Footprints are evidence that we’ve been in a certain place. When Bill was a young boy, the circus animals broke loose in his home town of Peru, Indiana. Later that night, they heard loud noises outside of their house in the country. When they got up the next morning and looked outside, there were elephant footprints all over their yard. There was no denying that an elephant had visited them the night before.

Many of you have seen little children trying to step in their daddy’s footprints that he may have left in the sand or the snow. Maybe you’ve even done it yourself. Sometimes, they’ll even put his much-too-big shoes on to make it seem more real. They have a desire to be like him and to do what he has done. Somehow, it makes them feel closer to him to stand where he stood. I know you’ve heard the phrase, “He’s walking in his father’s footsteps.” In other words, he’s like his father, or he’s doing what his father did.

At times, people will want to make a more permanent statement of their existence by stepping into wet concrete. Recently, I watched an old I Love Lucy rerun where Lucy stole John Wayne’s cemented footprints. They were valuable to her because, even though he wasn’t with her, they were something that belonged to him and it made her feel close to him.

Many people go to the Holy Land because they want to walk where Jesus actually walked while he was here on earth. Someday I hope to do the same thing. There’s something about walking down the same street where we know Jesus walked and healed the sick. That point of contact binds us in a great way and produces a supernatural closeness to Him. Many times, this is a life-changing event, and we’ll never be the same.

About twelve years ago, I was privileged to visit my sister, who was living in Poland. Needless to say, I was excited about seeing her. Not only that, but I was also excited about going to Europe and even visiting some of the concentration camps used during the Holocaust. It turned out to be an experience I’ll never forget that has forever changed my life.

While at Majdanek Concentration Camp, I walked up several steps to a covered mausoleum where I viewed a hill ,about the diameter of a baseball infield, filled with human ashes. I walked through the very same gas chambers that killed thousands of human lives. The oven doors were left open where they had burned the bodies, with human ashes still inside. I can still see the dissecting room, which contained a concrete table with a hole in the middle of it. This hole was directly over a drain in the concrete floor beneath it for blood to drain into.

This was where the gassed victims were examined before going into the ovens. The guards would be looking for and removing gold fillings, as well as cutting the stomachs open looking for valuables that may have been swallowed. The blood was splattered everywhere, even though it had been years ago. Their blood was crying out as evidence that they had been there. It is a permanent memorial of their lives. All of these visible reminders gave me a connection to these people, who I had never met, yet felt like I knew.

This summer I was privileged to visit the Holy Land Experience in Orlando. The first thing we did was to watch an outdoor drama of the Passion. It was very moving and realistic. When they tied Jesus to the whipping post and began to beat him, the blood poured from his body, dripping down to his feet. They cast the cross upon his back for him to parade the streets on his way to Golgotha. Tears streamed down my face as I imagined my Savior suffering all of this just for me.

Bill and I joined the crowd leaving the small amphitheater, walking down the stone street toward the next exhibit. As I just happened to glance down, I thought my heart was about to jump out of my chest. I was walking in the bloody footprints where Jesus had walked only minutes before carrying his cross.

Words can’t begin to describe what I felt. Jesus was there; I could feel him. I felt like I was actually there the day he was crucified. As I stepped into his bloody footprints, I saw evidence that he was here. Evidence that will last through all eternity. His blood was crying out to me: I did this for you. You’ll never be the same since my blood has touched you. My blood saves you, cleanses you, heals you, and covers you. We are connected. You are mine!

God did this for me! There’s nothing like walking in the footsteps of Jesus. I want to be like him. I want to do what he did. When I walk in his footsteps, I feel closer to him. There is a divine connection that can never separate us. Thank you, Lord!!

This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.   (Matthew 15:8)

When I was growing up, church and church activities were my favorite places to be. I especially liked the music and knew most of the songs by heart that they sang out of the dark green All-American Church Hymnal. In fact, I still have an old copy sitting on my bookshelf.

I especially liked the Sunday nights when we sang favorites. This was a time when you raised your hand if you had a favorite song you wanted sung, and if they called on you, the congregation would sing your song. When they picked me, the song I chose most often was Just a Closer Walk with Thee. Some people chose the same song every time, so it got to be a game with me, hoping and praying that so-and-so wouldn’t get picked because I didn’t like the song I knew they were going to choose.

Besides the Favorites nights, once or twice a year, we would have a Singspiration where we would all get together for two or three hours and have special music as well as singing the congregational songs. What memories!

Recently, God reminded me of a time when I must have been in my early teens. As I was standing there in the pew next to my friends singing out of the hymnal, the Holy Spirit spoke to me. He asked me if I even knew what I was singing. The truth was, I didn’t. I knew all of the songs, and I was singing with all of my might, but I wasn’t paying any attention to the words coming out of my mouth.

