Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.
Psalm 119:105
This book of experiences with God started in 1994 when the Lay Leaders arranged a
Laity Sunday. That day, four people told how God had been real to them and what the
LORD had done in their lives. Since then, we've had many testimonies. Some are
etched in my memory: Tom Armstrong telling how he became a Christian as a teen and
asked God for a Christian wife. Glenn Baker recounting how the Lord saved him in the
midst of his fall in the silo. Steve Myers sharing his faith that by salvation our names are
written in the Book of Life. Arn Preston relating how the LORD began sending her songs
in the night. Jo Logee telling about her healing at the Brownsville Revival.The people of
this church have a deep and authentic witness to Christ. So for Lent of 2000, Laurie
Sidle, Carol Swartz, Lynn Baker, Peggy Gray, and Cherie Weaver, compiled this book of
testimonies. Our Witness to Christ:We are ordinary people in an ordinary small town in
Ohio. But the One who watches over us, the One who saves us, the One who transforms
our lives, is extraordinary. God has an overflowing abundance of love, healing, and
strength that He pours out on us. And as Paul tells the Corinthians, "we do not preach
ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord."(2 Corinthians 4:5)These stories are Biblical
boasting--not worldly boasting done in arrogance and pride, but our humble and thankful
accounts of a great and wonderful Savior whose love is over all His works. Here we
proclaim, "We are in Christ Jesus by God's act, for God has made Him our wisdom; He
is our righteousness; in Him we are sanctified and set free. And so, in words of the
Scripture, 'If any would boast, let him boast in the Lord.'" (1 Corinthians 1:30-31)These
testimonies are offered with our thanks -- to all who shared their stories and to those who
worked faithfully to collect them. We pray that sharing these experiences will strengthen
our faith in Christ, our assurance that He is working in our lives, our witness to others,
and our fellowship with each other. "See what kind of love the Father has given us, to
call us children of God! And we are! The reason why the world does not know us is that
it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now; it does not yet appear what
we will be, but we know that when He appears we will be like Him, for we will see him
as he is. And every one who has this hope in Him purifies himself as He is pure. (1 John
3:1-3)Using This Book:This booklet was prepared for Lent, a period of spiritual growth
in preparation for the new life of Easter. Lent has 40 days plus seven Sundays. So this
book has 47 devotions. The devotions are not dated. This was done on purpose so you
can use this book at other times and seasons.As you read these devotions, the stories,
Scriptures, and prayers may touch you or deepen your faith. If you experience the power
and truth of the Holy Spirit as you read someone's testimony, would you consider letting
them know? We pray that through this book the Holy Spirit will speak to your heart
about what God has done for you. If these accounts bring to mind an experience where
the LORD was real to you or changed your life, would you share your story with someone
else? "Thus says the LORD: 'Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the
mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches; but let the one
who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, that I
act with mercy, justice, and righteousness in the earth; for my heart is set on these
things,' says the LORD."(Jeremiah 9:23-24)
Bob Kuntz
Day 1
By Donna Daugherty
Scripture: Psalm 78: 1-7; Philippians 2:12 and 13
One day my 2-year-old grandson Cameron was helping me sort laundry. Cameron
understood that I was putting socks in one pile and papa's shirts in another, so he
followed my lead. We talked and sorted and had a great time. We chose the water level
and temperature and put the first load in to wash. When it came time to add the
detergent, Cameron gave me a typical 2-year-old reply, "I will do it," then informed me
he would "put the sugar in." Now Cameron correctly sorted the laundry. He knew the
clothes went into the washer before they went into the dryer. But when he drew on his
knowledge of white stuff measured out in a measuring cup, he thought about his mom
and her measuring white sugar to make Kool-Aid. Therefore, he would put in the
"sugar." Sometimes I think that's how we are with God. We understand and follow his
lead. We make our choices, we talk and sort things out and even have a great time. But
like Cameron, we can't rely on our limited understanding of what comes next. A typical
2-year-old answer, "I will do it," isn't what God desires. He waits patiently for us to ask
Him to lead and instruct, so that He is glorified and we experience His perfect will in our
lives. Prayer: I thank You Father, for the opportunity to share Your good news and I
surrender all to You so that You will continue to guide and direct my paths.
Day 2
By Betty Aylsworth
Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
According to the footnotes in Life's
Application Bible: "Our joy, prayers, and thankfulness should not fluctuate with our
circumstances or feelings. Obeying these three commands--be joyful, keep praying, and
be thankful--often goes against our natural inclinations. When we make a conscious
decision to do what God says, however, we will begin to see people in a new perspective.
When we do God's will, we will find it easier to be joyful and thankful. "Not that this has
been possible for me at all times, but I have made more effort with this perspective in the
past few years. I have found it to be very helpful. One of the tools that I used to assist in
this effort was the use of the Thank Offering Box. I prayerfully add coins as tokens of
thankfulness. It has served as a conscious act and reminder to give thanks in difficult
times. Another aid was Sarah Ban Brethnach's book, "The Simple Abundance Journal of
Gratitude." It guides one to write five lines each day about things for which one is
thankful to the Lord. A simple notebook can be used, but this book served a definite
purpose. If you would try this, I believe it will bring you closer to God and have a better
perspective of the world around you.Another Christian devotional I would recommend is
Streams in the Desert by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman. If you want to help someone in time
of need and don't know what to say, a gift of this book may be appropriate. In addition to
the Bible, some other resources can be of assistance in guiding you to appropriate
scriptures in the Bible and bring you closer to the Lord.Prayer: Lord, in the midst of the
struggles and trials in our life, please give us courage to remember to be joyful, keep
praying, and be thankful, as You have instructed us to do.
Day 3
By Adrienne Gray
Scripture: Psalm 8:3-4 & John 3:16
When I started to get serious about being a Christian,
the most important thing to me was to know everything. I wanted to know why the Bible
said what it did and why God did what He did. I wanted to be able to answer every
question about Christianity. I read books on philosophy, and signs of the Bible. I realized
that it all came down to five things. These were all I need to know about Christianity.
First, I needed to know that there was a God. Nothing more needs to be said about that.
Next, I needed to know that He created us and He is still active in our lives today. When I
look outside and look at the beauty of nature and I think of each person in this
congregation, and realize how complex and wonderful we are, I say, that can't happen by
chance. God had to do it. I needed to know that God answers prayer. In the past couple
years, I've seen so many people have their prayers answered. There have been people
who have been healed from debilitating diseases, just by prayerjust by people of faith
laying hands on them and asking God for help, and I know He's there with us. Third, I
needed to know that the Bible is the inspired word of God. The Bible has so much in it
that any man who wrote it could never know. It had to be that God told these people to
write what they did in the Bible. Some people say that some of the stories and parables in
the Bible are not true. I don't know about that. All I know is that we learn the lessons
from the Bible that we do, and that God put it on the earth for a reason, and we need to
read it. The fourth thing that I needed to know was that Jesus is the Son of God and died
for our sins. In the Old Testament there are many, many prophecies about a coming
Savior who is going to die for the people. There was one man who fulfilled every single
one of those. That was Jesus. That's how I know that He's the one who died for me. The
final thing that I needed to know was that I needed to have a real friendship with God.
That was the hardest one for me, and it's probably the hardest one for a lot of you. It's so
difficult to read your Bible everyday and to pray every day. There are so many times that
I'll go a whole week without talking to God and I realize I haven't even given a Him a
second thought. I feel bad, because I know all that He's done for me. It's really a
discipline thing. I have to make time for God. With these facts in mind, I really have a
sense of peace that I don't have to know everything. I don't have to know why the Bible
says what it does, or why God did what he did. Those things are inconsequential to me. I
can rest in the fact that God created me, He loved me, He died for me, and I'm going to
heaven. I don't need to know anything else.Prayer: Jesus, thank You for our friendship
with each other. Thank You that You know me and love me and work in my life. Thank
You that you have helped me know You. Help me abide in You so Your fruit can grow in
me.
Day 4
By Lynn Baker
Scripture: Isaiah 9:2-3 & 6-7
The scripture refers to Jesus as the Wonderful Counselor, a mighty God, an Everlasting
Father, the Prince of Peace, who brings joy and light to a people walking in darkness.
