Can I Help?

They came home from school in the normal rush — book bags swinging and arms full with “extras” from the day. The homey, yellow and blue kitchen was already smelling of the evening meal and that added to the happiness that the school day was over!

The work schedule of one of our children called for an early supper time. Finishing the last preparations, I heard a little voice say, “Mom, can I help?”

Wow! I was so pleased that he would offer! “Sure,” I said, my mind racing around the things left to do to engage something a six year old could accomplish himself. “You can put the forks around the table,” I commented happily,” right on those napkins is where they go.”

He squinted up his nose and gave me a grin. Then he said, “ I was thinking I could help cut the watermelon.”

I smiled. He wanted to use a large butcher knife and head into a job way to big for a six year old! He saw that melon sitting on the counter. It looked so inviting — and he was NOT a baby anymore. (He had already told me!) He was big and strong! He didn’t want to put forks around! He wanted to cut the watermelon!

With a little convincing, he put the forks around — the spoons too—and he learned to do it neatly. He accomplished the task I needed and was a big help — even if he didn’t cut the watermelon!

A sobering thought hit me — right there in the kitchen. Isn’t that what we do as Christians sometimes? We love the Lord and we are enthused to win the world for Him! After all, we desire to carry out His commission! We head off for the task — the way we think we should — we all want to cut the watermelon!

Then, in His gentle, leading way He asks us — “would you mind putting the forks around?” Its so tempting to look around and say, “but they’re cutting the watermelon!”

The thing is, we each have a job to do. Not all of us can be “watermelon cutters!” Each of us have a purpose within His plan! Sometimes it takes a new surrender to what HE desires! The glorious fulfillment of servant filled living is realized when we simply do what He asks us to do — follow HIS commands. Its in the daily living — the daily “signing up for service” — the daily surrender.

His all seeing eye sees everything — His all containing wisdom knows best. It’s up to us to trust and follow — it’s up to Him to do the rest! He’s really good at running His world — and He knows just how we can help!

By Janene A. Dubbeld/FGG

Take it with You

“There are different kinds of gifs, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of workings, but the same God works all of them in all men.”

I Corinthians 12:1-3 NIV

Nothing Between

Most of the long day was finally passed. The sun had passed its “mid-point” and we were on our way home. My husband and I sat at a red light waiting for it to change. As we waited, both of our eyes were drawn to a small house by the side of the road.

We weren’t drawn by its shutters, its porch, or its brick. It was the huge, gorgeous rose bush that caught our attention. Its incredibly large coral blooms covered the bush and spilled over onto the side of the porch.

“I can smell them from here,” my husband teased. “Maybe we could,” I said, rolling down the window of the vehicle. We both breathed in deeply, hoping to get a whiff of their fragrance. We frowned – then tried again.

“Too many things in between,” I said, as a car passed between us and the flowers. “We’re just a little too far away.”

The light changed, but not before a whisper resounded in my spirit. “Too many things between . . . just a little too far away. . .”

My sweet Jesus – He is the Rose of Sharon – the life giving fragrance to us as we breathe deeply of Him. Nothing between us is my life-time goal. Keeping an intimate, open relationship with my Savior and Lover of my soul. I want to stay close enough to Him until His fragrance fills me, permeating my life so others are drawn to Him to!

There’s a song I learned in my days of youth – and still love:

“Nothing between my soul and the Savior

So that His blessed face may be seen.

Nothing preventing the least of His favor

Keep the way clear – let nothing between!”

                                                                                                              Charles A. Tindley

By Janene Dubbeld

For Gods Glory

Take it With You

"He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth all by their names." Pslam 147:3,4

The Place at the Table

There is just something special about the dinner table. (Or supper table, whichever you prefer to call it!) Although I didn’t realize it, I learned its importance as a child. I ate my lima beans – at the dinner table. I could share whatever I wanted – at the dinner table. We laughed and talked – at the dinner table. Strength was gained – at the dinner table.

