I think women are “fixers.” We want to have things like we want them, and we don’t like problems standing in our way. We can become anxious, even aggravated when problems arise, and we can’t fix them right away.

I remember some times when my children were younger, and I would find out about something they had done. I wanted to get it fixed immediately.

We are that way about friendships as well. When someone hurts us or makes us angry, we often want to get it straightened out right then. Some of us just can’t stand to know that someone is angry or hurt at us. We want to “fix” it.

Most of the time, I think it is better if we learn all we can about the situation, analyze it, look at it from different viewpoints, and decide on what action should be taken. We need to think about what the results will be, depending on what action we take. Sometimes moving too quickly can result in more problems.

Nehemiah is a great example of a man with a problem and the ability to think things through, look at his options, and make some decisions. His process is most certainly an example we can follow.

When Nehemiah learned the condition of the city of Jerusalem, he did four things. First, he acknowledged who God is. In verse five of chapter 1, he declared God as great, terrible, one that keeps His covenants, and has mercy for those that love Him and do what He says.

Second, he acknowledged his own sin. In verse 6, he declared himself a servant, acknowledged that God’s people had sinned and that he and his “father’s house” had sinned.

Third, he repeated the promise that God had made to Moses. In verse eight, he acknowledged that the scattering of God’s people had come about because they disobeyed God’s commands.

Fourth, he made known his desires. In verse 11, he begged God to hear him and to grant him mercy.

Before Nehemiah petitioned God, he prepared himself for dealing with the problem. He wept, mourned, fasted, and prayed. He didn’t approach God until he had dealt with his feelings and had shown his humbleness before God.

Nehemiah then petitioned the king to allow him to return to Jerusalem and do what he could to restore the wall of the city. Everything depended on the attitude of King Artaxerxes toward Nehemiah and his request. It was not a simple request.

We know that the king did allow Nehemiah to go to Jerusalem, even giving him letters for safe passage and for help in obtaining supplies. God’s hand was surely in all of this, but it was Nehemiah’s attitude that set the stage for a solution.

When we are dealing with misunderstandings or issues that need “fixing,” we would do well to follow Nehemiah’s example. The situation may or may not require weeping and mourning, but it most assuredly requires prayer. Fasting is not something most people involve themselves in, but there is certainly nothing wrong with doing without a meal or two (or even more) if the situation warrants it.

In our haste to solve problems, we often forget to address the Father and acknowledge His greatness and His mercy. He likes to know that we know He is greater than the problem.

Before we can resolve anything, we need to confess sin in our own lives. We need to be conscious that our own sin just might be the cause of the problem. Even if it isn’t the cause, asking for forgiveness places us in a position to be more objective in dealing with the issues at hand.

It can be helpful to acknowledge the promises God has made to us. His Spirit speaks for us when we are unable to make our requests, since we don’t always know exactly what we need to pray for (Romans 8:26). He doesn’t promise to always give us what we want, but He does promise to hear us.

Lastly, we can beg God for His help in whatever our issues might be. Sometimes I think we limit God by asking without really believing He will give us that for which we ask. Even when God appears to have said no, He gives us the right to keep asking. Begging is not always demanding; it is asking in earnest. We should always, however, declare that His will be done.

I believe that if we follow Nehemiah’s example for problem solving, we might just have an easier time handling the everyday situations we face.

Sandra Oliver

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

A few years back, God called my husband and me to a unique form of serving, one that resulted in us taking custody of a young teen boy from Thailand, named Non. As Non’s first winter in America approached, the milestone of his Christmas gift weighed heavily upon me. Since this young man loved his computer and rarely ventured out of doors, I searched for a gift combining his love of technology with an opportunity for exercise and fresh air. After much (and I do mean MUCH) thought and research, the perfect gift was chosen: a high-tech, programable remote-control car fashioned to be navigated in the great out-of-doors. I was certain it spoke to everything Non needed and everything Non loved.

On Christmas morning, Non removed the wrapping from his most excellent present and meticulously inspected it. My son finally asked, “Non, how do you like your gift?”

After a pause of contemplation, Non replied, “Normal.”

Seriously!  NORMAL!

With so many hours of my life invested in this gift, it was anything but “NORMAL!” It was extraordinary! It spoke to who he was – a lover of technology. It spoke to what he needed – outdoor exercise to keep him physically healthy. And, I was confident it would also offer him life-changing pleasure. Yes, it was far beyond just normal and if truth be told, my heart felt just a wee bit dejected.

However, are we “pulling a Non” when we do the same to God? Our Heavenly Father, with much anguish and heartache, lovingly prepared for us the world’s greatest gift: His Son. Just as Non’s gift was carefully chosen to meet his needs, God’s gifts were chosen with our needs in mind. Just like Non’s gift was designed to keep him healthy, God’s gifts keep us spiritually strong. And just as Non’s gift was chosen to bring him joy, God’s gift of His Son brought great joy to the world.

