2MefromHim - Devotions & Thoughts from God's Heart to Mine: 2011

Monday, October 3, 2011

Change of websites

Visit my new updated website at http://normagail-2mefromhim.blogspot.com/

Monday, September 19, 2011

The Hummingbirds' Lesson

“And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

Hummingbirds should be as beautiful and perfect as they look. They’re not.

I enjoy watching them at the feeders at my mountain home, but I have been struck by how similar they are to me and the people around me. I see these beautiful little jewels of God’s creation as greedy little creatures. Each one wants everything all to itself, no matter how much there is.

When threatened they go after each other in amazing aerial acrobatics, performing all kinds of intricate moves to make the others go away. They squawk and fuss at each other making quite a racket.

I can be just like that when I forget I don’t really have a clue what God considers His perfect best for me. To my shame I have, more than once tried to force my own way when surrendering to God’s would have accomplished everything without strife and intricate maneuverings on my part.

The sovereignty of God is always at work. It’s not about me—it’s about Him, His plan and His purpose. My plans are temporary—His are eternal. My perceived needs are purely selfish. His knowledge of my needs is perfect. If I truly seek God each day and determine to accept whatever comes as being from His gracious hand, sufficient in every way, I am so much happier.

Everything He allows me to experience is necessary for maturing me and bringing my faith to completion. When I stop striving for what I want and accept what He sends I can feel His peace. I cease the maneuvering and fussing. I squawk less and hum more.

I want to be in the center of God’s plan, accepting what He sends into my life without complaint. I want His peace so even when I don’t understand, I can accept His best for my life.

What steals your peace? What situations make you maneuver and complain?

Determine today to give those things to God and see what He will do. Choose to trust Him to always have your best in mind. He will give you more than you ever imagined out of His glorious riches.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Change of website notification

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Monday, September 12, 2011

Such Things Must Happen

“…but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen... Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains… Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” Matthew 24:6-8, 42

Yesterday our nation commemorated the tenth anniversary of 9/11, the most significant and deadly terror attack on American soil ever. In the past few weeks there have been headlines capable of shaking the calm of the most committed and believing Christian: credible 9/11 threats by Al Qaeda, tropical storms in the south, a hurricane in the east creating flooding and massive power outages following closely on the heels of a rare 5.8 earthquake, financial woes as unemployment reaching the highest levels in years with zero jobs created in August, wildfires destroying large areas of the southwest in the grips of a terrible drought, frightening volatility in stock markets around the world, and Mt. Etna threatening a major eruption, just to name a few.

The age of innocence is gone. No more playing until after dark without scaring mom, no more parking bicycles on the front porch with no fear of theft, no more leaving front doors unlocked all day. We will never be the same. No more feeling like we live in the most secure country in the world.

I remember 9/11 as clearly as it was yesterday—watching in horror as the second plane hit the Twin Towers on television and then receiving a phone call that my daughter’s school was being evacuated because of its proximity to a Federal facility. I drove in fear to pick her up in a frustrating round-about fashion, being re-routed more than once because of street closings around the Federal building.

We don’t know what will take place from one day to the next in our world, but as Christians we can be assured all of these things are under the control of our God. Jesus warned of times like these and said not to be alarmed.

So what strikes fear in your heart? Do you have deep fears about the future?

If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior you can be certain you will be safe in Him—no matter what happens in our world.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

True Freedom's Symbol

True Freedom’s Symbol

Tall and proud against the sky,

Our country’s beacon stands.

Each star and stripe the symbol

Of sacrifice by willing hands.

Each thread within its fabric,

A reminder of the tears;

Of sweat and toil and suffering

By men and women through the years.

Our flag, a sign to all the world,

Of freedom, hope, and peace,

Of triumph over hardship,

And victory’s sweet release.

We all saw Lady Liberty

Framed against the smoke…

Of attacks by men in ignorance

Of the promise which she spoke.

