Happy Independence Day

[Judy Harder]

Giving the Best Answer

We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true—even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.- 1 John 5:20

A college philosophy professor asked just one question on his final exam. He picked up a chair, put it on his desk, and wrote on the blackboard, "Using everything we have learned this semester, prove that this chair does not exist."

Most students wrote feverishly for the entire hour, some of them churning out twenty pages of heady philosophical logic. But one student turned in her paper after less than a minute—and she was the only one to get an A. What did she write? Two simple words: "What chair?"

Engaging people in a gentle, respectful, yet influential manner is an art. There are numerous ideological and emotional pitfalls to avoid with balanced decision-making skills and alert reasoning. But this young philosophy student has learned something that we too must learn: sometimes the wisest argument is no argument at all.

"Faith is not being sure where you're going but going anyway." - Frederick Buechner (1926-    )

[Judy Harder]

Gloom

But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful. - Psalm 68:3

A recent edition of the New York Times featured news of a new toy—a plush "Ask Me More Eeyore," modeled after the gloomy donkey from Winnie the Pooh.  The toy is designed for children aged three to seven.  The paper remarked that these are just the right ages, apparently, to learn about undaunted pessimism.

Eeyore responds to children's questions with comments like, "Don't' count on it," "Doesn't look good," "Outcome looks sort of gloomy," "You can't win them all," and "Looks good for you, must be nice."

Sometimes Eeyore will even ask the child, "You wouldn't want me for a friend, would you?"

As if life isn't tough enough for some kids.

Do you have a gloomy Eeyore in your life?  Perhaps you've taken on that role for yourself!

If you're busy looking for all the things that can go wrong, you're sure to miss the blessings God has prepared for you.

"It is not fitting when one is in God's service, to have a gloomy face or a chilling look." - St. Francis of Assisi (1181-1226)

[Judy Harder]

Persevering Amidst Hardship

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. - Romans 5:3-5

In 1741 George Frideric Handel wrote Messiah, one of the finest and most inspiring musical scores ever composed. In the time leading up to his greatest accomplishment, Handel's health and fortunes had reached a low ebb. A stroke had left the right side of his body paralyzed; and he worked under the threat of imprisonment on account of crushing financial debt.

I can't help but wonder whether Handel would've chosen the tenuous life of a composer had he known ahead of time the suffering he'd endure. If not, the world would've missed the blessing of this timeless and beautiful composition of praise.

Like Handel, we don't know what our future holds. But we can be confident that God does, and that He uses every hardship to mold our character and accomplish a plan that remains perfect despite our inability to comprehend it. I pray that today you persevere in that certain hope.   

"Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish." - John Quincy Adams (1767-1848)

[Judy Harder]

Folly of Bitterness

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger ,brawling, and slander, along with every form of malice. - Ephesians 4:31

Two shopkeepers owned stores directly across the street from each other. Each spent his days tracking the other's business, and gloating triumphantly each time a customer chose his own store. Over time, they became bitter rivals.

One night an angel appeared to one of the shopkeepers and said, "I'll give you anything you request, but whatever you receive, your competitor will receive double. Would you be rich? You can be very rich indeed, but he'll be twice as wealthy. Do you desire a long and healthy life? Request it, but his life will be longer and healthier. What's your desire?"

The man thought for a moment, and with a sly grin, stated, "Strike me blind in one eye!"

Bitterness is relentless and dangerous when allowed to take root in our hearts. It destroys decision-making abilities and compromises otherwise focused and productive lives. Its only remedy is forgiveness—given freely by Jesus Christ. And if you believe the Bible, we are to dispense it generously to others. 

Take a step out of bitterness into forgiveness today. Forgive the unforgivable. You can do it! 

"We forgive to the extent that we love." - La Rochefoucauld (1613-1680)

[Judy Harder]

Overcoming Criticism

Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith will it be done to you" and their sight was restored. - Matthew 9:29

When Samuel Morse was requesting Congressional support for a telegraph line from Baltimore to Washington, he endured the press' sustained criticism for more than eleven years.

In 1842, when Adam Thompson set up the first bathtub in America, the newspapers said his vision—now a staple of convenient cleanliness in every home—was "going to spoil the democratic simplicity of the republic."

And when Cyrus Field was attempting to lay the first cable across the Atlantic, he was denounced as "a mad freak of stubborn ignorance."

Sometimes a wise and well-placed word of caution is just what we need, but not always.  Often the criticism people heap upon the new or the uncommon is motivated by fear. Having the discernment to know the difference is crucial to knowing when to rethink and when to press on. And as Samuel Morse, Adam Thompson, and Cyrus Field demonstrate; God honors people of vision who take steps of faith.

