Chapter One
january
a lifetime ofthoughts and words
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be
pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14
I have prayed-and often spoken right out loud-Psalm 19:14
every morning for more than forty years. My Sunday school teacher
once asked every teen in the class to choose a life verse and to quote
it the following Sunday. I quite arbitrarily chose this passage from
Psalms and was challenged by my teacher to quote it every day for
the rest of my life. I decided to give it a try.
For a young teenager who had lost his father in a coal-mining
accident just a few years before, that small portion of Scripture
had a profound impact. Young men, as you know, are often driven
by thoughts and words, and every morning, here I was, taking a
moment to ask God to guide mine. That's probably why I do what
I do today.
Not surprisingly, the verse continues to work on my heart and
mind. Recently, in the middle of a sermon (after preaching some
9,600 sermons), God reminded me of that passage, and I stopped
short of saying what I was about to say. Once again, I was redeemed
by God.
Dr. Stan Toler, senior pastor of Trinity Church of the Nazarene, Oklahoma City, is
the author of more than sixty books, including God Has Never Failed Me, But He's
Sure Scared Me to Death a Few Times.
january 2
strength for the remnant
"In that coming day," says the Lord, "I will gather together those who
are lame, those who have been exiles, and those whom I have filled
with grief. Those who are weak will survive as a remnant; those who
were exiles will become a strong nation." Micah 4:6-7
I'll be forty-nine in the near future, but I found this Scripture
passage some years ago during a Bible Study Fellowship class on the
Minor Prophets. Pastors frequently preach on the first five verses of
Micah 4, and I only skimmed them, as they were already familiar,
but when I read verse 6, I was brought up short.
I was born prematurely. As a result, I have cerebral palsy and
therefore qualify to be counted among the biblically lame. This has
moved my life out of the usual social pattern, and I frequently feel
like an exile. So I went to my concordance and looked at other
verses about God's "remnant" and his view of them. What I learned
made me eager for the day this promise is fulfilled. I still have difficulty
reading Micah 4:6-7 aloud without tearing up. I do not know
what the Lord will permit me to accomplish in my lifetime, but this
passage is marked to be read at my memorial service. I wish I had
known it much sooner in life.
Heidi Dru Kortman, a Calvin College alumna, apprentice student of the Christian
Writers Guild, and member of American Christian Fiction Writers, has published
poetry and devotionals. A book of devotionals for the mobility handicapped is in
progress.
january 3
a world of problems
[Jesus said,] "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in
me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take
heart, because I have overcome the world." John 16:33
Coming to know the Lord at thirteen was a turning point in
my life. The adolescent years were filled with deep grief and turmoil
for me as our family faced life with my father, who was an abusive
alcoholic. Each day as I was learning everything I could about a
heavenly Father, I had to face my worldly father. There were times
when the alcohol and abuse seemed too much to bear, and those
days of trial and tribulation were extraordinarily difficult.
One day while reading my Bible, I came upon John 16:33. I
remember weeping as I experienced a sense of the Lord's presence.
At that very moment, God revealed to me that through him I could
have peace in all things and that although we live in a fallen world,
I could have joy through him because the world has no power over
God. He has overcome the world. He is the conqueror, defeater, and
deliverer, and he reigns over all things. That Scripture verse carried
me through my high school days until I left home to find healing.
God used it to give peace to my heart during my toughest days.
Oh yes, and this is no small thing: My earthly father now serves
the God who reigns over the world. He never misses church on
Sunday.
Tina Samples is a music therapist, worship minister, speaker, singer-songwriter,
pastor's wife, and mother of two boys.
january 4
perfect, permanent love
No power in the sky above or in the earth below-indeed, nothing in
all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that
is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:39
I was the youngest of three children and a perennial class clown,
so I don't think anyone really expected much from me. In first grade
I was assigned to the reading group that ate paste. In my mom's
ninetieth year, she finally confessed that when I was in high school,
she had prayed for a C on my report card as a sign that my life
wouldn't be a total loss. During my senior year, a gray-haired math
teacher finally called my bluff: "Kevin, when are you going to stop
playing that game of yours-the game in which you're the best at
being the worst?" Her insightful words didn't completely snap me
out of it, but at least they got me thinking.
