than polite: "No!"

Then the stranger said something really strange: "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." (John 21:6 NIV)

Who was that stranger to tell them, seasoned fishermen, how to fish? They obeyed however, and their reward was abundant: "When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish." (John 21:6 NIV)

Immediately John recognized the Stranger, and before five seconds were up, everyone on the boat exclaimed: "It is the Lord!"

It's amazing how much time we waste on frivolous pursuits! Any purpose not driven by our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, is futile! Without His blessing we will end up deflated, discouraged and grumbling-even when we THINK we are working for the Lord! All may look great for a time, but if our purpose is built on nothing more than a pack of cards, it will tumble into nothingness. (Sounds a bit like what's happening to our economy lately, doesn't it?)

The fish were in the lake, but Peter couldn't catch them. Jesus though knew where they were, and the One on whom we can rely directed him to the source of his needs.

But the story doesn't end here. Although their nets were now full, they were still unable to eat. They first had to haul the fish ashore, clean them up, and then cook them with spices over a campfire. That would require time and effort. A surprise awaited them on shore, however: "When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread." (John 21:9 NIV)

And there was a gentle voice inviting them: "Come and have breakfast." (John 21:12 NIV)

Finally their empty stomachs found relief!

Jesus will provide for all of our needs, but only if we let Him! We don't ever need to worry over imaginary "what-if" scenarios! He will provide! He is the Lord! My oldest son realized this that day when he was out hunting butterflies. He never even thought to worry. He wasn't even tempted to get discouraged! He knew the provider, and he knew that Jesus would come through. Oh, how much we can learn from young children! The apostles learned this same lesson after this experience, and never, ever once, did they doubt again during the rest of their life, that Jesus would indeed provide for their needs!

Why worry with such a faithful friend at our side? Our economic times may be disastrous and cataclysmic, but we don't have to face them alone!

"Let's go fishing!"

But first, shouldn't we consult with the One we know as the Provider?

Rob Chaffart

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The License Plate

Today's Bible Verse: Matthew 7:7 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

Some years ago, I got a "new to me" car; actually, it had so few miles that it was still new and shiny. In our province, we keep the same license plates and move them to each new vehicle. I'd had my plates for quite a few years, and they were crusty-looking. The paint was cracked, the metal had rock dents, and the edges were not as crisp as they once had been. They needed work to look right on a new vehicle. With a cloth over the metal, I hammered the edges and dents. I used kitchen scouring cleanser to clean the dirt off, and a chisel to scrape off the decals from previous years. Afterwards, they looked much better on the shiny bumpers.

This year, I decided that after ten years, I should have a new car. I described my license plate fiasco to a friend, and she said, "Don't be so cheap; get new plates." When I went to the registration office, I asked the price of a new set of plates. Imagine my surprise when I was told there was no charge, that I just needed to turn in the old ones!

Isn't that the way we believers are? We forget that our all-powerful God can renew us, or change any circumstance if only we ask. How often I've put up with something that needed changing because I didn't ask God for help or guidance!

Prayer: Lord, sometimes we forget to come to You when we should, or we are too stubborn to ask for help. Forgive our lack of faith and our stiff necks, and help us to ask and to believe that You are able to change us or the circumstance. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Shirley Dobie sherl@telus.net Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada

Thanks to http://daily.presbycan.ca

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In Whom do we Trust?

Today's Bible Verse: 1 Peter 2:6-8 For in Scripture it says: 'See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.' Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, 'The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone,' and, 'A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.' They stumble because they disobey the message - which is also what they were destined for.

Have you ever been defeated in the face of temptation? Have you ever run into your bedroom and locked your door with tears flowing down your face, shocked beyond belief at what you have just done? Have you ever felt so ashamed that you don't even dare approach God's Throne of Grace to ask for forgiveness?

"Why, oh why can't I live victoriously?" You cry out, beating your chest in dismay. "Why do I give in so easily to temptation? What's wrong with me? Is victory ever within my reach? Am I really a hopeless case?"