Her words cry out to men like them,

The “tired”, and “poor” who suffer,

To the “huddled masses,” “tempest-tost,”

A hope of plenty, she offers.

But there stands a Symbol greater,

Which will endure beyond the years.

Born by our Savior in sacrifice

To wipe away all tears.

The Cross of Christ is the reason

Our Founding Fathers came,

And the only hope for our nation

Is to return to Him again.

The only hope for this country

Is to seek the Creator’s plan,

His Cross the same from age to age,

Dwarfs the symbols of this land.

(Quotations come from “The New Colossus”, by Emma Lazarus, 1883,

engraved on the base of the Statue of Liberty.)

Monday, September 5, 2011

Wait A Minute, God!

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine…”

Ephesians 3:20a

I got the exact opposite of what I prayed for. I was so certain I was praying exactly as God led me to. I prayed fervently and with absolute certainty God would answer. He did—but not in the way I thought. I was disappointed, confused, kind of angry and very sad.

My response was, “Wait a minute, God, what are you doing here? Didn’t you hear what I just prayed? Are you not listening?”

Slowly it began to dawn on me, I had been here before. I didn’t like it then either, but I had learned something. If I am praying something that is in line with the word of God and for Him to receive the glory, I am praying correctly. So what if things seem to take a turn in the opposite direction?

God has His own unique way of doing things and doesn’t always take the most direct, or the simplest route to get there. His ways are beyond my understanding. His thoughts are so much higher than mine as to be indecipherable to me. So it stands to reason I would sometimes be baffled by His methods.

Does that mean He isn’t working? Absolutely not!

I recently experienced a situation where I felt as if I was watching events unfold on a movie screen, a story with plots, subplots, character development and precise, down-to-the-second timing with an outcome no one involved could have predicted. God is always in control.

He is sovereign. Everything which takes place is in His time, in His way, for His purpose and to His glory.

Who am I to say things aren’t working as they should? It may not be my way, but even that is to my benefit as I have been known to make royal messes of things.

What are you praying for? How great and unwavering is your belief that God can and will accomplish in spite of all obstacles?

Look at your circumstances, whatever they may be, and tell God you recognize His control. Believe in His ability to accomplish His best purposes. Determine to accept that He is capable of working in even the most impossible looking situation and do more than you ever asked or imagined.

Monday, August 29, 2011

Catch the Vision

“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” Philippians 1:3-6.

The building wasn’t even a church. An old gray metal building in need of a coat of paint stood on one of the busiest streets in the city. Inside it was old carpet, walls patched with paint of varying shades of grayish white and not enough fluorescent tubes for good light. One hallway led in and out of the gym, converted on Sunday’s to an auditorium.

The pastor, a man we had known many years before, came forward and greeted us warmly. Our preteen children saw a familiar face or two among the 80 or 90 people present. Everyone was friendly.

When the youth pastor announced “Mud Olympics” for the following week, our kids begged to attend and we readily agreed. The competition stretched into two weeks and by then there was a guest speaker we wanted to hear. We liked the pastor. He was and sincere. Love and warmth flowed from him.

We stayed, dealing with crowding as it grew. We put up with no kitchen facilities, the youth in a room fondly referred to as “the stinky clothes room” where the YWCA, from whom we rented our small space, stored donations.

Everyone came and went through one crowded hallway. Chairs were set up before the service and taken down after. There was no stage. A keyboard, guitar and tambourine served as a praise band.

Gradually we were able to buy the building and move walls around. There was never enough room and always a lot of work, but there was love. Visitors noted the warmth and joy of the congregation. Missions were important, though we had little to spare.

The key to making things work? God was present in the hearts and lives of the people. That ugly gray building was filled to overflowing with love.

Now on some of the most desired land in the city, that old building still stands, attractively painted with signs facing the busy street. Next to it is a fine new building with a state of the art auditorium.

Where has God called you to serve Him? Is it a mega-church or simply a small congregation hoping to grow?

