WRITING FOR GOD'S GLORY

Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen

2010-05-31T10:36:00.000-05:00

Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen
Facing Your Kidron Valley

By Judy Vandiver
© Judy Vandiver 2010

Have you ever found yourself in a difficult spot or situation? I’m sure you have. We all have. And when we find ourselves in something that is foreign to us, we think it is foreign to all mankind and perhaps even to God.

How easy is it to believe that no one before you has seen the kind of problems you are experiencing? There is an old spiritual that says, “Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen. Nobody knows my sorrows.”

People have made this kind of complaint for thousands of years. Look at a passage from the Old Testament. This is during the Israelites wandering in the desert:

That night all the people of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. ²All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert! ³Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” ⁴And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” (Numbers 14: 1-4 NIV).

When these same people had been slaves in Egypt, they thought that trouble was unbearable with no way out. Held as slaves, they worked hard, but Pharaoh was not satisfied. He ordered them to make bricks without straw. When the Israelites couldn’t meet their quota, they were beaten. “You have made us a stench to Egypt,” they said. Can you hear their voices, “Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen.” Can you hear them crying in the desert? “Nobody knows my sorrows.”

Let’s move forward a little in the Bible to 2 Samuel chapter 15 where King David is being pursued by his son, Absalom. As he flees, his kingdom followed him. At one point, he stepped aside and let them pass. Verse 15:23 tells us, “The whole countryside wept aloud as all the people passed by. The king also crossed the Kidron Valley, and all the people moved on toward the desert.” Again the Israelites are headed for the desert and again they are in distress, weeping aloud.

The Kidron Valley the Israelites crossed lay beside Jerusalem separating the temple mount and the city of David on the west from the Mount of Olives on the east. The Kidron Valley was a gloomy place; cemeteries have been located in this area since the middle Bronze Age (before 1500 b.c). Some Bible references refer to a brook that ran through the Valley. This brook became more of a ditch where the waste of Jerusalem was carried away. Not only did King David cross the brook when he fled Jerusalem to escape from Absalom (2 Sam. 15:23), but later Solomon warned Shimei not to cross it or he would die (1 Kings 2:37). This is the place where certain kings of Judah destroyed idols and other pagan objects removed from the temple area (1 Kings 15:13; 2 Kings 23:4, 6, 12; 2 Chron. 29:16; 30:14).[i]

Do you often have your own Kidron Valley? Have you ever been in a place filled with gloom? A place where physical or spiritual death surrounded you? A place where you cry, “Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen. Nobody knows my sorrow.”

Let’s move further ahead in the Bible to the book of John. The Scripture says, “When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was an olive grove, and he and his disciples went into it.” (John 18:1 NIV). Jesus had to go through the Kidron Valley to get to the Mount of Olives. And he truly faced something no one had faced before or since. He was about to give His life in ransom for the entire world. The cross became his ultimate Kidron Valley and he went there willingly. Just as when Jesus physically crossed the Kidron Valley and came out in the olive grove, He also emerged victorious on the other side of the cross.

In a devotional by Charles Spurgeon, he asks, “What is our Kidron this morning? Is it a faithless friend, a sad bereavement, a slanderous reproach, a dark foreboding? The King has passed over all these. Is it bodily pain, poverty, persecution, or contempt? Over each of these Kidrons the King has gone before us.”[ii]

I can’t leave you with today’s devotional without telling you the rest of that old spiritual. The song goes on to say, “Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen. Nobody knows my sorrow. Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen. Nobody but Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!”

As you face whatever Kidron Valley lies before you, trust that even if no one else knows the trouble you are going through, Jesus knows. He cares. He’s been to your Kidron. He’ll carry you through to the olive grove.

Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen-Facing Your Kidron Valley; © Judy Vandiver 2010

[i] Brand, C., Draper, C., England, A., Bond, S., Clendenen, E. R., Butler, T. C., & Latta, B. (2003). Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (983). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

[ii] Spurgeon, C. H. (2006). Morning and evening : Daily readings (Complete and unabridged; New modern edition.). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers.

The Day Texas Exploded

2010-04-15T05:00:00.003-05:00

The Day Texas Exploded

By Judy Vandiver

Tomorrow marks the 63rd anniversary of a tragic event.

It was a picturesque morning with promises of a beautiful spring. The sun rose above the horizon across the bay tickling the water with wavy shimmers. The seaside community was beginning their work day in chemical plants, the docks and small business scattered throughout the growing boomtown, grateful for work. Fathers had left home a few hours earlier carrying their lunch pails. Mothers kissed their children goodbye and sent them off to school. Children laughed as they skipped on their journey to their classes, stopping to enjoy the smell of the crisp salt air. Everything was as it should be in Texas City, Texas. Then Texas exploded.

It was April 16, 1947. A ship was being loaded at the docks with ammonium nitrate. There had been warning signs; signs that went unheeded. The ammonium nitrate bags were hot to the touch, the bags were ripping and the ship’s hold they were being moved to sat close to ammunition that wasn’t unloaded when scheduled.

Spontaneous combustion occurred in the ammonium nitrate bags and a fire broke out in the ship’s cargo area. Attempts to douse the fire with drinking water were unsuccessful. Within minutes the ship exploded, sending a mushroom shaped cloud skyward, blocking out the rays of the sun.

Across the bay, Galveston residents watched as the sky grew increasingly darker. The blast was heard as far away as 150 miles. A seismologist in Colorado noted the vibrations on his instruments. News of the explosion soon traveled around the world. But the effects went much further. The effects went deep into the souls that survived the raining hell.

Over 500 died that morning on the Texas City shore. Some were never identified. For 63 years, family members have wondered what happened to their loved ones. Remaining survivors are now in their 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. Some carry scars on their bodies. All carry scars on their hearts.

xxx

This story has meaning to me because warning signs were ignored. I think sometimes in our lives we dismiss signals that something is not as it should be. We continue merrily along only to discover that our world has been blown apart. We traverse into danger zones; we disregard God’s forewarning that something is hot; and we try to handle the consequences with inadequate fighting power. The catastrophe may end, but the results stay with us forever.

Partnership with Readers

2010-03-08T13:45:00.003-06:00

Partnership with Readers

By Judy Vandiver

Today’s blog continues from where we left off last week in Philippians.

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.3I 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, (Philippians 1:2-5 NIV)

Paul considered his writing a partnership his readers. He didn’t consider himself better than his target audience. He didn’t write “down” to them. In effect, he was saying, “Hey, we’re all in this life together.” Then he shared what he had learned in order to help someone else.

Whether writing fiction or non-fiction, it is important to treat your readers with respect. Give them credit for understanding what you write. Don’t over-explain what should be obvious and don’t beat them up with the moral message or theme of your work. When I come across a passage in a book where the author explains to me what they mean, I feel insulted that they didn’t think I was smart enough to “get it.” As an author, if I feel the need to explain something I wrote, perhaps I need to rewrite it.

Another way that authors tend to write down to their readers is with finger pointing. When an author continually tells a reader what “the reader” should do, it can come across as preachy. Be careful of the word “you.” Try substituting “I” or “we” when possible. By pointing out our faults and relating with the reader, we enter into a partnership with them.

Below is an example of how Paul partnered himself with his readers. Notice how he describes his own desires, shortcomings, and thoughts. He then gives advice to the reader, but does so by including himself needy of the instructions he gives them.

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained. (Philippians 3:10:16 NIV)

In partnering with our readers, we can help them identify with us, take our message in a non-preachy fashion, and apply spiritual truths that God has laid on our hearts.

Partnership with Readers / © 2010 Judy Vandiver

Taking Aim with Your Words

2010-03-01T05:00:00.001-06:00

Taking Aim with Your Words

By Judy Vandiver

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: (Philippians 1:1 NIV)

Today’s blog is centered around Paul’s opening words in his letter to the Philippians. Another tip on writing can be found when we study the writing style laid out in Philippians 1:1. Notice that Paul wrote to a specific audience. His target audience was saints in the city of Philippi. While it’s true that over the last twenty centuries many people not from Philippi have been blessed by Paul’s letter, he kept his target audience in his mind as he wrote. By constantly remembering those who would be recipients of his letter, he was able to address specific needs.

It is important as writers for us to identify our target audience, then address the needs of that audience. When we write to one person or group, our writing becomes more personal. It’s a matter of addressing a specific need rather than trying to write one manuscript that is the end-all for the world’s problems. If your target audience is too wide, your words are likely to hit no one at their point of need.

By writing to a target audience and focusing on a particular need, we are able, with God’s help, to craft our words and focus our aim on one specific point of attack by Satan. This is how Paul constructed his letter to the Philippians. He addressed one area of vulnerability at a time. He didn’t try to take Satan out with a world-class explosion. He steadied himself, took aim at one demon at a time, and picked them off like a well-trained sharp-shooter.

Because the saints at Philippi were humans, we identify with their needs. So Paul’s letter continues to reach people and speak to people today. Most of the needs of our target audience are probably universal. While we may write something that appeals to a wider circle than our target audience, it is the writing to individual needs, problems, and attacks that make the writing personal to our readers.

So, choose your audience. Focus on a specific need. Take aim. By narrowing the focus, our words can knock out the enemy on one attack level at a time.

©2010 Judy Vandiver

God Speaks to Writers Today

2010-02-22T05:00:00.001-06:00

God Speaks to Writers Today

By Judy Vandiver

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. (1 John 1:1 NIV)

The disciple John wrote the above verse approximately fifty years after Christ’s resurrection. Because many new believers had not witnessed Jesus’ miracles first hand, commitment had waned. John wrote this letter to be circulated among the churches, to encourage them in their walk and strengthen their belief.

What John wrote is still being read and serving its purpose 2,000 years later. As writers, it will serve us well to look at how he went about constructing this letter.

Two things pop out at me in verse one. The first is that John is writing from a firsthand experience. He’s telling the reader what he knows. As a Christian writer proclaiming God’s love and grace, I had better make sure I’ve experienced that myself. If I’m going to convince readers that faith in God is real, I had better be walking in faith. If I’m going to proclaim that prayer works, I need to be a praying Christian.

John wrote about what he knew, what he had experienced. Writers are told all the time to write what you know. It stands to reason that if you are going to write about Christ, you must know Christ. Not that you KNEW Christ—but that you KNOW him.

The second gem for writers that I discovered in this verse is John’s plan for his writing. He understood that he needed to have his readers experience what he had experienced. He would do this by telling what he had heard, what he had seen, and what he had touched.

Contemporary books on writing remind writers repeatedly to use the senses to convey their message to the reader. John knew this and relied on his senses to convey his experiences.

I can tell my reader that God speaks today or I can tell them the message I have heard through Bible reading, through a pastor, through the testimony of a reformed drug user. I may tell them how God whispered to me in my despair or how he is shouting to a declining nation.

And do I write to my readers that God heals or do I tell them about my dad’s cancer? How I watched as his body declined and wasted away; how he could no longer stand on his own. Do I inspire my reader to believe that God heals when I describe how my healthy, vivacious, optimistic dad now rises early each day and volunteers as a morning greeter for a local Christian school? How at age 80, he has a bounce in his steps that is envied by those less than half his age?

Will I tell my readers that God provides or will I describe how my hands, shaking from hunger, gripped the firm roundness of each can of vegetables as I pulled one after another from a sack of groceries left on our door?

Yes, I think John gives good advice and a model for writers. Tell your reader what you’ve heard, seen, and felt. Do this so that they, too, may believe.

God Speaks to Writers Today ©2010 Judy Vandiver
http:/www.judyvandiver.com

What a Wise Man

2009-12-07T05:00:00.002-06:00

What a Wise Man

By Judy Vandiver

As I’ve been studying scriptures surrounding the birth of Jesus, I have become intrigued by the man Jesus called Daddy. The scriptures don’t give us a lot of information about Joseph, but what is recorded says much about his faith.

Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us."

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. (Matthew 1:19-25 NIV)

Two things I admire the most about Joseph are his faith and his obedience. He was obviously a man quite like one of his ancestors, King David, as he appeared to be a man after God’s heart. While the above verses mention that Joseph did not want to expose Mary to public disgrace, he made himself, instead, a person to be ridiculed. I imagine he suffered his own type of disgrace.

Recently one of my great-nieces was visiting her “mimi” and stated that the nativity scene was set up wrong. “Joseph is with the wise men, and he was not a wise man,” she said. Such an innocent statement, but I wondered how many times Joseph was told that very thing. How many people told him he was unwise in taking Mary to be his wife, caring for her and her child, not knowing who the father was?

It’s easy to see from scripture that Joseph had his own doubts. But, as a man of belief, he accepted the words from an angel of the Lord. He had to be wiser than many people gave him credit for. He was wise enough to recognize that the angel was a heavenly messenger. He was wise enough to know that the only path for him was in being obedient to the Lord. He was wise enough to be counted as righteous through the ages.

We know so little of Joseph, and we know so much about Joseph. He was a man of faith, an obedient follower of God, and a very wise man.

© copyright 2009 Judy Vandiver

The Christmas Clock

2009-11-30T05:00:00.000-06:00

The Christmas Clock

A True Story

By Judy Vandiver

Little “Dude,” as his family called him, watched his mother as she stood in front of the mercantile admiring the beautiful eight-day striking wooden clock. She stared at it for a few moments, shook her head at the five dollar price tag then turned and walked away. It was in the late 1930’s, Christmas was coming and Dude wanted to buy that clock for his mother.

One thing, however, stood in his way. Money. It wasn’t that he didn’t have enough money to buy the clock. It was that he didn’t have any money.

A few days later Clay, a neighboring country boy, asked Dude if he had ever thought of selling his gun. Dude thought of how precious his Benjamin pump rifle was to him. He’d finally been deemed old enough to have a gun. It was an old one that his dad had found for him. He’d put his own mark on it. It wasn’t anything fancy, but it was his.

He used that gun to shoot a squirrel or rabbit and was always rewarded with a smile from his mother when he helped contribute to the dinner pot. But today, Dude could only think of the look in his mother’s eyes as she had wistfully looked in the store window.

“I’ll take five dollars for it,” he said.

“Five dollars? You must be crazy. I’ll give ya three bucks for it,” Clay said.

“Five dollars.” That’s all Dude would say.

Clay left, but returned a few days later. “I’ll give ya three fifty for that rifle,” he said.

“Five dollars,” Dude answered.

After several more days of trying to negotiate at four and four fifty, Clay returned with five dollars.

Dude sold him the gun, then he went to town and bought the beautiful wooden clock in the store window.

Christmas morning, when his mother opened her present, she cried. Together they hung the clock on the wall of her country kitchen.

His older brothers always said they hated the clock. “’cause Mama knew when we were coming in late.”

So, when Mama died many years later, they all insisted that Dude have the clock. He carefully removed it from the wall of the old homestead and took it to his house. He hung it in his kitchen and thought of his Mama each time he passed it.

Dude had demonstrated true love that Christmas. He was more concerned with what might make someone else happy than what he wanted for himself. He had acted upon a verse his mother had shared with him from John 13:35 when Jesus said, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

As Dude grew up, his life was one that continually showed people the love he had for them, always putting others before himself. His home became a place where family, friends and sometimes strangers could find a place to rest their head at night. He sometimes worked two or three jobs to help put food on his table and still be able to give a little something to someone else.

He once heard of a man traveling across the United States, hand pulling a wagon. He was told that the man would stop from time to time in an area to work odd jobs, earn a little money, tell people about Jesus and move on. And, neighbors said, he was camped just outside town.

That night, as a chilly winter storm blew in, Dude got in his pickup truck, drove around until he found the man and his wagon and brought him to his home. He and his wife, made the man comfortable in a small guest room. They cared for, visited with and fed the man for several days. Once the storm passed through, the old man was on his way, with a few extra dollars from Dude and his wife.

I know a lot of people say everyone is only after what they can get for themselves these days, but there are lots of “Dudes” in our world.

I heard of a woman in our town who is encountering difficulties raising three grandsons alone. Several people came together and helped her with school supplies and clothing for the boys.

In a home near us lives a woman caring for an elderly man and two mentally handicapped men. All four came down with infectious pneumonia. Two neighbors, at the risk of their own health, took food to them.

Yes, there are lots of “Dudes” in this world. We may never know how many. We may never know of all their good deeds. We may never know how their love has helped someone else. But, we can try to pass a little of that same spirit on. And not just at Christmas, but every day of the year.

Maybe you are wondering about Dude and the rifle and the clock. The clock still hangs on his kitchen wall ticking away the minutes, the hours, the days. The gun? Well, an interesting thing happened with that gun. It ended up in an old junk shop in a town several miles from where Dude was raised and hundreds of miles from where he now lived.

One day, his wife and his sister went for a ride and happened into that old junk shop. His sister recognized the Benjamin pump rifle. It was Dude’s old gun. It still had his mark on it. Dude’s wife bought the old relic, giving a few more than five dollars for it this time. On Christmas morning, Dude, now an old man, slowly unwrapped the gift in the long skinny box that had been hidden behind the tree.

Imagine his surprise. His wife and God, had given him his old rifle back. It now graces the wall in the same house with the clock.

“Just think,” he said, “I got my rifle, the clock and that old boy’s five dollars. Ain’t God good.”

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T05:00:00.001-06:00

Here are several thoughts of thanksgiving from blog responses. I pray that you and your family have a wonderful day.

"I'm thankful for my family and friends:) God Bless" (C. Brabham)

"I, too, am thankful for my family & friends! And I'm thankful that we're the ones who can give prayers for others, and not be the ones who need them. But I'm also thankful that my friends are there if I need them." (M. Harris)

I'm thankful for my husband. God has given me a wonderful help-mate who is a Christian. (J.Vandiver)

I am blessed with a wonderful home and surrounded by many friends. God has been so good to me. (G. G.)

I'm thankful to still have a job in today's economy. (unsigned)

My greatest thanks is to Jesus for His sacrificial love. (G. V.)

I'm thankful for a good job and a steady paycheck. (S. R.)

I'm thankful for my children and grandchildren. (S. Vandiver)

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I am also thankful for my readers and supporters of my blog. For the last few months, I have been posting a daily blog. Due to a hectic schedule during Christmas and a desire to concentrate on a Bible study that God has laid on my heart, I will begin posting my blog updates weekly, rather than daily. Look for my new postings on Monday of each week. I also ask that you pray for me as I delve into this study and that I learn what God wants to teach me.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

Judy

Thanksgiving

2009-11-25T05:00:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow we’ll celebrate our American holiday of Thanksgiving. In the tradition of the pilgrims of 1621 at Plymouth Plantation, we’ll share our bounty with family and friends as we take time to appreciate our blessings.

One of my greatest blessings has been the readers of my blog that comment publicly and privately. I thank you for the encouragement to keep doing that which I feel God has called me. I appreciate each one of you and pray that your day of thanks becomes a lifetime of thankfulness.

Judy Vandiver

A Goal Reached

2009-11-24T05:00:00.003-06:00

A Goal Reached

By Judy Vandiver

Mom and I have talked for years about writing a cookbook. We started one a couple of years ago and set the project aside. A few months ago, I suggested we finish our goal. Today the idea of a cookbook became more than a goal. It became a reality.

Mom, Dad, and I were sipping on our coffee, thinking it would be hours before the Fedex truck arrived. Dad stepped outside then was back in a flash, with a grin across his face. “The Fedex truck is here!” he said.

The next few moments went by all too quickly. We flashed pictures, opened boxes, and celebrated. The cookbooks turned out great and we are very pleased with the result.

After Mom and Dad left and I stared at the boxes of books in the foyer, I thought about another goal I have. It is my goal to make Heaven my eternal home. I want to someday see Jesus face to face, thank Him for His sacrificial love, and worship Him forever.

Like the moments when the Fedex guy delivered the boxes, life on Earth will be over sooner than we realize. Take time today to think about your eternal goal. Take the steps needed to reach that goal. Persevere, don’t give up, and trust the Lord. He’ll lead you home.

© copyright 2009 Judy Vandiver

The Yellow Stripe down the Middle of the Road

2009-11-23T05:00:00.005-06:00

The Yellow Stripe down the Middle of the Road

By Judy Vandiver

It was a beautiful spring day as we traveled West on Texas Highway 7. The sign beside the road said, “Monk’s Lookout – 1 mile.”

“Let’s stop,” I told Steve. “I want to stretch my legs.”

Steve pulled onto the gravel drive and circled around to a lone picnic table. He, the kids, and I piled out of the car and walked to the edge of an embankment that stood above the valley below. What a breath-taking sight.

Sunlight bounced off and glowed from a blanket of wildflowers carpeting the fields of the hillside. The golden buttercups, brilliant Indian paintbrushes, and vibrant bluebonnets danced on a soft breeze. They seemed to wave at us as we towered above them.

Our eyes took in the rolling hills and dales. There were not only wildflowers, but patchworks of fields planted by local farmers. And green grasses of various hues stood as the backdrop for the amazing beauty.

All too soon, we had to get back into the car. No one said anything for a while and I assumed everyone was deep in thought about the beauty of nature, just as I was. Soon, our little David, asked, “Dad, how did God make all those flowers?”

Steve patiently told David how God had created the world and when He did, He had made seed-bearing plants.