Please close your eyes for a second. Now open them and notice the difference between
the darkness we experience when our eyes are closed and the light we see reflected with
our eyes open. And if we take the time to seek the presence of Jesus, we can notice a
difference as well. He can be a light to our darkness.During our day-to-day activities, we
tend to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life. We hurry to get ready for work
each morning, grab a bite to eat "on the run," hustle to a sporting event or an important
meeting after work, then hurry home to get some rest so we can begin the process again
the next day. Where does Jesus fit into this picture? While these activities are an
important part of our lives, is it not also important to spend some of our time preparing
our hearts to seek the presence of a Wonderful Counselor, an Everlasting Father, a Prince
of Peace...a Light to us in our darkness?Music has a very special way of ministering to
me. I have a very real sense of the Lord's presence as I listen to hymns, or play them on
the piano, or hear someone sing them. Music has always been special to me. As a child, I
would go through old hymnals of my grandmother's and pick out songs that I liked
because the words were special. I didn't know the tunes, because I couldn't read music,
but the words were special. I just felt close to the Lord when I read them. One song that
holds special significance for me is "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus." The words to this
song made me very aware of God's presence in one of the most difficult times of my life.
The words:"Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face. And the things of
earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace."When I think of these
words, I picture in my mind the face of Jesus...a picture very similar to the one that hangs
in the front of our sanctuary, known as "Solomon's Head of Christ." If you can, picture
that portrait in your mind, or be sure to look at it the next time your are in the sanctuary. I
don't know if this is what Jesus looked like...whether His chin was the shape expressed
in the picture, or if His hair color or style is an accurate interpretation. But, what strikes
me about the picture is the humility and love in the eyes of this person. In those eyes is a
look that says, "I'm never too good to love you, and I'll always love you." In His
presence, I am aware of this same humility and love.I would encourage you to seek and
to sense His loving presence surrounding you during this Lenten Season. Prayer: Lord, go
with us today. Surround us with Your loving presence so that we may realize that a
Wonderful Counselor, an Everlasting Father, a Prince of Peace and a Light to guide us
goes with us each step of the way.
Day 5
By Jay Sample
Scripture: Jeremiah 33:3
I was asked to speak on "Senior Sunday" during morning worship. I intended to write a
speech, but all I took to the pulpit with me was a note card with a special scripture
written on it. My senior year, I went to a Military School in New Mexico. I had a really
good time and I was very successful and I got a lot out of it. While I was there, I picked
up my mail one day, and went back to my room. I opened a letter that came from a
member of my church family. The letter contained a Bible verse. It was Jeremiah 33:3:
"God said to Jeremiah, Call to me and I will answer you, and tell you great and
unsearchable things you do not know." I had always gone to church and I'd always
participated in church activities. I'd always tried to tell myself that I believed in God, but
I had never seen God and I had never experienced what God can do or at least I hadn't
noticed it. But, when I got this note card and I read it, I just called to God and said, "God
help me. I'm having a tough time with my school, and getting to know people, and trying
to adapt to things." I prayed to God and he showed Himself to me. He helped me more
than I could ever believe. I was astonished. The note card that I took to the pulpit with
me that Sunday said more than any speech I could have ever written, because the
message on the card was what God said. I'm so thankful for the person who sent the
scripture to me.Prayer: Father, thank You for the truth of Your Word and how it speaks to
us. Help us to remember to turn to it daily for guidance.
Day 6
By Carol Swartz
Scripture: Isaiah 40:28
What does my faith mean to me? That question is not easily answered I do not have
the words or the courage to share truly what my faith means to me. But at the conclusion
I shall share a poem that comes close to expressing my heart. I am convinced God
gave me this faith when I was very young long before I knew him personally. I picture
my faith as a stairway a stairway that God has unfurled to me. Through my faith in
Christ Jesus, that stairway connects me to God and the rich treasures He has for all of us
in His living word the Bible. Each of you, as my church family, has enriched and
encouraged me in my faith in God, by something you have said or done. Not necessarily
to or for me, but I learn from you. Instruction and inspiration have come also through
well- known Christian authors such as Corrie ten Boom, Ruth & Billy Graham, Joni E.
Tada, Catherine Marshall, and Elisabeth Elliot, and I thank God for all his servants
nearby and in far away places. My faith is my axis, my filter, and my foundation
for all of life. During trying times, if I filter happenings in a faulty manner my thoughts
and actions become impure and my fundamental judgments become unrighteous. In this
weakness, I seek God and He comes along side and strengthens my faith. I really
appreciate Corrie ten Boom's formula for reading scripture by asking four questions. In
the passage of scripture she looks at what is most beautiful in the verse, asks if there is a
promise for me and is there a warning, and finally asks, did a prayer come to my heart?
My faith encourages me in these days. A faith that believes the foolishness of God is
wiser than the wisdom of men and that God's love passes all understanding. God has a
telescopic and a microscopic interest in us. The whole world is in His hands. The hairs on
our head are numbered. And when we pray we step inside the room of the general
headquarters of God. We may enter through Jesus, who is the Way. Our inability meets
God's ability, and then miracles happen. Little is much, if God is in it. Man's busiest day
is not worth God's minute.In an issue of Decision magazine a poem expresses clearly
what my faith means to me. POEMKnowing by faith, that You areAnd by faith, that You
care,Daily I come pouring out my petitionsFor Your shower of blessings.Cherished are
those special days and holy momentsWhen, hushed by the peace of Your presenceMy list
is forgottenAnd my joy is a fountain, effervescing with praise.By Dorothy Purdy, Berea,
OhioMy faith tells me that God is, that God cares, and that I can tell Him all. With God,
I can share all, because He knows all and His understanding is unsearchable. And so it is,
that etched in my heart are those special times, those holy moments of peace in His
presence when all woe is forgotten and joy bubbles up and bursts the heart with love for
Him.Prayer: Father, thank You for the faith you have given me through Your word and
other believers.
Day 7
By David McMillen
Scripture: I Peter 1:8
I was saved at a young age. I always loved Jesus, but I really didn't live for Him. Then,
during a 1997 tent revival, I recommitted my life to Christ. I started reading the Bible and
found I really loved it. I felt an unexplainable joy and I knew it was God showing me
how real He is. For the first time in my life, I didn't have doubts about my salvation. Like
anyone, I make mistakes and stumble in my faith. But I know, with all my heart, Jesus
loves and forgives me. Jesus is my best friend and is always with me. Prayer: Father, You
have given me a joy in my life that is better than anything I ever experienced. Thank You
for forgiving me when I stumble. May I see what You would have me do for You. I pray
that the fire in my heart for You will be flamed by You forever.
Day 8
By Mike Baker
Scripture: Romans 8:31 and I Corinthians 13
I was asked to share my faith during
the worship service one Sunday. The question I asked myself at that time, was "why
me?" I didn't have a great story about a near-death experience or some other miracle that
has happened to me. Those make a fantastic story, but I really didn't have those things in
my life. Though I've not had exciting things happen in my life, I shared my faith in this
way. My faith has grown through the years because of the people in my life and
because of God's Word. I suppose the influence of people started with my family when I
was born, or even before. As far back as I can remember, we have always gone to church.
That tradition goes back to my grandparents and their parents before them. My great-
grandfather was a Methodist minister. I was raised in a family that was very deep in faith.
It was natural that they would share their faith with me. I've learned a lot from them. In
fact, I can remember going out to Grandma Baker's and playing hymns on the organ
when I was little. That type of experience influences a young person. I remember
attending worship in this sanctuary on Sundays, as a young child. I got to know a lot of
the older people. Some, that I looked up to when I was little, aren't around any longer.
My faith was influenced by a lot people, as I grew up in this church. This church
was also a place where I made some great friends. The fellowship was important. The
people you grow up with have an influence on your life and your faith as well. It's
important to stop and think about how much your church family influences your life.
When I went to college, I got in with a good bunch of friends. We'd talk about
what God was to us. Some of what we learned in some classes wasn't necessarily what
I'd grown up believing. Eventually, with the help of my friends, we began to realize that
what we'd learned in the Bible and what we had learned in science weren't really that
different. While we weren't able to figure it all out, maybe I'll be able to do more of that
in the future. God also puts people in our lives to make sure we keep on the straight and
narrow. Sometimes I'll take a foot off the path, and somebody steps in and says, "Hey
this isn't right." God has given me one of those people in my fiancée, Erin. She has
helped keep me straight and really helped me out a lot. There have been times, especially
at college, when I didn't do things that were necessarily quite right. She's managed to
make sure that I realized what's right and what's wrong. I'm very thankful for that.
God's word has also given me direction in my life. Although I'm not extremely
well-versed in the Bible, one of my favorite verses is Romans 8:31: "If God is for us, who
can be against us." That's really true. It doesn't matter what stares us in the face. I
think, of David. He was facing a giant that was ten feet tall. It seemed there was no way
he was going to win, but God was with him and he knew he was going to win. That
verse helped me out during what seemed to be impossible situations at college-- when
there was tons of homework to be done, and not enough time to do it . I asked God to
help me, because there is no way "I" could do it. Physically, it wasn't possible.
Fortunately, some professors had a change of heart and moved some deadlines back and I
completed what was necessary. Things seemed to fall into place for me. God was for
me. Another favorite scripture is I Corinthians 13. It's without a doubt my favorite
passage in the Bible. It's the chapter about love. "The greatest of these is love."
