Bear Ye One Another's Burdens / Mrs Virginia Harris

Mrs Virginia Harris

Pastor's Wife

Beacon Baptist Church

Welland, Ontario

Bear Ye One Another's Burdens

"Bear ye one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ."

Last week, our 14-year-old daughter, Victoria, was at a youth activity located at an indoor trampoline park. As the teens were playing, jumping around in the various area of the park, Victoria jumped and came down wrong on her knee. She felt her knee pop and pain shot through her leg. Her friends all came over to see if she was ok. The next morning, the doctor told her that nothing was broken and that he wasn't able to say if anything was torn due to the severe pain and swelling. The doctor said that the swelling in her knee was a natural splint.

My first thought was how this was just one more example of how amazing our Creator is. Our bodies are designed on such a way that everything reacts to a trauma in a way that is helpful. As much as I don't enjoy pain, imagine what terrible damage we could unwittingly inflict upon ourselves if it wasn't for pain. When we touch a hot dish just out of the oven, we feel pain and pull away our hand. We could receive a much deeper degree of burn if it wasn't for that warning pain of HOT!
My second thought was that we - the body of Christ - should imitate our physical bodies in the rushing of aid to a member of the body that is hurting. It should be an automatic reaction. We can be there for support and encouragement. Immediate attention to that member who is suffering can aid in the healing process.

"Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2

Daddy's Girl / Mrs Loretta Walker

Mrs Loretta Walker

Editor of Christian Womanhood

Daddy's Girl

Abandonment is a voluntary rejection.  The person willingly forsook you.  I was seven years old when my father moved out of our home and my life.  He would drift in once and a while but never really made me feel like he cared about me as his daughter.  I guess you could say we never connected.

At the time he left, we had a nice home (by the standards of the times).  My Mom was running a room and board for the elderly and he was an over-the-road truck driver.  In my young mind, it seemed like we were rich.  I remember asking and dreaming of a swimming pool.  I guess back then that was a true sign of wealth in West Virginia.  

After my Dad left, we had some extenuating circumstances occur that cost us our home and literally my Mom, brother and I were homeless for three years.  Dad was never there for us (more details are available in my book, “Invisible Hurts”).  This compounded my feelings of hurt from this man whom I called Dad.  Over and over I had dreams of his return and the pool in our back yard (a sign that all was well) in my childish mind.

Fast forward to when I was nineteen years old and a Sophomore in Bible College.  Pastor Jack Hyles was preaching a series on Sunday morning about the Love of God.  I still remember sitting there overwhelmed by his words.  This was the first time I really noticed the verse, Ps 27:10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.  I thought, “God will be my father”.  

What does a girl do that had never had a father?  I had watched my roommate in college call her Dad and talk to him about everything.  I was amazed and more than a little jealous that she had someone to whom she could run.  They seemed so very close.  I decided right then and there that I would be close to my heavenly Father.  Ps 73:28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.

By the way, I have great news for all of us out there that have faced some sort of abandonment.  There is great peace in realizing that the God of the universe is only a prayer away as far as my talking to Him and only a book away as far as my hearing from Him.  God will never abandon you:   Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee , nor forsake thee. Isa 41:17 When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.

I suddenly began talking to God about everything.  If a girl hurt my feelings walking down the college hallway, I’d talk to Him.  If a family member made me feel stupid, I would talk to Him.  If one of my bus kids disappointed me, I’d complain to Him.  I drew great comfort in realizing that He heard every word I said.  Then I would read the Bible and verses would pop out at me to teach me how to handle those indiscretions.  This is how it has been for years.  That is the only way I can describe this heavenly Father/daughter relationship.    
In all my younger years, I wanted to be a Daddy’s girl.  I began that journey over 40 years ago and still find I enjoy my relationship with my heavenly father.    Dear reader I implore you to overcome that feeling of abandonment by trusting in the One who will always be there for you.  Start today to have a daily Bible reading time and talk to God all the time when you are happy or sad.  He is really the only one who can take it.  Ps 147:5 Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.

Eight Ways that we Forfeit God's Peace / Mrs Angee England

Mrs Angee England

Pastor's Wife

Choice Hills Baptist Church

Pahrump, NV

I would like to share a devotion with you that God gave me last year when I was struggling with HIS peace in my life.   It is derived from Elizabeth Elliot.

