Angels And Sputtering Engines

 

Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. – Psalm 103:20

Every now and then God puts us in the position where we have the opportunity to be someone else’s guardian angel. His hand guides us so that we’ll be in the right place at the right time. It’s up to us to recognize His intention and do His will. It’s not a coincidence that you happen to be there right when a complete stranger needs a hand. God put you there. The following is a terrific story from an anonymous author who found himself in that position and was able to be someone’s guardian angel.

I just had one of the most amazing experiences of my life, and wanted to share it with my family and dearest friends. Here it is:
I was driving home from a meeting this evening about 5, stuck in traffic on Colorado Blvd., and my car started to choke and sputter and died.
I barely managed to coast, cruising, into a gas station, glad only that I would not be blocking traffic and would have a somewhat warm spot to wait for the tow truck. It wouldn’t even turn over. Before I could make the call, I saw a woman walking out of the “quickie mart” building, and it looked like she slipped on some ice and fell into a gas pump! So I got out to see if she was okay. When I got there, it looked more like she had been overcome by sobs than that she had fallen. She was a young woman who looked really haggard with dark circles under her eyes. She dropped something as I helped her up, and I picked it up to give it to her. It was a nickel.


At that moment, everything came into focus for me: the crying woman, the ancient Suburban crammed full of stuff with 3 kids in the back (1 in a car seat), and the gas pump reading $4.95. I asked her if she was okay and if she needed help, and she just kept saying “I don’t want my kids to see me crying,” so we stood on the other side of the pump from her car. She said she was driving to California and that things were very hard for her right now.
So, I asked, “And you praying?” That made her back away from me a little, but I assured her I was not a crazy person and said, “He heard you, and He sent me.”

I took out my card and swiped it through the card reader on the pump so she could fill up her car completely, and while it was fueling walked to the next door McDonald’s and bought 2 big bags of food, some gift certificates for more, and a big cup of coffee. She gave the food to the kids in the car who attacked it like wolves, and we stood by the pump eating fries and talking a little.


She told me her name, and that she lived in Kansas City. Her boyfriend left 2 months ago and she had not been able to make ends meet. She knew she wouldn’t have money to pay the rent January 1st, and finally, in desperation, had called her parents, with whom she had not spoken in about 5 years. They lived in California and said she could come live with them and try to get on her feet there.
So. she packed up everything she owned in the car. She told the kids they were going to California for Christmas, but not that they were going to live there.
I gave her my gloves, a little hug and said a quick prayer with her for safety on the road. As I was walking over to my car, she said, “So, are you like an angel or something?”
This definitely made me cry. I said, “Sweetie, at this time of year angels are really busy, so sometimes God uses regular people.”


It was so incredible to be a part of someone else’s miracle. And of course, you guessed it, when I got in my car it started right away and got me home with no problem. I’ll put it in the shop tomorrow for a check, but I suspect the mechanic won’t find anything wrong.

Sometimes the angels fly close enough to you that you can hear the flutter of their wings.

Read more at http://wewalkwithjesus.org/angels-and-sputtering-engines/#8zlSCdj7BL2Qtk6O.99

Faith Rather Than Fear

 

The Parable of the Rich Fool

13 Someone in the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."  

14 Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?" 15 Then He said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." 

 

16 And He told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. 17He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.'18" Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." 

20"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you.  Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself ?'  21"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."     Luke 12:13-21

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.

- Matthew 6:19-20 (NRSV)

 

Today in my country, we are suffering from tremendous insecurity because of widespread violence. This has caused many of us to avoid owning automobiles or jewelry because having them exposes us to the danger of losing our possessions or even our lives.






Living under these extreme circumstances reminds us of Jesus’ message not to store up treasures on earth but to seek rather the kingdom of heaven. Even with all our precautions not to appear wealthy, a young man wielding a gun stole my wife’s car. My wife was not harmed, thank goodness; and the thief did not take her purse or the keys to our house. However, we have not been able to forget this incident. My wife reminds me, “We did not lose only the car; we lost our security and sense of peace.”Today, we live modestly out of necessity rather than conviction.