Catch the vision. Make a difference. Allow God to carry the good work He has begun in you through to completion in the place He has called you to serve.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Yet I Will Rejoice

“Yet I will wait patiently…though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” Habakkuk 3:16b-18

I tend to be a worrier. I also tend to be a perfectionist. Together they can be a very bad combination.

I like things to be the way I want, when I want and if circumstances don’t cooperate then I get down and cry a lot. Almost any given situation can be the end of the world to me. I can accept that God allows things for His purposes. However, I don’t do very well with accepting His timing for resolving the situation.

A friend once said there was a crisis in my life every week, or sometimes every day of the week. It’s not supposed to be like that for the Christian. If I leave my prayer time and don’t feel at peace I have not left my burdens at the feet of Jesus. I tend to talk to Him a while, pick up my burdens and walk away with them. If I truly trust Him to take care of them I will be able to walk away at peace.

I have a hand-painted clock which has hung in my kitchen for thirty-five years. It says, “God’s Timing is Perfect.” I wonder how many times I have looked at it and read those words and never let them sink in.

Joseph was seventeen years old when he was sold into slavery in Egypt. According to the notes in the margin of my Bible, it was about twenty-three years before his father and brothers moved to Egypt with their families. Twenty-three years that he waited and all the while his father thought he was dead. The woman in John 8 had been “subject to bleeding for twelve years.” Both are very long times to wait for a prayer to be answered.

Habakkuk talks about a time when nothing was going right, yet he said he would wait patiently; he would rejoice in the Lord and be joyful. His words are worth learning from.

What prayer are you waiting to have answered and despairing over? Do you leave your prayer time and still feel anxious?

Choose today to leave the burden at Jesus’ feet when you leave your time of prayer. Choose to trust not only that He will do it, but that He will do it at the right time. Choose to go on your way rejoicing.

Monday, August 15, 2011

God Remembered

“And Noah did all that the Lord commanded him…And Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives entered the ark to escape the waters of the flood…Then the Lord shut him in…But God remembered Noah…” Genesis 7:5, 7, 16 & 8:1

My husband was without a job. I needed major surgery. Our three-year-old daughter needed surgery. It was a time of uncertainty.

We were following the Lord, serving Him and giving faithfully, but times of trouble still came. I remember so clearly when my husband walked through the door with a box of his things at lunchtime and said he was going back to clean out his office. His boss had told him he was no longer needed. We had two small children and we weren’t certain what we were going to do.

We were blessed that my husband had been meticulous about saving, but we didn’t know how long the money would have to last. Having big medical bills on top of the usual expenses didn’t help any.

A favorite Bible study leader of mine calls times like this “Noah’s Ark experiences.” Yes, Noah and his family were all safe within the ark while “all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens opened…” The waters raged without and rose above the mountain tops and it was probably not exactly smooth sailing. It must have been downright frightening at times.

Sometimes we are allowed to go through rough storms in life and there is nothing to do but ride it out trusting in the promises of God.

I am certain a part of the comfort Noah’s family had was remembering God, Himself, had shut the door. They knew He had put them into the ark and trusted He would save them. They really didn’t have much choice.

Sometimes we do have the choice of whether or not to trust God to bring us safely through our storms. We can get ourselves in real messes when we decide to go it on our own.

We have to learn that when God shuts the door, He isn’t shutting us in and Himself out. He is in there with us. After several months God brought us out of our storm and provided everything we needed in the midst of it.

What storm are you facing?

This world is full of uncertainties, but we can be certain God is with us. He will remember us. Whatever your situation, choose to believe God is right there with you and will bring you through safely.

Monday, August 8, 2011

Straight Pathways

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6

I was on the waiting list. This wasn’t supposed to happen. God had directed me to a career in nursing and now everything seemed to be placed on hold.

My parents were behind me, willing to do whatever it took for me to realize my calling. It wouldn’t be easy with three younger siblings. We weren’t wealthy, though we were certainly comfortable. After a summer vacation punctuated with college visits, I was accepted to Montana State University, three states away from my home.

