Jesus IS the Light

by Barbara Chadwick



We were sitting in the forward lounge of the Le Conte ferry on our way to Tenakee Springs. Being the second week in December in Alaska it was naturally dark at six A.M. Clouds covered the sky making it seem darker. World news was dismal - Crime, War, Congress seemingly working against the people, every kind of Vice and Lawlessness, and the economy. People around us were sleeping - oblivious to the chaos of the world.

This was my first time to go to Tenakee. I was told there was a lot of alcoholism and depression there. They have some Mormons and a Catholic chapel. The village has about forty-five people in winter and fifty-two dogs! Our church in Juneau provides an evangelical worship service once a month so this was our time.

Tenakee has a hot springs where the people bathe. There are hours for women and hours for men. One woman told me that you develop the Tenakee Stare - that is you look at eyes, never lower your eyes!

A couple of hours later after daybreak - still sitting in the darkened lounge looking out over the ocean - my mind was full of heavy things. Suddenly in the distance the sun broke through the clouds and a shaft of light came straight down. The reflection of the light on the water was brilliant!

I was reminded of the scripture in Isaiah "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of darkness, a light has dawned." Isaiah 9:2

That scripture is quoted in Matthew 4:16 "The people who live in darkness have seen a great light, and for those living in the shadowland of death, light has dawned. "

God looked down from heaven and knew we needed a Savior. He placed His only Son in a manger. A bright star and angels announced His arrival. Shepherds and Wise Men worshipped Him and He became the Light of the world.

Our Light.

Jesus says in John 8:12, "I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the Light of Life."

May the Light of Life be reflected in our words, our actions and our faces this week.

Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

The thermometer on my back porch reads 20 degrees and we woke up to snow on the ground! … A white, soft, feathery two inches of snow! We hardly ever get snow here in Las Cruces, NM and so it’s such a delight and treat when we do. Now as I look out my window the sun has risen to reflect itself in sugary sparkly rays off the snow and as it warms the world, fine powdery snow drifts off the trees and floats softly to the ground. And the song that’s running through my head is … “Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!”

At this time of year right before Christmas, with this being just the very beginning of colder weather …not cold as in staying in the 20’s or even going to be in the 20’s regularly, but rather that it is just “beginning to look a lot like Christmas” weather …snow is wonderful, awesome, magical …especially as I’m living in a very snug home, my heater works, and my fireplace is burning.

But if my circumstances were different … like some of the homeless guys who live under the trees near the overpass to the highway … or if I couldn’t afford to pay the gas, or coal bill like friends of mine in Canada … or if this was the end of a very hard cold winter and I thought it was going to finally be spring but instead it was another two inches of snow … then the 20 degrees on my thermometer would conjure up entirely different feelings … magical would be replaced with tragic … feathery with icy cold … soft white with icy glare.

Proverbs 29:25 says “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe” I’d like to offer a suggestion that you could replace the word ‘man’ with ‘circumstances’ … “Fear of ‘circumstances’ will prove to be a snare.” How we see our situation -our circumstances- will determine the attitudes and actions that we have and our responses to other people. In Revelation John says that the best reason for reading that book is to receive a blessing. My dad always says that the main message of revelation is “We Win!” … in the end we win! The writer of Hebrews says that “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.”

It is so important that we ‘read’ today’s story in light of ‘Christmas Is Coming’ … Christ is coming back … it’s exciting and fresh and new. If we interpret the snow -today’s story- in light of the past, in light of our feelings, in light of what the news media tells us, then the 20 degrees -our circumstances- is devastating news, the two inches of snow becomes the feared two inches that will break the camel’s back instead of two more inches to fill the water aquifers underground.

“… but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.” Trust the Lord today regardless of how you see the snow today, regardless of your circumstances. He is the One who can keep you safe, who can provide, protect, defend. He is FOR you! God tells us in Proverbs 1:7 that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom. Now there’s a place to put some healthy fear. Fear God. Serve Christ. Love Men. And … “Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!”