The disciples of Jesus went a step further. For their faith, they left everything they knew to seek the kingdom of heaven. Our challenge is to nurture our spiritual growth and to place it ahead of absurd accumulation of riches — to act out of faith rather than fear.

 

The Author - Magdiel Martinez (Nuevo Leon, Mexico)  - from the Upper Room

 

Thought for the Day - No possession is as valuable as our faith in God.

Prayer - Faithful God, give us strength to place you first in our lives, above all that we own. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

 

Prayer focus - Those living in fear of violence

 

 

Sing God’s Praises

 

69:30 I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.
69:31 This will please the LORD more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs.
69:32 Let the oppressed see it and be glad; you who seek God, let your hearts revive.

Psalm 69:30-32

 

 

Make a joyful noise to the Lord.

Psalm 100:1 (NRSV)

 

The Lord did not bless my father with a pleasant singing voice. Quite the opposite: Dad couldn’t carry a tune even if it had handles on it. Standing next to him in church made singing hymns difficult. My mother sang in the choir. My sister and I often shared a hymnal with Grandma, leaving Dad to howl in solitude at the other end of the pew. This never seemed to bother him. Each worship service found him enthusiastically adding his dissonant voice to the great hymns of the faith. He truly did make a “joyful noise” — every Sunday.

 

The quality of our vocal efforts is not important to God. God doesn’t care if we sing like angels or bleat like goats. God, who created us, knows our abilities. The act of praise from those who love God pleases God. When we sing in worship, we aren’t performing for the approval of the people around us. We’re lifting our voices to please God, who loves us, cares for us, and died for us.

 

The Author - Jacob Schneider (Maryland, USA) - from The Upper Room

 

Thought for the Day - Praise God in everything you do.

Prayer

Dear Lord, may our songs, words, thoughts, and deeds always praise you. As Jesus taught us, we pray, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”* Amen. *Matthew 6:9-13 (NIV).

Prayer focus - Those reluctant to sing

Nature of a servant

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather,

He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man,

 

He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!” -Philippians 2:5-8

Are you one of God’s Angels?

 

6:25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
6:26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
6:27 And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?
6:28 And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin,
6:29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.
6:30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you--you of little faith?
6:31 Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?'
6:32 For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

6:33 But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
6:34 "So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today.  Matthew 6:25-34

 

 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

- Philippians 4:6 (NIV)

 

My husband has been out of work this past year. And this was not the first time; over the last 20 years he has been laid off five times. Each time has become more difficult for us as husband and wife and as a family. Our three children have endured many hardships and fears related to this. We’ve experienced days with no oil for heat or propane for hot water.

We’ve had empty food shelves and no electricity. We even endured a three-week period without a car, making it difficult to get to school, stores, and church in our suburban area.

 Even though we’ve experienced hardships, we’ve also received care by unexpected means. People have given us food, cars, propane, money, and their prayers and support. These people served as God’s angels to us during these times, and we’ve learned to trust God to help us meet our needs. God has blessed us far more than the beautiful lilies Jesus described. When we know and accept God’s love, we can face tomorrow’s challenges with confidence that all will be well.

 

The Author  - Deborah Jones-Norberto (New York, USA)  - from The Upper Room

 

Thought for the Day -  How can I help God meet someone’s need today?

 

Prayer - Loving God, thank you for your love and care shown through your children around us. Teach us in return to be willing to help others in their need. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. 

 

Prayer focus   Those in extended unemployment

He always lives to intercede

“Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because He always lives to intercede for them.” -Hebrews 7:25

Winning Approval

Ecclesiastes 7:15-20 

7:15 In my vain life I have seen everything; there are righteous people who perish in their righteousness, and there are wicked people who prolong their life in their evildoing.
7:16 Do not be too righteous, and do not act too wise; why should you destroy yourself?
7:17 Do not be too wicked, and do not be a fool; why should you die before your time?
7:18 It is good that you should take hold of the one, without letting go of the other; for the one who fears God shall succeed with both.
7:19 Wisdom gives strength to the wise more than ten rulers that are in a city.
7:20 Surely there is no one on earth so righteous as to do good without ever sinning.