Conviction fell on me like a lead balloon. I don’t know what the preacher preached that night because I was so wrapped up in this whole new revelation, trying to figure out how and why it happens. The one thing I know is that I learned I did it a lot. I was singing songs like:

All to Jesus I surrender, all to Him I freely give; I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live. I surrender all, I surrender all; All to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.

Was I really surrendering everything to Jesus? Was I loving and trusting him and living in His presence every day? Then there’s a song that is really a prayer from the heart:

Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee; Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of Thy love. Take my will, and make it Thine, it shall be no longer mine; Take my heart, it is Thine own; It shall be Thy royal throne.

That song wasn’t coming from my heart. I didn’t even realize I was praying as the melody came out of my mouth. Did I really want God to do these things? Then, I wondered how many times I missed out on God’s help, His comfort and peace, and His blessings when I didn’t pay any attention as I sang:

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Wow! Look at the other two verses when you get a chance. We could go on with other songs, and I do, indeed, challenge you to do just that.

That night I had to confess that I had only been giving God lip service. The songs I was supposedly singing to him weren’t coming from my heart at all. I was ashamed and asked God’s forgiveness because I truly didn’t want to be like that. I didn’t want to sing songs out of habit or because everyone else was singing them. I wanted to praise Him and worship Him in spirit and in truth.

It’s important that we know and understand what comes out of our mouths and that we don’t take those words lightly. The power of life and death is in our tongues. We have been given the power to either curse ourselves or bring blessings to ourselves. We also need to realize that God knows our hearts and our motives. He knows whether or not we’re simply acting like a Christian or if we’re truly being one.

From that night God spoke to me, I changed. I am a lot more aware of what I’m singing, and when I sing, I sing from my heart. Yes, sometimes I still mess up and sing with my mouth and not my heart, but when I realize what I’m doing, I get myself back on the right track and start over.

Just a side note: Be careful of other songs you sing. Many times I’ve come out of a store or restaurant singing a song from the past with a catchy tune, not even aware that I’d heard it, let alone that I’m now singing it. Sometimes, the Holy Spirit makes me aware of what I’m singing, and I realize that the words don’t line up at all with what a Christian should be speaking. The devil would like nothing better than for us to curse ourselves or open the door for sin to come in.

I ask the Lord to help each of us to be those who draw close to God with our hearts, and not just with our lips.

by Vicki Campbell

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (John 8:36)

They say that when an elephant is captured in the wild, they tie its leg to a huge banyon tree in order to train it. Of course, the elephant will do everything within its power to free itself. However, in time, and after much effort, he finally realizes that when he pulls on that leg, he isn’t going anywhere. Once he has tamed down and become accustomed to his “prison,” the owner can then untie his leg and take him where he wants to go. Then, when he needs to confine him, all he has to do is tie his leg to a stake, and the elephant will stay put. 

The elephant has the strength and ability to easily pull up that stake and go wherever he wanted, but because of his conditioning, he believes that when he feels the tug of the rope around that leg, he is helpless to move and doesn’t even try to get free.

Then, I’m sure you’ve heard the story about the trained fleas. The fleas are captured and put into a jar with the lid tightened. Like the elephants, the fleas keep trying to jump out. Before long they figure out when they jump to the top, they will end up with a headache from banging their heads on the lid. The fleas soon learn their limitations and know just how high they can jump in their new home.

Once they’ve become accustomed to this, you can take the lid off of the jar. The fleas are now free to leave and go visit the nearest cat or dog, but they won’t. Even though they’ve gained their freedom, they still jump around in the jar just like the lid was still in place.

One of my favorite stories, though, comes from an old western comedy, Support Your Local Sheriff.  James Garner has been made sheriff in this rinky-dink town. When he goes into his office and jailhouse, he discovers that there are no bars on any of the cells. When he turns around with a perplexed expression, they quickly explain that they just haven’t come in yet. Without a word, the sheriff gets a bucket of red paint, and dipping his brush into it, proceeds to splatter red paint in a line where the bars should go.

It isn’t long before he must arrest and lock up a bandit, who thinks a breakout will be a cinch in his new home. However, the sheriff, nonchalantly, props his legs up on the desk and asks this prisoner if he sees the red line. He tells him it’s the result of what happened to the last guy who tried to break out . . . poor fellow! Of course, the prisoner believes this story to the point that when his buddies try to come to his rescue, he won’t leave.

It’s easy when you’re on the outside looking in at each of these—the elephant, the fleas, and the bandit—to see how ridiculous it seems for any of them to be confined to their make-believe prisons. It seems so obvious to us that they are free to go and do what they want. However, with the truth being distorted, they are deceived into believing that they must live in these self-made prisons.

