Never A Friend Like Jesus / Mrs Kelly Monkofsky

Kelly Monkofsky
Pastor's Wife
Grace Baptist Church
Quincy, IL


Never A Friend Like Jesus

All your anxiety, all your care Bring to the mercy seat, leave it there Never a burden you cannot bear Never a friend like Jesus.

Do you have a best friend? Someone who you can count on, tell your secrets to, be real with, “unload” your burdens to? I do. His name is Jesus. This song means more to me now, and in the past year and a half, then it ever did before. I’ve sung it many times in church, but the words are dearer to me now. When you hear from the Dr. that you have the “C” word, life changes and Jesus really does become your dearest friend.

In August of 2015 I was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. At the time, I was only 37 years old. Not something many 37 year olds hear. With a husband, 5 kids, and a church to take care of, this news was hard to bear. Put me into shock, actually. I knew something was going on because I hadn’t felt good for about 2 months prior. I still had no idea I was about to embark on a journey that would turn my world upside down. Millions of questions and scenarios raced in my head while my husband and I sat in the Dr’s office that day. I was literally waiting for someone to pinch me so I could wake up and say it was just a bad dream. However, it wasn’t. It was real, and I was scared. I remember sitting there, watching my husband with tears coming down his cheeks. It almost hurt more to see him hurting so badly. All I could do was pray. And pray I did! Unless you’ve experienced something like this yourself, you probably won’t understand completely what I’m about to say next. The peace that swept over me in those next few hours of tests and poking and prodding was absolutely unbelievable! “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee” (Isaiah 26:3) I didn’t lose it. I didn’t panic. I didn’t even cry which for me, is a miracle in itself because I normally cry over everything☺ The Lord was with me. He was my rock (Psalm 61:2). He was giving me the grace I needed. He was bearing my burden!! 

To make a very long story short, I chose to go the natural route after all my tests and biopsies came back confirming my illness. I had no treatment for almost a year after, just a big change in my lifestyle and diet. The testing that I had done each month from the naturalist I was seeing, showed that I was improving and that the cancer was going away. However, about 10 months into it, I started feeling terrible. I had no energy, I was losing weight, couldn’t even climb the stairs of our house. I was basically on the couch or in bed all day long. After several family members urging me to get blood work done, I finally agreed. My husband had to carry me to the car that day. We went to the ER and had blood drawn. Turned out, I was severely anemic…like, deathly anemic. My hemoglobin was 2.8. That is NOT normal. In fact, it’s considered critical. The nurses and my ER Dr. were in shock that I was still alert and awake. That was God! So of course I was admitted and given a blood transfusion shortly after. From there, they had to determine the cause of my anemia so again, several tests were done. The entire time I was going through these tests, the Lord was there, giving me peace again. He was once again, my best friend. I told Him I was scared. I told Him I was nervous, burdened and anxious. He knew. He
took care of me. “Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still” (Psalm 107”28-29) After many hours of seeing Dr’s, giving my blood away, getting new blood, having a heart monitor, etc, an oncologist met with me and told me that my cancer had spread and was now in my bone marrow, which was causing my red blood cells to be destroyed as well as my platelets. I was also at risk for bleeding. Yeah….that’s a big load to carry!! But Jesus said, let me carry it, child. “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (I Peter 5:7).  

My hospital stay ended up being almost 2 weeks. I had one oncologist tell me when it was just her and I in the room, that I had about 6-18 months to live, with this diagnosis. Um…say what?! Boy was this a time to cast all my cares upon Him; to bring my burden to Him. I heard a lot of bad news in the hospital during those 12 days but honestly, I also felt the peace of God that truly “passeth all understanding.” (Philippians 4:7).  Unexplainable peace. I’m so glad I had Jesus as my best friend at this time. I’m so glad He was there with me during the MANY tests, biopsies, Dr. visits, blood draws, transfusions and scans. Friend, is Jesus your best friend? Can you take all your cares and burdens to Him? Are you? Or are you trying to bear them alone? It’s so much easier when you give them to Him. I’m ashamed to say it, but up until my diagnosis, I don’t think I really relied on Jesus to carry my load. I think I tried doing a lot of it myself. I trusted myself to get through the hard times and challenges of life. Maybe God put me through this to show me HE ALONE is the one to trust. My earthly friends are wonderful. I have some of the best of friends here on earth. But none of them could have helped me through all of this like Jesus did. None of them could have given me that peace. None of them could have sustained my spirit like He did. Psalm 16:11….in his presence is fullness of joy. Amen to that! 