Aside from my family, I didn’t want to leave my best friends behind. I had become very involved in a campus ministry. I wanted to remain at home for college.

As my friends readied to begin school the very next day, I prepared myself to accept that my prayers had been answered with a no. I answered the phone and was surprised to hear the caller identify herself as an instructor from the College of Nursing in my hometown. Someone had dropped out. There was a place for me if I still wanted it.

I didn’t hesitate. My immediate answer was a yes. It might have been at the last minute, but the Lord had given me the answer I prayed for.

That experience made me realize that God doesn’t work on my timetable. He isn’t subject to the schedules we set in place. His timing is His own, designed to accomplish His purposes.

I look at things differently now, with more hope, knowing I may not understand, but in the end, He will do things in the absolute best way for me. He opens doors where He wants me to go and closes them when He wants me to stay away from something. That summer had a profound impact on my life.

What situation in your life seems to be on hold and you have no idea where God is leading? What seems hopeless in your life right now—you’re apprehensive about your future.

Choose today to entrust the circumstances of your life to Him, trusting Him with all your heart for what He is going to do. Acknowledge that He knows what you need more than you do, and He will make your path straight before you.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

The Sound of Silence

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9a

I tried to speak and no sound came out. I could not even whisper. I couldn’t even call my husband.

I went to doctors and they found nothing. They did a laryngoscopy and found nothing. The doctor called and told me to force myself to talk normally and get over it! How’s that for encouragement and professional advice? I was losing hope.

The months dragged on. My notepad accompanied me wherever I went—including to the bank. My kids were away at school, so I learned to text message. E-mail was the preferred method of communication. For four and a half months I was trapped in a silent world with no hope of finding my way out.

I had a Bible study to lead, a busy life to keep up with. Every woman in the Bible study had a chance to try leading. I sat silently with my notepad and wrote notes if necessary. Several discovered they could do something they never thought they could. The study went on as we learned a new way to be a vessel used by God, emptied of ourselves.

My inner spiritual life soared. God frequently gives us object lessons to drive home the point He is trying to teach us. Lesson number one in relation to the Bible study—it’s not about me! At home—patience is a virtue. Over all—trust in the Lord and lean not on my own understanding.

Eventually God led me to a speech pathologist at our local university hospital. Her laryngoscopy enabled her to see what no one else had—a condition which could be successfully treated with therapy. She thought twelve weeks—I spoke the first time. God will not let us suffer one moment longer than is necessary for teaching us the lesson He wants us to learn.

What situation in your life seems hopeless? What frightens you? Everything God allows in our lives is something to be used for our benefit and His glory. Whatever seems to be a roadblock in your life is the thing you need to give to God. Find it, give it to Him, and see what He will do.

Monday, July 25, 2011

Who is in Control

“Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.” Proverbs 25:28

Things that hurt my children make me angry. I know anger is one of my weaknesses. When something isn’t done correctly, I often lose self-control. When I do, God isn’t honored.

During my daughter’s senior year a coach at school was not handling things fairly. I had thyroid cancer and the surgery and treatments left me without that vital hormone. I was in a weak position and my emotions were raw. That didn’t give me a license to do things my way instead of God’s.

My words to the coach, my words in front of my daughter, even words in front of friends were angry and hateful. I was in a position of leadership at church. I knew what God’s word said, but I thought my way was better. When my first meeting didn’t accomplish what I thought should be done, I went higher.

All of that happened many years ago. I still have regrets about the way I handled things. I’m not saying the coach handled things correctly, but I am saying I could have managed my part much better. I have bad feelings to this day. My daughter says it was a long time ago and I need to let go of it. It’s hard to let go when you know you failed to let God work things out His way.

If we are Christians our actions should reflect our Lord and Savior. When we do things God’s way, not acting until we know we are in concert with Him, things always work out much better—there are no regrets when He is honored.

