By Barbara Chadwick
I remember my mother’s hands. They were the hands of a Proverbs chapter 31 woman. They were mostly gentle. However, when there was a need for discipline they became stern.
I saw her hands gently cleaning the blood off of Mrs. Shanahan’s head and face one day when her husband had beaten her and pulled out some of her hair.
I remember those hands hugging Maxine when her daddy had died and her mother had to go to work to care for the family of five. Then when Maxine would come early on Sunday morning, those hands would wash her face, put one of my dresses on her and feed her breakfast before we would leave for church.
With her hands she ironed for others so we could have piano lessons.
Melodically her hands played a little pump organ for a service once a month at a ranch in New Mexico (about two hours drive from our home in Roswell) where my daddy had been asked to preach.
A year or so later she would pack our clothes and bibles to go to El Paso Gap (up in the mountains from Carlsbad, NM) Every other weekend my daddy was to preach at this little mountain community. Even in the early 1950’s some people came to the school house for service in a horse drawn buggy or wagon. They often paid him with milk and eggs.
She combed, braided and cut our hair. Four girls. Every day. I can still feel the comfort and warmth of her hands touching my face while arranging my hair.
As she cut cloth, and worked the sewing machine we would wait in anticipation and excitement of what new thing her hands created for us.
She enjoyed using her hands to cook. We often had a visiting preacher or missionary in our home. They always spoke of being blessed by her hospitality.
She sang from her heart in church. She would hold the hymnal and encourage us to sing. The Bible was familiar to her hands, in church and every day at home. When I would fidgit in church her hands would squeeze my knee. Ouch!
She cleaned house with her hands but what a sweet memory it is for me that she sang while she cleaned. I wish I had done that for my children. I’m afraid I did more complaining than singing!
She prepared Sunday school lessons, helped with Vacation Bible School, taught the nursery, prepared and led Women’s Missionary Union meetings. Later, after her children were grown she prepared Wednesday night meals for the church and led state Girl’s In Action conferences.
Her life truly exemplified the words in Ephesians 5:2; “Live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
God Is Not Through With You Yet
by Barbara Chadwick
Hebrews 13 :20-21May the God of peace... equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ to whom be glory forever and ever.
I call my 90 year old mother often. For the past year she has sounded a little down and maybe depressed, almost like Eeyore. But, yesterday when I called she sounded actually perky. I said, "How are you. You sound good." She answered, "The sun is shining today and I'm feeling just fine! I had been thinking that the Lord was through with me. I've lived a good life and I was ready to go home to be with Him. But this morning I'm feeling like I'll just live to be 100!" She has blessed countless people with her encouragement, her prayers, her smile and the way she lives out her faith in Christ.
God is not through with you yet. As long as He leaves you on this earth He has something for you to do. he will equip you for doing His will. So get up every morning as if the sun is shining (because His Spirit shines through you) and ask Him to speak through your words and actions that day.
Hebrews 13 :20-21May the God of peace... equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ to whom be glory forever and ever.
I call my 90 year old mother often. For the past year she has sounded a little down and maybe depressed, almost like Eeyore. But, yesterday when I called she sounded actually perky. I said, "How are you. You sound good." She answered, "The sun is shining today and I'm feeling just fine! I had been thinking that the Lord was through with me. I've lived a good life and I was ready to go home to be with Him. But this morning I'm feeling like I'll just live to be 100!" She has blessed countless people with her encouragement, her prayers, her smile and the way she lives out her faith in Christ.
God is not through with you yet. As long as He leaves you on this earth He has something for you to do. he will equip you for doing His will. So get up every morning as if the sun is shining (because His Spirit shines through you) and ask Him to speak through your words and actions that day.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
God Desires
by Deanna Chadwick
God desires for us to totally trust in Him and rely on Him to help us do what we need to do. However, He does that by giving us talents and it is our responsibility to develop those talents or abilities in order to serve Him better. I don't think we have to have perfected our skills before we use them, but continuing to work on them if we feel we can do better is a good thing. I also think that everything needs to be wrapped in "doing it for God's glory and not our own". If we are doing something just because no one else is doing it, but are struggling and not feeling at peace about our contributions, then maybe that's not what God wants us to do and we have "stepped in to fix things" rather than waiting for God to show us (or someone else) where He wants us. I mean, it is one thing to step in in a pinch to do something that needs to be done, but it is different to do something on a continual basis and struggle with it.
