A NEW YEAR!
A NEW SONG!
by Barbara Chadwick

52 matches. That's how many matches the ESword Bible program gives (in the Holman version) for "Sing a new song"

That's what I'd like to do in this new year of 2012.

The stanzas for my song in 2011 included grief, change, frustration and illness. There were blessings to be sure - but I didn't pay as much attention to the blessings as I did to all the rest.

Some of the old songs bless my soul and fill my eyes with tears.  I will always return to them. But somehow, I sing them - then return to discouragement, depression and disillisionment.

But in my everyday life this new year I'd like to make stanzas of encouragement, love, positive words and hope.

God, I will sing a new song to you. I will play on a ten-stringed harp for you. Psalm 144:9 (HCSB)
(I will probably play my new song on the 88 strings of my grand piano though!)

The Most Wonderful Event In History!
by Barbara Chadwick




Today is Audrey's birthday. What a treasure she's been. What a gift!

One week before she was born I felt - well, fat mostly! - but also I felt an inner joy for the life I was carrying inside of me. I felt an awe that I would soon hold in my arms this treasure growing in me. I was excited and a little impatient. But there was a calm assurance that God was in control.

I wonder what Mary felt the week before Jesus was born?

In the beginning the angel Gabriel had called her, "favored woman" (Luke 1:28)  Her cousin, Elizabeth, had called her, "blessed" (Luke 1:42)

I believe she also felt - well fat mostly! - but above all, awe, wonder and a calm assurance that God had orchestrated this most wonderful event in all of history!

We Got Old!

By Barbara Chadwick



We got old while we weren’t paying attention! All of a sudden our children want to take care of us.

Reality sets in when you look in the mirror and say, “Who is that woman with those canyons running down her face?!” or “Whose hands are those, with age spots and wrinkles?!” or “Those Ritis boys are bothering me again.” – you know - Arthur Ritis. Corny right? But I’ve learned that it’s true that old age is not for sissies!

I saw a woman on Good Morning America this morning who was celebrating her birthday. When they asked her which one she said, "It's my 60th and I'm proud of it!"  She was facing reality with a smile.

C.S. Lewis said, “Our job is to learn what reality is, then learn to like it.”  Well, most of the time these days I don’t really like reality!

We do learn to deal with the realities in everyday life. Somehow we cope and grow.

Learning to deal with God’s realities is another area of growth. When we accept God’s reality, we bend our will to His. We listen for His voice and want to do the things that please Him.

Sometimes though, thoughts come into our brains without invitation – thoughts that depress or anger us. Paul tells the Corinthians to, …take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5b

Also, Paul tells the Philippians, …brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. Philippians 4:8

There is excellence in maturity. Just look at fruit. Who wants a green apple? Or strawberry for that matter! You want a beautiful ripe fruit. With maturity you are ripe (and beautiful I might add). You’ve already “been there, done that”. Experience/maturity helps with the coping of everyday life. Experience also helps in following God’s reality for our lives. We can look back and see some of the missteps we’ve made along the way and can more easily sidestep toward a more heavenly way.

However, there is always a danger with our brain! It sometimes wants to go somewhere we’ve determined not to go or dwell on thoughts that are not excellent or worthy of praise. One woman said, “I tend to follow the Lord through my brain, but tend to sin through my mouth!” It’s true. At times it seems as if we have no control. Remember when Paul was talking about our conflict with the two natures within us? For that which I am doing I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do but I am doing the very thing I hate… Romans 7:15

But look in verse 25 of chapter 7: Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ! And in 8:1-2 There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

So let us, take every thought captive - even those corny ones that make us dwell on ourselves and let us dwell on God’s reality – things that are pure, excellent and praiseworthy.

Just A Little More
by Barbara Chadwick


I slurped up the last bit of my Creamy Chocolate Slim Fast Drink through my straw and said, "I always feel like there should be a couple more ounces in these things." Kenneth smiled and said, "That's the way life is. We want a little more banana puddin' or little bigger house or a little nicer car and on and on."

