Forks In The Road

If any of you lack wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to him.

James 1:5

“When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” This is a quote from baseball legend Yogi Berra. Yogi is called baseball's greatest humorist. There are many forks in the road of life, and Yogi is right—we have to take one.

One of life’s hardest lessons is to learn that we have to live with the consequences of our decisions. That is why it is so important for us to choose carefully the forks we take. None of us are immune from making wrong choices. One of the most important skills we can develop is the ability to make wise choices. We are constantly encountering forks, bends, and crossroads.

What helps me most when facing decisions and choices is to pray about them first. I know that I should never make a hasty decision. When I do, I don’t always like the consequences. Yes, every decision we make will have a consequence—maybe a good one or maybe a bad one.

Many forks can lead us into deep sin. We need direction from God so that we can stay on the right path. Choosing a better fork in the road can lead us to a more godly lifestyle. This lifestyle will bring us peace and joy that we can’t find in any other way.

I find encouragement in our verse for today. God gives generously to all without finding fault. God never says, “I told you so.” All of us need help in making decisions and choices. God really cares about the decisions we make. He has a plan for our lives. He knows all about us because He created us. He wants what is best for us. He knows the dangers we face. God also knows the joys we can experience when we allow Him to have dominion over us.

The beginning of a new year is a good time to make changes in our lives. I hope you will join me in seeking God’s guidance when we come to those forks in the road. 

Georgia Andrus

New

What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 1:9

We like new. We like new cars, new clothes, and new homes, and new medical discoveries. We place our hopes in each New Year. We like adventure that takes us to new places. When Christopher Columbus saw the Americas for the first time he called them the “New World.” Are these things genuinely new or just new to us? King Solomon, the author of Ecclesiastes, was the wisest man who ever lived and he concluded through worldly living, that there is nothing new under the sun.

The good news is that all things are made new in the Son.

“New” in the New Testament means fresh and unlike anything else in quality or nature. 

We have a new covenant (Heb. 9:15).

We have a new commandment (John13:34).

We are a new creation in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17).

We have a new self, created to be like God (Eph. 4:24).

We will have a new heaven and a new earth. (Rev. 21:1)

We will have a new song to sing (Rev. 5:9).

God is writing a new story in each of our lives. When my husband, Cal, faced surgery to remove cancer a few months ago, he and his family feared the outcome might be the same as that of his former wife. She underwent the same procedure several years ago. Tragically she died within days, from unexpected complications. 

I sympathized with their fears, yet God’s peace filled me and He gave me words to share in a card of encouragement to Cal. God impressed on my heart that He was going to do a new thing (Isaiah 43:19) through my husband’s experience. He did. Cal regained his health and is cancer free!

Lord, may we keep our eyes fixed on You. Your ways are higher than anything “under the sun”. You alone make all things new.

Karen Sims

The Wide And Narrow Door

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. 

 Matthew 7:13-14

“Let’s Make a Deal” is a game show that has been watched by nations around the world for years. The contestants make deals with the host, trying to win the best prize offered. Sometimes a contestant is shown three doors. He has no idea what is behind each door.  He must randomly chose a door and hope for a good prize.

Perhaps you feel like you are playing this game in life. Doors can represent beliefs, choices or even opportunities. Which choices are best? Which direction is right? Which door will lead to a life of satisfaction, joy and fulfillment? 

In Matthew 7:13-14 Jesus describes two kinds of doors (gates), which people enter on their quest for heaven, joy or meaning. There is a wide door-- the popular door. A person who travels through a wide door can take all his baggage with him. He can take his suitcase filled with his own views or the views of the world. He can take his ‘good’ works--those things he does that he believes will earn him a place in heaven. The door is wide, allowing each to carry with him what he deems best. Many choose this door.

Then there is the narrow door that few enter. It is a narrow door because it allows for no baggage. The person who enters must be stripped of all but one thing—faith in Jesus Christ. He must leave behind all his trust in himself, his trust in his own views and his trust in his own good deeds. When he enters through the door, he acknowledges that his trust is in Jesus--Jesus alone. 

Which door is the right door to enter? Which door leads to heaven, to eternal life, to lasting joy, to true satisfaction and fulfillment? Jesus warns that the wide, popular door does not lead to heaven; it leads to destruction. The narrow door leads to life. Jesus said, I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man comes to the Father, except through Me (John 14:6).

Which door will you enter?

Jan Burkhart

Gentleness

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Matthew 11:29

Gentleness! Isn’t that a sweet, comforting word? The Greek word translated gentle can also be translated meek. Gentleness or meekness is not a weak quality at all. Gentleness is a restrained and disciplined strength that leads to great blessing.