“How did He make so many different colors?” David asked.

Steve explained that God had control of the entire world and had made it a place of beauty for us. He shared with our son the verse from Matthew 6 and used it as a lesson to teach David about God’s love.

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? (Matthew 6:28-30 NIV)

“Dad,” David asked next, “how did God make some of the land flat and some into hills?”

Steve carefully explained that God had created plates in the earth that at a specified time had shifted and moved to craft the Earth into what God wanted.

Throughout this father-son conversation, I listened, joyful that my son realized God had made the spectacular sight we had enjoyed.

Quietly, our little Melissa finally spoke up. “Well, I just want to know one thing,” she said. “Just how did God and Jesus get that yellow stripe down the middle of the road?”

All was quiet for a moment then Steve, David, and I burst into laughter.

Later, I thought about that drive along Highway 7. Melissa was very young at the time and her focus was not on the things that we saw that day. She had not been looking up. With downcast eyes, she had focused on something other than God.

I wondered how many things God had placed before me for my enjoyment, yet I had never seen them. Had I been too focused on the stripe down the middle of the road, rather than the beauty of God’s creations?

I think God’s greatest creation is not the world around us, but that we, humans, are His most remarkable handiwork. How easy it is for us to sometimes overlook the beauty in ourselves and others, while we concentrate on the yellow stripe. It’s all a matter of where our focus is. When our eyes are focused upward, we see Christ. If we focus on worldly things, all we’ll ever see is the yellow stripe down the middle of the road.

Colossians 3:1-2 says, “ Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (NIV)

Someone Stole my Yellow Socks

2009-11-20T05:00:00.004-06:00

Someone Stole my Yellow Socks

By Judy Vandiver

“Someone stole my yellow socks,” my eight-year-old daughter screamed.

“Are these the same socks you have been wearing all week? The ones that could almost stand up on their own?”

“Yes, and now they are gone. Someone took them.”

“Maybe I should call the police department and report a break-in,” I told her. “Is anything else missing?”

“No, just my favorite yellow socks. Someone stole them.”

And so goes the blame game. Though this happened many years ago, it never occurred to my daughter that she might have misplaced her socks. If they were not to be found, it was someone else’s fault.

We all have a tendency to play “the blame game.” Defendants of social and hideous crimes sometimes use the defense of their upbringing. They had a bad home life, they were sexually assaulted as a child, their parents were alcoholics, or they were abandoned as a youth. It is almost always someone else’s fault.

Perhaps you have played the blame game at work. “I didn’t finish the report because I had too many interruptions. I was late this morning because a slowpoke was ahead of me on the freeway. I didn’t catch the proof-reading errors because the lighting in the office is incorrect.”

And yes, I admit I’ve played the game too. Honestly, that accident in the new van was not my fault. I rear-ended that guy because he stopped too fast in front of me, and besides, he should not have had such a long trailer hitch on his truck. In addition, the weather was bad that day.

And on and on it goes.

Adam and Eve played the blame game in the Garden of Eden. Eve blamed the serpent and Adam was quick to say, “It was that woman you gave me!” It’s so easy for us to tell God that we didn’t mean to sin, but. . . the other person started our argument. . . I didn’t know the consequences would be so hard. . . the peer pressure is too great. . .

Someday, however, each of us will stand before God and be accountable for our own sins. 1 Peter 4:5 states: “But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.” (NIV) and Romans 14:12 tells us, “So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.” (NIV)

As an eight year old, we may get by with blaming someone for our missing socks; but when we stand before God, what excuse could any of us possibly give for ignoring the Son of the Most High?

We are coming into a season designed to give honor to God coming to Earth to redeem us from our sins. I pray that each of us take the time to give Him the glory that is His due. Let us not be guilty of blaming our world, our customs, our society for allowing the hustle and bustle detract from the real meaning of Christmas.

I shall be praying that you, my readers, will feel the presence of God this Christmas season deeper than you have before, and I ask that you also pray for me. We all get busy. But what a shame if we get too busy for God.

© Copyright 2009 by Judy Vandiver

Trash to Treasure

2009-11-19T05:00:00.042-06:00

Trash to Treasure

By Judy Vandiver

They call it dumpster diving. Have you ever done it? It’s my husband’s favorite sport. He loves going through people’s trash looking for some discarded object that can be repurposed and reused. Together, we have worked on quite a few projects refurbishing what someone else might have called trash.

Here are a few examples of some of our finds and the finished projects. This first one is an old table a neighbor threw away.

What you don’t see is that prior to taking the photo, we had removed layers of old linoleum flooring that had been nailed to the top of the table.

After filling in the nail holes, sanding, painting, and applying a faux finish with a gold leaf edge, we had a very cute bedside table.

Another project was the result of seeing a cabinet in a furniture catalog. Here’s the original inspiration.

Here’s a furniture piece we found in someone’s trash. Some of the drawer fronts were missing and others broken. We removed them all, sanded on the old dresser. . .

Our finished version included cute little baskets and decorative cloths. Much cheaper than the original.

One of grandest trash to treasures was when we bought an old farmhouse.

And turned it into a cute country home. (Don’t live there anymore. We like to redo and move on.)

But I thought about the greatest trash to treasure project in my life, and it wasn’t anything my husband or I redid. It was one of God’s original restoration projects. He took this:

And made this:

Isn’t our God awesome? Thank you, Lord, for all you do in my life.

Branches from the Family Tree

2009-11-18T05:00:00.015-06:00

Branches from the Family Tree

by Judy Vandiver

Last night I put up the Christmas tree in the living room. Today I put up a second one in my office. The one in the living room is pretty, but the one in my office holds special memories. No, it’s not a tree I’ve had in my home before and the ornaments are all borrowed. But what special ornaments they are.

You see, my mom let me use the photo ornaments this year. The clay ornaments, hand-made by my sister-in-law have pictures of family members from over the years. As I hung each ornament, I thought about the people in the photos and the special times we have shared. I call it “The Family Tree.”

What a delight to see old photos of my children when they were young. David and Melissa have grown up, but they’ll always be like the small children in the photos to me. I smiled at a picture of my “Uncle Boug,” and remembered how he always threatened to cut my ponytails off. Was that really over fifty years ago?

I prayed for each niece and nephew as I hung his or her ornament on the tall skinny tree. I thought of all the special Christmas celebrations with my siblings as I hung pictures of them and their spouses. I remembered the prayers of my grandparents as I tied their ornaments to the wobbly limbs. And I treasured the photos of Mom and Dad.

I’m glad I put this tree in my office and that I put it up early for “the season.” I’ll have longer to enjoy these smiling faces as I work each day in my office. As I type at my computer, it’s almost as if they are cheering me on. I know each one has prayed for me with my writing and will continue to do so. And isn’t that what families are about? Being there for each other, standing beside one another, praying for each one.

I thought about Jesus’ Family Tree. If there were picture ornaments on it, He might have hung a photo of Abraham, King David, Boaz, and even Rahab. Then a very dear friend and fellow writer, Barbara Oden, reminded me that He would have our pictures on there too, because we are His family. We share the same Heavenly Father. He’s my big brother. And each of you who have accepted Christ as your Savior are my brothers and sisters.

So, as I look at the ornaments on my tree and say a prayer for each one, I’ll ask God to bring my Christian family to my mind. As He does, I’ll also say a prayer for each of you.

“He replied, ‘My mother and brothers are those who hear God's word and put it into practice.’" (Luke 8:21 NIV)

© copyright 2009 Judy Vandiver

Thank You!

2009-11-17T05:00:00.001-06:00

Thank You!

from Judy Vandiver

Thanksgiving is next week, but I'm thankful everyday for those who encourage me with my writing. My blog has been a great discipline for me and helps me stay in God's Word. To be able to do as the Lord has instructed and write devotionals and Bible studies, it is a must for me to search the Scriptures on a daily basis.

Very few people comment by pushing the comment button at the bottom of each blog. And only a handful make comments on facebook about what I write. But I hear from so many of you privately. The occassional word of encouragement or telling me how a particular devotional fit your day does much to confirm the Lord's leading in my life.

I write for several reasons. One is because I want to help spread the Gospel. When God said to "go ye into all the world," He meant each of us. This is my way of reaching those that I can. Another reason I write is because God has given me a gift that I can do nothing with unless I first give it back to Him. I also write because I feel it is what God has called me to do with my life. And last, I write because it is so much a part of me, that for me to not write is almost like not breathing.

I don't write for any praise. I don't write for applause. And I don't write to please man. However, those who have written to tell me what my being faithful to God has meant to them, are always an encouragement and confirmation that I am doing what the Lord wants for my life.

So, this is my early "Thanksgiving" message. Thank you to all who have written me. Thank you to all who read my blogs, whether I ever know about it or not. Thank you to those who have shared in spreading the gospel when you tell others about my blog. And of course, thank you to the Lord for giving me a gift and talent that I enjoy to the fullest.

Between now and Thanksgiving, I'd love to hear from readers about the gifts and talents God has given you. I'd love to hear about the people or things that you are most thankful for. Please drop me a private email, share your thankful blessings, and I on Thanksgiving day, I will post a list of all our blessings. When you email me, let me know if you wish for your thankful blessing to be listed anonymously, with your first name only, full name, or how you would like to share it with others.

I look forward to reading all the things you are thankful for.

In love and gratitude,

Judy Vandiver
Email me at judy@judyvandiver.com

Don't Drink the Kool-Aid

2009-11-16T05:00:00.032-06:00

Don't Drink the Kool-Aid

by Judy Vandiver

One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels. Some of the Pharisees asked, "Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?"

Jesus answered the, "Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions." Then Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath." (Luke 6:1-5 NIV)

As I read the verses above, I thought how the Pharisees thought they had all the answers on how one was to live spiritually and please God. They believed they had it all figured out. And yet, because of their interpretation of God's commands, they didn't recognize the one who gave the commands when He was in their midst.

Many years ago, I taught a group of fourth and fifth grade students in Sunday School. One Sunday, I had them help me rearrange the room. I told them that we had to face a certain direction so God would hear our prayers. I told them that they had to pray a certain way. I kept adding rule after rule after rule. Finally, the students began to question me, which is exactly what I wanted them to do. Then together we sat on the floor and read what God said about prayer. I reminded them that regardless of who told them something was the way a Christian would act or something a Christian would or should do, that the only true authority was God himself. I told them that any instruction they received outside of God's word had to be confirmed in His word. Otherwise, it was no more than what the Pharisees did. It was simply making up rules.

Not only did the Pharisees interpret God's word to fit their rules, they tried hard to make the Creator himself fit their rules. They insisted that Jesus do things their way. It reminds me of a parent setting boundaries and rules for a child and the child twisting and turning the words until it fits what they want. In addition, the child then tries to make the parents follow their interpretation of those rules. As a parent, I can almost laugh at this idea. But as a child of God, it becomes a different situation.

Do I ever try to interpret God's rules to allow me to do what I want? I'm sure I've been guilty of it. Does God call me down on it? Many times He has and I pray that He will continue to do so.

I read something recently that talked about the passage above. The writer spoke about how the Pharisees were looking for an excuse to accuse Jesus. The author warned that we should listen with an open heart and accept the messages in our churches, rather than be as critical as the Pharisees were. However, I also believe that we should do as I tried to instruct my Sunday School class years ago. Don't accept every word you hear, even if it's from an established teacher, preacher, or well-known Christian. Ask yourself if God's word confirms what you hear. Ask yourself if what the speaker or author says contradicts the word of God. Be diligent in studying God's words so you know the truth and you know the half-truths.

Here's a verse of scripture that I consider very wise instruction: "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." (Isaiah 8:20 KJV)

Many of you, no doubt, know the story of Jim Jones and the many people who blindly followed him, doing what they were told, even to the point of mass suicide. In 1978, more than 900 people drank poisoned kool-aid because they followed a man rather than God. The Bible warns us that many false prophets will preach empty words that sound good. Apparently, Jim Jones was one of them.

1 John 4:1 says, "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world." (NIV) My personal paraphrase of this is, "Don't drink the kool-aid." It is my desire that none of us be deceived and all of us follow what the Lord has commanded.

©copyright 2009 Judy Vandiver

Just Don't Let Go

2009-11-13T05:00:00.000-06:00

I am please to share a devotional by a guest blogger today, Melissa Phelan. This is her first devotional and I am very proud of her. Melissa is my daughter and along with God, I won’t let go of her. I’m glad she has learned to see God in the everyday moments of life, letting Him speak to and encourage her. (Judy)

Just Don’t Let Go

By Melissa Phelan

I lay in my bed tonight pondering the wonderful day I had with my boys. I could not help but think that I wouldn’t have received a special joy of the day if I were not divorced. Sounds silly, I know!

As I pulled in my driveway from picking Dustin up at school, I told him, "Today’s the Day." He looked at me with confusion. I said, “Let’s get in that garage, take off those training wheels and learn to ride that bike without them.

"Sure" he said. We tried this about 5 months ago and he couldn't get the hang of it. But today, we went into the garage together and he sat next to me on the floor as I took off the training wheels. It was kind of neat doing it together. Dustin watched me and I felt an excitement for both of us as I managed to get the wheels off. He grabbed them and tossed them aside and I saw determination on his face. He was ready to do this.

He ran into the house and grabbed a pair of gloves, tugging them on as he came running back outside. He jumped on his bike, looked back at me and said, "Just don't let go, Mom."

“I won't let go until you’re ready,” I told him. I gave his bike a push, hanging on and running forward for a few car lengths. “I won't let go, but you’re doing it," I yelled.

“I know. I know. I can do it, it’s ok, Mom," Dustin said.

I let go but kept running next to him. "Look, I am not holding you. You’re doing it all by yourself," I said.

"I know. I know," Dustin continued to say as a smile beamed across his face.

I continued to run beside him. I started clapping for him. I was so happy inside. Finally, I told him I was going to stop running.

“That will be alright, Mom. I’ll be okay.”

I watched him continue for another two or three car lengths then yelled for him to just put his foot on the ground when he wanted to stop. I watched as he put his foot down and the bike fell to the ground - but Dustin didn’t. We were both so happy.

We spent the next few hours together. I taught him how to stop without the bike falling and without my help. Then I taught him how to start without holding on to me. The first time he did it, I watched as he came down the street with a grin as if he was so proud but was trying to contain it.

It was so AWESOME!!!! I was so PROUD!!!! Later I taught him to turn around without stopping the bike to get off. Then we sat on the curb and I taught him how to flip the bike over and fix his chain that had come off. We got greasy, but it was bonding and a mom’s moment. Then Dustin went and got his older brother’s bike, which is little bigger. He hopped on it and took off. I beamed inside and out!

Soon Tyler, who still refused to learn to ride a bike, came outside to see what Dustin had accomplished. He said he wanted his bike back.

"But you won't ride it," I told him.

He told me he wanted to learn now. He took his bike, got on, and it only took him about 2 minutes, but without my help was off and riding. I couldn't believe it. WOW! WOW! I was thrilled.

Tyler decided my bike was better suited for him and Dustin likes Tyler’s better. I don't mind. Hey, they are all riding as if they have been doing it for years. At 8:00 pm, I finally made them come inside for the night. It had become dark at 6pm. But I stayed outside with them the whole time. I didn't want to miss anything. They rode for 4 hours. I can't get over it.

So, as I lay in my bed pondering the day, I am utterly on a high! So happy and proud of my boys! Then I thought that if I was still married, my now-ex should have been the one to do all that. Taking off the training wheels, running with Dustin, showing him how to fix his chain. He would have received that joy, that precious bonding intimate time. I'm glad I got that all to myself. It was moving for me and something I will always remind the boys of.

So, I guess today showed me that divorce isn't all bad times. God has always been there holding on to me as I yell, "Just don't let go. Just don't let go," even though he knows I can do it. I won't let go of God and He won't let go of me, but there are some things I needed to let go and I haven't wanted to. I know it will be ok if I do. God will still be there running next to me. I may fall but I will get right back up.

©Copyright 2009 Melissa Phelan

What is a Devotional?

2009-11-12T05:00:00.004-06:00

What is a Devotional?

By Judy Vandiver

We’ve been looking this week at devotional times with God and I suppose we should ask ourselves exactly what is meant by a devotional time. What does it encompass? What is it and what is it not?

The word devotion means to show our allegiance to something or someone. To devote yourself means to consecrate or make and declare something sacred. Therefore I take the word devotional to mean a time of declaring God as sacred and showing my allegiance to Him.

The length of a set-aside devotional time does not have to be long. In fact, the word devotional has come to also mean a short religious message. The key, however, is in the dedication. In Proverbs 23:16, God says, “My son, give me your heart and let your eyes observe and delight in my ways.” (Amplified Version) A paraphrase from The Message states that verse like this: “Dear child, I want your full attention; please do what I show you.”

To me, a devotional time can be reflecting on a Bible verse, singing a song of praise to God, or reflecting on the beauty of His world. It may include prayer. It may include reading from a book of short writings meant to be used for devotional time. It is a time of giving God our full attention.

We’ve already discussed this week how life demands so much of us and our time. While I remain devoted to God 24/7, my devotional time is a short period of my day that I set aside for Him and Him alone. That’s the reason it’s important for us to carefully choose the time and place of our devotions.

One thing I try to remind myself of, however, is what a devotional time is not. A devotional time is not Bible study. During devotional times, I try to absorb the presence of God. During times of Bible study, I try to absorb the knowledge of God. Paul wrote to Timothy, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” Bible study, therefore, is the diligent application of learning the meaning behind the words of God.

I find that times of devotions and times of Bible study are very different. They both encompass God, who He is, what He says, but they serve two different purposes—learning about Him and knowing Him.

Some people like to read a short verse for a devotional time and contemplate on it. Some like to use a book of short writings by other Christians that give them spiritual insight into experiencing God. Some choose to read several verses of the Bible. Some use their devotional time to try to read through the Bible in a year. I’ve said it before on my blog and will repeat that God is not as interested in how fast you read your Bible as in how well you apply it. Whether it takes you a year or a lifetime to read your Bible, the important thing is to read it, ask God to help you understand it, and apply what it says.

Tomorrow we’ll take a quick look at a short devotional written by a guest blogger. This is the first devotional this person has written, and it’s a good example of how someone takes a moment where they find themselves and declares God as sacred. It shows how God sends us messages through everyday examples. It shows someone giving God the attention He deserves as He gives us His undivided attention. And that, my friends, is what devotions are about.

Personal Bible Study

1. Other than spiritual things, name something you feel devoted to or have ever felt devoted to?
2. What did being devoted to that thing or person entail? What did it really mean to you and why?
3. How did you demonstrate your devotion to that person or thing?
4. How does that compare with showing our devotion to God?
5. Memorize Proverbs 23:16 from The Message: “Dear child, I want your full attention; please do what I show you.”
© copyright 2009

A Daily Devotional Time - Part Three

2009-11-11T05:00:00.001-06:00

A Daily Devotional Time – Part Three

By Judy Vandiver

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” (Mark 1:35 NIV)

The last two days, we’ve looked at the verse above as an example regarding a daily quiet time with God. Like Jesus, we are encouraged to find a time and place where we can be alone with our Heavenly Father. Christ chose a time that probably wasn’t convenient and He left the crowded house to find a spot as free from distractions as possible.

But even for Him, interruptions were inevitable. The next two verses state: “Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!’” (Mark 1:36-37 NIV) The scene reminds me of the one I told you about two days ago when Dad locked himself in his pick-up truck just so he could eat in peace and quiet. Sometimes there is just no getting away from the crowds.

Your crowd may be a crowd of ten or a crowd of one. Your crowd may be the telephone, the doorbell, or the ticking of the clock. Nevertheless, our “crowds” push and shove their way into our devotional times. They look for us, find us, and abduct us.

I’d like us to look at the words used in that verse. The NIV translates two forms of the word look and one of the verb find. The first time the word look is used, they “went to look for him,” the verb is used much like our common use of the word today. The Greek word used here was katadioko which means to hunt down or search for. And when John Mark reports that they “found” him, the word he used was heurisko which means to find or to see something.

But of interest to me was the second use of the word look in the NIV translation. The Greek word John Mark used was eukairōs which translates into our English today for opportunity or when the opportunity occurs. Therefore a more precise translation of the latter part of verse 37 would be, “All want an opportunity with you.”

I searched to find other places where eukairōs occurs in the scripture. John Mark uses it again a few chapters later in Mark 14:11. Judas Iscariot had just gone to the chief priests to betray Jesus. The chief priests promised to give Judas money so “he watched for an opportunity,” to hand Jesus over. The word used for opportunity here is eukairōs. One translation used the word convenient for opportunity. We’ll discuss that in a moment.

Another place where this word was used was in 2 Timothy 4:2. Paul writes, “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.” The word eukairōs has been translated here as “in season,” meaning at every opportunity.

Therefore we can easily see that when someone seeks an opportunity they could be seeking it to gratify self or for their own convenience. Or they may be looking for an opportunity to promote the gospel. So which was it with those who sought Jesus that early morning when He tried to have solitude with His Father?

I believe they were seeking an opportunity for self. They didn’t yet know of the Gospel. They didn’t know Christ had come to save them from their sins. They only wanted the immediate benefits they could receive from Jesus.