Then, to make matters worse, you remember John 8:36: "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (NIV) and you cry out all the louder: "Why does this text always seem to be mocking me? Am I not worthy enough to be set free?"

The apostle Peter faced these same questions and these same shamefully thoughts. Oh, he was so proud and so sure of himself that he would always stand up and defend the Lover of his soul that he insisted: "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." (Mark 14:31 NIV), but that same night he gave in to temptation not once, nor twice, but three times! And each time he denied Jesus with even more force! And when it was all said and done, he ran off into the night to cry out his shame: "he went outside and wept bitterly." (Matt 26:75 NIV)

Yes, Peter knew all about giving in to temptation. He also knew how guilt can overtake you when you have been defeated. He thoroughly understood those sleepless nights of shame and remorse!

But God, in His glory, didn't leave Peter wondering why we are so easily overcome with defeat: "For in Scripture it says: 'See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.' Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, 'The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone,' and, 'A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.' They stumble because they disobey the message - which is also what they were destined for." (1 Peter 2:6-8 NIV)

Oh, how Peter did face his shame with palpitations in his heart! He realized that his stumbling had been caused by his disobedience to the message. He had been too full of himself and not filled enough with His master and Lord (see John 3:30). He realized that rather than putting his trust in the Lord, he put it in himself.

Is it any wonder that the more we struggle with our pet sins, the more tangled up we become? Have we really given our heart fully to Jesus? Have we truly accepted Him as Lord and master over our lives?

Or maybe, just maybe, are we keeping a part of ourselves selfishly out of His reach?

One day recently I received a glorious email from someone I had been praying for. He had accepted Jesus as His Savior! I was so excited for him! This was indeed terrific news! However the next day I received another message from him asking me why he was not experiencing the inner peace promised in the Bible.

I asked him two simple questions: "Have you accepted Jesus as Lord and Master of your life? Have you put your trust completely in Him?"

Sadly he hadn't and wasn't willing to do so.

This reminded me of someone else who wanted to become a follower of Jesus in the Bible, but when confronted with who truly was in charge of his life, he shamefully withdrew himself from Jesus and his entourage (see Luke 18: 18-25).

One fact remains: "'There is no peace,' says my God, 'for the wicked.'" (Isa 57:21 NIV)

Is it possible that we put more credence in ourselves than in God? Is it possible that we are facing defeat in our lives because we trust ourselves more than we trust God?

Coins in the United States are all engraved with four simple words: "In God we trust". There are those who are lobbying to remove these words from their coins. Is it possible we are trying to remove "In God we trust" from our hearts as well?

"Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." (1 John 5:4-5 NIV)

Remember: trust put in the right Person will give us victory, but trust put in the wrong person will bring us shame and dishonour.

Who do we really trust?

Rob Chaffart

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Clearing Out

Today's Bible Verse: Psalm 71: 18 Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come.

The older I get, the more I begin to realize that I am no longer carrying faith on my own: I’m giving it away.

Psalm 71: 18 Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come.

I am a terrible hoarder. I keep things in my two studies that I will never use ever again. I’ve got pens that have dried up; pieces of paper with messages written long ago; notebooks full of half-baked ideas; cassette tapes that I will never listen to again; and old computers that will become antiques in a few years.

I need to start downsizing my clutter and get rid of these things. I need to create more space in order to think creatively, instead of being surrounded with things that I will never use. But each time I go to throw things out, I find an emotional attachment, an unexplored idea, a potential use, or a guilty feeling about letting it go. Clutter clings to me and I am possessed by my worthless possessions.

Spiritually, I sometimes feel the same. I fill my timetable with many plans, projects, and meetings. My head is full of interesting ideas, valuable visions, and innovative applications. Too much stuff and too many thoughts. Too much pressure and hardly any peace. I’m living the curse of the modern man – so many things to do; so little time left to do it in.

I need to de-clutter my soul and make more room, more time, and more space for God in my heart. I need to give away my faith more often, in order to grow with God. I need to use Time as a tool for getting the best out of life and giving my best to God. Like the psalmist, I want to grow old and gray, knowing the comforting presence of God, and telling His story to the next generation.