Do not be too righteous, and do not act too wise . . . Do not be too wicked, and do not be a fool.

- Ecclesiastes 7:16-17 (NRSV)

 

When we were adolescents, my brother and I strove fiercely to win our dad’s approval. This created a pattern of competition that continues to interfere with our relationship years later. During a recent wilderness hike, my brother took the lead. The trail wasn’t especially difficult, and he set a frantic pace. Before long, however, he was gasping and suffering muscle cramps. We made it back safely, but that competitiveness made it difficult for us to enjoy our time together.

 As a young Christian, I strove fiercely to win God’s approval as well. I tried to be a perfect Christian: I tried to pray longer, I read the Bible more diligently, and I behaved more piously than everyone else. That attitude, however, only alienated those around me.

 

 When I read Ecclesiastes 7:15-20, I was appalled. How could someone be too righteous? And how could the writer suggest that we tolerate evil? Finally, I realized that, try as I might, I can never be perfect. I can live as pure and holy a life as possible and avoid pretension of righteousness, but I don’t have to win God’s approval. It’s free and unconditional. I need only to accept it.

 

 

 

 

 

The Author  Thomas Dury (Colorado, USA)  from the Upper Room

 

Thought for the Day  Stop struggling and allow God to love you.

Prayer  Dear God, may we always be aware that our good standing with you rests solely on your grace. Amen.

 

Prayer focus    Those trying to earn God’s love

God has chosen you!

“To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.” -Colossians 1:27-28

One Step Further

Matthew 4:18-22

4:18 As He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea--for they were fishermen.

4:19 And He said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people."4:20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.4:21 As He went from there, He saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and He called them.
4:22 Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.
 

- Romans 10:14 (NIV)  How, then, can they call on the One they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?

 

In my Bible study group, John requested prayer for his elderly neighbor, Sam, who had suffered a serious fall. John was helping run errands for Sam.

Our group leader prayed for Sam’s health and also that John would have a chance to speak to Sam about Christ. Afterwards, John remarked, “It never occurred to me to talk with Sam about Jesus.”One person in our group said that helping Sam was, in fact, witnessing to him. And to be sure, it is.

 But another person said, “Telling him about Christ goes one step further.”That made me think. I enjoy visiting people who are sick or lonely, and I help by giving them rides and meeting other needs. But how often do I speak to them about my faith?

 Do others know that I do these loving acts because Christ is my savior? Do they know what courage and strength and love Christ brings to my life? Although I enjoy the friendships I make, my goal should be to draw people not to myself but to Christ by reading scripture or a devotional or offering to pray.

 From now on, I want to go one step further and witness about my faith in Christ with words  well as deeds.

The Author  Janice Davies (Illinois, USA)  from the Upper Room

Thought for the Day  Witnessing includes both words and actions.

Prayer

Dear God, help us to spread the good news of your love in words as well as deeds. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

People Sharpeners

1 Thessalonians 5:12-22

5:12 But we appeal to you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who labor among you, and have charge of you in the Lord and admonish you;
5:13 esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.
5:14 And we urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them.
5:15 See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all.
5:16 Rejoice always,
5:17 pray without ceasing,
5:18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
5:19 Do not quench the Spirit.
5:20 Do not despise the words of prophets,
5:21 but test everything; hold fast to what is good;
5:22 abstain from every form of evil.

 

- Proverbs 27:17 (NIV)  As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

 

 

The butcher I worked with in a small-town grocery store showed me the best way to sharpen knives. I watched as he used a round metal file to sharpen not only his knives but his cleavers as well. Then he taught me the technique. Today I own a file, and my knives are always sharp. The process of sharpening requires that iron meet iron. The friction wears away a dull edge to form a new one. My butcher friend told me that a dull knife isn’t safe; it’s actually more likely to cause serious injury. And a dull knife obviously doesn’t do the job as effectively as a sharp one. So sharpening makes a tool more efficient and prepares it for the next job.