Many of our interrupters will not have our best interest at heart. Many of them will be seeking what is convenient for them. But interruptions are a part of life. What did Christ do when the crowd sought and found Him? He got up and moved on with the job the Father had given Him. “This is why I have come,” He said.

Seek your solitary and quiet time with the Lord, but when the world seeks and interrupts you, remember to go about doing the task the Father has for you. You may have to tell the world to wait, or you may have to do as Jesus did this particular morning—move on to the task at hand.

Tomorrow, we’ll look at what a devotional time is and is not. See you then.

Judy
©copyright 2009 Judy Vandiver

Personal Bible Study:

1. What are some usual interruptions into my quiet time with the Lord?
2. Are these legitimate interruptions or are there things I can do to eliminate them?
3. What can I do to make my devotional time as distraction-free as possible?
4. Jesus knew what His purpose was for being on Earth and made that His priority. Do I know what my purpose on Earth is?
5. Memorize Mark 1:38: “Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages —so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” (NIV)

A Daily Devotional Time - Part Two

2009-11-10T05:00:00.004-06:00

A Daily Devotional Time – Part Two

By Judy Vandiver

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” (Mark 1:35 NIV)

Jesus was a busy man. The verse quoted above shows us the actions of Jesus on a particular morning. Let me give you a glimpse of what had transpired the day before and what the upcoming day held for him.

Jesus and some men that He had asked to follow Him had traveled to the city of Capernaum earlier in the week. Their method of transportation was their own two feet. They had walked the dusty, uneven terrain, no doubt their feet hurt, and their legs ached. They may have even had a blister or two worn on the soles of their feet by the rough, primitive (at least to us) leather sandals.

We don’t know when they arrived in Capernaum, but when the Sabbath came, Jesus went to the synagogue. As was the custom, the visiting rabbi was asked to read the scripture and teach. He preached in such a manner that the people were amazed, because, they said, “he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law” (Mark 1:22 NIV.) Can you picture the group of men gathered there, leaning towards one another, whispering, amazement etched into their expressions? As I read these words, I can almost hear the murmur as it travels over and through the crowd, until everyone sits up and takes notice.

I would love to know what his sermon topic was that morning. Whatever it was, Satan didn’t like it and he didn’t like that people were recognizing the authority of this person named Jesus.

Suddenly a man possessed by an evil spirit cried out, demanding to know what Jesus wanted to do with him and if Jesus was going to destroy him. He proclaimed the true identity of Christ as the Holy One of God. The man must have been shouting because Jesus told him to be quiet. I’m thinking that this evil spirit was scared that he had come face-to-face with Jesus. He probably wished he had not gone to the synagogue with the man that morning. He not only knew who Jesus was, but exactly what kind of authority Jesus has. And when Jesus commanded the evil spirit to leave the man, the evil spirit did the only thing he could. He obeyed. He could not resist the power of Jesus. Mind you, he shrieked and cried, but he obeyed.

The people who were still in the synagogue witnessed this event. People were abuzz with what this Jesus could do. Can’t you see them on their way home from the synagogue, stopping, talking, asking, “Did you see? I was up front, you know. I got a good look at what happened. Who is this man?” The Bible tells us that news soon spread to the surrounding area. Even with limited travel on the Sabbath, the word quickly spread through the region. (A little more on this later.)

Amid the chattering and amazed crowd, Jesus and his disciples leave “church.” They are probably hungry and it’s time for “Sunday afternoon lunch.” Simon and Andrew, who apparently shared one home with their combined families, said, “Hey, let’s go to our house to eat,” and off they trod.

But when they arrived at the home of the two brothers, it was discovered that Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a fever. Jesus bent over her with concern, touched her, and healed her instantly. As the fever left her, she began to help get the “roast and potatoes” on the table, jumping right in with a grateful spirit.

Again, can you see the reaction of those in the house? The disciples, the women preparing the food, the combined households, any servants they might have had must have all talked about what had just happened. And now they hurry to serve this one who seems to have so much authority.

What I want you to see here is the activity around Jesus. Stop for a moment and think about a large gathering where one person has done something that has the whole group talking – good or bad – it doesn’t matter. With this large a crowd, Jesus could not help but be aware of the commotion within the house. And somehow, word leaked from that house to the surrounding community. I picture the news traveling from house to house to house, until it reached a distance beyond what the people were allowed to travel. The law may have banned the people from traveling a certain distance, but the law could not stop the word and the news about Jesus.

Let’s move forward a few hours. It’s now nearing sunset and perhaps the household is quieting down. Maybe Jesus will have time to catch his breath from all the day’s activities and the hustle and bustle that has brewed around Him since arriving at the Synagogue that morning. But no. Just as the sun dipped below the horizon, people began bringing the sick and demon-possessed to Jesus.

Remember earlier when we discovered the people were talking as they left “church” that morning? They had talked about the authority that came with the words spoken about Jesus and about the casting out of an evil spirit. Word had spread farther than the people were able to travel on the Sabbath. But as soon as the law would allow, they hurried to see this man who could heal the sick and cast out demons. Notice that they knew both of these things had happened earlier that day. This is how we know that the group from the synagogue as well as the households of Simon and Andrew had been spreading the word.

Scripture tells us that the whole town gathered at the door. While scholars are unsure of the population of Capernaum at that time, it was a small fishing village, and estimates are that there were anywhere from 600 to 1700 people living there at the time. Let’s go with a conservative number somewhere in the middle. I’ll choose 1,000. Suppose you did something at church this morning and word got around that you had spoke some amazing words. It’s later in the day, you are tired, and maybe you are thinking of retiring for the day. There’s a knock at the door. Someone else answers it and yells to you, “Hey, you better come here. Something’s going on outside.” You look out the door and there are 1,000 people lined up. A thousand….

This is no small number. I can only imagine this kind of scene in front of my house, the line extending down the street, wrapping around the corner, the head of the homeowner’s association wanting to know what is going on. But then I remember he would have known. Everyone knew what was going on. The entire village had come to see Jesus.

John Mark continues in the scripture telling us that Jesus healed many who had various diseases and drove out many demons. I wonder what time He eventually got to bed that evening. Maybe not at all.

And that brings me to the point of today’s blog. We (and I include myself in that) so often use the excuse that we are too busy or too tired for a daily time with the Father. I know that I’ve never been as busy as Jesus was that particular night. I’ve never had 600 to 1,000 or more people standing at my door waiting to be healed. I’ve never had a whole town turn out to see what I was doing, press in around me to see what was happening, or perhaps just want to touch me.

Do you realize that if Jesus had only spent 30 seconds with each of the more than 1,000 people it would have taken Him over 8 hours to see each one? Therefore I doubt He slept at all that night. The last one was finally healed. The last demon had been cast out. The disciples, no doubt, had nodded off hours ago. The last villager hobbled down the dusty road. The sun would be up soon and Jesus knew that another busy day stretched before Him.

He didn’t lie down and try to grab a quick nap. He didn’t complain about how tired He was. He slipped off into the darkness, found a solitary place—away from distractions—and talked with His Father.

Christ’s example shows us the importance of prayer and devotions over everything else, including bodily rest. I believe the next time I whine to the Lord that I am too tired for devotions and will catch up later, I’ll try to remember just how busy Jesus was this particular morning.

I have been so tired before that I have fallen asleep in the middle of my devotional time. I believe God understands. Our Lord certainly knows what it feels like to be “bone-tired.” However, He honors our efforts and comforts us in our humanness. And He doesn’t say how long our time of devotion to Him should be. The important thing is that we choose some moments from our day that are just for Him.

Tomorrow we’ll look at what happened as the tired and exhausted Jesus tried to catch a few moments of solitude.

Personal Bible Study:

1. How important to you is a daily devotional time? Is it important enough to make it a priority?
2. What excuses do you find yourself giving the Lord for not setting aside moments from your day just for Him?
3. Think of a time when you have been very tired or others demanded a good deal of your time. How might that compare to what Jesus felt on this particular morning?
4. Why do you think Jesus didn’t tell some of the people to come back at another time?
5. Memorize Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

© Copyright 2009 by Judy Vandiver

A Daily Devotional Time

2009-11-09T05:00:00.005-06:00

A Daily Devotional Time

By Judy Vandiver

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” (Mark 1:35 NIV)

As Christians, we are urged to have a daily devotional time with God. I asked myself if this was a biblical command or a tradition passed down through the ages; are bible study and devotional time interchangeable; and what is a good model for a time of devotions?

While I do more study on the biblical command and traditions associated with our devotion to God, I’d like to spend a few days looking at a model for our time spent with God. And at another time, we’ll look at the differences between devotions and bible study. For now, I’d like to share my thoughts regarding a good model for a time of devotions, whether it be daily, weekly, or at a time interval you and God set, a devotional time is instrumental in your worship to our Lord.

We’ll start with an example set by Jesus. In Mark 1:35, John Mark, who accompanied Paul on his first missionary journey, tells us: “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” (NIV)

I think this verse shows us two key elements to incorporate into our moments of consecration to God. We can find examples of when and where. And of course, as you look at the verse, it’s easy to see when and where Christ had a moment alone with the Father. But we must also look at why He chose his “when” and “where.”

Christ found a few moments to be alone with God early in the morning. Does this mean our devotional time needs to always be in the morning? I don’t think so. I don’t think the time of day is as important as the reason behind the time we choose. Jesus chose this time because He knew that His days were hectic and busy. He might not have another chance to get away with His Father. Surrounding verses show us that people were coming to Him all through the day and into the evenings, but we’ll talk more about that later this week. For now, it’s important to note, however, that Jesus chose a time when the demands of His ministry were not at their peak.

When we choose our alone time with God, it is important to follow this example. Maybe you are not what is considered “a morning person.” I’ve always been a combination of a morning and night person. I’m a rare person that needs very little sleep and finds it difficult to sleep more than a few hours. I’m sure I was a hindrance to my own parent’s devotional time. Not only was I up late at night, but by the time their feet hit the floor in the morning, I was standing next to their bed ready to greet them into the day. And if I wasn’t there, probably one of my sisters or my brother took my place.

If your day is crowded and busy, it’s possible you may have to do as Jesus did. You may have to get up “very early” in the morning. It may be that evenings are a quieter time with fewer demands on you. If so, that may be a better time of choosing for a devotional time. What if you have a “little Judy,” that is up before you and awake long after you retire for the night? I’m sure that over the years, there were plenty of times my parents had to find a distraction for me, so that I did not continue to become a distraction to them. And that is the key. Find a time that is as free of distractions as possible. As we study this verse this week, you’ll see that even this time for Jesus was not distraction free. But, Christ took the moments offered Him within His busy schedule. He found the time. We can do the same.

The second thing Jesus teaches us with this example is where He had His time to commune with God. He left the house. Okay, if as my parents did, you have four small, active, and curious children, physically leaving the house may not be an option. Especially if you are thinking of going very far. (And if you have four small children, you may be thinking that very thing.)

The verse also tells us that Jesus went off to a solitary place. I don’t know that leaving the house was as important as this part of the example. They key idea is that He withdrew from others. He removed Himself from obvious distractions.

So, if we look at a few practical ideas of how to follow the example of Christ, what is a busy person living in the 21st century to do? Maybe you can’t go far from the house, but can you go to a front or back porch? Do you have a tree that offers quiet shelter? If you look hard enough, you’ll find something.

I remember one year when my siblings, our spouses, and all our children converged on my parent’s home for Christmas. During the night we had bodies strewn everywhere. During the day, we ran into each other constantly. One morning, Mother stood in the kitchen and made pancakes. As each plateful was done, she’d call someone’s name and hand out a plate. She called my name, I grabbed my plate, and tried to find an empty spot at the now crowded dining table.

As each person came in, the chatter around the table increased. At last, Mother came into the dining room to be sure everyone had a plate of pancakes. She counted heads. “Where’s your daddy?” she asked. Everyone looked at each other. No one knew. Soon a search party, headed up by grandchildren thinking this was a game of hide-and-seek, began to look for Dad. It took us a while, but we eventually found him. My brother called us to the back porch and pointed to Dad’s old pick-up truck parked behind the house. There sat Dad, in his truck, the windows rolled up, and the doors locked, eating his plate of pancakes in peace and quiet. I think all the chattering, running into one another, and business had become more than he expected when they invited us for Christmas. The point is, however, that when Dad wanted to find a quiet spot, he was inventive. If necessary, go lock yourself in your vehicle to have some quiet moments alone with God.

Of course, your quiet spot doesn’t have to truly be outside the house. Don’t lose sight of the importance here. The key element is that Christ withdrew to a place of least distractions. We’ve all heard of moms who have locked themselves in their bathrooms just to have a quiet moment. If that’s where you must have your devotions, do that. Or maybe it will be a quiet spot in your bedroom. Maybe you’ll have to literally make yourself a prayer closet. But I urge each of you to find a spot where the distractions are at a minimum, spend some time with God, and talk to Him.

One thing I want to caution as you choose your time and place for your devotions. Just as talking on a cell phone, eating, and putting on makeup while you are driving can be a hazardous distraction, if you try to have your devotions while commuting to and from work, the driving will become a distraction to the devotion. I’m not saying you shouldn’t be talking and listening to the Lord during this time. It’s just that I, personally, do not count this as my time “alone” with the Lord. For years, I commuted to downtown Houston for employment. I tried calling my drive time by another name—devotional time. I can tell you from personal experience it was always good to know that God rode with me, but that time did not adequately fulfill what a solitary place can do for my time with the Lord.

For the next few mornings, I will dedicate my blog to this verse above and a few things we, together, might learn from it. Please feel free to leave comments about your own struggles and personal answers to a time and place for a quiet time with the Lord. Your comments may help or inspire someone else. If you are struggling, another reader may have faced the same problems and be able to offer a suggestion.

Tomorrow, we are going to look at one of the most common excuses to having a daily devotion. And later, we’ll look at what having a devotional time really means. See you in the morning,

Judy

©copyright 2009 Judy Vandiver

Personal Bible Study:

1. Where would my ideal spot be to have daily devotions? If I can’t arrange that at this time, what might be a good substitute?
2. Am I a morning person or night person? What is the best time of day for me to plan to get alone with God?
3. What is a major distraction to having a daily, or even weekly, devotional time with the Lord?
4. What ideas can I think of to remove that distraction?
5. Memorize Mark 1:35: “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”

Book Review - Simple Everyday Cooking

2009-11-06T05:00:00.003-06:00

Book Review

Simple Everyday Cooking

by Myra Guillot and Judy Vandiver

book review by Judy Vandiver

Joy is the fulfillment of a long-awaited dream. Did you notice that my name is listed above twice? We did it! Mom and I finally wrote our long-talked-about cookbook. And it will be out in time for Christmas. What a joy and celebration.

The cookbook is filled with recipes that are easy to prepare and just right for hungry families. And guess what? You won't have to hunt down specialty stores for exotic ingredients. All the ingredients used in these recipes can be found in most grocery stores and probably within your own pantry.

AND we have a website up where we'll share more recipes, cooking tips and hints, and an easy place to order your copies of our cookbook. The website is:

http:www.simpleeverydaycooking.com

Here's the blurb from the back cover:

Do you wonder what to fix for supper, what to cook for company, or what to take to a pot luck dinner? Simple Everyday Cooking gives you many fast, easy ideas with 212 recipes made from ingredients found in most modern day pantries.

Authors Myra Guillot and Judy Vandiver have put together their collection of recipes handed down by grandmothers, great-grandmothers, and good friends. They enjoy cooking, but prefer recipes that are easy enough for everyday. But don’t think the meals are bland or boring. Your family will think you went to cooking school when you serve Shrimp Scampi or Popcorn Rice. They’ll enjoy comfort foods like Cream of Potato Soup or Purple Hull Peas with Smoked Sausage. And your guests will be impressed with Warm Melting Chocolate Cake and Circuit Riding Preacher Cookies.

With more than enough Cajun roots, Myra and Judy include recipes for Roux, Gumbo and Individual Crawfish Pies. But you’ll also find recipes for Italian, Oriental, and American dishes. And if you live a busy lifestyle and like to cook ahead, try Make-Ahead French Toast or Pizza Spaghetti Casserole.

Ask for the cookbook at your local bookstore (ISBN: 978-0-578-04026-4) or place your order online. We'll be happy to mail you copies for yourself and friends.

About the authors:

Myra Guillot, born and raised in Louisiana, is well-known for her many Cajun recipes. Her home has always been a gathering place for family meals, church suppers, and a good cup of coffee. Myra and her husband, Herschel, owned and operated a popular Cajun restaurant, The Cajun Corral, for a number of years. Customers loved to gather around a large open-pit fireplace watching a pig roast over the slow turning spit, eat roasted peanuts, enjoy chicken gumbo, shrimp étouffée, or fried catfish. Many of those succulent recipes are among the pages of this cookbook.

Myra and Herschel raised four children, Bruce, Judy, Chris, and Gwen. They have nine grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren, with another expected very soon. Myra and her husband now reside in Pearland, TX. They retired from Sears, Armco Steel, and the restaurant business, but family and friends still gather for their great cooking or a good cup of coffee.

Judy Vandiver (hey - that's me!) is Myra’s oldest daughter and learned to cook by watching her mother perform what she considered “magic” in the kitchen. One of her first jobs was waiting tables and learning to cook in the family restaurant. Judy has saved many of the recipes used by her mother, grandmothers, and aunts, adding a few new favorites along the way. She has won several local cooking contests with versions of recipes found on http://www.simpleeverydaycooking.com and in the Simple Everyday Cooking cookbook .

Judy and her husband, Steve, reside in Pearland, TX—just a few doors down the street from her mom and dad. They have two grown children, David and Melissa, and six grandchildren. Judy and Myra enjoy sharing recipes, teacakes, and a daily cup of coffee. Judy also enjoys writing magazine articles, devotionals, church skits, and bible studies. You can learn more about Judy or read some of her devotionals and bible studies by going to her personal website, http://www.judyvandiver.com.

The new cookbooks are set to arrive by November 30, 2009, but may be here sooner.

Place a pre-order today by going to our new website dedicated to bringing you more recipes. But hurry. Limited quantities available.

Order extras as Christmas gifts.

Website: http://www.simpleeverydaycooking.com
Published by: Writing for God's Glory
http://www.writingforgodsglory.com

2009-11-05T05:00:00.004-06:00

Book Review for

The Forgiving Hour by Robin Lee Hatcher

Review by Judy Vandiver

This week’s blog has been dedicated to reviewing some of my favorite books. I had a particular fiction book in mind for today’s review. It is a good book. It's an entertaining book. But, God put a check on my heart. I couldn’t seem to pull the right words for the review from my brain and I felt God reminding me of my theme for my blog, my business, and my life. Writing for God's Glory is more than the title for my blog, editing business, and new publishing endeavors. It has become my mission statement. The book I had chosen didn't seem to do anything for promoting God or His glory.

As I stood looking at my bookshelves, I asked myself some questions. What fiction book have I read that I came away feeling that the author knew God intimately? What book made me want to be as Christ-like as one or more of the characters? What book left me pondering the spiritual message for a long time after-wards? I knew immediately that the book that did that for me was not on my bookshelf. It was one I had downloaded and read on my Kindle. The book was The Forgiving Hour by Robin Lee Hatcher.

The Forgiving Hour is a well-written story of love, betrayal, trials, and forgiveness. The setting is contemporary, but the story is timeless. The main characters, Claire, Sara, and Dakota, could be any one of us. And, while their circumstances may seem extraordinary at first glance, they are not so different from what each of us experience in our own lives.

The novel spins it’s tale around the two women, Claire and Sara, who both love Dakota, but for different reasons. Claire is his mother and Sara is his girlfriend. When the two women meet face-to-face, there is a problem. Old hurts and wounds surface for both women, as well as for Dakota.

The story has twists and turns that held my attention. It has mysterious surprises. It’s fast paced and I quickly cared about the main characters. But it also has a lesson. Through her writing, Robin teaches that true love also holds true forgiveness.

I cried as I turned the pages. For weeks, I dwelled on the lessons from this book. I wanted to love the way this book taught. Yet, I found hidden hurts in my heart. Times I felt I had been wronged. Turning those hurts over to God has freed me to love completely.

This is a book I intend to read again. I think it’s too easy to let old memories that can hurt us creep into our hearts. A gentle reminder of how Claire, Sara, and Dakota faced their problems will always do me good.

As I prepared this review, I popped off an e-mail to Robin Lee Hatcher and asked if she would answer some interview questions to go along with the review. Within an hour, she graciously responded. Below are my questions in black and her answers in red.
-------------------
Dear Robin, I know this is very late moment for an author interview for tomorrow, but I am being bold in asking if you might answer a few questions via e-mail.

Hi, Judy. Glad to help you out. . . The Forgiving Hour is no longer available in hard copy except as used copies. However, it is now available for the Amazon Kindle.

What got you started in writing?

I was an avid reader from first grade on and I was also what I call a compulsive writer. I was always scribbling something. But I never thought about doing it professionally. Then in my late 20's, a series of events caused me to decide to try writing a book. It took me nine months, working nights and weekends mostly, writing longhand and then using the office typewriter on my lunch hours to put it in manuscript form. It was published not quite three years after I wrote the first line of the book. (Since it was a general market romance and not among those I encourage readers to find, I'll skip giving the title.)