It’s not going to be easy letting go of all of my physical and spiritual clutter, but I have to start now or I will leave it too late. Today, I’ll let go of me and let God get a hold of me.

Prayer: Lord God, we keep filling the great gaps of our lives with things that are trivial and events that are unimportant. We set You aside to get what we want done and try to play catch up with You later on. We deplete our spirits and diminish our relationship with You, but when things go badly or if we do something wrong, we expect You to be there and rescue us. Lord, forgive us for taking You for granted. Help us today to specialize in You. Enable us to clear out the clutter in our hearts and minds; set our spirits free. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart

The Day After. The Problem with Pain, Part 5

Today's Bible Verse: Isa 49:23 Those who hope in me will not be disappointed.

I became quite the expert in hurting my right ankle during our summer vacation. First of all, I burned it in the Bahamas until it developed an XXXX-sized blister. It's amazing what forgetting to cover a foot with sunscreen will do, especially when snorkelling in tropical weather! My reward was the privilege of limping around Nassau with my prized blister. Two weeks later I slipped while climbing a mountain in North Carolina and twisted the same ankle. Pain is a mild word to describe that experience, but thanks to the strength God gave me, I was able to finish my hike up the mountain as well the trek back to the car, a trip more than two miles in distance!

Once in the car however, my foot doubled in size. I thought I would end looking like a Japanese wrestler! The pain intensified as well, and I found myself lying around the hotel room that evening. No way would I ever be able to walk again. Or at least not for the next few days!

But this was just the problem. We had planned on doing more hiking the next couple of days. In fact, we were going to climb Chimney Rock and Grandfather Mountain the very next day. I knew my family, who must all be part mountain goat, would be very disappointed if we skipped these two activities. I didn't want to ruin their day with my out-of-whack, burned-to-a-crisp right ankle! Although it seemed highly unlikely, I prayed that somehow I would be able to walk.

The next day when I woke up, I anticipated pain. How little faith I have! There WAS no pain!

Wait a minute! Hadn't I tortured my right foot to the extreme? And wasn't it still swollen? Shouldn't I be entitled to some misery? Maybe if I started walking on my foot. Yeah! That would do it! But to my astonishment, when I put my weight on my foot there was no pain! I was limping a bit, but it was hardly noticeable.

How could it be?

And this wasn't the end of the story. In order to not further injure my foot, God provided elevators and walking sticks so that I, along with my herd of mountain goats, was able to thoroughly enjoy both Grandfather Mountain and Chimney Rock. Praise be to God!

Then I remembered God's promise: "Those who hope in me will not be disappointed." (Isa 49:23 NIV)

Does this mean our suffering will be limited on earth? No. However what it means is that we, as followers of Christ, can revel in our pain!

"And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." (Rom 5:2-5 NIV)

We know that no matter what, our pain will be temporary, and that eventually we will be rewarded with a pain-free existence in the Lord!

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (Rev 21:4 NIV)

We have a lot to anticipate and to celebrate! Let's have a party! Everybody is invited! "Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find." (Matt 22:9 NIV)

Rob Chaffart

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Penciled In

Today's Bible Verse: John 14:6 - Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

My grandfather always carried a notebook and a wee pencil in his shirt pocket to make notes to himself. I recall how we used to make dates to spend time together; he would write my name in his little notebook and say, "Well, now you're penciled in. We have a date." I would then look forward to that special time, and I knew I'd never be replaced by another task or event, because Grandpa had penciled me in to remind himself of our appointment.

These days, I, too, write things down so I won't forget them and miss my appointments: special lunches with friends, the activities happening in the community, or my doctor's appointments. As I took out my small calendar, I thought of Grandpa and smiled, recalling how he often told me I was special to be written in his book. Now, I realize that maybe, just maybe, he needed gentle reminders because his memory, like mine, wasn't as keen as it had once been. Yet, I still felt special to have a place all my own in Grandpa's book.