So, consider . . .

Does our life reflect gratitude for the gift of Jesus? Do we ever take for granted His sacrifice, and consider it simply normal? Do we fail to acknowledge the tremendous pain and anguish of the cross that was part of our gift?

Today, Non is back in his homeland, all grown up, with the initials, M.D. after his name. We still connect every December and jokingly wish him a “Very NORMAL Christmas.” Then instinctively, my thoughts turn to a gift, much greater than any normal: the gift of our Savior.

Father God, for the gift of your Son and the gift of eternal life with you, may we sing your praises!

Blessings,

Rita Cochrane

Deuteronomy 30:15 “Today I am giving you a choice between good and evil, between life and death.”

His angry-eyes and hard-core pout left me no doubt of his mood. You would think this five-year-old in time-out had been given a life sentence. My strong-willed child had once again tested and strained every nerve I had left for that day and was now borrowing on my nerves I had stored up for tomorrow. So, this spunky “little darling” sat and soaked up his “Freedom View.”

Freedom-views appear when we exercise our freedom of choice.  By the design of our gracious Father, we have freedom to dictate our actions, whether good or evil. Through these actions, we come to an understanding of consequences, realizing our choices determine our view. For my son, his poor choices put him in the time-out chair. And his freedom-view?  An up-close-up and personal inspection of our wall covered in dirty little handprints.

The fascinating stories and personalities of the Bible reveal a variety of interesting scenarios. Some of these came from opposing God’s will, resulting in a less than desirable view. When called by God to preach to the wicked city of Nineveh, Jonah exercised his freedom of choice and ran in the opposite direction.  His act of defiance provided Jonah with the most unfathomable freedom-view ever: the belly of a big fish. What a bizarre consequence!  Jonah found himself in spiritual time out and temporarily useless to God’s kingdom.

On the flip side, Ruth chose well. She could have abandoned her mother-in-law to remain with her birth family. But when she chose to accompany Naomi to her homeland, Ruth found her happy-ever-after. In spite of the hardships she endured, her view was filled with faith, love, and family.

Just like Jonah and Ruth, we reap the consequences of our actions. We choose between right and wrong. When temptations come (and rest assured they will) the decisions we make will determine our freedom-view. When life presents you with choices, are you like Ruth, turning to God? Or are you like Jonah, running in the opposite direction?

Today, Sisters, choose wisely and enjoy your beautiful freedom-view!

Father God, convict our hearts with the seriousness of our choices.

Blessings,

Rita Cochrane

Then Joshua and all Israel took Achan, son of Zerah, along with the silver, the robe, the bar of gold, his sons, daughters, oxen, donkeys, sheep, tent, and all that belonged to him and brought them up to the Valley of Disaster. Joshua 7.24

You often hear a person say, “What I do doesn’t hurt anyone else.” It is usually an excuse to do something wrong. It is also not a true statement.

God had given Jericho to Joshua and the Israelites. They were told not to keep anything for themselves. Everything in Jericho was to be set apart for the Lord. They were warned that if they did take anything, it would make the Israelite camp subject to annihilation and cause a disaster. All the silver, gold, bronze and iron items had to go into the Lord’s treasury, Joshua 6.18-19.

But Achan disobeyed and stole some of the riches and it made the Lord furious, Joshua 7.1. Not knowing, Joshua sent men to Ai to spy out the situation. They returned reporting that only two or three thousand men were needed to conquer Ai because it was small. However, the Israelites fled before the men of Ai. Joshua and the leaders of the people mourned before the Lord, questioning why God had brought them across the Jordan.

God’s response was for them to get up. Israel had sinned and violated the covenant they had made. They were subject to annihilation. God would not be with them unless they destroyed what had contaminated them, Joshua 7.12. They were to pass before the Lord and the one who had taken the riches would be selected. Achan was selected. He confessed what he had done and told Joshua where he had hidden the items.

Not only did Achan’s sin affect the Israelite army who went up to fight against Ai, it also affected his immediate family and belongings. He and his family were stoned to death. The result of his sin caused many to lose their lives and suffer.

The next time that you are tempted to do something that is wrong, remember that your actions could have far-reaching effects. It could cause suffering to those that you love and cherish. It will also separate you from God. Not only will it hurt you, it will also hurt those around you. Make the right choice.

by Vicki Matheny

We have all heard the stories about doctors, nurses, fire fighters, and many others that worked many long hours during the pandemic. Even before the pandemic, nurses were working 12-hour shifts, and the physical strain made them weary in well-doing.

Sometimes, weariness doesn’t come from physical work but from mental or emotional efforts. I remember my exhaustion after sitting a full week, day and night, watching my mother die. The hours drug by in the hospital as I watched her body deteriorate. Though totally exhausted, I couldn’t sleep, though sleep seems to be the answer to a weary body. A warm, comfortable bed and a night of sound sleep do wonders for our physical bodies and often relieve the emotional strain of day-to-day living. But sometimes sleep has to wait.

