Today's One Thing

[Judy Harder]

Help your son- or daughter-in-law succeed with their new family.

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. —2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV) 

Your New Role as an In-Law
"I just don't get it," Michelle complained, to her friend, Bridgett. "We raised Stephanie in church, all her life, and yet she married, Paul, who has no desire to know God. He just doesn't fit with our family. He's so different."

Bridgett put her coffee cup down. "I know you raised her to make good decisions, but feel like she failed at one of the biggest decisions she will ever make. It's got to be hard to accept, but they are married and you want her marriage to succeed. Now that she's made the decision, it's time to begin your new role—helping your new son-in-law transition into good relationships with you and the rest of his new family."

"I know I have to ask the Lord to help me love him. When I criticize him, it creates a problem for Stephanie, and it creates a wedge between us." Bridgett replied, "Let's pray together and agree for the Lord to help you be a blessing to your daughter's marriage. I believe God will show you the way if you're willing to set aside your emotions and choose to do things His way."

As the parent of an adult child who made a choice you don't agree with, you may be correct in your reasoning, but you are not there to judge or point out their mistakes. Instead, do all you can to support your child and their spouse. Your decision helps other family members move toward reconciliation, no matter how you may feel about the situation.
 
Today's One Thing
How can you help your son- or daughter-in-law become successful with their relationship with the rest of the family?
 
Going Deeper
Isaiah 38:19; 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

[Judy Harder]

The wisdom of a grandparent can help navigate those difficult roads. 
 
Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness. When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble. Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life. —Proverbs 4:10-13 (ESV) 
 
Life Lessons from Grandpa
At 95 years old, Hannah's grandfather had lived a long life. He was in the hospital and his body was shutting down. His wife called the family and they all came—two children, five grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Even at seven years-old, Hannah's youngest nephew knew he was saying goodbye for the last time. That evening while the family was gathered at Hannah's aunt's house, just an hour away from the hospital, they received the news that Grandpa had died.

"I'm just so thankful he was still there mentally today, to say our goodbyes; to remember him and the way he was with each one of us. To remind him of the stories he always told and the lovely things he did for us." "Like building us that tree house," John, the oldest of the grandchildren, chimed in.

"It was a sweet time," his sister, Micah, said. "It means so much to have had today with him." Hannah pulled out a book she'd brought from home to share with the family. "Years ago, I gave this book to Grandpa. It's one of those legacy books, where he answered questions about his life. The family gathered around and Hannah shared an entry from one of the pages. The question asked, What advice about life do you want others to remember? To which he had replied: To live for the Lord, Jesus, with a whole heart, listening and being obedient to Him.

He was a quiet man of few words, but throughout the book, the children and grandchildren found words of love and encouragement individually—stories he had cherished about each one he had loved.

Navigating the roads of life can be extremely difficult, no matter how young or old you are, especially when you don't have anyone to help guide you. The wisdom of a grandparent can help, sometimes they're just waiting for you to ask.
 
Today's One Thing
Do you have a grandparent who is just waiting to share with you? Ask them about their life lessons today.
 
Going Deeper
Proverbs 4:10-27; Psalm 145:1-21

[Judy Harder]

If your goal is to bring glory to God and please Christ, you must recognize that God does the saving, but you've got to do the living. 

For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. —James 1:23-24 (ESV) 
 
Do You Like What You See?
A.W. Tozer said, "The stiff and wooden quality about our religious lives is a result of our lack of holy desire. Complacency is a deadly foe of all spiritual growth. Acute desire must be present or there will be no manifestation of Christ to His people."

So many of us live a life of complacency—self-satisfied. We feel like it's enough to go to church on Sunday and hear the message with no self-discipline to study God's Word for ourselves or follow through on the things we've heard. The disciple, James compared it to looking at yourself in the mirror: you see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.

Sometimes, if we're honest, we don't want to see a true picture of ourselves. God has given you a purpose and filled you with His potential to fulfil that purpose, but it takes action on our part.

If your goal is to bring glory to God and please Christ, you must recognize that God does the saving, but you've got to do the living. We are each accountable for how we live our days. An intentional life in Christ requires you to know, care and do what the Bible teaches so you can bring Him pleasure by living the life He created for you and experience His peace.
 
Today's One Thing
Examine your life today. Do you like what you see? Is it bringing pleasure to Christ? What ONE THING could you do today to improve on that?
 
Going Deeper
Revelation 3:14-22; Luke 9:23-27

[Judy Harder]

Are you looking for parenting advice? 
 
