Walking With My Abba

The other day I was out on a walk by my house. The scenery is always beautiful because next to a paved pathway we have a creek flowing behind our home. God always brings the usual creatures out for me to admire: squirrels scampering and birds chirping their sweet songs.  On most walks I get to pet a dog or two and I love that!

This walk was different though because I know that the Lord was journeying with me.  My relationship with my Abba father has grown over the past few years so we spend a lot more time together during the day.

In fact, the other day my sweet husband said to me, “I can see the Lord is first in your life honey. You are such an inspiration to me!” I imagine many of your husbands have noticed this in your life as well. When this happens, it feels so right because God is in his rightful place and the Father is looking down and smiling.

Strolling down the path, I said to my Father, “If I am really hearing you, feeling you and sensing your presence with me, please show me a sign.” All of a sudden, three squirrels started at the bottom of three different trees and scampered up to the same spot and started chattering. The squirrels stopped at the same height and turned and looked at me while they were communicating.

Most of the time when I see squirrels, there are only two speaking to each other and they aren’t looking at me!  This time I realized God’s Holy presence was there with me on that bridge.  The trio of squirrels, connecting with me, wagging their precious tales, answered a question that I had been wondering about. Since I’ve drawn closer to the Lord, I feel His Presence in the most unusual way as tiny electrical currents start at my feet and run thru my entire body. During my moment with the squirrels, the currents were flowing!

Oh how marvelous is this new added presence of Him to my life! The Father had answered me completely.

I have fellowship with Him because I walk in His ways.

Sisters, you can have a similar experience if you spend time with our Father, walking with Him, communicating while you are driving around town on your many errands or speaking with Him while you are in your homes. He is waiting on you to be in HIS presence. The more time you spend with Him the closer He will be.

James 4:8 says, Come near to God and he will come near to you. Will you ask your Father to take a walk with you today?

LOVE YOU SISTERS IN CHRIST! Lisa Mick

Are You an Alien?

Every year, my husband plays in a golf tournament featuring other NFL players and every year I dread it. While the tournament is well run and it’s fun to see all the former NFL greats, the event is held at a nearby casino. Smoke filled rooms. Mindless gambling. It’s not my favorite environment.

I feel like an alien!

As a Christian, did you ever feel like everyone looked at you like you’re the one from outer space, especially when you were in a worldly environment? Did you decide to appear no different than anyone else in the room so you wouldn’t stand out?

Maybe that’s why Peter said to fellow believers in 1Peter 2:11, Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

But that’s not comfortable, Peter! It’s a lot easier to blend in.  You know the saying, “When in Rome….”

But God desires more from us.  It’s a lot easier to be a chameleon, adapting to every environment, rather than a vulnerable lamb, who most think should be back at the farm.

In its analysis of 1 Peter 2:11, the Macarthur Bible Commentary says, “In order to have an impact for God on the world, Christians must be disciplined in an inward and private way by avoiding the desires of the fallen nature. Fleshly lusts are personified as if they were an army of rebels or guerrillas who incessantly search out and try to destroy the Christian’s joy, peace and usefulness.”

I get that. There have been many times when I opted out of alien citizenship and embraced conformity so people would like me. Afterwards, there was no joy because I missed an opportunity to be a witness for God. There’s only regret. Why wasn’t I stronger?

If we don’t appear any different from others, there’s no earthly reason for the non-believer to consider a citizenship in heaven.

So as I prepare to cheer my husband on at this year’s golf tournament, I am praying to show Christ’s love to all and to be proud of my alien citizenship, boldly claiming my Christian faith. In a world of misplaced priorities, I want to represent a righteous alternative to the seeker.

What about you? Do you check into every situation as an alien?  Or do you store away your heavenly citizenship when it’s not popular?

Lisa Burkhardt Worley

Alarm Clock Peace

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (NIV John 14:27)

I’ve always woken my kids up, and then came 8^th grade. Football practice starts at 7:30 sharp so at 6:15 each morning I drag myself up the stairs to my son’s room. “Honey, it’s time to get up.” I gently shake the lump that is covered mummy-like in blankets.  Then I go back downstairs and begin the breakfast ritual with my ears keenly peeled for any signs of life. I listen for the thump –the sound of his feet hitting the floor directly overhead. The sound doesn’t come as the time ticks away. Ten minutes later I again make my journey up the steps. This time bright and shiny mother now has a cloud over her head. “Benjamin.  You have to get up.”

At this point I take his blankets so he is no longer comfortable or insist he sits up so I won’t have to make the journey again. My blood pressure is rising. “Get up now or there will be consequences.”

