By Kadeen Edwards 

Obedience
(complete and utter surrender)

“But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice”
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭15‬:‭22‬ ‭NIV‬‬


Some great questions to ask ourselves are: Do I really desire His Will for my life? Do I really desire to do what He says or to do what I want? The truth is, for me, I desire His Will for my life, and my heart desires to obey His Word; however, sometimes my heart also desires what I think I want, but truth be told, I know that what God’s Will is for my life is far better than what I want or what I think I want because His thoughts are higher and His ways are higher, and He sees everything from a greater perspective. He knows what I need more than I know what I need. And so with that thought in mind, I think of Romans 12:1, where it says: Offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. This is your true and proper form of worship. So there are two voices speaking, maybe a few most times in my mind, but there’s one that is louder and speaks a better word, and it is God’s voice and His will for my life always. Although surrendering is not an easy task, it is essential for us to align our lives with God’s will. When we surrender, we relinquish all control and embrace the idea of losing our lives to gain something that cannot be lost. Sometimes, I cling to control because I believe it provides me with stability. However, I have come to understand that it is not my actions that hold me together, but rather the spirit of God that sustains me. In Him, I find my existence, my movement, and my very being. There is nothing I can accomplish without His presence. When I surrender everything to Him, there is nothing He cannot accomplish through me or for me. Total surrender involves relinquishing control over everything beyond my reach and embracing actions within my power, while simultaneously cultivating the wisdom to discern the distinction between the two.
When we submit to God, we open the door to all kinds of amazing experiences because it’s only through Him that we get to experience the abundance that He’s called us to. When we hold on to our lives, we lose our lives, but when we lose our lives and submit to Him, we gain even more.
It’s incredible how obedience concurrently offers both liberation and restriction. It establishes boundaries while granting us the freedom to explore. When we obey God, it serves as a protective measure. Unlike restrictions imposed by external forces, God’s commands are beneficial and purposeful, designed to safeguard us and foster our growth. By obeying and trusting in God, we experience a continuous flow of peace, liberation from fear, renewed strength, rejuvenated hearts, and invigorated minds. With God, the seemingly insurmountable challenges transform into opportunities. As we dwell in God’s presence, we are granted the profound experience of His abundance, love, and promises, filled with joy and everlasting pleasures. Obedience creates harmony when we go against what God is calling us to do in our lives. It creates a rougher journey than the one He was taking us on. This reminds me of the Israelites, who had an 11-day journey to get to the promised land, but it ended up taking them 40 years because they went against what God was doing. I pray for complete surrender that I would abide in the word God has spoken for my life so that the life that I live today and thereafter will be fruitful and harmonious.

​Title: A Child’s Life
by Linda Hokit
      “Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven
belongs to such as these.”
Matthew 19:14 NIV
      VBS and other child outreach programs, such as the sports camp our church does each year, have always
been important to me, since I accepted the Lord at a VBS. I have seen children share the Gospel with
each other with the greatest of ease. Others gave up gifts they had earned so someone else could have a gift as well. To be sure, there are always kiddos that just have to wiggle at inopportune times.
      