Fortunately, I've had a lot of love in my life. God's love and that of the friends and
family He has surrounded me with. That's what has made me what I am today.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for those who have helped me know and follow Youfamily, church,
friends and Your Word. Thanks for opening Your heart to me through all of these.
Day 9
By Jack & Betty Basquin
Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6
As a young, married couple, our lives were blessed with four beautiful, healthy children
all within five years in age, just as we had planned. Then, without any warning our
youngest son, just one and a half years old was taken from us all within a ten-hour
period. The autopsy revealed a telescoped bowel, which was gangrenous. We were
devastated, but comforted by remembering that Jesus said, "I am with you always, even
until the end of time."Then, eager to complete our family of four children, the Lord gave
us a little girl who was born premature and lived only two days. Now we have two little
ones in heaven waiting for our arrival and we are really looking forward to that
reunion.The next year our prayers were answered with the birth of a healthy baby boy
and once again, our family was complete. God has been so good to us. Praise His name!
"Children are a heritage from the Lord." Psalm 127:3Prayer: Dear God, please continue
to give us the strength to endure every pain and hardship without wavering in our faith.
Day 10
By Deb Ervin
Scripture: Colossians 3:1-7
It was Saturday morning and I was home alone. My husband was working, and my two
teenage boys were away. I didn't like being alone, but I made myself busy. I made dinner
and thought about how surprised my family would be that I cooked on Saturday. After I
prepared dinner, I thought about how lonely I felt. I called my mom and dad, my aunt,
and five or six other people. No one was home. I sat there in my living room and started
feeling sorry for myself. "What is going on Lord?" I asked. "Why do I always feel so
alone? Where is everyone?" Then I heard a voice say, "You are not alone. I am here. I am
here always. Go get your Bible and read your devotions." I obeyed, but I worried I
wouldn't be able to concentrate. My devotions took me to Colossians 3:1-7 where Paul
provided the Colossian church with guidelines for proper conduct. Paul needed to remind
the Colossians whom they served, and that Christ would set them free from bondage. He
has made perfect, forever, those who are being made holy. Think of the word "perfect."
Note that the word is not better, not improving, or not on the upswing. God doesn't
improve; he perfects. He doesn't enhance; he completes. What does the perfect person
lack? Now, I realize that there's a sense in which we're imperfect. We still err and we
still stumble. We still do exactly what we don't want to do. And that part of us, according
to Colossians, is made holy. But when it comes to our position before God, we are
perfect. When He sees each of us, He sees one who has been made perfect through the
one who is perfect Jesus Christ. I had put everyone, including me, first before
Jesus.These verses reminded me whom I serve. I prayed asking Jesus to forgive me. I was
no longer lonely. The Lord used that alone time to speak to me. It was up to me to act on
that feeling of being alone and put it to death, and let Jesus fill that empty feeling with
Himself.Prayer: Jesus, You are our Lord and Savior. We are your children, liberated and
depending on Your power. Work through our thoughts and actions to carry out our
victory.
Day11
By Betsy Edwards
Scripture: Jeremiah 18:6b
In May 1994, I discovered I had a lump in my breast. I questioned if it was really a lump,
or if it was really there. I would re-check to make sure it was true. My prayer was "Lord,
if this should be cancer, may You be glorified in this. You created me and if it's Your
will that I go through this just please be glorified." I scheduled an appointment with my
doctor and he ordered tests to be done. In a week I went back to get the test results. Being
a half an hour early for my appointment I sat in my car listening to Dr. Charles Stanley
on WCRF. He was talking about the potter and the clay. The Lord takes us and forms us.
He does not make junk, nor does He make mistakes. We are each unique and special. It
was then Jesus said, "Betsy, I am just going to remake you and remold you--only into
something better."As I went in to my appointment, I asked the doctor if I would lose my
breast. He said, with tears in his eyes, "We don't know." (He lost his first wife to cancer.)
It was then, I told him what had been revealed to me. I knew I would lose it, but I had a
peace that was beyond explanation. Did I cry? Yes! I cried a couple of times but yet I
had the Peace of Christ. To life daily I say, "Jesus, I love You so very much and I thank
You from my heart."Prayer: Have thine own way, Lord. Have thine own way. You are the
potter. I am the clay. Mold me and make me after Your will, while I am waiting yielded
and still. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and use me for Your honor and glory.
Day 12
By Meghan Gray and Candace Kohli
Scripture: Romans 8:1-2
We express our thanks to this congregation for the support you gave us so that we could
make the trip to Ghana, and for your prayer support. It was very evident, because of the
awesome things that God did while we were in Ghana. Here are some of the mighty
things that God did.Teen Mania Ministry uses dramas to introduce people to Christ. We
used the drama in our work in Ghana. The people were receptive to the message. It was
simple, and understandable for them. Throughout the world, as the drama was presented,
45,764 people came to know Jesus in the month of June alone.On our various village
trips, we saw God move in mighty ways, in spite of Satan's attempts to destroy what we
set out to do.When we had difficulty with the sound system, our leaders clapped stones
together, for sound effects. God turned the bad situation around, and many people gave
their lives to Christ, in spite of the fact that the sound system did not work. God is an
awesome God.Several times we faced the difficulty of having no translator. We had little
groups that went out after the drama and ministered to people. This seemed impossible
without a translator. But we found God gracious to provide for our needs. We always
found someone in the village that could help. In one instance, we found one little boy
who spoke English and used him as a translator. Illness and mechanical breakdown of the
bus were other trials we faced. We faced a 22-hour bus trip to a village. We had been
excited about the trip, feeling that God would do awesome things. First our scheduled
bus driver, who had a spacious bus, got really sick, so we had to travel in a tiny bus,
without enough room. Before we even got out of the driveway, this bus broke down, and
we had to get a new tire. On the way, it broke down in another village, and we waited for
six hours to get a part for our bus. Our team leader had malaria, and he couldn't come
with us. While we were waiting, more of our people were getting sick. It was a terrible
situation, but we decided to take the opportunity to minister. We used our heart chart,
which explained the plan of salvation. It was created in such a way, that the village
people could understand. About six people were saved in that village while we waited for
the bus part to arrive.When we finally got to the village we were scheduled to visit, one
of our team leaders was really sick and said he just could not do the drama. But, the other
leader was determined to do it. Many of our group were sick. Some had to be carried to
the drama. It was difficult to do the play with so many sick. Some of the actors even had
to leave during the drama to get sick. But when we gave the altar call, the entire village
came forward to receive Christ. It was worth all that we had gone through. God took us at
our weakest point and used us to glorify Him. God is an awesome God.God also showed
us his power over Satan through healing. Some ladies brought a little girl to us that had
had convulsions. We prayed over her and placed our hands on her shoulders. While we
were praying for her, she went completely limp and fell into our arms. You could just
feel the Holy Spirit flowing through her, and we know that girl was healed. That was the
most awesome feeling in the entire world. On another village trip, while looking for a
translator, we noticed a man who had been following us. We talked to him, but he
couldn't talk. He pointed to his mouth and lungs. We asked him, "Can you not speak?"
He pointed to his throat and shook his head no. So we decided to pray for him and ask
God to heal him. We laid our hands on him and started to pray. We could feel the energy
of God flowing through our fingers. It was awesome, beyond description. With our hands
on his chest, we could feel it start vibrating and he began laughing and making sounds.
Another gentleman came and told us this man was deaf, so we prayed for healing from
the deafness. While we were praying, he started to act wildly, and began to jump up and
down. When we were finished praying he could hear. The other gentleman told us that he
couldn't speak, because there was a problem with his tongue. We prayed again, this time
for healing for his tongue. When we were done praying he was saying, "better, better, I'm
healed, I'm healed." He was starting to say words. God worked in a mighty way. God is
an awesome God. God gave us a revelation while we were in Africa. He showed us that
sin has no power over us. We sin only because we let Satan have power in our lives. But,
we have the Spirit of the living God inside of us. He is stronger than anything else in the
entire world. He made the world. With that power inside of us, we are stronger than
Satan. Romans 8:1-2 tells us this. It is a truth that God wants everyone to grasp. We are
free. We are free from sin, from all the power that Satan thinks he has on us, and we have
the authority in Christ to bind Satan from our lives, from our church, and from our
homes. He is under our feet. Satan is a small, small man.Prayer: Spirit of the Living God,
fall a fresh on me. Melt me, mold me, fill me use me. Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh
on me.