So, its been 5 months since I came home from the hospital and to God’s glory, I have been making remarkable strides in my health. I went from having blood transfusions every 10 days, to not needing one now for 2 months! I feel great, have had encouraging Dr. appointments, and just feel like a new person, praise the Lord!! He is so good to me. I’m so glad He taught me to lean on Him more. One of my favorite verses while going thru this trial was, and still is Isaiah 41:10! Such powerful words! 

My story is nothing special. I know there is so many others who have experienced something like this, or who are going through it right now. I just wanted to brag on my Jesus for a bit, and let you know that you’ll never find a better friend! 

He's Always Faithful / Mrs Danielle Moore

Mrs Danielle Moore

Pastor's Wife

Open Door Baptist Church

Potts Camp, MS

He's Always Faithful

I was asked over two months ago to write a devotion for this page, and kept drawing a blank. It wasn't until about a week ago when Amy text me to remind me that the

Lord showed me what He wanted me to write about. You see, today is April 24th, and for our family it marks the one year anniversary of the hardest day our family has ever faced. One year ago today we said goodbye to my Dad, my pastor, & my hero. 

In 2013 he was diagnosed with a rare lung disease for which there is no cure. The only treatment is a lung transplant. So on April 2nd of 2014 he received a single lung transplant at Vanderbilt. We were so excited that Dad was receiving a second chance on life. However, we soon realized that during the next two years there would be many ups and downs. Anything that could go wrong went wrong. However, God always stayed faithful. 

The period following his surgery, we felt a peace from God that can't be explained.  I have often said that I don't know how lost people manage to go through trials not having the help of the Lord. He provided a strength that can only be found when we learn to fully rely on Him. A verse that became very dear to our family during this time was Nahum 1:7 "The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.” Our help truly comes from the Lord. 

The two years and twenty-two days following Dads transplant were not easy, but looking back on them I wouldn't change them for the world. You see it gave me the privilege to help with my Dads care, and spend lots of time with him.  I will always cherish the times I had with him. 

I haven't written this so that you will feel sorry for me. My desire it to challenge you in two different ways. First, cherish every moment you have with your family. Life is short, and we have no guarantee of tomorrow. Matthew 24:36 "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” Don't be afraid to say, "I'm sorry," and tell them often, "I love you." Second, if you are going through a hard time, learn to rely on God. He can provide a strength that can't be matched. That's not to say I have always been on top side, and that I won't be shedding some tears today, but after everything I can still say that God is always right, and God is always good. 

If your in the middle of a storm, trust God. Whatever it is that your battling the Lord can see you through it. A year ago when I held my Dads hand as he left this world and passed into Heaven, I didn't think I could make it. However once again God was there for our family. Sometimes I look back and can't believe that we have made it a year without Dad, but God has brought us through this year. We are definitely looking forward to that Glad Reunion Day. Help is available to you ladies, you just need to ask the Lord for the help you need. Stay strong in the Lord, and don't give in to the Devil. You never know who may be watching you. If we give in, we may cause someone else to stumble. So today, I pray for those of you who read this and may be going through a trial. I pray God will wrap you in His arms, and provide a peace that only He can give you. 

Psalm 121:2 "My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth."

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Roses, Damaged Petals / Mrs Dianne Mcqueen

Mrs Dianne Mcqueen

Pastor's Wife

Victory Baptist Church

South Boardman, MI

Roses, Damaged Petals

            Have you ever tried to take a rose apart? Doesn't work does it . In a lot of ways our life is like a rose, let's take a look and see.

Roses start off as a bud. They are very fragile and need lots of care to grow. We start off as a small baby and we also need lots of care to grow .The rose grows up and the petals open to reveal a beautiful pink, red or yellow flower. Petals are very soft and they smell good. As we grow up to be a beautiful young lady, different nationalities and colors, we too are very soft and sweet. The more the rose matures  and opens the more beautiful it becomes. The more we grow, the more we mature the more beautiful we become .I Tim. 2:9

         Then time and nature take over and the petals start to turn brown on the edges, someone has picked it and tried to keep it for a few days in a vase of water. Leaves start to wither and drop and its almost at the end of its life.  It can't be refreshed, its head has drooped and finally it has to be put in the trash.