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. —Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV) 
 
Knowing Who to Ask for Advice
Brenda sat on the bleachers, bundled from head to toe in the cold as she watched her ten-year-old son's baseball practice. She reached down to pour herself another cup of hot chocolate from the thermos into her coffee mug as another mother from the team sat down next to her. "Hot chocolate," she offered. "Oh, no thanks," Rachel replied. "I brought coffee."

"Hey, can I ask you something," Rachel asked. "Sure," Brenda replied. "We are really struggling with some issues with Corbin," she admitted. "I could really use some parenting advice. I don't think we're doing things right. Sometimes I think we're too hard on him, so I pull back and then feel like I'm inconsistent."

"I'm so flattered that you'd ask me parenting advice, but I don't have any to give," Brenda told her. "I feel like offering parenting advice now, when I'm in the middle of it all, wouldn't benefit you because I don't have a proven product." Rachel looked defeated.

"But," Brenda continued, "I'll tell you something I did learn. Instead of going to other parents and asking advice as they are parenting their child, you might want to go to someone who turned out to be an outstanding adult that you really admire, then ask them what they think their parents did right for them to turn out so great."

"That's great advice," Rachel exclaimed. "So, tell me what your parents did right."           
 
Today's One Thing
Do you have an adult child in mind that you admire? Ask them about what their parents did that made a powerful impact on the man or woman they are today.
 
Going Deeper
Proverbs 3:1-12; Proverbs 19:20

 

[Judy Harder]

Real-life adventures await, as you read and experience the Word of God. 
 
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. —2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV) 
 
Time Well Spent
The time machine worked brilliantly, as far as Zoe could tell. It had transported her to the bottom of a small mountain, punctuated by clumps of fading grass, and overlooking a town. She'd set the machine to take her back to ancient days, nearly 900 years before Christ, and here she was.

She came upon a lovely home, clearly lavish for that time. Drawing closer, she peered inside and saw a boy, motionless and ashen, lying on a couch. Suddenly, a man rushed into the room and shut the door. Zoe knew from her history that this was a special person, a man of God. She watched in awe as the man lay on top of the boy, eyes to eyes and hands to hands, and prayed. The man got up, then went back to the boy and repeated the routine. Without warning, the boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes! Quietly, Zoe slipped away and wept. She'd just witnessed the prophet Elisha and the resurrection from the dead of the son of the Shunammite woman.

You don't need a time machine for Scripture to come alive. As you habitually break open its pages, you'll be transported to places and meet people that will astound you. From the Old Testament to the New, the Bible is filled with accounts that will challenge your faith and inspire your hope in God. All you have to do is open your imagination and make the time.       
 
Today's One Thing
Read a Bible story that's not as well-known as others. Pretend you are actually there, and experience the scene with your senses.
 
Going Deeper
2 Kings 4:8-37; Hebrews 11:17-35

[Judy Harder]

Find renewed assurance that God will take care of you.
 
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. —Matthew 11:30 (ESV) 
 
Way Maker
To say the least, it wasn't all she expected it to be. It was more.

When Maggie signed up to attend the weekend-long worship conference, she went in with what she felt were reasonable expectations. Since she'd lost her job six months earlier, she couldn't find new work, and her savings account was almost depleted. Her son, Jason, was doing okay, but he was going to need new school clothes soon, not to mention fees for another year of Little League. Maggie was combating her anxiety through her faith in God as best she could, but she was starting to feel more depressed with each day. She hoped the conference, and the two days away from Jason as he stayed with his grandmother, would refresh her.

As she entered into praise the opening day, Maggie instantly felt her spirit soothed by the songs and messages shared during the services. It was on Sunday when she experienced her unexpected breakthrough. As she adored the Lord, she literally felt a weight lifted from her soul. The fear was swept away and replaced by a renewed assurance that God would make a way for her and her son. When Maggie returned home that night after picking up Jason, she checked her voice mail: it contained two job interview requests. "Thank you, Jesus!" she proclaimed as she tucked her son into bed.

Trust God to carry your need. Financial or spiritual, health concern or psychological, He will make a way. Expect it!     
 
Today's One Thing
Sing a song aloud to the Lord, and then worship Him silently.
 
Going Deeper
Psalm 116:1-9; Philippians 4:4-9

[Judy Harder]

He had heard about practicing the presence of God, but today he really knew what it meant. 
 
Pray without ceasing. —1 Thessalonians 5:17 (ESV) 
 
Shuttle Talk
John sat on the airport shuttle watching people come and go. He wondered where they were all going and why. There was a lady with a little girl. They seemed to be in a hurry. There was a man with a brief case who kept checking his phone. People were everywhere he looked, people who had lives. People who had needs. It was strange because he had never really thought about it before. Maybe it was because he was usually texting or typing an email while he traveled. In the past, he had even participated in meetings on the phone while riding the shuttle. But this time was different.

