Rumble Strips

But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason it says, 'Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.' Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but under stand what the will of the Lord is. Ephesians 5:13-17 (The New American Standard Bible)

On warm summer nights, for example the night before last, when our bedroom windows are open and the breeze is from the NE, I can hear the sounds of the trucks on I-95. I can also hear the sounds of vehicles as they stray from the right hand lane onto the rumble strips in the break-down lane. Rumble strips are those corrugated strips along the edge of the driving lanes and at the approach to a turnpike toll booth. The prime purpose is to alert drivers to the fact that something is changing and that immediate action must be taken. Running over these strips produces an unmistakable sound and vibration that arouses one from the deepest lack of attention. It is nice to have these safeguards in place, and I'm certain many lives have been saved by encounters with these mini-washboards. I'm thankful this morning for the spiritual rumble strips that help to define the ways of Christian life. Obviously the encouragement is to be vigilant, making the most of our time. Yet at times we g et off the track or slumber as we travel along. In those times when the warning sounds become obvious it is important to take the necessary corrective measures and avoid the consequences.

I’m thankful for the spiritual safeguards you place along the roads we travel so that we might remain vigilant, attentive to your will for our lives.

By Carol (North Carolina, USA)

God's Surprises

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to the power that is at work within us… Ephesians 3:20 (NIV)

Due to an abscess resulting from the removal of my colon, I underwent three surgeries in just two weeks. Following the surgeries, I experienced the frightening onset of delirium. I’ll never forget the tortuous nightmares. As I emerged from my two-week delirium, I noticed that my hospital room was full of surprises. Pictures of my loved ones lined the walls of the bleak hospital room. Since it was Christmastime, the warm glow of a little Christmas tree lit up the room. Next to the tree were other familiar objects that had special meaning such as a stuffed animal and a silk flower arrangement of little rosebuds. I felt wrapped in a blanket of comfort. My children searched the internet for delirium and learned that the patient’s room should be decorated with happy, familiar objects. This outpouring of their uncanny display of love continues to be a gift to me months after the delirium. It reminds me of God’s surprises and the fact that He delights in showering me with goo d things that warm my heart and draw me near to Him.

Thank You for the heart-warming surprises You shower upon us. Help us to cultivate our awareness of them.

By Jackie (Tennessee, USA)

Redeeming Life’s Frustrations

Bible Verse:
With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints. Ephesians 6:18 (NASB)

Text:
Like a lot of drivers, I can get frustrated if I keep catching red lights. I want to get where I am going and they only slow me down. And it especially makes me crazy if I get too many of them in a row. Then I was thinking about how I might use red lights for God’s glory instead of a source of frustration. Since each red light lasts at least 30 seconds that gives me an opportunity to pray for someone. What might have been a particularly annoying trip now means that more people will get prayed for. We can too easily rush through life wanting to get to where we are going and accomplish what we want to do. In all of that business we can forget to pray. Martin Luther claimed that when he had an especially busy day ahead of him he would get up even earlier so that he could spend more time in prayer. Life is full of greater frustrations than red lights. We need to learn to redeem those and use them as reminders to pray or as other means to obey God.

Ending Prayer:
Remind me throughout the day to look to You, God, and not get caught up in my business.

By Bob, New Jersey USA

GRIEVING THE HOLY SPIRIT

SERMON BY CHARLES FINNEY

( Part 2 )

Text. Eph. 4:30.--Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

In continuing this subject, as proposed in my last, I remark.

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GRIEVING THE HOLY SPIRIT

SERMON BY CHARLES FINNEY

 ( Part 1 )

Text. Eph. 4:30--"Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."

In this discussion, I shall pursue the following order.

I. SHOW THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT CAN BE, AND OFTEN IS GRIEVED BY MEN.

II. HOW AND WHEN HE IS GRIEVED.

III. THE CONSEQUENCES OF GRIEVING THE HOLY SPIRIT.

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The Lightbulb

For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk ye as children of light…  Ephesians 5:8

Living in a rural area is great. One of the most satisfying aspects is that we can look up at night, miles and miles away from the nearest street lights, and take in all that God has placed in the dark sky. Of course some nights the sky is darker than others, depending largely upon the current phase of the moon and whether or not there are clouds blocking our view. And on those really, really dark nights when we arrive home from our daily goings about, our family relies on a single lightbulb to reveal the short familiar pathway from our van to the house.

Every so often, however, that single bulb will burn out and we have no light. And of course this always happens when we are expecting company, so our guests risk stumbling as they trek the unfamiliar winding sidewalk and the few steps that must be taken to and from our doorway. This single lightbulb that so faithfully brightens my family's walk night after night, seemingly fails when really needed to help others. But not to worry! We simply go find a flashlight and shine the path for the visitors to safely make their way.

Just as this lightbulb, I often continue weeks and months casting a glow around my wife and children, helping to keep them on the designated pathway, and granting myself a sense of satisfaction that I am performing my duty as a Christian husband and father. And then comes a "burnout" and my light disappears just as I would hope to reach out to friends and neighbors. And I fail miserably.

But not to worry! Our gracious Father has a plan. When we inevitably fail, He places a "flashlight" nearby to relieve our failings and shine a new light on the darkened pathway. This flashlight may not show up quickly enough from our perspective, but our plan may not line up with His perfect plan. All we need to do is seek out this new source of light.

And ultimately we can use this "flashlight" to help us make our way through the darkness and change our burnt out bulb so we can resume our faithfulness in shining His light to those around us.

Thank you Father for granting us your "flashlights" to help brighten our paths when we fail. Keep us in the center of Your plan so that our "lightbulbs" may shine forever. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Hold Please

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:13 (KJV)

On the phone, trying to get through, pay a bill, talk to a customer service representative, trying to get information, and what do you hear: "Can you please hold?" Not trying to be mean or rude, but I didn’t call to be placed on hold, or to standby, or to wait! 

Sometimes though, we have to do just that! Sometimes, we have to be patient and wait. Sometimes we have to stand still, and hold still. Sometimes.

One of the hardest things for me to do, to learn to do, to practice doing, is to wait. Sometimes, God calls on me, on us, to wait. Sometimes God doesn’t want us to move to our left or to our right. He doesn’t want us to try and fix it ourselves. He doesn’t want us to try and change the outcome of a thing. He wants us to wait.

Waiting is not easy! Waiting is not fun! Waiting is sometimes the hardest of all the options that we have. Waiting is often-times exactly what we do not want to do. But God, sometimes, will still call on us to do just that. 

In the scripture above, we are called on to do what we are supposed to do, and after that, we are told to stand. Stand still and wait on God to come and do what you need Him to do. Stand still and wait on God to answer the question that has kept you awake the last few nights. Stand still and ask God to heal, to bless financially, to provide food and shelter, to display his love for us as He always has. 

I am not sure what you are waiting on. It could be money, it could be a job offer, and it could be a clean bill of health. For me, it is the health of a loved one. I don’t even know that it matters what it is we are waiting on. I only pray that you wait on God to speak. I hope that you wait on Him to answer. I hope that you trust Him enough to stand still. I hope the same things for myself.

Father, we thank you for hearing our prayers. We thank you for answering our prayers. We pray that you would bless us with the faith and the courage to wait on You, and to trust You enough to deliver us from whatever it is that is weighing heavily on our minds. We thank You for the opportunity to stand before You, and pray that You bless us and keep us. Amen.