How long have you been writing and how many books do you have in print?

I've been writing for 28 1/2 years. I'm currently working on my 63rd release.

Of all the books you’ve written, which is your favorite and why?

I don't have a favorite. Each book was written for a reason and was the best book I could create at the time. I believe some books are better written or better told than others and some have more of a punch (The Forgiving Hour, Ribbon of Years, Beyond the Shadows, & Return to Me among the latter). But no favorites.

What sparked the idea behind The Forgiving Hour?

The Forgiving Hour began with a dream. I dreamed the prologue, and when I awoke, I knew it was the opening for a book in which God would have to be a central character. It was also a story where a great deal of it would be lifted from experiences in my own life. But I was still writing for the general market at the time and had never written a contemporary story, so I didn't think I'd ever actually get to write it. (Man plans, God laughs.) Then doors began to open and within about six months, I was contracted to write The Forgiving Hour and two other books.

Did you go through any difficulties as you wrote this book?

Actually, it is one of the few books in my career that I didn't struggle with. It is the longest of all of my novels but I wrote it in the shortest amount of time, just over three months. The words just poured out of me.

Did God speak to you through this book?

Because I've experienced the heartbreak of infidelity and because God called me to forgive the other woman, I was writing lessons that God had taught me many years before. Judging from my reader mail, God did speak through this book, but it wasn't to me so much as my readers.

Can you give us the underlining premise for The Forgiving Hour?

Forgiveness isn't a feeling. It is an act of obedience. We are told to forgive those who hurt us, and we must make the choice to obey. And God can give us the strength to walk through the difficult times.

What is the one thing you would hope readers take away from reading The Forgiving Hour?

The act of forgiving another person sets us free to live as God wants us to live.

-----------------------------------

My thanks to Robin Lee Hatcher for her quick response and her willingness to write for God’s glory.

I purchased my copy of The Forgiving Hour as a Kindle® book. It is still available in paperback as a used book. I’ve included a link below to some used copies selling on Amazon and to a link for all books written by Robin Lee Hatcher that are listed on Amazon. I hope the links help you.

Also, be sure and check out Robin's web page at http://www.robinleehatcher.com. I laughed as I read her bio, where she shares her journey with her writing career. And tears came to my eyes as I read her faith story. She also has a free-book offer on her web site. I hope you enjoy her books as much as I do.

Robin Lee Hatcher books on Amazon OR

Book Review - Beyond Death's Door by Maurice Rawlings, M.D.

2009-11-04T05:00:00.000-06:00

Book Review

Beyond Death’s Door by Maurice Rawlings, M.D.

Review by Judy Vandiver

Another old book from my bookshelves. One I’ve read several times, loaned to friends, had it returned, and read again. The subject matter: New Evidence of the Existence of Heaven and Hell.

Author Dr. Maurice Rawlings was an atheist until dying and dead patients, convinced him of the reality of heaven and hell. In Beyond Death’s Door, Rawlings recounts several incidents where he has resuscitated patients who have had what is commonly termed “near-death” experiences. Rawlings, however, refers to them as “after-death” experiences. He tells of the repeated similarities told by patients of what happened when they died.

In today’s market, many who share incidents of “near-death” or “after-death” give the account of a pleasant life-after-death experience. Rawlings, however, has had the opportunity of witnessing patients experience horrifying events as they literally succumbed to hell.

Dr. Rawlings writes: “I was resuscitating a terrified patient who told me he was actually in hell. He begged me to get him out of hell and not to let him die. When I fully realized how genuinely and extremely frightened he was, I too became frightened. Subsequent cases with terrifying experiences have burdened me with a sense of urgency to write this book. Now I feel assured that there is life after death, and not all of it is good.”

Not only does Rawlings give many accounts that sustain his new beliefs, but he also includes information on how to be sure you are going to heaven rather than hell, how to deal with the dying, and how to properly administer CPR.

If you have ever wondered about the validity of life-after-death, I urge you to purchase a copy of this book and read it through. Many people who might not read a Bible, are interested in this topic. Maybe get a few extra copies for gifts. It’s a great way to bring the reality of hell to a lost and dying world.

The copy of Beyond Death’s Door. . . that I have is a hardback copy printed in 1978. It was already in it’s fifth printing. The book has been reprinted several times since that date. The latest edition is a paperback version that was published in 2008. I’ve included a link below, again from Amazon, for your convenience, should you decide to order this book.

Book Review for Beyond Death’s Door by Maurice Rawlings, M.D. –review ©2009 by Judy Vandiver

Review - Old Testament Stories from the Back Side

2009-11-03T05:00:00.004-06:00

Book Review for

Old Testament Stories from the Back Side

By J. Ellsworth Kalas

Review by Judy Vandiver

Today’s blog is a book review of a book I’ve had on my bookshelf for about ten years. I’ve pulled it from my shelf many times. The pages are dog-eared and splattered coffee stains throughout the book attest that it has become an old friend.

Old Testament Stories from the Back Side is a collection of twelve short stories told with a twist. Kalas uses an approach for each story by retelling familiar tales from the Bible from unique points of view. Many sermons have been preached on the patience of Job, but Kalas comes to the defense of Job’s wife. Little is said about her in the Bible, but much can be surmised from the situation. Read about those that not only suffer, but stand alongside the suffering.

Read about a Biblical character that faced a midlife crisis and ended up saving God’s chosen race. Learn about the mother of another man who played an instrumental role in Old Testament history. And I’m sure most of us can tell others what the first sin in the Bible was. But can you identify the second sin in the Bible? Read why Kalas says the second sin is worse than the first one.

I’ve enjoyed revisiting old Bible stories, but from a different viewpoints. Kalas brings to light many hidden messages and truths that are often over-looked within scripture, because our attention is on the main character or a certain point. Kalas helps us visualize the whole story.

Each story is ten pages or less. They can be read for a morning or weekly devotional time and they make great material for a group Bible study. Bible study questions are not included but the stories easily open themselves up for group discussion.

About the Author

J. Ellsworth Kalas is a professor of Homiletics at Asbury Theological Seminary. He has spent thirty-eight years as a United Methodist pastor and five years in evangelism with the World Methodist Council. He has authored over thirty books and many of them follow his popular “Back-Side” format.

Below is a link I found connecting you to Amazon and the sale of Old Testament Stories from the Back Side.”

Review of Old Testament Stories from the Back Side - ©2009 by Judy Vandiver

Great Book for Parents, Teachers, and Writers of Children Materials

2009-11-02T05:00:00.003-06:00

This week's blog will be focusing on some book reviews. We'll take a quick peek at a book for writers, a devotional ,a fiction book, a non-fiction Christian book, and a surprise book on Friday.. I've picked books that are not necessarily on the top seller list. You can probably find a review of those books easily. I want to tell you about a few of my favorites, whether they are new to my bookshelf or been there a long time. Today's review is on a book aimed at writers of books for children, but I think parents and teachers might want to take note of this one also.

Children’s Writer’s Word Book by Alijandra Mogilner

Review by Judy Vandiver

I recently found an excellent reference book marketed for writers of Children’s books. However, this book would also be great in any parents home where they want to help their child learn to read. I believe it’s a must-have book for parents of home schooled children, or any parent that wants to encourage a child in his or her reading skills.

The book contains several easy-to-refer-to sections. There are some general items to note about children, their reading skills, national standards, and benchmarks.

The next section contains words by grade level from kindergarten through 6^th grade and middle school. I asked a highly respected kindergarten teacher to look at the lists. She said there were a few words on the list that were not on standardized list used in the public school. She added that these words should not be too hard for a kindergarten level and that each level seemed appropriate or slightly challenging for each grade level.

For writers, this section would help pick appropriate wording for the specific age level you wish to target with your writing. For parents, what a great way to see how many words your child can read. Find out if they are on an appropriate reading level for their grade level. If not, you have a great list of words to help them learn.

One of my grandsons is in first grade and considered a good reader. I was surprised that he could read at the third grade level. He challenged himself and tried to read the fourth grade level words. He’s an over-achiever and will soon master words that were difficult for him on the first read-through.

If you know of a family that home schools, this book would make an excellent gift to add to their home library.

The third section of the book is a thesaurus and is perfect for anyone writing to and for children. Whether writing a book, a magazine article, a school lesson, or a note, this thesaurus helps you locate a word appropriate for the grade level of the reader. Here are two examples from the book.

The book indicates symptom as a 6^th grade level word. However, you might try the following words per different age levels; evidence (5th); feature (3^rd); sign (1^st); signal (4^th); symbol (5^th), trait (6^th). I might write, “His fever was a symptom of the flu,” if writing for a sixth grader. But a first grader would understand the sentence better if I wrote, “His fever was a sign that he had the flu.” But as I research the word list further, I find that fever is a fourth grade level word. I could help a first grader understand and read the sentence for him or herself, if I wrote.” He feels hot, a sign that he is sick.”

The thesaurus can help lower the expectation of reading level, but it can also help write in a way that will challenge the young reader. A kindergartner should be able to read and understand the word true. However, if writing for a middle school reader, the word legitimate might be more challenging. This is the best thesauruses I have found for finding grade level appropriate words...

The author has listed a few resources for writers and parents, which include recommended readings for writers’ of children’s books, sources used for the word lists, and a state by state listing of The Departments of Education for U. S. States and Territories. Information includes address, phone, fax, TTY, and web site.

This book is high on my list of recommendations for writers of children’s books and articles, teachers, and parents. If you fall into one of those groups and wish to help children become better readers, I don’t think this book will disappoint you.

Read more about the book and how to order it through Amazon by clicking on the link below.

The Baby Time Forgot

2009-10-30T05:00:00.000-05:00

The Baby Time Forgot

by Judy Vandiver

She took my hand and led me to the far northeast corner of the old cemetery. Kneeling down she began to pull weeds from a small unmarked grave. “This is where we buried him,” she said. I dropped to my knees and joined my small childish hands with her old creased ones and helped her clear the grave.

“Such a small grave,” I thought. “Tell me about him, grandma,” I pleaded.

“It was in the late 1930’s and I already had six children. He was my seventh child. His birth was not easy and I struggled for two days in labor with him. The doctor came from town and stayed at the house. He didn’t give much hope for me or the baby. Finally, however, a little baby boy was born. He cried once, and then stopped.

“Blue baby” are the words I remember hearing the doctor whisper to Grandpa."

“What is a blue baby?” I asked.

“Well, it seems my baby boy was not getting enough oxygen. This caused his skin to take on a bluish look. He didn’t live long and he died in my arms.”

The doctor told Grandpa that I didn’t have much of a chance of survival either. I wanted to go and be with my new baby, but I also knew that I had six other children depending on me. I prayed and I willed my body to fight back. When the doctor returned several days later, he was surprised to find me still alive. Another week passed and the doctor brought his wife to see me.

“I wanted my wife to see a miracle,” he said. “It is only by God’s intervention that you are still alive.”

“A part of me, however,” continued my grandmother as she yanked at some wayward dandelions, “was buried here years ago with my tiny baby son.” Continuing to pull the wild plants, I noticed that she carefully left a twisted and rampant honey-suckle vine.

Grandma continued to tell me more about this baby that had been my dad’s brother. I remember so much of what she told me, but the one thing I do not remember is the name she gave the baby.

More than 40 years after the death of her baby, my grandmother finally joined her son in heaven. One day recently, I asked my dad and his remaining siblings about the blue baby. Most of them had forgotten all about the little brother, and of those who did remember, no one could recall his name or where he was buried.

I drove four hours back to the old homestead and made my way to the old cemetery. Something inside me yearned to clear the weeds I was sure had grown over the grave. I tromped to the northeast corner, next to the graves skirting the edge of the woods. Suddenly it was twenty years earlier and my grandma held my hand.

“It’s just over here in the corner,” she said.

I listened for her voice. I tried to follow her footsteps. But I couldn’t find the wild honey-suckle vines or the grave. It seemed that time had stolen the memories that remained of this nameless relative. I imagine that a few generations from mine will have totally forgotten the blue baby.

“And what of me?” I thought. Will future generations know who I was or what I did with my life?” I thought of the third chapter of Ecclesiastes. "All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. Who knows if the spirit of man rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth? So I saw that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him?” In that same chapter, Solomon also tells us that God has set eternity in the hearts of men.

The promise of eternity with God, even in light of the fact that those who follow after us may not remember us or know much about us, calls us to be faithful. Like the baby that time forgot, future generations may not recall my name, but the work that I do for the Lord, will have everlasting effects. It is for this reason that I strive to do the Lord’s will and that I pray for those who will follow after me to also remain devoted to God.

Dear Lord, please let me live in a way that will bring glory to your name. Though I may be forgotten in time, may what I do help to promote you so that your words will never be forgotten or lost to future generations. Speak to those who come after me that they may know the same love of the Father that I know.

The Baby Time Forgot - copyright 2007 by Judy Vandiver

Adopted

2009-10-29T05:00:00.000-05:00

Adopted

by Judy Vandiver

Several hours passed as I sat on the uncomfortable bench in the courtroom of the Family Law Center. The somber judge, with slightly graying hair and an official black robe, called case after case to his bench.

The situations varied. A mother requested child support; a couple filed for divorce; vandalism of a person’s property. The court reporter’s face seemed unchanging and emotionless as she did her job. Complainants and defendants wore looks of fatigue and despair.

Finally, the case I had been waiting for was called to the bench. My son David, his wife Michele, and her thirteen-year-old son Alex, moved through a small swinging gate. Their lawyer placed a petition to adopt before the judge.

Before the adoption could proceed, it was necessary to terminate the rights of Alex’s biological father. Alex could not have two fathers. He would have to belong to one or the other.

Testimony was given to show that the natural father had not shown love and concern for the child. After deliberation, the judge wiped out the ties between Alex and his birth father. At that point, Alex had no father.

David took a step forward and said, “I wish to adopt Alex. I want to make him mine.”

Again, the lawyer spoke up giving witness to the home study and background check the state had completed on David, proving him trustworthy and someone who would be a faithful father to Alex.

The judge questioned David, Michele, and Alex, asking Alex what he wanted. Alex turned his eyes to David and said, “I want to be his son.”

A stranger would decide the legal fate of these three people who already considered themselves a family. The courtroom held its collective breath. I glanced at the court reporter. Her face glowed. The judge smiled and said, “I now pronounce you Father and Son.”

The spell on the courtroom was broken as whispers again floated in the air. Did the whole room cheer or was it only my heart singing?

The once stone-faced judge grinned as he ordered a new birth certificate to be issued for Alex, proclaiming David as his father and decreeing that Alex and David’s last name would be the same.

Tears washed my cheeks and I offered thanks to God for the wonderful blessing of Alex. I could feel God’s presence as we emerged from the courthouse. And that’s when God reminded me that I was also adopted years ago when he made me part of his family.

I compared my spiritual adoption with what had taken place in the courtroom.

David initiated the process of adopting Alex - God made the first move toward me, before I knew Him.

My ties to the father of lies had to be terminated before God could be proclaimed my true Father.

Like Alex, I received a new birth certificate and my name was recorded in Heaven.

I was reminded of what another David wrote long ago–words God had spoken to him. “He said to me, ‘You are my son; today I have become your Father.’” (Psalm 2:6b)

The Naming of a Grandmother

2009-10-28T05:00:00.001-05:00

The Naming of a Grandmother

by Judy Vandiver

Several years ago, as my husband and I eagerly waited for our sixth grandchild to arrive, my son and his wife tried to pick out baby names. My son asked if there were any family names I might suggest. I reminded him that his great grandmother had named her second child Omega, hoping it would be the last". She went on to have five more children," I explained, "so there might not be much to this naming thing."

I know I should have shown more interest in the names suggested, but of far more concern to me was what the baby would eventually call me. While the parents may pick out a baby's name, the baby will often name the grandparents whatever they choose. I am currently known as Nana, Mom-Mom, Manny and Chicken-Nana. I was a little dubious about the name "Chicken-Nana" until I learned that this grandchild referred to the other grandmother as "Dead-Nana." I have since grown fond of the name "Chicken-Nana." My own parents were named Louisi-nana, Tractor Paw-Paw, Papa, and Pa-Two (as opposed to Pa-One.)

When my sister contemplated what she wanted her granddaughter to call her she finally came up with a childhood nickname the family used for her and asked to be called, "Mimi." Her husband said that since kids sometimes rhyme the names of grandmothers and grandfathers, he wanted to make it clear that he was not to be call "Peepee."

So what names would I choose for my grandchildren to call me? I think I would most like the name friend. I pray that I can always live up to that name and be a friend physically, mentally, and spiritually to each grandchild. And I pray that it will be a while yet before I become known as "Dead Nana."

Pictures of my two grandmothers:
Left: "Maimeau" was born Eva Etoile McCann and was known by many simply as "Miss Eva."

Right: "Momo" was born Valley Eva Reed. Here she is with six of her children. (Omega is in the brown plaid pants and my dad is peeking over his mother's shoulder with the red ball cap perched on his head.)

Below: My six grandchildren. That last grandchild is the one and only sweet little girl on the bench. (We might be from Texas, but those are not real guns.)

I Come to the Garden Alone - Part Seven

2009-10-27T05:00:00.005-05:00

I Come to the Garden Alone

Part Seven

By Judy Vandiver

Last week, as I sat in the garden having morning devotions, I read from Luke chapter two.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. (Luke 2:8-9 NIV)

I have always pictured a glow around the angel of the Lord, but these verses said the glory of the Lord shone around the shepherds. I tried to visually picture what that must have looked like. No wonder the shepherds were afraid. Seeing an angel would be frightening enough, but to be bathed in God’s glory, to have that glory actually shine around them, was enough to terrify them.

About that time, my husband snuck outside and snapped a picture of me. Later, when I downloaded the photos on my camera to my computer, a surprise greeted me. It wasn’t the fact that he had taken my picture, but that God had hidden another lesson for me in my garden. The lesson was invisible to me in the garden, but the snapshot had captured another God moment.

A single shaft of pure sunlight shone directly on my Bible. Tears spilled onto my desk as I realized God’s glory had shone upon His word as I sat in my garden. I marveled at the blessings that overflowed from His heart to mine. I thought how when we read the Holy Scriptures, it is only with the illumination of God that we understand them.

Several verses came to my mind.

For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. (Proverbs 2:6 NIV)

For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. (Psalm 36:9 NIV)

But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."(Ephesians 5:13-14 NIV)

What an amazing God we serve. More times than we realize, He illustrates His truth in nature, in everyday occurrences, and this week, through a snapshot.

I called for Steve to come see the picture. He, too, was awed by what God showed us in the photograph. He said, “I was afraid that it was too bright out there. I thought the sun might get in the way.”

“No,” I responded, “The Son never gets in the way.”

Personal Study Questions:

In what ways has God exposed you to the light of His word?
What blessings have you received from God as he directs your daily path?
What surprise revelations has God given you through nature?
As you read the Bible, ask God to shed light and understanding on His word.
Choose one or more of the three scriptures above. Meditate on it, then memorize it.

I Come to the Garden Alone - Part Six

2009-10-26T05:00:00.001-05:00

I Come to the Garden Alone

Part Six

By Judy Vandiver

I planned for this series of devotions on my gardening dreams and attempts to be in five parts. But this week, two related things happened in my garden and I found that God wasn’t finished with this set of lessons.

Let me tell you about the first incident. I enjoy staying up late at night and several nights ago, around midnight, I noticed that the fountain and waterfall in the back yard were still on. The problem, however, lay in the fact that the switch to control these items is on the backside of the house near a gardening shed. This is an unlit area of the yard and is pitch black at night.

I had no desire to traipse through the garden in the dark, so I did what any good wife would do. I woke my husband up. I didn’t intend for Steve to turn the fountains off, I just wanted to know where the flashlight was. Steve, however, said it was easier to go turn the water features off than it was to find the flashlight. So that’s what he did.

The next night, we forgot to turn the fountain and waterfall off again. Again, it was midnight. Again, I woke Steve up. The next day, hubby did something special for me. (No, he didn’t lay the flashlight out where I could find it.) He installed an extra light in the back yard.

It’s a small, beautiful light that focuses on the waterfall in the corner of the yard. It gives just enough light to see on the backside of the yard. And in addition, he installed a remote switch to turn off the light, the fountain, and the waterfall from inside the house. Isn’t he thoughtful? He said he did it for me, but we all know he did it because he likes his sleep.

But, Steve didn’t tell me about the light. During the day, I didn’t notice it, as it made no difference in the bright sunlight. Later that evening, Steve went to bed, and soon, I checked to see that everything was turned off and locked for the night. As I checked on the backyard, I saw the soft spotlight reflect and glimmer against the water trickling over the waterfall. It enhanced the feeling of peace I get from my garden. I've attached a picture of this corner of the yard.

Next, I did what any good wife would do. I woke Steve up to thank him for the new light in the garden. He eventually went back to sleep, but I stayed up a little longer, sitting in the garden, watching the light reflect and play on the water and rocks.