If I felt God was leading me to do something, then I would expect to do whatever it took to make me feel like I was doing my very best job at what God asked me to do. I believe that everything I do has the potential of being used to praise God and therefore everything I do needs to be done to the best of my ability. Sometimes my ability in one area is greater than my ability in another area. That is ok as long as I am doing my best at whatever I am doing.
For example, I feel that hospitality is a talent I have. Therefore, when I am responsible for a dinner or I am having someone over to my house, then I need to put out my best effort to make it an enjoyable time for those people - make them feel comfortable, important, etc. I ask God to help me choose the right combinations of people to invite, to bless each one of them as they are in our house, that our conversations would be encouraging and uplifting, that we would be able to minister to them in some way.
On the other hand, public speaking is not a talent of mine. However, if I am asked to speak before a group, read something or give a devotion, then I give it my best and totally depend on God to make it all come out right. Time and time again, I have been approached about doing something, and my gut reaction was NO WAY! Then, I felt uneasy about my response, felt like God was saying, "Really? Are you saying I can't do this through you??", so then I have said, "Ok, God, if You really want me to do this, You need to make it very clear to me." He does, and I do it and am in constant prayer the entire time and totally dependent on God to work through me and just allow myself to be the vessel.
In His parable of the talents, God shows us that He wants us to take what He has given us and increase it or at least use it, but not to bury it or hide it. The Bible also instructs us to love God with ALL heart, soul and strength. That's where I get the idea that everything I do needs to be to His honor and glory - to show God I love him. I love the homemade gifts that Abigail makes me now just as much as when she was 5. They are on different skill levels and it shows, but because they came from her heart they are precious to me. I think God is the same way - He loves the offerings/gifts we give to Him regardless of the skill level with which they are presented, if they are coming from the heart and are our very best effort.
Deu 6:5, Matt. 22:37, John 21:17, Deu. 11:13, Jos. 22:5, 1 Sam 12:24, Col. 3:22, Luke 9:62
I hope this might be helpful to you. I came to a point where I had made myself almost insane trying to be everything to everyone and had become someone I didn't like very well. After learning to set my boundaries, learn to say no and realize I didn't have to jump in and do everything, I have learned to really enjoy what I can do and the person I am. I find greater fulfillment in the things I do do - even in the things I don't think are my greatest strength. I feel more at peace about having given my very best effort and knowing that as long I did my best and did it from my heart, that's all that matters to God.
Do I still try to improve? Yes.
Do I get wrapped up in the how and the what instead of focusing on the for Who? Sometimes, but He gently reminds me that if I am stressing about something not being good enough, then maybe I am trying to give more than He is asking of me.
I can honestly say that I am at a point in my walk with God where I have never been before. I feel so close to Him. I think I had to "be still and KNOW that He is God" in order to really tune into Him and His leadership.
God desires for us to totally trust in Him and rely on Him to help us do what we need to do. However, He does that by giving us talents and it is our responsibility to develop those talents or abilities in order to serve Him better. I don't think we have to have perfected our skills before we use them, but continuing to work on them if we feel we can do better is a good thing. I also think that everything needs to be wrapped in "doing it for God's glory and not our own". If we are doing something just because no one else is doing it, but are struggling and not feeling at peace about our contributions, then maybe that's not what God wants us to do and we have "stepped in to fix things" rather than waiting for God to show us (or someone else) where He wants us. I mean, it is one thing to step in in a pinch to do something that needs to be done, but it is different to do something on a continual basis and struggle with it.
If I felt God was leading me to do something, then I would expect to do whatever it took to make me feel like I was doing my very best job at what God asked me to do. I believe that everything I do has the potential of being used to praise God and therefore everything I do needs to be done to the best of my ability. Sometimes my ability in one area is greater than my ability in another area. That is ok as long as I am doing my best at whatever I am doing.
For example, I feel that hospitality is a talent I have. Therefore, when I am responsible for a dinner or I am having someone over to my house, then I need to put out my best effort to make it an enjoyable time for those people - make them feel comfortable, important, etc. I ask God to help me choose the right combinations of people to invite, to bless each one of them as they are in our house, that our conversations would be encouraging and uplifting, that we would be able to minister to them in some way.