Matt Redman - You Never Let Go
From the album Passion 06: Everything Glorious

Even though I walk

through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I’m caught

in the middle of the storms of this life
I won’t turn back
I know You are near

And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?

Chorus:
Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me

And I can see a light

that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
We’ll live to know You here on the earth

Chorus:
Yes, I can see a light

that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You

God's Wife
by Barbara Chadwick


We visited with four-year-old Alex last week. We went actually to visit her parents, James and Jesse (This really is the mother's name!) but Alex was the center of attention and conversation.

She showed me all her toys and all her baby sister's toys. She took me into her bedroom so I could see and admire her new "big girl" bed and pictures on the wall. She raised the blinds on the window. It was sort of frosty so she started to play tic tac toe. She asked me to play with her so since she already had an X, I drew an O. She jumped up and down and said I'm going to block you so she put an X over my O!

Her mother, Jesse, later told me that they were in the car a few days ago. Alex, in the back seat, said, "Mom! You won't believe this! I'm playing tic tac toe with myself and I'm winning every time!"

Wouldn't that be something if we could do that in life?! But the fact is we can't do anything really in our own strength. It is only in God's strength that we accomplish anything worthwhile.

Well, when Alex became busy with something else during our visit, Jesse sat beside me and said I want to tell you what Alex said this week. We were driving home from school and Alex tells me from the back seat,

"God's wife is so pretty."

"Is she?" Jesse asked

"Yes, she's so pretty."

"Where did you see God's wife?"

"At church, of course, she's married to our pastor!"

I laughed delightedly and said, "That's the sweetest thing anyone ever said to me." What an awesome thought but I can barely live up to being the wife of the pastor!!

Don't you love how a little child's mind works?

Mar 10:15 "I assure you: Whoever does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

Alex is always telling Jesse and James, "You know, Jesus loves us."

It's simple in her mind. Everything in the world belongs to God and He loves us.

Prayer Seeds & Who Planted Them

Our family is building a memory tree of our spiritual walk with God. One of the questions is …

#4: If you can look back and see the seeds planted in your life, share them. Who were those special people?

As a child I would have to say that my parents were the primary influence-ers or seed planters. I grew up listening to them pray for me and my brothers and for everyone else as well. When we were without financially they would gather us together and we would tell God about our need. Actually, whatever was going on whether good or bad we were always praying about things. This way of doing things continues to this day, because if I call and talk to my parents about anything, good or bad, they will pray or praise with me about it right there on the phone.

As a young married mother stationed in England, there was a woman whose children were older than mine that I would visit. She blew me away with her prayers because she just kept up a running conversation with God ... literally talking to Him as though He were sitting in the room. If I started telling her about the kids being sick she say something like, "God, I know that it distresses You for Audrey's children to be sick. Please heal them." ... then to me " so what are you doing for their congestion?" and that's the way any conversation would go with her. I really wanted to have that kind of confidence and peace.

While we were stationed in Panama, there was a woman my age who was also an amazing prayer warrior. She and her husband were missionaries there. Many of the things she did were so radically different from anything I'd ever experienced that it was hard for me to assimilate some of the things that she wanted to share with me. Nevertheless, her confidence and boldness when she prayed really triggered within me a desire for a bold prayer life.

About 10 years ago we moved to Waco, TX and I met several people who just acted like .... hmmm ... I'm not sure how to describe it but it was as though you could "see" literally see something different about them. They just had an aura about them. As I got to know them, I realized that they had peace, a deep knowing, in particular Kevin Johnson. His confidence was so strong and compelling and it was evident that he believed that God heard him when he spoke.

Another friend, Renee Murray, about the same time read the book "The Bondage Breaker" and it changed her life so dramatically. Larry and I were just absolutely amazed at the difference in her life. We read the book and found that many of the prayers written in there brought us so much peace and change that it was very incredible. But we probably wouldn’t have even given it a thought if we hadn’t seen the change in her.