The next morning, I took my coffee, devotional book, and Bible to the backyard. I turned to Luke chapter two. As I read about an angel of the Lord appearing to the shepherds, I noticed that he came to them at night. The devotional book I read from commented that many times we can see God’s glory better at night.

I thought about this and I remembered the spotlight Steve had placed in the yard. I didn’t see the new light until it became dark. I didn’t notice it until I needed it. And then I wondered how many times, I have failed to notice God until I need Him for my selfish purposes.

I think many of us are probably guilty of this. Even when we recognize and live for the Lord, we don’t always notice His true glory until we are captured within a dark moment. Sometimes all around us must be dark before we notice our light source.

2 Corinthians 4:6 says:

For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. (NIV)

The first chapter of the Gospel of John tells us that Jesus is the light of this world. In His light, we can see ourselves as we really are. We all know light as something that dispels the dark. And we know that light is often described as the absence of light. Perhaps circumstances only seem dark, because our moment is temporarily void of the true light.

The next time you face a dark moment, ask God to shed His light on both you and your problems.

----------------------

Tomorrow we will finish this mini-sage of my gardening attempts and the spiritual lessons God taught me. Earlier this week, my husband took a picture in the garden. When we looked at the digital image on the computer we were both amazed to see something that had been unnoticed as we sat in the garden. God had yet another lesson. I'll share that lesson and the picture with you tomorrow.

Personal Study Questions:

When was the last time you experienced the true glory of God?

How has God been more visible to you in dark times than in untroubled days?

What areas of your life are currently in the dark or maybe in the shadows?

What light might God’s word illuminate on that situation?

Memorize John 8:12: “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

I Come to the Garden Alone - Part Five

2009-10-23T05:00:00.004-05:00

I Come to the Garden Alone

Part Five

By Judy Vandiver

This last week, we have looked at lessons to be learned from gardening mistakes. I’ve shared so many of my blossom bloopers. God has taught me many lessons in the midst of an area where I considered myself a failure. But this morning, I sat in my garden and enjoyed the beauty of his presence.

It’s taken me almost sixty years to have a garden close to what I always wanted. My husband and I have spent time, patience, and hard work on our back yard. We now have curved sidewalks, oval shaped flowerbeds, garden benches, an Italian water fountain, a rock waterfall, and many gorgeous plants. My favorites are still the roses, but to the left is a picture of a shrimp plant from my garden area. Yes, I have had it for awhile and it's still alive.

This morning all the plants are alive and beautiful. They are thriving. I can’t promise what tomorrow holds. But this one thing I know. God meets me in my garden regardless of my gardening skills. He is ever-present in my life; through the times when I’m successful and through the times when I am not.

So, what can a person who does not have a green thumb learn from Gardening? I have learned that God has important lessons for us even in (especially in) our failures. We must look for the hidden truths along the way. God has taught me to read and follow His directions, to be sincere in my faith before Him, and that His anointing oil can change me into something new and wonderful, allowing me to be a fragrant blessing to those around me.

I encourage each of you today to let God’s word take root and grow in your heart. Even when the garden is a disaster, God is in the midst of it. Only He can bring forth the blossoms that dreams are made of. I come to my garden alone, but once there, I experience God.

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Originally I Come to the Garden Alone was going to be written in five parts, but two things happened in my garden this week and I felt God teaching me lessons about His love and His light. I'll share one of those lessons on Monday and one on Tuesday.

Personal Study Questions:

In what area of your life do you believe yourself to be a failure?
What hidden truths are wrapped up in your belief?
What spiritual truth might God be trying to teach you?
What new seeds can you cultivate in your life?
What do you need to do to help those seeds survive?

I Come to the Garden Alone - Part Four

2009-10-22T05:00:00.009-05:00

I Come to the Garden Alone

Part Four

By Judy Vandiver

Over the course of my life, I have tried all kinds of gardens. Most of them have continued to be disasters of the earthly kind, while God has continued to guide me in spiritual growth in the midst of my failures.

One year, Steve and I decided to grow tomatoes. The plants looked healthy. After a lot of waiting, we finally noticed (if you’ve been following my blog, you’ll notice that waiting thing again) that we had some small green tomatoes on our plants. And just about the time they were looking wonderful, our neighbor walked across our shared patio area for a quick visit. He had just changed the oil in his car and still had the old oil in a bucket as we spoke. As Herb turned to go, he tripped, dumping the oil onto those gorgeous tomato plants. We tried rinsing the plants off but within a couple of days they shriveled and died

When Steve and I bought our second home, the yard was wonderfully landscaped. There was a great rose garden by the front walk. There were huge hydrangea bushes under the dining room window. We had three fig trees, a pear tree, a cherry tree, a black walnut tree, and three pecan trees. There were also quite a few trees and plants that I didn’t know the names of. We lived there for about 15 years. When we moved, two pecan trees and one fig tree had somehow managed to survive. Everything else was gone.

I’ve even tried rock gardens. That was the only time my garden flourished. I was finally growing something—moss and fungus covered the rocks.

My gardening failures have not stopped me from continuing to desire and dream of a beautifully landscaped yard. I love roses and from time to time, I once again try my hand at gardening. I’ll buy a beautiful plant or rose bush. They flourish for a while, but usually not very long. All too soon they wither, die, and end up in the garbage.

One day I came across a wonderful gardening secret. I found a type of gardening that was perfect for me. I am now the world’s greatest potpourri gardener. That’s right. I grow potpourri.

You see, potpourri is made from dead flowers! So now, I can grow sweet, little rose bushes, daisies, or whatever I like. When they die, they are just right for the picking. Just when they look like they are ready for the trash heap, I grab those dried out and shriveled up blooms. When someone comments on the condition of my little blossoms, I respond, “Yes, they are just about perfect, don’t you think?”

Sometimes I even deliberately pick one while it’s looking fresh and perky, just to get that right color or shape. Or maybe I want a rosebud. I have even gathered some wonderful botanical beauties that others call weeds.

I place these botanical beauties and withered blossoms in a dehydrator. The next day they are fully dried. But they are not potpourri yet! No... they’re just "deader" than they were before. They may be pretty to look at, all mixed together, but to make them into potpourri, I have to add another ingredient.

I place my dehydrated mixture in a plastic bag and add drops of scented oil. I close up the bag and wait. (Ever the waiting thing!) Not until the oil has time to be absorbed does the potpourri begin to give off a wonderful fragrance. Without the oil, all they can do is “look pretty.” I have found that I can even add gardenia fragrant oil to my rose petals and enjoy the smell I remember so well from my childhood and mother’s garden.

Sometimes the potpourri loses its fragrance. But all I have to do is add more oil. One bowl of potpourri can last forever.

Ok, you know it’s coming - my lesson from God. Here it is. I can look good to the world, but it’s not until I die to self and God anoints me with the oil of His Spirit—until that oil is given time to be absorbed, that I become more than something that just looks good. Once His oil is absorbed, I can give off a sweet fragrance to those around me. Just as the fragrance from the potpourri is not from the petals themselves but from the oil, the fragrance we give the world must come from God.

And just as I can make a rose petal smell like a gardenia, God’s spirit can change me into more than what I look like to the world. I must let His spirit permeate my soul. I must give it time to be fully absorbed—then I can let His fragrance enrich those around me.

And just as I have to go back and add drops of oil occasionally to my potpourri, I must be dependent on the master gardener to keep me anointed with His Spirit. I must remain close in Him.

One night long ago, a man named Nicodemus came to Jesus and declared to him that he knew Jesus was from God. Jesus explained however, that it took more than knowing that. It took a rebirth. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.” Just as my roses have to die in order to be made into something new, to enter God’s Kingdom we must die to self and be born of His Spirit.

I found the following verses in The Message Bible. They come from the book of Romans.

But if God himself has taken up residence in your life, you can hardly be thinking more of yourself than of him. Anyone, of course, who has not welcomed this invisible but clearly present God, The spirit of Christ, won’t know what we’re talking about. But for you who welcome him, in whom he dwells - even though you still experience all the limitations of sin - you yourself experience life on God’s terms. It stands to reason, doesn’t it, that if the alive and present God who raised Jesus from the dead moves into your life, he’ll do the same thing in you that he did in Jesus, bringing you alive to himself? When God lives and breathes in you (and he does, as surely as he did in Jesus), you are delivered from that dead life. With His Spirit living in you, our body will be as alive as Christ’s! (Romans 8)

Personal Study Questions:

Have I died to self and allowed God to anoint me with the oil of His Spirit?
Does my oil need refreshing?
Do I give off a sweet fragrant attitude to those around me?
Am I willing to let the master gardener change me?
Read the 23rd Psalm and meditate on verse 5: “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”

I Come to the Garden Alone - Part Three

2009-10-21T05:00:00.003-05:00

I Come to the Garden Alone

Part Three

By Judy Vandiver

The last two days, I have shared with you, some of my failed attempts at gardening; how I wanted to meet God in my garden, receive blessings, and how I was convinced I had a black thumb. I thought God would never want to come to my garden area and there were no lessons from my disastrous flower growing. I was finding out, however, that God had much to teach me about Himself, even in what I considered a barren garden.

A sane person might think I would have given up on having a picturesque garden. And I might have, if I had not had a stunningly brilliant idea. I drove to the local dime store (we still had them in that day), and bought artificial flowers. They were gorgeous shades of blue and pink and I loved them.

I went home and "planted" my new blossoms in the flower box and in the muddy spot next to the front door. I know we shouldn't brag, but, honestly, I had the best-looking house on the street. If there had been a garden club, I’m sure I would have won a monthly award. Every time I went in and out of the house, I smiled smugly to myself. I had beaten the gardening game.

A few days later, I heard a noise from just outside the front door. When I opened the door, there stood my sister, Gwen and her fiancé, Kevin. They held their sides, doubled over with laughter. “How rude,” I thought. “They may not like my artificial flowers, but they could at least appreciate my efforts.”

I stepped on the porch to defend my blue and pink blossoms. I looked down and gasped. Someone had stolen my flowers. They were gone. In their place, someone had planted white flowers of irregular shapes.

Then I looked closer and discovered the problem. You see, this was before the days of silk flowers. My artificial flowers were plastic. Now, you might be able to plant plastic flowers in Alaska—but not in Houston—and certainly not in August. My gorgeous blue and pink flowers were now a bleached white. And as if to add insult to injury, the wax had melted and was dripping from what remained of the stems. To this day, my family reminds me that I can’t even grow artificial plants.

"Okay, God, here we go again," I thought. "What lesson do you have for me in these bleached and melted flowers?" I began to think about how plastic and fake my flowers had been. From a distance, they looked real enough, but under close examination, the truth was revealed. When they had been tried and tested, my flowers could not stand up to the heat.

God led me to Matthew chapter 15. Some Pharisees had come from Jerusalem to Gennesaret to ask Jesus questions. They wanted to know why Jesus’ disciples were not following all the Jewish laws. Jesus responded to them by quoting from the scriptures. He said, “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.”

God began to show me that when I claim to honor Him, but live a self-filled life, my worship means nothing. If all I am doing is acting religious, then I am as artificial as the plastic flowers. My actions and attitudes must be sincere. If they are not, then Jesus is describing me when He calls the Pharisees hypocrites.

The Pharisees knew a lot about God, but they didn’t know God. It is not enough to study about religion or even to study the Bible. I must respond directly to God. I must come to know God in a very real and personal way. Then when tried by the trials of life, even though all else around me withers and dies, my soul won't melt like warm wax on a hot August day.

Personal Study Questions:

Do I worship Christ in vain?
Is there anything about my relationship with Christ that is plastic?
Are my actions and attitudes sincere?
Can my faith stand up under trials? Can it take the heat?
Memorize John 4:23-24 “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. ²⁴God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” (NIV)

NOTE: God has given me a special picture taken in my garden. I will share more about that at the conclusion of this devotional series on my gardening attempts. The concluding devotional will be next Tuesday, Oct. 27. Tomorrow's devotional, I'll share how I found "just the right kind" of garden for myself.

I Come to the Garden Alone - Part Two

2009-10-20T05:00:00.006-05:00

I Come to the Garden Alone

Part Two

By Judy Vandiver

I do hope that you enjoyed yesterday’s blog and my ill-fated attempt with planting flower seeds. Another gardening story that my family seems to take great delight in retelling happened when I was in my early 20’s. I still had not developed any gardening skills, but I kept trying.

My husband and I had just bought our first home and much to my delight there was a large brick flower box in the front yard and a good size flowerbed right by the front door. These areas were screaming for a gardener’s touch to add color and variety to our yard.

I had already learned my lessons with the seed thing, but I saw one of those ads in a magazine for a carpet of blossoms. It came rolled up like a carpet, the ad stated, with seeds already planted in this sod roll. All you had to do was roll it out... water it... and wait. (Again with the waiting, but that’s another lesson.)

I cut out the ad, sent in my money, and soon my carpet of flowers arrived. I checked and double checked the directions this time and did exactly what was printed. I rolled the carpet out in the front flowerbed by the door, watered it, and waited.

I have to tell you I wasn’t as excited as I had been when I planted those first seeds as a child. In fact, by this time in my gardening career, I was very doubtful, but the ad proclaimed the product guaranteed. So, I watered and waited. All I ever got by the front door was a muddy mess. Those seeds never did sprout.

Still wanting to make the front of my home have some curb appeal, I decided to try a different tactic. I went and bought some pot plants. “Let's forget about the seed stuff,” I thought. “I’ll buy something that’s already sprouted.” And you know—it looked good for a while.

But I just don’t have a green thumb. My fresh blossoms drooped, wilted, then dried up. All too soon, they were dead. There was no longer any life in the pretty flowerpots.

Later, as I reflected on those plants, I realized I wasn’t very diligent about watering them. With the carpet of blossoms, I watered them when I first unrolled the seeds. But I soon neglected them in favor of other things that had grabbed my interest. I did the same thing with the blooming potted plants. In addition to not watering them, I also did not expose them much to the sun. Poor things probably never had a chance.

When I abandon the feeding and watering of my soul, I become as wilted, dried up, and dead as neglected potted plants. My soul craves a daily dose of the “son.” Old Testament scripture states:

From early on your Sanctuary was set high, a throne of glory, exalted! O God, you're the hope of Israel. All who leave you end up as fools, deserters with nothing to show for their lives, who walk off from God, fountain of living waters— and wind up dead! (Jeremiah 17:12-13 The Message)

But there is one who can revive my sagging spiritual state in a way that I was never able to do for my plants or my carpet of blossoms. More verses from The Old Testament:

How exquisite your love, O God! How eager we are to run under your wings, To eat our fill at the banquet you spread as you fill our tankards with Eden spring water. You're a fountain of cascading light, and you open our eyes to light. (Psalm 36:7-9 The Message)

I love those verses. We can run under God’s wings, be fed at a banquet, and filled with Eden spring waters. And better than any physical sunlight is the light that He nourishes us with even in the shadows.

My poor plants had no choice about its food and water. It was up to me to feed them. God gives us a choice, however. We can choose to be fed and watered. We can go to the source of nourishment. Or we can allow ourselves to wither and die.

Personal Study Questions:

Have I watered the Spirit of God within myself?
Are there areas of my spiritual life that are dying?
Am I diligent in watering my soul, or do I become distracted by other things in life?
Do I expose my soul to the “son” or a daily basis?
Memorize Psalm 36:7-9 “How exquisite your love, O God! How eager we are to run under your wings, To eat our fill at the banquet you spread as you fill our tankards with Eden spring water. You're a fountain of cascading light, and you open our eyes to light. (Psalm 36:7-9 The Message)

Tomorrow, I’ll tell you about my gardening attempt that my family doesn’t let me forget. A small hint—it’s unreal.

I Come to the Garden Alone - Part One

2009-10-19T05:00:00.007-05:00

I Come to the Garden Alone

Part One

By Judy Vandiver

I have a beautiful patio and garden area where I enjoy morning devotions. The garden is peaceful and when there, I can feel God’s closeness. I’m reminded of my maternal grandmother’s favorite song, I Come to the Garden Alone.

But I haven’t always had a beautiful garden. I used to come to the garden alone because I don't want anyone to see the desolate spot in my yard. I thought of putting up a sign that said, "Stop! Do not enter! Go away!" In fact, most of my life, my gardening attempts have ended in frustration and failure. Over the next few days, I would like to share with you some of my gardening mishaps and what God taught me. In the garden, God walks with me and talks with me. I know I am His.

When it comes to gardening, I am known for my black thumb. My family loves to tell stories on each other. When they want to have a good laugh on me, they tell of my gardening attempts. Just get anyone of them going and they will soon be laughing so hard that you won't be able to hear what they are saying. Even I have to laugh when I reflect on some of my futile attempts at tilling God's earth.

All my life, I have marveled at the miracle of growing things. I have heard countless object lessons on the glorious miracle of how God transforms tiny seeds into mighty and beautiful plants. My grandmother used to tell me how God spoke to her in her garden. "I draw spiritual strength," she said, "from the time I spend with God in nature. I come away feeling refreshed and renewed in my soul. It is in my garden," she continued, "where I feel blessed by God."

I want to receive blessings like that. But alas… I couldn’t grow anything. Therefore, I assumed that there were no lessons from God that I could learn in my garden. I wasn't even sure God wanted to spend time in my garden. Perhaps, like my family, he was having a good laugh.

Now, I know many of you may say you don’t have a green thumb, but some of my greatest blunders have been with plants. As I have reflected on some of these blunders, I have begun to find spiritual insight and blessings. God has shown me that he has many valuable lessons for me—even in my failed gardening attempts.

The first recollection I have of trying to be a gardener was when I was about 5 or 6 years old. My mom and Dad were great gardeners. Dad had many gardens that produced mega amounts of super vegetables. Mom has always had great houseplants and flowerbeds. I remember Mother having a gorgeous gardenia bush in our yard. I thought those flowers smelled wonderful.

One day when I went with Mom to the store, she bought flower seeds. I asked her if I, too, could have some seeds and plant my own flowerbed. I was delighted when she said yes.

When we got home, Mom and I went into the back yard. She marked off a small portion of her flowerbed. "This is your section of the flower garden," Mom said. "You'll have to work the soil before you plant your seeds. You must prepare the soil to receive the seed."

I watched attentively as Mom prepared her soil. This looked easy. In fact, it looked a lot like when my sisters and I would play and dig in the back yard. “Nothing to it,” I thought. I was soon working the ground as I had seen Mom do, breaking up the soil, which I called dirt, then I prepared to plant my seeds.

I was so excited. The lady next door, Mrs. Hodges, was outside. I don’t ever remember any other time that I talked with her, but I recall that I called to her to come and see what I was doing. "Look at my garden," I said. "I'm planting seeds. They are going to grow and become flowers like Mom's. They are going to be so beautiful. They are mine and I'm going to do it all by myself."

As I continued to chatter away, Mrs. Hodges just smiled, nodded, and went back into the house. She wasn’t nearly as excited as I was.

I couldn’t wait for my flowers to sprout. Mom explained, however, that now came the hard part—the waiting. "The waiting is necessary," she explained, “and even though you can't see them, something wonderful and mysterious is happening to your seeds. They are preparing to become blossoms."

Blossoms! What a glorious thought. “I'm going to have blossoms.”

Every day I checked to see if my little blossoms were ready to make an appearance. I would look at the picture of the flowers on the now empty seed packet. “Would my blossoms be as gorgeous as the photo? Would they smell as fragrant as Mom’s gardenias?”

I continued to wait as mother had instructed, although not very patiently. Finally, one day as I entered the back yard I saw some green sprouts coming up. But they weren’t in my section of the flowerbed. They were in Mom’s section. Soon all of Mom’s flowers had sprouted. They were growing into sturdy healthy little blossoms. My section still had dirt.

I didn’t understand it. Neither could Mom. "Tell me what you did," mother instructed.

"I did just what you had did, Mom," I said. "I took out all the weeds in my section. I worked the soil. I put my seeds in the earth and I covered them up with dirt. I watered them and besides that," I added, "I have waited just like you said I had to."

Mrs. Hodges was in her yard and overheard my mother and me talking. She came to the fence. "I watched Judy plant those flowers,” she said, “and she did just what she said, but those flowers are never coming up."

My mom and I both looked on as she continued. "I think she must have buried those poor little seeds about six foot under. She dug a very deep hole, threw in the seeds, and filled the hole up. She was so excited that I didn't have the heart to tell her they were never going to bloom. She buried them too deep."

As an adult I began to reflect on this, the beginning of my gardening “Ok, God,” I asked, “what is the spiritual lesson and insight in this incident? Where is my blessing?"

I was sure that God would shake his head on this one. But he didn't.

As I thought about my little blossoms that never were, God began to write the following message on my heart. I can ask God for the desires of my heart. And even when he gives them, I can keep very busy doing what looks like all the right things. I can share with others and tell them about my joy and excitement. I can wait. I can hope. I can dream. But, I mustn’t forget to do one very important thing. I need to read God's directions.

With my flower seeds, I had been so busy studying the picture on the front of the package, that I forgot to turn it over. I had never read the back of the package. I'm not sure at that age that I even could read. But, today, when I look at the back of a seed package it usually says, place seeds in the ground and cover with 3 to 4 INCHES of soil. Not feet—but inches.

