Little is Much When God is in It

 One of our dogs, Katie, is a miniature golden Labrador Retriever. One day she ran into living room and right up on to the couch.  She accidentally jumped on the remote; turned on the TV set; sat down; and watched TV.  We were surprised, but she wasn't.

"...Each day brings its own surprises.” Proverbs 27:1b

Dear God, Help me to be open to doing something new for You.  Help me to be open to Your surprises.  In the name of Jesus, Amen

The Good News and the Bad News

The Good News is we have no water bill!  The Bad News is we have one of the last old septic sytems in our city.  Everyone is phasing into city water, but we are hanging on by our thumbs to our well and septic as long as we can.  Last summer we had a big problem with it; the workers said that the water was leaving the house but not making it to the septic system. The water went out but only 15 feet from the house.  That is not good.  We had to have it emptied every two weeks until they fixed the lines in the field.  Am I like that broken septic line?

"Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect: but I press on..." Philippians 3:12

Dear God, Help me to be all that I can be for your glory. In Jesus name, Amen 

Do I Need a Childlike Heart?

I grew up in a parsonage (church house) next door to our church.  About every other month, my mom would say all the women were gathering at the church for a shower.  My dad would stay home with us four girls and make us fudge and popcorn.  Later, I would search and search the church basement  for a bathtub or shower where they had "bathed."  I could not figure out where all those moms took their "showers" when they would gather at the church. "But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." Luke 18:16
Dear God, Keep my heart and mind as soft as a little child, always ready to believe and forgive. In the forgiving name of Jesus, Amen

Is There A Safe Place I Can Hide?

MacKenzie cut her hair three times when she was three years of age.  The third time she cut it, she put her strands of hair in the closet and shut the door.  And, then she walked boldly back into the living room as though she had hid her secret from the rest of us. "Why did you run off secretly and deceive me? Why didn’t you tell me, so I could send you away with joy and singing to the music of timbrels and harps?"  Genesis 31:27
Dear God, I know there is no safe place I can hide, except in You.  Help me to run to You only for safety. In the Name of Jesus, Amen

On Good Friday: A conscience shaped by a Grace-filled response.

I learned God's love and grace from my parents and we can teach it to our family, friends, neighbors and co-workers.  We lived next door to the church and I hit a wiffle ball right through my dad's office study window.  I couldn’t go to sleep that night because I kept seeing huge wiffle balls flying by and hearing glass break.  My dad smiled at me when I finally told them the truth later that weekend, probably because it was obvious to all who had done it. My parents thanked me for telling them.  They had purposely not swept it up, so I had to go over and do that with my mom.  Jesus' death was the ultimate grace shown to us that we did not deserve.  "Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:16
Dear God, Thank you for dieing, so that I might go free.  Help me to give the grace to others that you showed me on Calvary's Tree. In Christ's Name, Amen

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -- I took the one less travelled by,and that has made all the difference - Robert Frost

At one of our favorite camps in Wisconsin, there so many people who got injuries on the long steep toboggan run.  About half way down there was a small rut in the tobaggon run, which made the toboggan run uneven.  Several of our friends got seriously injured on what was only a two inch difference in the height of the wood.  What little thing could you allow God to work on in your life today that could make a big difference? 

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” Luke 16:10

Dear God, You have entrusted me with much for which I am so grateful.  Help me to be faithful in the small things, so you can trust me with even more.  In the Name of Jesus, Amen