"God," he prayed, "Be with that lady and her little girl. Keep them safe. And help that man who seems stressed and in a hurry."

He had heard about practicing the presence of God, but today he really knew what it meant. It wasn't hard. He just had to focus for a few minutes and he could have a nonverbal chat in this public place with the God of the universe.

Stepping off the shuttle, John was refreshed as he prayed for his wife and each of his little girls. He could think of no better way to spend his travel time.

Are you feeling rushed in your day to day activities? Take some time to practice the presence of God as you go about your day. He is ready and waiting to answer.   
 
Today's One Thing
Talk to God about your needs and those around you as you go about your day today.
 
Going Deeper
Matthew 21:22, Ephesians 6:16-18

[Judy Harder]

God desires for us to trust in Him by faith, knowing He is as real as the air we breathe.   
 
Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory... — 1 Peter 1:8 (ESV) 
 
Eyes of Faith
Stephanie sat staring at the screen of her laptop, amazed at the revelation she just experienced.

It wasn't from the teaching of the devotional she'd just read, although it was wonderful and had uplifted her spirit, just as it did each day. No, it was from something more basic—and more awesome. She thought about her Internet access, how it was always there on her computer even though she couldn't see the waves that make up the Internet, nor could she see the wi-fi signal that sent it from her router to the machine in front of her. Yet because of these invisible forces, she was now reading a devotional, written just for her and expressing the truth of the living God. "I guess seeing isn't believing after all, is it?" she thought as she logged off to leave for work.

It's easy as a Christian to get frustrated because we can't see God. All of us at some point have wished He would just materialize before us and sit down at our side. Yet He doesn't. Why? Because He wants us to trust in Him by faith, the undeniable knowledge that as certainly as the air we breathe is real, so is He! Let the Bible daily reveal God to you, believe in what it says about Him, and look forward to that day in eternity when you will finally see Him as He is.
 
Today's One Thing
Write down three things that are invisible, yet benefit your life. Thank God for each one. 
 
Going Deeper
John 3:11-21; John 20:24-31; Hebrews 11:1-16


 

[Judy Harder]

I think you're getting the hang of it! 

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. —John 13:35 (ESV) 
 
A Time for Everything
The warm sunshine felt luxurious on her face. Louise really needed to get outside more.

"Mom! Are you ready to catch the Frisbee?" her son hollered from across the grassy field. He had begged her to stop her work and take him to the park.

"Ready!" Louise positioned herself to make the catch, a bit surprised by how good it felt to be playing with her son. Life gets so busy with errands, bill paying, cleaning, work and shuttling the kids around to all their activities. She tossed the Frisbee back to Zach.

"Nice! Mom, I think you're getting the hang of it!" Zach seemed genuinely proud of his mother's athletic ability.

Later, as they headed back home, Zach chatted more than usual, talking about school, his friend who just moved, the next video game he wanted. Louise was able to interject some food for thought, and it was received. As she planned to go to the park more often, she realized she would have to purposely stop what she had to do and make the time for this casual conversation that was worth its weight in gold.

What is the temperature of your relationships with your loved ones? Are you taking the time to spend together to develop a bond that can never be broken?
 
Today's One Thing
Plan to spend some time with a loved one just enjoying each other's company.
 
Going Deeper
Galatians 5:13-14, Luke 6:38

[Judy Harder]

Focus on truth and God will use you to accomplish mighty things through Him. 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. —2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV) 
 
The Unpardonable Sin
"I can't be close to God anymore. I've committed the unpardonable sin." Jan could hardly believe the words coming out of her friend's mouth. But she could see her shame in her downcast face.

"Sue, the only unpardonable sin is rejection of Christ. Do you think His death on the cross was not enough to take care of your disobedience? Turn away from it and go the other way. Believe what is true about who you are in Christ." Jan was desperate for her friend to understand. It was so hard to see her like this.

"You really think so?" Sue looked up. Had she been believing a lie this whole time?

"I don't just think so. I know so! God loves you. He knew what choices you would make and He still gave His Son for you," Jan exploded with hope. "Through forgiveness, your relationship can be restored. Stop walking around defeated and start believing what is true!"

Sue felt like a hundred pounds had been lifted off her shoulders. She vowed to focus on what was true and not to give a second thought to what was not.

Are you filling your mind with truth? Or is it cluttered with lies that drag you down? Focus on truth and God will use you to accomplish mighty things through Him.     
 
Today's One Thing
Choose to believe the truth about who you are in Christ and don't give a second to thoughts that don't line up with what the Bible says about you.
 
Going Deeper
1 Corinthians 10:13, John 16:27