It wasn't until ten years into my walk with God that I stopped
playing that game. I knew my mom loved me. (That's her job.) I
knew my wife loved me. (Thank you, God!) I even came to realize
that the old math teacher had loved me. Still, I was so afraid of getting
things wrong that I couldn't do anything right. You might say
I spent my youth rebelling against my legalistic tendencies. That's
when I heard a radio talk-show host speak about grace. Whoa! God
loves me-no matter what?
Since then, I've come to enjoy flaunting my imperfections for an
entirely different reason: They point to the only One who actually
is perfect-Jesus.
Dr. Kevin Leman is a psychologist and speaker and the author of more than
twenty-five books, including The Birth Order Book, Sheet Music, and First-Time
Mom.
january 5
an alaskan garden
"Build homes, and plan to stay. Plant gardens, and eat the food they
produce" This is what the Lord says: "You will be in Babylon for
seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things
I have promised, and I will bring you home again."
Jeremiah 29:5, 10
The move to Alaska for my husband's job was exciting at first.
But after three years, the novelty of the Last Frontier had definitely
worn off! I cried into the night for family and friends thousands of
miles away and struggled with overwhelming feelings of isolation.
Then God whispered, and I opened my Bible to Jeremiah 29. I am
not an Old Testament scholar, but I understood that these are words
written to the people of Judah during their captivity in Babylon.
Jeremiah told them to plan on staying a long time, build homes, and
even make peace with their new community.
I read the passage again. This was my home? For seventy years?
That's not exactly the time frame I had in mind. But when I read
that word-home-a sudden peace filled me. God heard my cry and
promised I would be "home again" someday. But in the meantime,
my husband and family needed my best, and I would not let them
or God down.
I still don't know if "home" will be the homeland of my youth
or the homeland of my soul, in heaven. But I do know that God sees
me in Alaska today. The God of Abraham, the God of my fathers, is
still as mighty and able to move people and make miracles as he was
then. As for me, I have a garden to plant!
Jennifer Von Bergen, writer, keeper of goats, chickens, and rabbits, and
homeschooling mom, lives in Alaska with her husband and four children.
january 6
living. moving. being.In him we live and move and have our being. Acts 17:28, NIV
One morning in a theology class, my professor gave an
assignment: "I want you to pray and meditate on a verse from Acts
17 for a month." Of course, my classmates chose a variety of verses,
but I settled on Acts 17:28. I remember faithfully praying, In him I
live and move and have my being, every morning. Living with these
words brought fresh insights throughout each day. As I wrote my
reflections at the end of the month, I realized the words of that verse
would stay with me until the end of my days here on earth. That was
more than fifteen years ago.
Since that time I have experienced many of life's sorrows and
joys, from the loss of loved ones to the births of four grandchildren.
I have returned to this amazing and rich portion of Scripture many
times during these years-especially when I have been discouraged-for
it refocuses my attention on who I am and more important, onwhose I am.
Emily Tipton Williams, a violinist, Stephen Minister, and retreat leader, is the
author of Restless Soul, a novel.
january 7
rock, rescue,
and refuge
Praise the Lord, who is my rock. He trains my hands for war and
gives my fingers skill for battle. He is my loving ally and my fortress,
my tower of safety, my rescuer. He is my shield, and I take refuge in
him. He makes the nations submit to me. Psalm 144:1-2
In spring 2004, I went on my first international mission trip-one
in an Islamic country (which is obviously hostile to Christianity).
As I read the Bible one morning, I came across this psalm and was
struck at the power of these verses. God is my Rock, who prepares
me for war. And here I was, a bona fide rookie, smack in the middle
of a war zone.
I'd always pictured God as my Rock to help me stand strong
against the storms of life, but that morning I learned he is also
the Rock I can use as a hiding place to obscure my actions from
the enemy. Militarily speaking, large rocks make good cover for
concealing troops as they advance or fortify their positions. With
agents of the evil one continually around us, how we need God to
protect us from their sight!