           Time and the world have taken over the young lady. She tries to live for the Lord but sin scars her and puts a brown spot on her life. Someone  has showed her what the world has to offer and she thinks it looks good. Problem with that is the devil does make sin look good. Rom 6:23  She's now running with the wrong crowd, her life is a mess. In and out of relationships, job after job. No peace, her head is drooped. Finally to her, her life is over when a soulwinner comes and her petals ARE refreshed. She's not ready for the trash.  She has a new life to live and a new Savior to live it for. Rom. 6:14. Would to God we could keep every young girl on the right path so she has no chance to go ruin her life with the world. Look around you at the young ladies you have contact with and find ways to keep them on that straight and narrow path.

         The next time you see a rose, remember you are  sweeter and more precious to the Lord than all the roses. God loves you and God is good.

Full of Prunes / Mrs Janice Wolfe

Mrs Janice Wolfe

Host of eleven2one

FaithMusicRadio.com

Full of Prunes

Nothing is more wonderful to a child than a new puppy. Nothing was more dependent upon that child, than that new puppy. When I was about 10-years-old, we got a new puppy for our family.  I loved that puppy and we spent all day together, everyday.

Aunt Tel, was "Special Needs" and was never able to learn to read or write. My dad had promised his dad that he would care of her as long as she needed help.  Dad kept his promise and Aunt Tel lived with us the whole time I was growing up.  

Aunt Tel must have been in her early 40’s at the time. It is obvious to me now that she must have been having some issues with irregularity, because she had been told she needed to eat prunes.  To this day, I do not know if she did not LIKE prunes, or if they just did not help her but, one day she offered the undesirable prunes to me.

I had not had a lot of prunes, if any, in my 10-year life span! I ate a few and I felt they were just alright but, the puppy sitting in my lap, was VERY interested in the prunes. So he had a happy feast!

The next morning when I awoke, my dad said to me, “Janice, what did you feed that dog yesterday?”

(You see my dad was legally blind, and he had gone out on the back porch to put some laundry in the laundry room. Well, the puppy also slept on the back porch. I think you see where this is going.)

I responded matter-of-factly, “Nothing but prunes daddy.”

My dad replied, and to this day I can hear him like it was yesterday, “Well, I cleaned up 6 messes and turned around and stepped in another one!!”  

What goes up must come down and what goes in, must come out! There have been times in my life -- and I am sure that if you are honest, that you have been there too --when what I had been putting in my heart and mind was coming out in my life as a mess. I would find myself leaving little messes everywhere I went.  This is what happens, when one is full of prunes!

Psalm 19:14 is a prayer in the form of a song. “Let the words of mouth, and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” The word meditation means a murmuring sound, that is, a musical notation. In fact, our word music, comes from the word muse.

Music is a wonderful way to fill your heart and your mind with good thoughts. Here at Faith Music, we like to say that a gospel song is a three-minute message that helps us meditate on the principles of God’s word and builds our faith. The book of Psalms contains 150 songs.  It appears that God wanted His people to meditate on His precepts, principles and promises!

When reading Proverbs 9, two verses really stand out to me:

“Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,” (Proverbs 9:4)

“Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,” (Proverbs 9:16)

These verses are nearly identical.  Verse 4 is the cry of wisdom and verse 16 is the cry of the foolish woman.  Lady Wisdom has furnished a delightful table. To dine with Lady Wisdom you must forsake the foolish. You will live if you do!

Verse 16 is the cry of the foolish woman. Her water is stolen and her bread is deceitful.  Her way leads to death and destruction.  

When it comes to our music, who is making our dinner? What is our soul having for supper?

In this blog last week, Vicky Mutchler wrote that, what pressure does is squeeze out what’s inside. That thing you did not mean to say, but it just came out. My former pastor’s wife, Beverly Hyles, used to say, “Yes, you did mean it! Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”  What goes in will come out! Will we leave messes or blessings?  Will we be full of prunes or full of wisdom?

Psalm 19 teaches us to take care that the meditation of our heart is acceptable in the sight of God. He has redeemed us for that purpose and He will give us the strength to do so.

“I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.” (Psalm 104:33-34) When the direction of our praise is towards God, the dedication of our life is for God, and the meditation of our heart is upon God, then, the by-product is a glad heart! A glad heart is a much better gift to give others than the messes we leave when we are full of prunes.

Pressure Cooker / Mrs Vicky Mutchler

Mrs Vicky Mutchler

Pastor's Wife

Grandview Baptist Church

Beavercreek, OR

Pressure Cooker!