Day 13
By Amy Wolf
Scripture: Hebrews 11:1
One Sunday in Junior Church, I used a six-inch piece of elastic to illustrate how to stretch
our faith. We talked about elastic and how everyone wears it, how it comes in different
sizes, shapes and forms and has many uses. We use it in our clothes, curtains, cars,
furniture, dolls, swimsuits and the list goes on. I asked the children what the purpose of
elastic is. Their response was that it is used to hold something up or to hold something
together; but, if we don't stretch it, it has no use at all. This reminded me of my faith
journey with God. Hebrews 11:1 states: "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and
certain of what we do not see." In my personal life, each day is a faith journey.As I've
battled diabetes for nearly 27 years, I have experienced several life-threatening incidents.
Each time, God has revealed to me Psalm 139:15b-16:"When I was woven together in the
depths of the earth Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were
written in Your book, before one of them came to be."This tells me that God is still in
control, even though I may not understand what is happening to me. I must believe with-
out seeing. Everyone has faith, but where do we put our faith and are we willing to
stretch it?Prayer: Jesus, thank You for making me and for the life and faith that sustains
me. When my faith is being stretched, Lord, hold me together. Help me look to You.
Send Your Spirit to strengthen my faith and to help me praise you for salvation no matter
what I face.
Day 14
By Peggy Gray
Scripture: I Peter 5:7
Christmas was still a few weeks away, when I noticed some clandestine activity in the
basement, involving my husband and my middle daughter. My curiosity was aroused, but
being one who enjoys surprises, I refused to investigate, hoping the surprise was for me. I
wondered what they might be making. Perhaps the oak shelf I had hinted about, or a
jewelry box. Christmas morning arrived and the usual chaos ensued. As things were
winding down, husband and child slipped down the basement and quickly reappeared,
proudly presenting their gift to me. There it was--not a lovely oak shelf, not a jewelry
box, but a bird feeder. And not even a new birdfeeder, but one that had been left in our
barn from some previous resident years before. I had seen it down there, roofless and
webby and forlorn. But they had rescued it, replaced the roof, shined the glass and
linseed-oiled the structure to a useable state. Had I mentioned a desire for a birdfeeder?
Where did they get the idea that this was something I wanted? I think I managed
to be graceful and appreciative of their thoughtfulness, which also included a twenty-five
pound bag of birdseed.Within a few days, the birdfeeder was hung from an iron post just
within view of my kitchen window. The feeder was filled and the birds began to come. I
stood at my sink and began to watch. I really didn't know much about birds, but was able
to recognize wrens, sparrows, mourning doves, pesky blue jays and starlings. Soon, a
cardinal family took up residence in a nearby tree. They were frequent visitors to the
feeder. Their brilliant red against the stark whiteness of the winter snow was something
in which I began to take delight. I found myself becoming more and more drawn to
watching the birds that came to my feeder that winter. The more I watched, the more I
knew they had lessons to teach me. I have always been a worrier and anxious about the
future. As I watched the birds, Jesus' words came to me over and over again: "Look at the
birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns and yet your heavenly
Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying
can add a single hour to his life?" (Matt. 6:26-27) Those words took on new and powerful
meaning for me as I saw the truth of them played out before my eyes. I marveled at how
much He cared for these tiny creatures and how He made them so capable of coping with
the harshest of conditions. I was amazed at how they were able to remain securely
attached to a slender branch in 30 mph winds, blizzard snowfalls and torrential
downpours with only toothpick-like feet holding them in place. I never saw them panic.
The birds showed me that no matter how hard the winds and storms of life buffet and
toss me, I can withstand it if I stay anchored to Jesus because He is completely able to
meet all my needs in every situation. I began to accept the idea that He valued me far
more than these little beings. I began to start each morning by looking through my
window, seeing new breeds appear as the seasons changed. But the one thing I could
always count on as I watched was the calming of my restless soul and the peaceful
serenity of my spirit, even if only for a few moments. They always reminded me of God's
endless love and abundant provision, not just for the creatures of His world, but for me
personally. I'm so thankful for the unexpected gifts and the lessons of the birds. Prayer:
Father, thank You for showing me how much You love me and allowing me to see the
truth of Your promises.
Day 15
By Bob Kuntz
Scripture: 1 John 4:7-12
I often think about Grandpa Borst and the creek. They go together. In spite of all the
other things he and I did -- building tree houses, shooting at tin cans, driving the go-cart
he made using an old lawn-mower motor -- hiking down to the creek is the first thing, the
most important thing, our favorite thing to do.My sister Pat, my brother Dan, and I would
get some clean tin cans, a length of screen, and a couple of towels, and head off with
Grandpa to the creek. On the way, we would talk, tell jokes, catch the toads that hopped
through the woods, and stop to look at flowers, plants, and trees. Grandpa loved the
woods; he loved telling us about nature.When we got to the creek, we kids would take off
our shoes and socks, roll up our pant legs, and wade into the cold water. We'd turn over
rocks and catch crayfish and newts. We'd lower the screen into the water and pull it up
when minnows swam over it. With patience we could catch five or six at once, which, of
course, was a tremendous feat. The tin cans held our catch until we were ready to go.
Then we'd dump everything back in the creek until next time.Our fishing expeditions
would not have been the same without Grandpa Borst. We felt surrounded by his love for
us, excited by his joy at being in the woods, and full of wonder over the mysteries of
nature that he showed us.His love was life-giving love. Not demanding, but sharing. He
opened his heart. His love gave us something of Christ.On those walks to the creek, I
learned that home is a place that can be given to us only in love. Grandpa was our home.
The woods and creek were our home. Other people and other places would be as well.
Grandpa's care, his laughter, the things he taught us, were a glimpse of a Heavenly
Grandfather, who made this world, and put us in it, and gave us wonder and laughter and
each other and hikes to the creek because He was life-giving love.Prayer: Jesus, thank
You for the people who make it home. Thank You for those who care for us, who teach
us, who give us Your love and Word. Amen.
Day 16
By Arn Preston
Scripture: Mark 8:35
Sitting in the congregation one morning, I was wondering why I should feel like a sinner.
I thought to myself, "I'm not too bad in fact, I'm pretty good. I'm not, nor have I ever
been in jail -- just one speeding ticket to date. I'm basically an honest, forthright person."
All this talk about Jesus dying for my sins never made much sense to me. As a novice at
prayer, I asked the Father to enlighten me on this subject. Well, I have to tell you that the
floodlights came on so brightly that it looked like the 4th of July and the answer came
as sharp as a lightning bolt. Among the more obvious areas of sin that were pointed out to
me was my language. The Lord said to me, "Clean up your mouth. It hurts me. It sets a
bad example. It demonstrates a lack of patience." And so, armed with the help of the
Holy Spirit, I set about to remove my creative, but vulgar expressions that had become
ingrained after so many years of practice.A curious thing happened. The vulgar
expressions were replaced with the words and tunes of hymns that I had not heard or
sung in 25 years. Each morning a different hymn was being sung inside me. Maybe some
of you have experienced this same thing but to me it was totally new and comforting.
Imagine, a special delivery hymn from "On High" with which to begin each day. Romans
4:7 says, "Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered." I
have been truly blessed with the hymns that come to me each day.The floodlights came
on in other areas of my sin. The one that stood out from all the others was the sin of not
surrendering 100% of self, always holding back a portion, consequently missing the
glorious blessing of the moment. We are human and can never be perfect. But it now
occurs to me that we must not fall short by not spending all of ourselves to further the
Kingdom of God and his message of salvation. Please consider the scripture from Mark
8:35, "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me
will save it." So my efforts must be directed at losing all of myself to the will of the
Almighty Father, without fretting about the outcome or holding back a portion, for He
restores my soul each day! I arise with new energies with which to fulfill this
commitment to serve Him and Him alone.In a gentle, nudging way He was saying to me,
"Remember the hymns that I put into your heart each day? I gave you the gifts to make
the sounds. Now please sing to me; sing my praises all day long. Let my light shine
through the joyful noises you and I both know that you can make." And so, until I receive
further direction to a different calling, I aim to do as He asks.Sometimes God speaks to
us with lightning bolts, floodlights, or the appearance of angels and then sometimes it's
through gentle, nudging received through the intimate dialogue between Him and one of
His own. I am blessed to be among you as we all continue on the spiritual journey. I find
comfort from you as we grope to find the way, as we seek the will of the Father and the
strength to do as He asks. May we each reflect His light for the others making the journey
and may we shine especially brightly for those who have not yet seen the light or heard
His story.Prayer: Father, thank You for Your promise that if we ask we will receive.
Thank You for the answers that come when we are still and know that You are God.
Thank You for restoring our souls so that we can better serve You.
Day 17
By Judy Irvin
Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6, Isaiah 41:10, James 1:5-6
For ten years, God put a special lady into my life. I met her when a friend and I decided
to take a day off from work to go to a women's retreat. This lady was the speaker for the
day. I don't remember what she talked about, but I knew at the time she must be talking
to ME. I made arrangements to meet and talk with her a couple of times that weekend. It
was as if we had been friends forever. I had no idea then, how that weekend would
change my entire life. I attended a Bible Study that she taught, and I opened my house to
her each week. We shared our families, and our lives. We laughed together and cried
together. I would ask question after question--maybe about a job decision or about Jesus.