Have you ever been so busy doing for God; doing what you think He wants that you forget to consult Him? I have. He has given us very detailed directions for life. And in those directions, he cautions us when in 1 Sam 15:22, he says, "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.”

I had sacrificed my time and my desires, and unfortunately, I had even sacrificed my seeds, all because I had not read the directions. I sensed God pressing upon me a basic spiritual truth; we need to read his directions. We need to spend time in the Word. But wait, God shared something else with me. In James 1:22 God says, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says!"

Oh, the difference my little corner of the flowerbed could have experienced if I had read and followed the directions. Oh, the blossoms that could have been mine. Oh, the difference my little corner of this world can experience if I read and follow God’s word. Oh, the blossoms and blessings that are mine to enjoy. I come to my Garden alone, and even when my seeds don’t sprout, God meets me there.

Tomorrow, I will share with you another strategy I once had for creating a flower garden and what God taught me through my futile attempts.

Personal Study Questions

What seeds of faith have I hidden from the “son” light of God?
How would I compare my time spent reading God’s word? Is my bible reading time, dead, wilted, like a single wild flower, or a beautiful bouquet of blossoms?
Do I consistently strive to put into practice what I learn from God’s word?
Name one thing God tell us in his directions that I am not currently obeying.
Read and memorize Isaiah 35 1-2a: “The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing.” (KJV)

Teacakes and Memories

2009-10-16T05:00:00.000-05:00

Teacakes and Memories

By Judy Vandiver

I made a batch of teacakes this week. A simple thing to do. A plain cookie to eat. But they brought back some wonderful memories. My Aunt Teppy was a master teacake baker, and I used a recipe she handed down to me years ago. Mine didn’t rival hers, nevertheless, they were good and they made me smile.

When I was growing up, Aunt Teppy would call the house and tell Mother she had made teacakes. Mother usually responded, “Put on a pot of coffee. I’ll be right over.”

She’d gather up the four kids and we’d drive to Valerie Street. Once we arrived at my aunt’s house, she would pour glasses of milk and pass out teacakes to the kids. Then she and Mother would sit in the kitchen, dunking their teacakes in coffee, letting them get good and soft, and enjoying the sweet treats. The two sisters would chat, laugh, and eat more teacakes.

My siblings and I would sit in the small den, dunking our own cookies in our milk. We tried to imitate the grown-ups and would occasionally ask for our milk to be poured into coffee cups. We smiled, we laughed, and we asked if we could have more teacakes.

Aunt Teppy was never stingy with her teacakes. She knew she could always make more. Besides, I think it gave her pleasure to see us enjoy them.

Aunt Teppy went to be with the Lord last year. I miss her. And I know Mother misses her, too. So, when I made teacakes this week, I called her. “I just made teacakes,” I said.

“Put on a pot of coffee. I’ll be right over.” She and Dad were soon there. We poured our coffee. We dunked our cookies. We chatted. We laughed. And we had more teacakes.

I work from home and I stay fairly busy. But I’m glad I took the time to do a bit of baking and enjoy the important things in life. Some things just go better with teacakes. Like family, friends, and memories.

The Winning Team

2009-10-15T05:00:00.002-05:00

The Winning Team

By Judy Vandiver

Alex stood in the outfield, his head down and his shoulders slumped. He no longer watched the infield. What did it matter? No one seemed to be able to hit the ball far enough for him to reach him. In disgust, he took the baseball glove off and flung it to the ground. Then he did what any disappointed four year old might do. He cried.

His dirty hands, swiped at the tears and left streaks of brown across his sun burned face. Alex crossed his legs as he dropped to the ground. With his elbows on his jean-clad knees, he propped his chin up with both fists. Then he cried some more.

“Time out,” bellowed the coach. All eyes watched as he walked to the outfield and knelt next to the small, frustrated boy. Alex’s mother rose from the stands and joined them. The three sat on the ground as though having a pow-wow.

Sitting on the hard wooden bleachers, I could only speculate on the conversation. Soon, the pow-wow ended. Alex tried to erase the tears with the back of his hand.

The coach escorted Alex to a new in-field position between the pitcher and third base. Even from a distance I could see Alex’s head raise slightly with each deep breath he took. I could imagine the sound of sniffling with each lift of the dark hair. As the coach placed Alex in the newly created position, he lowered his mouth near Alex’s ear. Alex shook his head up and down.

Alex’s mother sat next to me in the stands. “He’s frustrated, because he feels his position is useless. I thought he should stay there, but the coach is moving him in field.

“It doesn’t really matter,” she continued, “they’ve already won the game.”

“What do you mean,” I asked. “They’re still playing. The game isn’t over.”

“For the young group, the T-Ball players, each team is only allowed so many runs per inning. Alex’s team is so far ahead that even if the other team gets their maximum runs on the next two innings, they could not catch up. So even though they continue to play, Alex’s team has already won.”

“Why don’t they quit? You know, call the game?” I asked.

“Because they are giving the boys a chance to practice their game by continuing to play. They’ll be better players for having this extra time. It just won’t change the final outcome of the game.”

“Oh, I understand,” I said, even though I wasn’t sure that I did. My eyes went back to the ball field. A redheaded youngster from the opposing team moved into the batter box. He swung and missed. He swung a second time and missed again. He swung a third time and his bat met the ball, shoving it in a straight line to the right of third base.

. Alex’s face broke into a broad smile as he darted forward. The third baseman’s mouth dropped as his eyes became large and rounded. Tightening his jaw and squinting his eyes, he made a dash for the ball. At that same moment, the pitcher burst from the mound, trying to outrun Alex.

All three four year olds arrived at the ball at approximately the same instant. Alex dove for the ball, hitting the dirt hard with his entire body. The third baseman piled on top of Alex, just before being sandwiched in when the pitcher nose-dived into the pile. The boys soon became tangled within themselves creating a ball of dust and dirt energized by six flaying arms and six thrashing tennis-shoe clad legs.

The coach again advanced onto the field. Plucking each boy from the heap, he unraveled the pile. As the pitcher and third baseman emerged empty-handed, tears flowed down their faces. Alex surfaced with the ball, but for some reason was crying as hard as the other two. The other six players on the team soon joined the trio in their bawling.

“Why are you crying?” shouted several people from the stands. “You’ve already won the game.” We sat there and watched the unhappy winning team.

Then I saw him. The little red headed boy sprinted around the bases. First, second, third, past the crying team members and on to home plate. He cheered for himself. His team cheered for him. A redheaded man in the stands cheered for him.

Alex’s team continued to cry. As their tears slowly began to subside, they walked from the field; their little bodies sagging, looking like old men returning from a weary battle, defeated and dejected.

The yells from the crowd, “But you won!” did nothing to help lift the spirits of the little boys who had played so hard. Those little boys, Alex included, went home that night looking like little puppy dogs dragging their tails.

As I sat down that evening for my quiet time with the Lord, I prayed, “God help those little boys with their attitude. They were poor sports and didn’t realize they were victors.”

“A lot like you.” I wondered where that thought came from. Reflecting on my own life, I realized that I sometimes act like the little four year olds on the ball field.

There have been times I have not been satisfied with the position God has given me and have wanted Him to create a position more to my choosing; like when He asked me to serve as a sponsor on a mission trip for teenagers. I enlightened God with several reasons why He should choose someone else. In reality, I just wanted an easier job in the Kingdom.

I recalled Paul’s exhortation to the Christians at Corinth. “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.”[i]

God went on to reiterate that even though I do not always act like it, as a Christian, I am on the winning team. From Genesis to Revelation, God’s word reveals that He is King over the whole earth and that someday “the devil will be thrown into the lake of burning sulfur.” Although that day has not come yet, I have read the “back of the book” and know the ending.

“So why,” I asked myself, “do I sometimes whine and complain to God as if Satan were in control?” “Life is unfair. It’s too hard,” and “I can’t get through this” have been in my speech too many times.

And all the time I am complaining, my adversary, the devil, is busy running the bases. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us to “be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”[ii]

Even now, years later, I can still picture those little boys squabbling among their own teammates instead of working together and concentrating on defeating their opponent. It is a constant reminder of how I should work to encourage fellow Christians rather than focusing on myself.

Perhaps Paul thought the same thing when he wrote to the Philippians: “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minding, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interest, but also to the interest of others.”

Alex is much older now. He has grown and matured. As I think back to the day of that T-ball game, I have to ask myself if I have grown and matured from the lessons God taught me. Some days I stand in the outfield, wondering when and if the ball will come to me. I pray that I will be not be found crying and disillusioned, but willing to play in the position the Lord gives me, doing so with a joyful heart. After all, I’m on God’s team — and we win!

[i] 1 Corinthians 12:12 NIV

[ii] 1 Peter 5:8 NIV

Where's the Calamine Lotion?

2009-10-14T05:00:00.002-05:00

Where’s the Calamine Lotion?

by Judy Vandiver

Earlier this year, Steve and I began a landscaping project for our backyard. This past weekend, we put some of the finishing touches on the project. The garden area is small, but relaxing, and a great place for morning devotions. As I sat outside this morning, enjoying the garden, I felt peaceful and close to God. My mind began to wander (it does that a lot) to Adam and Eve and to the closeness they had with God in their private garden.

I’m sure that in the beginning the garden was more relaxing than anything we can imagine. Banishment from this special haven must have been devastating. Let’s take a look back at what happened.

Satan tempted Eve by telling her she would be like God. Genesis 3:6-7 states:

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. (NIV)

The sin of Eve and her husband came about because they wanted to be like God. There was nothing wrong with that desire. But, they went about it in the wrong way. When they ate the fruit, they suddenly had their eyes opened. The first thing they saw was their nakedness. Two definitions of naked are: devoid of customary or natural covering and devoid of concealment or disguise.

The original couple, in the original garden, guilty of original sin, were devoid of the covering of innocence they had once enjoyed. They immediately hatched a plan to re-conceal themselves.

I imagine Eve inventing a new craft—sewing. She did not have a fancy sewing machine. She had never taken a home-economics class. But, she had to figure out a solution to her problem, and she needed to do it quick.

God saw everything as it happened. He saw Satan tempt Eve. He heard Eve give her reasons why they shouldn’t eat the fruit. He saw Eve as her hand reached forth. He probably even saw the juice of the fruit as it ran down her chin.

God watched as Eve offered the fruit to Adam. He saw Adam join Eve in her sin as he also ate of the fruit. There it was. God had caught them red-handed. He had his evidence. He could confront them now. But do you know what God did? He waited.

I don’t know how long God waited, but it was long enough for these two earthlings to contemplate their situation (their nakedness), formulate a solution (fig leaf clothing), and physically carry out their plan (sewing the leaves together).

Can’t you hear their conversation? It may have gone something like this:

Eve: Adam, go put some clothes on. You’re naked!

Adam: In a minute dear. Oh, Eve—what are clothes?

Eve: Well, I don’t really know, but I’m sure we can make some.

Adam: How are we going to do that, dear Eve?

Eve: Don’t be silly. We’ll sew the clothes, dear Adam, dear Adam.

Adam: With what shall we sew them, dear Eve, dear Eve?

Eve: With thread, dear Adam, dear Adam.

Adam: Thread? What’s thread?

Well anyway, you get the idea. And while this little scenario was played out, God watched and continued to wait.

I wondered what was He waiting for? I believe God’s waiting was all about timing. He could have stopped Eve before she took the fruit. His booming voice could have bellowed from the heavens and said something like, “Thou shalt not eat of the fruit of the Tree of Good and Evil.” But then He had already told them that.

I don’t know about you, but whenever I told my children, “Thou shalt not,” they were even more determined that they “shalt.” Matter of fact, when my mom used to tell me “Thou Shalt Not,” I shalted. I remember one time when I was about 9 or 10. We visited my aunt and uncle in the country. They had a beautiful tree in the yard and it was loaded with yellow, shiny, gorgeous pears. Mother said, “Thou shalt not eat that fruit.”

One of my cousins said she had eaten one of the pears and it had been good. Mother had gone into the house. She couldn’t see us. She would never know. So, we ate. They weren’t the best pears I had ever eaten, but we decided Mother didn’t know what she was talking about. And we ate some more pears. It wasn’t long before those not-quite-ripe-yet pears began to have an effect on us.

Mother didn’t have to scold us or remind us what she had told us. We were already painfully aware that she had been right.

God could have bellowed out “Thou Shalt Not,” at any moment. But He had already told them that. I’m not sure it probably would have done any good at this point to repeat Himself.

God could have confronted Adam and Eve immediately when they were stunned by their nakedness. What was He waiting for?

I believe He waited long enough for several things to happen. First, He gave Adam and Eve time to realize their sin and their nakedness themselves. Note: their nakedness was not their sin, but only the outward evidence of their sin. God let what they had done sink in. It’s one thing to be told you did wrong and it’s another thing all together to “know” you did wrong. God was waiting for them to “know” it.

Next, God waited long enough for them to try to fix the problem themselves. They came up with this brilliant solution with the fig leaves. When I read that, I want to say, “Duh!” Have you ever picked figs? I have. Those fig leaves get scratchy and if any juice from the figs gets on you, you will itch and ask for the calamine lotion.

So God waited while they sewed their little fig leaves together. When they had completed their masterpiece, and just about the time they started scratching, God had waited long enough. God entered the Garden.

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?” He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” (Genesis 3:8-10) (NIV)

Now Adam and Eve had fixed their little problem. They were no longer naked. They have these great outfits made from scratchy fig leaves. Why, then, do they run and hide when they hear God coming?

I believe they hid for the same reasons we try to hide today. Because no amount of fig leaves could hide their nakedness from God. The nakedness wasn’t on the outside. It was on the inside. God could see the nakedness and emptiness—the barrenness of their hearts.

We can dress ourselves up on the outside, say the right things, wear the right things, and to the world “do” the right things. But our hearts are still bare and naked to God. We still “know” our sins and so does our God.

God doesn’t always rush in to condemn us. Sometimes He lets us realize our dilemma on our own. He lets us try to work out our own solutions, which can often be more disastrous than itchy fig leaves. Then, when God comes, He doesn’t bellow. He comes softly in the cool of the evening, like a gentle breeze and softly asks, “Where are you? Where are you?”

God knew where Adam and Eve were. He knows where we are today. Yet He gently asks, “Where are you?” Adam and Eve had to come before God in their nakedness, in their shoddy attempt at clothing. God spelled out the consequences of their acts. Then He made them new clothes from animal skins. These kinds weren’t as itchy.

When we come to God, we have to confess our sins to Him and we must still face the consequences of our sins. But God clothes us with a new garment, one from animal skin. This garment was created because God’s most precious lamb spilled his blood for you and me.

Adam and Eve were no longer in the Paradise God created for all mankind, but still God did not forsake them or leave them.

God does not leave us alone today. He still sees us. He still comes and asks, “Where are you?” What fig leaves have you created? What are you hiding behind? Come forward and let God clothe you with the Lamb.

Personal study questions:

What fruit have you eaten that, like the pears on my uncle’s tree, have made you ill?

What nakedness have you tried to hide from God?

What fig leaves have you created? What solutions of your own making have you tried to apply to your life?

Just as Adam and Eve sewed fig leaves together, how have you tried to carry out your plans?

God asked Adam and Eve, “Where are you?” Contemplate this question spiritually. Where are you in God’s plan for your life? Where are you in your spiritual walk?

God Has a Better Deal

2009-10-13T05:00:00.001-05:00

God Has a Better Deal

by Judy Vandiver

I decided to clean out my desk drawers today. The decision was born out of necessity. I couldn’t find my calculator—the one with the imitation jewel buttons, the gaudy one. As I dug things from the back of the drawer and from under a pile of wadded receipts, I didn’t find the calculator, but I found an old reward card offering a discount from a local hardware store.

Granted the discount wasn’t high in dollar value, but it looked like a good deal on a small purchase. If I spent $15 at the store, they would reward me with a $5 discount. Percentage wise, that’s not a bad deal. I set the card on the corner of my desk and planned to stick it in my wallet later.

But the card called to me. It was a small card, about the size of a driver’s license, but it was packed with information. I picked it up and several things stood out to me. My name was typed on the front. The people at Ace Hardware know me. They have my name and number— member number. Apparently, this wasn’t a random offer, but a promotion for a group they identified as their customers. By putting my name on the offer, the hardware store had made the ad personal and identified who was eligible.

Another important piece of information was that the card told me what the offer contained. Short, sweet, and to the point. Five dollars off my next purchase of $15 or more of regular priced merchandise. And the card told me where to redeem the offer. They included the address of the nearest Ace Hardware. Then I found a disappointing bit of type. The card had expired. It had lurked far too long in the bottom of the desk drawer.

As I tossed the card and several broken ballpoint pens into the trash, I compared the card to an offer God made. Just as the hardware store offered a reward to a group of people they identified as theirs, God has offered promises to His children. And He makes His offer personal. In 2 Chronicles 7:14, God says, “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (NIV) Notice that the forgiveness of sins and the healing of the land weren’t for everyone. It was for a select group.

Ace Hardware had told me that I had to do something if I wanted my five-dollar reward. A $15 purchase was necessary to activate the reward. Isn’t that what God said in the verse quoted above? Not the $15 part, but the condition. “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves . . . “ God outlined in this verse, and all His promises, what is required of us to gain what He has promised.

Ace Hardware told me where to find my five-dollar reward. Scripture tells us “the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: ‘Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.’” (Genesis 15:1 NIV) And Jesus stated, “Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven." (Matthew 5:12 NIV)

The reward from the local store was a limited time offer. It’s no longer valid. Jesus told his disciples, “"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come, “ and “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” (Matthew 24:42, 44 NIV)

The local hardware store put the offer of their reward in writing, then waited for a response from me. The Holy Scriptures is God’s outline and offer of our reward. He put it in writing, both physically and spiritually upon our hearts. He is waiting for a response.

The Ace Hardware ad was a good marketing campaign. They included all the necessary information. However, God has a much better deal.

Who

Ace has my customer id # on the card. They are offering it to their customers.

God offers his promises to His children.

What

Ace promises me a reward of $5, but I have to do something first – in this case spend more money.

With God, when he promises us something, you will find you must do something first, even if that condition is just that your believe.

Where

Ace tells me where to find the local store. They tell me where I can get this reward.

God is our reward and our reward is in Heaven.

When

Ace won’t be offering this reward forever. They tell me I must act now, because it has an expiration date. Unfortunately for me, that date has come and gone. It’s too late to get in on this good deal.

God’s promise of rewards won’t last forever either. He doesn’t tell us the expiration date for us individually or as a whole. If I want in on this good deal, I need to act now.

Why?

Ace sent this notice to me in hopes of a response.

God sent a notice to me because He wants a response.

Ace wants money.

A Few Pennies More

2009-10-12T05:00:00.004-05:00

Compose

A Few Pennies More

By Judy Vandiver

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. (Mark 1:35 NIV)

I walked up to the sales counter with my purchase—a medium size bottle of perfume. The sales girl scanned the bar code on the brightly colored box. “Did you know we are having a sale?” she asked. For just a few pennies more you can buy the large bottle of perfume?”

She showed me the sale bottle and told me that the cost. It was only five cents more than the bottle I had chosen, but the size was almost double. Of course, I ended up buying the larger bottle.

Can you imagine someone refusing to spend a few more pennies to get almost double the perfume?

God reminded me that sometimes in my Christian walk, I have refused a good deal. I choose to have a medium quality day, when I could spend a few extra minutes—just a few pennies more—with Him. Those extra moments can enhance my spiritual walk, give me a fuller, richer version than the mediocre walk. What a bargain and what a deal.

Christ said He came that we might have life in abundance. This doesn’t mean a longer life, but a life that is rich and full versus one that is commonplace, small, or lean.

Although Christ has already paid for us to have such a life and it is free for our taking, we still must give up something to receive it. We must give up ourselves and our will. As Christian, we sometimes tell God we’ve given him ourselves, but we hold back some of our heart, our time, our talents, or our resources.

I urge you to give a little more today in your prayer or devotional time. Give more today of your talents. The return on your investment is phenomenal .

Spend a few pennies more today on your spiritual self.

* * *

Father, I thank you for giving me examples from everyday life to illustrate lessons you want me to learn. Help me realize the value in spending time with you. Show me areas that I have not completely turned over to you. Teach me about the abundance of your love and grace, that I might experience in my life all that you desire for me. Amen

Well, Bless Her Heart

2009-10-09T05:00:00.001-05:00

Well, Bless Her Heart

By Judy Vandiver

A phrase used often in the part of the U.S. where I live is “bless her heart” or “bless his heart.” It’s been said that you can get away with the worst insult possible, as long as you preface it with “bless her heart.” Imagine me commenting, “Bless her heart, she’s gained so much weight she looks like a cow,” without the benefit of the blessing. It’s even kinder of you, if you add the word well. Many times you can let your opinion be known by saying nothing more than, “Well, bless her heart.” (Note: pronunciation in this case draws the word well out very slowly and has more than one syllable.)