My pastor, Dr. David Dykes, says this about meekness (gentleness): “Meekness is not weakness; it is strength under control.” In our Scripture for today, Jesus describes Himself as gentle and humble in heart.

Gentleness and meekness are words that are totally misused and misunderstood today. We think these words describe one who is passive, submissive, weak, and like a doormat ready to be stepped on.

My husband and I enjoy a TV show on Netflix, “Heartland,” that is filmed in Canada. The leading actress is Amy. Amy trains horses. She can take the wildest horses and tame them to do just exactly as she wants. She actually does this in real life also.

The Greek word for meekness is the regular word for an animal which has been domesticated. So gentleness is like a horse that has been broken to ride. The stubborn will of these horses has to be broken. In the same way, our stubborn will has to be broken by God. A well-trained horse wants to follow his master’s directions. We must be broken to follow our Master’s directions.

How do we become meek or gentle? We must allow the Spirit of God to break us from our self-centeredness and arrogance. Only the Holy Spirit can produce gentleness in the heart of a Christian.

Today’s Challenge:  PRAY FOR A GENTLE SPIRIT AND A HUMBLE HEART.

Georgia Andrus

Just Do It

Be doers of the word and not hearers only.

James 1:22

“Just Do It” is a phrase Nike coined in 1988. It’s a slogan to inspire athletes to out run, out train, and out move. The apostle James used similar words to inspire Christians hundreds of years earlier. 

James said, Be doers of the word and not hearers only (James 1:22). In other words, we are to do more than simply listen to the Word of God. According to James, we must apply God’s Word in our daily lives. 

I was encouraged recently by an example of someone being a doer of what Scripture teaches. It happened when my husband and I went to a big sale at the mall. We purposely went early to beat the crowd, but apparently the crowd had the same idea. The parking lot was already full, and cars were circling to grab a spot.

We eventually parked and entered a store. The aisles were jammed with people, inching slowly toward their destinations. It was Christmas shopping on steroids, worse than Black Friday. 

For a moment we considered going home. However, since we were already there, we decided to split up, shop for an hour, and then leave. When we met seventy minutes later (yes, I was late), my husband shared this story with me.

While he was shopping in men’s wear, a nice sales lady had answered his questions and helped him find his size. When he checked out, she was working the cash register at the end of a long, impatient line of customers. As he paid for his purchase, my husband asked her how she was able to deal with such a trying situation. 

She replied, “I just ask Jesus to help me love everybody.” Her answer blessed my husband, and me, when I heard it. She was a doer of the Word.

God has said we are to love others. That sales lady purposed to obey God and trusted He would enable her to do so. I am reminded by her example that the Spirit gives us the ability to obey God when we ask his help.

Father, impress us with the importance of obeying you in daily life. 

                                                                                       

Carol                                

Truth … Eternal Life is in Jesus

God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

1 John 5:11-12

I am a bit surprised to read in Denison’s cultural commentary March 11 that “92% of Americans believe they are their own sole determiner of moral truth.” Truth is not “what we say it is”, never has been, never will be. Only God has its full measure. Only He Who is Infinite, Who is light, Who is Love, Who calls us children.  

Truth #5 is this: Eternal life is in Jesus.

John proclaimed Jesus the Word of eternal life right off the bat (1 John 1:1-2). As he finishes his epistle, he hones in on the essential truth of salvation: the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God (1 John 4:14-15). This truth was being seriously undermined in the fledgling church in Ephesus.

So too the matter of eternal life today. We have friends who say there is no eternal life, that death is the end of it all. I’m sure you do too. We have friends who say there are many paths to heaven and all will go. You do too. We have friends who hope they’ve been good enough to get there. You also? We have many to pray about, as you do.

John says it simply. First of all, you can’t work hard enough to get there—eternal life is a gift from God. It also is very real, as illustrated by Jesus’ story about the rich man in agony in hell, begging Lazarus, who is at the side of Abraham, for a drop of water to cool his tongue (Luke 16:19-31). There is one and only one way to heaven: He who has the Son has life!

He who has the Son? How do you have the Son? Has is the Greek word echo, in this case to hold, to possess. You’ve got to believe in Who Jesus is, and trust yourself to Him, to possess Him. Romans 10:9 may say it best: If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. You have Jesus!

Lord, Your Word assures us that we who have Jesus have eternal life. May we diligently pursue truth as silver, search for it as hidden treasure (Proverbs 2:4).

Nancy P

Truth … God is Love

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God…because God is love.