Similarly, our Christian friends can help us remain open to God’s work in us. Their counsel may seem like unwanted friction at times, but we need friends who remind us of God’s wisdom, keep us grounded in truth, and hold us accountable. Such accountability prepares us for the work God has for us to do.

 

The Author  Paula Geister (Michigan, USA)  fron The Upper Room

Thought for the Day

How has God used my Christian friends to “sharpen” me?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for Christian friends who love us enough to walk with us, pray for us, and lead us into truth so that we can become like Christ. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Prayer focus     My mentors in faith and those needing mentoring

Says the Lord

“It is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’”” -Romans 14:11

Wait on the Lord

 

Read Psalm 40:1-5

O Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you.

- Psalm 39:7 (NRSV)

One day at the close of my devotional time, I said a special prayer for my 12-year-old son, Esteban. At the time, my wife was with our son at the hospital. At midnight, the phone rang. It was my wife, Doreen, with the news confirming that Esteban had meningitis. This was especially alarming because in those days in 1993 many young children had died from meningitis. I hung up the phone, fell to my knees, and prayed. I placed Esteban in God’s hands, as my wife and I had done countless times since his birth. The next day a medical treatment plan for my son was initiated. Praying constantly, my wife and I placed our hope in the Great Healer to restore our son’s health. God heard our prayers and the prayers of our brothers and sisters in the community of faith.

After several months, Esteban pulled through. Today Esteban serves God. He plays piano in our worship services and is an English professor deeply invested in his students and their achievements. Doreen and I are grateful to God not only for restoring Esteban’s health but also for the ways God is bringing wholeness to Esteban’s Christian life. Our family has learned to wait on the Lord even in the midst of life’s most challenging moments.

 

The Author  Raúl Rocha Gutiérrez (Buenos Aires, Argentina)  from the Upper Room

 

 Thought for the Day  All that concerns me also matters to God.

Prayer

Dear God of hope, may we always confide in you, especially in our darkest days. Amen.
 

Prayer focus    Parents of children facing serious illnesses

An Awful Year?

 

1 Corinthians 15:1-8

15:1 Now I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand,
15:2 through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you--unless you have come to believe in vain.
15:3 For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures,
15:4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures,
15:5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
15:6 Then He appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died.
15:7 Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles.
15:8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared also to me.

1 Corinthians 15:20

15:20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died.

Christ has indeed been raised from the dead.  - 1 Corinthians 15:20 (NIV)

 

Although I am a lifelong Christian, I did not feel much like an immortal soul and did not have much confidence that I would rise to eternal life when medical tests revealed that I had cancer. But as I reflected on the Easter story, I found that I believed strongly in the resurrection of Jesus. And because Jesus rose, I had reason to believe that he would rescue me from death as well. Out of gratitude, I began to pray more regularly. Perhaps because of my weak faith, I did not pray for cure of my cancer; but I did take time to praise God each day for what I had.
Sometimes as chemotherapy and radiation took their toll, my prayers were little more than incoherent babbling. But with the aid of the Spirit, I kept praying. (See Rom. 8:26.) I endured months of treatments, underwent three major operations, and had a colostomy for a while. My father died while I was going through all this.


At the end of that awful time, my wife said, “This must have been the worst year of your life.” I thought about that for a minute, and I realized that throughout those difficult days I had been comforted with a profound sense of Christ’s presence.

 “You know,” I told her, “it may have been the best.” Knowing Christ is with us transforms us and our struggles.

The Author - Drew Sappington (Florida, USA)   from the Upper Room

Thought for the Day - God is the God of Good Friday as well as the God of Easter.

Prayer

Dear God, help us to keep in our hearts the truth of your presence. Amen.

Prayer focus  - Those with cancer and their families and those suffering in Boston

Measuring Up

 

Living in the Light

³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. ³² Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 5:31  

 1.Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. ² Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us ³ and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.  Ephesians 5:1-3  (NLT) 
 

Speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.  - Ephesians 4:15 (NRSV)

 

Recently while filling out job applications, I completed several personality assessments. Many of these questionnaires have asked me to compare my own traits and abilities to those of the general population. After completing several of these surveys, I realized I had repeatedly chosen the response, “I perform (a specific task) at least as well as most others.” This repeated response reminded me that I often use others as the gauge of my conduct.