I’d like to say this only happened once; I solved the problem, and quickly got my peace back. Most of you parents wouldn’t have let this go so far, but I’m not a quick study. I like to beat my head against the wall for a long time before I fix a situation.

After nine weeks of agitation, I went and bought him an alarm clock with a snooze option.  When I promptly gave my son the control over when he gets up, I claimed my morning peace again.

This whole alarm clock scenario made me realize something, fundamental to my well-being: God gave me peace. Unfortunately I keep putting it down, and picking up control.

God designed a world where he is in control. Because he’s in control we get the gift of peace. The catch is every time we try to grab control, we lose peace. I wanted to control when my son got up and thereby gave up my morning peace. In finally giving up my control, I regained my peace.

We, my friend, can not hold both peace and control at the same time. We can not have it both ways. So the question is simple. What is your choice? Are you willing to loosen your grip on control, so you can once again cradle peace?

Catherine Weiskopf

The author welcomes comments at @Cweiskopf

Godly Girlfriends II

As I have reflected on what Lisa said about Godly Girlfriends in her devotion on Saturday, I realized God has placed more in my life than ever before.  I searched the scriptures to understand why, and found Proverbs 3:6 which states, “In all your ways acknowledge HIM and HE will make your paths straight”! Joy and peace entered my heart and mind with this revelation.  Walking straight paths brought me right to my sisters in Christ, who were on the same path as I was! My Christian sisters are such a joy added to my life!  Thank you Father for these women you have placed along the way.

When we travel the same path with other women, it’s important to help each other on our journeys. I am reminded of something I heard in a Bible study with Priscilla Shirer.  Women need to know WHOSE we are and WHO we are. We should encourage the ladies in our life of this truth because it will bring PEACE, my dear friends! Ultimate peace and joy only comes from Our Heavenly Father. We can try to find it in so many ways, and believe me, I have tried.  But there was never anything earthly that fulfilled me; those things were only temporary.  Now I know Jesus Christ is the only way to find lasting peace.

Like my friend, Lisa, I love to talk about the Lord Jesus in my conversations and it comes very natural to me now after a lifetime of fixating more on my personal issues and discoveries in life. There is so much joy when you shift the focus to God!  I want to live out Colossians 3:16-17 which says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Sisters, is the word of Christ dwelling in you richly?  Are you teaching and admonishing each other with the wisdom you have received from God?  I pray you will read this and with an earnest heart for the Lord, think about your relationships with your girlfriends. What topics of discussion are prevalent with your friends? Do you pray before you speak with everyone?

My life has changed and I desire that for you as well.  Give everything over to God and He will set your navigation for the straight path with plenty of Godly girlfriends to travel down this new road with you! Lisa Mick

Godly Girlfriends

Godly girlfriends….I love the time I get to spend with them! This week I got together for dinner with a few of my like-minded gal pals and it was a joyous time because our favorite topic of conversation is our faith!

We spent hours discussing how Christ is working in our lives. We were totally transparent, talking about our victories and our defeats. As we scanned our successes and failures, we also shared “Pearls of Wisdom” with each other, gained from our own spiritual walks and similar experiences.

I have found that these types of friendships and conversations are to be cherished, because they are not the norm. God is not the center of attention at most lunch or dinner meetings and it is my experience that devout Christianity is more of a turn-off than a friend magnet.

One of my Godly girlfriends noticed that on Facebook™, very few people ever “like” a post about a subject relating to God but if it’s a photo of a vacation outing or a child, the “likes” are off the wall! Aren’t both equally interesting and important? Maybe I’m biased, but I like just about anything that glorifies God!

Sometimes I wonder if we are afraid to admit we “like” God. We are worried an outward faith might shake up our friend base and label us as “one of those.” Before my husband rededicated his life to Christ, he referred to my friends and me as “Bible beaters.” Are you worried about that label?

Just like our culture, during the Apostle Paul’s day there were many pulls from a society that contradicted Christianity so Paul believed he needed to encourage his partner in ministry, Timothy, to be bold.  In a letter to Timothy in Ephesus he said, So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.

As a Christian, Timothy was a minority in Ephesus. It was a city built upon the cult and temple of Diana, sometimes referred to as Artemis, the Greek goddess of hunting, wilderness and wild animals. Ephesus was the home of a pagan religion incompatible with the developing Christian faith introduced there. That’s why Paul had to exhort Timothy. Paul’s young friend was outnumbered, and it is doubtful that any of his Facebook™ posts about God would have received many “likes!”

What about you? Are you letting our culture dictate what you talk about? When you get together with friends, does God ever enter the dialogue?

Isn’t God’s grace worth talking about?