​      However, When I was an appointed a missionary at a conference, a presenter had the missionaries present raise
our hands when she hit on the age, we made our commitment to serve in missions. I was in my late
twenties. Others where in their 50’s and still others were as young as elementary school! Her point was,
that God was using the work done by missionaries, children’s leaders and parents helped to raise up
children who could also be used of God. She was demonstrating that we were not just raising up fine
adults but also children and servants of God!
      A number of verses in the Bible reference children. Some focus on children directly and others ask adults
to take on such things as the qualities, attitudes and assumptions of children. In doing so, we shred
away the ought's and expectations of adulthood for the simplicity of an unincumbered life in God’s
Hands. In Matthew 18:3 Christ says, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children,
you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” In Mark 37, Jesus says, “Whoever welcomes one of these
little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one
who sent me.”
      A modern example of God calling someone in their young years is Jim Elliot. Jim’s parents served the
Lord in a bi-vocational way. He accepted the Lord at six years old and grew in his faith until he met and
married Elisabeth. He was insightful and often recorded his thoughts in a journal. One of the things he
was known for saying was, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
Jim and Elisabeth served in Ecuador where they were among those seeking to share the love of God with
an indigenous tribe who eventually killed Jim and four other men who were seeking to make a
connection with them. One thing led to another and the person who killed him eventually accepted the
Lord and became a leader in the work to reach the others tribe members in ways they could understand.
Elisabeth remarried and became an inspired author and teacher. Countless young adults were also
inspired to serve because of their sacrifice.
       As a result, the mission they supported grew. If you would like the whole story, check out
the movies called, Through Gates of Splendor, Beyond Gates of Splendor
and End of the Spear. Elisabeth also wrote Through Gates of Splendor and Shadow of the Almighty.
After seeing our children at Sports Camp react in truly compassionate ways, listen to presentations
about prayer and participate in Bible Study, I began to ponder the ways God’s has used children in the
past. It didn’t take long to come up with a short list. Samuel was called at a young age while serving in
the temple after his mother dedicated him to God. David fell Goliath while still a boy.
      Moses’ sister Miriam watched over him while he was in a basket in the bullrushes. Christ was
doing His Father’s work at 12 years old. A young boy gave up his lunch, which Christ multiplied for
the multitudes to eat. In like manner, God has a call and a cause for each of us regardless of how
old we are when he calls us!
      In closing, I would like to share a story about my father that helped me understand at a young age about
serving others. I guess every parent has a story that starts out with how they walked miles to school, in
the snow, uphill, both ways! Well, my dad did not walk in the snow because he lived in Oklahoma, but
he did walk a mile or so to school. His school was one room and it was his job to come early and set a
fire so the room would be warm when everyone arrived. We were all about serving, helping other and
showing respect in our family, but what I got out of the story was how rewarding it is to serve. How
important it is to be a team member whether or not anyone knows or notices.
      Just one story, helped me find my place in the world! Because we moved so much in my young years,
my brother and I were always the new kids. Even though we both did well in sports we did not always
have a chance to play on the first string. So, I became the person on the track team that always came in
second, or third place. However, that was fine with me, because if I ran or jumped in multiple events, I
could earn us a number of “Team Points” and made me a valuable member of the team. As an adult I
was always in a “middle management” role and loved it, because it gave me face-to-face-time with
those I was serving and helping. If I had “moved up the ladder”, I would have lost my opportunity to
meet needs! I would have lost my opportunity to just sit, chat and sometimes share God’s love.
      So, in summary, children, who some might consider the least of these can actually serve as examples of
a successful servant in Christ!

By Mary Spence
I have a favorite coffee cup. I got it from a potter in North Carolina when we were on vacation there with our family. It looks like sand with the surf rolling up on it. It's big and the perfect shape to fit my hands on a cold morning, when full of hot coffee.  I absolutely love that mug.  I paid $40 for it! Yes $40; for one coffee mug. Every time I used it I could almost feel the warm seaside sun on my face and the ocean wind blowing through my hair.
But guess what? It's broken. Chipped in one of its trips through the dishwasher. Please don't tell my artist daughter that I put pottery through the dishwasher. I know, I deserved it.
But anyway... I do not love that mug any less for its imperfection. It still fits perfectly in my hand when it's full of hot coffee. I still smile everytime I use it, thinking about the memories of frolicking in the ocean surf with my grandchildren.
God is alot like that. He knows we are cracked, chipped and broken. But He still loves us. In fact He takes those broken things in us, and uses them to help others who are walking through similar challenges. In my own life I lived through a lot of broken relationships, had many hurts inflicted on me by others  and learned over the last 50 years to put up walls around my heart to protect myself.  Walls to keep those who would harm me at arms length. But God needed me to break down those walls and let people in so He could use me as He planned for my life. I had to "unbecome" the person I had grown into, to become who God needed me to be.
And I learned that He uses us even with our chips, cracks and dents. Maybe even because of them I guess.
I believe that each time He holds us in His hands like my beloved coffee cup, He smiles. It doesn't fix that we are imperfect or blemished, or stubborn or plagued by sin. He loves us.
Remember Ephesians 1:4-6?
"For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves".
He loves us so much He made a plan from the beginning in the Garden to be reconcilled to us by allowing His son to be crucified for our sin.
He created us and knew us before we were born in our mothers womb and there is no sin so large that we can cause separation from our God. So rest assured my friends that God loves your cracks and dents. Even if you can no longer hold coffee. There is a place for you. And you are valuable to Him.
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10 NIV
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for your love for us. You knew us before we even existed and loved us enough to design a way for us to be in relationship with You. Thank you for your grace and your mercy. Nothing we have done in our past is too great for us to bring to you and be forgiven. Please continue to help us repair our broken places and move out of our comfort zone to be who you have designed us to be; living and serving you as you have planned.
In your precious son's name.
Amen

      ​Tunnel Vision – Opens our hearts!
By Joyce Pelletier
     Exodus 14:21-22 ‘Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right  and on their left.’
 
