Open Ears

It was time to go! Go . . . again! Over the highways we went to yet another family camp. This one happened to be just a few miles from the place I spent nine of my “growing up” years. One afternoon we journeyed to town to look around. We drove by the place where we stopped to pick up my friend for school. We went up into the driveway of the house where I used to live. And . . . my mind took its journey too . . . back over the years to when I was a little girl . . .

My dad had been president of a small Bible college. Since our home was across a field, I would sometimes have to walk the distance across the yard, down past the apple tree, and through a very “scary” path with weeds on each side, past some neighbors houses and on up to the road that the college was on. It was quite a distance — for a little girl — and the path between the weeds was what I disliked the most.

After all, who knew what was living in those weeds — just ready to come out and get me? Snakes were the one things I feared most — at least until one fateful day. A friend was waiting for me over at the school — we were going to have such fun playing together. Dad was mowing the lawn, and mother was busy in the house . . . so, I was supposed to make my “trek” over to the college and we would walk back together.

Now just after the path through the weeds was a house. A ranch sort of home, and whoever was living there had two of the biggest Doberman pincher dogs ever known to man. (At least in my opinion!) They were big . . . and they were mean. . . and not usually out. But this day was different. As I entered the path of the “scary weeds” charging up the path from the other direction came a very UNFRIENDLY Doberman. I turned and ran . . . screaming at the top of my lungs! I must have screamed pretty loud — because here came Dad! He had heard me above the tractor/lawn mower and immediately came to help his daughter.

That did it! Mom had to drive me over to meet my friend. Nothing would lead me back over that particular path that particular day!

We have a Heavenly Father whose ears are OPEN to hear our cry! When we need forgiveness — He listens earnestly and will come the moment we open our mouth! He is waiting. If we are in trying circumstances — He hears our cry. He knows where we are. Whatever our need — His Father heart delights to hear us, and He is ready to provide what we need.

He knows what is best. He may not always give it just when or how WE think it needs to be done, but His loving heart will answer — in the way HE sees we need when we call on Him. He is a loving Father. One with the best interest of His children at heart. His ears are ALWAYS open!

 

Take it with You

“Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. For, ‘He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

I Peter 3:8-12

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



Heart and Soul

Heart and soul. How can I bring to You --

My Greatest Love -- The all of me?

Heart and soul. Long to lose the self of me

And simply let You be.

The ALL—

Of life, of life, of laughter

Of pain, and sorrowed morning’s after.

Heart and soul. Laid open – bare

Like charred earth from a forest fire.

Heart and soul. In feeble, whimpering attempts

I lay my head upon Your chest –

The ALL.

By: Janene A. Dubbeld

For God’s Glory

One Way Home

Travelling from south Georgia to Tennessee, my husband and I were in need of a post office. He had his phone GPS set for our directions – and it was talking to him – telling him when to turn, what highway to take, so he asked me to find a post office on my phone navigation.

In the mean time we stopped at a gas station, and we also asked them if they knew where the closest post office was. Their responses were amazing. The one girl told us it was beside CVS – which helped us immensely since we had no clue where CVS was. Another gentleman tried desperately to help us. He knew where HE would go – three lights down and one street over – over the railroad tracks – or something like that.

Bravely we headed in that general direction. Marks GPS was still talking to him, and I was trying to tell him what my navigation was quietly telling me from my phone. We thought we were doing pretty well, until we realized he was listening to the directions to keep him on the highway to Tennessee – and THINKING he was going to the post office – while I was mixing my directions with what I had heard from the gas station.

OFF went HIS phone – as to stop confusing us! We followed the directions from my phone – which was now set correctly and FINALLY found the post office!

When we stopped laughing – a simple truth hit home. There is one “navigation system “to follow – if we desire to enjoy eternal life. It’s the Word of God! Any other voice pointing to any other “way” will only serve to get us off track and confused.

As followers of Christ we also need to be ready to give “right directions” to those who need them! Hiding His Word in our hearts – and heading back to its pages when in question. There’s only one way home, and His Word gives us clear direction. Take some time to revel in it – TODAY!

Take it with You

“Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?”

I Corinthians 14:7&8

‘”Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

Fingerprints

Smudged again! My glasses can’t ever seem to stay clean! How DO they get so dirty? I mean, it isn’t like I’m putting my fingers all over my glasses every other second! At least I don’t THINK I am. However, there is some reason they are getting smudged!

Sliding glass doors – aren’t they wonderful? The view is so clear --- when they are clean! Usually they have to be cleaned often because someone left their fingerprints – not purposefully – just in passing . . .

Everyday we leave our fingerprints – most of the time we don’t even think about it! (Unless we have to clean them off!) In a much deeper sense of thinking, every day we leave fingerprints of the soul. Jesus tells us in Luke 6:43-45:“For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, not does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good: and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”

All of us touch someone – with our words, our actions, our reactions, our responses. We give, we take, and we live. By our every day living we leave behind the fingerprints of our soul. Many times they are unseen – but they are indelible – often creating an aura of legacy reaching beyond the span called a lifetime.

