Ready to Board?

 According to an article on the front page of the newspaper, the local Board of Education recently unanimously approved a new Deputy Superintendent. Although some might consider his unanimous appointment to such a prestigious position a “lucky break,” the truth is he had been advancing throughout his two decades in public education. As he transitioned through various roles such as classroom teacher, instructional coach, assistant principal, and district administrator, he amassed a proven and impressive record of leadership, service, and dedication to student success. Additionally, those broad areas of experiences gave him a comprehensive understanding of the areas he will now oversee.

Meanwhile, he advanced his own education, earning a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and other advanced degrees. He also served as an adjunct professor at a university where he helped prepare future educational leaders.

He is committed to excellence in his personal life, as well. He and his beautiful and talented wife have been married for 27 years, have two children who are now successful adults, and are active in their church.

Reading about his success reminded me of this insightful quote (of uncertain origin): “The harder I work, the luckier I get.”

Phyllis A. Whitney, a prolific author from yesteryear, would agree. In Guide to Fiction Writing, she says that other writers would comment on how “lucky” she had been to have met with such success, especially since she acknowledges her talent, in the beginning, was “untrained” and “modest.” Along with blows and disappointments, she received extraordinary breaks, leading her to conclude: “Opportunity is like a train on an endless track. Now and then it makes a stop at your station, often without fanfare, and without warning” (p.4).

ChatGPT created this image,
 using prompts provided by the author.

Referring to an unexpected opportunity that had been given to her, she says, “How very, very lucky that the train had stopped where I could get aboard. Or was it possible that without realizing it I had been getting ready for that train for a long time?” (p.5).

Indeed, she had been preparing herself even with no train — no opportunity — in sight. She’d been learning the craft of writing and continuing to write, write, write, refusing to give up even when some of her work was rejected for publication. Thus, she was ready when the train stopped, and her life took a turn for the better (p.5).

She believes “life is full of trains that stop. What counts is what we are doing with our lives when there is no opportunity and not a train in sight” (p.6)

 She says, “The lucky breaks that worked out were generally followed or preceded by some positive action on my part” (p.6).

 I assume the new Deputy Superintendent would affirm her wise words, including these: “What you do now counts. Never mind the rejections, the discouragement, the voice of ridicule…. Work and wait and learn, and that train will come by” (p.9)

Birthday Blessings

 On the morning of my 79th birthday, I paused in front of my refrigerator door to look lovingly at a photo of my sweet mother. 

I thought about how she must have suffered on this day all those many years ago when she was giving birth to her first child. I assume she felt indescribable joy in the midst of the agony that day, as I did years later when giving birth to each of my two precious daughters.

I also thought about how Jesus endured great agony on the cross in order to make spiritual life available to me centuries upon centuries later. 

I thought about how my mother always cared tenderly and faithfully for me as long as she was physically able to do so. 

Jesus is still tenderly and faithfully caring for me.

My mother departed this life during my 63rd year of life. 

But Jesus, who has been with me since before I was born and all the days since, is now sitting at the right hand of God the Father, making intercession* for me, advocating for me, providing all that I need.

How blessed I am to have had a loving mother who endured suffering while bringing life to me. How even more blessed I am to have a Savior who suffered to bring spiritual life to me. How blessed I am to have had both to love me unconditionally and to rejoice over me. 

Reflecting on that prompts me to pause to give thanks for them and for ALL I’ve been given and am being given, including another year of life. May my life honor them and bless others.

*Hebrews 12:2; Romans 8:34

Thankful for the Homeland

A few days before the 250th celebration of America's Independence Day, I joined in with friends in the singing of patriotic songs.  My heart filled with gratitude as we sang America the Beautiful, My Country Tis of Thee,  The Star-Spangled Banner, and others. 

As we sang This Land is Your Land, my mind flashed back to the days when my third grade students and I sang those lyrics. At that time, in the late 60s and early 70s, I had never seen -- and neither had they -- the places mentioned in the song. But since then, I have been blessed to see many of them, including the Redwood Forest, the Gulf Stream waters, the golden valleys (in California and in Yellowstone National Park), and ribbons of highway visible for miles in places like Montana.

