A Back-to-School Time Reflection
God Fills Our Backpack With Supplies Too
By: Monica Brown
"For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning." Psalm 30:5 (NIV)
"You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy." Psalm 30:11 (NIV)
It's that time of year again ... I just finished shopping for back-to-school items with my kids. I absolutely love this ritual! Even now as an adult, there is something about new pencils, folders, and notebooks, not to mention new clothes and shoes that just get me going! The feeling of a brand new year ... a fresh start ... a chance to do things differently ... a chance to explore new adventures ... a chance to be the best me I can be. Quite a burden to place on a box of Paper-Mate writing supplies, don't you think?
Isn't it a wonder how new things, even tiny things like a pencil, can give us a sense of renewal, an air of confidence, the anticipation of accomplishment? It may make us think of the next great novel at the tip of our pens or the amazing masterpiece hidden until the new box of crayons or markers has the seal broken. Endless possibilities ... fresh beginnings.
In Psalm 30, David reminds us that every day presents itself with a "back-to-school" opportunity for each of us. Our God greets us every morning, every moment of our lives, with exactly those "new" things that we need -- joy, grace, mercy, love -- fresh and abundant, anew every time. The worries and pressures of everyday life can tarnish our confidence, zap our energy, and entice us to lose hope and courage. We may weep for a night; we might wail at our circumstances. Sometimes we may think things can't or won't ever be different, that we will never have a fresh start. But God gives us new supplies all that we will ever need -- through His Word, His love, and His Son. He clothes us with joy and His mercies are new every morning. They're there for us to experience, feel, and believe -- supplies that will never run out and that are always new.
Are you ready for some new supplies?
Prayer:
Dear Gracious Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your gifts which are new every morning. Help me to remember that you have removed my sackcloth that I am clothed with your joy. I have a fresh beginning in You; I am your child. I have hope eternal and joy everlasting. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Other reference verses:
"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning." Lamentations 3:22, 23 (NIV)
"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?" Isaiah 43:18, 19 (NIV)
"He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God." Psalm 40:3 (NIV)
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you ... " Ezekiel 36:26 (NIV)
Monica Brown is a pastor's wife and the mother of four children and one canine. She and her family make their home in St. Charles, Missouri. She teaches mathematics and statistics at the University of Missouri St. Louis.
An Interview with Thelma Wells
Author and popular speaker on the Women of Faith tour, discusses her latest book, God Is Not Through With Me Yet
Why do you feel that, despite trying all the programs and reading all the how-to books, many believers feel so distant from God?
I believe the how-to books go as far as they can in giving the human side of situations/circumstances, but they cannot answer the core of our being which is rooted and grounded in God. Once we've read the how-to's, we find that they really don't apply to everybody. A relationship with Jesus applies to everybody. Therefore, in order to be close to God, we must talk to Him (pray) any way we know how; we must listen to Him talk to us in our spirits (minds); we must study the Bible to see what He has to say to us from His Word; we must praise Him (say thank you to Him, sing to Him, love on Him); and we must watch the company we keep because people who don't believe as we do can weaken our trust in Him which creates a breach with Him.
In your book, you discuss the importance of "singing in life's closets." Would you tell us why the act of singing is so meaningful to you?
In my experience of being put in a closet when I was a girl, I would sing hymns and Christian songs that would put me to sleep. When I got out of that closet on those days, I had no anger, vengeance, bitterness or anything that caused me to hate my grandmother who put me there. In later life, I've found that whatever the circumstance or however hard it is, when I sing Christian songs there's a peace that surrounds me that I cannot explain. The Bible talks about praising God in Zephaniah 3:17 when God hears the praises of His people and He rejoices over them. When we praise God in singing, I believe He dispatches his ministering angels to protect our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Are there any areas of your life in which you have struggled with an attitude of disobedience?
Yes, there have been times when I struggled with going to church like I should, with spending money like I was a billionaire, with not doing or saying something God told me to. The most difficult was totally surrendering everything I am and have to God. You see, I was afraid to give Him my all because I didn't know what He would want me to do, and some things I just didn't want to do. In 1994 I totally surrendered to the will of God. That was the most freeing time of my life. God is in charge and is in control of my everyday events with my job, family, church, career, finances, relationships, etc.
As a child in the segregated South and, later, as a young woman battling segregation, you felt no fear. When did you first experience real fear in your life? How did God help you to overcome that fear?
There have been several times of fear in my life. When I was sick, I was not at all scared about the cancer or lungs. I did get disturbed about my ability to do for myself. To have someone have to bathe you, prepare your meals, comb your hair and all the other things people were doing for me was a humbling experience. I had thoughts of not being able to be a help to others as I had in the past.
How would you explain prayer to a person who is not sure what it is or how to practice it?
Prayer is as natural as breathing. Can you talk? If you can talk or think, you can pray. Prayer is the heart's sincere desires unuttered or spoken out loud. A pray can be as simple as saying "Help me Lord!" or "Jesus" or as in-depth as telling Him everything about you. Prayer is not to anybody but God. So, when you pray, be honest and true and just tell it like it is.
Thelma is also available for speaking engagements. Contact Vicki Andrews for information at 800-927-0517 ext. 110.
God Is Not Through With Me Yet
By Thelma Wells
Multnomah Publishers February 2007
Click here to buy this book from P31 Ministries
It's A Miracle!
Proverbs 31 Ministries has brought together a community of women that live all over the world. Sylvia C. Edemobi of Nigeria, Africa shares her testimony of how God protected her family.
In Nigeria, Africa and most especially in eastern Nigeria, the month of December is filled with activities. People do a lot of traveling from the second week of December to the first week in January. Naturally, the roads are busy and the planes are fully booked. It is a beehive of activities during this period.
Last year, fortunately my family decided to have a peaceful Christmas at home, but also prayed that we would have an opportunity opened for us to go to a resort in calabar (Obudu Cattle Ranch). God answered our prayers through the Governor of Calabar who invited us to spend New Year's Eve with him and his family.
We had a wonderful time with the governor. The next day, we set off by road for a five hour drive to the resort (the weather was bad for flying.) An hour and a half into our journey, my husband, Francis, exclaimed 'ah you are sleeping!' I looked up just in time to see the car heading into a ditch!
My husband took hold of the wheel and turned it away. The car started spinning in the middle of the road and on two wheels. While this was happening, I had peace. I was a spectator to what was happening. I held on to my 4-year old daughter, looking at my 12-year old son and wondering how it would end as the car went backwards onto the other side of the road, going in-between trees and bushes. Then, suddenly it stopped! The car stopped! Thank you Lord!
We stepped out of the car, without harm and in the presence of about sixty people who were from the surrounding village. With our hands raised up I shouted 'Praise God!' and they shouted back 'Praise God!' It was a miracle!! I had the urge to preach, but the accident and the praise was enough testimony.
As I consider the experience, Psalm 91:1,3,4 (NKGV) comes to mind 'He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty ... Surely he shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge;'
Two weeks prior to our traveling, I was prompted by the Holy Spirit to pray, and pray I did, in the spirit while driving, laying on the bed, taking a shower I prayed in the spirit fervently as if my life depended on it.
I believe that God heard my cry even when I did not know exactly what I was praying for. He gave me His peace and saved us from harm. I am so convinced in my heart that we are not immune to troubles because we live in this world, but am so glad that we have Christ living in us and the Holy Spirit to guide us, as we navigate through this world. Troubles will come, troubles we did not bargain for, but He has promised that He will never leave us or forsake us, Heb. 13:5b, Isaiah 43:1b-2 and we will surely come out victorious here on earth and in the life after. It is a win- win situation for us! Halleluiah!
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