Psalm 144 became my meditation for the six days we were in the
country, and I watched in wonder as God opened doors and met our
team's needs, using a people who do not call him Lord. Foremost, I
gained a new appreciation for overseas missionaries who rely on him
every day to clear their paths and cover their tracks as they serve in
such countries. Only with God as their Rock can they advance the
cause of Christ in such hostile territory.
Gary Chevalier is a pastor of worship arts and founder of the Transforming
Worship Conference for Small Churches.
january 8
desire to obey
If a Christian woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is
willing to continue living with her, she must not leave him.
1 Corinthians 7:13
Things had not turned out the way we hoped. Our ten-year
marriage seemed beyond repair. We both had failed. Divorce looked
like the only solution, and we separated.
One Sunday I sat alone in an adult class, knowing our divorce
would be final in a few days. As the teacher taught from 1 Corinthians
7, I read along from my Bible. I paused at the verse about staying
together if the husband consents. My heart said, No, I don't want to
do that. I like the relief from conflict that separation brings. But desiring to
obey God, my will said, Yes, God, I'll do that if you ask.
Several days later my husband said, "Do you think we should try
again?"
Without hesitation I said yes.
After reuniting, we heard a popular song on the radio claim,
"I'm the happiest girl" My husband asked, "Are you?" Today I
can answer a second yes. God's work is so apparent in our lives.
I laugh at my husband's quips. We delight in exchanging private,
knowing glances about our grandchildren's antics. Together we marvel
at a hummingbird family nesting in our urban ficus tree. God has
abundantly blessed our forty-four years of marriage through his word
in Corinthians. I'm thankful that I said yes to God first, and then yes
to my husband.
Peggy Morris is a school counselor and the author of Character Education: Three
Minutes a Day.
january 9
saved and called
God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not
because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before
the beginning of time-to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 1:9
You might think that as the cofounder of Awana I would
take 2 Timothy 2:15 as my life verse. As any Sparky can
tell you, the word Awana is an acronym for that verse: "Approved
Workmen Are Not Ashamed." But the truth is that before we can
have workmen, we need to bring people to a point at which they
are both saved and called.
For as long as I can remember, my passion has been to see
people accept Christ as their Savior and then listen carefully so they
can fulfill the ministry to which God has called them. When Lance
Latham, pastor of the North Side Gospel Center in Chicago, and I
started Awana, we didn't know what we were getting into. But we
were clear on one thing: We were both individually called to create
an environment in which kids could and would come to know
Christ.
Staying true to your call is paramount. So many ministries and
Ivy League universities were founded on a clear calling from God,
but they have since lost their focus. That breaks my heart. At Awana,
we pledge to recruit only people with a clear calling and passion for
reaching kids.
Art Rorheim is the cofounder and president emeritus of Awana Clubs
International.
january 10
trusting through
the storm
When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. Psalm 56:3
As the sirens blasted, I hurried through the daytime darkness
to seek shelter. Afraid? Yes, I was very afraid. I was driving alone, and
a category F4 tornado was getting closer. I gave myself a pep talk to
calm my nerves and keep my head together. It didn't work. As I took
a deep breath, I became filled with the words When I am afraid, I
will put my trust in you. I sought shelter in the bathroom of a down-town
building and curled up under a chair. As the tornado passed
directly overhead, I felt as if the air was sucked right out of me. With
the exception of my bathroom refuge, the entire building was damaged.
Every neighborhood and all of downtown was hit hard. Lives
were lost, and many people were injured.
Before, during, and after the storm, I must have repeated that
verse a thousand times. In my personal terror and as I comforted
others waiting for medical help, the words never left me.
Many storms of life have come my way since that day, and I
find comfort and strength in God's words as each one approaches.
Though I cannot see through the darkness, I can feel his presence
with every wind that blows.
Anna Marie Warren is a worship leader, speaker, writer, and team member of
CelebrateMoms.org.
(Continues.)