Since singing those songs and re-living memories, I've often had thoughts like these: Thank You, God, for choosing America as a homeland for me. It is, indeed, a wonderful one. Not a perfect one, but definitely a wonderful land filled with breathtaking beauty and unparalleled freedom.

His Life

 

On Palm Sunday, a friend texted me the inspirational graphic shown here. It prompted me to re-read chapters 21-28 in the Gospel of Matthew, which tell how Jesus spent the last week of His life. I was struck afresh at how focused He stayed while knowing death awaited Him.

On Sunday of what is now known as Holy Week, excited crowds lined the road and cheered as He approached the city. But their euphoria and loyalty faded before Thursday. Key leaders who had rejected Him continued to do and say things that turned that fickle crowd against Him and led to His arrest and crucifixion.

Despite the chaos, Jesus chose to stay visible rather than hide out. For example, He went to the temple that Monday. And when He saw people buying and selling, Jesus became so angry that they had made His Father’s house “a den of thieves” that He turned over the tables of the "money changers." 

Even as people plotted against Him, He continued to teach His disciples, to weep over Jerusalem, to spend quality time with those closest to Him, and to pray for them (and for you and me), as well as for Himself. 

During that week, one of His closest disciples betrayed Him.

 Another one denied even knowing Him. 

He was falsely accused. 

The crowd clamored for the release of a known criminal instead of Him, the sinless Son of God. 

He was taunted, tortured, and humiliated. 

As He suffered unimaginable agony, while also feeling forsaken by God, He prayed, “Father, forgive them. They do not understand what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).

As I reflected on how He lived and how He died — fully obedient to the Father, fully willing to give His life so that others may come into a right relationship with God — I thanked God for Jesus. 

I also pondered this question: How closely does my life align with His?

Whatever the Season

 Excerpted from a column written in 2012 and published in the Chapel Hill News and Views magazine.

After the chilly, dreary days of winter, we long for spring, for signs of new life, for splashes of color, for warmer temperatures so that we can end our hibernation and get out and about once again.

We long for the time when we can say, “… the winter is past, and the rain is over and gone. The flowers are springing up, and the time of singing birds has come … The fig trees are budding, and the grapevines are in blossom. How delicious they smell! Yes, spring is here!” (Song of Songs, 2:11-13a.)

But sometimes we feel stuck in one season — in life, as well as in nature — don’t we? For example, children often feel they’ll be children forever! They long to grow up and do the things big people do. Likewise, people who are battling an illness may see no end to that season.

Whenever we’re feeling stuck, it’s good to remind ourselves of this truth: “There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest … A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance … ” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-4).

Although we like some seasons better than others, we benefit from experiencing a variety of seasons and cycles, else the Creator wouldn’t have designed them. In fact, we need the harshness and bleakness of winter in order to appreciate the warmth and beauty of spring. As 17^th century poet Anne Bradstreet pointed out, “If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.”

So … whatever time, whatever season, we find ourselves in, especially if we’re feeling stuck in it, let’s follow David’s example and humbly say to God, “My times are in thy hand …” (Psalm 31:15, KJV).

 Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quoted is from the New Living Translation.

Love Gives!

 

The day before Valentine's Day, while I was in the checkout line at a local grocery story, I watched an elderly man pick up and examine several bouquets before choosing one of assorted kinds and colors of cut flowers wrapped in red floral paper. How sweet! I thought. He's still buying flowers for a woman he loves (wife, significant other, daughter, granddaughter???). He was smiling as he hobbled out of the store, bouquet in hand.

His actions reminded me of this quote by Amy Carmichael (1867-1951), who was a missionary in India for over 55 years: 

Free to Follow

Excerpted from a column that was first published in the January 2018 issue of Chapel Hill News and Views magazine.

When I turn the pages of a new, large, month-by-month calendar, I marvel at all the freedom I have to choose what lies before me. As of that moment, there are no appointments or tasks written on it. The landscape of the months ahead is like a blank canvas.      

