Thank You, Lord! / Mrs Barb Burke

Mrs Barb Burke

Wife / Vocalist

First Baptist Church 

Hammond, IN

Psalm 34:1 says, "I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth."

I want to praise the Lord for his goodness to me these last eight months. My breast cancer diagnosis back in November was very unexpected and scary.  However, the Lord has been with us each step of this journey and continues to be with us each day.

Thank you, Lord, for being with us spiritually.  The Word of God has brought much wisdom and direction, strength, encouragement, and calmness.  Philippians 4:6-8 have been my go-to verses during panic attacks and depression and fear.  The Holy Spirit has comforted us and reminded us that the God of our salvation is in control of our lives and wants to use us.

Thank you, Lord, for being with us physically. The Lord has led us to the right doctors and medical staff who have helped in the healing process in so many ways.  Thank you, Lord, that even though a double mastectomy was necessary, I did not have to go through chemotherapy or radiation. What a blessing.

Thank you, Lord, for being with us emotionally. Thank you for friends and family who have brought such encouragement. Thank you for all the thoughtful cards, phone calls, texts, meals, and so many other gestures of love and friendship. Thank you again for the Bible that calms our fears. Thank you for my wonderful husband Paul who has held my hand and cared for me each step of the way.

Thank you, Lord, for being with us financially. Thank you for leading us to Samaritan Ministries and for the members who have helped to ease our financial burdens.  

God's goodness to us has been so evident every day. May we continue to praise his name and may our lives bring glory to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Psalm 103:1-2 "Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits."

Selfies / Mrs Susan Ballard

Mrs Susan Ballard

Pastor's Wife

Grace Baptist Church 

Marion, IA

SELFIES

So many people today are obsessed with selfies and posting their photos of where they are at day/night, what they're doing, who they're with, and anything else they think is worthy of posting on social media. It gives me the impression that they think their actions are important enough that we all want to know what they do every waking moment. Because of social media, there just isn't anything sacred or private anymore.

I'm a more private person myself, although I do post photos from time to time, mostly for my family and close friends. I guess I became very selfish and comfortable with being a loner from growing up as an only child until my dad remarried later. Even though I am a pastor's wife, if I had my way, I'd get to church about 3 minutes before it starts and leave right away as soon as it's over! I know, it's very selfish, but that's how I feel inside. I'm not independently wealthy, I'm independently "selfy"! And, if I'm around a lot of people for several days in a row, I get really anxious and sometimes even get a headache! I realize I need some alone time then!

However, I have learned over the past 25 years here in Iowa to get out of my comfort zone and talk to people, build relationships, and give of myself to try to be a help and a blessing to our church family and visitors that attend our services. I don't think there's anyone else that could love my church family more than I do, except the Lord and my husband!

I've really prayed for the Lord to help me in this area, to open my eyes to look and really see the needs of others. Otherwise, I get caught up in MY own little world, living in MY rut, doing what's on MY schedule. But when I do this, I'm missing out on the blessing of making a friend, showing some love, building relationships, and discipling others for Christ.

How are you doing with this in your church? Do you always sit or hang out with the same people or group (clique)? Do you have a hard time letting others into your circle? Do you prefer to be alone? Here are a few things that God used to help me and I pray they will encourage you as well!

Why should we fight our own selfishness?

Jer 45:5 "And seekest thou great things for thyself? Seek them not;..."

Phil 2:21 "For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's." All men (women) seek great things for themselves, but God says this is not what we should be seeking. It's selfish!

II Cor 5:15 "And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again."

When we are selfish, we are not living for HIM who died for us! We should be living unto HIM, seeking what HE directs us to seek.

Jn 5:13 "Greater love hath no man this this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." How great is your love for your friends? Do you help when needed?

Mt 20:28 "Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." With Jesus as our great example, we are to minister. And not only to a few chosen ones, you know, those who dress right, look right, smell nice? But to many...yes including the ones who are not always lovely and easy to love. Those who need more time, more investment from us.

Mt 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Our good works may be seen by the lost or backslidden and cause someone to draw near to God because they see Jesus in us. In turn, this brings glory to God! How awesome is that, that by just doing what we as Christians are supposed to do, we can bring glory to our Heavenly Father! Amazing!

Rom 15:1-2 "We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification." We are to carry one another's burdens, lift one another up! And who is our neighbor? Everyone around us is our neighbor! Next door, across town, the cashier, the bank teller, etc. Dr. Hyles used to say, "Be kind to everyone because everyone is having a tough time."

Jms 3:13 "Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom." If we have or want wisdom and knowledge, we must show others by our life (conversation) and testimony of good works!