The Bible tells us that God, too, has written our names down in His Book: "Rejoice because your names are written in heaven" (Luke 10:20b NKJV), "written in the Lamb's Book of Life" (Revelation 21:27b NKJV).

We have an appointment with our heavenly Father, and He will not forget. Our future is secure with Him in heaven because He has promised us that some day, we shall be with Him. We are penciled in when we accept Him as our Saviour. Each of us is special!

Prayer: Dear Father, we thank You for securing our place with You. Thank You for recording our names in Your book and for sending us Your Son to show us the way to You. Amen.

Lauretta Balderston
New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Canada

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The Stone Snare. The Problem with Pain, Part 4

Today's Bible Verse: 2 Cor 7:10 Distress that drives us to God does that. It turns us around. It gets us back in the way of salvation. We never regret that kind of pain. But those who let distress drive them away from God are full of regrets, end up on a deathbed of regrets. (The Message)

It was just a simple stone. Nothing attractive about it. In fact, it wasn't even big. It barely measured 12" by 6". It was slanted on a fort-five degree angle, and it didn't even have an interesting colour or pattern. Who would have thought it would inflict so much pain on an innocent hiker?

We were climbing up one of the beautiful mountains at Pisgah Natural Forest in North Carolina when it happened. We were taking our time to enjoy the beauties of nature that confronted us at every turn of the trail, and we had about half a mile of trail to still cover before reaching the top. I had just stopped to admire a bright patch of gold off the distance. It turned out to be the sun glinting off of a field of golden grain. Absolutely breathtaking! What I wasn't paying attention to was my next step. As I shifted my weight to my right leg, my foot slid off of the rock it had been resting on, twisting my ankle about 90 degrees counter clockwise. The next minute I was sitting on the trail with pain shooting up my leg.

I guess that's what happens when you don't pay attention.

I gingerly assessed the damage, only to discover that I couldn't put any weight on my foot-just a little problem when you are over a mile from the car! My first thought was, "Oh no! My kids will be so disappointed! They really want to reach the top and I won't be able to go on!" I tested some weight on my foot again, but it was no use. The pain was too extreme.

What didn't help maters was that this was the foot I had burned so badly in the Bahamas, the one that had ended up with an ultra-big golf ball-sized blister! I had known then that the burn had been deep enough to injure my ankle muscles. Likely my ankle was still weak from this incident, and this had put me at higher risk of injury.

It's amazing how such a tiny detail can come back to haunt you!

I took my head in my hands and started praying, and as I did, strength filled my soul. With the help of my family I was able to stand up once again, and before I knew it, I could walk without pain. I was able to climb the rest of the mountain, unaided, AND I made it all the way back to the car, a total distance of over two miles on a sprained ankle. All I could say was, "Praise be to God!"

As it often happens, however, my family simply declared that I must not have sprained my ankle after all. They figured I just twisted it enough to have acute pain, but that I hadn't really injured it. After all, how could I have walked two miles on a sprained ankle? Once back in the car however, as we were driving back to town, sharp pain once again shot over my foot and up my leg, and when we stopped at a K-Mart to buy an ankle brace, I couldn't walk. I limped back into the hotel and dropped flat on my back in agony. By this time my ankle was swollen to twice its normal size. How was I ever going to be able to visit all the things on our agenda over the next few days???

I had made a big mistake for not watching out for hidden dangers. I made a poor choice that ended up getting me into trouble. However we have a merciful God who intervenes in our bad choices, and He is able to turn our errors into blessings. I mean, how could I have ever been able to walk on my injured foot for more than two miles without God's help? By divine intervention we were able to reach the top!

In life we often make poor choices, choices that hurt not only ourselves, but others as well. We have every reason to feel deflated and depressed, blaming ourselves for our mistakes. However we also need to remember that God is a specialist in turning disaster into blessing. If we remain on our high horses of complaints, if we wallow in our own self-pity, if we let our pain dictate reality, we will never notice the opportunities God has provided us with.