As the days pass, I, like a landscape painter, choose what to add to that wonderful white space. I fill it with appointments and things to do. In the margins, I make notes and scribble phone numbers and other essential information.

Then, when it’s time to turn the page to a new month, I sigh as I see that I’ve already filled in many of the daily spaces. I no longer have pristine pages to marvel at. I no longer am as awed by my freedom to choose. I no longer spend as much time prayerfully considering what God wants me to do with all those days He is giving me as I’d spent between the ending of the previous year and the beginning of the current one.

Instead, I often feel overwhelmed by all the appointments and tasks already awaiting me. And I know that I’ll add more, more, and more as the months move along. With a sigh, I methodically begin to do whatever is on schedule for a particular day.

But this year, I yearn to avoid filling up precious hours with my plans. I long to leave lots of white spaces so that I can be free to do whatever He asks me to do as I talk with Him at the beginning of each day -- and throughout the day, as well.

My desire to remain flexible in order to give His plans priority over mine increased after I read I Come Quietly to Meet You, which is a collection of devotionals written by Amy Carmichael (1867-1951).

Amy’s devotional entitled “Entanglements” helped me realize I am guilty of having too many entanglements, too many worldly things that allure me more than spiritual ones.

After several days of reading and reflecting on Amy’s words, I woke up one morning thinking about the phrase “free to follow.” I eagerly got up and began searching the Scriptures for verses that contained the word follow.

As I read the many references, I realized that the people who were given specific assignments were going about their ordinary tasks when they received the divine call to “follow.”

For example, Peter and Andrew were casting their fishing nets into the water. James and John, along with their father, were mending their nets. Matthew was working at his tax collection booth. (For details, read chapters 4 and 9 in the Gospel of Matthew.)

When Jesus said to them, “Follow Me,” they immediately stopped what they were doing and followed Him, despite their plans for that day.

I pray that you and I will willingly let go of our plans in order to say yes to Him, that we will be free to follow Him wherever and however He leads us.

 © 2018 by Johnnie Ann Gaskill

 

 

While growing up in rural North Georgia, I knew a bit about my local area but naïvely assumed that people and places in the larger world were similar to those in my world.

But after graduating from high school, I moved from the mountains to attend college in the central portion of Georgia that had a very different landscape. Later, my husband and I traveled throughout the United States, Canada, and a few of the Caribbean islands. As we also vicariously traveled around the world through print and audiovisual media, and then the Internet, I gained a greater understanding of what the world is like. To my astonishment, it is so much larger and so much more diverse than the small area where I was born.

That process of exploration and learning reminds me of connecting-the-dots puzzles. The more dots you connect, the more recognizable the big picture becomes. In like manner, I started where I was born and moved on from the familiar "here" to one astonishing "there" after another. The people groups and places I’m continuing to learn about have been there for a long time, despite my lack of awareness. Such gradual illumination fills me with ever-increasing wonder.

Similarly, the Gospel story has been slowly, yet consistently, revealed to me. As a child, and for many years later, I knew little about the Bible, which contains the stories of the triune God and His dealings with all the diverse people living in the physical world He created, as well as how we will live in the hereafter — in the world He also has created and over which He will reign forevermore.

But through the years, I’ve been privileged to learn more of the Gospel story. For example, just recently, I listened as Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth connected even more of the dots in the Gospel story. 

 https://www.reviveourhearts.com/podcast/revive-our-hearts/the-incomparable-incarnate-christ/

Yes, there is more, so much more, to His story than the familiar stories and songs and dramatizations of the birth of Christ on which we focus on at Christmastime. Although that awesome portion of His life is an essential part of the story, it is not the true beginning of His life. He, like God the Father, has always existed and will always exist. Thus, there’s more, so much more, to the story of who He was, who He is, and who He will always be.