                Eight Ways That We Forfeit God's Peace

1. Resent God's Ways - I was resenting what God had done, and was doing in my life.  I questioned God.  I complained and murmured over everything that was happening in my life.  I often felt like the children of Israel, when they complained to God about bringing them out of Egypt. Not only was I complaining to God, but to my family as well, especially my husband.  It was affecting everything and everyone in my life.  The Lord does not take murmuring and complaining lightly, and we are commanded to do ALL things without murmurings ,and disputings: (Phil. 2:14)  I had to be reminded that God's ways and thoughts are not ours. (Isaiah 55:8&9)  His timing is perfect, and as His children He has in mind what is best for us.  My husband always says that, " God is never too late, never too early, but ALWAYS on time.  Don't forfeit God's Peace in your life by resenting what He is trying to do in your life.

2.  Worry - It's easy to say " don't worry" , but harder to do.  I come from a family of worriers!  My mom taught us well to worry. ( which she isn't proud of)  God tells us not to worry, and to consider the lilies. ( Mt. 6:28-33)  I worry about what we do, what we don't do.  What could happen, and things that may never happen. Worry will always rob us of our peace.  Worry never changes anything, but rather makes things worse.. Understand that God truly loves us more than we can comprehend, and He's in control. A friend of mine once said, 

       "  If your gonna worry, don't pray,  If you pray, don't worry"    

.  Don't worry and pray.  It will rob you of your peace every time.  Jesus cares about every detail of our life.

3.  Only pray about those things that you can't handle -   If there is one thing that I am learning is that I can't handle anything on my own.  Even what we think is the simple things in life, needs to be talk to, to Our Lord. (Phil. 4:6-7)

4.  Refuse to accept the things that God does -  God will give us trials to strengthen us.  He will allow strife to come into our lives to teach us.  He will bring us to our knees when we defy him and He takes us through things that are out of our control, to teach us "WHO" is in control.  So in all of these things, times, or seasons that we go through we must accept what it is that He is doing in our life.  (Matt. 11:29-30) 

5.  Looking to others first for answers instead of God -  It is so easy sometimes to pick up the phone and cry out to a friend or family member for answers before we even go to God.  Although God does say it is good to seek Godly counsel, we need to go to Him first and let Him direct our ways.  Jeremiah 17:5

6.  Doubt God's Word - We doubt that God will do what He says in His word for us.  He will do it for others, but we often doubt that He will do it for me. (Prov.3:5&6)  Don't forfeit God's peace in your life because you are doubting Him.

7.  Rule our own lives - We forfeit our peace by thinking that we know what is best for us -  I have often done this with medication!  I think that I don't need this, or the amount that is prescribed to me.  I try to rule, instead of obeying what God has told me to do.  Jesus needs to be the one who rules everything in our life.

8.  Carry all our burdens ourselves-  We often think we don't need to give them to The Lord, or we give it to Him and take it back.  We recently had a missionary come to our church that preached on comfort and he said that everyone has a story, and we need to use our story to help others! So cast your burdens on Jesus and let Him direct you to who needs your help or who you can help.  I Peter 5:7

Jesus was a man of great peace. He remained silent before accusers, and He was gentle with sinners.  He even ask God to forgive those who put Him to death.  As Christians we have the same capability to have that same peace.  Let the peace of God rule in your heart, by not forfeiting His peace. Col.3:5

Choose Joy! / Mrs Joanna Laughbaum

Mrs Joanna Laughbaum

Youth Pastor's Wife / Christian School Teacher

Lafayette Bible Baptist Church

Wildwood, MO

 CHOOSE JOY

          I have to confess…...I do not like February.  It can be a cold, lonely, and depressing time of year.  For singles, it is an in-your-face reminder that you’re, well...single.  Valentine’s Banquets are scheduled, commercials flash glittering jewels, and Cupid threw up pink and red hearts over every square inch of stores.  (Even elementary kids are pressured by Valentine’s Day!)  It is impossible to ignore the fact that there is no one to lavish you with candy hearts, flowers, and teddy bears.  Instead, you find yourself ducking around corners at church while desperately trying not to make eye contact with anyone to avoid “diaper duty” in the nursery on banquet night.  Or worse, hiding from the weird guy at college that you just ​ know ​ is trying to ask you for a date.  (By the way, college girls, DO NOT give mercy dates!  You are under no obligation to say yes, just because someone asked you!  It’s more cruel to give false hope than it is to say no.)  (If you’re a teenager, you’re ​ supposed​ to be single…….you are a ​ teenager.)
          ​
For couples, unrealistic expectations driven by commercialism (It’s sooo not our fault!)  can be killer.  Fantasies of being escorted by mustached limo drivers to exclusive French candlelight dinners followed by glittering gifts measured in carats and exotic roses picked by monks on alpine slopes distract us from reality.  (Cardboard pizza on a paper plate, dear?)   For widows, sweet memories bring a renewed sense of loss and loneliness.  Silent grief is harder to deal with than shared grief.   For moms, cold weather brings out the stir crazy (and the  STOMACH FLU!!!) in kids.  Antziness, antagonism, and static electricity fill the air……..”Mom!”, ZAP!, “MOMMMMM!” (PUKE!)             For students, Christmas is over and the only thing to look forward to until spring break are exams and science projects.  I hate to break their hearts, but…...Contrary to common kid logic, staring at the cover of a book ​ will not​ cause the facts found inside to magically
appear in the brain.  It just seems that all the negative stuff finds its way into February!