Who in your life has said or done something that got you to thinking about your faith in God? Or triggered a longing for something different or deeper in your walk with God? Or gave you the strength and determination to persist in prayer? Jot that down and share it with someone today … it’s the only day you’ve got and who knows you might change someone’s life forever!

To Love And To Cherish

by Barbara Chadwick



For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. Genesis 2:24


The day started early with a breakfast at church for the women. Great fellowship. Great food. Lovely ladies. The speaker told us of her walk with the Lord which included her walk with her husband. There had been some arguments, some misunderstandings, some leavings and coming back, some hurt and some healing both with her Lord and her husband. But now the two of them were united in serving the Lord together.


I had to rush from there to go to the Pioneer Home where we go once a month for their birthday party. I played the piano and Kenneth led in singing. We sang songs they like to sing like God Bless America, Take Me Out To The Ball Game and Amazing Grace. There were six birthday people so we would stop and sing Happy Birthday each time a birthday gal or guy received their piece of cake with a single candle on top. They had to blow out their candle and have their picture taken.

During one interlude I was playing Savior Like A Shepherd Lead Us I looked up to see a couple. It was the man's birthday. He had blown out his candle and had his picture taken and now he was ready to eat his cake or so I thought. He put a piece of cake on his fork then guided it to his wife's mouth. She seemed to be oblivious to everything but when the fork touched her mouth she opened up and took the small bite. He put the fork down and touched her face, then he tucked her hair behind her ear ever so tenderly.

I was so touched. Tears gathered in my eyes. At their wedding I'm sure they said, "to love and to cherish, to have and to hold until death do we part."

We had to hurry from there to Juneau's Little Theatre production of Sound of Music because one of the young ladies in our church played the leading role of Maria.

And you know the part where the reverend Mother tells Maria, "Climb every mountain, ford every stream, follow every rainbow 'til you find your dream." The mental picture of the older couple came back to my mind and I could see them young once and in love climbing the mountains and streams of life together. Now they were in a really hard part but he tenderly touches her face and gently pushes her hair out of her eyes and feeds her cake.

God made a suitable helper for Adam. Maria became a suitable mate for Captain Von Trapp and this woman, although oblivious to life right now had been a suitable mate for this tender man.

I'm tired now after this eventful day and ready for bed. I'll sleep with the man who has been my companion and a blessing for 52 years. I thank God for him. I will continue to love and cherish him until death do we part.

The Case of the Missing Purse

Yesterday, I went to get my make-up bag out of my purse and it was gone … my purse that is. I wasn’t too worried because, well, maybe, I left it in the car. Since I wasn’t quite ready for my public, my husband went out to the car to search for it. No luck. So both of us searched the house over. Ugh. I went on to work and as I was driving I began to think about where I might have left it … maybe at work?

But I had a lot of other things going on that day. So I wasn’t particularly worried about a lost purse. God knew where my purse was and I felt certain that it would reveal itself after a while. Nevertheless, I called the church secretary to see if I’d left it there and I did ask around at school to see if anyone perhaps had seen it or picked it up … just in case. One of the secretaries jumped up and said, “Let me come with you and we’ll search the school for it.” I was so surprised at her love and care and concern. But I felt certain that I hadn’t truly left it at the school because … I never take my purse out of the car at school because … my purse basically holds my make-up and my driver’s license and my credit card, none of which I can use at school. But I was very touched by her concern. Then a sweet fifth grader offered to help me search for my purse and in fact came up to me later in the day and with the deepest concern was wondering if I had found my purse. I reassured her that God in fact knew exactly where it was at and that I was sure that He would reveal it to me in His time.

Their concern troubled me … was I not being worried enough? Was I taking this too lightly? Was there really something to be worried about? I began pondering all that a lost purse would mean to me. I would need to cancel my credit card. I would have to get a new driver’s license. I would have to buy another set of make-up stuff. All of which would require time and money … which is in short supply at this time. I felt the beginnings of trouble stirring in my heart, my peace was beginning to leave me, other matters that needed my attention were being crowded out by this new concern, that hadn’t been a concern.