1 John 4:7-8

Good morning ladies. How about it—are not these truths we are stacking one upon the other this week increasing your joy? I’m loving it. And speaking of love, let’s dig a little deeper into its true nature. Yesterday we talked about the lavish love of God, so lavish that we should be called children. Even more basic however is Truth #4: God is love.

Did you catch that? God is love. Love saturates His character—true, pure love. To adequately define it is way beyond me. To understand it, well I get what Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel, is saying: “I could more easily contain Niagara Falls in a teacup than I can comprehend the wild, uncontainable love of God.”

This much I have figured out though: I am compelled to love others because God, Who is Love, is in me. My loving others then, so they can see Him, will bring His love full circle back to Him, bringing glory to He Who is love.

Remember Carolyne from yesterday? When Carolyne finished her schooling, she married Samuel and the two of them opened a store. She funneled what she could of the profits to the Rescue school to help with the necessities. Girls fearing FGM soon knew to come into her store for wise counsel. This made the Masai men angry, to the point of threatening Carolyne’s life. She and her family are in the US on asylum.

But she continues to do what she can. She and Jennifer and Allison were able to travel to the school in Kenya last year to spend time with the girls and assess their needs. And you, you can jump into this circle of love with Carolyne. Visit Kenyan GIRLS Rescue Program on facebook and see for yourself. Full sponsorship is the greatest need; books or clothing are good options. Call Cassie at 903-525-1186 to find out how you can help.

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we ought to love one another (1John 4:11).

Nancy P

Truth … We are Children of God

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

1 John 3:1

Now if that doesn’t bust your buttons! I feel a song coming on…

So far this week we have looked at two truths: the Infinite Life of God, and the fact that God is the light that we need to walk in.

Now for truth #3: We are children of God.

Honestly, I am overwhelmed! Our English word lavish comes from the French for bathe: laver. I am bathed in God’s great agape forever, as His child. John has said it before: To all who received him (Jesus), to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God (John 1:12-13). Instead of the amnion of natural birth, I am covered in the love of rebirth.

Anyone needing to know that you are loved like that by God? Well, you are!

Let me introduce you to a group of girls in Kenya who are in deep need of the love of the Father. Meet Carolyne. Christmas of her eighth grade, Carolyne went to visit her Masai grandmother in the interior. Early the next morning she and her girl cousins, all around age 13, were subjected to the ancient tribal rite of passage known as FGM.

The procedure is one of barbaric mutilation, performed with dirty scissors and frequently resulting in hemorrhage or infection. The girls are forced to leave school and marry a much older man. Without FGM there will be no marriage, hence no dowry to her family. If the girl refuses, she is kicked out of her home. Rescue is the only solution.

Carolyne’s family had abandoned the tribal ways when they became Christians. Her mother wept with her when she returned home and fully supported her schooling. She was one of the lucky ones. More of Carolyne’s story tomorrow.

In the meantime, the Christian community in Kenya is rising to the occasion, providing housing, schooling, books and love for the Rescue girls, as they have become known. If there’s one thing these girls need to know, it’s that the Father longs to lavish His agape love on them, to call them His children.

Nancy P

Truth … God is Light

God is light; in him there is no darkness at all…if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.

1 John 1:5-7

Good morning ladies. Truth is what we’re after this week—pure, unadulterated, unvarnished truth. Truth is the spiritual beat of our heart, the rhythm of the Spirit in us. Today let’s build on the truth of the Infinite Life of God.

Truth #2: God is light.

Not only is God light, but there is not a trace of darkness in Him. He is absolute, pure, holy light. That is so awesome.

Consider total darkness. On November 9, 1965 the great blackout in New York state stretched north into Toronto. First clue, none of the stoplights on our route home were working, but in the dusk one could still see. The stairwell of our apartment building was a different matter—pitch black! I gulped; I started up—4th floor and counting. Oh dear, now which way in the equally black corridor? Was I at the right door?

Shine a little bit of light into that darkness, as your cellphone today, and there’d be none of the disorientation. Awesome number two is that our holy God sent Jesus into the world to shine not a bit of light, but pure, holy light into the darkness of man’s unbelief: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness” (John 8:12). I seek light in Jesus.

The trick of course is to keep in that light—that darn old propensity to sin still persists. Fortunately for the times we slip, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One (1John 2:1).

And since even a little bit of light precludes darkness, I do what I can to light up the corner of the world I live in. Jesus prompts me accordingly: “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house” (Matthew 5:14-15).

Nancy P

Truth … the Infinite Life of God

 The Word of Life appeared right before our eyes; we saw it happen! And now we’re telling you in most sober prose that what we witnessed was, incredibly, this: The infinite Life of God himself took shape before us.