           But, perhaps, you may be one that is blessed with “the glass is half full” personality that loves dry skin and frizzy hair.  Random shocks of electricity don’t bother you and the wonder of snow, ice, and rock salt all over the floor never leaves you.  Maybe you don’t mind watching other people’s whiny children in a small room while said parents ignore how late it’s getting.  Perhaps you love every minute of February.  Then you may not need this little article.  But, for the rest of us, a few encouraging words along with a cup of hot chocolate (heavy on the whipped cream) may be just the thing we need.

           We know that Proverbs says a merry heart doeth good like a medicine.  But sometimes it feels impossible to have a merry heart, when your heart hurts.  All you ​feel​
 like doing is locking the door, shutting off (or throwing) your phone, and binge eating ice cream while watching sappy movies with a dozen boxes of kleenex.  But there IS hope!  You can survive the month of February! If you are a Christian, you have access to a supernatural power. (Think electrical outlet)  This power can enable you to have joy…...in spite of the most heart wrenching, or normal, every day, circumstances.   You just have to plug yourself in.  (Enter background singing “Plug it in, plug it in!”)  Joseph was able to keep his faith, even though he was hated by family, nearly killed, sold into slavery, falsely accused AND thrown into prison - for doing right!  David authored many of our psalms and was a man after God’s own heart even though he was an adulterer and a murderer.  Paul and Silas were able to sing (and not the Blues) after being lied about, beaten, and thrown into prison.  (Sometimes being in ministry leaves you feeling like that!)  Many times, the last thing we want to do is be joyful when our hearts are being crushed by grief and discouragement.  But these
times in our lives are no accident.  Our situations did not catch God off guard.  It is in that very moment that we have an incredible opportunity to experience God.  Overflowing, indescribable grace and joy is at our fingertips.  But….some decisions have to be made first. Here are some basic steps that I have discovered (By trial and much error)  that I hope will be a help to you.…. 

Steps to finding (or deciding to have) victory in February!

1. Stick to your daily schedule. - Devotions are more important now than ever!  Don’t skip.  If you don’t have a regular time to read God’s Word, start now!  Your spiritual life depends upon it.  - Write verses of encouragement on ⅗ cards.  Carry these around and read them often.  I have precious verses that I cling to like Ps. 91. - Do not lay around, procrastinate or wallow. (A little crying is ok…...just don’t drown in your tears.)  Wipe your tears and get going.  - Do be on time. - Do get enough rest.

   2.  Do something for someone else.  - Get your eyes off yourself.  There is someone around you that has it worse. - Exercise your ability to recognize needs in others.  Your previous experiences qualify you to be sympathetic to others presently in similar situations.  God may be able to use you like no one else.

  3.  Eat right…...most of the time.  (Let’s be real) - Poor nutrition and vitamin deficiencies will cause hormone imbalances, fatigue and depression

 4.  Sing.  (Yup…..) - I found this to be the hardest, ​
most important, step to having joy.  - Singing praises to God while our hearts hurt is the ultimate praise to God.  Doing so unlocks something so amazing, you can’t explain it…….you just have to experience it to ​know.

- Sing praises God even though it hurts and tears are falling down your face. - Sing praises to God for His mercy and abundant grace.

- Sing praises to God for loving wretched sinners like me and you. - Sing praises to God for His Word and His promises. - Sing praises to God for His protection and provisions.  - Sing praises to God for……..you get the point.

Friends, let’s look at February as a month of opportunities to say “I love you” to the Lord.  It ​is
 going to be cold.  Kids ​will squabble. Science projects ​are
​due.  You may even “get” to do diaper duty instead of going on a date.  Hearts ​
will hurt.  Bad news may come.  But let’s praise God anyway!  You will be amazed at what God can do with your broken heart.  Choose victory!  Choose JOY!