Weeds

by Audrey Wauson

So one of the very neatest things about having a new house is how wonderful it feels, how much space there is, how great it is to have a place for everything. One of the not so neat things is all the things that can go wrong, not work, need fixing, have to be cleaned. Well, the house was not what got my attention this morning, it was the weeds. Now that we’re watering the grapes, the fruit trees, the sod (new Lawn), the garden, we have weeds, weeds everywhere of all kinds and sizes … ugh. So the sun’s coming up and it’s shining gently on the beautifully green grass, and peaking through the trees, and bathing the grapes, and warming the garden … and all I can see are the weeds.

Well that got me to thinking about how some days I can’t see anything beautiful or wonderful in my life, I can only see the weeds. This morning was one of those days. As I was squatting down to pull up a section of weeds, I just felt God gently nudging me to lift my eyes and look at the sun peaking up over the mountains, streaming through the trees and resting on the grass. Then later when I was reading in Psalms, again I felt like God was reminding me, “Keep your focus on me. There will always be some weeds, some you will be able to pull up, others you will struggle with for awhile. But I am here now. I am your life. I am your salvation. If you will come to Me I will show you what to do and where to go. I will live through you and you too will reflect My glory.”

So this morning, I just want to encourage you to keep your eyes on the Son. He will help you with the weeds. And He will also show you great and mighty and wonderful things that you have never seen. I pray that the God of all comfort will bless you and keep you this beautiful day that the Lord has made. I WILL rejoice and be glad in it and I hope you will too!

God Will Make Something Special Out of You

by Barbara Chadwick

Exodus 24:18; 25:10-15

Moses was on Mt. Sinai with God forty days and forty nights. I wonderwhat that was like? Oh the wonder of it all. Awesome!

God told Moses to make a chest. The people were to bring offerings ofgold, silver, etc. to use in making this chest that was to besomething very special, the Ark of the Covenant.

Now, some, maybe all, of this gold and silver and so on had come fromthe Egyptians. Isn't that interesting?

God is going to make something special for His people, His chosenones and He asks them to bring the stuff the Egyptians had just giventhem before they left Egypt. He's going to make something Holy andHe's going to use not new gold and not gold held only by pure hands.

Isn't that just like God? He takes us human beings - not pure butvery common and blemished and wraps us with His cloak ofrighteousness, made possible by Jesus death on the cross; then Hedraws us to Himself in fellowship.

Awesome!

I Wouldn’t Have Done It Like That

by Audrey Wauson

The other day we were listening to one of our favorite preachers, Bob Coy. Actually we were watching him online. We have just discovered that we can do this, so we picked a random sermon to watch. Wow, God is so sovereign He can even cause us to pick sermons that hit right at the heart of an issue that we don’t know is an issue. This one hit us both, but me most I think.

He began talking about how we don’t like authority…in any area. Well here’s what I found. This one statement, “I wouldn’t have done it like that.” is my most prideful and rebellious statement and I make it all the time. Here’s how it goes. I go to the ER, they are incredibly disorganized and I immediately have a thought (more like a complete plan) on how they could improve things. That thought affects my attitude. I begin to fill with pride. Then they take me back to one of the rooms and I immediately notice the color of the paint and think, “Why don’t they paint this place some color that would inspire wellness?” Pride is now blossoming. There is not enough space to write all of the things that I notice that could use improvement or change. Then the Dr sees me and I’ve been so busy noticing all that’s wrong that I’m very pleased because she matches all my expectations. However, I begin to project all of my frustrations (You know frustrations that things aren’t going exactly like I would do it.) onto an internal dialogue regarding how incompetent this place is. By this time I can barely hide the disdain I’m feeling from my face. And I know what an ER should be run like because … I’m a professional and have run ER’s before? … NO-o-o … Because I’m a know-it-all and am full of myself? … much more likely.

Well, here was Pastor Coy’s point. God in His sovereignty sets up kings and queens, rulers and authorities, and other things and people … like ER’s, like school administrations, like realtors, like everyone. I mean He is the one who set up the chessboard. He is the one who moves the pieces. He is the one who decides. There is really very little that I get to decide, thank God. I mean really, you should thank God that I don’t get to decide how everything is run. So any and all statements should be sent directly to Him, something like, “God, what were you thinking?” or “Why in the world do You allow this person to work here?” Wow, that sounds a bit presumptuous … that’s because it is presumptuous. Unbelievably, God can handle it. He wants to dialogue with us. He wants to share with us His thoughts. Perhaps He would say, “I allowed that person to be working here so that when you came in they could see what I’ve been telling them is true, Christians do have a hope and a future and a plan. They are not abandoned orphans by a distant god. And they don’t try to run the universe themselves.”

Some of the biggest messes in life come from people deciding things for their friends and family. “Here’s what I think you should do…” or “Well, if you ask me …”

God, please help me to keep my mind, my thoughts directed towards You. If I’m struggling with incompetence remind me that I can talk to You directly about the problem, that I can trust You to know what You’re doing. Help me to still and quiet my soul like a weaned child with its mother.

Psalm 131
My heart is not proud, O Lord, my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.
But I have stilled and quieted my soul;
like a weaned child with its mother,
like a weaned child is my soul within me.
O Israel, (O Audrey) put your hope in the Lord
both now and forevermore.

Excuse me while I go and apologize to my family and friends for getting in their face, for telling them how I would do it … wow, I may be busy for awhile ;)

Mother’s Hands

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.”

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.

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 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.