That evening I was back at the church for another meeting. The church secretary asked me if I’d found my purse and as I was explaining to her that I hadn’t another woman who’d been at the first meeting the other day asked, “The Bambi purse?” Aha! She’d picked it up after our meeting the other night. In fact she’d called me to ask if I’d left a Bambi tote … but my mind was on other things … and I hadn’t ‘lost’ my purse yet … so I wasn’t looking for it … and what was she talking about?

Two things occur to me through this experience.

One, I wonder how many things that I’ve ‘lost’ or perhaps don’t even know are ‘lost’ yet has God tried to tell me about but my mind was too full of other concerns or thoughts?

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7:24-29

Two, how many times have I lost my peace because I focused on what other people thought about a situation. My friend’s concern was very touching and sweet. But I began to wonder if they were right to be concerned. Instead of taking my concern to God, I let myself see my situation from their point of view instead of from God’s point of view.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. … or where your purse is. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:25-34

Does your mind ever get full of other things? Do you sometimes let other people’s lack of peace worry you? I encourage you today to hears these words of (His) and put them into practice and to not worry about your life because your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Am I Willing To Be One Of The 300?

Judges 6-7

If God chose me to be one of the 300, I wonder if I would feel blessed or picked on? Would I be wondering if I had enough or too much? Would I see ‘God-things’ in my life or ‘me-things’? Would I be wondering … what are God’s ways? Or would I be looking to make sure that I don’t get involved in something until I was sure that ‘I’ could do it myself? … or at least make sure that I had enough manpower and money to get the job done? Recently I heard someone say, “When God wants to show up and do something spectacular He often has to reduce the resources in order to get the glory.” Many of us are beginning to feel like we have “reduced resources” and that we are living in troubling times.

If there were ever a people, or nation, who had terrible, troubling times, it was the Israelites during the seven years that God allowed the Midianites to overtake them.

The Midianites were so cruel that the Israelites made hiding places for themselves in the mountains, caves, and strongholds. Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, marauders … would attack Israel, camping in the land and destroying crops …. They left the Israelites with nothing to eat, taking all the (animals) ... These enemy hordes, …, were as thick as locusts; they arrived on droves of camels too numerous to count. And they stayed until the land was stripped bare. So Israel was reduced to starvation by the Midianites. …

… Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD for help. When they cried out to the LORD because of Midian, the LORD sent a prophet to the Israelites. He said, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of slavery in Egypt. I rescued you from the Egyptians and from all who oppressed you. I drove out your enemies AND gave you their land. I told you, 'I am the LORD your God. You must not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you now live.' But you have not listened to Me."

…Then the Angel of the LORD came and sat beneath the great tree ..... Gideon son of Joash was threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress to hide the grain from the Midianites. The Angel of the LORD appeared to him and said, "Mighty hero, the LORD is with you!" Judges 6:2-12

· Am I willing to let God get the glory in my life and work? - If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to Me that they saved themselves by their own strength. Judges 7:2

God provided the Israelites freedom from slavery, rescued them from their oppressors, drove out their enemies, gave them lands and houses that they did not work for, and who was getting the glory? Who were they serving?

In our nation we’ve been given incredible affluence and influence in our own country and around the world, but as a nation we are not giving Him the glory in our lives individually, nor corporately.

It’s just amazing the things that God has provided for me. Things that I don’t deserve to have. Friends and family that are incredible blessings to me that I didn’t work for, and a job that I love that I’m barely qualified to do. It’s caused me to wonder if I’m giving Him the glory for all that He’s given me? … or am I just spending my time preoccupied with my activities and plans?