Years ago, God gave Bill a dream where he saw row after row of jail cells. The prisoners in these cells weren’t criminals. No! They were Christians. Some needed to be freed from sickness and disease. Some needed to be freed from a spirit of poverty. Still, others needed to be freed from Satan’s bondages and traps that they had fallen into. God told Bill that through the power of His Spirit, he was to unlock these prison doors so that His children could be set free.

It is most exciting when we see sinners freed from their sins and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. It is also exciting when we see Christians healed, set free, and delivered. Jesus desires for us to be free in Him.

Unfortunately, in our quest to unlock the prison doors and set them free, we see many Christians who continue to sit in their prison cells with the door wide open. They have the ability to walk out, but they don’t. For various reasons, Satan has deceived them into believing that they are still prisoners.

One example that comes to mind is the woman who came into a service on crutches. She was on disability and said she wanted healed. Bro. Bill prayed for her, and she was healed. She threw her crutches down and ran all over the church. Some time later, we asked someone about her, and I couldn’t believe what I was told.

The woman, fully healed, knew that she was no longer eligible for disability and became concerned how she would live, until she talked herself right back into her sickness. She believed the lies of the devil. Didn’t she realize that if Jesus set her free from her sickness, he would also make a way for her to earn a living? She chose to live in her self-made prison rather than accept the freedom Jesus had given her. Don’t be like her! Choose to live free in Jesus!

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.  (John 8:32)

Vicki

Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies . . . Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.   (Proverbs 31:10, 28)

A mother’s love is a mere glimpse of God’s sacrificial and unending love for us. It is truly a gift from God, and I am blessed to have been raised by a godly mother who loved me very much and taught me about Jesus.

Walk with me a moment down Memory Lane. Mom married Dad when she was only 15 and had me (the first of six) when she was 17. She and Dad will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary in September.

Mom has always been very shy and backward. She doesn’t like being noticed and gets really embarrassed if she is the center of attention, like at the golden wedding anniversary party we threw for her and Dad. She is most comfortable sitting on the back pew at church. Mom has a beautiful voice and would sit in her rocking chair and sing all of her kids to sleep throughout the years, but she wouldn’t dream of getting up in church and singing a “special.”

On the other hand, you could always count on mom to bake cookies for Vacation Bible School or school parties; cook food for a family when someone died; and have the evangelist over for supper. There was an Air Force Base about 15 miles from us, and many times the service men would visit our church. Mom was sympathetic to these young men, knowing they were away from their families. Many times she would invite them home for dinner and the afternoon until time for the evening service. She gave them a home-cooked meal and made them feel like part of the “family.”

Sometimes, moms have to be willing to sacrifice for their children. When I was in the 6th grade, our class was taking a trip to Chicago, and I was so excited. Mom stayed up until late in the night sewing me a new dress for my trip—that was back when girls had to wear dresses to school. Mom even made my wedding gown, and I didn’t pick out a simple pattern, either. It had tiers of lace, plus intricate sequins and beadwork.

Then came the day when I got the disease, guillian barre, and couldn’t walk or take care of myself. Being a mom, myself, I can only imagine how she felt seeing me like that. It doesn’t matter how old your kids are, moms hurt when their kids hurt, especially when they’re helpless to make it all better.

I didn’t have anyone else to take care of me while my husband worked, and mom came over every day. Not only did she take care of me, but she also cleaned house, did the laundry, cooked, and took care of my three kids when they came home from school. That was truly a sacrifice of love, because then, she had to go home and do it all over again there.

I appreciate her and thank God for a special mom who’s been there for me when I needed her most. She’s a mom who taught by example—such as praying and reading her Bible every day. Yes, we’ve had our differences, just like most mothers and daughters do at times, but she has always loved me and taught me how to be a respectable wife and woman of God.

Motherhood is a big responsibility. Words can’t describe the love you feel looking down and seeing your tiny newborn baby for the first time and holding that child close in your arms. You want only the best life possible for them.

How disappointing it is when you discover that you can’t always give them the best! How frustrating it is when, sometimes, you don’t know what really is best for them! My three children are all so different from each other that what I thought was best for one of them wasn’t necessarily best for the other two.

How helpless you feel when you realize that you can’t always protect your children from being hurt! In fact, there may even be times when you, yourself, make mistakes and inadvertently hurt them, and you wonder how you can ever make it right again. How heartbreaking it is when you see your children make mistakes that can affect them for the rest of their lives, and you can’t do anything about it.

These are the times when you have to humble yourself before God and admit your inabilities and failures. It’s during these times that you must give your children to God and trust Him with them.

Years ago, God spoke to me and said, “You know how much you love your children. . . I love them much more than you do.” When I understood that God loved my kids a lot more than I did, I was free to release them into His care. I knew He could do a much better job with them than I could. I’m only human, and my wisdom is foolishness in His eyes. God has a personalized plan for each of our five children, and I’m believing that his perfect plan will be fulfilled in each one of them. He can do what I can’t, and His unconditional, unending love will never leave or forsake them.

