Worry Not!

Ah, technology. I came into the office today and our computers were down. People were taking the news one of two ways. They were either relaxed and trying to get non-computer work done or they were nervous, trying to figure out how to do their job.

I was more in line with the catch up on a few things that I could do without the computer. I had no where to be and I still had the phone to answer. The question of the day is, what did we do before computers? Computers are convenient and they are very useful, but having a hard copy of everything still makes it reassuring that life will go on. Maybe that's why most of us never get rid of the phonebook or our address book. I still have a calendar I hang on the wall.

When the electric was out, we barely had cell phones, no computers and no tv. This morning, we had no computers, and people went into panic mode. I say, slow down, people! No matter what convenience you have, the only one in real control is God. He will carry you through every situation, no matter what.

25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

Yesterday, two friends at church sang a song and dedicated it to my Dad. Most of you know that my Dad has just gone through 3 months of radical raditation and chemotherapy. The song message was 'if we didn't go through the valley, how could we know that God would lift us up to the mountain top.' They did a great service to him. He was very touched, and so was I. Dad is feeling better and some of his energy is coming back. He can't do a lot of what he use to do, but that's okay. He should not be doing everything he use to do.

Somtimes our valleys are just little dips. Sometimes they seem to go on forever, with little hills and bumps along the way. Which are you in right now? Remember that God is there for you and will take care of you.

"Be not dismayed whate'er betide.
God will take care of you.
Beneath His wings of love abide.
God will take care of you.

Chorus:
God will take care of you
Through every day o'er all the way.
He will take care of you,
God will take care of you.

Through days of toil when heart doth fail,
God will take care of you;
when dangers fierce your path assail,
God will take care of you.
(Refrain)

All you may need he will provide,
God will take care of you;
nothing you ask will be denied,
God will take care of you.
(Refrain)

No matter what may be the test,
God will take care of you;
lean, weary one, upon his breast,
God will take care of you.

Words by Civilla D. Martin
Music by W. Stillman Martin

Help! I'm Complex!

Well, 9th grader made through her first 24 hours of band camp. I knew she would. I never had any doubt that once she got there she would be fine. She does say that I am wanted there. It's nice to be wanted. But why me? I am a mom, but I guess, like my Dad, I have a tendency to make things fun for others.

I have my other side too, like meeting someone face to face for the first time. I am not sure what to say, how they expect me to respond, what they think of how I look, or if they really even want to talk to me. I get nervous, especially if neither of us makes that first initial contact. Then I try and get out of the situation. I move away and then spend the rest of the time beating myself up because now I am thinking that the person may think I don't like them, that I was a snob or that I didn't even notice them. Actually, I was just nervous and wasn't sure what to say.

So life is full of complexities that we need to just take by the horns and get on with. Say hi to that new person that you want to make contact with. Go in with an attitude that it doesn't matter what everyone else thinks and just be yourself. Make life fun for everyone around you. You may just find that it really is a lot of fun.

Hebrews 3:6 But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.

Matthew 14:27 But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

Know Your Child

Today I dropped my 9th grader off early for band camp. She is scared and tired and not quite sure she is ready for this. Last night she had one of her major mental breakdowns. As some background, the Auxillary girls spent the night before making their tassels and going TP-ing. That's another story.

The 9th grader apparently, being crafty as she is, made her tassels in record time. She was telling me how impressed the senior of the group was and that she now holds the record for how long it takes. I am sure we will be making lots of tassels as the years go by, so she will have to explain that to me later. But the girls stayed up way past her bed time and last night I saw the result of that. She is the type of person who doesn't like the unknown. She wants to know exactly what we are doing, when we are doing it, and and don't give her any of this "You'll love band camp. You will have such a great time!" She didn't care about that at 11 PM at night, with less than 7 hours of sleep. She didn't know what she wants but she was sure she doesn't want to go to band camp. She wants to stay home in the comfort of her bedroom and cry. I love being a mom, don't you?

Anyway, I went to find her schedule to help show her exactly what she was going to be doing when, and give her time to calm down. Dad wanted to help, but his words of encouragement were to say the least, not very encouraging to a 15-year old girl dealing with emotions and sleep depravation. Bless his heart, he tries.