I think we sometimes fail to recognize that characteristic in our Savior’s time on earth. What a schedule He kept, walking the countryside, healing, teaching, consoling, even rebuking. When one of the scribes came and declared that he would follow Him wherever He went, Jesus told him He had nowhere to lay His head (Matthew 8:20). He wanted this man to understand the kind of life he would live, if he took up this way of life.

I am reminded of the weariness of Jesus reading the story of His feeding the 5,000. This story is recorded in all four of the gospels, Mathew 14; Mark 6; Luke 9; and John 6. As far as I know, this is the only miracle recorded by all four writers. It must have made an impression on all of these men.

Reading and telling this story rarely takes into consideration what Jesus’ state of mind must have been. In the first part of Matthew 14, we read about Herod being informed of the fame of Jesus and his concern that John the Baptizer had returned from the dead. Since Herod had been responsible for the death of John, his concern was well founded. Jesus’ disciples had the task of going to claim John’s body, burying it, and then having to inform Jesus that John was dead. Jesus’ reaction was to want to withdraw to a desolate place and pray. The crowds would not leave Him alone, and Mark says that they had not had time to eat. So, Jesus found Himself faced with a huge crowd of people wanting more from Him than He probably felt like giving.

Put yourself in the place of Jesus, just for a moment. Close your eyes and see yourself tired, hungry, and grieving. You just want to be alone, but there are more than 5,000 people standing before you, some sick, some dying, and all of them waiting to see what you are going to do. What would you do?

Jesus couldn’t turn them away. Luke says that Jesus welcomed them, taught them about the kingdom, and cured those that needed to be healed. He just couldn’t turn them away. Sheep need to be fed, and these sheep needed both spiritual and physical food.

Jesus fed these people abundantly. With five loaves and two fishes, He fed more than 5,000 people; and they gathered 12 baskets of leftovers. Notice that Jesus involved the disciples in this process. Philip found the young man with the food; they distributed the food; and they retrieved the leftovers. I would suppose they ate as well.

Do you ever get tired of doing good? There always seems to be someone sick, someone who needs money, someone who needs to talk, a family to be comforted in the death of a loved one. There are also those wedding showers and baby showers to buy for and attend.

When we feel like we can’t bake another cake, make another casserole, listen to one more complaint, sing at one more funeral, send one more card, teach one more class, buy one more shower gift, think about Jesus. Sheep need attention. Sheep need feeding, tending, doctoring, and even loving. Remember that God gives abundantly; therefore, we cannot become weary in well-doing.

Sandra Oliver

I’ve been reading up on the promises of strength for those who continually turn to God and His Word:

• I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13).
• He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power (Isa. 40:29).
• My soul weeps because of grief; strengthen me according to Your Word (Psa. 119:28).
• Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary (Isa. 40:31).
• God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psa. 46:1).
• Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might (Eph. 6:10).

Kathy Pollard

Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no quarreling between me and you, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are close relatives. (…) Genesis 13.8

Does your family quarrel? Some families seem to make it into a sport at which they strive to excel. They argue about everything! If you are part of a family that argues, what is your reaction when the arguing starts? Does it make you uncomfortable or do you enter into the middle of the quarrels striving to prove your point of view?

Abram was a very wealthy man. Lot, his nephew, also had flocks, herds, and tents. The land was not able to support their flocks while they were living side by side. Soon the discontent of the herdsmen led to quarreling.

And all the Israelites murmured against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had perished in this wilderness!… Numbers 14.2

Adults can be so childish. Their words are full of complaints. Nothing is good enough. Egos have grown so big that desires must be met immediately or their worlds come crashing down. The criticisms take over. Often they are children in adult bodies.

Mankind has not changed much through the years. Moses had sent the twelve spies to check out the land that God had promised them. Upon their return, when asked to give a report, ten of the spies affirmed that the land was great. It was rich, fertile, and productive. However, its cities were fortified and the people were gigantic. Even though Caleb reminded them that God was on their side fighting for them, they discouraged the people, saying they could not take the land.

Faced with punishment by God, they changed their mind. Being warned by Moses not to go to battle for God would not be with them, they went anyway and suffered defeat. Not only did they suffer for forty years wandering in the wilderness for complaining, many died as a result of their foolish attitudes.

Do you find yourself complaining? Is anything ever good enough? If so, resolve to repent and change your attitude. Look for things to be grateful for and be reassured of God’s blessings!

by Vicki Matheny

Genesis 8:22 – While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

Autumn is here again and the holidays are near

A time to get together with family who are dear.

A time to praise and thank our Father above

for all our blessings because of His great love.

A time to bring happiness to everyone we meet-

serving others like Jesus who washed the disciples feet.

When we bless others, we are blessed too.

The world becomes a better place for me and for you.

– Debora Robbins