Vicki

While meditating on what I should write about this month, I felt that the topic, “Resurrection Power” would be a good subject for the Easter celebration, so I began jotting down some thought-provoking notes that I could use in this devotional.  Then, the Lord started showing me all of the “threes” associated with Jesus, especially in association with his death and resurrection. The number “3” represents resurrection power. Of course, I was already aware of the most obvious ones, but the more I began digging, the more fascinated I became with my findings. I’m not claiming this to be an exhaustive list — you may know of others. Nevertheless, these facts all point to the truth of the supernatural resurrection power of our Lord Jesus.  

Jesus is 1/3 of the Trinity — the Godhead — three in one: God, the Father; Jesus, the son; and the Holy Spirit, who is with us today.  Jesus was 30 years old when he began his ministry. His ministry began immediately following Satan’s three temptations in the wilderness. His earthly ministry lasted three years. Then, He was crucified when he was 33 years old.  Jesus prophesied of his own death and resurrection in John 2:19 saying, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up,” speaking of his body. He also spoke of his own death and resurrection in Matthew 12, “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”  During the last supper, Jesus prophesied that Peter would deny him three times before the cock crowed.. Scholars say the cock is known to crow during the 3rd watch of the night, which is between 12:00 midnight and 3:00 am. With this in mind, Peter denied knowing Jesus three times during the 3rd watch of the night, and the cock probably crowed about 3:00 am.

After Jesus’ resurrection, Peter would have to re-affirm his devotion for Jesus three times when Jesus asked him three times, “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?”

Following the last supper, Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane. Three of his disciples, Peter, James, & John went with him into the garden to pray. Jesus prayed in the garden three separate times; the Bible records the first time was for one hour. If the other two times were also one hour, Jesus would have prayed a total of three hours.  Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss for 30 pieces of silver.  When the soldiers led Jesus away, he was tried before three official leaders: Caiaphas, Pilate, and HerodPilate spoke of Jesus’ innocence three times, saying that he found no fault in him.  Pilate appealed to three different groups: the Sanhedrin, the crowd of angry people, and the priests.  The soldiers whipped Jesus 39 times with a cat of nine tails. It was a whip with a piece of metal or bone attached to each of nine separate strands. That means Jesus was beat with 351 strands and pieces of metal or bone (351 divides evenly by 3).   When they laid Jesus on the cross, they pounded three nails or spikes into his flesh. There were three men crucified that day on three crosses.

The sign on the cross, “This is the King of the Jews” was written in 3 languages: Greek, Latin, and Hebrew.  The Bible names three women who were at the cross of Jesus: Mary Magdalene; Mary, the mother of James & Joses; and the mother of Zebedee’s children.

Three drinks were offered to Jesus: on his arrival at Calvary; on the cross before the malefactor cried for mercy; and at the end of His life.  The first three words Jesus spoke on the cross were, “Father, forgive them.” Jesus, also, had to forgive to be the perfect sacrifice for us.  Darkness came upon the earth for three hours before he died at 3:00.  Three supernatural events took place at his death: an earthquake, the temple veil was torn in two, and the dead were raised and seen walking.  Three women came to the tomb early Sunday morning: Mary Magdalene; Mary, the mother of James; and Salome.  The title, Lord Jesus, is first mentioned in Luke 24:3 following his resurrection. It is found 33 times in the New Testament.

The account of Jesus’ death — from the garden where He was arrested to his resurrection — is recorded in three chapters of all four gospels: Matthew 26-28; Mark 14-16; Luke   22-24; and John 18-20.  It’s clear to see that God loved us so much that he created a perfect plan, with every detail pointing toward the resurrected Jesus as our perfect sacrifice, bridging the gap between lost humanity and Himself. I’m so glad he did. Aren’t you?  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Vicki

Scheduled to sing a special song in the evening service at church, I was meditating on what I should say to the congregation as a prelude to the song, “I’ve Been to the Potter’s House.”

The Lord reminded me of a phone call I once received in the office. This man was questioning his salvation, telling me that he had done some pretty bad things before he was saved and that he had a hard time believing God would really forgive him. This man was also handicapped, with a permanent disability due to his neck being broken.

As we talked, I assured him that there wasn’t anything he could have done that would have been so bad for God not to forgive him if he had repented and asked His forgiveness. I reminded him of King David and how he had committed adultery with Bathsheba, plus had her husband killed. Yet, God forgave him when he truly repented and turned back to Him. 

Then, I reminded him of Saul (before God changed his name to Paul). I described how he was responsible for persecuting the Christians, even having them killed. Yet, God not only forgave him, but also used him as a great apostle to the Gentiles, and who also wrote about half of the books in the New Testament. 