We have a choice each and every time we speak, to honor God or do things our own way. I chose the wrong way. I let my emotions run ahead of God and failed to seek His best way of dealing with things. My daughter showed more maturity than I did. That gets your attention.

What situation are you facing today where you have a choice in how to respond? Are you lacking self-control? How is your judgment skewed toward your desired outcome when perhaps God has something different in mind?

Take the time to pray through the situation. Don’t act until you see clearly what God would have you do. Rather than losing self-control, honor God by letting Him take control.

Monday, July 18, 2011

A Cheerful Heart

“A cheerful heart is good medicine…”Proverbs 17:22

She needed cheering up. My neighbor was in the midst of debilitating cancer treatment. All she asked was that I come see her for just a few minutes. I had a million things to do, but I couldn’t ignore her plea.

I sat down and let her take the lead in the conversation, telling me how frustrated she was, how often she felt that she might not make it through. Her faith in the Lord was strong, but we all need some encouragement and reminders of God’s love now and then.

I write poetry, when the Lord gives it to me, so I took along a poem I had written in the midst of some medical problems and shared it with her. My bed wasn’t made, my housework wasn’t done, but I sat with her for an hour, sharing God’s word and just chatting.

My tasks were still waiting for me when I walked into my house. I was behind and might not get everything done, but I had a feeling of fulfillment. My friend’s husband walked me to the door and told me I had cheered her up and made her day. He was running out of things to say.

Sometimes we make excuses to avoid situations that are painful for us. None of us actually enjoy entering a sick room. I took the time out of my busy schedule, and I was the one who was blessed. Her husband’s words were an encouragement to me that I had made the correct decision about how to spend that hour of my day.

The writer of Proverbs tells us “a cheerful heart is good medicine.” I didn’t know what to say when I went to see her. By following her lead and letting the Holy Spirit guide my words I was enabled to lift her spirits. That is an honor we seldom get.

How many opportunities have I missed to be God’s messenger of hope and encouragement, simply because I didn’t know what to say, or had too much on my schedule?

Who do you know that needs their spirits lifted? Who needs a kind word of encouragement, or perhaps simply a listening ear?

Taking the time to serve someone else costs me so little, yet blesses us both so much.

Monday, July 11, 2011

Onward Christian Soldiers

“Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight for the true faith.” 1 Timothy 5:11b – 12a NLT

My father served in many areas of leadership in our church. He was a teacher and leader who helped make decisions to guide and direct the church. Wherever I went I was recognized as the daughter of a church leader and a well-respected business man, as well.

I was taught a responsibility to act in a way that would honor him and never bring disgrace to his name. He was a godly, loving and kind father who spent a lot of one-on-one time with his children. Therefore, it was a blessing and not a burden to act in a way that honored him and all that he stood for.

My dad was a former Marine, who maintained the same sense of honor and integrity in everything he did for the rest of his life.

After he died I wrote a biography for his grandchildren who would never know their grandfather. As I researched Marines, I came across a statement that described him perfectly. “Marines are forged in a furnace of shared hardship and tough training. This shared, intense experience creates bonds of comradeship and standards of conduct so strong that Marines will let nothing stand in their way…Marines are trained not only physically and mentally, but morally as well. Forming the bedrock of any Marine’s character are the Core Values—Honor, Courage, and Commitment…and the numerous others attached to them, such as integrity, discipline, teamwork, duty and esprit de Corps.”

As Christians, we are often grown in a furnace to strengthen us for our service to God. We are to share in each other’s hardships. We are to maintain high standards of conduct that reflect well on our Father. Our shared hardships should create bonds of comradeship that help us stick together in help, support and encouragement.

Unfortunately there is sometimes too much truth to the adage that “Christians are the only army that shoots their own wounded.”

What character qualities distinguish you as a child of your heavenly Father? What church leader or fellow Christian needs your support? Do you contribute to the “esprit de Corps” of your fellow believers?