When do we have enough?  Certain monks live in monasteries with austere bedrooms - cells, it seems like. They have a bed, a table and a straight backed chair.  I think of my bedroom with a carpet, a bed, two side tables, two easy chairs, a dresser, an antique secretary and a wood stove. And I think I need a new bed and a new chair! Let's don't even talk about all the stuff that's in the attic!!

Jesus said in Luke 12:15, Beware and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.


Paul, realizing the end of his life was near, said in II Peter 1:14, ...the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent...   And the Psalmist said, You, indeed have made my days short in length, and my life span as nothing in Your sight. Surely every man at his best is a mere breath.... he amasses riches and does not know who will gather them. Psalm 39:5 & 6b 

Life is too short to worry about possessions and to make life's ambition just to have fun.

I have some friends who think of life as a playground. They are always looking for the next funnest thing to do. As they sit around the table they take turns telling the next place in the world they want to visit and the exciting thing they want to accomplish in that far-off place as if that's what life is about - fun and games.

But we're told in Ephesians chapter 5 to:
        be imitators of God
        do not let immorality or any impurity or greed even be named among you
        you are light in the Lord, walk as children of light
        learn what is pleasing to the Lord
        be careful how you walk
        make the most of your time because the days are evil

Perhaps it would behoove us to think of our time on earth as fleeting or temporary. Paul encourages us in Philippians 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.... and the God of peace will be with you.

You don't need more you just need to be thankful for what God has given you.

The Water Of Life
by Barbara Chadwick
 
I went downstairs to get some water to take with us in the car. It is an hour and a half drive to town so I always take a bag of snacks  - and water. Carrying the bottle upstairs got me to thinking.

Looking at a glass of water it seems so, I don't know, innocuous or plain. And yet we simply cannot live without it. Our bodies need water for survival. Then there are the basics of bathing, cooking, cleaning.

I grew up in town and never had to think about whether there was enough water but when we went to visit relatives in the Ozark mountains of Arkansas I learned that water was precious. We had to guard the water that was in the well and use it judiciously.

Jesus was tired of walking and sat down at a well in Samaria.   A woman came to get water. He asked her for a drink. When she was amazed that this man - this Jewish man - would even speak to her much less ask her to serve him water, he said, If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water. John 4:10 
She was perplexed and didn't understand and said, Sir, You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep; where then do you get that living water?  Jesus answered and said to her, Everyone who drinks of this water shall thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life. John 4: 7-14

And again in John chapter 7 Jesus says, If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.
John 7:37-38

Let us never take for granted the water we use in daily life and let us never look askance at the water of life that Jesus offers.

God Answers Prayer
by Barbara Chadwick


May the Lord answer you in the day of your trouble! May the Name of the God of Jacob set you securely on high! May He send you help from the sanctuary, and support you from Zion!
Psalm 20:1-2

Kenneth had a heart attack last week!

The doctor took me to a waiting room as they wheeled Kenneth into the Cath Lab where the doctor would put a stent into the artery that was 100% blocked. His eyes were full of concern and he said, "Are you alright?" I nodded and said, "Yes, I am."

I prayed as I sat there in this small room - for Kenneth and for wisdom and steady hands for the doctor. (God heard and answered)

Then I thought maybe our kids would want to know. As I heard the voice of each one I cried and could hardly speak. I thought it was odd that I seemed fine when the doctor sat me down there and as I prayed but hearing the voices of my children made the tears flow! Then they all came here to Ft. Collins, Colorado. One from New Mexico, two from Colorado, and one from Alaska. (God sent help from His sanctuary)

Kenneth and I have experienced blessings and trials from this.

TRIALS:
All of a sudden you can't do the things you want to do
You have to rest a lot
You have to take a lot of medicine
You have to eat low fat margarine instead of butter and fat free milk instead of 2% and IF you make Peanut Butter Fudge you cannot eat it but you have to take it to the doctor instead (Dr's orders!)
You can't just take off and walk in the mountains for an hour, instead you have to walk around the deck 15 minutes at a time

BLESSINGS:
Experiencing God's presence in the time of trouble
Realizing the love and care of family and how precious it is
The outpouring of love from friends through phone calls, cards, emails and visits is so sweet
Seeing that God provides what you need one day at a time

Kenneth will have to have by-pass surgery in a few weeks but we know that we can trust in the God of Jacob to answer us in the day we call on His Name. Psalm 20:9

Were You Ready?