Remember the pressure cooker? AKA Instant Pot!

Perhaps you still use one today. I remember my mom using one to cook pinto beans or boil potatoes of course because it would cook things faster. I remember her telling a story of when she was a child and her dad had decided to cook something in the pressure cooker. He could not find the little valve that sits on the top to regulate the pressure so he decided once it got started he would just stick a pencil in there! Of course you know where the story is headed… Once the pressure built up and the valve was not on there to regulate that PRESSURE ....the top blew off and food was all over the ceiling!

Dear pastors' wife...ever feel like you are living in a pressure cooker? We all know what the stresses of daily life can be like. Many today are finding themselves under stress ,and  pressures they never thought they would encounter. Financial relationship, job, health  & emotional stresses- one stress piles upon another. Add in your church ministries and yes, people... lots of them! The tensions of life may lead to breakdowns, a lack of peace, and a multitude of health problems.

Maybe you are in a battle for your health today. Or maybe you’re feeling the pressure of not getting anywhere in your life. You wonder why you aren’t at a different level of life… why you don’t seem to have any sense of direction… Whatever it is,feeling the pressure of life is something everyone has in common. But we cannot really avoid all the pressures – no matter how carefully we plan our day, unexpected things happen. Pressure is another word for stress, and what pressure does is squeeze out what’s inside .. like lumps of coal thrive under pressure to become precious . We need some pressure (not too much) to keep us going in life, to reach our potential, and to stop us from becoming stale. It is a refining....looking for the diamond!

Philippians 4:6 “ Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." God wants us to bring every pressure or stress to Him in prayer. He will meet me at my level of understanding of what is happening, and gradually take me into a deeper relationship with Himself. And the more I release to Him, the more inner peace I experience.

Don’t forget that God will often give us people who can help – those special friends who can show us how to cope with support,a bit of laughter, someone to listen with their hearts ..big shoulders: those who genuinely care. We all need these kind of people. 

Talking about this puts PRESSURE out there so we can see the problem and put it in perspective.. And then, slowly....we can start to manage  our pressures. The reality is we must control the pressures, or they will control us.

I’m reminded of what Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4:8: " We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed…” Talk about pressure! 

Our loving God, has a personal concern for you,and He alone has the power and love to manage our life. He is ENOUGH! He is in control!

Pray Believing / Miss Katie Biddinger

Miss Katie Biddinger

First Grade Teacher / GVCA

Grandview Baptist Church

Beavercreek, OR

Pray Believing

It is amazing how God seems to come at you from every angle when there's something He wants to teach you.  How every message you hear seems to speak about it, how every verse that jumps out at you deals with the same issue, how you will be having random conversations with friends and the subject will come up, how even the banners hung up at the church are speaking directly to you about it.  Lately, the thing that God has been dealing with my heart about, and constantly been reminding me of, is the principle "Pray BELIEVING."  The Bible says, "Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."

I have been challenged that sometimes I am content with a lack of answers to prayer.  I pray, but when I don't get answers I just lackadaisically brush it off with a "well I guess it wasn't God's will."  Time and again in the Bible, God includes stories of people who persisted in their request, or who because of their FAITH had requests granted.

 I never understood why Jesus said "I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel" when referring to a man's request and the details of his job description.  Recently, I heard it explained that this man came to Jesus saying, I have men under me, and when I tell them what to do or make a request, I expect it to be done.  He was approaching Jesus with the same expectation and confidence.  It finally made sense!  Hebrews 4:16 says, "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."  Jesus wants us to come to Him boldly!  To know Him and to seek His help and intervention in our every day lives EXPECTING that He will hear and answer.

Developing a consistent prayer life has always been a struggle for me, and I still have a long way to go and a lot more I could do...  But as I have begun to apply this principle to my prayer time with the Lord the last few months, I have been humbled and amazed already to see God answering my requests, from the simplest little things, to the more serious and complex needs, desires, and outcries of my heart.  Hebrews 11:6 says, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."  I have been challenged to pray in FAITH, BELIEVING that God will answer, "for with God nothing shall be impossible."

Defeating Goliath / Mrs Victoria Costilla

Mrs Victoria Costilla

Law and Grace Ministries

Faith Baptist Church

Belleville, IL

Defeating Goliath

II Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Have you ever been confronted by a Goliath?  Such was my dilemma after our 2010 car accident.  Sadly, fear gripped my heart and, like a giant, dominated my life.  I would be a complete liar, if I told you I understood and lived II Timothy 1:7 at that time.  Actually, I lived quite the opposite!    