This summer we had the opportunity to go South for a few days to attend the wedding of our granddaughter. In the process of planning, purchasing tickets, getting everything ready for the journey, our son asked me about different things that might hinder our journey.  
          He asked about borrowing a walker to get around the grounds of the park where we would be for the wedding, dinner and festivities. He found exactly what would work for me. I was so happy about that. Getting around was something I didn’t want to bring trouble or added work for their celebration.
          Then as we talked about the actual journey, Joe asked about tunnels. He kind of knew I am not a fan of them. I started to stress inside thinking about going underground and had moments of anxiety.
          The day came when the first jaunt on 95 came and there was the signs for the Harbor Tunnel through the Chesapeake Bay. I was sitting in the car with my daughter-in-law and She was driving and singing and praying. I took my phone out and decided I was going to fight this little journey under the tunnel. I decided to use my phone and distract the event by taking a picture of it. Then I looked at the road in front of me and  you could see how the pavement was elevating upwards and that indicated to me that the end of the tunnel was ending soon. The lights grew brighter and brighter and then, Nicky and I both recognized the light at the end of the tunnel. We were going to make it through and none the worse for wear.
          To my disappointment, when I looked at the video, I realized it didn’t work. So, I had nothing to look at after the fact. Nicky and I chuckled about it and finished that portion of the journey to Swan Harbor Park, where we would spend the day celebrating a new life starting for our grandchild and her new husband.
          I put it all aside. The day following the wedding we packed our hotel items up, and went to help others empty a camp from where they were staying for the festivities.
          When we finished that, we were on our way back to Southern Maryland and going around the DC area. Before we knew it we were approaching the tunnel to go back. This time, I was ready. I started the phone and as I sat in the front seat, I turned it on about 3 miles before the entrance. I kept it going through the entire part of the 95 and then before I knew it the trip brought us up from the tunnel to the above ground once again. After seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, I shut the video off.
         A few minutes later I turned it on and timed the viewing and it turned out from the entrance of the tunnel, to the other side, I read the time and it was 3.4 minutes. I was flabbergasted. This whole worry for nothing journey was so short. It was very humbling and thinking how foolish it was to be so fretful. I looked at the whole time from where I started the video to the other side, and it was not even 5 minutes.
         I could sense God laughing with me as I fretted over this foolish adventure. But, on the other side of the coin, I could see the care in which God helped me to overcome such an adventure. The thought of fretting gets us nowhere. Working through our fears causes us to grow in trust and hope. He helps us through the seemingly impossible situations with his very own hand.
 
          Coming home after this journey, every moment was so embedded in my heart as a memory of our first meeting with our 5-year-old, first great grandchild. Now that is something to write home about. Every moment we spent together was special and the memory stays on the screen of my heart. Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him and he will make your Paths (even tunnels) straight.
Don’t forget the Light at the End of the Tunnel! He’s there waiting for you!

​by Donna Churchill

I have a wooden block on my bookcase, one of the sides says “find Joy in the ordinary.” 

A most recent quote that spoke to me said, “Faith doesn’t usually grow in dramatic leaps. It usually grows quietly – through ordinary days, repeated trust, and small acts of obedience that no one else sees.” (Alisha Headley) 

A recent passage of Scripture I read says, “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men has been with Jesus.” (Acts, chapter 4).

I hope that you have picked up on what all these quotes have in common – the word “ordinary.” I love ordinary; I love ordinary days. I love ordinary ways. I love seeing God move in the ordinary. I most often notice the ordinary and drink it in.


Several years ago, I wrote a blog about an ordinary day. I’d like to bring it out of the archives and share it with you.


AN ORDINARY DAY (1)


It was an ordinary morning as most of my mornings usually are. I had no reason to think it would not be just another ordinary day, too.