When did you hear about it? Where were you? What were you doing? Who were you with? All of our hearts were calling out WHY???

I wasn’t ready. I was in a middle school classroom interpreting an art class for a deaf girl and there just weren’t spoken words much less signed words to explain what was happening. We saw the second plane crash into the second tower and I remember my student tugging on me asking me what was happening and why were bad people doing this … and I just didn’t know what to say … stunned silence … really and truly my mind just kept trying to make sense of it all … and it just didn’t make sense.

Today, ten years later, it occurs to me that the day of disaster is not the day to prepare. Sunday, December 26^th it was too late to prepare for the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. Monday, August 29^th it was too late to prepare for Katrina.

What about illnesses? The Great Influenza, The Black Plague, Aids, Malaria, Typhoid, Cholora, … there is NO getting away from disasters. Disasters affect us physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually. In Revelations we read that they, disasters, will come but will we be ready? Because really truly ONLY God can help us now. What IF you call on Jesus?

Is there life insurance? I mean real life insurance? Popular Mechanics .com lists what they consider to be the next 5 possible disasters to hit the US and has a list of things you need in case of a disaster … but most of the disasters mentioned above would only be useful if you weren’t right in the middle of the disaster.

The truth is there will be wars and rumors of wars, there will be natural disasters and man-made disasters and if you continue to live you will have to live through them or die because of them. So …

What do you need to be prepared spiritually for disaster?

· You need to know that you need a Savior

And there is ONLY ONE … His name is Jesus! I encourage you to seek His face while He may be found. Tomorrow … literally … it may be too late.

God B In My Head
by Barbara Chadwick



What kind of stories have you heard about college students: College girls getting murdered in Aruba, students on Spring Break in Florida and Freshman Orientation at various Universities - sex orgies, drinking capers, shop lifting, devil worship, trying to out-speak each other with cursing, on and on ad nauseum. I was despairing of this tribe of animals!

Our six grandsons in college who are growing in Christ and ministering in His Name and 20 college students from the University of Northern Colorado have restored my faith in young people.

The 20 UNC students began arriving at our mountain home about 6PM on Friday; seven cars winding up the mountain road. After grilling hamburgers, lots of jokes and kidding they sat around on the floor, the stairs and few chairs to have a devotional time. They sang as *Robert and Greg strummed their guitars. Samuel read scripture and told of how God had become real in his life. Then they began looking for places to put their sleeping bags. Some had brought tents. I, a 69 year-old grandmother, and Kenneth, a 74 year-old grandfather, went on to bed upstairs.

At breakfast Julie shared her story of her first time of sleeping in the mountains in a tent: She got into her sleeping bag in her tent. Almost asleep she turned over, encountered a spider and started screaming. Paula jumped out of her tent to help and her tent blew away down the hill – (where were the stakes?). Then Bill tumbled out of his tent to take care of the situation.

After pancakes and fruit they sang together; Give us clean hands, Give us pure hearts. Let us not bend our hearts to another. O God let us be and generation that seeks, that seeks Your face O God of Jacob… David read Psalms 24:1-6 The earth is the LORD”S and all it contains…Who may ascent into the hill of the LORD? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood…He shall receive a blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Thy face – even Jacob. (NAS)

Then they went on a three mile hike. At nine thousand feet. Came back and played games! Oh to be young again!

The name of this group was Christian Challenge and it was their Fall Retreat. As they interacted with each other and with us we heard:

As Mike led the devotional time this morning he talked about the hurt of his parents divorcing when he was 10 years old and how emotionally crippling that was. Through scriptures he showed how God began to heal his heart and how all of us can experience renewal in forgiving others as God has forgiven us.

Charles told of growing up in a non Christian home. His parents argued, cursed and were unfaithful to each other. When he went to college he met some friends who invited him to Christian Challenge where he learned about God’s love and forgiveness.

