Keep Praying

 A friend in our church is going in for an operation for breast cancer. I pray briefly right then for the Lord’s mercy and hand in that surgery.

Later that day I learn that her operation went well and the surgeon thought it was a success. I quietly say,” Thank you Lord for a prayer answered.” I’m blown away when I hear that her whole office stopped what they were doing and prayed when she went into surgery and didn’t stop praying until she came out.

 “Pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:28)          

Church Camp

 

August 30

 

The real purpose of church camp was to  teach young boys about Jesus. I recall one moment. The teacher used a beaker full of a red liquid to represent our sinful self. “This is what happens when we ask Jesus into our lives to forgive our sins.” he says pouring something into that beaker. The red disappeared instantly. That was cool to an eleven-year old, yet it would be forty years before I fully understood and accepted what that teacher was illustrating to a bunch of campers that morning.

“Truly I say to you, except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)

Fire!

 

August 29                                              FIRE!

The word yells at you. It demands action." Call the fire department! Let's go! "Where are Pat and Steve?"  "At the fire!"  We run up the hill behind the cottage.  It is steep and long." "I smell it."  "I see it.”  Finally the top! There are two blackened faces, one boy holds a charged shirt. A circle of flames 10 feet in diameter is growing. Thank God there isn't a breeze.  Finally firemen, who panted up the same hill with back pumps, douse the flames. 

"But I have trusted in your mercy;My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.

I will sing to the Lord, Because He has dealt bountifully with me.” (Psalm 13:5-6)

Epitaph

 

August 27

What would you want written on your tombstone? Gino says; "his passing this way made a difference." I remember this because less than a year later, Gino died of a heart attack.. From the overflow eclectic crowd at his funeral and from the things that were said I knew that his “passing this way had made a difference” in a lot of people's lives including mine.

I know now it doesn't matter what is on my tombstone. Men will write that. What counts is what God says. I pray it will be something like:

"Well done good and faithful servant." (Matthew 25:21)

Hot Day

 

August 24 (weekend)

 "I had no idea why I bought four bottles of water," Joy tells me, "one bottle would have been enough for the trip home. Something just told me to buy four.As I approach the toll station for Sturbridge, I notice a family of four sitting by the side of the road with a dog. They are beat. I stop, all are thirsty, especially the dog."

“Whoever gives to one of these little ones a cup of cold water.... truly I say to you, he shall in no way lose his reward.”(Matt 10:42)

Agape' Communion

August 23

 Joy excitedly tells me that at a women's retreat, she was asked to serve communion. She knew that she wasn’t ready, but God was. “ We had an agape' communion. We were all in tears. Susie served the bread and I offered the wine. We were remembering Jesus and what he did at the Last Supper.”

 

“He took the bread, gave thanks, and broke it and gave it to them saying ‘This is my body which is given for you: do this in remembrance of me. Likewise after supper he took the cup saying, ‘This cup is the new testament in my blood. Which is shed for you.” (Luke 22: 19,20)

Dealing With Stress

 

August 22

 

We are moving and boxes are all over the living room. I fear two things I need are in one of the taped boxes.  “Let’s stop and pray right now,” Joy says.. “Lord we seek your help here. We need to find the work folder and the gift certificate or give us peace about it.”

I feel my stress subside. I thank her for her love. As I rise from my knees I spot an open box under the divan. Inside is my business folder and the gift certificate.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6)