"Distress that drives us to God does that. It turns us around. It gets us back in the way of salvation. We never regret that kind of pain. But those who let distress drive them away from God are full of regrets, end up on a deathbed of regrets." (2 Cor 7:10 The Message)

Only One can sustain us in our pain, the One who suffered extreme suffering without ever giving up, all because He loves us!

"It's obvious, of course, that he didn't go to all this trouble for angels. It was for people like us, children of Abraham. That's why he had to enter into every detail of human life. Then, when he came before God as high priest to get rid of the people's sins, he would have already experienced it all himself - all the pain, all the testing - and would be able to help where help was needed." (Heb 2:16-18 The Message)

Instead of cursing our mistakes, let us rejoice that we have a merciful God who can turn curses into blessings!

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." (Matt 5:4 NIV)

How did I manage the next few days of mountain exploring with a sprained ankle, you ask? Stay tuned for the next devotional: (The Day After).

Rob Chaffart

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Determination

Today's Bible Verse: 1 Cor 14:12 Try to excel in gifts that build up the church.

"Every noble work is at first impossible" (Thomas Carlyle 1795–1881)

My ancestors, two generations back on my maternal side, hail from Scotland. Our family name was then Glendenning and there is still a small piece of southern Scotland that bears that clan name. Our family tree has been traced back to King Robert the Bruce and his claim to fame is immortalised in the story of the spider and the saying, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again.” That was in 1306. In 1314 he led the army that defeated the English at Bannockburn. One of my ancestors, Matthew Glendenning, was Bishop of Glasgow in 1408, but we can’t trace any other Glendenning descendant mounting the steps to a pulpit until I did so some 23 years ago.

I’m no warrior so if I have inherited anything from King Robert the Bruce it can only be determination; a refusal to give up; an urge to try, try, try again. People are divided into two categories when they are confronted with any demand, task or challenge. There are those who say, ‘It’s hopeless’, and there are those who say, ‘I’ll try’. David Livingstone once said "I will go anywhere—provided it be forward."

When we read the stories of the healing miracles of Jesus, again and again we see that it was the man or woman who was prepared to try who received the healing. There was the paralytic lowered into the room before Jesus through a hole in the roof (Mark 2:1-12); the man with the withered hand (Matthew 12:10-13); the man with leprosy (Mark 1:40-42) and many other miracles.

There are still many who doubt that the message of 1st Corinthians chapter 12 is for them. In this chapter we are told that we are all part of the body and each of us has God-given gifts by which we edify and evangelise. Yet how many will say, “I couldn’t do that” or “I haven’t the confidence” or “I wouldn’t know how.”

Many years ago a saleswoman dreamed of becoming the sales champion in her organisation. She vowed that within one year she would win the top sales award. And she did. When she was asked what she had learned about winning, she said, “Not much. I learned more about trying than I learned about winning. Trying gave me a renewed confidence to get off my backside and do something. I learned that there may be good reasons for not winning, but there are no good excuses for not trying.”

God wants us to try, to make an effort, so that others may be blessed by our example and our witness. The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in one’s determination.

Pastor Ron

Waiting? That's for the Poor! The Problem with Pain, Part 3

Today's Bible Verse: 2 Cor 10:3 The world is unprincipled. It's dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn't fight fair. But we don't live or fight our battles that way - never have and never will. (The Message)

It had been a long time since I last visited Florida. Everything had changed. Especially the prices to the amusement parks my kids wanted to explore! But what was most shocking to me was that if you paid an additional $35 per person at the amusement parks (and that is ON TOP of the staggering entrance fees!), you can obtain a "fast pass" - a pass which permits you to go right to the front of the lines. While the rest of us had to wait 90 minutes or more at a time, those having fast passes zoomed by, cutting in front of us, making our wait even longer. Interestingly, the faces of those who waited in line became more and more sour with each passing fast past customer!

"It's unfair!" I heard someone complain (was it coming from my own family?). "They tailor everything for the rich!"

But it seemed that those in the "slow" lines weren't the only ones complaining. I even heard someone with a fast pass complain: "Can you believe it? I had to wait 5 minutes to get on that ride! When I flashed my pass, they ignored me completely! This is a scandal! I'm going to complain!" She then entered her ride frowning. I wonder if she even enjoyed what she paid for!

