Crying Rocks!

Scripture: When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!" "I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out." Luke 19:37-40

I love adventures. Anytime you go anywhere with 4 guys, it is always an adventure. My family recently had the pleasure of going to a local attraction called Cumberland Caverns. It is 32 miles of underground cave passageways and caverns. I am only brave enough to go where the electricity runs and the faint of heart tours take you. But that was enough to totally convince me that nothing is impossible for God!

Down under the earth about 400 feet we saw amazing rock formations and interesting sights some of which where breath-taking. They have a light show that tells the creation story and really brings out the marvel in your surrounding landscape. While watching the light show and listening to the creations story I was struck with total amazement of how big God really is. He left no detail to chance. Even the depths of the earth hold his glory. Without a doubt these rocks do indeed cry out and speak volumes about the glory of our great and powerful God!

So the question I raise is why do I fret and concern myself over the details of my life? I mean if God can swirl water underground to form caverns that hold life and support an entire ecosystem, He can surely manage the small details of my life.

I have some people in my life right now who are enduring some very difficult circumstances. These circumstances at times overwhelm me, so I know that they are feeling hopeless. However, I was so encouraged when I realized how much care God took with this cave. It took him thousands of years to form it in its entire splendor, yet He did not stop. In fact, He is still forming it! Hallelujah! God will not stop fashioning our lives to bring about His glory. Everything that we endure is only one more opportunity for us to direct our and other people’s attention to the author and giver of life.

Try and find something in nature that is not a marvel: the butterfly, the frog, the dessert, the mountains, the galaxy, a cave… The list goes on forever. If God cares for these things with such detail, He has not overlooked your life today.

Leslie Stephens
McMinnville, TN

Prayer: God of Creation, teach me to trust in your ability to make my life a living testament to your goodness. Amen.

Prayer Tip: When you are feeling discouraged meditate outside somewhere. God’s creation cries out to proclaim his power and might. You will not be disappointed in the encouragement you find there.

Gracious Reminders

Scripture: For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:6-7

I love the way God sometimes sends us stark messages. There are so many times I grow discouraged in my work for God. I get to thinking that even though I know He raised up Prayers For The People You Love and He means for it to touch many lives, that I am not doing what God would have me to do. I grow pitiful and begin to doubt these promises. Then my loving God will send me a giant word of encouragement many times it comes as one of your orders, but sometimes it is more unsolicited than that.

Before we started our move I got a small envelope in the mail with what appeared to be child’s handwriting on the front. I did not recognize the name, but it was written with great care. Upon opening the letter I discovered that the young girl had received a prayer as a gift. She did not know me and had not been in touch with the person who gave her the prayer. Yet she must have needed to reach out to someone familiar. She needed a friend and she thought that I must have been one to do that prayer for her. Little did she know that she, in her broken penmanship, wrote me a lovely letter of encouragement.

I sat down to write her back today and even though it only took a moment I realized that I have failed to write many of you to tell you how much you mean to me. Writing a note does not take long and I know in the world of quick email-cell phone fixes we have cheapened our communication at times. I am sorry if I have not written to you personally like I should have and I pray that you will receive this young girl’s letter as your own. For each of you have helped give another prayer beyond the one you bought.

Your challenge is to take about 10 minutes this week and write a hand-written note to someone to let them know how they have touched your life for Christ. It will be rewarding for both of you. I always love it when God reminds me and fans the flame of His gifts in me.

Leslie Stephens
McMinnville, TN

Prayer: Thoughtful God, thank you for sending us just the encouragement we need to move forward in our faith. We know that you do not intend for us to remain in discouragement. Teach us to be encouraging to others when we ourselves are discouraged. Amen

Prayer Tip: One of the best ways to find encouragement in Christ is to pray for other people’s needs. When you feel discouraged do not focus on your needs, focus on the needs of others.

Certain Change

Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21

Another school year is closing in on us as we come to the end of the summer. However, it seems like the summer ends too quickly. And really it does end much sooner than it did for me as a child. I can remember when school did not start back until after Labor Day, funny how things change. That is the thing that I have been pondering most in the last few weeks. Change is always something that we know will happen, yet when things change it can be overwhelming.

If 5 years ago you had told me that the only house I ever knew growing up would burn to the ground, that I would loose my mother to cancer, that the family furniture store of 40 years would be closing, that we would have a new baby, that my husband would begin seminary and go into full-time ministry, and that we would be moving to Warren County, I would have probably said no how, no way! All that information 5 years ago would have been way too much change. I am learning that I am on a need to know basis with God. If I had known all the pain and sorrow that all this change would bring, I might have missed the joy and excitement for fear of the change. As difficult as all this change has been, it has brought so much joy and peace to our lives.

God’s plans are not ours. We can’t see the big picture and even if we could our understanding is so much smaller than God’s that we probably still could not agree with all that God decides is best for us. I am thankful that God is sovereign and that we can trust in His plan not only for our life, but also for everyone who loves Him and is called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28) I am not sure how I could have handled any of the changes in my life had it not been for knowing that truth.

So let’s just go ahead and decide that this week is going to bring change. Some change will be good and some not so good, but all change will be part of God’s plan for us. The next thing we need to decide is that we will praise Him no matter what. No matter what change comes, no matter how we perceive that change, we will praise Him for He is God, and worthy of our praise. No change will ever change that.

Leslie Stephens
McMinnville, TN

Prayer: O great and sovereign God, your ways are higher than my ways, and I want to trust you no matter what comes my way this week. Amen!

Prayer Tip: Remind yourself of who God is and who you are in Christ every time you pray. Perspective will be a great source of encouragement for you.