Lastly, I Cor 10:33 "Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved." This is what it all comes down to for us. While I'm staying to myself, minding my own business, not necessarily doing wrong, I'm letting a whole host of my "neighbors" die and go to hell. My selfishness is putting a stumbling block before others, covering my light that should be shining bright so others would see the path to Christ and Heaven.

Please seek God's help and direction and learn to reach out to those who are longing for someone to tell them the truth. They're waiting for the answers they're seeking, and we have them in God's Word! Let's go out of our way to show them His love!

Out of Order Questions / Ms Cherith Henderson

Ms Cherith Henderson

Student at Golden State Baptist College

Pianist

Harvest Baptist Church

Manhattan, KS

OUT-OF-ORDER QUESTIONS 

When waiting on God’s will, our questions often sound like this—what do you want me to do, where do you want me to do it, when, and why. Our tendencies are to act like we need all the answers right now, laid out in front of us, with all the problems that we will face conveniently listed in alphabetical order. Sound familiar? Recently, I found myself asking God these same questions in a specific situation in my life. Like He always does, the Lord gave me the answers I was searching for in a study I started in Isaiah.

Here are the verses God gave me—Isaiah 30:20-21

20 - And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers:

21 - And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

After reading verse 21, God showed me that the questions were not necessarily wrong, but the order of them was important to finding His answer! The Holy Spirit leads the believer in three steps.

1) He Compels Them – “This is the way…”

2) He Commands Them—“…walk ye in it…”

3) He Clarifies Their Steps—“…when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left…”

We cannot follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in our lives if we are first not sensitive to hear His still, small voice. Like in I Kings 19, Elijah did not hear God in the loud wind, the earthquake, or the fire; but in the still, small voice. Like in Isaiah, God compelled and commanded Elijah to go then clarified his way.

The Compelling To Go: God led Elijah through the wilderness. What could that wilderness be in my life? Hardships in family or church relationships? Discouragement? Sickness? Sometimes the wilderness has hardships that God placed there to make us stronger. We may not necessarily like the way God has chosen, but we must be willing to walk in it.

The Command to Follow: Each person has a purpose in their life. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” God always has a specific plan for YOU that only you can fulfill! There was a reason for that wilderness you just went through. This is where we have to trust God. Elijah’s purpose was to prepare Elisha for the next generation. What is your task? What has God commanded you to do?

The Details: Often God asks (or tells) us to do something without immediately giving us all the answers. Here in I Kings 19:15-16, God told Elijah exactly who to anoint, but not exactly where. Later in that passage, the Bible says Elijah “found” Elisha—meaning he had to search for him. Elijah had to be sensitive to the voice of the Lord to fulfill God’s will for his life. Once we are sensitive to the voice of the Lord, then He will lead us to His exact and perfect will for our lives.

Both passages end with reminders of God’s goodness to His children. Isaiah 30 ends with the power and glory of the Lord and I Kings 19 ends with a reminder that there are other Christians who are with you! Once we surrender to His will, we can be ushered into a His glory and have His power on our lives. What a loving God we have that He would give us others for encouragement along the way!

God is just too good not to trust His leading in our lives. We must remember to listen to that still, small voice and follow the Holy Spirit’s direction in all things.

Prayer / Mrs Debbie Bragg

Mrs Debbie Bragg

Pastor’s Wife

Lafayette Bible Baptist Church

Wildwood, MO

Prayer

God spoke to my heart about writing this devotion on prayer. He knew I needed it! I am aware I don’t spend enough time in prayer!!

Have you ever heard the term “prayer warrior”? I think most of you know what that is and most of you know one or two people who are. Someone you can go to with a burden or prayer request and you just KNOW that person will pray for you. We have several in our church that are like that. And they get answers too, not just requests given to God but they see answers to their requests. I never tell someone I’ll pray for them and I don’t. Write it down so you’ll remember to pray for them!

I desire to be one of those “prayer warriors”! I hope I’ll be remembered when I die as not just having been a pastors wife but a prayer warrior!! But, that means you have to pray! And that means spend a lot of time in prayer while I’m alive!

Prayer in itself can be a ministry. Maybe you’re home bound with small children, maybe you have health issues, or maybe you work and don’t have a lot of time to go out soul winning or bus visiting, etc...... but you can pray for those who do! Be specific when you pray. Ask God for souls to be saved out visiting and soul winning, and for them to come to church and get baptized and grow in the Lord. The Bible says in I John 5:14-15 that if we pray according to His will, He heareth us, And if we know that He hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him. You should pray for your church to grow, see young couples come with small children (the life of the church is in our children!), pray for your Pastor that God would give him courage to preach, strength to preach it, and to resist the devil.