This April will mark 7 years, since some life-changing events took place in my heart.  You see, God had set aside an appointed time to meet with me.  He allowed my husband and me to be in a devastating car accident which severely fractured both of my arms in several places.  Graciously, His loving arms carried me through 4 ½ hours of reconstructive surgery plus months of intense physical therapy. I often joked with my physical therapist about our love/hate relationship. I loved seeing her, but I hated the exercises because they hurt!   I claimed the promise of Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me”, and God nourished me and made the pain bearable.

During this time, I was seemingly on the mountain-top, experiencing Godgiven peace and comfort, in spite of the physical pain.  I wouldn’t trade those precious days for anything! But sadly, after physical therapy was over, I welcomed in fear and forsook my GOD (not out rightly but in my heart). 

 As some of you can attest, an injury after a car accident messes with your mind. Your mind keeps on re-playing the accident.  It’s actually a form of PTSD, and it possesses you!  You find yourself in a dark valley and your strength is depleted when you relive the trauma without giving it to the Lord.  It’s as if a giant has shoved you in the corner.  You’re plagued with panic and anxiety attacks.  Your prayer life is challenged like never before!  You read
God’s WORD but have a hard time grasping it, due to your fear(s).  If you’ve ever been here, I would strongly encourage you to seek help.  Don’t be like me, thinking, “I can do this, in my own strength.”  For years, I lived in constant fear thinking I had a good handle on my fear.  In reality, fear had a good handle on me!  

One day, I remember crying out to my GOD.  I reminded HIM, how afraid I’d become of being part of another car accident. I had grown to hating car rides.  I only tolerated cars when I was in the driver’s seat.  Seeing brake lights scared me to death and I felt paralyzed.  My anxiety made my whole family nervous; I was a mess!  But gently and kindly, The Lord started drawing me to HIM.  I could sense him tugging my heart, saying, “My Child, are you done? Don’t you think it’s time to stop trying to conquer this in your own strength? Will you trust me?”  At that very moment, surrendering this fear was all I could think of; all I could do was cry!       

Not too many days after my contrite prayer, our 11-year-old son had an acute pancreatitis attack and was transferred by ambulance from our local hospital to Children’s hospital in St Louis, and it didn’t matter if it was the morning St. Louis rush hour, he had to go immediately!  And so the battle of the mind began and it went something like this: I was fighting my way back to the mountain top.  And then, I saw him.   My made-up ‘Goliath’ was waiting.  He started throwing darts at me.  Silly me, I was just too afraid to move.  I froze! He said, “You will never be able to drive that car, you’re too afraid of another car accident.” The devil wanted me to re-play our car accident.  The panic and anxiety attacks haunted me, fear grabbed me.  This Goliath threatened my sound mind!  It was as if my mind had allowed the devil to twist II Timothy 1:7, to scare me!     

Goliath had become real! But it was then that I cried out to the LORD, and HE heard me!  The LORD drew me to HIMSELF and I knew I was safe in HIS strong arms.  My GOD prepared the sling! Then, the potent stone of the power of God’s word hit Goliath right in the forehead… and down went
Goliath!  Just to make sure he was really dead, his head was cut off.  It is finished!  And just like that, God removed that fear and gave me perfect peace!  I drove to St. Louis, and I didn’t look back.  Our son needed his momma and by God’s grace I was able to be there for him!          

Today, I’m reminded that GOD will never give us more than we can handle. God allows us to go through struggles so we can learn to trust HIM.  Likewise, God allows us to share testimonies that will bring honor and glory to HIM.  If you have valleys with Goliaths, He will do the same for you.

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee (Isaiah 26:3) This verse right here will help in so many areas of our thinking!  What about you, is there a giant you’ve allowed to rule your mind?  I beg you, don’t try to take him down on your own.  Give that giant over to the LORD.  Only HE has the power to slay the giants and give us the victories!  Remember, God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

- Zac and Victoria Costilla are the directors of Law & Grace Ministries, of Faith Baptist Church, in Belleville, IL. They oversee chaplains to law enforcement and correctional officers, to prison and jail inmates, and a comprehensive ministry to returning citizens as they leave incarceration. Law & Grace Ministries also has a food pantry to minister to the local community.