What Can God Do Through You?

By Pat

In Mark 5:1-20, we learn the account of the demon-possessed man who encountered Jesus. We read about the classic battle of good vs. evil, and that, of course, Jesus triumphs over evil by sending the man's evil spirits into a herd of pigs who rush down a steep bank and are drowned.

I have read this story many times, and the overriding theme to me has always been the great healing power of Jesus, and His ability to overcome evil. But this morning when I read it, a point I had never noticed before stood out to me. The grateful man, now free of his demons, begged Jesus to let him go with Him, but Jesus said no. He had other plans for the newly freed man. He told him to go and tell everyone what Jesus had done for him, and the man obeyed. It wasn't what he had in mind, but never the less, he did what Jesus told him to do.

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What's In Your Suitcase?

By Pat

Imagine for a moment that your heart is a suitcase, containing and carrying all the character traits you need for life. What's in there?

Well, just like a real suitcase, you may have to rearrange, or add or subtract items in order to have the perfect combination of necessary things to make the right balance. Do you need to add mercy and patience? Well, they might not fit unless you eliminate pride and envy. Could you stand a little more devotional time with God? You might have to get rid of some laziness so you'll have more room in there. What about tolerance, and deeper love for your brothers and sisters? Better unpack and discard judgmentalism. Need more forgiveness? Get rid of bitterness and grudges.

Allow God to repack your suitcase, but remember...you can't expect Him to add new and beautiful things unless you are willing to give Him the things that do not belong in a Christian suitcase. Out with the old...in with the new!

Pat is a good friend who is passionate about her faith and her family. She works from home supporting a family business, and loves to read, write and garden when she can, and spends every spare moment with her grandkids.

A Challenge to Consider the Person of Jesus

By Jason, M.Ed., M.A.R., Headmaster

“I believe witnesses who get their throats cut.” – Blaise Pascal

I would like to issue a challenge to all skeptics: Try to think of a massive conspiracy in history where 12 ring-leaders maintained their storyline consistently in the face of the death penalty, refusing to recant even when threatened with beheading, crucifixion and being run through with a sword. I have a second challenge: Name one person who has been more universally regarded and admired over the past 2,000 years than Jesus of Nazareth. (Hint: The answer to both challenges is the same: "There isn't one.")

The point of the first challenge is to ask you to seriously consider the truth claims of the Gospels and indeed the whole New Testament. The second challenge should make you weigh why such a consideration should be valuable. Yet I have one more challenge before we proceed: Think of any movement, philosophy, value system, religion or political system which has no jerks, hypocrites, idiots and bozos in its ranks. Of course, there are none. Liberalism and conservatism, atheism and Hinduism, Islam and environmentalism, humanism and astrology all have deeply flawed followers. So does Christianity. It’s not fair to judge any belief system by the actions of its worst believers.

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Being The Best At What You Are

By Pat

During a recent morning devotion, I was instructed to read 1 Corinthians 12:12-31. After I read it, I realized with glee that through the years I have indeed done some spiritual growing! I no longer strive to be the "head," nor do I fret when I realize I may always be a toe or a finger. I have stopped trying to be something I am not. I am content to be whatever part of Christ's body God created me to be, and I am not intimidated by or envious of those the world might consider more important in the Kingdom. If God wants me to be a toe, I am going to be the best toe I can be! And if at some point God decides to make me a hand, or a mouth, I will strive to bring Him glory and to be the very best I can. I have learned that in trying to be something I'm not, I can't function properly and do God's work competently. And I thank God for this!

Pat is a good friend who is passionate about her faith and her family. She works from home supporting a family business, and loves to read, write and garden when she can, and spends every spare moment with her grandkids.

One Word At A Time: Emptiness

By MAD21

This time of year brings mixed emotions for me. I love the warmer weather and as I wrote about on Friday, all the fresh fruits and veggies. I love all the time I get to have with my kids and family and the fun things we get to do together. But underneath the joy I feel this time of year, there is also an emptiness. A deep sadness that lingers like the residue in a cool glass of tea. It's not bad enough to ruin the day, but you know it's there.

My dad and I were fairly close all my life. Like my oldest is my "mini-me," I was my dad's. We had a lot in common. We both loved cars, traveling, people watching and a good hard days work. I looked just like him and his family. In fact, if you compare my baby pictures to my aunt's (his sister), you can barely tell any difference. Aside from the age of the picture itself giving it away, you would think it was the same child.

Growing up, summer time always meant a trip to visit my dad's family. They lived in a town a long five hours away from us. But it was worth the drive because I loved my aunt and her family. We had a bond that miles couldn't break. I have so many memories as a child going camping with my parents and my aunt and uncle. Going fishing on my uncle's boat and being the only one that ever caught anything. My aunt wearing jeans, sneakers, and my uncle's shirts and cooking something over the fire (and telling my dad what to do!).

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