On the other hand, public speaking is not a talent of mine. However, if I am asked to speak before a group, read something or give a devotion, then I give it my best and totally depend on God to make it all come out right. Time and time again, I have been approached about doing something, and my gut reaction was NO WAY! Then, I felt uneasy about my response, felt like God was saying, "Really? Are you saying I can't do this through you??", so then I have said, "Ok, God, if You really want me to do this, You need to make it very clear to me." He does, and I do it and am in constant prayer the entire time and totally dependent on God to work through me and just allow myself to be the vessel.
In His parable of the talents, God shows us that He wants us to take what He has given us and increase it or at least use it, but not to bury it or hide it. The Bible also instructs us to love God with ALL heart, soul and strength. That's where I get the idea that everything I do needs to be to His honor and glory - to show God I love him. I love the homemade gifts that Abigail makes me now just as much as when she was 5. They are on different skill levels and it shows, but because they came from her heart they are precious to me. I think God is the same way - He loves the offerings/gifts we give to Him regardless of the skill level with which they are presented, if they are coming from the heart and are our very best effort.
Deu 6:5, Matt. 22:37, John 21:17, Deu. 11:13, Jos. 22:5, 1 Sam 12:24, Col. 3:22, Luke 9:62
I hope this might be helpful to you. I came to a point where I had made myself almost insane trying to be everything to everyone and had become someone I didn't like very well. After learning to set my boundaries, learn to say no and realize I didn't have to jump in and do everything, I have learned to really enjoy what I can do and the person I am. I find greater fulfillment in the things I do do - even in the things I don't think are my greatest strength. I feel more at peace about having given my very best effort and knowing that as long I did my best and did it from my heart, that's all that matters to God.
Do I still try to improve? Yes.
Do I get wrapped up in the how and the what instead of focusing on the for Who? Sometimes, but He gently reminds me that if I am stressing about something not being good enough, then maybe I am trying to give more than He is asking of me.
I can honestly say that I am at a point in my walk with God where I have never been before. I feel so close to Him. I think I had to "be still and KNOW that He is God" in order to really tune into Him and His leadership.
Monday, April 7, 2008
God Cares
by Deanna Chadwick
Job 23:8-10 "I cannot find God anywhere-- in front or back of me, to my left or my right. God is always at work, though I never see him. But he knows what I am doing, and when he tests me, I will be pure as gold."
Have you ever felt like you couldn't find God? When something terrible happens, do you ever say, "God! Where are you? Why is this happening?" I have. But what an awesome realization to know that even when we can't see Him, God is always at work.
My favorite verse – my "life verse" is Job 23:10. "But He knows the path I take and when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold." I take great comfort in the knowledge that God KNOWS what I am going through and is right there with me even when I can't see Him. If I trust in Him, depend on Him to bring me through the fire, I will come forth as gold.
Fool's gold is shiny and sparkly, but when put into the refiner's fire, it will not prove to be real gold. Separating out the impurities through fire creates more valuable gold. I want to be more valuable to God. I want to be the real thing that pleases God, not the sparkly stuff that attracts the world.
So, if God needs to put me through the fire to make me more valuable to Him, then I will cling tightly to Him, totally trusting Him to bring me through the process and praise Him for caring enough about me to refine me so I can come forth as gold for Him.
Job 23:8-10 "I cannot find God anywhere-- in front or back of me, to my left or my right. God is always at work, though I never see him. But he knows what I am doing, and when he tests me, I will be pure as gold."
Have you ever felt like you couldn't find God? When something terrible happens, do you ever say, "God! Where are you? Why is this happening?" I have. But what an awesome realization to know that even when we can't see Him, God is always at work.
My favorite verse – my "life verse" is Job 23:10. "But He knows the path I take and when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold." I take great comfort in the knowledge that God KNOWS what I am going through and is right there with me even when I can't see Him. If I trust in Him, depend on Him to bring me through the fire, I will come forth as gold.
Fool's gold is shiny and sparkly, but when put into the refiner's fire, it will not prove to be real gold. Separating out the impurities through fire creates more valuable gold. I want to be more valuable to God. I want to be the real thing that pleases God, not the sparkly stuff that attracts the world.