It didn't matter, she was always there and willing to try to answer all my questions. After
Bible Study and into the early morning hours, or maybe over the breakfast table, we
shared many hours discussing the Bible, God, Jesus, faith, etc. Because of those talks, I
accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior. The story does not end here. The Lord
seemed to know that there was much more for her to do in my life--helping me to
become stronger in my faith, through her example of love and faith in the Lord. She
taught me that I can't always take the driver's seat and my plan is not always the best
plan. She was always an encouragement and was always there to give that nudge when I
needed it. She was also willing to walk with me and let me know that she believed in me
even when I doubted. She was willing to listen to me, even when I didn't make much
sense, or when I asked about a topic that we had discussed several times before.
Sometimes it is hard to understand God and to trust His plan. I knew there was a "reason"
even when He took her home to be with Him. I knew that I needed to trust His plan.
Right now, I don't understand the reason, but thanks to God working through her, I will
someday be able to find out the reason why.Prayer: Thank You, Lord for the promise of
salvation and thank You for placing those in our path who share Your Word, and testify
to your love in such a way that they are able to draw others to You.
Day 18
By Libby Kuntz
Scripture: II Corinthians 5:6-7
Last summer, I became aware that my 11-year-old car would soon need to be replaced.
After considering our budget and various options, Bob and I began to look at used Geo
Prisms. My Chevy Nova had been a forerunner of this joint effort by Chevrolet & Toyota,
and had been totally reliable over many miles. As I drove to Wooster one day, I was
praising God for this solution, and looking forward to a straight- forward shopping
experience. In the middle of a little praise song, I was interrupted with the thought--"I
want you to have a (Toyota) Camry." I was surprised, amazed and confused. This had not
been my agenda at all. I'd "met" Camrys, and knew them to be great cars, but they cost
twice what our budget would allow. How could this possibly be right? How could this
ever work out? Over the next four months, I asked these questions many times. I couldn't
see how God could solve my dilemma. I ran into blind alleys and dead ends. I kept
returning to the fact that this hadn't been my idea, so if God wanted me to have a Camry,
He'd have to accomplish what I couldn't do for myself. Step-by-step, little revelation by
revelation, I walked through the process. I met a car salesman who believed in miracles.
Several people spoke things to me that confirmed what I thought I was being shown, but
had questioned. The roadblocks and obstacles were removed in surprising and
unexpected ways. Through it all, the Lord gently guided me. I realized how much I
walked by sight and not by faith. Some six months later, I picked up my new Toyota
Camry. One friend told me that this was an ambassador's car, and so it is. We are
ambassadors of God's point of view: "Nothing is impossible for God." Those who seek
do find. "He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or
imagine."(Ephesians. 3:30)Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us to see through Your eyes and
to have the courage to believe and obey Your Word.
Day 19
By Amanda Wolf
Scripture: John 14:27
When I was five years old I accepted Jesus Christ into my heart. After I had
accepted him I became a different person and was a lot happier. Romans 10:13 says,
"For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." When I was six years
old, I had stomach surgery. I had the surgery done in Akron. I was very scared. I knew
God was with me then. This past February, I had foot surgery. The day before
surgery I was very scared. The nurses were pretty nice so that helped out a little bit. The
physical therapist had a little boy who loved to watch Veggie Tales. She brought some
videos in the next day for me to watch. The day of the surgery I was still scared. I
asked God to help me not be so scared. John 14:27 says, "Peace I leave with you; my
peace I give you. I do not give you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled
and do not be afraid." In the pre-operating room, I was watching Veggie Tales. The title
was Where is God When I'm Scared. My favorite song, God is Bigger Than the
Bogeyman helped me a lot. I was allowed to take my American 25 Favorite Gospel CD
into the operating room. I heard one man say, "Do we have to listen to this?" After I
came out of surgery I was in lots of pain. I know that God helped the pain go away a little
bit at a time. I thank God every day for helping me through hard times. These are just
some of the things God has done for me.Prayer: Thank You, Father God, for being with
me, especially when I am scared and thank You for kind and thoughtful nurses.
Day 20
By Jane Alexander
Scripture: John 3:18
While working with Vacation Bible
School, I checked on the class of 4-year-olds and was surprised to see a grandson of a
church member. I called his name and asked him if he was having fun at VBS. He looked
at me and said, "I know you! You gave me a bear!" I had only seen this child a couple of
times, so I was surprised the child recognized me. Plus, I had to think about what he was
talking about. What bear? Then I remembered the church's Mother-Child banquet where
we had given stuffed bears as door prizes. He had won one of the bears and I had handed
him his prize. It made me stop and think. If I had made that much of an impact on a 4-
year-old in one evening, what am I saying to others with my actions on a daily basis? Do
they see Christ in my life? Am I showing God's love in what I'm doing? It can mean a
simple "Hi" or an encouraging phone call. Everyone enjoys a card in the mail. God's love
can also be an act of kindness to the shut-in or a child in need. God loved us so much that
he gave us his son. By showing love to others, we can show the way to Christ. Prayer:
Jesus, please help us to show Your love through our deeds as we try to be more like You.
We give You the praise for the impact we have on others.
Day 21
By Brandon Grosjean
Scripture: Isaiah 30:21
It was fifth grade the worst and the best of times. There was recess basketball. On
yes, for a fifth grade boy, it was almost a ritual. I had just happened to be playing the best
game of my career when it happened. My feet began warming up in an uncomfortable
way. So uncomfortable that I had to sit out. I thought nothing of it. I just figured it was
the hot sun beating down on my black shoes.This "heat" was reoccurring, and becoming
more intense. I hadn't the slightest idea what was going on. I finally broke down and told
my mom. My symptoms resembled nothing she knew of. The closest thing was athlete's
foot. So that's what we called it. Through the next couple of years, this "athlete's foot"
was preventing me from playing school sports, and any general activities requiring
running or quick movements on my feet.We had gone to our family doctor. My
symptoms gave him no bearing whatsoever on what I had, so he sent me to a foot doctor.
The foot doctor said I had a pinched nerve between one of my toes, because I complained
of stinging and burning in that area. I was given creams, orthodics, stretches, and so on. I
began getting frustrated. I prayed to God asking for an answer for I had a love for soccer
and my disability wasn't helping any.One major turning point occurred in the winter of
1995. I had a fever, and my feet were burning out of control. I was afraid. I knew
something wasn't right because I had never felt pain like that before. We went back to
see the family doctor. Our discussion was "same, old, same old" until, as he was leaving
the room, I mentioned that my hands had burned also. He stopped in his tracks, turned
and said, "Better see a neurologist." I probably would have never got that
recommendation if the Lord hadn't given my mom the scripture, Isaiah 30:21 " . . . your
ears will hear a voice behind you saying, 'this is the way; walk in it.'" I also believe it
was the Lord who forced out the words, "my hands burn too."We were referred to a
neurologist in Canton who searched for a glitch in the nervous system, but tests showed
nothing. He then tried blood tests. There had been a couple of mix-ups, and some of the
tests were inconclusive. Our hopes were hanging on by a thin thread until our final blood
test results were in.Our family, as well as others, prayed for an answer, and the Lord
provided. I was diagnosed with a rare enzyme deficiency, Fabry's disease, which has no
treatment or cure to this date. Not the greatest answer, but the Lord had come through
and given us an answer. I was given a daily drug to kill the pain, and it worked
beautifully. In June of 1996, my mom and dad gave me the option of going to Mt. Sinai
hospital, where all the research is being done on my disease. I had no desire to go. It was
in the summer, and it was in New York City. I hate the city! I could have easily refused,
but some driving force made me say yes. I flew to New York with my parents on a
Monday. For an entire week, tests were run on my mother and me. My mom went
through everything I did because the mother is a carrier of this disease.When the week
came to an end, our test results were something worth praising for everything was
negative. The disease had not progressed very far and we were told there was a chance
my case wasn't as severe as it could have been.Experiencing this disease has been a quite
a trial, but not just for us, but probably also for the other 399 people or so in our country
who are going through the same problem. I would like to thank my family and friends
for their prayers and our Lord for leading in the right direction.Through it all, I
remembered one special verse, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Philippians 4:13Prayer: Lord, Your word reminds us that we can do all things through
Christ. May we be reminded of this promise throughout all the trials we face in our lives.