Find a way to honor your heavenly Father and strengthen your comrades in Christ today. When you honor your Father, you will be blessed and the entire body will be stronger because of it.

Sunday, July 3, 2011

True Freedom's Symbol

Tall and proud against the sky,

Our country’s beacon stands.

Each star and stripe the symbol

Of sacrifice by willing hands.

Each thread within its fabric,

A reminder of the tears;

Of sweat and toil and suffering

By men and women through the years.

Our flag, a sign to all the world,

Of freedom, hope, and peace,

Of triumph over hardship,

And victory’s sweet release.

We all saw Lady Liberty

Framed against the smoke…

Of attacks by men in ignorance

Of the promise which she spoke.

Her words cry out to men like them,

The “tired”, and “poor” who suffer,

To the “huddled masses,” “tempest-tost,”

A hope of plenty, she offers.

But there stands a Symbol greater,

Which will endure beyond the years.

Born by our Savior in sacrifice

To wipe away all tears.

The Cross of Christ is the reason

Our Founding Fathers came,

And the only hope for our nation

Is to return to Him again.

The only hope for this country

Is to seek the Creator’s plan,

His Cross the same from age to age,

Dwarfs the symbols of this land.

By Norma Gail Thurston Holtman, 10/8/2001

Ó Copyright, 2001, Norma Gail Thurston Holtman

(Quotations come from “The New Colossus”, by Emma Lazarus, 1883,

engraved on the base of the Statue of Liberty.)

Throughout my entire life I have been taught to be proud to be an American. My father was a former Marine who taught me to sing the Marine Corps Hymn as soon as I could talk.

I have, as many of you do, ancestors who emigrated from other lands. Mine came from England, Ireland, and Scotland to find a better life. My husband’s family emigrated from Holland when he was nine years old. This country has offered hope to people from all over the world since its beginning.

My ancestors have fought to defend the freedoms for which this country was founded; some were among the early Dutch settlers who came to New York and faced a hard life for a chance at freedom; at least three fought in the Revolution, two serving at Valley Forge with George Washington and at least one in the War of 1812. Some fought in the Civil War (on both sides), one supposedly on the Monitor, and one, who couldn’t stand the fighting but wanted to serve his country, tended mules for the Union Army.

Many of my ancestors were homesteaders and pioneers to the west who faced hard work paid off in poverty, or were killed or kidnapped by Indians, or feuding neighbors. My grandfather was a World War I veteran and I had three uncles who fought in World War II, and some in

Korea

. My father, though stateside, was in the Marine Corps during Korea. I remember the pride as well as the anguish of my aunt who had three sons in Viet Nam at the same time. The only wars in which none of my family served was the Gulf War, and now Iraq and Afghanistan.

My in-laws suffered through the German occupation of Holland in World War II, and I have listened to them tell of what it meant when the American Army liberated Holland.

When our country was attacked by terrorists on September 11, 2001, I was struck most by a picture of the burning towers of the World Trade Center taken from New York Harbor, in the forefront of the picture stood the Statue of Liberty.

The pride I feel in being an American has grown over the past few years as I have home schooled my son and taught high school level US History and Civics from Christian curriculum. I have learned about a side of our Founding Fathers that you never hear growing up in the public schools.

This country was founded by Christian men and women who came to a new land to spread the gospel and to worship in freedom. Many of them gave their lives for the sake of their faith and their belief in what God wanted this country to be, not just a national pride based on who they were, but a commitment to establishing “one nation under God”.

I firmly believe Psalms 33:12, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord….”

This poem is an expression of that belief and God enabled me to put on paper some of what I feel about what we face as a nation in this new war against terrorism. This is really a war against those who stand against God and freedom and all that this nation represents. May God truly bless

America

by sending revival to our land to enable us to face this enemy.