The apostle Paul, in his letter to the church in Ephesus, reminds me that rather than comparing myself to those around me, I should strive to follow Jesus’ example. His life is the perfect example for me to follow. As ambassadors for Christ and children of God, we are called to be set apart, holy. God loves us and accepts us as we are, but we have a higher standard to aim for. I know I will never be sinless, but I can work to sin less as I look to Jesus as my role model. Rather than comparing myself to my peers, I now ask myself, How am I measuring up to Jesus’ standard for my life? around me.

 

The Author  Julie Calleja (Michigan, USA)  from the Upper Room

 

Thought for the Day    When I grow up, I want to be like Jesus.

Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you for sending Jesus as the perfect example for us to follow. Help us to be more like your son so that we may better show you to others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
 

Prayer focus  Those looking for work

In Adam all die

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.





For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die,






so in Christ all will be made alive.” -1 Corinthians 15:20-22

Turbulent Flight

The Savior of Israel

43 But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you.
O Israel, the one who formed you says,
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
² When you go through deep waters,
I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you.
³ For I am the Lord, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom;
I gave Ethiopia^[a] and Seba in your place.
⁴ Others were given in exchange for you.
I traded their lives for yours
because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you    Isaiah 43:1-4

Whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith.  - 1 John 5:4 (NRSV)

 

I frequently travel by plane, and generally the flights are pleasant. On one occasion, however, the pilot alerted us to buckle our seat belts because we would be passing through an area of turbulence. The flight attendant started to move briskly about the cabin, and I tensed up with fear. I was not prepared for such turbulence, and neither were the rest of the passengers. After what seemed an eternity, though in reality it was only a few minutes, the plane regained stability and I breathed a sigh of relief. As the pilot had said, the turbulence was localized.

 Later, when I recalled this incident, I thought of our earthly life. The Lord does not promise us a life without strife. On the contrary, we will all go through bumpy times. However, when they come we can remember that we are only passing through some turbulence and that God is with us. Our faith steadies us.

 

The Author  Luis Alberto Jones (Chubut, Argentina)  from the Upper Room

 

Thought for the Day  God is with us when life shakes us and unsettles us.

Prayer

Loving God, in all the challenges we encounter, stand by us and help us remain faithful to you. We pray as Jesus taught us, saying, “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.”* Amen. *Luke 11:2-4 (KJV).

Prayer focusTravel crews

Power of God!

 “[Christ Crucified Is God’s Power and Wisdom]

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
 -1 Corinthians 1:18

3:12 As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.
3:13 Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
3:14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 




3:15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful.

3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.

3:17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  Colossians 3:12-17

Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise.  - Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (NRSV)

While taking Marius out for some grandpa-grandson time, I was preoccupied. Usually, I would have played some children’s praise music, but I had forgotten to turn it on. I heard Marius asking from the backseat, “Where’s our music, Grandpa?”We maneuvered through traffic with the music playing, but again my mind wandered to work and the impossible deadlines I faced. I was resting my head on my hand when Marius asked, “What’s wrong, Grandpa?”I told him I had a headache.

 Then I heard him praying, “God, please help Grandpa to feel better. Amen.” As we drove on a bit further, Marius requested a favorite Bible story, “Tell me the story about Samuel, when he was sleeping.” I told the story. When Marius wanted to hear it again, I did a replay. As we reached our destination, I realized that my grandson, not I, had been the teacher that day — and why Jesus told us to model our lives of faith on that of little children.


 If we praise God, if we identify the needs of others and pray for their hurts, if we love and tell the stories of faith, we will live well. I have made the Christian life way too complicated. To Marius, it is simple.

 

The Author  Richard Lewis (California, USA)  from the Upper Room
 

Thought for the Day: Every person in our lives can teach us something that God wants us to know.

Prayer 

Dear God, teach us to live in your kingdom with the trust and simple honesty of little children. Amen.

Prayer focus   Those stressed by their jobs and families