Day 22
By Dorothy J. Merkle
Scripture: Psalm 116: 1,2
Six years ago I was living an unhappy life, smoking cigarettes, with little interest in
anything else and certainly not enjoying life. I was gradually getting weaker. I called
Libby and told her how I felt. She contacted my doctor, and from there I was
hospitalized, and diagnosed as having Emphysema and congestive heart failure. I was put
on oxygen full-time and given medication for my heart and lungs. I was released to my
apartment but I was still smoking.My mental state wasn't good and eventually I had to be
hospitalized for depression, which had been a problem for me for many years in the past.
After treatment, I was released from the hospital and went to live in Shreve with Libby
and Bob. There I stopped smoking.Jesus, through Libby and Bob, directed me to the life I
was meant to live. It has been gradual, but with each day, each week, and each month I
have gained a closer walk with the Lord. I need no oxygen other than the air I breathe.
It's a miracle.Jesus wants me to live a life of service to him and think of all people as my
brothers, sisters or better still, as Jesus himself. I say daily prayers and I love to read the
Bible."Death stared me in the face. I was frightened and sad. Then I cried, "Lord save
me!" How kind He is! How good He is! So merciful this God of ours! The Lord protects
the simple and the childlike. I was facing death and then He saved me. Now I can relax
for the Lord has done this wonderful miracle for me. He has saved me from death, my
eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. I shall live! I will publicly bring him the
sacrifice I vowed I would. His loved ones are very precious to Him and He does not
lightly let them die." Psalm 116: 3Prayer: Lord, You freed me from my bonds and I will
serve You forever. I will worship You and offer You a sacrifice of thanksgiving. Here in
the courts of the Temple in Jerusalem, before all the people, I will pay everything I
vowed to You. Praise the Lord. (Psalm 116:16-19)
Day 23
By Evelyn Kitchen
Scripture: Deuteronomy 4:31
Every morning I spend time in Bible study and prayer.
Also, for years I have read from a book of devotions that is all scripture. Each day the
scripture used revolves around a single theme. This book has been in print over a hundred
years and gives me light on my daily path.Our Sunday School lessons are also an
inspiration. The former summer quarter emphasized the Abrahamic covenant, which was
also given to Isaac and Jacob. The promise that God would be with them whither so ever
they went has strengthened and renewed my faith and also comforted me. It reminds us
that God will never leave us or forsake us even to the end of the age.Personally, I have
walked in the valley of the shadow more than once and felt God's presence all the way.
Great is His faithfulness, not only to me, but also to all believers, of all
generations.Prayer: Our dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your faithfulness
providing all our needs and for every good and perfect gift. Thank You for hearing and
answering prayers. Most of all, we thank You Father, for your plan of redemption and
salvation through Your son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In His name we pray,
Day 24
By Lois Miller
Scripture: Psalm 55:22(a)
"Turn it Over to Jesus, He cares" "Cast your cares upon Him."Some years ago, a lovely
baby daughter blessed our lives. Her birth was a mixed blessing she was perfect in
every way, but had a lump of unknown origin on her very tiny arm. The attending
physician told us that, as her parents, we needed to give a surgeon permission to remove
the lump. This was a difficult decision for us. At less than a week old, our tiny daughter
was placed on a stretcher and taken by ambulance to a hospital in a major city, about an
hour from our home.The prayers for our baby daughter, the surgeon, the nurses, and the
caregivers were many. Our primary prayer request was that at removal and examination
of the lump, the diagnosis would reveal "benign" and not malignant. If malignant, the
tiny arm would need to be amputated.Our aunt, a devout prayer warrior, asked that we
release the tiny arm to the Lord. In doing this, we would step aside and give our Lord
freedom to move.This was most difficult. We did relinquish the arm. The tumor of the
nerve was benign.The nerve was severed in surgery because it was as tiny as a pinstripe.
Our daughter lost some motion in her arm, wrist, and fingers, but God is so good! She
learned to function in a normal way, because God is in control.Prayer: Heavenly Father,
give us the faith to release our burdens to Jesus, that we may not interfere with His
workings.
Day 25
By Linda Cochran
Scripture: Isaiah 26:3-4
While preparing for a Bible study,
this truth came to me: we have control and choice of our minds and thoughts. We choose
what we think about and control the subjects of our thoughts. God has given us a sound
mind (2 Timothy 1:7). We cannot deny this fact, but we can choose that which will fill
our minds. God tells us to keep our minds stayed and fixed or focused on Him and, as we
do this, He will give us His peace. We can trust Him for everlasting strength. He is so
good to us! Enjoy Him today and every day... and when your mind sways away from
Him, call a prayer partner or friend who will help you stay focused. "Trust in the Lord
forever, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength." Philippians 4:8Prayer: Jesus,
when we are confused, give us light. When we are depressed, increase our faith. When
we are troubled, help us reach out to others and to You. Form in us, the mind which was
in You.
Day 26
By Carla Lendrum
Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-21
While growing up, my family did all the things a good Christian family should do. We
attended church and Sunday School each Sunday, and attended church family activities
together. I sang in the children's choir, participated in Baptist Youth Fellowship and was
baptized as a teenager. As a young person attending college, however, I still felt that
something was missing. It was a feeling that continued for several years. When my
husband Fred and I moved to Wayne County 11 years ago, we took time to visit church
after church looking for one that was right for us. We went to big churches and small
country churches, even a Baptist church like the one I had attended growing up. Our
searching kept leading us back to the Shreve United Methodist Church, where we
experienced something we hadn't at the other churches - a warmth among the people. My
life has slowly been transformed over the last 11 years. I have discovered what it means
to have a daily relationship with Jesus. I have learned what it means to take Jesus to work
with me each day as I deal with children and teachers in a public school system. I have
learned that my spiritual growth and development is not just the church or minister or the
Sunday School teacher, but the Lord and me. I also have gained a church family that is
there in the good times as well as the difficult times. The prayers, classes, revivals, Bible
studies, and people, at Shreve United Methodist Church have changed my life. Through
contact with strong Christian leaders, I have learned that Christ is my best friend and is
there for me every day - not just on Sunday. This has affected every aspect of the
Lendrum household - our marriage, how we raise our children, how we minister to our
extended family, our relationship with our neighbors and our colleagues at work.
Everything in my life has changed and I thank God each day for what He has done and is
doing in my life. My favorite verse is Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for
you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you
hope and a future." Prayer: Lord, every day that I live and breathe, I give to You. Thank
You that You already have it planned. I praise You for how You are working in my life.
Thank You for all the church family has given to me.
Day 27
By David McMillen
Scripture: John 21:15-17
This scripture is so real to me because it is so obvious that Peter loves Jesus. When it
came to Pentecost, Peter started the first church.Jesus knew that Peter loves him, but
Peter is missing something there. Jesus is calling him to something more. Jesus is saying
that he wants to take Peter deeper and deeper. That is what the Lord was saying to me
recently. He was calling me, to more and more of Him. I had to answer the question,
"How bad did I want God's will?" I got a strong word from God, to go to Mexico and
build a church. I tried to make plans for this trip, several times, yet they would always
fall through. I prayed with my youth leader one night that God would show me just the
right place to go in Mexico. At the same time I was praying, someone in Mexico was
praying for someone for construction. The next day I got hooked up with a missionary in
Mexico named Kathy Johnson, and everything fell exactly into place. It was just so
perfect. It was God's will that I was to go there. It was to cost me $100 to go. I felt that I
could handle that. I did not plan to ask for any money. But the Lord gave me tenfold of
what I needed. It was awesome. (The ways of the Lord are perfect.)Having talked to
Kathy prior to our trip, my original plan was that I was going to be building houses, even
though my word from God was that I was to go to build a church. At the last minute, a
church in San Diego had donated money to be used to build a church. So, the plans were
changed. I was going to be building a church. God saw to it that everything fell into
perfect place. We worked on the church for three days, then we started a house that
measured 16 X 20 feet. The family with four children was living in an abandoned
concrete building. We built a house for them in three days. I have never seen people who
were so grateful. That touched my life in a special way. And if I touched one life in just a
small, small way, my trip of thousands of miles was totally worth it. The last day of my
trip to Mexico, I went to a breakfast served to children, whose parents work in the fields.
The parents leave at 8:00 in the morning and come back late at night. They often leave
without feeding their children at all. The missionaries feed these children. These kids had
nothing, and they were so hungry. I wanted to show them Jesus, and it was just like I was
feeding them Jesus right there. But, it wasn't just a hungry bunch of children I was
feeding. As the scripture says, it was Jesus I was feeding. That touched my life in such a
special way. One night, I heard a speaker in the compound where I stayed. He said all of
us are called to the mission field, but many of us are called to stay at home. I want to take
it one step farther. We need to have a mission in our heart that we want God in our life so
much that we can't stand it that God will just pour out of us. That is what God is
calling us to do, and I just stand in awe of Him. Prayer: Lord, make me an instrument of
Your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where
there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and
where there is sadness, joy.