Doug and Danny told of adventures on mission trips to Indonesia and Africa to help others.

As they were preparing to leave I saw part of the message on Sara’s Tshirt – GOD B … I asked what the rest of the words were. She pulled the shirt straight out so I could see. GOD B In my Head. Sara said she wears the shirt because that is what she wishes for.

Sir Henry Walford-Davies wrote these words in 1559:
God be in my head and in my understanding
God be in my eyes and in my looking
God be in my mouth and in my speaking
God be at mine end and at my departing

Over and over this week-end we heard these sentiments from these college students. They voluntarily joined together to pray for God's Blessings on our home just before they departed. May their tribe increase!

*Names were changed

ARE YOU A LIVING SACRIFICE?
by Barbara Chadwick

We recently returned home after a two week trip. A pastor asked if we had had any opportunities to witness on the trip. I answered to him that after many years of witnessing to our brother-in-law it was such a blessing to see him praying, talking about the Lord and helping others in Jesus’ Name.

We do need to be ready to tell someone about the faith within us – to witness to them about God’s great mercy and His love for us. In your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. Do this with gentleness and respect. I Peter 3:15

When we left on our vacation we did not make a plan to intentionally find someone to witness to every day. We both feel like our spiritual gift is not evangelism. But Jesus tells us to be salt and light in the world. (Matthew 5:13-14) However, throughout the next week I kept coming back to the pastor’s question. We began to talk about our trip and the people we encountered and we remembered many little instances of giving a witness of our faith.

To a shopkeeper – Thank you. Have a blessed day
To a hotel clerk – Thank you. God bless you
Praying in restaurants before meals
Singing a Praise song in the bathroom
Participating in an offering to help someone in need

The Old Testament is full of sacrifices. The Israelites had all kinds of sacrifices. In the New Testament Paul tells us: Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:1

Today, we too, can offer many kinds of sacrifices:
- Hebrews 13:15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that confess His Name
- Jonah 2:9 But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to You
- Ephesians 5:19b Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ
- Ephesians 5:2 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God
- Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as Christ forgave you
- Ephesians 5:20 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ

Jesus said in Matthew 5:14, You are the light of the world. And in verse 16, He said, Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

I have never given myself to be a sacrifice for someone else – that is, to die for them. But I have to confess that some days I need to sacrifice my selfish spirit, or my cranky attitude in order to let the Light of Christ shine through me.

I pray that I will go through my days with more intentionality than ever before. I pray that I will:
- Confess His Name
- Sing a song of thanksgiving
- Live a life of Love
- Be kind, compassionate & forgiving
- Submit to others

Moises

I met Moises while I was on a mission trip to Belize this summer. He lives just outside of the city of Corazal in the country of Belize. While my team was at his home visiting he told us this amazing story.

On January 8, 2009 Moises was playing on his dad’s truck when he fell off and landed on his stomach on a jagged log. His parents rushed him to the hospital where the doctors did what they could but didn’t expect him to live 5 hours much less 3 months. In fact the doctors were so sure that he was going to die that they didn’t finish stitching up his stomach. Moises was 7 years old.

Moises says that he prayed and told God that if He would spare his life then he, Moises, would become a preacher. During the five days that he spent at the Belizian hospital (before they sent him home to die) an angel visited Moises and told him that he would be alright. His mother says that it was very hard for her to feed him because everything that he ate would then just fall out of the hole in his stomach. Moises at that time was one of 8 children and they lived in a small hut like building with dirt floors.

Well, people began to hear his story and wanting to help. The Word at Work (and organization that strives to train and encourage Belizian Christians) began searching for an American hospital and doctors that would take care of Moises for free. There were so many things that were involved in making it possible. They needed air transportation, a pilot, gas for the plane, transportation to and from the airport and the hospital. Moises and his mother needed passports. Moises’ mom would have to have a place to stay while they were there. Hospitals, doctors, supplies, tests, and the list goes on.

Remember that every day that passed was another day without nutrition another day just clinging to the hope of the promise of the angel in the hospital that everything was going to be alright.

