Rusty

by Barbara Chadwick

Kenneth said, "Once upon a time this vehicle was new and shiny! Just think how proud they were of it. They brought it home and looked at it and polished it and showed it to their friends. They never thought that one day it would look like this."

It got me to thinking about rusty things:

• a closet door that squeaks (it could wake the dead!)
• an SOS pad used for three weeks
• a certain cookie pan if I put it in the dishwasher
• et cetera and ad infinitum

I'm sure you have your own list because we can't seem to get through life without some rust somewhere, especially here in Southeast Alaska!

There are things in my life that are rusty too. When someone asks me to play for a wedding, the first thought in my brain is, "I'm so rusty!" I have stressed daily practice with an emphasis on scales, chords and arpeggios for umpteen years of teaching piano. This kind of practice keeps your fingers nimble and responsive. When you neglect this practice your fingers act like they're rusty. You can play but the music isn't melodic and flowing. Wouldn't it be wonderful if I could just rub a little WD40 on my fingers and they would respond to my brain signals in an instant tickling the ivories as in years past?!

"If you don't use it you lose it." We often hear that phrase. It's true with a second language. After getting a diploma in Spanish at a Language School in San Antonio, Texas, Kenneth and I got to where we even dreamed in Spanish. We thought it was a milestone. We could converse fluently. But, we have not served in a Spanish church since 1982 and when we meet someone today who speaks only Spanish we can converse but our thoughts don't flow as they once did.

I'm trying to memorize one scripture verse each week. I think I'm doing well until I start to review from the beginning of the year. Then it feels like my brain is corroded. I stutter and hem and haw trying to get the right words in the correct order.

Wikipedea says that, "rust left alone will corrode, destroy, damage, degrade, disintegrate, cause collapse and breakdown."

In controlling rust every method mentioned has to do with taking some kind of action. You have to do something. In our spiritual lives we must guard against corrosion.

When you first see rust you have to scrub it away before it can do damage. Ann Graham Lotz says in I Saw The Lord, " Sin is deceptive and temptation always lurks at your doorstep. ... from time to time, I need a wake-up call to personal revival - a fresh experience and vision of Christ in order to open my eyes to His holiness and my helplessness and the eternal hope of the Cross. I need to come back to the Cross and get right with Him - not for forgiveness, since I am forgiven forever, but for sweet fellowship with Him and for power in His service. " (p.118)

We get lax and rusty in praising the God of all creation. It is easy to forget to thank Him for daily blessings. In Philippians chapter 4 Paul calls us to Rejoice. Then he reiterates, Rejoice!... in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

If We Do Not Give Up!

I can honestly say that I never really liked to exercise. It is hot and sweaty, I never really felt good when I got done, and it didn’t seem to make any difference. So, I just didn’t … exercise that is … until recently.

I have a friend who goes to the gym religiously and I had been watching her. She always has a lot of energy and she looks great. Then in the small group at our church two women have had to have knee surgeries and I know a couple of others outside of our group who’ve had knee troubles. So when I was out walking my dog and took a turn a bit sharply and my knee twinged and I thought, “Oh no, I’m old! My knees are giving out and I’m in my early 50’s! What am I going to do?” The answer was obvious … I was going to have to exercise. Ick! Or so I thought.

I joined a gym. I joined the first of June and went every day religiously for two months. Unbelievably, I found out several things about myself. First: I LOVE Zumba … it’s a kind of dance/exercise class. Unfortunately, my knees are not ready for Zumba. After three weeks I was forced to try out some of the other classes. I tried the yoga class … ick. I’m not a yoga person. I tried a cardio-kick class … ick X’s 2 … too much like trying to be the Karate Kid. But I found that I liked the Step class and Cardio Sculpt class. So, I went there for the rest of the summer. I enjoyed going to the classes because: there were other women to talk to and commiserate with; the music and the instructor kept pushing me to continue just a bit more; and when the class was over …. Well in about 30 minutes … I felt great! Like seriously, I felt better. Now my clothes fit better, I have more energy, and I enjoy the rush of being successful at something that I formerly was NOT successful at.

The Christian walk … or as the early Christians calledl it … The Way … is a bit like that sometimes. Sometimes it’s hard to see the benefit or profit in what you’re asked to do … loving others, serving others, self-sacrifice, self-discipline, fasting, praying, considering others as better than yourself … but if you persist, if you find a group of people to do it with, if you don’t give up … you WILL reap a reward … and it WILL be worth it!

It will be worth it all when we see Jesus

One smile of His dear face all sorrows will erase

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time We Will Reap A Harvest IF WE DO NOT GIVE UP. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galations 6:7-10

The Purse

by Barbara Chadwick

I almost bought a purse this afternoon.

My granddaughter, Abigail, was trying on some clothes for school so I was walking around and behold there was the neatest purse! I picked it up to check if it had enough pockets for all the things I have to carry!

You know, Kleenex, 3 shades of lipstick, a notebook (in case I think of something incredible to write!) my calendar, cell phone, 2 pens and a pencil, a zippered pouch for loose change, one side for make-up and one side for cough drops, gum and Gas X, and a place for my keys. Only the essentials.