With God’s help, I reassured this man that God had truly forgiven him for all that he’d done, but he needed to forgive himself. I also encouraged him that God had a purpose for him. Yes, this inspirational story was what God wanted me to share before singing:

Tossed about by life’s battles

All my hope was sinking fast

The sinful life that I was living

I knew that I just could not last

Then I went down to the potter’s house

And placed this vessel into His hands

On His wheel of grace and mercy

He made me over again.

If God could forgive David, and if he could forgive Saul, then he’ll forgive any of us if we turn from our sins and call on Him. He can take our broken lives and make something beautiful out of them, even when we don’t think there’s any hope.

Later on, during the communion service, I was meditating on Jesus and what He had done for me. It’s important to make sure my heart is clear before I partake of the holy communion, which represents His broken body and spilled blood – making sure I ask God to forgive my sins, plus making sure I don’t have any unforgiveness in my heart.

As I was praying, I confessed to God that I forgave all of the people who have hurt me and persecuted me, even those who didn’t even realize they were persecuting me. Then, I hesitated as the Holy Spirit helped me understand what I had just prayed. He reminded me of the scriptures I had searched out before singing regarding Saul and how he had persecuted the Christians. Saul thought he was doing a work for God, that he was doing God a favor by persecuting and destroying the Christians. He honestly believed this was the right thing to do.

The Holy Spirit then spoke to me and told me that many people today are persecuting Christians and don’t even realize it. They not only speak against men and women of God and the work they are doing, but they also stir up strife, doubt, and division by sharing these thoughts with others. They honestly believe they owe it to others to tell them the truth. However, they are not building up God’s kingdom. They are tearing it down with their criticisms and misjudgments – all in the name of doing a work for God. They magnify a person’s faults or weaknesses – out of a false sense of duty.

The sad thing is that many of these people seem to be blinded to the fact that Satan is using them as a tool to tear down God’s people. Unfortunately, it has been said that Christians are the only species on earth that destroy their own wounded. How sad! I know because there have been so many people – yes, Christian people – who have said destructive things either to me, or about me, and, likewise, done things that have hurt and discouraged me. Now, I know I am far from being perfect, but I have a heart for God and a heart to serve Him and work for Him. Wouldn’t you think that all Christians would be on the same side trying to encourage one another? Why do we criticize, find fault, nit-pick, or hold past mistakes over each others’ heads? It shouldn’t be this way!

Through the years, many Christians have persecuted me and my family, and they haven’t a clue as to the damage they’ve done to God’s kingdom.

Yes, Lord, I forgive those who have persecuted me, saying or doing things that hurt or discouraged me, even if they didn’t realize what they were doing. And, Lord, help me never to be one who persecutes another Christian brother or sister. I don’t want to be a part of tearing anyone down, especially their work for your kingdom. Please forgive me for times I may have done just that, and Lord, help me to never do it again. Lord, during those times I feel persecuted, help me to remember your Word:

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

(Matthew 5:10-12)

Vicki

Many times before I read the Bible, I ask the Holy Spirit to show me something new. You see, I’ve been in church since I was a little girl, so I’ve heard the stories of Jesus over and over again in Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, Church Camp, as well as in the regular church services and revival meetings, plus all of the teachings I get by radio, TV, tapes, CDs, etc. Besides all of this hearing of the Word, I’ve also read these stories many, many times. Needless to say, if I’m not seeking God to show me something, it’s easy to miss a blessing in His Word because I’m not expecting anything new in what is already familiar to me.

About a week ago, I was reading in Luke, chapter 5, where Jesus told Peter to cast out his nets for a haul of fish. The Holy Spirit, my teacher, was faithful in bringing these scriptures to life. (You can read this whole story in the first eleven verses of Luke 5.)

One morning, by the Sea of Galilee, people were pressing in around Jesus to hear the Word of God. He knew he couldn’t be very effective with all of the people crowded around, and that only those closest to him would benefit from his teaching. When he saw two ships docked, Jesus took the initiative to climb aboard the one belonging to Simon (Peter) and asked him if he would take the ship out just a little so that he could speak to all of the people. Simon obliged, and Jesus was able to teach all of the people.

When Jesus finished, he told Simon to go out into the deep waters and let down his nets for a haul. Now Peter was tired and discouraged. He had been out all night without catching anything and had just finished cleaning his nets. Nevertheless, because Jesus told him to, he reluctantly relented and agreed to let down his net. I know that Simon was reluctant because, before he agreed to obey, he complained to Jesus about what all he had just been through. Not only that, but Jesus told him to let down his nets (plural), but Simon agreed only to let down his net (one). So we can see that not only was he reluctant, but he was also full of unbelief.

Now all through the years, I had it pictured that at this point Jesus had already climbed off of the ship and sent them out into the deep waters by themselves, but that just isn’t so. Jesus went with them. The Bible says that when Simon Peter saw this miracle of catching enough fish, that two ships were overfilled, he fell down in humility at Jesus feet confessing his sin. It was then that Jesus prophesied to him and told him that from now he would catch men. Again, I had it pictured that this happened once they had docked the ships, but that isn’t so. After Jesus said this, the Bible continues, “And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.”