Then one night, an angel told Moises that they were coming to get him and that they would fly away and he should get ready. At this point he weighed 30lbs. He got up and wiped his arms and face with a wet towelette, then he put some Vaseline in his hair and combed his hair and sat down in the chair near his bed to wait on his ride. When his mother woke up she was so worried about him and wondering what in the world was going to happen and just then a van pulled up and said that they had come to take Moises and his mom to the states for treatment.

Believers got together and it took a good many believers to pull this thing off: doctors, nurses, pilots … but most of all just regular pew sitters who gave to save the life of one little village boy that just refused to die. The testimony of American Christians gained much validity by the unselfish love they showed for little Moises. It took 7 months of treatment before he could go home. First he had to gain weight so that he could be strong enough for the surgery, then the internal surgery, then the reconstructive surgery to graft skin across his stomach before finally he was pronounced well.

While Moises and his mother were in the states, The Word at Work began to look for a way to build their family a new home. They didn’t want him to come home to dirt floors. Before they could approach Juan (Moises’ dad) about it, Juan says that an angel visited him and told him that he would grant him some wishes. So he said, “I want to be saved and I want a house for my family.” The next day some Word at Work people came and asked if he owed that land where his current house stood, when he said yes that he did. They asked for permission to come and build a house. He agreed and worked with them to build the house and while they were working with him they shared the gospel and Juan became a believer.

Today, Moises and his (now) nine brothers and sisters live in this very modest home and feel unbelievably blessed to have it. Moises looks like every other healthy little 10 year old. He’s eyes twinkle and he’s full of curiosity and mischief. However, he’s very eager to learn more about preaching. He cries when he tells his story because he’s still overwhelmed at God’s love for him. And when he pulls up his shirt and you see the huge oval shaped scar stretching from his diaphragm to his pelvis there is no doubt in anyone’s mind that they is a God in heaven and he answers prayers, there is no doubt that God has a plan for this young man’s life. One thing that Moises is so proud of is his belly button … he still has it, although it’s about 5” higher and 4” farther to the left … but he still has one and that brings a huge smile to his face.

My prayer is that as God gives us opportunities to invest in someone’s future in the days and weeks to come that we will be generous and participate in what God is doing in the lives of others around us. We never know what God has planned for that neighbor that we loved as much as we love ourselves! ^O^

1. John 13:34
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
John 13:33-35 (in Context) John 13 (Whole Chapter)

2. John 13:35
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:34-36 (in Context) John 13 (Whole Chapter)

3. Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Romans 12:9-11 (in Context) Romans 12 (Whole Chapter)

4. Romans 13:8
[ Love Fulfills the Law ] Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.
Romans 13:7-9 (in Context) Romans 13 (Whole Chapter)

5. 2 Corinthians 13:11
[ Final Greetings ] Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
2 Corinthians 13:10-12 (in Context) 2 Corinthians 13 (Whole Chapter)

6. Galatians 5:13
[ Life by the Spirit ] You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh ; rather, serve one another humbly inlove.
Galatians 5:12-14 (in Context) Galatians 5 (Whole Chapter)

7. Ephesians 4:2
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another inlove.
Ephesians 4:1-3 (in Context) Ephesians 4 (Whole Chapter)

8. 1 Thessalonians 4:9
Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.
1 Thessalonians 4:8-10 (in Context) 1 Thessalonians 4 (Whole Chapter)

9. 2 Thessalonians 1:3
[ Thanksgiving and Prayer ] We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and thelove all of you have for one another is increasing.
2 Thessalonians 1:2-4 (in Context) 2 Thessalonians 1 (Whole Chapter)

10. Hebrews 10:24
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,
Hebrews 10:23-25 (in Context) Hebrews 10 (Whole Chapter)

Beautiful Feet

by Barbara Chadwick



…how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

Today we were driving through Kansas. A tourist shop at a rest stop had a T shirt with the message, “I’ll work for shoes” under a picture of a pair of high heels!
When I was a little girl missionaries would sometimes come to our church and tell about their work in a foreign land. I would listen enthralled as they told about walking to villages and telling the people about the good news of Jesus and His love and how they embraced the message and accept Jesus as their Savior.