The devil would like nothing more than to destroy our churches, marriages, and our young people with the ways of the world. Pray for these things that the devil would flee and our church would be strong in the Lord.

I hope your desire, like mine, is to be a prayer warrior”!! Together, on our knees, we can strengthen our churches and see revival!!

God’s Promises / Mrs Terri Martin

Mrs Terri Martin

Evangelist’s Wife

Heritage Baptist Church

Lawrence, KS

One day while driving down the road through a torrential downpour we came to a clearing, the sun was shining, and across the sky was a beautiful rainbow.  I am so thankful for the promise that the rainbow represents.  A promise God gave us so many years ago.

A promise is defined as: a declaration or assurance that one will do a particular thing or that a particular thing will happen, a pledge, a vow, assurance, word of honor, commitment.

Have you ever thought about all the promises that the Lord gives to those who  believe him?  To name a few;

1) He Promises to never leave you nor forsake you. Hebrews 13:5b ..."for he hath said I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."  He will be with you through everything that you go through.

2) He Promises to forgive our sins.  I John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  Micah 7:19b ..."and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea."

3) He has Promised to never leave us comfortless.  John 14:18 "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."  John 14:16 "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another comforter, that he may abide with you forever;"  All of us need comfort at certain times in our life.  Comfort will strengthen our mind and renew vigor in our spirit.  I Peter 5:7 "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."

4) Lastly, He Promises us Eternal Life through Christ.  

John 3:36a "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life..."  I John 5:13 "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life."  God promises eternal life to those who repent of their sin and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Nobody likes to have a promise broken, and our God will never break a promise.  He always fulfills His Promises!

These are just to name a few.  There are many more that you can find in His Word.  So thankful for a God of Promises!  What a Great Father!!!

Discovering Great Truth / Mrs Jancie Wolfe

Mrs Janice Wolfe

Faith Music Radio Show Host

Boeke Road Baptist Church

Evansville, IN

Discovering Great Truth

Within the last few years I have watched a loved one make some very poor spiritual decisions. It has been heart wrenching to say the least. I have experienced much grief over the loss of what had once been a close and enjoyable relationship. Like other trials I have experienced in life, I have found God has been good to me and has taught me much. As Christians, we are exhorted to “grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” 2 Peter 2:18. Each trial is a chance for growth. Yes, even the trials that come when close family relationships and friendships become awkward and challenging. 

There are lessons to be learned as we navigate the rocky roads of strained relationships. It is safe to say that my “homework” assignments have been difficult. I have sat perplexed and in tears at the problems before me. I have been at a standstill more times than I can count, not having a clue what to do next. And through it all, God has been patient with my lack of knowledge concerning His Word and His ways. For that, I am grateful. As I have called out to Him, He has been gentle, yet thorough, in His instruction. After all he is the Master Teacher. Nicodemus called Him Rabbi and a Teacher come from God, for Nicodemus did not yet know that He was God. 

Jesus often used “discovery” teaching methods with his disciples and followers. He asked questions. He taught in parables. He got them thinking so they would discover the truths for themselves.  He does the same for us as we go through trials. Trials, and especially relationship struggles, bring us face to face with the tough questions of life. 

Does a God Who could allow this really love me?  Why did God allow this?  Will God really let them or that person get by with this?  Why doesn’t God stop her? Why did God give him to me to take him away? 

Tough, gut wrenching questions that seem to raise doubt and fear while we are commanded to walk by faith. And yet the answer to all of these questions are found in the Word of God. A careful study done in faith and bathed in prayer usually reveals the answers we need at just the right time.

How many times have we watched a child sit with the textbook open before them crying because they don’t know the answer to a problem. Yet, as their parent or teacher, we can plainly see the answer on the page.  We almost want to scream out, “The answer is right THERE!” But…we realize the need for the student to discover the answer for themselves. 

And so, it is with our testing. The Bible is s book that is meant to be studied. We have the answers! Being a good student of the Word of God when you are faced with tough questions brought on by tough trials leads to discovery of great truth. Truth that is meant to set us free and change us forever. 

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” II Tim. 2:15

It's Time to Rise and Shine / Mrs Robyn Bachman

Mrs Robyn Bachman

Assistant Pastor's Wife

Parkside Baptist Church

Mesquite, TX

It's Time to Rise and Shine

Okay, so when I was a little girl I remember learning a song called "Rise and Shine and Give God the Glory, Glory"... it was about Noah and the ark. Through the years these words have entered my mind on various occasions and I have been reminded that we are to do just that...GIVE God the glory. However, sometimes in our lives things happen that cause us to struggle with glorifying Him as we know we ought to do.