What can we learn from this story? First of all, Jesus had a need and saw that Simon had what he needed and that he was available. Simon agreed to let Jesus in and take him out in the boat, even though it wasn’t convenient for him because he was tired and discouraged. 

Today, Jesus sits in heaven and needs us to help him fulfill his purpose here on earth. He looks around to see who has what he needs for a particular task and if they’re available. When he asks us to help him, whether it’s making a phone call, providing food, giving an offering, visiting the hospital, or whatever, do you say, “Yes, Lord, I’ll do it,” even if we don’t feel like it, or it is bad timing?

Second, there was a blessing in store for Simon when he was obedient to Jesus. Simon wasn’t expecting or looking for a reward, but Jesus had one for him anyway. However, this miracle blessing wasn’t just handed to Simon. Again, he obeyed Jesus’ instruction, even though it didn’t make sense and even seemed foolish. Then, he received a financial blessing of fish, more than he ever expected.

Upon seeing this enormous miracle, Simon fell to his knees in humility at Jesus’ feet. His spiritual eyes had been opened, and then he received a spiritual blessing. Jesus saw that Simon was faithful in these little things, so he promoted him, brought him closer to himself, and entrusted him with even greater things to do.

When we are obedient in serving Jesus with a pure heart and right motives, He blesses us. We may have to stretch our faith and go take what he says we can have, but nevertheless, he will bless us; he wants to bless us. On the other hand, we must remain humble in his sight and always give Him all glory and honor. Then, we too, will receive spiritual blessings and promotion. God will speak to us and draw us closer to himself, as well as entrust us with even greater things. What joy and peace!

Finally, we see that Jesus was with Simon the whole time. He gave him a job to do, but Jesus didn’t make him do it by himself. He was right there. Even when Simon had to go after his miracle, Jesus was right there leading him all of the way. It’s the same with us. Jesus doesn’t expect us to do something that he hasn’t equipped us for, or given us the ability to do. Even then, he doesn’t send us anywhere that he doesn’t go along with us. Yet, Simon had to let him in his ship.  Likewise, as God’s vessels, we have to let Jesus in to be Captain of our ship.

Vicki

How Bad Do You Want It?

This wasn’t the first time we had counseled and prayed with Natalie (name has been changed for privacy) about her problem. It was the third, or maybe even the fourth time, and it didn’t appear that we’d made any progress. Something had to change, and quickly!

We met Natalie at a home prayer meeting many years ago. She was a lovely Christian woman who loved the Lord and even taught Children’s Sunday School. One night she seemed especially disturbed and asked if she could talk to us privately after the meeting, but we weren’t prepared for what she revealed.

Natalie confided that she had been having an affair, and it was with a married man. She wanted out, but didn’t seem to be able to break it off. We were shocked because it seemed totally out of character for her. Yet, we knew how deceiving the devil can be when he catches us in a vulnerable position. We counseled and prayed with her, and it appeared that a great burden had been lifted as hope and relief rose up in her.

When we saw Natalie again a couple of weeks later, discouragement and shame were written all over her face. She told us that she had broken it off with him, but that he wouldn’t leave her alone. He continually called and even did such things as leaving notes on her car windshield and flowers on her doorstep. Feeling so lonely and desiring to have someone love her, she would inevitable give in. Again, we counseled with her and prayed with her. She left believing that she had the victory over her sin.

However, Satan is a sly evil force. Once we’ve opened the door and allowed his evil into a corner of our lives, he’ll not only try and possess the ground he’s walked on, but he’ll also try to infiltrate every area of our lives in hopes of totally destroying us. That’s exactly what he was trying to do to Natalie. He wanted to destroy her witness, her ministry, and her Christianity, not to mention this other man’s marriage. Natalie was still trapped in this web Satan had woven around her.

One evening, she called us weeping in total humiliation and defeat. She had failed once again. Bill advised her to let us come to her apartment the next evening to pray for her and pray throughout her apartment, anointing with oil. She agreed, and we began praying, seeking God for total deliverance in this situation.

I was so burdened for Natalie that I could hardly think of anything else the next day at work. As I was praying, God gave me direction for that night. I was very resistant to His instructions. I even protested, “How come Bill gets to pray over people, giving them uplifting, encouraging prophecies, and I’m asked to give a hard word, that seemingly offers no grace?” Nevertheless, I couldn’t get it off of my mind, and in spite of my objections and reluctance, I knew what had to be done.

