July 2010 Devotionals
July 26, 2010
She Argued with God-and Won!
A Word of Encouragement from Elizabeth Rice Handford
When the Bible character Job lost his home, his family, and his reputation, he said, "I wish I had someone who would argue with God for me."
Argue with God? Try to convince the Almighty Creator of Heaven and earth to change His mind? Several Bible characters did, and won! One of my favorite Bible stories about arguing with God is told in Matthew chapter 15 and Mark chapter 7.
A pagan woman had a little daughter who was tormented by demons. She went to Jesus, and asked Him to heal the child. Jesus apparently ignored her, so that His disciples thought He must not want to talk to her because she wasn't a Jew. They felt free to say to Him, "Send her away. She's annoying us."
Jesus ignored them, but said coldly to the woman, "I'm sent to the house of Israel."
That didn't deter her. She knelt before Him and said, "Lord, help me."
Then Jesus said something apparently really insulting. "I can't give the children's meat to the dogs."
Did she let that stop her? No! She argued with Him. (I think she saw a gleam in His eyes that encouraged her to keep on asking.) "That's true," she said, "but even little dogs get to eat the crumbs that fall from the Master's table. If I'm a dog, I'm your little dog, and there's enough of your bountiful grace left over to give me the little thing I need!"
Jesus grinned at her. "You've got it! Your daughter is healed."
There's grace enough for all of us, regardless of our inheritance, our past, and yes, even our present. There's grace enough for you.
July 19, 2010
What the Baroness Katarina Is Teaching Us
Wry Observations from Elizabeth Rice Handford
If you've run into my husband Walt in the last few days, he's probably shown you a picture of our new Vizsla puppy. She was born on Walt's 86th birthday. She's Hungarian, so we've named her the Baroness Katarina. She condescends to let us call her Katy when it's time to eat.
We've learned a lot of things from Katy since she's been in our home. She likes anything with tassles-shoe laces, rugs, draperies. She's afraid of thunder, a strange dog's bark, the garbage man's truck. She'll chew anything she can reach- the morning paper, a dropped napkin, a sofa pillow. Because she's a hound, she stands to point the minute she sees the mocking bird who lives in the crepe myrtle next door. She is a bundle of energetic curiosity and exhausted tiredness.
But there's one thing that little puppy has taught us that we yearn to emulate in our relationship with God. She wants to be with us every second of every minute of every hour. She can never get too close to us. If I pick her up, she clambers up until she can nestle her nose in my neck. If we're watching television, she wants to plop down between us, and the tighter the squeeze, the more she enjoys it. If we reprove her (which happens frequently-that's why we're so tired!) she stops, sits down, and waits, puzzled, to see what we want. She doesn't pout when she's told to stop nipping; she just looks for another way to express her delight in belonging to us. No matter what she is doing, she is constantly aware of where we are and what we want. Though we've had her for only nine days, she loves us to the depths of her little being, her heart, her mind, and her body.
I wish I expressed my love to God as well as Katy does toward us. He certainly deserves our love. He's rescued us from death, kept us safe, showered innumerable mercies on us every day, committed Himself to watching over us until He can give us all the glories of Heaven. Why wouldn't we want to love Him?
For all that love He has expressed to us, what does He ask in return? Only that we love Him with all our heart, our soul, our mind, and yes, even our strength. He wants us to be aware always of His presence, to find joy just in being with Him, to understand that He disciplines us to help us, not hurt us, to love Him for Himself, not just for His gifts.
What a profound lesson we have learned from a little puppy only nine weeks old!
July 12, 2010
Why Is Superman Crying?
A Word of Encouragement from Elizabeth Rice Handford
Superman was poised on the top of a skyscraper in Manhattan, looking down at the traffic 72 stories below, and he was crying.
Superman? Crying? Well, actually it was 4-year-old son Paul, standing on a 3-foot stack of building materials for one of Daddy's projects. He was Superman, his cape an old shower curtain, and he was looking down into an abyss! He'd happily climbed up behind older brother John, but when he got to the top, and looked down, he didn't feel like Superman at all.
And that's the way I often feel, and probably you do too-limited time, inadequate resources, enormous responsibilities, and nobody but us standing there, obligated to fix things!
But actually, the Lord Jesus reminds us, that is a good thing. Hebrews 4:14-16 says,
Seeing that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
You'll be glad to know that on that long ago day Paul's strong and loving Daddy saw his tears and his predicament, and lifted him safely down to earth.
You don't have to be Superman when you've got a loving Father watching over you!
July 4, 2010
The Walk We All Must Endure: The Valley of the Shadow of Death
A Word of Comfort from Elizabeth Rice Handford
Last week a fellow worker of ours received the terrible news that her mother and father had died in a tragic house fire. She and her family are walking through that terrible valley of the shadow of death. We have no words to explain or understand such a terrible tragedy. But there is comfort in the promise of Psalm 23. King David said,
"Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me."
No explanations. No answers to our bitter questions. But our foundational comfort is that the Eternal, Holy God who created us with such love will surround us with His compassion and care even when we suffer incredible loss. He promised He would walk with us, and in His presence we can be quieted and comforted.
We have prayed for that grieving family that they will experience God's sweet nearness through these difficult days. And that is what we pray for you in our Joyful Woman family who have recently endured grievous loss. May you also know peace of heart even in the hardships you are now struggling through.
Jesus said, in Hebrews 13:5,6: "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." "So," said the writer of Hebrews, "we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.'"