As I listened to one of my favorite preachers recently, he reminded us that we use the word bless and blessings rather liberally. The next time you sneeze in a crowded room, try counting the number of times someone says, “bless you.”

The focus of today’s Bible study contains a blessing for all mankind. Let’s continue with the scriptures from Genesis chapter one. Since the scripture reference is longer today, I am only going to quote a small part of it. For the entire scripture for this study read Genesis 1:24-31.

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."
So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. (Genesis 1:26-28a NIV)

Most of those reading this Bible study probably have a good idea that when the scripture says we were created in God’s image, that the intent is spiritual rather than physical. I have written in the margin of Bible, “God made us heirs and partners” and “To understand who I am supposed to be, I need to understand God.”

As I studied this passage, I noticed that on days one through five, God called each thing He created into being. When He said ‘let it be,’ it was done. But on day six, God said, “Let us make.” With man, God got personally and physically involved in the creation. With man, He got His hands dirty. We are that special to Him.

When He was finished, He blessed us. Adam Clarke’s commentary says that this verse means God marked man as being under his special protection. And then He gave us a command. He told us to increase in number.

I think it’s important to remind ourselves here, how we were created. Without concentrating on how (i.e. in what fashion?), we miss what is to be multiplied. For humans, to bear fruit and increase in number means to bring others to Him and to reproduce God-like qualities.

When God finished, He looked at us and saw that what He had created was very good. It is a very good thing, being created in God’s image. He did not give that quality to the marine life, the birds, the plants, the seed-bearing fruit, the livestock. He gave that quality to man.

Sometimes I mess up and don’t live up to my potential of God-like qualities. I come back to Him and He continues to work with me, shape me, and bless me. I remind myself that I’m not in this world alone. God and I are partners. And quite honestly, I think there are times, God shakes his head, looks at me, and says, “Well, bless her heart.”

To Ponder On:

How was the creation of man different than anything else God created?
List qualities of God that are mentioned in Scriptures.
Which of these qualities have I exemplified lately?
What are some concrete ways I can bear fruit for God?
Memorize: Psalm 103:1 “Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.”

His Eye is on the Sparrow

2009-10-08T05:00:00.001-05:00

His Eye is on the Sparrow

by Judy Vandiver

Today’s Bible study centers on the next four verses in Genesis 1. Go ahead – read them – then we can discuss what happened.

Genesis 1:20-23

And God said, "Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky.” So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth." And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day. (NIV)

Did you sense how awesome God is? If not, maybe you read the verses too fast. Go back. Read them again. Slower.

“And God said, ‘Let the water teem with living creatures.’” The dictionary defines the word teem to mean “to become filled to overflowing, to be present in large quantities.” He didn’t make a few fish, - a gold fish, a guppy, and a whale, then stop. He made thousands of different species. The life forms that have been identified as living in the oceans and seas is more than 230,000 kinds. And scientist are finding new species every week.

One report states that 103 new species were found in 2004 and a typical week identifies two or more new aquatic life forms. Last Saturday, CNN reported that last year more than 28 new species of fish were found in one area of Southeast Asia. That’s just in one area of the world. When I think of the number of living creatures God created to populate the seas, it boggles my mind.

Did you know that fish:

have a respiratory system, digestive system, circulatory system, excretory system, sensory and nervous system, sensory organs, muscular system, reproductive system, and immune system?
exhibit behaviors associated with fear and pain?
fish have been observed rocking their babies?
have brains divided into several regions or lobes?

Guess who did all that? Okay, you don’t have to guess. It’s written in the Scriptures for us. God did that. Isn’t He awesome? (Awesome means terrific and extraordinary.)

My mind was trying to picture all the fish God created, then I realized, the verse didn’t say he created “fish.” It said he created “living creatures.” There are many living creatures of the sea that are not considered fish. Alligators, manatees, dolphins, whales, and turtles are among that group.

Scientists believe that by 2010, they may have correctly identified more than 2 million different species of marine life. No wonder the Bible tell us, “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” 2 Peter 3:8 NIV.) Surely, it would take that long to dream of, design, and create that many animals.

“And let the birds fly above the earth.” There are over 9,900 known species of birds. Did you know:

a bird's heart beats 400 times per minute while resting and up to 1000 beats per minute while flying?
hummingbirds eat about every ten minutes, slurping down twice their body weight in nectar every day? (And yet, they stay so petite. How do they do that?)
some birds have three eyelids?
in order to scare away predators, Giant petrels, a type of seabird, throw up all over the intruder?
the Arctic Tern, which is a small bird, can fly a round trip from the Arctic to the Antarctic and back? This can be as long as twenty thousand miles per year.
pigeons can see ultraviolet lights?
that emus mating call sounds like the beating of distant drums? (I once had an emu in love with me – no joke!)

A little side note here. Last weekend my husband volunteered us to babysit both our son’s dog and our daughter’s dog – same weekend. They really were well-behaved animals, but I was glad when Sunday evening arrived and my house became animal free again. That’s why I’m thinking that after God made the numerous sea creatures and the thousands of different kinds of birds, He would have thought that was enough. No. He blessed them. He told them to go multiply. Fill up the earth.

“And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.” He wasn’t through yet. Tomorrow would be his best day yet.

To Ponder On:

Go outside today – maybe your back yard or a park - and look into the sky. I want you to tell the first bird that flies over, “Hey, you. Did you know that God designed and created you? (If the neighbors don’t have you escorted off by men in white suits proceed to the next “to ponder on.” )
If you haven’t scared all the birds away, sit and watch one or two for a while. Even the common pigeon is not so common. See how many different kinds of birds you spot before the hurried world calls you back.
Find a copy of the song, His Eye is on the Sparrow, and sing it at the top of your lungs. (If you need to, you can come back inside for this one.) Here’s a link where you can listen to the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Jvkqtnq6Q8
Memorize Matthew 10:29-31. “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
Read Psalm 8. Paraphrase it back to God.

When the Dark Moments Come

2009-10-07T05:00:00.002-05:00

When the Dark Moments Come

By Judy Vandiver

One of the darkest times I have experience was following major surgery. The immediate physical danger had passed and I was healing. Or so I thought. But medications prescribed to speed my recovery brought on another problem as I spiraled into a deep depression. I was exhausted, but couldn’t sleep. I was hungry, but couldn’t eat. I wanted happiness, but continually cried. I struggled like this for several weeks. I will probably never forget the feelings of despair during those dark and lonely weeks.

God knew my darkest moments before the beginning of time. I decided when I reached Heaven, I would ask Him why He had not removed those moments from my path. I thought, “If He saw them, knew they were bad, had the power to change them, and loved me; why didn’t He do something about it?”

One day I realized I don’t have to wait until I get to Heaven to ask Him. I prayed, asking Him for wisdom. I can see now where many of what I considered my low points or times of despair, were actually the very things that shaped me into who I am today.

My husband used to raise a menagerie of animals. Chickens were among them. One time, during a cold spell, Steve brought an incubator full of eggs into my kitchen. For three weeks, I daily worked around the eggs. Finally, I heard small tapping noises coming from the area of the incubator. I peeked inside. Tiny cracks, like scratches on a piece of furniture, appeared on some of the eggs. Within days, the incubator (and my kitchen) was filled with soft, high-pitched chirps.

But one egg remained. I could hear the tapping. I could see the cracks. I could hear peeps coming from inside the egg. But the chick was having trouble. I told Steve how I hated to watch him struggle so much. We thought maybe he had an especially hard shell. We knew not to break his shell away completely, but maybe. . . just maybe. . . if we helped widen one of the cracks, he would be able to peck his way through the rest.

So, we gently increased one of the small openings the chick had made. Not too much. Just a little. And it worked. Very soon, the final chick joined his brothers and sisters. But, within hours, we noticed something was wrong. By the next morning, the chick was dead. He wasn’t strong enough to survive.

We realize now that when the chick was in the dark interior of the egg, trying to get into the light, he was being strengthened. Steve and I had made it too easy for him. He didn’t develop into the strong chick he needed to be.

God showed me that when I dwelled in my dark moments, He could easily have brought me into the light. But He would have done so at the risk of my becoming weak. It was the chipping away at the shells of life that strengthened me and helped me grow.

When I went through the depression I mentioned earlier, many of my family and friends showed great concern. I could see on their faces that if they could, they would have instantly helped me into the light. But it was in the dark moments, that I learned what I was made of. It was in the dark moments that I saw my need for Christ. And it was in the dark moments that Christ ministered to my spirit.

Genesis 1:14-19 is the scripture reference for today’s Bible study:

And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth." And it was so. God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. He set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.

God knew we would have dark moments. He knew that we needed them. But how wonderful that when He physically created the sun, moon, and stars, He also made sure there would be light, even in what we call “the dark.”

And when He created spiritual light for us, He explained that He is the Light. He is the One that will illuminate our paths. John 8:12 tell us that Jesus addressed a large crowd. He said to them, “I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not be walking in the dark, but will have the Light which is Life.”

Just as God created the moon and stars for physical light on Earth, he reminds us that He too, will shine—even in our darkest moments. You may have to be more observant. You may have to concentrate on the light rather than the darkness, but isn’t that the same for us with physical darkness. But the darkness cannot overtake our Lord. Scripture tells us, “The Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it.” John 1:5

To Ponder on:

What happens if you enter a dark room and flip the light switch? What happens if you enter a dark room and do NOT flip the light switch?
Was the room really in total darkness without the electrical light? What allows you to “see” in a darkened room? Which changed – you or the darkness?
We all experience dark moments, but God can dispel the darkness. Can you recall a dark time in your life? What happened?
In your dark moments, did God dispel the darkness? If your darkness remains, He is the source of light. Go to him for light.
God continued to shape the Earth. When He made us our shaping began, but God wants to continue shaping us today. Are you allowing God to shape you?

Eat - Eat - Eat

2009-10-06T05:00:00.000-05:00

Eat—Eat—Eat

By Judy Vandiver

My grandfather’s favorite words were. . . “Eat—Eat—Eat.” My father is known for repeating the phrase, and now, at every family get together, my brother issues the command: “Eat—Eat—Eat.” It seems like every time we gather, food is the central theme.

It’s not hard to see why family, friend, and other social get-togethers revolve around food. God saw our need for food before He created us. In addition, just as He provided the essential element of water, He provided the nutrition and fuel that would keep our bodies in working order.

Genesis 1:11-13 states:

Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And, it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.

I love that we see a set plan to God’s creation. Nothing was done by happenstance. There was no big bang. All of creation was planned for us. It makes me thing of the days before each of my children were born. Steve and I planned and prepared for their arrival long before their actual birthdays.

When our first child arrived, we named him David. But before he was born, we shopped for a crib, baby clothes, diapers, diapers, diapers. We also made sure we had baby bottles and formula. Our child would need to eat. It was up to us to provide for him and to have those things ready before he arrived.

Before God created humans, He prepared for the arrival. He created vegetation, seed-bearing plants, and trees that bore fruit.

Ah, the anticipation God must have felt as He made the nursery ready; as He stocked the formula; as He made sure our needs would be provided! And it was only the third day. He had more plans to set in place before our birthdays.

When I look at my life, I know that just as God prepared the world for all humans, He also prepared my world especially for me. He planned who would raise me, who my friends would be, and designed a helpmate custom-made for me. He knew what I would face during my days, and He planned strengths and weaknesses that would help me. (Yes, He even planned my weaknesses—places in life where I would have to depend on Him.) He knew where the highlights of my life would be and I believe He smiled. He knew where my darkest moments would be. . . and that will lead us into His next plan in creation. More about that in the next Bible study.

To Ponder on:

Think of an event you had to “wait” to arrive. Maybe a wedding, a birth, or a Christmas celebration.
What things did you do to prepare for the big event?
As the day grew closer, how did you feel?
In what ways do today’s verses relate to your anticipation of your big event?
What areas of your life can you see that were prepared by God?

Getting in Shape

2009-10-05T05:00:00.001-05:00

Getting in Shape

By Judy Vandiver

I can’t count the number of times I have said, “I’m out of shape.” As a child, I could jump rope, play hopscotch, or chase a lofty leaf for hours. Today, I get winded walking to the mailbox. Age, among other things, has slowed me down. But maybe there’s hope for me yet. Look at how God shaped the world. It was formless and void until He made it into much more.

Scripture records in Genesis 1:6-10:

And God said, "Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water." So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it. And it was so. God called the expanse "sky." And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.
And God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear." And it was so. God called the dry ground "land," and the gathered waters he called "seas." And God saw that it was good. (NIV)

As I studied these verses, I noticed two major themes. God began to shape the world and He provided an element the (yet non-existent) humans needed for survival.” His creation wasn’t finished. In fact, to the angels, it may have looked like a mess. But He had a plan and He began “shaping things up.” He started with the
water.

I searched for other scriptures that mentioned water. For many Old Testament characters, water was more important than gold. It helped maintain their crops, livestock, and parched throats. Water is still important for our survival today. As humans, we cannot exist without it.

Keeping in the theme of the last two Bible studies, I paraphrased these verses. Perhaps God said, “Judy’s life needs a little shaping up, but I have a plan for her. She’ll have needs and I know what her most important ones are. Physically, she will need water. Spiritually she will need “living water.”

John 4:10 states “Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.’” God provided for my needs before I or my needs existed. He became “living water” for me. He knew I would need Him in order to live.

Water is a symbol of life from Genesis through Revelations, where we read: “The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.” (Rev 22:17 NIV)

To Ponder On:

When you look back, do you see any areas of your life where God was shaping you?
Name two areas of your life that could use some “shaping up” today. Pray about those areas.
With God as your guide, choose one of the two areas you have prayed about. Turn that area over to God and allow Him to shape and mold you according to His plan.
Commit to keep your physical body hydrated. Drink plenty of water to maintain your health.
Commit to keep your spiritual body hydrated. Read God’s Word to maintain your spiritual health.

Note about Blog schedule. I received the suggestion to blog several days together regarding my different categories of Bible study, book reviews, writing tips, devotionals, and hodge-podge-blog. I hope that grouping similar blogs will help readers easily follow each theme. Therefore, for the next few days, I will post Bible studies that finish the study from Genesis chapter one.

When these are finished, I will publish several posts on another category. The purpose of all categories is to highlight the Glory of God. As always, I welcome comments and suggestions on blogs and future blog topics. You may comment by clicking on the word “Comments” below or e-mailing me at judy@judyvandiver.com.

There's a Hare in my Soup!

2009-10-02T05:00:00.002-05:00

There’s a Hare in My Soup!

By Judy Vandiver

Yesterday, I made a pot of beef stew. Nothing spectacular about it, but as the aroma hit my senses, time reversed at an alarmingly fast speed. It was 1981, and I stood in the kitchen of the house where we raised our children.

The large pot before me no longer contained beef stew. Back then, our budget didn’t allow for such luxuries except on the rarest of occasions. Instead, we often had rabbit stew.

My husband had bought two rabbits, and we allowed our children to name them. We explained that these two rabbits could be pets, but that they were for breeding purposes. The offspring of Thumper and Flossy were not to receive names. The future baby bunnies would become food for our table.

Our children nodded their heads in agreement. We found out later, that those nods didn’t represent comprehension.

Along came the bunnies. Cute bunnies. Bunnies that our children immediately named.

One day, as I stood at the stove, cooking a large pot of stew, our son David came running through the back door. “Mom, one of the rabbits is missing.”

I scraped the bottom of the pan, loosening meat that had stuck to the iron pot.

“Mom, did you hear me? One of the rabbits is missing.”

“I know. Go wash up for dinner.” No way was I telling the kids what had happened to the cute little animal.

My husband and I decided to call our supper “James Bond Stew.” The list of ingredients was to be guarded as if 007’s life depended on it. We swore an oath to each other; we promised; we crossed our hearts.

At dinner that night, my husband couldn’t resist temptation.

“Dad,” David said, “Little Bunny Foo-Foo is missing.”

“Well, son,” Steve responded, “Little Bunny Foo-Foo was walking through the forest. . .”

I gave him a James Bond look. “I’ll report you to Scotland Yard,” I interrupted.

Our daughter Melissa announced, “There’s a hair in my soup.”

“I know, honey,” Steve said. “There’s a hare in everyone’s soup.”

A Promise To Count On

2009-10-01T05:00:00.002-05:00

A Promise to Count On

By Judy Vandiver

Both the kids had been home sick with the flu. After seven days of playing nurse, I was physically and mentally exhausted. I was also spiritually underfed.

It started on a Thursday evening when my son spoke those words every mother shudders to hear, “Mom, I don’t feel good. I think I’m sick.”

Two days later, my daughter echoed the statement. The days following were filled with fixing special meals of soup for David and rice for Melissa, doctor visits, taking temperatures, giving medication, and trying to solve the age-old dilemma of “I’m bored. There’s nothing to do.”

I shared with a friend that if the kids didn’t get well soon and go back to school I’d be climbing the walls. She said that her son was sick, too, but he was 500 miles away at college. While I was tired of taking care of ill children, she wanted very much to be able to take care of her sick child herself. As I hung up the phone, I thanked the Lord that I, at least, didn’t have to wonder if my kids were getting their medicine and being properly taken care of. I felt ashamed that I had been resentful of having to take care of them. But I still felt tired.

I decided to go to the store and buy the kids a couple of children’s magazines. Since Valentine’s Day was a couple of weeks away, I also bought red and white heart shaped doilies, red and white construction paper, a red pen, white ink, glue, and valentine stickers. When I returned home, I spent 45 minutes showing them how to make homemade valentine cards. Finally, I left them on their own.

Ten minutes later, I heard, “Mom, he has the glue and I want it.”

“Well, she wouldn’t give me the red pen.”

“Okay, trade her the glue for the red pen.”

“Does he have to be in my room?”

“Okay, I’ll leave, but I get the white paper, red doilies, red pen, the glue, and the scissors.”

Ten more minutes passed and I heard, “Mom! There’s nothing to do.”

“Why, Lord?” I uttered. “Why are these kids bugging me?” Immediately I thought of my neighbor whose daughter had been killed a year earlier in a hit and run accident. I felt ashamed of resenting the sound of the word Mom.

“I should be grateful. I should be glad that I’m running from room to room and bed to bed,” I thought. “But I’m not. I’m tired and I want to rest and I want some time to myself.”

At last, the day came when David and Melissa were able to return to school. “A day to myself,” I thought. “The day I had been waiting for. This was the day that I had planned to feel exuberant. But I didn’t. I felt depressed.

I went to the Lord in prayer. “What’s wrong with me Lord?” I asked. “Why didn’t the exhaustion leave when the kids did?” I finally admitted to both the Lord and myself that I felt bitter and resented the interruption of my daily routine when the children had been ill. I knew my attitude was self-centered and I poured my heart out to the only one I knew could fix it.

I turned to my concordance and looked up the word sick. I flipped the pages back to Isaiah 33:24. I had to laugh aloud when I read the verse God had directed me to. It said, “No one living in Zion will say, ‘I am ill; and the sins of those who dwell there will be forgiven.’”

I began to praise the Lord, thinking about the day in the future when there will be no more sick children. There will be no running to and fro from child to child. And we will be rested. I knew then that God was telling me that my feelings were okay. I just had to give them to Him and His forgiveness would cleanse me. I gave Him the bitterness, the selfishness, and even the exhaustion. Then as I dwelled my thoughts on Him, the depression lifted.

I knew that in the days and years ahead, before we reach Zion, I would still have times of exhaustion, times of frustration, and times of resentment. But I also knew that God had given me a promise that I could count on. And with that thought, I went into the kitchen and began baking cookies for when the kids got home from school, all the time remembering, “No one living in Zion will say, ‘I am ill.’”

Using Word Lists

2009-09-30T05:00:00.007-05:00

Words and Word Lists

Helpful Hints by Judy Vandiver

There is an old saying that "a picture is worth a thousand words.” But unless you are writing a picture book, that won't work for most authors. We are people who are in love with words. We love the way they sound, the way they roll off the tongue, they way they make the reader visualize a picture - the one in the writer's mind. Choosing the right word can sometimes be difficult, but it doesn't have to be.

When I sit down to my computer, I rarely have a major writer's block. Ideas run amuck in my brain. My blocks come in smaller packages. Choosing the exact word I want can stop me like my mother yelling my full name. I can come to a place in my story where I want to say, "Tom was nervous.” The editor side of my brain cautions that I am telling the reader instead of showing them. So I work at showing.

I use the backspace key and start again. "Tom swallowed the lump in his throat." Ok. Good. That shows the nervousness. Editor brain screams my full name and tells me that is trite and over done. Backspace again. I ask myself what else Tom can do with his throat. Bob his Adam's apple, clear his throat, cough? Why does it have to be in his throat at all?

I've developed an aid I keep on my writing desk for times my backspace key is getting a workout. It's my handy little Word List. I have a list of words that are 'sight' words, 'sound' words, 'hearing' words, 'he said / she said' words. For this example, I might pick up a list of 'feeling' words.

