Happy Independence Day

[Judy Harder]

Building A Team

Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. - Galatians 6:2

Way up on the top of the Spanish Pyrenees Mountains lives the beautiful but elusive mountain goat. Mature mountain goats are often hunted for their coats, but it's extremely difficult to get within shooting range. Why? Because the mature goat has a companion: a young goat with good eyesight, good hearing and a good sense of smell follows it wherever it goes and sounds the warning if enemies emerge.

The rhinoceros is another magnificent animal. It can run at remarkable speeds and despite its poor eyesight, is fearless in charging its enemies. But the rhino gets help. The rhino's skin is infested with ticks, which are a delicacy to a little bird that rides on its back. The birds have keen eyesight, and when they sense danger they sound the alarm, alerting the rhino.

If you'd like to live your life in Christ to the fullest, you need to team up with others too! We weren't meant to go it alone! Choose to connect and to relate to others.

"Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships." - Michael Jordan (1963-    )

[Judy Harder]

Calling

With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. - 2 Thessalonians 1:11

My friend was an English teacher at a Christian high school. One day while talking to her students about what they want to do in life, she asked what considerations might motivate their career selection. Money was the top answer, followed by talent, ability, and a general liking for the type of work. "Are you saying," she asked her class, "that none of you have considered your future occupation in light of what God would have you do?"

Sadly, many people think that unless they've received "a calling" to become a minister or missionary, God can pretty much stay out of the career picture. But God calls dentists, salesclerks, insurance salesmen, truck drivers, moms, and corporate executives. Whatever your occupation might be, see it as a calling from God. And recognize that our main calling in life is to be Christ-like, no matter what we do, who we're with, or where we are.

"God does not call those that are equipped. He equips those whom He has called." - Smith Wigglesworth (1859-1947)

[Judy Harder]

Our Only Real Hope

He has caused his wonders to be remembered;
The Lord is gracious and compassionate.
He provides food for those who fear him;
He remembers his covenant forever. - Psalm 111:4-5

Donna and her husband had two babies and barely got by on the tiny pension he received from the Navy. It took more than half their income just to pay the rent. Needless to say, the money often ran out before the month did.

One month, their financial situation was so bad Donna had no money left to buy laundry soap. She got on her knees and prayed, "God, I've never needed you like I need you now. I have nothing, and I need you to provide soap to wash these diapers."

Hearing a noise at the front door, Donna got up to see who it was. Someone had left a promotional sample of soap on her doorstep. Some would call the provision a coincidence, but Donna knew it was an act of God – a "divine" coincidence.

Are you dealing with difficult circumstances? Have you talked to God about your challenges, and your needs? God wants you to come to Him and to rely upon Him.

"Fear knocked at the door. Faith answered. No one was there." - Old saying

[Judy Harder]

Perseverance

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive  the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. - James 1:12

Soon after making a decision to follow Christ, a young Nigerian named Daniel returned to his Muslim village. He was excited about his new faith. . .  the people of his village were not. Furious at him, the women of the village beat him and left him for dead.

When he regained consciousness the following day, he decided he must not have been clear in explaining his new faith. So he went back to the village and witnessed again. The women beat him and left him for dead again. This time he remained unconscious for two days.

When he awoke, he again assumed he hadn't expressed himself well. So he returned a third time. This time the village women broke into tears at his perseverance, and eventually the good news of Christ gained a foothold in that place.

If you're weary in sharing the good news of Jesus with friends, family, or your kids—take heart. And remember, we share Christ by our actions and how we conduct our lives—as much as we do with our words.

"Perseverance is a great element of success. If you only knock long enough and loud enough at the gate, you are sure to wake up somebody." - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)

[Judy Harder]

Struggle

Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings  in order that we may also share in his glory. - Romans 8:17

Either outright or subtly many people who follow Jesus and walk with God think they shouldn't struggle. We think God will give us lives of ease and comfort once we decide to follow Christ. The idea is: If we're good Christians, we'll have it all together. If we have enough faith, our conflicts and problems would resolve themselves. When you come to Christ, your problems disappear. In fact, many churches will communicate that very message week in and week out. As a result, those who attend those churches hide their struggles, because they mistakenly equate struggles with a lack of faith.

But the Christian walk wasn't meant to be a stroll through the park. Following Jesus won't remove struggles from your life; in fact it often adds to the struggle. Some of the most committed Christians have lived some of the most difficult lives. The Bible goes so far as to tell us to expect trials and difficulties, and to be joyful when we face them.

With Christ, you can do that. On your own, you're destined to fail.