We all sat down at Natalie’s kitchen table as tears streamed down her face. Now, I’m one that if I know I have to do something unpleasant, I’d rather do it quickly and get it over with. So, with all of the love and compassion I felt, but with an unrelenting firmness, I looked her square in the eye and asked her, “How bad do you want it?” Are you willing to do all that is humanly possible to remove yourself from this temptation to allow God to give you total deliverance? We then began discussing her situation and offering suggestions as to what she could change in the natural. I knew that if she was truly repentant, and not just making excuses for her sin, she would be willing to go to extremes to be free.

The more we talked, the more excited she became. Before we left, we prayed over her and her apartment, believing God to lead her into total deliverance. The next time we saw her, she had a different color of hair, as well as a new hairstyle. She shared with us how God had given her guidance and favor in changing her entire life.

The next day, Natalie spoke with the manager of the apartment complex, and they allowed her to move into another apartment in a different building on the far opposite side of where she now lived without breaking her lease and with no additional costs. They also agreed that if this man came looking for her, they would simply say that she had suddenly moved. By the next day, she had moved.

Not wanting this man to find her at work, she took a few vacation days and went to visit her son in South Carolina, who worked in a body shop. For the price of the paint, he repainted her car and made a few other minor changes to the car’s appearance.

Natalie made arrangements with her best friend to become her answering service and had her phone calls forwarded. For several weeks, this friend answered all of her calls just as a professional answering service would in those days, screening out any calls this man made to keep him from having any contact with her.

When she went back to work, she parked in a different place and waited extra time before she left building. She did a few other things, too, such as getting a new license plate and staying away from places where she might run into him. For quite a while, this man continued to pursue her. He left flowers at her door, and when they were still there days later, He went to the apartment offices. He called her phone and left numerous messages, and he tried to find her at work. Needless to say, when Natalie submitted herself unto God and resisted the devil, doing all that she knew to do, the devil had to flee (see James 4:7), and she received total victory & deliverance.

Each one of us have things in our lives that we want to change and things that we would like to accomplish. It seems that we especially reflect on these things at the New Year. God wants to help us and He will answer our prayers, but He expects us to do our part, and sometimes He asks us, “How bad do you want it?”

Vicki

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross (Philippians 2:5-8).

Can you imagine what it was like up in heaven before Jesus came to earth as a baby? Just think about it. I have quite an imagination, and I began thinking about it, putting the whole scene into a perspective I can understand and relate to. You see, one day God had to throw out Lucifer and all of his followers, which was one third of all the angels, to keep their evil thoughts and ways from contaminating heaven.

No wonder one of the things God hates is people who sow discord, causing strife and division among the brethren. No wonder Jesus prayed for unity among the disciples and those who would be his disciples in the future. I’ve gone through a church split, and personally know of many others. It’s a horrible thing. Good people are hurt and many are disillusioned, somehow blaming God for what people have done. This is not what God wants; it never was. He wishes that we would all dwell together in unity and harmony.

Nevertheless, I imagine it was a sad day in heaven when God was betrayed by his chief musician. Not only did Lucifer turn against him, but he caused many others to do the same. It wasn’t God’s idea. God didn’t create evil. It was the turning away from God, the absence of God in Lucifer’s thoughts and life that produced the evil. When Lucifer rejected God as the supreme being, evil was present.

When Lucifer, or Satan as we call him, was kicked out of heaven with his angels, he made it his personal goal to do whatever was necessary to keep as many people here on earth from ever knowing God and his plan for us to live forever with him in heaven. Satan can never enter heaven again, and he doesn’t want anyone else to, either. He is a great deceiver. Yet he, himself, is so deceived that he believes he is greater than God. He tries to convince people to worship him, a mere counterfeit, instead of our worshipping the one and true God, who made us and all of creation.

So, when Satan tricked Eve into eating the forbidden fruit, with Adam following in her footsteps, Satan felt that he, indeed, had won the victory and was greater than God. It wasn’t God’s plan for Adam and Eve to get kicked out of the Garden of Eden, like Satan had been thrown out of heaven, but since it happened, God came up with a plan to allow his people to be reconciled to him.

He knew that since Adam and Eve failed, giving in to sin, that their sinful blood would be passed down through all of time, and the only thing that could purify it would be perfect blood being sacrificed to cleanse it. Since there was no such thing as perfect blood, untainted by sin, in the earth, God’s only other choice was to search through heaven.

Now, we all know the mystery of the Trinity: God, the Father; Jesus, the Son; and the Holy Spirit. Can you imagine what Jesus’ life was like in heaven? Not really, I guess, because the best that we can think of doesn’t even compare to the reality of its glory. What it must have been like for Jesus to even consider leaving all of that, knowing where he would be going! What it must have been like for him to consider leaving all of that, knowing what he would have to suffer and go through in his life as a mortal man! Jesus didn’t have to do it. He chose to do it. Why? Because he loved us, and he knew if he didn’t, we could never be reconciled to him. We could never know him or his great love for us. We could never know his peace, his joy, his goodness, and his heaven.