· Am I willing to NOT be timid or afraid? – Therefore, tell the people, 'Whoever is timid or afraid may leave this mountain and go home.'" So 22,000 of them went home, leaving only 10,000 who were willing to fight. Judges 7:3

If God gave me an opportunity to step out and make my voice heard in my own country … with the issues that we’re struggling with today … abortion, healthcare, taxes, etc … would I stand up and fight? … or would I be one of the 22,000 who went home. I’m sure the conversations on the way home were very similar to the kind we’re hearing today: There’s too many of them. There’s no way we can win. I need to be at home with my family. There’s plenty of other people to fight and I’m not that strong anyway. Besides I’m not even sure that it’s the right thing to do.

· Am I willing to be one of the chosen? - But the LORD told Gideon, "There are still too many! Bring them down to the spring, and I will test them to determine who will go with you and who will not." When Gideon took his warriors down to the water, the LORD told him, "Divide the men into two groups. In one group put all those who cup water in their hands and lap it up with their tongues like dogs. In the other group put all those who kneel down and drink with their mouths in the stream." …Do I have what it takes? Judges 7:6,7

Of the remaining men God still did not have a small enough group of people. You see apparently 10,000 of them did not have what God was looking for in a man for this job. Some think that they were just lazier than the 300. Perhaps they were crowd followers. Perhaps they never developed self-control. Whatever the reason, they weren’t chosen.

· Am I one of the 300? - The LORD told Gideon, "With these 300 men I will rescue you and give you victory over the Midianites. Send all the others home." Judges 7:8

These 300 were the chosen ones. (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:18-20; John 15:16) They weren’t chosen to sit around and write songs, or narrate all of the great things that they’d done in the past. Nor were they chosen to make Gideon feel better about himself.

They were chosen to work, to fight, to leave their families, their homes, their jobs, and go and do what God was going to show them, even if it cost them their lives. They didn’t leave knowing exactly where they were going and what the plan was. They left trusting that God would speak to Gideon and that if they followed him, God would work a miracle.

I like to know the answers and make the plans and try to figure out how it will all work out. And sometimes I miss God because He just doesn’t operate that way. What God says is …

John 15:16

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

Mark 16:15

He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.

Matthew 28:18-20

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

1Corinthians 1:25

This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God's weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.

Ephesians 3:16

I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit.

Ephesians 6:10

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.

Philippians 3:10

I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised Him from the dead. I want to suffer with Him, sharing in His death,

Philippians 4:13

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Colossians 1:29

That's why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ's mighty power that works within me.

1Timothy 1:12

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him,

2Timothy 1:8

So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don't be ashamed of me, either, even though I'm in prison for Him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News.

2Timothy 4:17

But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And He rescued me from certain death.

Hebrews 11:32-34

And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.

Hebrews 13:9

So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God's grace, not from rules about food, which don't help those who follow them.

1Peter 4:11

Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God Himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to Him forever and ever! Amen.

Revelations 3:8

"I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed My word and did not deny Me.

Revelations 7:10

And they were shouting with a mighty shout, "Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!"

Do You Have A Minute?

by Barbara Chadwick






Wednesday the phone rang at 4PM.


"Do you have a minute?"

My brain screamed, "No! I have to study the Sunday School I have to teach Sunday morning, make cookies for the Harvest Festival at church, practice a piano piece I'm s'posed to play for service on Sunday, write a devotional for the blog, mop these dirty floors, fix supper and get to the church in time for AWANA!"

But my mouth calmly said, "Sure."

She began to tell me the burden she had for her best friend then asked me what she should do. I asked her what she had done in the past and she related the whole story. I asked what she thought she should do. In a torrent of words she told me that she should help her friend fix things. I said, "God has obviously put this burden on your heart. What is He telling you to do?"

"You're right. I haven't prayed enough about this."

We prayed together on the phone. Before saying goodby she said, "It is such a blessing to me that you took the time to listen. Thank you."

In my prayer time I had been asking God to help us to be a blessing and an encouragement to people in this place. In my half hour on the phone I'm so grateful that my mouth didn't utter what my brain was screaming.