"If you are going through hell, keep going." - Winston Churchill (1874-1965)

[Judy Harder]

The Fall

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. - Psalm 73:26

Adam and Eve's fall – when they took the bite of that apple—wasn't  like falling off a stepladder; it was like falling off Mount Everest. It was mankind's fall, and we weren't just dented; we were demolished.

Once we realize that all of our thoughts and desires are twisted, and all of our strength is diverted away from God; then we'll begin realizing how dangerous it is to rely solely on our own strength, desire, and wisdom.

Human strength fails when you don't see any results. Human motivation ends when applause and affirmation fade. And human wisdom tells us to get ahead and then quit.

But God's strength becomes perfect when we're weak. His approval comes when we stop trying to please the crowd. And His wisdom tells us to stop trying to lead the way and to follow Him instead.

Remember, God's grace is greater than our ability to mess up.

"Above all, believe confidently that Jesus delights in maintaining that new nature within you, and imparting to it His strength and wisdom for its work."- Andrew Murray (1828-1917)

[Judy Harder]

Thin Ice

But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. - Jeremiah 17:7-8

When I was a boy, I fell into freezing water while trying to cross some thin ice. A while later, my brothers took me to a frozen pond—where I wasn't in jeopardy of falling through. It was frozen thick and solid.

Yet even when my brothers ran out onto the ice to demonstrate its sturdiness, they had a difficult time convincing me it would support my weight. I'd been fooled by solid-looking ice before. Finally, they dragged me onto the ice. At first, I tested it nervously. Then slowly and hesitantly I began to trust the ice.

My experiences with ice remind me of the philosophies and teachings in which we put our faith. We have to test them to make sure they're trustworthy.

Are you trusting in thin ice? Or in something thick and solid? Put your faith in Christ!

"Trust the past to God's mercy, the present to God's love, and the future to God's providence." - St. Augustine (354-430)

[Judy Harder]

What's Wrong With Grownups

Fathers, do not embitter your children or they will become discouraged. - Colossians 3:21

"What's wrong with grownups?" This was a question posed by a Sunday school teacher to a class of ten-year-olds. See if you recognize yourself in any of these complaints.

1. Grownups make promises, then forget them, or say it wasn't a promise, just a "maybe."
2. Grownups don't do the things they tell their children to do—like pick up their things or always tell the truth.
3. Grownups don't listen. They decide ahead of time what they're going to answer.
4. Grownups make mistakes, but won't admit them. They pretend they weren't mistakes at all—or that somebody else made them.
5. Grownups always talk about what they did and what they knew when they were ten-years-old, but they don't try to think what it's like to be ten-years-old right now.

If you're like me, right now you're thinking, "Ouch!" Children are perceptive, and they are much more pure in heart than we give them credit for. Take time for them, be honest with them, don't be afraid to say, "I'm sorry".

"Nothing you ever do for a child is wasted." - Garrison Keillor (1942-    )

[Judy Harder]

Bad Coffee

Bear with each other and forgive grievances. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. - Colossians 3:13-14

Karin ruled her family with her explosive, irrational anger. Her children and grandchildren never knew what would set her off. Being around her was like being in a minefield. You knew you had to get out, but you were too afraid to take a step.

Yet every time Karin had one of these outbursts, she'd blame it on bad coffee. "I just got a hold of some bad coffee and just wasn't myself," she'd say.

Do you have some "bad coffee?"—some excuse you're using for out-of-line behaviors? Are you rationalizing behaviors because you say you're "tired," "under stress," or some other unique yet unacceptable excuse?

The best thing to do is confess. Confess to God, and confess to others.

"It is the confession, not the priest, that gives us absolution." - Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)

[Judy Harder]

Growing in Christ

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. - Isaiah 55:8

People today are striving for personal improvement, self-empowerment, and inner strength. Yet, Christianity has a completely opposite way of thinking; it's full of paradoxes. We die to live; we lose to find; and we surrender to gain strength.

When Jesus overcame death, he defeated the worst enemy of all. Today we're left to battle with far lesser foes, knowing that He's already won the war.

When we stop trying to control the outcome of every situation and stop demanding that God resolve our problems according to our dictates, we unlock the door for God to show us his redemptive purpose.

Praying, "Your will be done" gets us out of God's way and removes our ideas as to how things are supposed to work out in our lives, and allows God's ideas to take control 

Are you struggling to be a better follower of Jesus? Spiritual growth results from trusting Jesus. A life of faith will enable you to trust God increasingly without knowing what's around the corner.

"Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith." - Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887)