Imagine what God must have been feeling to send, or even allow, his one and only son to go through with such a plan, knowing the horrible pain, the rejection, and the unbearable suffering and torture he would have to endure. He loved his son, even greater than we love our own children.

Yet, he looked past all of that and saw you and me, and he had a great love for us, too, even though we didn’t love him back. Some of us even treated him terribly, and seemed to have a greater devotion to Satan and his evil ways. Yes, God’s plan was that Jesus would also be resurrected and would be reunited with him in heaven, but what a price to pay!

Too often, we take it all for granted. God didn’t have to send us his son. Jesus didn’t have to give up all of his glory and riches in heaven and live the life of a poor servant, with the only gratitude being having his friends betray and deny him on the night he needed them the most. If that wasn’t enough, as he hung on that lonely cross with the weight of all our sin upon him, God’s presence also left him, and he felt that God had truly forsaken him, too. Yet, in the midst of it all, he had to forgive those that put him there. Otherwise, he couldn’t be a perfect sacrifice.

We have been given the greatest gift of all, but it’s still up to us to receive it!

Vicki

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).

When I think of earthly heroes and those whom I greatly admire, Corrie ten Boon is high on my list. She and her family were responsible for hiding and helping the Jews in World War II, thus spending years being tortured in concentration camps. Upon their arrival to Ravensbruck, near Berlin, Corrie and her sister, Betsie were placed in a filthy, overcrowded barracks infested with lice. In her 50’s, this was more than Corrie felt that she could bear.

They were determined to be Christian witnesses and examples, even in these adverse circumstances. Corrie had even smuggled in a Bible with God’s help. However, that night as they lay down to sleep, with tears streaming down her cheeks, Corrie whispered to Betsie that she didn’t know how she could ever be thankful for the lice.

Betsie, being the eldest and seeing things from a different perspective, responded with excitement. She had already heard the talk spreading amongst the women that because of the lice, the guards wouldn’t come into that particular barracks. Guards were known not only to physically torture women prisoners, but also to sexually abuse them. Betsie excitedly assured Corrie that because of the lice, they wouldn’t have to face that abuse while dwelling in that God-provided shelter. She elatedly explained that because of the lice, they would also have the freedom to read the Bible, and even have Bible studies with other women, without fear of the guards coming in and confiscating their Bible. Through this, Corrie learned that she could even be thankful for lice.

Most of us, myself included, have major trouble being thankful for all things—just look at this evil world around us. How could I be thankful for my 10 year old niece being run over by a semi? How can I be thankful for the murders I hear about, or for the abuse of innocent children?

It’s difficult to even conceive that God would want us to be thankful for all the evil. If we look at our scripture, it doesn’t say that we should be thankful for every thing. Rather, it says that we should pray with thanksgiving in every thing. We can also see this in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 where the apostle Paul writes, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” God wants us to express thanksgiving no matter what circumstances surround us.

After all, even when bad or evil things happen, God has promised all of us who love Him and are serving Him that He will work all things out for our good (Romans 8:28). This is a great mystery that we don’t often understand, and it requires a great faith to hang onto it.  We do this by casting all our cares and burdens on Him (1 Peter 5:7/Matthew 11:28-30); by receiving His peace through our prayers of thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6-7); and always thinking on the good things (Philippians 4:8-9).

Recently, I was reading an article in the secular magazine, Woman’s Day, on No Worries. The author used many biblical principles, but the section on gratitude really caught my attention. She cited a study that was conducted at the University of Pennsylvania in 2002 on severely depressed people. Martin Seligman, PhD, a researcher and psychology professor asked these severely depressed people to go to a website once a day before they went to bed and write down three good things that happened that day and why.

These were people who were so severely depressed that simply getting out of bed could be one of the things on their list. This was their only treatment— writing down three good things every day. Within 15 days, 94% felt less depressed. This study has been repeated several times since, and every time researches found that being thankful actually made the subjects feel happier.

If this works in the secular world, on subjects suffering severe depression, how much more can we Christians follow God’s instructions and claim His promises by being thankful in everything? I dare say that if every one of us followed these same instructions given in that research project, our lives, also, would drastically change for the better.

ALL good things come from God. If it’s good, He is the source, and we need to give Him thanks. In the natural, when we do something special for someone or give them something, and in return, they show us their appreciation and gratitude, we have a desire to give even more to that person. If we, being humans, feel that way, don’t you think God also reacts similarly when we honor Him with sincere thankfulness and appreciation?

Of course, He does. Just look at the story of the ten lepers who Jesus healed. Only the one who came back to thank Him was made whole. He received more of God’s goodness than the other nine.

Thanksgiving is a wonderful, annual holiday, but for Christians it should be a daily celebration, giving glory to God for who He is and for all He’s done!