I got up, had breakfast and a short devotional time. It was going to be a very hot, humid day so I had planned to get outside early to water the garden and all my potted plants. My son-in-law had not had time to install my air conditioner before he left for a 3-day hiking trip, so I knew I would get no relief from the heat as the day wore on.

So, let me set this up for you – to water my garden is not as simple a task as it sounds. The outside faucet is on the backside of the house and my garden is on the south side of the house, quite a distance away. I need to put two hoses together to be able to reach the whole garden. It was just the end of May, so I had not brought the hoses out of my garage yet, so I first needed to unwind them from their winter storage and hook them up to the faucet. Should have been easy, right? Yeah, not so much!!

As I struggled to get them untangled, I started to sweat (yes, I know, southern women ”perspire,” but trust me, I was sweating; it was hot!!). I was still in the shade of the inside of the garage, but the day was heating up quickly. I struggled and I sweat; I sweat and I struggled until finally the hoses came loose and I lugged them out of the garage and headed toward the faucet.

That, too, became a chore and my struggle continued! The end of the hose was not screwing onto the faucet as easily as it should have. At this point, I am out in the hot sun and I am really sweating!!

FINALLY, the hose twisted onto the faucet after much struggling and grumbling!! Now I had to pull the hose along the backside of the house and thread it through and around lawn furniture and planted pots to underneath my porch, where I keep the hose during the summer months for easy access. As I was working on this, the hose got kinked and hooked several times and I had to walk back to the backside of the house and untangle it. Keep in mind, it is extremely hot and humid already and I was sweating like a pig!! I hate to sweat!! Did I mention that??

So, the third or fourth time the hose got caught, instead of walking back and patiently untangling it, again, I, in great frustration, yanked on it! When I did, the hose came loose with a jar and I bumped my head on the underside of the porch and then knocked over a flower pot and bicycle by the side of the house. The flowers and dirt spilled out of the pot all over the grass!! And, man, did my head hurt!

I swore – several times, as a matter of fact and grumbled very loudly!! I was hot, mad and irritated!! Why, I thought, does everything always have to be so hard???!!!

Then, to add more fuel to the flame, I went around to the front of the house to get my watering wand that my daughter had borrowed to water her garden the previous day I hooked it up to my hose, only to find it was broken!! I was not a happy camper!!

So, was this an ordinary day? I would say, yes. Things like this happen all the time. Was my behavior ordinary? Not at all! And that was the problem!


“The ‘show business,’ which is so incorporated
into our view of Christian work today, has
caused us to drift far from Our Lord’s
conception of discipleship.
It is instilled in us to think that we have to do
exceptional things for God; we have not. We
have to be exceptional in ordinary things,”
~ Oswald Chambers

“We have to be exceptional in ordinary things…..”


I was not exceptional in those ordinary moments of my life that morning. I did not behave in such a manner as to glorify God. It didn’t matter that no one was there to witness my meltdown. I was there, God was and He saw me!

Guess what? The test of character is not in the exceptional, but in the ordinary! No one was witness to my temper tantrum that morning. You would not know about it had I not told you – no one would know – except the one who matters most – my LORD!

I’m realizing it is much easier to exhibit godly character when everyone is watching you then in the ordinary moments of life when no one is around or where it doesn’t seem to matter. I once heard it said, “Integrity is who you are when no one is looking.” Ordinary is the test of our character and integrity! And God is in the ordinary!

I’m convinced God really doesn’t need us to achieve great things for Him; He’s quite capable, in and of Himself, thank you very much! But He does care who we are in the ordinary things of life, how we treat the ordinary people we interact with on a daily basis, how we respond in ordinary circumstances and how we handle the drudgery of the ordinary day in and day out.

Do we show forth His character? Do we represent Him accurately? Is He pleased with our behavior, even when, or especially when, no one is looking? I know I did not commit the unpardonable sin that day and I know that something like that might even happen again, but it sure was a moment for me to take notice of how quickly I can deteriorate into carnal ways. My sense of entitlement was revealed to me again in the attitude of my heart in thinking that I shouldn’t have to deal with this much aggravation. That is life! Stuff happens!

LORD, forgive me for grieving your heart by my behavior! Help me to be exceptional in the ordinary!






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