It seems completely unfair, doesn't it? But in all reality, is life fair? I mean, why do some young healthy people die, while others who pollute their lungs with toxic waste live to a ripe old age? Does it make sense? Why are there some people who have more than enough to eat every day, while others die from hunger? How is it possible that my neighbour can afford a Porsche while I can only afford a seasoned "no name" vehicle? Why do some children have the privilege of attending school for free, while others have to pay?

No, life is NOT fair, but our complaining will not change things. In fact, it will turn us into lemon-faced sourdough with vinegar on top. Not too tasty, if you know what I mean!

James, the brother of Jesus has some golden advice to share with us about this: "Friends, don't complain about each other. A far greater complaint could be lodged against you, you know. The Judge is standing just around the corner." (James 5:9)

Instead of complaining about the unfairness of life, let's rejoice that there is Someone who is always fair! Let's rejoice that that Someone wants to be our friend! "Let out the message - God Rules! He put the world on a firm foundation; He treats everyone fair and square." (Ps 96:10 The Message)

The one who accuses the Lord is the one who is unfair and he is a liar. In fact he is the cause of all unfairness in this world: "You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lie." (John 8:44 NIV)

May we remember this while we are suffering. Let us throw away our complaining habits and replace them with thankfulness that God saw us as salvageable and sent His son into this world to die for an ungrateful race. But in so doing, He offers blessed eternity to any who believe.

"Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed - that exhilarating finish in and with God - he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!" (Heb 12:2-3)

"Excuse-me, where can I get a fast pass?"

"Where are you heading?"

"Heaven!"

"You don't need one. Jesus paid the price for your direct access to Paradise!"

"Sweet!"

Rob Chaffart

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To all of our American subscribers: I hope you had an enjoyable Thanksgiving! We have so much to thank God for! Hallelujah!
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Rob Chaffart

White Butterfly

Today's Bible Verse: Josh 1:5 I will never leave you nor forsake you.

My husband and I were threading our way down the path from our trek up to the waterfall. Nothing around. No people, no birds, no animals... except for one very small chipmunk scurrying from rock to rock to avoid our big scary shoes coming toward him.

Then a tiny white butterfly appeared. It fluttered along in front of us all, as if leading the way. All the way down the trail to the bridge at the bottom. There, by the river's edge, it flew into the woods, only to reappear behind us when we moved on.

We weren't lost. But sometimes we don't have to be completely lost to need a little guidance and direction. Or even reassurance, comfort.

Ten thousand feet up in the Rocky Mountains, could a white butterfly be a reminder saying God will go ahead of us to lead the way? And that He will also come behind us?

God tells us in the Bible, "I will never leave you or forsake you." (Joshua 1, Deuteronomy 31, Hebrews 13)

It's a promise! That's good news.

Sally I. Kennedy, ©2008 sallyikennedy@bellsouth.net

Dreaming About Swimming in Aloe Vera. The Problem with Pain, Part 2

Today's Bible Verse: Isa 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

The day after our expedition to love Beach, Nassau, Bahamas (See Snorkelling in my Underwear? Disgusting!) I woke up with a very big surprise. I couldn't stand up without experiencing excruciating pain radiating up my legs from both of my feet and ankles! When I looked at them, I was in for a surprise. Where most of my leg was its normal colour, streaks of nasty-looking red, originating from my feet, extended up my ankles and into my calves: Sunburn!

But wait a minute! I took a brief moment to douse myself with sunscreen! How...

Obviously, my moment had been a bit too brief! Close inspection revealed that the natural colour of my legs reached down towards my ankles in finger-width stripes! In my haste to get out in the water with my snorkelling gear, I had forgotten to put sunscreen on my ankles and feet!

My left foot was far worse than the right. In fact, it had the audacity to develop a blister that would eventually grow into the size of an XX-oversized golf ball!

"Time to golf you guys!"