Day 28
By Carol Swartz
Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-3
After receiving a call that my mother was near death, I frantically drove the three-hour
trip to Erie, Pa., in hopes of seeing her one last time. I had been by my mother's bedside
in the hospital, but had left a couple of days earlier to return to my teaching job. She was
doing better, the doctors had said.Then came the call that she had taken a turn for the
worse. I arrived at the hospital only to find a nurse reluctantly telling me my mother had
passed away and her body removed from the hospital. My sisters had returned to
Conneaut to begin funeral arrangements. Tearfully, I began driving back to my Conneaut
to join my sisters. Alone with my thoughts, I kept scolding myself. "Why did I come
home instead of staying with my mother at the hospital? Why did I think I had to get back
to school?" I'd promised my father I'd take good care of mother. Now I felt as if I'd let
him down. Sitting in a Bible study 16 years later, I realized I was still asking myself those
same questions. The study's leader, Barb Hess, was talking about regrets which burden us
and the formula for giving them to God. Almost without realizing it, I put up my hand
and began to share. "I've asked God to forgive me because I have this regret that I wasn't
with my mother when she died as I'd promised my dad I would be," I told the group. "I
didn't get to say goodbye" As the words slipped out, the tears came. Then the leader
shared Isaiah 61:1-3 about how the Messiah had been sent to bind up the brokenhearted.
For my devotions that evening, I read those verses in Isaiah again. It told how the Lord
came to "comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion - to bestow on
them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the
garment of praise instead of despair"I wanted my soul cleansed of regret. I closed my
Bible and asked, "Lord, would You pour the oil of gladness over me? I still hurt." And
I'll never forget what happened next. I felt the sensation of oil running over my head,
down my shoulders and over my chest and heart. It was an unbelievable feeling. I felt the
awful regret leave. The despair was gone. The next day, I could recall so many good
memories of fun things I had done with my mother - remembrances that for so long had
been buried in guilt. I grinned as the memories flashed in front of me, and I felt no
regrets sting me. I thank God daily for this blessing of the "oil of joy." He has made me
very sensitive to others as they enter into their parents' last days on earth. Prayer: Father,
thank You for Your son Jesus whose presence in my life is so very real and meaningful
and all- important - my Rock on whom I rest and draw strength and celebrate with great
joy.
Day 29
By Donna Daugherty
Scripture: Philippians 4:11-13
Seeing the beautiful quilts sewn by women of our church reminds me of how our lives
resemble them. The wonderful, amazing squares that make up our lives come together
through experiences of joy and sorrow. One of the squares from my life's quilt took
shape Nov. 16, 1970, a day when God was very real to me. It was the day when Harold,
my beloved husband of five years, went to be with the Lord. Diagnosed with cancer at
age 22, Harold trusted God throughout his illness and found Him faithful to the end.
Whenever family or friends visited him in the hospital during the last six months of his
life, they always came away cheered and encouraged. God touched many lives through
Harold's time in a hospital bed. While the pain of losing Harold is long gone, the glorious
account of him falling into the arms of Jesus remains deeply etched in my mind. I
remember praying long into the night, "Please don't take him, Lord, I need him. What
will I do without him? I love him so much." I also remember a warm and gentle peace
filling the room. I could hear the calm, quiet authority in God's voice telling me it was all
right. "I am with you always. It's time for Harold to come to me." At that moment,
Harold, who was in a coma-like state, sat up in bed, opened his arms wide, and said,
"Jesus." I had never experienced death nor had I been with anyone else when it was their
time to go to be with Jesus, but what happened that day assured me that God is always
there to strengthen me in my time of need. In the days following Harold's death, God
continued healing my heart when he called me to assist with the church's youth program.
Today, when I see those young people who are now moms and dads and teachers and
leaders of our church, I thank God that He allowed me to share in that time of their lives.
I believe His kingdom is glorified when we come along and encourage each other. God
filled the void in my life with Himself and His resources. There is nothing like being
around a group of enthusiastic young people to help you get the focus off yourself, and
back on God and His Kingdom. So began another amazing square in my life's quilt.
Prayer: Father, thank You for being the Master Weaver of our lives. Continue to bind us
together in Your Son's Name.
Day 30
By David McMillen
Scripture: Psalm 34:1-3
While on my Mission Trip to Mexico to build a church, I faced a time of discouragement.
I had things in my heart that were preconceived which I didn't even realize. I felt that I
was going down there to help teach the Mexicans how to worship God and how to praise
Him.I went to Mexico wanting to see people get saved. That's what I wanted to see. But
the Lord didn't show me that. He showed me people that loved the Lord. That was such a
blessing for me. They were people who had nothing, yet they loved, like I couldn't even
imagine. One evening, I went to a church service in a little church with only about 40
Mexican members. The service was all in Spanish, and I don't know that much Spanish. I
can't explain what happened, but I felt the Holy Spirit there. It was so real. There was A
small, elderly woman behind me. In my spirit, I could just tell that she would have great,
great treasure in the kingdom of heaven. She had something that I didn't have. She was
praising God, as though she was saying "Lord, just take me now, but if not, just give me
one more minute to praise You. That's all I want on earth is just to praise Your name."
That really touched me. There was nothing standing in her way. I found out later that she
walks five miles to come to church. She lives in poverty, and has nothing, but she just
wants to praise God. That taught me so much. Because there I was, thinking how I was
going to teach "them" how to worship, but God said, "No, let them teach you." That
touched me so much.Prayer: Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord
with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Lord, may we ever praise Your name.
Day 31
By Lynn Baker
Scripture: Luke 22:41-42Luke 22:42,
"Not my will, but yours, be done,"This familiar verse, is a verse easily quoted, but not so
easily experienced in a personal way. Growing up in the Christian faith, we readily
accept that Jesus offered this prayer with a sincere heart. It is much more difficult,
however; to follow His example of accepting God's will for our life. I faced one of life's
most difficult situations, as I watched my dad battle a terminal illness. As I prayed
desperately for a "happy ending," I received a very clear message--"This Will Be My
Way."I wrestled long and hard with that answer. It didn't promise that God would lift me
out of the situation, like a mother cat would lovingly pick up a kitten. I had to come to
terms with the fact that God is sovereign and could choose to heal Dad (a miracle); or He
could choose not to heal. While I could find not fault with my hearts desire, I had to
realize that He was in control of this situation. If I really believed that God was "there for
me," as I had professed for years, I had no choice but to give the situation to Him and "go
along for the ride" regardless of the direction we were headed. It also became clear to me
that I needed God more than I needed "my way." For the first time in my life, I was
coming to understand, at least in part, what Jesus experienced in the garden as He
prayed.In spite of the fact that my prayer was not answered as I would have chosen,
God's way did provide a wonderful miracle. As I watched Dad's health fail, and his life
slip away, I experienced the unbelievable miracle of His sufficient grace. His Spirit
within me provided more strength than I dreamed possible, for situations that seemed
utterly impossible for me to handle on my own. Not only did I experience strength, but a
peace that brought a strange sense of joy in the midst of my sorrow. His will in this
situation provided a way for me to experience "first hand" the promise made in II
Corinthians 12:9"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in your
weakness." What a blessing to realize that a promise He made thousands of years ago was
a promise made just for me. Accepting His will, even when we don't fully understand it
can provide us with some of life's richest blessings.Prayer: Father, not my will but Yours
be done. Lord, give us the courage to "let You be God," in all of life's situations. Help us
to trust Your ways, even when we don't understand them, so that we might experience, to
the fullest extent, the blessings You have in store for us.
Day 32
By Loretta Watson
Scripture: Isaiah 41:10
After I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1991, I kept asking, "Why me, Lord?" A
wife and mother of two, I found I could no longer be the "super mom" I used to be. I
couldn't understand the challenges brought on by the disease.Now I know the Lord has
been using me as a positive reinforcement for others who are dealing with health
problems. I felt God sending me a powerful message after my recent accident. He knows
how much I still want to do things for myself, but I think he was trying to tell me it's time
to let others do some things for me. I was on my knees on my kitchen counter hanging a
mini-blind above the sink (my family would have done this for me) and had just finished
the job when my right leg went limp. I lost my balance, flipped off the counter and
landed on the top of my head on the kitchen floor. My husband, Brad, drove me to the
hospital emergency room where I had X-rays taken and was strapped on a straight board
and put in a neck brace. I was told the X-rays did not look good. I began to cry. Just as I
was feeling very fearful, I felt Pastor Libby Kuntz grab my hand and heard her pray. A
short time later, Dr. Owen Logee appeared at my side to comfort my husband and me. Dr.
Logee was at the hospital to see another patient and heard my name, so he stopped to
check on me.After more X-rays and a CAT scan, I saw a doctor who told me that I could
have been paralyzed like actor Christopher Reeves. I believe a couple of angels must
have lightened my fall because the injury was not nearly as severe as it could have been.