Since I’m eager to learn more and more about Him and believe more deeply and confidently in all that He is and does, I benefit from reading the entire Bible, which contains the larger story. As I read and reflect on various passages, including one of the apostle Paul’s prayers that’s found in the first chapter of the book of Ephesians, I receive insights to include in my prayers. For example:

I bow before You -- the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory __ and humbly ask You to give me a spirit of wisdom and of revelation that will provide true and ever-increasing knowledge of Jesus. I ask You to continue to enlighten my heart, so that I will know more and more about You and about the glorious hope and abundant riches Your boundless power and grace give to those who believe in Jesus.

I make these requests not only for myself but also for others. Enable us to know You, the triune God, more and more fully so that we might truly love You and worship You with glad and grateful hearts, always eager to share with others what we have come to know and believe about You.

Thankful for HIM

 

Do you ever ask yourself, Do people like me? Enjoy me? Appreciate me? Or do they keep me around because I help them?

I often ask such questions — and I admitted that one day when talking with a friend. She replied, “I feel the same way!”

A few days later, while reading some of the apostle Paul’s letters to individuals and to people groups, I noticed that he often said things like, “I thank God upon every remembrance of you.” Then, he would mention specific things they had said or done that caused his heart to overflow with gratitude. For example, some had participated with him in his God-given ministry. Some had shown various kindnesses to him and to others.

As I pondered these things, I realized afresh that it’s hard to separate the individual from the things they do since the kind of person we ARE is reflected in the actions we take. Even so, I think everyone longs to be loved for WHO they ARE, for their essence, rather than for what they possess or how they look or the contributions they make, etc.

As I delved deeper into such thoughts, I asked myself, Do I truly love God for who He IS — apart from all the blessings He bestows on me? If He withheld the blessings, would I continue to love Him?

I pray that my answer to both questions is a resounding YES! But I fear that my love for Him might wane if the blessings were to diminish. That seems to be what happened to people whose stories are told in the Old Testament. As long as God gave them what they wanted, they, like spoiled children, stayed near Him, acknowledged Him as their God, tried to please Him ... But if He didn’t do what they wanted Him to do or if He seemed too slow in meeting their expectations, they’d turn away and begin to worship other gods, whom they believed would meet their needs. They didn’t realize that those gods, formed by human hands and made out of earthly things, had no power to help them any more than a glove can act apart from a hand inside it.

I long to love Him and to praise Him for who He IS. I also want to thank Him for all He does, for all He provides. I hope that your heart, dear reader, wants to do the same — and in that order.

Journey On!

 When I see a road or path, it may cause me to wonder where it leads. It may beckon me. Or it may cause me to say, "No way am I going there!"  

I’ve taken dozens of photographs of roads and paths. One of my favorite images is this one I took while hiking in the Grand Teton National Park. 

As I look at the images I’ve captured through the years, I often think about other kinds of roads we have to journey on—the difficult roads of life that none of us want to travel on. For example: Disease Drive. Cripple Court. Ruin Road. Shame Street. Bitter Boulevard. Agony Avenue. Dead End Street. Despair Drive. Poverty Court. 

As we travel through life, we certainly don't want to leave Easy Street. Yet, few, if any, of us can avoid Heartbreak Highway. The best thing to do while on that route is to relax, as much as possible, and enjoy that part of the journey as best we can, confident that our Heavenly Father knows where we are and stays close by all the time, loving us, encouraging us, guiding us along that difficult stretch of road. Although Heartbreak Highway has no mileage signs, our Father knows how long the route is. He also knows where the road leads and all the places we'll pass through. We will get to the right destination eventually if we don't take a wrong exit.

If we say, “I hate this road! I don’t want to travel on it anymore!” we must keep on traveling, while keeping an eye out for “pleasant spots” along the way. And every road, even a tough one, has some of them. Right?

For example, when we’re struggling with things that frighten us or threaten to overwhelm us, we may receive encouragement from family and friends who stand with us in the difficulty. We may also learn valuable lessons, such as learning to recognize the people and things in life that are truly important and to cherish them all the more. 

So...when the road is difficult, as it surely will be from time to time, let’s journey on, grateful for whatever blessings are along the way and for the assurance we feel when our Father says to us, "Don't be afraid. I am with you.* I know exactly where you are now and where I’m leading you. Just trust Me.”