"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal." - Henry Ford (1863-1947)

[Judy Harder]

Wolves in the Dark

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. - Isaiah 41:10

When Lord Mountbatten, a British naval commander, was five years old, he disliked sleeping in the dark.  He confided in his father that his concern wasn't the dark itself, but rather the wolves inhabiting the darkness.  His father tried to assure him that there weren't wolves in their house, but his boy responded, "I daresay there aren't.  But I think there are."

Aren't we good at conjuring up beasts?  Even though our brains know there aren't wolves in the attic or monsters under the bed, we still lie awake with our fingers and toes tucked beneath the blankets. 

Friend, God doesn't intend for you to live a life of fear.  Like a protective father, He is there to comfort and assure us that we are not alone.  Chase the wolves from your darkness. God will help you.  It might be as simple as a prayer, or it might entail the help of a pastor or a professional counselor.  Take a step toward chasing your wolves today.

"Every morning I spend fifteen minutes filling my mind full of God; and so there's no room left for worry thoughts." - Howard Chandler Christy (1873-1952)

[Judy Harder]

Quenched Thirst

But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. - John 4:14

In this touching excerpt from C.S. Lewis' series of children's books, The Chronicles of Narnia, the Lion represents Jesus:
"Are you not thirsty?" said the Lion.
"I'm dying of thirst," said Jill.
"Then drink," said the Lion...
"Will you promise not to do anything to me...?" said Jill.
"I make no promise," said the Lion.
Jill was so thirsty now that ... she had gone a step nearer.
"Do you eat girls?" she asked.
"I have swallowed up girls and boys, women and men, kings and emperors, cities and realms," said the Lion. . .
"I daren't come and drink," said Jill.
"Then you will die of thirst," said the Lion.
"Oh dear!" said Jill, coming another step nearer.  "I suppose I must go and look for another stream then."
"There is no other stream," said the Lion.

If you're thirsty, there is no other stream than the living water offered to us in Jesus.  Drink of the living water He offers to you.

"When by the Spirit of God, I understood these words, 'The just shall live by faith,' I felt born again like a new man. I entered through the open doors into the very paradise of God!" - Martin Luther (1483-1546)

[Judy Harder]

Close the Gate

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. - Ephesians 4:32

My friend grew up on a farm, and she once told me that her sole responsibility was to close the gate behind her.  That way the livestock couldn't backtrack into a field of alfalfa.  All she had to do was close the gate behind her.

Back then she thought gate closing was boring work—just a whole lot of waiting, then something happened.  She discovered that while gate closing isn't prestigious or exciting, it's vitally important.

On the path to wellness and wholeness, there are many gates to close. Closing the gate means not leaving loose ends hanging. 

Are there people with whom you have loose ends? Do you need to return something you "borrowed?" Is there restitution or an overdue apology that might renew a relationship?

My friend's mom used to tell her, "Close the gates behind you."  Most often she was talking about more than the field gate—she was talking about all the gates of life.  What gates do you need to close?

The closing of a door can bring blessed privacy and comfort—the opening terror.  Conversely, the closing of a door can be a sad and final thing—the opening a wonderfully joyous moment." - Andy Rononey (1919 -

[Judy Harder]

Control

For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, "Do not fear; I will help you." - Isaiah 41:13

When Napoleon was a young boy, he'd stand brave and unflinching while the soldiers fired off their cannons, yet he seemed afraid of the nearby ocean. Determined to help the child overcome his fears, one of the royal attendants picked the boy up and tossed him into the waves. After struggling onto dry land, the young prince ran away shrieking in terror.

Later, someone asked why he was afraid of the sea and not the loud cannonade of the soldiers. The boy considered the question for a moment, then answered, "Because I'm in command of the soldiers, but I'm not in command of the sea."

Aren't most of us afraid of the things we can't control? What should we do to counter our fears? Norman Vincent Peale once said, "...Let faith, hope and courage enter your thinking. Fear is strong, but faith is stronger yet."

"Keep your fears to yourself but share your courage." - Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1994)

[Judy Harder]

Fools and Liars

The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." - Psalms 14:1

Desperate for gambling money, mom took a crowbar to her husband's locked desk drawer.  Her search for the family's emergency funds also led her to the children's savings bonds, which she promptly cashed in for less than their value and gambled away.

Dad explained to Brian and Kelly that Mom had spent all the money—again.  Kelly was in tears.  Brian simply said, "How could you, Mom?  How can we eat?  How can I play football?  How can we pay the bills if you keep doing this?  Don't you love us enough to stop?  You promised! You promised, you liar!"

Tired of living like a fool, mom finally got help. 

It's hard to admit when I've been a fool . . . to be honest about how my foolishness has hurt others.  But Jesus came for fools and liars.  I'm thankful for that, aren't you?

"The trouble ain't that there is too many fools, but that the lightning ain't distributed right." - Mark Twain (1835-1910)