Then, amazingly, I still had time to get everything done - calmly.

This afternoon the need of another friend came to mind. I started to pray and I thought, "Lord, do you have a minute?" I smiled remembering.

I'm so grateful that God is always a prayer away. ALWAYS. He does have a minute. He asks us to call on Him.

Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 HCSB

Tag You’re It!

At my school, I’m the new teacher which is lots of fun. I’m blessed to be able to teach both the middle school and high school choirs. So I’m just a part-time teacher, which leaves me time to help take care of the grandbabies and do some music writing.

The other day one of my new teacher friends told me something along the lines of “I just want you to know that we’re relying on you to help keep us fresh and new. We’ve been teaching here so long and we’ve gotten into a complaining rut and we need someone to dig us out. Just letting you know that you are it.” I was tagged!

Have you ever played that game? The person who is “it” has to run around trying to catch someone else so that they can be “it” and you’re off the hook, then you just have to stay away from the person who is doing the tagging. I always kinda liked to get tagged. I guess it just felt more purposeful or meaningful than just running away. But I also got really frustrated when I couldn’t “tag” someone after awhile.

I think that sometimes we do that with new believers, or new-to-us Christians in our circle. They see things from a fresh perspective and it reminds us of our “first love” with Christ, which is great as long as we don’t get into the rut of running away and never being “it”.

You see we each of us has something that God wants for us to “tag” another person with. Only the game as God sees it, is that the “tagger” never really gets to stop tagging. The rule in His game is that you “tag” someone and keep to keep on “tagging” as many people as you can. And if someone “tags” you with a new message or insight or encouragement, then you just have more stuff that you can use to “tag” others with.

Actually the Bible calls it encouragement. So I encourage you to “tag” someone today with a fresh insight, a fresh reminder of God’s grace and mercy and hope. Here’s some verses to help you get started.

• When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. Romans 1:12
• If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. Romans 12:8
• Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you. 2 Corinthians 13:11
• I have sent him to you for this very purpose--to let you know how we are doing and to encourage you. Ephesians 6:22
• So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11
• Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. 2 Timothy 4:2
• And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near. Hebrews 10:25
• I have written and sent this short letter to you with the help of Silas, whom I commend to you as a faithful brother. My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God's grace for you. Stand firm in this grace. 1 Peter 5:12

Swirls and Patterns
by Barbara Chadwick

I dropped my jar of foundation in the bathroom sink. You know there are two seconds before you can respond. Your brain is screaming, "I can't believe you did that!" before your hand can move calmly toward the sink and retrieve it.

To clean it up I turned the water on. I thought the water would just wash it all down the sink. Instead it started to make swirls and patterns. As I watched it I thought of how our lives make swirls and patterns. Some are disturbing but God can take ugly patterns and make something beautiful

"I dropped the ball. It was my responsibility and I waited too late to begin planning. I kept thinking I would have time later. Later came and went. I'm sorry. I apologize to all of you. I am just a procrastinator." This life pattern never gets anything accomplished. Someone else has to pick up the pieces and try to make something of it.

One swirl kept going round and round.

"Mommy, do you love me?" the little girl asked. Recounting this her mother said, "It made me so sad that she had to ask me." This mother was so busy with church activities that she had little time for her own children. This pattern for her life was unhealthy spiritually. She was so busy she had no personal time for God. It was unhealthy physically because there was no time to take care of her physical needs. It was unhealthy emotionally because all her emotions were tied up in meetings at the church. After a divorce she was able to see how this pattern in her life had actually been harmful instead of redemptive. She was doing things from her own mind and strength and not from the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

Some swirls went down the drain immediately.

"I don't even recognize myself anymore. Life as we knew it is gone. We used to have people over all the time and we used to be so involved in the church." She had become so engrossed in her illness and the response of her body to it that she could no longer respond to others in their joys or sorrows. But now she recognized that she wasn't at the same place spiritually she used to be. Through prayer her spirit is being renewed.