My father was a lay minister who was asked to go into some out of the way places to preach. Many of those places were ranches in New Mexico.

One place was the building in the picture above. It’s just a shell of the building now but in the early 1950’s it was a very attractive place. It was a one room schoolhouse in a ranching community. I was a little girl. We went there on a Sunday evening. The chairs were all occupied. The gas lamps on the walls hissed, giving light to the room. The ranchers and their families listened attentively as my father spoke the good news of God’s love and the provision of salvation He made for us by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross to take the penalty for our sin.

When I was older he was sent to a place called El Paso Gap. Again it was a one room schoolhouse – this time in the mountains in a corner of New Mexico. It was a white wooden building. The year was 1952. Ranchers and their families came from miles around to the Sunday service on horses or in horse drawn wagons. They paid daddy with milk, eggs, butter and money for gas. Daddy, Mother and the five of us children would drive the 150 mile round trip every other week-end. The ranchers loved us and kept us for the week-end each time. We loved them and eagerly anticipated each trip.

Another time he was sent to the Flying H Ranch outside of Roswell, NM. We took a small portable organ which Mother played. We sang the hymns the cowboys wanted to sing and daddy preached the good news of salvation. The service was in the rancher’s house and all the cowboys came. What a neat memory for us children.

We went to a place called Salt Creek, also near Roswell.  I was nine and was asked to play the piano. We sang and daddy preached. Sometimes everyone brought food. There was a patch of the most magnificent watermelons just over the fence. We were given some and have never had another that tasted as wonderful.

Steve Green sings a song called, “May All Who Come Behind Us Find Us Faithful.” The last verse says:
After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone and our children sift through all we’ve left behind.
May the clues that they discover and the memories they uncover
become the light that leads them to the road we each must find.

Refrain:
O, may all who come behind us find us faithful. May the fire of our devotion light their way.
May the footprints that we leave, lead them to believe and the lives we live inspire them to obey.
O may all who come behind us find us faithful.

May we be faithful and may our feet be beautiful!
As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

Please Don't Give Up On Me
by Barbara Chadwick


At my sister's house in San Pedro, California there is a pretty lawn of green grass in front. One day as I walked up the front steps I noticed the grass was tall, uneven and shabby. The next day the gardener was working away when I got there, cutting and pruning. He loves his work and the result was beautiful. It got me to thinking.

I want to be a joyful, radiant Christian, a channel of God's blessing to others. I have every intention of reflecting the beauty of Christ's love in words and actions and I start out pretty well. But in the daily girnd of life or shall we say the Reality Show Of Life...

-  someone shouts unkind words to me (even if the decibels are not high, it sounds and feels like a shout)
- a driver cuts me off on the freeway almost causing me to wreck
- the boss doesn't see my potential and gives the project to someone whose work is inferior

Oh that my actions would consistently reflect Your decrees! Psalms 119:5 Don't you just love David? When I read the psalms I am constantly reminded of the inadequacy of me. In verse 8b David says,
Please don't give up on me!
V. 11 I have hidden Your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
V. 15 I will study Your commandments and reflect Your ways.
V. 16 I will delight in Your decrees and not forget Your Word.

Please don't give up on me when:
- my actions do not reflect one who claims to belong to Christ
- my words do not bring joy but rather pain
- my steps lead me on a path away from You
- my thoughts are not pure
- I don't obey Your commandments (John 15:10-11)
- I retaliate in anger.
- I am arrogant and proud or scornful

I want to cut shabby words out of my vocabulary. I want to prune the attitudes and actions that do not produce beauty or reflect God's grace.

One of our grandson's other grandfather began teaching him new words from the day he began to speak. One day when he was three he got frustrated and said, "I'm trying to co-operate!" A big word indeed for a toddler.  There are days when I feel like this. I'm trying to cooperate with the Lord, trying to listen to His voice, trying to follow His mandates when it seems like everything I do or say is opposite to what I intend. Paul said it well in Romans 7:21-25  When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God - through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Lord Jesus, I do love Your Word. I want it to show in my life. Please don't give up on me because
I'm trying to co  operate!