As the seasons of our life have changed – so has the dinner table. Even in the chaotic world of children’s activities, ministry “musts,” and teenage work schedules we strive to gather around the “dinner table” as much as possible! Sometimes we eat early – so whoever is going out the door can eat with us. Sometimes we eat later – until everyone can get home . . . but we work for it. It’s important!

It is a bit different than mine as a child – as I was the only child there! Now there are many . . . talking over each other – at times we have even created a “floor” (which is usually a folded up napkin) and whoever has the “floor” gets time to speak! (It works . . . for awhile!)

One evening recently we were getting ready for dinner when my daughter asked, “Is grandma coming?”

“I’m not sure,” I responded, “Just go ahead and set her a place at the table.”

In that instant, it came to me. That’s how it is with God! He has a very large table, full of the finest, richest foods – which are all “good for you!” It’s set – and there is a place for each of us – he wants us to come – will we?

He has designed it by grace, and ladened it with love, mercy, forgiveness, joy, peace . . . and he keeps on filling it with the foods we need, we just have to “take time to eat.” Find strength – at His table!

There’s always room.

Take it With You

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

Revelation 3:20

A Day With Dad

   One of our children was struggling. Changing schools had been difficult -- and anyway, he would rather be playing ball -- or drums. His dad and I sat down one day and talked things over. While we firmly believe in Biblical discipline, we felt this situation needed a different kind of motivation. So, we talked with our son.

What is the one thing he would really like to do at the end of the year if he finished well?

   Quick as a blink of your eye he answered. He didn't want a new toy, or some kind of physical object. He wasn't looking for a monetary reward, or certain kind of candy . . . he simply wanted a day ALL BY HIMSELF with Dad!

   We were living in Florida at the time and had been blessed with a pass to Sea World. All year there was a goal. A goal held right in the front of my son's mind. Do your very best this school year -- and receive a day with Dad -- all my yourself. No sharing him with siblings or mom or work . . . just fun with Dad.

   "Do your best" were the instructions. We didn't decide for him what his best would produce. If it wasn't straight A's, but he was still doing his best, that was ok. We were looking to help him discover the responsibility of giving his best at all times -- even when it wasn't his "favorite" thing to do!

   The year came to a close. To be honest, I don't remember what his grades were, but I do remember the impact his "day with Dad" had on him. Why? To this day they still talk about it! "Remember when we rode the Kracken fifteen times before noon . . ." (Or how ever many. I would have been sick as a dog!)

   The desire of my son to be with his dad parallels a cry of my own heart. Intimate time with my Heavenly Father. Times when He hears my heart and understands. Times when He actually listens -- as no other would or could. Sometimes, I just need a day with Father!

   When "doing our best" results in a grade less than an "A" he sees beyond our inability right to the heart of the matter. Lovingly he cares for His own -- however they need it. He doesn't give up nearly as quickly as a human mind. Carried on His love, His ultimate wisdom teaches and leads us. Not crushing, not overbearing, not accusatory -- but gentle -- as a shepherd!

   We can rest -- in Him! 

Take it withYou

Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6

Remembering Mom

My mother was a very joyful person. She never drank coffee, sometimes drank tea, and every now and then she would choose some kind of soft drink. However, I remember the many times I would hear her remark, “I just need a big glass of water.” She declared that absolutely nothing could quench her thirst like pure, sparkling, tasty water. As a child, I was forever wishing she would “give in” more often to my longings for a “soda,” but as the years have passed, I find myself reaching much more frequently for a glass or bottle of water. It quenches thirst.

Mother also taught me very early in life Who was her “water for life.” She taught me by example. Many times I would burst through the closed door with some exciting news to find her kneeling at her chair in prayer. She passed on to me the eternal truth that it was Jesus Who would quench the thirst on the inside.

Life doesn’t play any waiting games. It travels steadily, carrying us along in its swift moving current. I’m no longer the “little girl” bursting through my mother’s closed door. Now, I’m a mother myself. Situations come, circumstances change, and day by day I find the deepest part of me cannot be satisfied with temporal, earthly things we touch and feel in the “now.” Family and friends are God given gifts whom I deeply love and appreciate – but even the closest of them cannot meet all the needs and demands of my hearts. That’s why God is “Emmanuel!” He IS GOD WITH US!!!