Oh, trust me, I could write a book on heartbreak, failures and bad things that have happened in my own life that have, at times, caused me to struggle with this very topic. However, as I have grown older; observed more mature Christians and sought to improve my own walk with the Lord, I have seen more and more that even in the "negatives"...there are positives. I have slowly begun to understand on a very personal level that God is only and, yes, always good. There is nothing that He allows in my life or yours that comes as a surprise to Him. There is no tragedy, no sickness, no sorrow, no heartache...nothing of which He is unaware. All that we face in our lives from birth to the grave is known by a loving Heavenly Father Who longs for nothing more than us to "rise and shine" for His glory.

How can a lost world see a living Savior if we are not shining for Him? How can a hurting heart see a Savior longing to carry their load if we are not shining for Him? How can a desperate soul grasp the depth of His loving heart toward them if we are not shining for Him?

Just like the song says we must first, "rise" and then, we can "shine". I remember, too, doing the motions. We would stand for the word "rise" and then, we would wave our hands in the air for the word "shine" signifying that glory belonged to God. What a simple lesson from such a simple song!

The word "rise" means: to get up from lying, sitting or kneeling; to get up after falling down; to spring up or grow; to be built up, erected or constructed, etc.

The word "shine" means: to give forth or glow with light; to be bright with reflected light; sparkle; to appear brightly or strongly

Psalms 29:2 says, "Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." I love this verse!! We are to give Him what is due Him...we are to worship Him...He is holy. How can we continue to live our lives bogged down by the cares of life if we truly focused on Him? He has done so much for us! If nothing else, He has provided salvation...the opportunity for us to spend ALL of eternity with Him and that, alone, is truly worthy of our praise. There is NO greater love! Yet, our flesh, our emotions, our feeble understandings are quick to forget when faced with difficulty. So, to myself and to others I would remind us that it IS time to RISE AND SHINE:

How can we do this?

1. Rise from flaws (defects or features that mar the perfection of something)

These are the things we allow ourselves to believe are hindrances as to why we can't be used by God. However, He looks at those and uses them for His glory so that others can see Him work in our lives and know His strength...

*So, rise from the flaws by SHINING His strength at work in your life. Allow Him to perfect your weakness.

2 Corinthians 2:9 "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

Eph. 6:10 "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might"

2. Rise from failures (proving unsuccessful; insufficiency)

These are our sins...the things that bind us day to day. We have a Savior Who forgives and forgets. We must confess and turn from these things. We must not allow Satan to keep us bound by something that God has chosen to forgive. When we do so, we become hostage to Satan and this renders us, in effect, useless to God. That is exactly what Satan wants. Go to Acts and read chapter 26 verses 2 to 23...it is amazing to see the power of God work in Saul (who becomes Paul). Paul obtained His help from the Lord. He turned from his failures (past sin) and others saw God work in his life.

* So, rise from the failures by SHINING the grace of God at work in your life.

Acts 20:24 " But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God."

Eph. 3:7 " Whereof I was made minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power."

Eph. 1:7 " In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace."

3. Rise from frustrations (something that frustrates; feeling of dissatisfaction; often accompanied by anxiety or depression resulting from unfulfilled needs or unresolved problems)

These are the trials and troubles that we face ...the things that cause us to be burdened, worried or weighted down with care.

Look to the story found in Daniel 3....Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego...now they had problems! However, they stood and remembered their God . They, on purpose, chose to allow Him to carry their burden.

Another person I think of is Job. I am amazed at the words found in Job 1:21-22, "And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: for the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly." WOW!! WOW!! WOW!!

*Giving God the glory by SHINING the goodness of God.

Psalms 106:1 "Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever."

I Chronicles 16:8 "Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people."

It seems like the trials we face are tools that when handled properly will allow others to see the very goodness of God. It all depends on how we handle these trials.

Next year, much to my disbelief (lol), I will turn fifty...yes, fifty. If I were honest, I don't even know how fifty years have come and gone. It is truly hard to believe, especially, when I don't remotely look it...hahaha. Laughter aside, though, time stops for no one and time will continue to pass for each of us.

Wouldn't it be great if our remaining days were spent with RISING AND SHINING AND GIVING GOD THE GLORY, GLORY...for in truth, He, alone, deserves all our glory!! No matter who you are He loves you and no matter what you are facing, look for ways to glorify Him. I promise, it will help to ease the load you carry, it will help to encourage others and it will please the One who created you. Will the flaws, failures and frustrations never come again? Oh no, they will come. The difference will be in how we each choose to carry them...sitting, bogged down in our own weakness, complaining because we just can't do it OR rising, shining and glorifying a Holy and perfect God Who can and will bear those things for you!!

I challenge you to join me today and every day to remember to:

Go out there and get busy Rising and Shining for His Glory!