When I get back, I find the 9th grader packing a few more things, and she tells me that when they are seniors, they will do this and this and this. I hugged her and said, "See you are already planning for the future." She smiled and said, "I know." The best part is that she will be with her best friend, and she can make stronger bonds with the other girls and boys.

This morning, I told her best friend, that she had a mental breakdown last night and he had to be extra nice to her this week. "I'm always nice to her," was his response. (I am rolling my eyes at this comment.) He's almost 15, what does he know? This morning I stood around and talked for a few minutes and the 9th grader finally told me I could leave. So I hug her, tell her and the best friend to be good and that I will see the tomorrow evening. Then I turn and walk to my vehicle. I know she is in good hands and I will be out there tomorrow evening, spending the night and probably chaperoning the 9th graders as the prank the seniors and the director. But, that will be for another time.

The point of this story is that, 1)Never let your child go to a major sleepover right before band camp. 2)Know your child's limitations. 3)Patience is really something that you have to learn. 4)Compassion goes a long way in helping your child grow.

Psalm 103:13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

Proverbs 17:6 Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.

Welcome Them! August 5, 2009

Today our church family should be filled with an underlying excitement. Today, we are taking on something that we have not done. We, for the first time, have an Associate Minister! For our small church, this is exciting!

Sometime today, they should be getting in to town. We have several people going to meet them and help them unpack the U-Haul. We also have people who are preparing their first meal for them. We want to make them feel like they are welcomed and that we want them here. We want to encourage them and make them feel at home. Take Crystal under your wing and show her the church, the family, the different opportunities we have at our church and in our community. Do not think someone else will do that. Do not expect that our minister's wife will do all of that. She will do some of it, but she too works, has responsibilities and family to attend too. This is our church, our family. Each of us need to step up and not wait for someone to ask or someone to tell us what we need to do. If you have an idea, and are not sure if it is good enough or the right direction, run it by an Elder. They will guide you and direct you.

This is how we encourage each other. Pray for the Dawsons. Help them. Get to know them. You may just find that you actually like them!

Hebrews 3:13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

Hebrews 10:25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

God is reliable. He does what He says, and He delivers on His promises. How many of us can say that? We make promises in our wedding vows, to our families, to customers and we still let everyone of them down. But through Christ and before, God has never let a promise go undone. There may be a few that has not been fullfilled yet, but you can trust that they will.

We expect reliability in a car, a dog, and maybe in that old refridgerator, but sooner or later, they break down or die. God will never let that happen. His promises are true. His words are reliable for every stage of our life. The Bible is full of God's reliability. He saved the Israelites and called them His people. He helped King David, and his descendents as they reigned. He promised us a Savior and through God's love, Jesus is that person.

Never doubt God's love for you. He made these promises with you in mind. He gave you the choice to accept Christ or spurn him. If you love Jesus and obey God's commands, His love for you will always be there. I promise. John 16:27 says 'No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.'

Jesus tells us that he loves us time and time again. His word is totally pure and reliable. We need to remember that the next time we make a promise we don't intend to keep. Maybe our reliability will increase.

TakeTime to Be Holy - words by William D. Longstaff

1. Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;
   Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.
   Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak,
   Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.
2. Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;
   Spend much time in secret, with Jesus alone.
   By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be;
   Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.
3. Take time to be holy, let Him be thy Guide;
   And run not before Him, whatever betide.
   In joy or in sorrow, still follow the Lord,
   And, looking to Jesus, still trust in His Word.
4. Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul,
   Each thought and each motive beneath His control.
   Thus led by His Spirit to fountains of love,
   Thou soon shalt be fitted for service above.

This hymn speaks to me in so many ways. Take time is how each verse begins. Do we really do that? Do we take the time to speak with God? Do we take really take time to be holy? I don't always. Sometimes my mind is elsewhere. Sometimes I can't concentrate on what is being said during Sunday school or during preaching (sorry Marty).

The second verse speaks to me as a busy wife, mother and employee. The world is rushing on and I need to spend time in secret with Jesus, praying, reading my devotion, preparing. But I always wonder, how can my children see me reading and spending time in with God in prayer and devotions if it is done in secret? I actually do realize that it really means do not make a big show of what you are doing. Sometimes though, it turns into that without you meaning it to.

Take time to read these words and evaluate your life as this song tells you. What time are you taking?