The doctor said I would need to see a neurosurgeon. I chose to go the Cleveland Clinic
where my physician, who treats my Multiple Sclerosis, is located. Due to the nature of
my injury, I was flown to the Cleveland Clinic by helicopter, a rather fun part of the
ordeal. All night I worried about the outcome. Would I need surgery? Would I need a
halo brace or a neck brace? Knowing a prayer chain for me had begun made me feel
better and gave me a positive outlook. The next day at 1 p.m., my doctor told me I could
go home in half an hour. He said I would need to wear a neck brace for 10 weeks and
would be unable to ride in a vehicle for three weeks. I couldn't drive until the brace came
off. I had one fracture in my first vertebrae and two in my second. After 10 weeks of
wonderful support from my family, church family and friends, my X-rays showed a
complete healing. The Lord has a reason for everything. In this case, I believe he was
teaching me to slow down. Today, I don't even go down the hall without my walker
because I know even a minor fall could cause serious problems. I have learned that while
we may not like the circumstances we're going through, in time we will see there is a
reason for our suffering.Prayer: I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are right, and that
in faithfulness You have afflicted me. Let Your steadfast love comfort me, according to
Your promise to Your servant. Let Your mercy come to me, that I may live, for Your law
is my delight. (Psalms 119:75-77)
Day 33
By Fred Lendrum
Scripture: Luke 18:1
In 1987, one of my four older daughters, a junior at Ohio State University, dropped out of
classes. She remained in Columbus, living and working in the campus area. I was aware
Joyce had a drinking problem, but I didn't realize the extent of it until I started receiving
calls in the middle of the night from boyfriends concerned about her whereabouts. They
would call later saying they'd found her in a bar drunk and had taken her home and gone
back for her car later. She was arrested for DUI several times. Night after night she
would drive back to her apartment far too drunk to walk, let alone drive. My biggest
concern was that she would kill someone or herself. I tried to get help from various
agencies in hopes of organizing an intervention. But because she was older than 21, the
counselors refused to help, fearing litigation. At one point, I even considered alerting the
police so she would lose her license once and for all. I was trying everything humanly
possible to fix the problem. I also prayed constantly that the Lord would provide a
solution.Then one night in early 1990, one of Joyce's sisters called me to tell me Joyce
was pregnant. That brought me to an all-time low. I feared for my daughter and future of
a child that could be born with birth defects, not to mention raised in an unhealthy
environment. I had prayed constantly that the Lord would provide a solution. I saw this
as an impossible situation, but not for the Lord.I could not have imagined how God
would work in Joyce's life. Today, Joyce and her husband, Gordon, Ariel's father, live in
the Columbus area. Joyce no longer drinks and recently quit smoking. Joyce and Gordon
both hold good jobs and are dedicated to each other. They love Ariel very much and are
caring parents. Ariel, my granddaughter, stayed with my wife, Carla, and I this summer
and attended Vacation Bible School at Shreve United Methodist Church. Joyce says that
Ariel encourages the family to pray at meals and wants to attend a churchMy prayers
were not answered in the way that I expected, but they were answered. The Lord is good!
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for answered prayer. May Joyce and her family find peace
through knowledge of Your enduring love.
Day 34
By Laurie Sidle
Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11
I started college dating the man I thought would be my husband. We were high school
sweethearts who shared many of the same goals, including one day raising a family in a
Christian home. We seem destined for each other.But as we made new friends and got
involved in our own areas of study, we grew apart without realizing it. Our relationship
became tattered, and it became obvious that we needed to go our separate ways. A
painful letting-go process, that took more than a year, left me feeling empty and alone. A
sense of security had been torn away.It was the first time I remember totally turning over
a problem to the Lord. Lying on the top bunk bed in my dorm room, I said, "God, You
know what I want in a
husband, I leave it up to You to show me who he is." I didn't give God a list of
qualifications, I just trusted Him to choose the right person for me.Several months later
while walking to class on the Ohio State University campus, I saw Dale who had lived in
the same suite as my boyfriend during their freshman year. My boyfriend and I had even
visited Dale at the Wayne County Fair during the summer of that year. As we chatted
briefly about what had happened to us in the last year and a half, I can't remember
exactly what was said, but I do remember looking at Dale in a new way. It was as if
something sparked inside of me. Then we went to our classes.The next quarter, I was
surprised to find myself assigned to a seat directly behind Dale in an agriculture
economics class. I knew he was a good student and often asked him for help, partly
because I needed it and partly because I wanted an excuse to get to know him better.
Knowing his quiet mannerism, I wasn't sure he would ever ask me for a date, so I took
the brave step of inviting him to our college's recognition banquet. He later invited me
on a study date at the library. Although it took some time to get to know Dale, I quickly
realized he was the answer to my prayer. By the time I walked down the aisle at our
wedding, I marveled at all the wonderful qualities God had in mind for my life partner.
Not only was he someone I could love and respect for a lifetime, he loved farm life just
as I did. More importantly, Christ was at the center of his life. God showed me in a
powerful way that He has a marvelous plan for my life if only I wait on Him, trust Him
and seek Him for direction. I only need to look to my husband and our son, Jacob, God's
gift to us through adoption, to know God's plan for us is far beyond our
expectations.Prayer: Thanks be to God who is able to do immeasurably more than all we
ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.
Day 35
By Kathy Swartz
Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-21
I was 37 and desperate to find happiness but not knowing how or where. My days were
filled with work and parties that followed. I wanted more. I had always thought that I
would have children by this age, but I wasn't even close. A failed marriage brought no
happiness and no babies. What was wrong with my life? Everything changed when I met
Doug. There was something different about him, and I knew soon after meeting him that
I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him. That was seven years ago and I soon found
out what made him so special. We were married seven months after meeting and four
months later we discovered we were going to be parents. Things were looking up.I first
met Doug's parents and sister in church. At the time, this was uncomfortable for me,
having not gone to church for years. When I was young, my mother stopped taking us to
church because my father would get angry when we were gone on Sundays and he
refused to go with us. But I soon learned what church meant to my husband's family.
They prayed together, read the Bible, worshipped every Sunday and went to retreats.
Doug's mom wanted the same for us. Doug talked about finding a church home for us
since we didn't live close enough to attend his parent's church. I went along with it
because it pacified his mom. Then his mom asked us to go to a retreat with them for a
weekend. I couldn't think of a good reason not to go, and it meant a lot to her, so we
went.Two days later, I accepted Christ as my Savior. That was six years ago, and I am so
thankful for my husband and his family for bringing Christ into my life. Now I'm the one
reading the Bible, going to Bible study meetings and worshipping on Sundays. I recently
had a new acquaintance say to me, "You're always happy, are you one of those
Christians, too?" I was proud to say, "Yes, I am."This summer, my mother called to tell
me to come home fast because my father didn't have long to live. Before I took off in a
hurry to Michigan, I dropped off my daughter at Doug's parents' house. His mom gave
me a tape to listen to on my way home. She said it would help me witness to my dad and
bring him to Christ. I knew she was right, I had to do this, but how? This is the same dad
that hated us to even talk about church. Two days later, I witnessed to my dad in his
hospital bed and he accepted Christ very tearfully with me by his side. I couldn't believe
that I could have done this, and of course, I didn't. My mother-in-law soon informed me
that the Holy Spirit was with me. (I have a lot to learn!) My dad died a month later and I
can't even begin to tell you how much I miss him. But I am comforted in knowing that
his God is my God.Today, I hope that my family and friends see that I am a kinder,
happier person because I accepted Christ into my life.Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You
for coming into my life and giving me eternal life through Jesus Christ. Thank You for
being my Comforter in this life, as I look toward life in heaven
Day 36
By Laurie Sidle
Scripture: Revelation 21:4
It was past my son's bedtime and I could tell he was tired. The least little thing made him
cry. As he came to me for comfort, I was surprised and deeply moved by his request.
"Mommy, wipe my tears," he whined in his 2-year-old voice. I had always wiped his
tears. Evidently, it brought him more comfort than I knew.So I now gladly held his little
face and used my thumbs to push away the tears that were sliding down his cheeks. In
his tired state he insisted they all be wiped away, pointing to areas where his face was
still wet. That night as I tucked my son into bed and watched him drift off to sleep, I kept
thinking about his words. "Mommy, wipe my tears." I believe that is how we can share
God's healing touch to others who are experiencing profound grief and sorrow. When
words can't begin to ease their pain, we can simply sit with them, hold them, cry with
them and wipe their tears. On that glorious day when Jesus returns, He promises to wipe
away all our tears. Until then, we can be His hands reaching out to others.Prayer: Father,
help me to recognize those who may not be outwardly weeping