So, if God needs to put me through the fire to make me more valuable to Him, then I will cling tightly to Him, totally trusting Him to bring me through the process and praise Him for caring enough about me to refine me so I can come forth as gold for Him.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Pruning
by Audrey Wauson
We who with unveiled faces
all reflect the Lord’s glory
are being transformed into His likeness
with ever increasing GLORY
which comes from the Lord,
who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:18
Have you ever heard or read something and thought, “Oh, I wish so and so knew that. It would really be good for them to hear that.” ? Well, I’ve spoken to groups of women where I thought, “Lord, so many women need to know this. Why didn’t they come?” Or maybe like me, you’ve sat in church and heard something from the preacher and nudged your husband, child, or friend…as if to say, “Pay attention to this, he’s talking to you.” OK, so I probably do that more than most people do ;) Anyways, last fall I was listening to a woman speak at a ladies’ retreat and she was talking about all the work she put into a Bible study that she was doing for this class. She began discussing this with God and said, “I’ve been working on this a long time and only one person showed up!” Then God told her, “It was for you!”
My mother was here visiting with me for a couple of days and she went with me to our church’s praise team practice. I had discussed with her before some of the areas that I felt like we as a praise team needed to work on and after it was over I asked her if she saw the things that I was seeing. Basically her answer was, “Yes and you’re the one doing it!” Ouch!
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit,
while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes
so that it will be even more fruitful.”
John 15:2
Well, today I feel like I’ve been pruned! However, there is some good news . . . I must have been bearing fruit! And I do truly want to be a fruitful Christian and not some plastic/wood imitation.
Lord Jesus, please purify my heart, create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a right spirit within me. I want to be useable. Please help me to listen to You. Thank You for making me glorious! Amen.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
I Can Think Clearly Now
by Barbara ChadwickEphesians 1:3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing... And verse 16: I do notcease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers.
These words of Paul speak to my feelings about my family. What a blessing they are to me. I hold each name in my hand every day and visually hold them up to God in prayer. But these are my thoughts onNew Year's Day of 2008."
The house is quiet. I can think clearly now. What a joy it was to have them all here, and how it blesses me to know they wanted to come. It was a lovely time of sharing, playing, kidding, singing, gifting, receiving, noise and laughter. I know I'll want them to come again, as often as they can. But, this morning, right now, I can think clearly again.
Monday, March 10, 2008
God Has A Plan For Your Life
by Barbara Chadwick
Genesis 16:6-13 (The Message)The story of Hagar, Sarai's maid
Hagar is running away. Her heart is heavy. She thinks her situationis hopeless. She is scared, confused, pregnant and alone. In verse 7God speaks to her, "Hagar, what are you doing here?" and in verse 9He says in essence, "Go home." The God of grace and mercy gave herhope that day. In verse 13 we see her response to the God of tendermercy who reached down to the barren desert and touched the heart ofa girl whose heart was aching, "She answered God by name, praying tothe God who spoke to her, 'You're the God who sees me!"
God saw her. He knew her life story - all the parts before this andall the parts yet to come. He had a plan for her life.
God has a plan for your life too. In Jeremiah 29:11 God says, "I knowthe plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you,plans to give you hope and a future.
"Where are you today? Jeremiah 29:12-13 show how God will respond ifyou call on His name, "... you will call upon me and come and pray tome, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when youseek me with all your heart."
Genesis 16:6-13 (The Message)The story of Hagar, Sarai's maid
Hagar is running away. Her heart is heavy. She thinks her situationis hopeless. She is scared, confused, pregnant and alone. In verse 7God speaks to her, "Hagar, what are you doing here?" and in verse 9He says in essence, "Go home." The God of grace and mercy gave herhope that day. In verse 13 we see her response to the God of tendermercy who reached down to the barren desert and touched the heart ofa girl whose heart was aching, "She answered God by name, praying tothe God who spoke to her, 'You're the God who sees me!"
God saw her. He knew her life story - all the parts before this andall the parts yet to come. He had a plan for her life.
God has a plan for your life too. In Jeremiah 29:11 God says, "I knowthe plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you,plans to give you hope and a future.
"Where are you today? Jeremiah 29:12-13 show how God will respond ifyou call on His name, "... you will call upon me and come and pray tome, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when youseek me with all your heart."
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