As an example, let me tell you ten words I spot on the list at a glance. I let my eyes swoop the page and choose words at random. Bridled - Chilled - Dire - Frustrated - Imposing -Muddled - Private - Rigid - Shruken - Suffocated. Then I try to use the words to show Tom's nervousness. Here are some examples I came up with:

Tom bridled his nerves.
A chill encased Tom's heart..
He was in dire need of a glass of water.
Frustration gripped him.
An imposing lump rendered Tom speechless. (See, I got that lump in the throat in there!)
Tom couldn't make sense of his muddled thoughts.
Tom's legs went rigid.
He shrunk to the back of the crowd.
The doubt suffocated him.

Did you notice I only listed nine examples? That because I won't always use every word I pick from the list. And I don't actually write these down. I let my eyes rove the list, thinking of ways I could use a variety of words to show Tom's nervousness. I may come up with several. What if I wrote:

Doubt suffocated Tom and an imposing lump rendered him speechless. He was in dire need of a cool drink, but his rigid legs wouldn't let him shrink to the back of the crowd.

We are playing with the words here and they may not be what I would end up with, however, they show the reader a picture rather than telling them, "Tom was nervous." The end product gives the reader a chance to visualize Tom. And I used far less than a thousand words. (Of course, the story isn't finished yet... I only need 74,967 more words and I have a novel.)

The paragraph above could be the beginning of a novel. We don't know much about Tom yet, but he's in a crowd of people and for some reason he wants out of there. What happened? What did he doubt? The writer's mind swirls with ideas. I'll let you take it from there.

It doesn't take long to come up with lists of words. Of course, they're all there in your handy dictionary, but having choice words on categorized lists makes finding the right one speedier. And you can find categorized lists very quickly on the internet. Here is a link to one of my favorites: http://eqi.org/fw.htm. This list was designed to help with suicidal teenagers, but the list is helpful to anyone looking for a word that might validate feelings.

From that link, I found another list of Common Negative Feelings. If you want more, try googling descriptive words, sound words, or whatever it is you need at the moment. Print these lists and put them in a notebook. Keep it on your writing desk. If you are like me, the editor side of your brain will soon be shouting your full name, you'll pause, but your brain won't freeze. You'll reach for a thousand words and paint a picture.

Note: If this article helps you or you have additional ideas on word lists, leave a comment or contact me at judy@judyvandiver.com..

Book Review - Sparkling Gems from the Greek

2009-09-29T05:00:00.004-05:00

Sparkling Gems from the Greek By Rick Renner

Book Review by Judy Vandiver

Word lovers and Bible students will love Sparkling Gems from the Greek by Rick Renner. My sister and her husband presented me with this book last Christmas. I have thoroughly enjoyed it.

The book is described on the front cover as: 365 Greek word studies for every day of the year to sharpen your understanding of God’s Word. It has lived up to that claim.

The daily devotions are from two to three pages each; complete with prayers, confessions and study questions, and are dated for year-long study. For each devotional, Rick Renner looks at the scripture with emphasis on the Greek meaning behind many of the words. Meanings that the majority of Christians are not familiar with. In a simple to understand writing style, Renner explores the deeper understand behind selected scriptures. Delving into the customs, studying the true definitions of words, and taking a closer look, he has produced what he calls “sparkling gems” from God’s Word.

Today’s word study in Sparkling Gems comes from two words found in 2 Corinthians 11:27. “In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often,” (KJV). Renner looks at the Greek words agrupvia and pollakis, (translated into English as watching and often.) With a theme centered on being a team player, the devotional explores the way we act and react in the home, church, or work place. The reader is asked to consider not just the exceptional moments of our lives, but what are actions are during the mundane day-to-day living.

This has been a perfect devotional for me. The word lover in me always wants to know the deep depths behind chosen words. As one who loves the Scriptures, discovering the gems hidden in God’s Word excites me.

I checked on Amazon. This book sells new for a little over $23, but you can usually find a used copy around $16. Click on link below to go directly to Amazon’s listing for this book. Sparkling Gems From The Greek: 365 Greek Word Studies For Every Day Of The Year To Sharpen Your Understanding Of God's Word

Let There Be Light

2009-09-28T05:00:00.002-05:00

Let There Be Light

A Bible study lesson by Judy Vandiver

This week’s Bible study continues in the first chapter of Genesis.

And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day. (Genesis 1:3-5 NIV)

In verse two of Genesis, we saw that we were in darkness, but verse three shows that God did not want to leave us there.

While the story of creation may be looked at literally, it pays us to remember that God also speaks to us figuratively. In looking at meanings for the word “light,” it is natural to think of the sun, moon and stars that God created. However, throughout the Bible, light is referred to as more than “sunshine.” Light is illumination. Sometimes light is a physical illumination and sometimes an internal or mental one. When God proclaimed light for the world, stars appeared in the heavens, but I believe He may also have meant for there to be an illumination of understanding in our world.

We often refer to someone as “seeing” when they “understand” a thought or concept. If I use that terminology to paraphrase verse three, it might read like this: “And God said, ‘let Judy see. Bring Judy from the darkness she is in.’”

As I wondered about this, I thought of another meaning for “light” that is used throughout scripture. Light is also used to represent God. John 1:5 states: “In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” (NIV)

As I continued my paraphrase, I understood that what, or who, God wanted me to see and understand, was Him. If light is my understanding and light is God, my paraphrase could read, “ And God said, ‘Let Judy know Me and who I am.’”

Even when I was in a state of being formless, empty, dark, God said, “Let there be light.” Before I ever knew Him, He wanted me to understand who He was, to understand my awful condition, to understand He didn’t want to leave me like that.

Verse four tells us that God saw that the light was good and he separated the light from the darkness. Someday God will separate those who have lived in the light from those who have lived in darkness. And it affirms that the light is good. It is good for us to “see” and “understand” the ways of God.

Verse five states: “God called the light ‘day’ and the darkness he called ‘night’. And there was evening and there was morning – the first day.” What a reminder that when we come to know God, to see the light, and move from the darkness, it is but the first day. Our journey is just beginning. God has much more to come in His plan for us.

To ponder on:

1. Write down phrases where we use the word “light” in different contexts today.

2. How can these phrases be used to see a figurative or deeper meaning to these verses in Genesis?

3. List differences between physical darkness and light.

4. Think about these differences applied figuratively to the verses above.

5. Using the meanings you have thought of for light and darkness, paraphrase the verses above using your name, as if the verses were written specifically for you. Ask God to help you see and understand Him.

Thank You, Mr. Bell, But You Can Have Your Phone Back.

2009-09-25T05:00:00.003-05:00

Thank You, Mr. Bell, But You Can Have Your Phone Back.
by Judy Vandiver

I’ve been trying to think of some good lines to say the next time the phone rings and it’s a telemarketer. I don’t like telemarketers. Well, not them personally, but their annoying phone calls. It seems they love to start by inquiring about my health. “How are you doing, Mrs. Vandiver?”

The next time they ask here’s my response: “I’m glad you asked. I thought one of the relatives would call to check on me, but ever since the county started cracking down and limiting prisoner calls, I just don’t hear from them as much. And to tell you the truth, I’ve been feeling right poorly. I have a migraine in my big toe. I put a call in to my doctor, but she hasn’t called back. In fact, I thought it was her when they phone rang. I would go down to that free clinic, but after I drove the car into the lake, the kids hid my car keys. Hey, do you think you could come over and give me a ride to the clinic?”

Telemarketers aren’t the only annoying calls I get. I once answered the phone and was greeted by a caller trying to collect on a neighbor’s bill. Whom was the collector with? The phone company!

The lady explained that they couldn’t actually call the customer directly because they had discontinued service to them. Then she asked me if I would go next door and tell the neighbors to pay their bill.

She seemed surprised when I told her no. However, just so she wouldn’t think me totally uncooperative, I suggested that she contact the woman next door at her place of employment – which just happened to be the phone company.

About four years ago, I had a second phone line, for business calls, installed in the house. The very first call I received was from the collections department of the phone company. No joke! They wanted to know when I could make a payment against the outstanding phone bill. When I tried to explain that I hadn’t even used the phone yet, the man on the other end insisted that I make a payment immediately or my phone service would be disconnected.

“But, I’ve only had this number for ten minutes,” I told him.

I “googled” my new phone number and found out it had previously been assigned to the police department of a near-by community. (Ah, now we know why the county is cracking down on those prisoner calls.)

Hubby and I moved again last year. New phone number. Old problem. Note to previous owner of phone number: “Cassandra, call me. We need to talk. You know the number.”

And to top all my strange phone calls off was the one I received from the local hospital concerning an overdue bill. I explained that I had, indeed, been a patient recently, but it had been for minor surgery, not the delivery of a baby girl, as she continually insisted. After much arguing, I was informed that denying the delivery of my phantom child would not excuse me from paying the bill. By the way, she even told me that I had named my infant, Kimberly. Every year on April 15th, my husband again asks if we can claim Kimberly as a dependent on our tax return. I recently told him that Kimberly would now be thirty years old and had moved out.

So, if the phone rings in the night, I’m not answering unless the caller I. D. informs me it’s Cassandra, Kimberly, or the prisoner holding area of the local police station.

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Click on the word "comments" below and add your story of a harassing phone call. Keep it clean or I'll have to use my delete key.

Camouflaged Angels

2009-09-24T05:00:00.000-05:00

Camouflaged Angels

by Judy Vandiver

Steve looked out the window of the white truck at the endless miles of sand. Daily he drove the two and a half hours from Kuwait City to southern Iraq. As advisor on a military contract, he analyzed conditions at refineries producing Liquid Petroleum Gas.

The convoy drove through a military entry point on the border. “Alpha One, this is Lima 12. We are crossing the border,” Steve spoke into the radio. Paul, the driver, flashed the headlights on the truck, and Alpha One, a private security team, fell in behind their vehicle.

Breaking from the main convoy, Steve’s smaller convoy and Alpha One continued north, when six pick-up trucks approached from the opposite direction, pulling off to the side of the road.

The radio crackled. “They are getting out of the trucks and throwing large rocks at us,” warned the man in the lead truck. Paul maneuvered the vehicle close to the one in front of him, allowing little room between the trucks.

Steve watched as angry men pelted the trucks with rocks. Glancing to his right, he saw an Iraqi man stoop, pick up a large rock, then straighten as his arm raised over his head preparing to throw the stone. Steve’s eyes locked with the Iraqi man’s and he remembered a bible verse. “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” With that thought, Steve used his only two weapons, prayer and kindness. “I sure hope this works, Lord,” thought Steve as his face spread into a wide grin. Lifting his hand he waved in greeting, smiling to the Iraqi man.

The stranger stopped with the rock raised over his head. When he moved again, he shook the rock in a threatening manner, but let Steve and Paul pass. The vehicles in front of and behind them had been damaged by rocks, breaking out the windows in some of them, denting others badly. All trucks were still operational and no one was injured. The convoy kept moving further into Iraqi.

The last truck in the group reported via the radio. “The Iraqis are getting back in their trucks and headed in a different direction. Looks like the border is clear again.”

Shortly after arriving at the job site Steve’s cell phone rang.

“Load up,” the voice spitted out. “There’s too much trouble there. Pack up your team and get out of Iraq as soon as possible.”

Scrambling to load their gear, the small convoy, lead by Alpha One, soon sped down the road. Twenty minutes later the men had not seen any of the trucks that had broke from the larger convoy earlier. A column of black smoke rose ahead near the border crossing.

“This is Lima 12. We’re approaching the border. Can we get through? Over.” Several times Steve sent the message over the radio.

Finally an answer came sputtering back. “The border is closed. You can’t get through. Rioting has increased. Turn around and head north. Find a military base and shelter there. Over.”

As the small convoy turned around, and continued bouncing down the road, Steve prayed. “Help us, Lord,” He thought of Psalm 91. “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;”
Steve radioed Alpha One. “Where are we headed?”

“Shiba,” came the answer.

“We have to go through Zubair to get to Shiba. Too dangerous,” said Steve. “Find another place.”

An unfamiliar, but distinctly American voice came over the radio. “Lima 12, give us your location. We will give you military escort and try to get you into Kuwait.”

Within two minutes, Steve saw American soldiers headed in their direction. “Turn around. We’ll lead you to the border. When we get there,” continued the Sergeant, “you guys make a run for it. When the border patrol sees the U. S. military with you, they will open the border. If necessary, however, we’ll cover you and shoot your way into Kuwait.”

As the group got closer to the border, Steve saw several basketball and baseball size rocks scattered in the along the roadside. Tires burned in the roadway. “There are people in the road ahead. Get ready to floorboard it,” Steve cautioned Paul.

“Hey Steve, look,” said Paul. “God not only sent the U.S. Army to help us, those are British allies ahead.”

The British soldiers had dispersed the rebels, and were attempting to wet the fires with bottled water, the only thing available. An 18 wheel truck sat disabled on the side of the road, apparently damaged by the insurgents. “That could have been us,” thought Steve as he thanked God for their safety.

“God is so good,” whispered Steve. “I just never knew his angels wore camouflage.”

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Ephesians 4:32
Psalm 91:11

Tips for Writers - Walking the Dog

2009-09-23T05:00:00.004-05:00

You don't have to be a professional writer to put Tips for Writers into practice.

I attached the leash to Lady's collar, but before I picked up the other end, Mother's dog, Beau, snatched it up in his mouth. Quietly, and with the attitude of one who is older and wiser, he led Lady to the door. Mother pushed the screen open and Beau guided Lady down the steps of the old house. We watched in amusement as Beau walked Lady down the sidewalk to the end of the block, turn around, and prance home like a tour guide leading a visiting sightseer.

I recalled this scene the first time I heard someone use Walking the Dog as a writing term. I don’t remember where I was when I first heard this, but I do remember being totally confused. I read back over the passage being discussed and couldn’t find mention of a dog, much less anyone walking a four-legged mutt.

But as I listened, I realized the speaker wasn’t talking about a canine, but about details. Too much detail, including everything the character is doing, whether it relates to the story or not, is boring. It can bog down a story faster than a frisky greyhound and makes your writing sound amateurish. Walking the dog usually happens when the author tries to give a blow-by-blow account of the character’s day. Some things that happen to the character simply are not relevant to the story.

If you’ve been writing very long, you’ve probably read or been told that good writing incorporates details. While that is true, the details have to be pertinent to the story. Unimportant details make the reader ask, “who cares.” And if your reader doesn’t care, he’ll soon put your book down.

Tight writing means only including the details, the events, the happenings that are relevant to the problem or situation your character is facing. When adding information to a scene or chapter, ask yourself if the story would be unclear if you left that particular detail out. If the answer is no, chances are you don’t need those extra words.

If you, as the author, believe that a detail is important, be sure your reader eventually knows why it is important. Will the detail later provide a motive for the way your character acts or reacts? Will it set the foundation for an upcoming event? If the information you are trying to convey is just filling time for your character, you are probably walking the dog.

2009-09-22T05:00:00.020-05:00

Through the Fire

by Shawn Grady

Review by Judy Vandiver

I met Shawn two years ago at a writer's conference and was thrilled when he sent me a copy of his debut novel, Through the Fire. I was very impressed Shawn's writing skills, as his descriptive writing made me feel that I was a part of every scene.

As Firefighter Aiden O'Neill entered a fire, I felt that I was with him every step of the way, often wanting to coax him back to daylight and fresh air, but Shawn Grady pushed us both further into the flames and further into the story.

I thought this would be a "guy book,” full of firemen stories, but the creative writing transcends genders and tells a story of the personal fire the protagonist faces daily - a story that is poignant and universal. This is not just a story about a firefighter, but is a story of faith and hope. If you feel that you are going "through the fire,” pick up this book and find some answers. I give Mr. Grady an A+.

About Shawn (from his website):
Shawn Grady signed with Bethany House Publishers in 2008. He was named “Most Promising New Writer” at the 39th Annual Mount Hermon Writers Conference. Through the Fire is his debut novel.

Shawn has served for over a decade as a firefighter and paramedic in northern Nevada. From fire engines and ambulances to tillered ladder trucks and helicopters, Shawn’s work environment has always been dynamic. The line of duty has carried him to a variety of locale, from high-rise fires in the city to the burning heavy timber of the eastern Sierras.

Shawn attended Point Loma Nazarene University as a Theology undergrad before shifting direction to acquire an Associate of Science degree in Fire Science Technology as well as Paramedic licensure through Truckee Meadows Community College.

Shawn currently lives in Reno, Nevada, just outside of Lake Tahoe. He enjoys spending time in the outdoors with his wife, three children and yellow Labrador.

Visit Shawn's website: http://www.shawngradybooks.com/

Formless and Void

2009-09-21T05:00:00.005-05:00

Formless and Void

By Judy Vandiver

About a year ago, God gave me a beautiful insight into a passage of scripture. We had just sold our country home and moved into a community for active seniors. I thought it would be an excellent time to start a Bible reading program and read the Bible through in one year.

Opening my Bible to Genesis chapter one, intent on making some good progress with my new plan, I blazed through verse one. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” I rolled along to verse two. “Now the Earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” Only a little over thirty thousand verses to go.

I saw the next words— “and God said”— but I could not go on. My eyes went back to verse two. I sensed there was a deeper message there than the relating of facts in the steps of creation, so I read the verse again. As I did so, I pictured a deep, black void. No shape. No little, round planet floating through the universe. Not even a star struggling to spit through the cosmos. Just utter darkness.

I probably would have looked at the empty, formless Earth and said, “What a mess. Forget it.” I’m sure my husband would have looked at it and said his familiar phrase, “that’s good enough.”

But, God hovered. Even before He shaped the world, He knew how His creation would turn out— and He cared deeply. I didn’t imagine His Spirit wafting like billowing yards of chiffon or tiny tendrils of fog. Yet, I felt Him hovering over the void. Hovering the way I had when I learned my father had cancer. Wanting to fix everything the way I had pined many years ago when my son’s vision was suddenly taken away. Staying close the way I did as each of my children learned to take their first steps.

I don’t believe He hovered because He saw polluted streams, or a gaping hole in the ozone layer, or smog rolling over barren land once covered with dense forests. He hovered because He saw me.

He saw me as I was when first formed; formless, empty, dark, not fit for human companionship, utterly without substance.

I read the two verses again, but this time I replaced certain words with my name. “In the beginning God created Judy. Now Judy was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of Judy, and the Spirit of God was hovering over Judy.” I began to see myself through the eyes of a devoting, loving, caring, and hovering Father. I could only become all I am created to be, by listening to the voice of the One that made me, planned my life, pined for me, and stayed close even in the darkest moments. I cried as I thought of how much God loved me. I began as an empty, worthless mess, but He wouldn’t leave me that way.

I read the verses again and substituted the name of my husband, children, grandchildren, parents, and siblings. Finally, I read it slowly, putting in the name of someone who had been a “thorn in my side.” God opened my eyes. “My thorn” was formless and empty. He needed so much. God still hovers, because He loves “my thorn” as much as He loves me.

It’s been almost a year since God filled me with a new attitude for “my thorn.” I have not finished reading the Bible within this year. When talking about it to God this morning, he told me not to fret over it. Rather than seeing us read the Bible through in a year, He’d much rather have us study it for a lifetime.

God still hovers over those without substance and are empty, those living in a world of darkness. Even there, God is present, ever hovering, even in the darkest moments—waiting to complete his creation.

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To ponder on:

1. How are people sometimes without substance?

2. What does it mean to you to “hover?”

3. The story of the transformation of the Earth continues in Genesis. Does your transformation go forward or does it end at verse two?

4. Do you know someone who has been a “thorn in your side” or who is stuck at the end of verse two?

5. Substitute their name in the verse as I did mine above. Ask God to help you pray for that person.

New Blog Schedule

2009-09-20T19:19:00.004-05:00

I want to apologize to my blog subscribers and readers. I haven't done a very good job in the past in keeping the pages up-to-date. Truthfully, I have sometimes felt lost, not knowing what direction to take with this whole "blogging" thing.

I believe God has called me to write, therefore, I asked Him for ideas about topics. I have several different interests and don't want my blogs to seem like they are all over the place. Then it hit me.

"Duh," I heard God say, "why not include all the areas I've spoken to you about with your ministry, "Writing for God's Glory." (By the way, does God talk like that to other people? I mean the "duh" thingee, or have I been a secluded writer too long?)

Beginning tomorrow, I plan to post a blog daily (except for long holidays, my birthday, days I sleep in, whenever I just don't feel like it, Saturdays and Sundays.) Isn't it just like God to give me an outline? (He's so organized!)

On Mondays, God and I will post a short Bible study.
Tuesdays, look for book reviews and interviews with Christian authors.
Wednesday’s blog will be short topics of interest to writers. Lots of writing and editing tips that I hope also benefit those who are not writing to be published.
On Thursday, I'll share a short devotional, usually taken from everyday happenings.
Fridays will be "Hodge-Podge-Blog.” No telling what you'll find that day. I’m thinking of items of interest, skits, drama, things going on in my world, and a few topics that could easily be labeled, "Humor Me, Please."

All blogs, no matter the daily schedule, will be for the purpose of promoting God's glory. I want this blog to be an endeavor between God, you, and me. I'm trusting God to give me the directions and I ask that you pray for me to always have a listening ear and be obedient. In addition, I ask that my readers hold me responsible for diligently posting to this blog. I want you to hold me accountable.

Ok. . .see you tomorrow for our first Bible study together.