Norma Holtman, October 14, 2001

Friday, July 1, 2011

Trust His Plan

“Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.” James 4:13-14a

I was on the waiting list. Tears sprang to my eyes. My grades were good, my interviews had gone well, but I had not made it into the nursing college at the university in our city. With one letter my entire plan for my life and education had changed. I had no where to go to college.

Though it would be a definite financial hardship with three children younger than me, my parents’ allowed me to apply out of state and prepared to make the sacrifices it would require. I picked a couple of schools where we had relatives nearby and sent in my applications. I was accepted at the one I wanted the most. Still, I would have preferred to stay at home where my friends and family were.

A few months later, as my friends were preparing to begin school, I was preparing to move three states away in a few weeks. The phone call came as a complete surprise. The day before classes began I was being offered a place in the same school where I had given up hope.

I hung up the phone and went running for my mother in excitement. It was the answer we had prayed for. My sisters were happy, except for the one who wanted my room. I was able to stay with my friends, to continue in the Christian group I had become a part of and eventually the guy who was a good friend would become much more.

Far more of my future was determined by that phone call than I could ever have imagined at the age of eighteen. I learned a lot about the power of prayer. In future years I was able to see many things that God had done through that situation, one of which a greater understanding of the way He works out His plan for our best.

Do you have plans that have been put on hold by circumstances you could not foresee? What path have you been pursuing that seems blocked? What change do you face today?

We can’t know what will happen tomorrow, or even in the next minute. Choose to trust that the God Who is great enough to provide for your salvation is also able to direct your path. Make your plans prayerfully, but when change comes, trust Him.

Monday, June 27, 2011

Fire Insurance

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy…store up for yourselves treasures in heaven…for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6:19-21

Flames shot into the night. I stood on my back patio watching as a fast-moving forest fire consumed forest and homes sixty miles to the north. That particular fire didn’t threaten us, but we had been under a red alert all summer.

The next morning a fog of smoke enveloped our mountain home, blown from the fire up north. Our turn could come any time.

I read instructions on preparing to evacuate in case of a forest fire. I sent photograph albums to my husband’s office. I began photographing every room in our home, furniture, closets and drawers. I came to the grandfather clock built by my husband’s father. There was no way to save something so large. My treasured library was not high on the priority list. My three thousand year old Indian bowl had remained unbroken, would it fall prey to a fire instead? Even things I would take with me wouldn’t matter if it happened when I was away from home. The people up north had already been through a fire eleven years ago, now they faced it again. I wondered what they were feeling.

How much value was I putting on things? If a fire occurred near our home the only thing that really mattered was if we escaped safely. My family all knew Jesus as their Savior—we were safe in the only way that really matters.

I would miss all of my belongings, but none of those things had anything to do with eternity. Most could easily be replaced. But fire insurance can’t bestow eternal life.

Jesus said that the things we treasure the most should be in heaven where they cannot be destroyed. I continued cataloging things for insurance purposes, but a change of heart was taking place. I was learning to let go.

What do you value most highly? How certain are you that your loved ones are prepared for eternity if catastrophe should happen?

Don’t let another day go by without seeing that you have done all you can to ensure eternal security for yourself and those you love. Get your priorities in the order Jesus would want them, today.

Monday, June 20, 2011

His Children Will Be Blessed

“Blessed is the man who fears the Lord…His children…will be blessed.”

Psalm 112:1-2

I was still in shock—numb and cold, with a chill that neither blankets nor my husband’s arms could warm. My father was dead, struck by lightning while fly fishing with a friend. Now there was a funeral to plan. What do you say about someone you love? How do you condense all the feelings of all the years into a few paragraphs?

When I gave up on sleep, I got out my Bible and turned to Psalms—always a safe place to go when you’re hurting. I just started reading, for over two hours. Then something grabbed my attention. There were words that described my father to a tee, words that said all of the things I wanted to say and couldn’t. He had been a powerful Christian, a Marine and a well-respected businessman.

I read on and on, feeling as if I was hearing someone describe my dad; a soothing warmth began to creep over me. That man, God’s man, was the way I wanted to remember him: God-fearing, righteous, upright, gracious, compassionate, generous, just, fearless, steadfast, and honorable and his children were blessed.