*Isaiah 43:5

©2025 by Johnnie Ann Gaskill,

Freedom

The July 2025 issue of the monthly newsletter published by the Bible Broadcasting Network (BBN) contains an article written by Carl Redemann, who is the Executive Director of that multi-faceted ministry. 

He began the article with a reference to the long-ago night when General George Washington led a daring crossing of the Delaware River and launched a surprise attack that reignited the American Revolution. 

Redemann writes, “They were not fighting for territory, but for a dream–the dream of a land, where men and women could live freely, speak freely, and most importantly, worship freely.”

Although many of those brave men would not live to see the freedom they were dying for, they fought bravely in the monumental battle that changed history.

But, as Redemann points out, there is another battle with even greater impact. That battle was waged on a hill called Calvary where God’s Beloved Son was nailed to the cross. As the beaten and bleeding Son hung there, He was fighting for freedom for guilty sinners like you and me: freedom from the chains of sin, freedom from the curse of death, freedom from the power of hell itself. As that battle of all battles continued, the sky turned black. The earth shook. With one final breath, Jesus cried out in victory, “It is finished!“

That greatest of all battles for freedom had been won, not by the sword, but by the sacrifice of Jesus.

On Independence Day, may we give thanks for all the courageous men and women who have battled bravely for the cause of freedom. May we be even more grateful for the One who shed His life’s blood to provide freedom from the power of sin, freedom from the penalty of sin, and, ultimately, freedom from the very presence of sin.

Powerful Symbols

 

I made this Resurrection Garden
during a Circle of Love (widows) meeting
at my church.

Create!

While shopping at the local Dollar Tree store, I spotted the mug that is now in the photo shown here. I liked its message ("Live life in full bloom") and the delicate flowers surrounding it. I bought it, along with a packet of small styrofoam blocks and a handful of assorted silk flowers. 

As I arranged the flowers (and then photographed my creation), I thought, This is so much fun--and so relaxing. Indeed, whether I’m arranging flowers, rearranging decorative items on a table, photographing various subjects, experimenting with a new recipe, designing greeting cards in Canva, writing, etc., I feel so content--and alive. That makes me wonder, Why don’t I exercise my God-given creativity more often?

If that’s true of you, let’s make sure we do at least one creative thing every day. Since we are made in the image of God,* who is the awesome Creator, we’ve been endowed with the desire and the ability to create. Let’s exercise that gift! Doing so can be done on a shoestring budget—or even for free! Therefore, we have no excuse for not creating, do we?

*Genesis 1:27

Blanketed

Note: The following is an edited version of a fiction story I wrote on February 20, 2025, in 10 minutes, using the one-word prompt ("blanket") I was given.

The photo was taken in 2005 at Montecito Lodge in the Giant Sequoia National Forest in California. Although the details in the photo don't align with every detail in the story, I'm posting it anyway because it's a photo I enjoy seeing again and again.

Fluffy snowflakes float effortlessly toward the ground. As the hours pass, accumulated snow conceals still-brown grass and shrouds limbs of leafless trees. The drab winter canvas outside disappears, hidden under a blanket of pristine snow. 

The covering will melt away as soon as temperatures rise above freezing. The world will return to its ordinary-ness, the magic of freshly fallen snow gone until another day, perhaps even another year. And I will resume my hectic schedule.

But for one day, this day, the world has been made exceptionally beautiful. So white. So quiet. So still.

I am warm and cozy inside a climate-controlled house where a furnace purrs like a contented kitten. Decaf coffee brews and drops into the carafe from which I pour a cup of comforting warmth. I lounge in my jammies and feel no need to rush off to work or do anything other than relax.

I realize I’ve been given a perfect day to curl up on the sofa beside the fireplace and cover myself with the comfy throw my neighbor gave me for Christmas. Before I reach for a nearby book, I bow my head and say, “Thank You, Father, for this unexpected—and undeserved—day of pure bliss, a day You have created, a day You have provided for me. I am awed by how You cover me with Your love even more gently and completely than You’ve covered with snow this little part of the world I call home.”