I take it with me at all times just like the mother on Golden Girls (Well, actually, I don't carry it to the living room like she did.)

Anyway, so here I am, in the purses, waiting for Abigail. I am enthralled with this purse. So I put it in the cart and start to move away - but wait - here's a different one. It might even be more sassy. I examine it, put it back and note where it is in case it might really be the one.

But lest I go away and actually miss the right one, I begin to look at all of them. I put a couple more into the cart (to be able to make an intelligent decision.) It has now been about 45 minutes since I saw the first purse.

I reach for a kleenex and my eyes see my old purse. I bought it in March. It still looks nice. There are no smudges or scratches. It is not discolored. It has not lost it's shape. In fact, it looks good. I like it.

I begin to put the purses back on the shelf.

I start thinking about why I wanted to buy a purse in the first place. Oh yeah, because it caught my eye and I do have that gift certificate from my birthday.

Jesus said, Don't collect for youselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal. But collect for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth... Matthew 6:19-20

OK. I don't think moths or rust will destroy a new purse and probably thieves wouldn't break in to steal it. However, it also is not a treasure for heaven. Kenneth will not put it in the casket with me!

In verse 28 He says, Why do you worry about clothes? (or purses to carry) Ouch!

Verse 31, So, don't worry saying...What will we wear (or carry?) ... Seek first the kingdom of God and His Righteousness...

I don't think the Lord cares what purse I carry but I know He wants First Place in my heart. And that's what I really want - for Jesus to have First Place in my heart and in my thoughts.

The Progress of One Pilgrim

Re-reading Pilgrim’s Progress has been so inspiring for me this time around. Not sure why, but perhaps I’m just relating more closely to this particular Pilgrim’s progress J For example: Christian and Hopeful made it through Vanity Fair and though they lost their dear friend Faithful (he was killed by the people in town) they are encouraged in their desire to be more faithful. They arrive at Pleasant Meadows and are so refreshed, it’s been such a long time since they were really able to relax.

But when they leave Pleasant Meadows they find that the going is really rough. And just outside The Way … I mean it’s so close that they had difficulty telling which way they should go … they saw this other path that was running parallel to The Way and Christian is like “Look, this path is so much easier and we can still see The Way and it’s going the same way. When it veer’s off we’ll just get back on The Way.” So what could be wrong with that? The problem? Well they got to focusing on the pleasantness of their walk and soon they lost sight of The Way and when they stopped to rest they fell asleep and they awoke to Giant Despair poking them and he took them off to Doubting Castle.

My husband and I have traveled quite a bit. We’ve lived in England, Panama, California (Oh wait that’s part of the US J We’ve lived in Alaska, California, New Mexico, Texas, Utah. We (one or both of us) have traveled from Washington State to Washington D.C. and 20+ states in between as well as out of country to: France, Turkey, Mexico, Canada, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Ecuador. And in all our travels, I have never seen a map as straight at the map of Pilgrim’s Progress.

As I was reading this, it was brought back to my mind the number of times that I’ve just done something that was “easier”, “quicker”, a “short-cut” and found myself feeling so lost & alone, full of doubts & despair. And just like Christian, when I remembered that I had a key to get out of that dungeon I found that the key opened all the locks and I got free!

The Key? The promises of God. Here’s the difference between faith and religion. Faith doesn’t see how it will work, doesn’t really care. Faith knows that there’s hope and it believes. That belief is not a “head” knowledge but an action verb. Faith is NOT a noun; it’s a verb. If faith is not acted on, then it’s not faith … it’s religion. Pilgrim acted on his faith, claimed the promises of God and was freed from Doubting Castle and from the cruel hand of Giant Despair.

Today, I claim the promise of 1 John 1:9 “… if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” (NLT)

What promises do you need to claim today?

What Draws Your Heart
To The Lord?
by Barbara Chadwick


As I flipped through a cookbook in the kitchen, looking for a recipe to use left-over salmon in a different way. I heard a voice. Singing. It didn't startle me. I knew who it was.

This voice was raspy, vibrant, off-key, but the praises to God were strong and heart-felt. The words and the music were touching something deep in him - More Love To Thee, O Christ (words by Prentiss, music by Doane).

More love to Thee, O Christ, more love to Thee.
Hear, Thou, the prayer I make on bended knee.
This is my earnest plea.
More love, O Christ, to Thee
More love to Thee, more love to Thee.

I have been married to this man - this voice - 53 years. I love to hear it. I can sense the emotion behind the voice. It blesses me to hear it.

Every morning Kenneth reads God's Word and sings praises to God from the hymnal. Many times it sounds as if he is being drawn into the very presence of the Lord.

What is it that draws your heart to the Lord?