1 John 1:2 (MSG)

Ladies, we have a bit of deep theology to delve into. My girlfriends and I dipped into the love letters of 1,2,3 John this year. While there we uncovered just how intense and passionate were the pleas of the apostle John to his dear friends in Ephesus.

What in the world was causing John’s great consternation? When he wrote the gospel of John, non-believers were on his mind. Now, truth is being tossed aside by the false teachers of the day, muddling the minds of the believers.

But John says truth is truth; you can’t mess with it. He wants to make sure his readers take note: we’re telling you in most sober prose. And later he reminds them that the Holy Spirit confirms truth in them: you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth (1 John 2:20). So this week we’re going to tick off, with John, the most basic of truths to make not only his, but our joy complete (1 John 1:4).

Truth # 1: Jesus is Who He says He is.

The nay-sayers of the day were coming out of the woodwork apparently. They either denied that Jesus is the Christ (1 John 2:22) so not fully divine; or they did not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh (2 John 7), not fully human.

John says nonsense, as I’ve said before, Jesus is divine: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1). And I, John, knew Him well: that which was from the beginning… we have heard…we have seen with our eyes…we have looked at and our hands have touched (1 John 1:1). Jesus was fully flesh and blood. Peterson (MSG) more picturesquely describes Jesus as the Infinite Life of God himself (taking) shape before us.

Only God is infinite, existing before time. Man makes no such claims. Even Stephen Hawking in his book, A Brief History of Time, grudgingly gives a nod to God. (from the movie The Theory of Everything) 

Nancy P

My Hiding Place

You are my hiding place.

Psalms 32:7

Ah, Spring time! Birds building nests and butterflies dipping and dancing over the landscapes of garden flowers.

Oh, Spring time! Storm clouds building, thunder rolling with lightening and tornados dipping and dancing across the landscape.

Spring where I live is a glorious riot of flowering beauty, but, also, a time of severe stormy weather. A number of years ago a tornado at night lifted a huge 104 year-old pine tree and laid it over our house immediately duplexing it. My husband and I know it was the Mighty Protective Hand of God that saved our lives.

When a storm starts to brew, especially at night, my heart begins to race, my breathing quickens, and my hands start sweating. Where do I hide? Under the bed? No! In the closet?  No! I run straight to my Hiding Place----Jesus Christ. Jesus does not stop or calm the storm (but, He could). He calms me!!!!!

Our storms come in many shapes and sizes; health issues, deaths, finances, losses of all kinds, rebellious children, troubled marriages and friendships, violence, infertility, or substance abuse. Come, run to my Hiding Place---Jesus Christ. He offers peace and ever present help in times of trouble.

Lord, thank You for being my forever Hiding Place, my source of peace and calm in all storms. I love You.

Claudia Jackson

What You Cannot Hide

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord.  When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant.

Exodus 34:29-30

When we spend time with the Lord is prayer, fellowship, and His Word, it shows on and in us. It changes us! We glow from within and without. There are changes in our joy level, our attitudes, our actions, our plans, our influence, and our insights.

People notice we are different and our focus is more refined and redirected toward holiness. God’s ideas, plans, and values gain more and more of us. We see the world, God’s people, and ourselves through His eyes and with His heart.

Don’t you love hearing people tell you that there is something different about you? They comment on your peace, your forgiving spirit, wisdom, and that deep abiding joy regardless of your situation. Your radiance of having spent time with Jesus is showing. You cannot hide it.

Lord, thank You that You are available to us 24/7. Your throne room is always open for us to come spend time with You and You love long visits.

Claudia Jackson

Stand Out!

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.

Matthew 5:14

Historians feel Jesus taught the Sermon on the Mount in the gently sloping hillsides of the northwest corner of the Sea of Galilee. When you go there you can see small towns situated on the tops and sides of the hills. These towns are not hidden even at night you can see them.

Sabine, my flirty, little cat has tortoise markings. Her black, brown, white, and orange colorings are so mixed she can totally disappear against a mottled or dark background  We have a multi-colored chair she loves to sleep on and many times I have almost sat on her. She loves to take advantage of her ability to disappear when she does not want to do something---like come when she is called.

We live in a worldly culture of darkness and lurid sin-pox (my word). Much of society is ugly and not improving. Are my actions so like the world, if held in front of it would I disappear into its ugliness? Is my speech so like the world’s coarseness that my friends and family do not know I am a Christian?

As a child of God, Jesus says I am to be different. I should not be blending into darkness. I am to be salt, to be light, and to be like a city on a hill that cannot be hidden.

Jesus, help me be different from our worldly culture. Let Your Spirit in me produce that light-filled city on the hill that cannot be hidden.

Claudia Jackson