Points of Joy

While walking on my driveway a few months after my husband passed away, I noticed how beautifully the early morning light was falling on my house and on the small crepe myrtle bush blooming beside my driveway. I couldn't resist stopping three or four times to take photos with the camera on my cell phone. 

I thought, My senses are waking up like they do whenever I become sleepily aware of my surroundings after a sound sleep. Indeed, I felt more alert than I had in weeks.

As I savored those feelings, I recalled having heard a guest on a podcast say, "Don't set a goal of being happy. Happiness is an illusion. It comes and goes, depending on the circumstances. Instead, look for points of joy throughout your day. The more points of joy you experience, the happier you'll feel. To experience more points of joy, use your five senses." 

That's what I did as I continued my morning walk. Sure enough, I experienced points of joy as I felt the gentle breeze on my skin and heard the chirping of birds as they flew around the yard. 

I did this pointillism design
while chatting on the phone with a friend.
It won't ever win an award,
but it brought me joy as I created it.

I suddenly remembered watching a friend create a stunning portrait of Jesus by using a technique called pointillism. Using a felt tip pen, he'd dot-dot-dot the ink on paper. By strategically placing hundreds of small dots, he created the illusion of lines and shapes without actually drawing or painting them. 

Just as hundreds and hundreds of small dots can form a beautiful image on paper or canvas, many points of joy can create a happier life. Dot. Dot. Dot. Joy. Joy. Joy. Voila!

To learn more about pointillism and see how the "masters" did it, click here: 

https://puntillismo.org/en/pointillism-for-kids 

https://finearttutorials.com/guide/pointillism/

Freely Given Gifts

Are you wondering how you’ll afford to buy gifts this Christmas? Are you weary of shopping for gifts for people who have all the stuff they need—and even more?

If so, I hope you’ll find an idea or two in this post that you can use to create memorable gifts for others either in lieu of or in addition to those items you'll place inside beautiful bags or pretty packages.

My daughter Jena said, “There are two wonderful ways to give a FREE gift this Christmas season! Although neither one will cost you a cent, both are life-saving and life-changing: (1)Share Jesus. Tell others about Him. (2)Donate blood, platelets, or plasma."

As I thought about what she’d said, I began to think of other FREE gifts, not as life-changing as those two, of course, but ones that do impact others.

As I pondered, I recalled that author Leslie Fields had reminded the recipients of her email to “give generous words generously.” After reading the examples she provided, I came up with my own words of sincere affirmation, gratitude, and praise. 

A Gift of Gratitude

For example, in a Christmas card I sent to a family member, I wrote, “I'll always be grateful for your being an ‘angel of mercy’ to so many in our family. May God continue to richly bless you and supply strength and wisdom for each kindness.”

A Gift of Encouragement

While talking with a friend who was struggling to handle the financial responsibilities normally done by her husband (who had recently passed away), I said, “I’ve always admired the God-given strength I’ve observed in you as you’ve dealt with previous difficulties. I have no doubt that He will continue to enable you to do the things you think you can’t do.”

A Gift of Praise

In a text message to a grandson, I said, “Thanks for always being willing to help.”

Let’s resolve to give gifts such as these (and countless others) regularly and liberally throughout the year, not just at Christmastime. After all, they’re guaranteed to please any day of the year.

Time to Say, "Thank You!"

 

On the Sunday before Thanksgiving Day, I heard a simple yet stirring sermon that began with the verse at the bottom of the card I created and placed here. God used those words, written by the apostle Paul centuries ago and included in the sermon, to prompt me to feel even more thankful for the blessings that have been abundantly and freely showered upon me.

I have a thankful heart, truly I do. And I am quick to express my gratitude to the giver--and to gladly reciprocate when possible. But as I listened to the sermon and pondered the words, I thought of how often I fail to thank God, first and foremost, for all the blessings, tangible and intangible. Were it not for Him, I would not even have life, not to mention the countless blessings He has sent and continues to send. 