Angie told me recently that it is early in the morning in a very quiet place. No distractions. No other sounds. As she reads God's Word He speaks to her. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13

Andrew Neal Park says these words in a song:
In the secret, in the quiet place
In the stillness, You are there.
In the secret, in the quiet hour I wait,
Only for You.
'Cause I want to know You more

Maria said, "As I hike these trails of Juneau, I sense God's Presence. To walk here amid such beauty and to talk with the Lord touches my heart in a profound way."

Mrs. Dorothy Patterson wrote that one place she communes with God is in her garden.

Do you remember the words and the melody to that old hymn, In The Garden by C. A. Miles?

I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses.
And the voice I hear, falling on my ear, the Son of God discloses.
He walks with me and He talks with me,
He tells me I am His own.
The joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.

Dr. Ronnie Floyd says in his book, The Power of Prayer and Fasting, it has been through fasting that He has come into God's presence.

In my daily devotions at the kitchen table many times God has spoken to my heart through His Word. I underline the words and often write in a journal what He communicates to me. It is a habit - a discipline. As I wake in the morning my spirit is drawn to Him and when I draw near to Him He is there - waiting.

When we need a word from the Lord we seek His face. We call on His Name. We sing the chorus of Mr. Park's song:

I want to know You. I want to hear Your voice.
I want to know You more.
I want to touch You. I want to see Your face.
I want to know You more.

Jeremiah 33:3 Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.

Overheard
On The
Saddle Ridge
Ranch
(at VBS)
by Barbara Chadwick



What a privilege it is to teach boys and girls about Jesus. I thank God that I was able to help this week. Although, I did say a couple of times, "I think 68 years old is too old for this!"

Teacher: Who was the Bible lesson about this morning?
Student: Zaccheus
Teacher: Was he big or little?
Student: He was Wee!

Teacher: Let's read our Bible verse together, "For I know the plans I have for you. Plans to give you a hope and a future. This is the Lord's declaration.... Jeremiah 29:11" What does declaration mean ?
Student: That's when you make something nice and pretty! (decoration)

A teacher asked a question and several students answered at once. She said, "Please raise your hand to speak." They raised their hands and she called on one litte guy who said, "Can I please go home?"

In the snack room after drinking four ounces of pink lemonade one boy asked, "Tomorrow can we have red wine?"

Friday in the craft room the students were given the pouches to make their "saddle-bag". They were to write the theme for the week, Have Questions? Ask God! One boy came in with a bit of an attitude. When he was handed his pouch he said, "You can't even MAKE me do this!" He pushed his chair away from the table. The other students got into the task loving every bead and sticker. He was ignored. Soon the teacher glanced his way and saw that he was busy, his head bowed above his work. His pouch was one of the most artistic done that day. As he left he said, "This has been the best week!" Who can understand the power of using the talents that God has put into a child.

At the end of class there were lots of Saddle Ridge Ranch stickers left over. One student asked if they could have them to put on their refrigerator at home. The teacher smiled and said, "You need to ask your mother first."

Monday morning: One of the teachers said, "Don't you just love the excitement and joy in the kids faces?
Friday morning: One of the teachers said with excitement and joy in HER face, "Just one more day!"

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14

Feeding 5000

Down-turns, down-sizing, re-organizing, minimizing, loss of income, loss of job, loss of life-style, re-evaluating … when the VA told us that they were changing my husband’s disability status, we were a bit stunned. We thought the status was permanent and we’d made a lot of financial decisions based on that. Then it felt like we were the only ones who’d received such a stark blow. But it turns out several of our friends and acquaintances have been or are currently going through the same thing. What a weird experience this is. As I was talking to God about it this morning I began reading where I’d left off in John yesterday.

John 6 (NIV) Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

⁵When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" ⁶He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

God was not surprised at the VA’s decision. Nor was He or is He surprised by anyone else’s misfortunes.

⁷Philip answered him, "Eight months' wages^[a] would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"

Have you ever asked that question? Where will we …? How will we …? Ever been in a place where the need, both personal and communal, was so great that it occurs to you that no one … absolutely no one can supply this need …? Except God?! Philip looked at what it would take to solve the problem and the answer he came up with was staggering. If you saved eight months of your family’s wages how much would that be? … and how far would it go?

⁸Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, ⁹"Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"

Have you ever looked at your resources, and then looked again, and yet again, hoping to find something anything that you could use? Andrew looked at what they had and was appalled because it wasn’t enough… it wasn’t really enough for one grown man much less a multitude on a hillside.

¹⁰Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. ¹¹Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

Jesus asked the question, I believe, because He wanted them to understand what they were about to see. He knew what they had and what they didn’t have. But more importantly, He knew what He was going to do. Jesus took what they had, and He gave thanks, and had the disciples distribute it to everyone who was seated, about 5000 men (not including women & children) and … and they had as much as they wanted.

¹²When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." ¹³So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

I believe that following His example is probably a good idea at this point in our lives. Look at what we have, give thanks, and distribute what we have to the need that God sets before us. Then let Him be responsible for multiplying it. He can do the most amazing things if we’re thankful … and obedient.

In the book of James, chapter one, He tells us to … ²Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. ⁴Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ⁵If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. ⁶But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.