Cleaning the Stove



This morning I cleaned my stove. You
know, took out the burners and the drip pans and cleaned all the accumulated
gunk. Most of it wiped up easily, but a few spots took a little elbow grease
and some steel wool pads. Before long, the stove looked shiny and (nearly) new.As I worked, my mind meandered, as it
tends to do. I thought about all those meals I’d cooked on this stove. Would
you believe it? Twenty-nine years’ worth of meals. That’s a lot of years and a
lot of meals. Any botched meals were the fault of the cook, not the stove. It
endured boil-overs, splatters, occasional burned food, and spills on the
burners.As my mind wandered, I couldn’t help
but compare myself to that stove. Twenty-nine is pretty ancient for a stove.
Now I don’t consider myself ancient, but I am retired, and I am on Medicare.
Even though I don’t like the title, I am officially classified as elderly.In all my years, I’ve botched many
things, said or done the wrong thing to the wrong person. I have boiled over in
anger, regretting words that came out of my mouth. Over the years, there have
been countless occasions where I’ve just made a mess of things. I haven’t always
followed God’s recipe for my life. I’ve been spiritually careless and taken
things and people for granted.I am so grateful that God is always
willing to clean up my messes. No matter what I have said or done, or how often
I have ignored his suggestions, He is willing to forgive. Even when I make a
huge mess, He helps me clean it up, He forgives and offers me grace. He opens
my eyes to truth and wisdom in His word, and He shows me a better way. Are you
ready to ask Him to help you clean up your messes and offer you grace?

Father, thank you for cleaning up my messes. Thank you for sending your son to offer grace
to all of us that we may be sparkling clean in your sight.



Embrace the Storms

“Without rain, nothing grows. Learn to embrace the storms in your life.” David Wolfe

A quote to remember when life is hard.

Father, I thank you for the storms in my life. In those times, you enable me to grow–if I listen for your voice. Keep me always growing closer to you, in the storms and in the calm.

Friday Prayer Challenge

I challenge you to pray this verse for others this week.

Hebrews 10:19-24

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

Lord, I thank you for the sacrifice of your son, Jesus. I thank you that His sacrifice ripped open the curtain to the holy of holies and allowed us to draw near to you. Thank you that you forgive us and free us from guilt. Show us how to encourage each other to live in love and to do good deeds for others.

The Eyes Have It

The Eyes Have It

               As I taught the simple rhythm game, dozens of pairs of dark brown eyes danced with glee. Huge smiles covered the faces of the beautiful children sitting on the floor with me in this church in the poorest section of Matamoros, Mexico. In spite of the language barriers—the children spoke no English, and I spoke only a little Spanish—we communicated. As we clapped, snapped, sang, and did crafts together, their eyes sparkled.

Later in the day, whenever I glanced up from my work preparing for the next day’s bible school, one or more small brown faces peeked through the church windows. When I smiled and waved, their hands waved furiously, smiles broke out, and brown eyes danced with glee. Pure joy shone out of those huge, dark brown eyes.

               Maria, the mother and grandmother of some of those children often sat, watched, and listened at our daytime Bible school. Even though she spoke no English, she loved to watch us and the children. Part of the day she stayed at her tiny home a block and a half away. There, she watched the men in our group saw boards, pound nails, and paint turquoise walls. Her eyes watched as the new edition to her home, a 10 foot by 16 foot room, nearly doubled the size of her tiny house. Maria, mother of ten, one deceased, watched her house grow. Maria, quietly sitting in a folding chair at the church, watched the children laugh, play, and learn at Bible school. Maria, active member of her church, sang praise songs at the top of her voice and knelt on the hard tile floor to silently pray. In her eyes I saw tremendous gratitude. In those big brown eyes, I also saw amazing peace and amazing faith.

               Seventeen of us had traveled to Matamoros, Mexico in two rented vans. For six days we worked in Mexico, joining God in the work he was already accomplishing there. I looked into the eyes of my 16 companions. Some eyes glowed the same dark brown as the residents of Matamoros. Others

shone bright blue or green. At first glance all I saw in those eyes was fatigue. They worked all day in the heat—110 degrees plus heat index—and slept at night together on the roof, praying for a breeze, scattering when it rained. All this produced deep fatigue. Looking past the fatigue, however, I saw more. In those eyes was resolve: pound one more nail, paint one more board, help one more child, serve one more meal. In these eyes I saw true servanthood. In spite of the unbearable heat and the extreme tiredness, I saw the eyes of eager servants wishing to do God’s will.

               The eyes…the eyes are what I remember most. Whether the brown eyes of the locals or the multi-hued eyes of their guests, I saw something special shining in all those eyes. Through the eyes, as clear as a cloudless sky, I saw the love of Christ shining through.

               In what ways are you letting the love of Christ shine for others?

               Father, show me how to let your love shine through me, whether I am ministering in a foreign country, in a homeless community, or in my own neighborhood.

He is in Control

“Sovereignty is a weighty thing to ascribe to the nature and character of God. Yet if He were not sovereign, He would not be God. The Bible is clear that God is in control of everything that happens.”

-Joni Eareckson Tada.According to Dictionary.com, “sovereign” means “a person who has supreme power or authority.”Don’t you think it is reassuring to be reminded that our God has supreme power and authority, and He is in control of everything that happens?Lord, when I worry or I am afraid, remind me that You are sovereign, and You are in control.

Friday Prayer Challenge

Friday Prayer Challenge

I Peter 4:8-11Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.Father, I am so thankful that you are stronger than the enemy. I pray for those who are struggling against his power. May they rely on your power to evict him from their lives. For each of us, I pray for Your strength and steadfastness to keep the enemy away.I challenge you to pray this scripture over others, especially those who struggle.