Recently my desire is strongly that the fingerprints I leave always have the Cross at the center. “Not I, but Christ!”

“O God, purify my soul so that the fingerprints I leave behind are not my own, but bear the markings of Christ. Gladly I exchange the shadows of the shallow to dive into You and allow You to make me into the person YOU desire me to become. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Take it with You

“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21

A Mission To Win

Recently my husband and I visited a sports store. We wandered around looking at anything that might pique our interest, and I must admit, because sports isn’t at the “top” of my “most interested” list, I grew a little weary. I found myself looking for a bench to sit down. Resting on shelving — even covering a few yawns.

As we were leaving the store, I saw a sign. It read something like this: “I never take the court without my mission.” THAT caught my eye! Yep, this person was a champion — and while many of the values, and lifestyle would definitely clash vehemently with mine, I could identify with the champion heart throb. This person saw the victory before it came. The mission was clear. Win.

Obviously a champion doesn’t become one overnight. Anything worth winning has to be worked for. Priorities take on a different light. Discipline, practice, effort become best friends of the winner.

Go for it. Fall down. Get up. Learn. Go for it. Fall down. Get up. Learn. Go for it. Fall down. Get up. WIN!!!!!

In the learning process things get left behind. Things with lesser value that hinder the progress. Things that prove stumbling blocks and cause us to fall down. Clearer and clearer becomes our mission as we realize the things that hinder and leave them far, far behind.

As a child, ice skating was a definite part of winter for me. In an effort to help me get started. my parents bought me “double runner” skates. However, their good intentions soon found me frustrated. We were skating on an outdoor pond. The snow packed into those things tight as could be, making it impossible to move. So, I had to leave those skates long behind, go for it on the single runner figure skates at hand. You guessed it. A few “bumps and bruises” with lots of “get up and go for it” I was soon rewarded with lots of time enjoying fun on the ice.

It’s time to grow! A brand new year in our sights is more than turning over a “new leaf.” Time to embrace it with a mission! A mission to leave behind ANYTHING that would hinder us from surrendering ALL to Jesus. A mission to “press on toward the goal,” as the Apostle Paul put it. A mission to mature in Christ and become useful in His Kingdom — following closely the very tone in His voice. A mission to share Jesus with others.

When do we win? Ah! THAT is the question with a very good answer. We WIN when we hear Him say, “Well done.” Each victory here causes us to live in His smile, and get a little closer to the day when the champions reach home. When we hear that voice we will know — We have WON!

By: Janene A. Dubbeld/ For God’s Glory

Take it with You

“But one thing I do, forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to wind the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 3:13b-14



Called To Follow

The modern conveniences of American culture have replaced the team of horses, or oxen, and the plow with tractors and other machinery. However, there are a few farmers who still use them — especially in the areas of strong Amish influence — and, third world countries often don’t have any other way to plow.

When we lived in Florida, our yard consisted of sand burs and fire ants — so, a few years ago, after our move to Virginia, I was aching to get my “toes in the dirt” and have a garden. My wonderful neighbors heard the news, and so, Mr. C. decided to help me out. The first site we chose didn’t turn out so well, so we decided to move on up to “higher ground.” We didn’t need a “plow” since it was only a small piece of land — so he brought out his rote tiller. There was one slight problem . . . It was rocky soil. After popping off a very valuable screw of his machinery, and working diligently to overcome, we were quite thankful when one of my other neighbors saw our plight, and kindly came with a tractor. Steadily he plowed the earth — while we picked rocks. . . Believe it or not, we were able to make the soil ready for planting, and ended up with a nice garden.

It wasn’t so much the means of getting the soil ready for planting that Jesus was getting at in our Scripture today. He was using the commonplace things of life, the things those around Him were familiar with, to illustrate, and get across eternal messages.

The motive of the heart was Jesus’ concern. That’s where the truth of who we are really lives. Self proclaimed willingness to follow was one thing. Self abandoned following was another.

Steady following in hard times as well as good times. Steady following when others misunderstand our complete devotion and solid commitment to His call. Following fervently when earthly loves can’t comprehend the earnestness of obedience to Him alone. Following when all seems lost because we trust the One who called — to be faithful to complete His call in us. Steady, faithful, fervent, following.

This is the following our Christ demands. There simply is no other way to follow — for no other way would work. It is the wholehearted, passionate pursuit of Him and His will. This and only this will make us “fit for service in the Kingdom of God.” (Matthew 9:62 NIV)

By: Janene A. Dubbeld/FGG

“Not what I wish to be,

Nor where I wish to go,

For who am I, that I should choose my way?

The Lord shall choose for me

Tis better far I know

So let Him bid me go — or stay.”

                                                       —-Selected

Take it with You

“Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Matthew 9:37-38