In Zechariah 10:1, we are told to “Ask the Lord . . .” We aren’t told to “ask our family,” “ask our neighbor,” “ask our friend,” -- we are to, “ASK THE LORD!” Yes, there are times when those around us help to bear our burdens with an encouraging word or act, perhaps they “talk to the Father for us,” but in reality, our deepest “soul felt” needs find that the Lord is the only lasting Source. No other person or thing in the entire universe can fill the inner need within, or fully supply our needs without. Forgetting that truth will cause us to draw water from well’s that simply aren’t deep enough. When we draw from shallow, empty well’s, our water comes up muddy. It certainly isn’t water worth drinking – and it won’t even begin to quench our thirst – or meet our deepest need.

Our only answer is to simply stop, and draw from Him – the deepest well, with the purest water! The bubbling Spring that washes away impurities! Not a mirage in the desert, but a living oasis! Jesus Christ!

Now it’s my turn to carry on the legacy. When my children burst in the door with some exciting happening, I want them to find me where I found my mom – seeking the Source. When life brings those longings I cannot quench, needs too big for me to provide, and problems I simply cannot “fix,” I want to point them to the Source of pure, satisfying, water for life.

Written by: Janene A. Dubbeld/FGG

Take it With You

“Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime, it is the Lord who makes the storm clouds. He gives showers of rain to men, and plants of the field to everyone.” Zechariah 10:1

Marital Bliss

“For better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, from this day forward . . .” on a wonderful day, in a wonderful way, the vows were taken. Take a moment and remember . . . was it a church wedding – or maybe you were married in mama’s front room – maybe you had an outdoor wedding – or . . . shhhh . . . maybe you even eloped! However it happened – you were soooooo in love! You just knew you had the love that would last a lifetime.

Do you remember the communication you had before that wonderful day? So full of expectation, the exciting hopes of life together, the dreaming, the plans, the “I love you’s.”

Why is it that communication seems to be one of the biggest challenges we as couples face after, “the big day?” Funny isn’t it? Those of us who experience even the best of marriages have to constantly strive to make sure we communicate, we understand, and love is more than a “fuzzy, wuzzy” feeling – but a commitment that causes our love to mature along the way.

When we mention communication, I can’t help but think of something that happened to Mark and I a few years ago. (Yes, I communicated with him that I would like to share this story . . . and guess what? He was fine with it!)

We were (and still are) a happily married couple – with several children. It was a rather unusual, relaxing afternoon, and he was enjoying his “TV time.” Sometime during the day, I was ready for him to “come out of that box and communicate!” So, being the wonderful husband he is, he flipped off the TV (FINALLY ) and headed with me to the porch, where we could sit and talk. No sooner had we gotten settled when the boys were after him to “come and play basket ball.” He gave the most awesome response I could imagine at the time . . . “No, I’m spending time with Mommy.”

We were really getting somewhere! I was talking away about anything and everything I had on my mind – and he seemed to be listening attentively. Sometime in the course of these events, our boys decided to play football instead of basketball and moved their game to the yard RIGHT IN FRONT of the porch. They wanted him to come and be “all time QB” or something like that. He stayed put – after all he was spending time with mom. Things progressed quite normally . . . then . . . oh, then came the fateful play! I wasn’t paying a lick of attention to the football game, after all, I was communicating! Mark was LOOKING straight at ME, but his mind was in the game. Still looking at me, all of the sudden he says loudly, “DID YOU CATCH IT?” GRRR! Marital bliss? Actually, it was so funny I couldn’t possibly stay upset. Together we dissolved into laughter.

Communication isn’t easy because life throws us so many distractions. Between “challenges” and “opportunities” we can end up taking for granted the very one we need to love and care for the most. Sometimes we are “workin’ so hard” to make a “living” we forget to “slow down” and take time to “make a life.”

Why don’t we find a quiet moment today – or a few of them – look into each other’s eyes, and listen with our hearts. We might be surprised at the joy we “catch!”

Take it With You

“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” Matthew19:4