As I reflect on who He is and on His goodness to me, I thank Him. Then, as my mind floods with memories of people He has sent into my life bringing blessings galore, I thank Him for each one. To further express my gratitude, I plan to text them this card along with a personal note of thanks. I won't be able to thank everyone, of course. But I hope those I can contact will be encouraged to know that I am thankful for them and for their gift(s) that greatly impacted my life and brought much joy. 

Do you need to thank God--and others--for the blessings they have given to you?

Note: If you'd like to download the card and use it, feel free to do so. It is my gift to you.

He's Working!

As I read the text that popped up on the screen of my phone, my eyes filled with happy tears. I re-read the message just to be sure I'd read it correctly. Then I replied to the sender, saying, "That reminds me of these words in the song Waymaker: "Even when I don't see it, He's working."

Indeed, God had been working behind the scenes in a certain situation to change what appeared to be a definite "NO" to a resounding "YES". To say we were shocked is an understatement. 

You see, the sender had been informed that a door of opportunity had been closed. Yet, suddenly--and with no effort on her part--the door swung open. Since she had kept her hands off the matter and had accepted the "NO," we realized that the reversal had to be a "God thing."

How grateful we are for that awesome change of circumstance, as well as for every other evidence that He is working day by day in our lives. In fact, as the song says, "He never stops working." 

As I reflect on that, these words to an old song come to mind: "Oh, for grace to trust Him more."

Why?

I’ve often read the story* about the sudden storm that popped up one day when Jesus and His disciples were in a boat on the Sea of Galilee. Although such sudden storms are fairly common on that body of water, they cause great fear as waves, some ten feet tall, batter boats and threaten lives.

Sea of Galilee.
Photo by Arvid Olson from Pixabay

Apparently, the water was calm when Jesus and His disciples set out across the lake. So, Jesus, who surely must have been tired from having dealt with the throngs of people who surrounded Him wherever He went, decided to sleep while the disciples navigated to their destination. However, when the storm raged, they cried out, “Master! Master! We’re going to drown.”

Jesus stood up. He commanded the waves and the wind to quiet down. They did. Much to the relief of the disciples (and those in nearby boats), the lake became as smooth as glass. 

Some translations use these words to state Jesus’ question: “Where is your faith?” But The Message paraphrases the question this way: “Why can’t you trust me?” (See Luke 8:25)

I couldn’t get past those words. They compelled me to stop and ponder the question that demanded an answer from me.

Like the disciples, I know I can trust Jesus. He has done great and mighty things for me--and for others. Yet, each time a new crisis appears, I forget how He has helped me in the past. I fail to realize that He is still with me, still able to do far more than I can imagine, still willing to come to my aid. Thus, I struggle to answer the probing question Jesus asked, “Why can’t you trust me?” (See Luke 8:25)

Am I unable to trust Him or am I choosing not to?

After all, as the song Evidence points out, there is much proof that He is worthy of my trust and has, in fact, proven that again and again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lDvD-O9xhg

* Matthew 8:23-27, Mark 4:35-41, Luke 8:22-25

Today

 One morning as I talked by phone with my daughter, she said, “What do you have planned for today?”

“Nothing is on my calendar, but I will do many things.” After mentioning several of them, I added, “It feels good to have an open day and not have to hurry, hurry, hurry.”

After the conversation ended, I remembered this poem I had read earlier that morning:

 

Today

So here hath been dawning

Another blue Day;

Think wilt thou let it

Slip useless away.

 

Out of Eternity

This new Day is born;

Into Eternity,

At night, will return.

 

Behold it aforetime

No eye ever did:

So soon it forever

From all eyes is hid.

 

Here hath been dawning

Another blue Day:

Think wilt thou let it

Slip useless away.

~ Thomas Carlyle, a Scottish essayist, historian and philosopher (1795-1881)

 

Although the language is outdated and the punctuation rather odd, his probing question is relevant today--and every day. Will we, dear reader, let God's gift of this new day "slip useless away"? Or will we thank God for it and use it in ways that please and honor Him and bless others?

Designed by Johnnie Ann Gaskill