Later, I began to wonder, what kinds of things someone would say about me at the end of my life. That’s something I’ll never know. There are things that I saw in that scripture that made me want to be like my dad more than ever. I have aspects of his personality, but not all.

As I read it again other things began to stand out to me, things that I could work toward, things that I could pray for God to instill in me. I began to see that what my dad had done were all things that I could do too: take delight in God’s commands, fear God—but like I felt for my daddy, respect and honor because of whom he was.

God is deserving of my respect and honor. I never wanted to do anything that would dishonor my father. Neither do I want to do anything that will dishonor my heavenly Father. The words of this scripture are a lesson for my daily life.

Maybe you weren’t blessed with an earthly father that honored God. But you have a heavenly Father that loves you more than any earthly Father ever could. He loves you and wants to bless you.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

My Two Fathers - In honor of my father, Lyle E. Thurston

“He fills His hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark.” Job 36:32

When I was very little and afraid of the storm,

My father would hold me, so I felt safe and warm.

Silly songs, funny stories, and wild games we would play—

The fun and his love chased the bad things away.

The lightning and thunder were never so bad

When I was held safe in the arms of my dad.

As I grew older and the problems grew more large,

The gentle, patients answers still came straight from his heart.

There was no more important thing he ever had to do

Than take time to show— the important thing was you.

He never gave anyone less than his best,

No matter what the need was, his commitment stood the test.

When lightning struck our house one night,

Shattering the darkness with its brilliant light—

Hobbling on crutches from a broken leg,

He soon had us laughing from the jokes that he made.

Once certain that all would soon be well—

He soon had another great story to tell.

Many things set my father apart,

Not the least of which was his great, loving heart.

People who came to my father in need

Always left knowing they had a friend indeed.

He did much to further the Father’s plan

By the generosity of his giant hands.

My father rose each morning to meet with his Lord.

He loved Him and served Him and cherished His word.

He was a man of great strength—yet gentle and kind

Because he loved the Lord Jesus with heart, soul, and mind.

He would say that if anything set him apart,

It was the presence of the Savior, who lived in his heart.

Then the lightning once again appeared,

Something all in the family but my father feared.

He, rather than seeing something to fear—

Said it showed the protection of God very clear.

For all in the house were both safe and sound

And only slight damage to the house was found.

As the years passed by, the family grew,

The son-in-laws came, and the grandchildren, too.

Each one he loved in a unique special way,

And faithfully, for each one, he daily would pray—

Upon our family, God’s blessings were poured,

Because each day my father spent time with his Lord.

It could have been just a regular day,

But our heavenly Father didn’t see it that way.

A man going fishing—just and ordinary man—

But our heavenly Father had another plan.

Ordinary things, when you live for the Lord,

Can often have bearing on eternal reward.

Once more, God’s lightning entered our lives,

And on fiery wings, bore my father home, through the skies.

The look on his face showed amazement, they said,

And confirmed for us all that he was not really dead.

He had gotten his first glimpse of his heavenly home,

And he knew that our Lord would not leave us alone.

The lessons that he taught us through the life that he lived;

And the Lord that he gave all the love he could give;

Are still here inside us—though he’s gone from our sight

Across that wide river— the River of Life.

He’s sitting there watching—he knows we will come;

And from his side, it really won’t be very long.

If we could just see—each event in our lives—

Is meant just to show us, God is loving and wise.

The traits that I loved in my father, you see,

Are all of the things God will be—just for me.

And so when I long for Daddy’s face—just to see,

I’ll look up to heaven—where two fathers wait for me.

Written June 14, 1996. In loving memory of my daddy, Lyle E. Thurston, who died when he was struck by lightning while fly-fishing on the San Juan River, in the “Quality Waters” below Navajo Dam near Farmington, New Mexico on September 29, 1995.