Happy Independence Day

[Judy Harder]

Faith and Understanding

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. - Proverbs 3:5-6

Upon returning from space, the Russian cosmonaut Gherman Titoy said, "Some people say there is a God out there...but in my travels around the earth all day long, I looked around and didn't see Him...I saw no God nor angels.  The rocket was made by our own people.  I don't believe in God.  I believe in man, his strength, his possibilities, and his reason."

Isn't it amazing that at moments when we're most vulnerable, and most clearly confronted with God's majesty, we can be so unaware of His presence? 

God is wiser than we can comprehend, more immense than we're comfortable with, and merciful beyond the reaches of our imaginations. 

Yet, He's also the One through whom everything makes sense.  So don't mistakenly think that faith is the result of understanding.  It's the opposite.  Faith is the basis for understanding.   

"Faith is the strength by which a shattered world shall emerge into the light." - Helen Keller (1880-1968)

[Judy Harder]

Growing in Wisdom

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.  - 2 Chronicles 7:14

If life were like the movies, you'd expect the following:

• The ventilation system of any building would be the perfect hiding place.
• The Eiffel Tower could be seen from any window in Paris.
• A man would show no pain while taking the most ferocious beating, but wince in pain when a woman tries to clean his wounds.
• It wouldn't be necessary to say hello or good-bye when beginning or ending phone conversations.
• It wouldn't matter if you're heavily outnumbered in a fight; your enemies would patiently wait to attack you one by one by dancing around in a threatening manner until you've knocked out their predecessors.

Life, however, isn't like the movies.  There are all sorts of unexpected, non-cliché turns in real life.  Therefore, we must continually seek after and grow in wisdom—the kind God happily gives when we ask.

"If ye keep watch over your hearts, and listen for the voice of God and learn of him, in one short hour ye can learn more from him than ye could learn from man in a thousand years." - Johannes Tauler (1300-1361)

[Judy Harder]

Healing Your Past and Future

Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise. - Jeremiah 17:14

Senator Max Cleland lost his legs and right hand in Vietnam.  When he shared at his Bible study he'd been having the same dream for thirty years—accidentally dropping a grenade, leaping on it, and then it exploding—the group prayed the Lord would heal that memory. 

Two days later the History Channel broadcast his story.  A man saw it and phoned Max.  "Senator," he said, "you have the story all wrong.  That wasn't your grenade.  It was a young recruit behind you who had opened the pins on his grenades before jumping out of the helicopter.  One of them popped out of the belt and rolled on the ground.  You leaped on it to save us all.  I wrapped you up myself and got you to the hospital.  I was on the helicopter; I know how it happened."

When your past heals, your future finds healing too.  Don't put off beginning the healing process—do something about it today.   

"Nothing in life is more exciting and rewarding than the sudden flash of insight that leaves you a changed person—not only changed, but for the better." - Arthur Gordon (1829-1912)

[Judy Harder]

Soul Hunger

Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." - John 6:35

Soul hunger is the same whether we live in the White House or a homeless shelter; whether we're the latest star, sex symbol or a devoted stay-at-home wife and mother; whether we're Bill Gates or Fred Sanford.  Whoever we are, wherever life has taken us, however much we have or lack, we hunger for more; something richer, deeper, prettier, tastier, faster—something that satisfies.

Some people acknowledge their hunger and seek to satisfy it in socially acceptable ways: education, career, family, friends, or public service.  Others grow desperate and angry, and attempt to satisfy their hunger in socially unacceptable ways: promiscuity, the misuse of drugs and alcohol, or even violence.

Whichever category we best fit, our need is the same: God.  And the only way to find God is by surrendering to Him.  It might not be easy for you to do, but it's very simple to surrender. Try it.

"If we do not abide in prayer, we will abide in temptation. Let this be one aspect of our daily intercession: "God, preserve my soul, and keep my heart and all its ways so that I will not be entangled." When this is true in our lives, a passing temptation will not overcome us. We will remain free while others lie in bondage." - John Owen (1616-1683)

[Judy Harder]

The Bible

These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  - Deuteronomy 6:6-7

God's Word is a love letter wrapped in history, poetry, and wisdom.  Consider what some influential historical figures have said about God's timeless Word:

• Abraham Lincoln said, "I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man.  All the good from the Savior of the world is communicated to us through this book."
• Horace Greeley resounded, "It is impossible to mentally or socially enslave a Bible-reading people.  The people of the Bible are the groundwork for human freedom."     
• Charles Dickens believed, "The New Testament is the very best book that ever was or ever will be known in the world."
• And...Dwight D. Eisenhower proclaimed, "To read the Bible is to take a trip to a fair land where the spirit is strengthened and faith renewed."

What does the Bible mean to you? Have you picked yours up and read it lately. It's probably your most treasured possession; but it's worthless just sitting on the shelf.  Read it.  Study it. Share it.  You can start today.

"Read the Bible as if you were seeking for something of great value. It is a good deal better to take a single chapter and spend a month on it than to read the Bible at random for a month." - D. L. Moody (1837-1899)

[Judy Harder]

The Power of Words

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. - Psalm 19:14

My friend was watching the NBA's slam-dunk contest with his 10-year-old son Zachary, and his 12-year-old son Brock.  After a spectacular dunk by a player about four inches shorter than his dad, Zachary asked, "Why can't you slam-dunk like that, dad?  Are you too fat?"

As my friend was about to respond, his eldest son Brock chimed in: "Zachary, Dad isn't too fat; he weighs the same as Michael Jordan."  My friend's chest swelled.  Not only was he raising a real genius, he'd discovered that, in his son's eyes, he was actually "like Mike."  But all that abruptly ended with Brock's closing comment: "Dad's not too fat.  He's just too old." 

Words are powerful, and rarely neutral.  If you want yours to be agents of blessing, they must always be spoken in truth and love.  Think about your words before you speak, and look for ways in which your words will bring God glory.

"Sticks and stones may break our bones, but words will break our hearts." - Robert Fulghum (1937-    )

[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)