STAND UP

Being a single Mom isn't always easy. One of the most difficult things for me was taking, or not taking my kids on vacations. I was lucky to keep the electric on and food on the table. One summer I had a little extra money and the three of us decided to go on a canoe trip. A state park not too far from our home had a livery where we could rent all the equipment. My daughter and son each brought a friend with them. The "men", I think they were six or seven at the time wanted their own canoe. So we girls set off in ours. The creek bed was dry that year, and was probably only three or maybe four feet deep at the deepest point. The boys were ahead of us and despite my warnings they were moving around in the canoe, laughing and acting like boys. The current was swift, but the water was shallow. We had just begun the eight hour trip when I heard screaming just ahead of us. There in the water were my son and his friend. The canoe was upside down against the bank. My son and his friend were screaming, fearful they would drown. I yelled at them to stand up. He continued thrashing in the water as I neared. Finally, he peered at his friend who was already standing and sputtering. I am reminded of the times in my life when all I had to do was stand up. My faith wasn't strong enough. All I had to do was place my feet on the bottom and push myself up. The Lord was there all the time. Just like my son and his friend. The water was knee deep. All they had to do was stand up. Sometimes our faith is tested and we don't realize all we have to do is stand up.2 Chronicles 20:20 Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld....

A BAD TREE

Luke 6:43-45 No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thorn bushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. At dinner last night Bev shared with me some of the concerns she has while driving her school bus. A job I am sure I would never be qualified for. She shared she feels several of the parents of her kids are not teaching them to be responsible for their own actions. My husband and I teach the teen Sunday school class at our Church. One of the complaints I hear consistently from them is "life isn't fair." One young man dropped out of high school, and he says "the counselor failed him." Each of us is "recognized by our own fruit." In other words we have to take responsibility for what we say, what we do, how we act. And most importantly we need to assume the responsibility for our own actions. When we make bad choices, it's just that---we made a bad choice. Pray for forgiveness, ask the Lord for guidance, get down on your knees and thank the Lord for the Blessings in your life. When speaking, be careful that the overflow to your mouth comes from a kind and loving heart.

THE CAPSTONE

We stood huddled together on that cold morning, waiting in anticipation. What was in that box? Would it reveal long lost treasures? Paperwork from days gone by? To tell you the truth, I don't remember what was in that box. I do remember the ceremony. It was a chilly autumn morning, when we all gathered, waiting as the minister opened the box which had been hidden away behind the cornerstone of our little country church. My Grandfather talked at great length about the significance of that cornerstone. He explained to me, it was the most important part of the building, it was the anchor. Thoughts swirling around in my head that morning where those of the entire Church collapsing since we had removed that cornerstone. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. Psalm 118:8 There is so much truth in that passage. That verse is in the center of the Bible. How much comfort I receive, knowing that God is my cornerstone, the Capstone of my very existence. Our little Church did not collapse that day, in fact that little Church back in Ohio Sixteen United Methodist, celebrated 150 years last year. Knowing that God is the foundation, and the cornerstone of my life keeps me from bending. Knowing that He is always there gives me the comfort to get through another day.

COMMIT TO THE LORD

Proverbs 16:3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. TThe older I get, the more I realize how true these words in Proverbs are. My grandmother used to remind me to "pray without ceasing." I didn't know what that meant. To me, as a child, I thought you just beg someone until they either tell you no, or you got what you wanted. This verse holds so much truth in it. When we ask the Lord to guide our every step of the way, and then be patient, He will show us where He wants us to be. A friend of mine shared a story with me the other day. He was asked to serve the Lord as a missionary in Peru. He lifted it up to the Lord in prayer. He asked the Lord to give him three signs if this was truly a request from Him. My friend was willing to go to Peru, but wanted to make sure the call was actually coming from the Lord. My friend prayed, "I don't have a passport, I have no money, and please have 'someone' call me to confirm this. He received a phone call from another missionary asking him to come with him to Peru. He received his passport in about two weeks, and another person who was supposed to go the Peru was not able, so they offered my friend that money to go. While he was in Peru, one night the Pastor came to my friend and said, the Holy Spirit came to me and wants you to preach tonight. My friend had less than fifteen minutes to prepare his sermon. On that night, during his alter call, 87 people came forward. Psalm 119:133 Direct my footsteps according to your word........