Two patterns kept swirling around each other as the water flowed through the foundation. I was reminded that Jesus is the Living Water. He told the woman at the well in Samaria, "Whoever drinks from the water that I give will never get thirsty again... the water I give will become a well of water springing up within for eternal life!" John 4:14

Have you heard someone say to you or to another, "Your life and your testimony have inspired me to..."

"do my best"
"help others"
"live with this person"
"try harder"
"accept Jesus Christ"

Let us allow the Living Water that Jesus gives flow through our lives to make swirls and patterns that touch others and make His love and grace beautiful in their lives.

Prevent the FLU !!

Do I have the Flu? What is the flu? Well, it’s not a cold, but it is a viral respiratory infection. Which means that you breath in the infection and it begins to multiply like crazy and then it spread throughout your body. http://health.howstuffworks.com/question744.htm

Every flu season brings sad, scary stories of how many people have come down with the flu and how many have died from the flu. But let us remember that it is God who gives and takes life Job 1:21. And God has a plan for our lives from beginning to end Psalm 139:16 & Jeremiah 29:11. So let us use our time wisely Psalm 90.

After reading the things that prevent the flu in our physical bodies, I got to thinking about the kinds of things that produce weakness, disease, and death in our spiritual bodies and what we could do to prevent them. Our enemy keeps “mutating” his viruses so that we are often caught unawares. The symptoms are: a critical spirit & sarcasm, disinterest in spiritual matters, avoiding fellowship, an arrogant spirit, etc. And I’m sure you’ve seen how quickly viruses spread in a group of believers. Here are some things that you can do during this spiritual flu season to keep you healthy and productive spiritually.

1. FREQUENT PRAYING Never stop praying. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

2. JUST DON’T Gripe, Complain, or Whine Do everything without complaining or arguing, Philippians 2:14

3. PRAISE GOD WITH YOUR MOUTH for all you’ve got, for all He’s given you, for all He IS give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

4. BREATH DEEPLY of the knowledge of your freedom in Christ It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1

5. BOOST YOUR SPIRITUAL IMMUNE SYSTEM by FELLOWSHIPPING REGULARLY with Godly encouraging people Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:25

6. DRINK IN GOD’S WORD as much as you can But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:14-17

.........................................................................

Someone sent me some very helpful information regarding preventing the flu in our physical bodies. I hope you find it beneficial. God bless you!

Dr. Vinay Goyal is an MBBS,DRM,DNB (Intensivist and Thyroid specialist) having clinical experience of over 20 years. He has worked in institutions like Hinduja Hospital , Bombay Hospital , Saifee Hospital , Tata Memorial etc. Presently, he is heading our Nuclear Medicine Department and Thyroid clinic at Riddhivinayak Cardiac and Critical Centre, Malad (W). The following message given by him, I feel makes a lot of sense and is important for all of you to know

The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible not coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.

While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):

1. FREQUENT HAND-WASHING (well highlighted in all official communications).

2. "HANDS-OFF-THE-FACE" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).

3. GARGLE TWICE A DAY WITH WARM SALT WATER (use Listerine if you don't trust salt). *H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.

4. CLEAN YOUR NOSTRILS AT LEAST ONCE EVERY DAY WITH WARM SALT WATER.

· Use Yoga asanas (Jala Neti or Sutra Neti) to clean nasal cavities),

· Blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.

· Over the counter saline nasal sprays are simple and cheap and will have the same effect used 3 times daily.

5. BOOST YOUR NATURAL IMMUNITY WITH FOODS THAT ARE RICH IN VITAMIN C (Amla and other citrus fruits). *If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.

6. DRINK AS MUCH OF WARM LIQUIDS AS YOU CAN. *Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.

There are many sites with very useful information regarding preventing the flu. Below are a few that seemed to offer sound practical advise.

http://www.preventtheflu.com/

http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/cold-guide/12-tips-prevent-cold-flu