Encouraging Words Devotional

I’m a grandmother now. All three of our kids have homes of their own and children of their own. I’m at the stage when it’s interesting to reminisce about the period of life when the children were younger and still at home. One of the great things about this is that you tend to forget how tired you were at the time and only remember the good times you had together.

How do you know whether you’re called to be a missionary? Do you wait until you hear an audible voice telling you to go, or do you sense an urge in your heart that just won’t go away? Listen to the experience of Jonathan Goforth.

Have you noticed that Jesus never hurried?  In fact, on the contrary, when His friend Lazarus was dying, He delayed coming to see him until Lazarus was dead. Of course Jesus knew that He was going to bring him back to life in a few days. Jesus could accept delays in life because He had the decided advantage of seeing time from an eternal perspective. He knew the past, the present and future—all at the same time.

You probably remember that some of Jesus’ disciples were fishermen by background. In fact, several were fishing at the moment when Jesus called them. "’Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men.’" Do you remember what their response was? Here it is: The Bible says, “At once they left their nets and followed him” (Mark 1:17-18).

Greg Fisher, who for years was a missionary in Africa, tells that when he was growing up in the U.S., his dad was a street evangelist.  Yes, he preached openly on the streets to anyone who would listen.

Greg tells about going with his dad when he was only seven years old to a spot in Hollywood right in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre to hand out Christian leaflets while his dad preached to the crowds who lined up for the Sunday matinee at the theater.  One bystander began to yell at his dad—not an uncommon experience for street preachers. But what amazed Greg even at that young age was that the thing that set the man off was the mention of the name of Jesus.

Image is so important to a woman. Her appearance and the impression she makes matter very much to her.

Women want to know what the “look” is for this season so they can have the “correct image.” Are skirts going to be short, medium, or long? What is the most important part of make-up this year—the lips or the eyes? Should I have the suntanned look or more natural? What’s in—casual and comfortable or tight-fitting styles?

Martin and Grecia Bernham were celebrating their wedding anniversary in 2001 when they were abruptly taken captive by the militant Abu Sayyaf. For 17 years Martin had been a missionary jungle pilot in the area, but for the next more than a year, the two were held as hostages under the most miserable of circumstances.

In her book To Fly Again, Gracia Burnham[1]quotes a devotional written by E. Stanley Jones, Methodist missionary to India. The devotional is entitled “Worry is Atheism.” Jones writes, 

A person who worries says, “I cannot trust God; I’ll take things into my own hands.” Result? Worry, frustration, incapacity to meet the dreaded thing when it does come. With God, you can meet it, overcome it, assimilate it into the purpose of your life. Alone, you fuss and fume and are frustrated.

Bernard Kipsangut, a friend of mine in Kenya, is not only a pastor but also the chaplain of the Kitale Men’s Prison. He posted thoughts on his Facebook page that I found inspiring. I never was able to find the original author, so I will give credit to that famous writer, “Author Unknown.” Anyway, here it is--based on that Old Testament favorite, Joseph, son of the patriarch Jacob.

My daughter had to appear in court on an important financial matter.  She had a whole army of friends and family praying for her that the issue would be settled that particular day once and for all.