"Get away from my ankles!!! Ouch, Aie…"

The burn was far beyond surface deep. In fact, the muscles of my ankles themselves were burned. How did I know this? Because I experienced excruciating pain whenever I stopped moving. If I walked it out, the pain would eventually wear off until I stopped again, when my ankle muscles would lock up and send waves of deep, inner pain up my legs.

What should I do? Sitting down with my feet elevated would be the logical solution, but all though the idea seemed to have its merits at the time, I didn't come all the way to the Bahamas to sit in my hotel room! That would not only be very boring, but anti-social as well!

I prayed, and I felt the assurance that God would be my strength during this time of trial. After a good doze of vinegar and Aloe Vera, off we went to admire the beauty of this tropical delightful island.

God is sure a master painter! The world He has created is so gorgeous, even though it has fallen into the grip of sin. Whenever I wanted to stop and take a picture, however, sure enough, my ankle muscles would clamp up. I grinned through the pain, and praising God, I relied on the boost He gave me to enjoy my day. I couldn't stop dreaming about swimming in Aloe Vera, but my persistence paid off, and as a family, we were able to explore this part of the world that had been, before this, unknown to us. God was my strength during these days of trial!

That's when I realized that we should never ever give up, even when facing trials, even when enduring terrible pain. God has still some great beauty to show us and some terrific lessons to teach us. Even in pain we can truly continue to enjoy life. Although we might not enjoy it the way we used to, we will discover hidden beauty at a much deeper level, ever appreciating the fact that God will always be there for us.

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isa 41:10 NIV)

"It's obvious, of course, that he didn't go to all this trouble for angels. It was for people like us, children of Abraham. That's why he had to enter into every detail of human life. Then, when he came before God as high priest to get rid of the people's sins, he would have already experienced it all himself - all the pain, all the testing - and would be able to help where help was needed." (Heb 2:16-18 The Message)

Where is that pool of Aloe Vera? I sure would like to take a dip in it!

"Anyone who drinks the water I (Jesus) give will never thirst - not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life." (John 4:14 The Message)

Rob Chaffart

Dealing with Death

Today's Bible Verse: Job 38:17 Have the gates of death been shown to you? Have you seen the gates of the shadow of death?

Years ago, I saw a person actually die. He was a stranger to me, but both he and his daughter taught me an important faith lesson.

It was the first time that I saw someone actually die and he was a stranger to me. I had just started as a part-time chaplain to a local hospital and received a call very early one Saturday morning.

“Can you come and help a patient’s family member?” a nurse asked. “She’s all on her own and has asked for a minister to be with her. Her dad is dying”

It took me about fifteen minutes to get ready. I was at the hospital within half an hour. A young woman was in a side room sitting next to her father’s bed. He was an old man that I had never seen in my life before. He looked tired and weary. She looked exhausted and frail.

“Thank you for coming, “she quietly said.” I just needed someone to be here. I didn’t want to do this on my own.”

We talked for a couple of minutes and I read some scripture. Time passed so slowly. Her father was breathing intermittently and the young woman clasped his hand. She told her dad that she loved him and once or twice she tenderly stroked his hair.

And then the moment came. His face slightly changed color and the breathing stopped. It was very peaceful. The young woman quietly sobbed. I read from Psalm 23 and said a soft, comforting prayer. She graciously thanked me for being there and then the nursing staff arrived to take care of the body. The young woman thanked me once more and allowed me to quietly leave. I never saw her again and to this day I do not know their names. But the woman and her father taught me a lesson: death does not need to be feared and dying can be very peaceful.

That’s why I’m still a minister today and it’s also why I preach the Good News. Jesus has defeated death and His great victory vanquishes all of our fears. Christ not only saw the gates of death; He took them apart forever. We may pass away but once on earth, but death no longer imprisons us, for Jesus has won our eternal freedom.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the Savior of our souls and the Deliverer from death. You grant us an everlasting opportunity to be reunited with our loved ones in the holy realms of God. We can never repay the immortal debt that we owe to You, but we will praise Your Name forever. Amen.

John Stuart traqair@aol.com
Knoxville, Tennessee, USA

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