For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every person that is among you, not to think of themselves more highly than they ought, but to think soberly, according as God has dealt to every person the measure of faith. (Romans 12:3)

A little Swiss watch had been made with the smallest of parts and with great care and detail. It ran with the greatest of precision, to the delight of its owner. Still, the little watch was dissatisfied with its restricted sphere of influence as it traveled around strapped to a lady’s wrist. It envied the high and lofty position held by the clock on the tower of the City Hall.

One day as the little watch and its owner passed by the City Hall, the little watch said, “I sure wish I could be way up there. I could serve so many people instead of just one.” The owner of the little watch looked down and said, “I know someone who has a key to the tower. Little watch, you shall have your opportunity!”

The next day, a slender thread was let down from the tower and the little watch was tied to it, then was pulled up the side of the tower–higher and higher. Of course, when it finally reached the top, it was totally lost from view. “Oh my,” the little watch exclaimed. “My elevation has been the ruin of me and my usefulness.”

If you desire to trade your current sphere of limited influence for a larger and more prominent one...be wary. God will elevate those whom God chooses–in God’s appointed time.

Blessed Creator, may we be honored to serve You where You have placed us and use our energy for Your work, rather than seeking loftier places!

This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise of Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 3:6)

Some great gifts come into our lives quietly, even without awareness. They may not come because of our effort or planning; they simply happen and show up. Consider the gift of God’s love. This great gift may come to us in unexpected places or times, by surprising means.

I think of my neighbor, who enjoys gardening and grows lovely flowers in his backyard. Though a tall fence separates our yards, through a small hole a vine of dark green leaves has now overflowed into my side, bringing unexpected beauty to my own yard.

This vine has caused me to consider the sometimes subtle ways God comes into our lives. Though we may attempt to fence God out, the Spirit of God in Jesus Christ comes in through even the tiniest openings. Small tendrils of love come into our minds and souls, sharing God’s greatness and grace until we recognize God’s presence. Whether this love comes quietly or openly, it brings beauty and healing to make us whole on the inside, as much as we will allow.

Loving God, may the vines of Your love invade my space through every tiny opening that I am unaware of until I can stand in Your presence and know with all certainty that You are walking with me!

Many seek the favor of a ruler, but it is from the Lord that one gets justice. (Proverbs 29:26)

Many of us struggle with the command to forgive our enemies. We know that not to forgive invites bitterness and acts of vengeance, yet we cannot help feeling hurt and angry when we suffer injustice.

Early in my faith journey, I came across a passage in Proverbs that says it is okay to seek justice. Instantly I am reminded of Jesus’ parable about the widow who hounded the unjust judge until she got justice. Luke says the lesson is about perseverance in prayer, but I saw Jesus’ assurance that God would “...grant justice to the chosen ones who cry to God day and night.” Our God is a God of justice as well as mercy.

When I began to pray for justice, I found that God would often bring to mind my own shortcomings, as if to say, “Do you want justice, or forgiveness? Are you sure you want justice? You know that you are just as guilty.” It then became easier to turn a prayer for justice into a plea for God’s mercy and forgiveness. Slowly, my prayers for justice have become prayers for the oppressed. I have learned the hard lesson of forgiving because Jesus first allowed me to acknowledge my hurt and anger and seek justice. It is through this process that we are brought to the place of seeking forgiveness.

Holy Creator of mercy and justice, thank You for allowing us to approach You in our quest for justice and there find Your willingness to forgive us our trespasses.

Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep; So shall they poverty come as one that travels...(Proverbs 24:33.34)

One day, a grandfather told his grandchildren about his coming to America. He told of the trains and ship that he took from his home in Eastern Europe. He told of being processed at Ellis Island and how he had gone to a cafeteria in lower Manhattan to get something to eat. There, he sat down at an empty table and waited quite some time for someone to take his order. Nobody came. Finally, a woman with a tray full of food sat down opposite him and explained to him how a cafeteria worked.

She said, “You start at the end”–pointing toward a stack of trays–“and then go along the food line and pick out what you want. At the other end, they’ll let you know how much you have to pay.”

The grandfather reflected a moment and then said, “I soon learned that’s how everything works in America. Life’s a cafeteria here. You can get anything you want–even very great success–if you are willing to pay the price. But you’ll never get what you want if you wait for someone else to bring it to you. You have to get up and get it yourself.”

The difference between where you are and where you want to be can often be summed up in one word: work!

God of mercy and love, give us the strength and wisdom to seek after that which is good in Your sight!

Make me to know Your ways, O God; teach me Your paths. (Psalm 25:4)

From a friend:

The other day as I was traveling on the subway, a girl got on the train with a seeing-eye dog and a guide-dog trainer. The trainer instructed the girl to go to the doorway on the opposite side of the car and to feel the barriers on either side of the door. Then he asked her to turn around and feel the barriers on either side of the door she had just entered. She used both hands.

As the train entered another station and they were about to exit, the trainer continued his instructions to the girl, “Now pick up the dog’s harness. He can’t lead you unless you stay in contact with him.”

I saw this as a metaphor for our journey through life. We are prone to stumble and fall, to make wrong turns, to be confused, and so it is important to stay in contact with God who has promised to guide us. We place our lives in God’s Hands. Through prayer, Bible study and meditation, we stay in contact with the One who is “the Way, the Truth and the Life.”

Loving Creator, help us to keep in contact with You at all times that we might receive direction in our path through life!

“...forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us...” (From The Lord’s Prayer)

Archibald Hunter says that forgiveness is “surrendering my right to hurt you because you have hurt me.” Richard Smith, a missionary and counselor who has made a lifetime study of cultures and relationships, says it isn’t quite that simple. Forgiveness is not merely letting the offender off the hook. A lot of people mouth empty words of forgiveness, glossing over acts of wrongdoing, while holding on to bitterness in their hearts.

“Forgiveness means releasing the other person from your judgment and trusting God to handle it, even to the point of extending mercy instead of retribution, if that is God’s choice.”

We make statements like, “He’s only human,” or “It was as much my fault as it was yours.” Sometimes we ignore the problem, which continues to fester and grow. We decide not to talk about it, because every time we get into a discussion, we get angry and say things we shouldn’t say.

After I spoke once on the importance of forgiveness, a woman told me about the brutal murder of her son. He had been cut down in the prime of life, and she was angry. Even when the young man who had killed her son was sent to prison, her heart was filled with rage. As a Christian, she knew that she had to forgive, but she just couldn’t do it.

The more she thought and prayed about it, the more she began to see the issue from God’s perspective. What had happened was horrible. Not just to her son, but to her as well. Somehow, she began to realize that vengeance wasn’t her responsibility. It was God’s. And that’s when she began to realize that God would deal with the murderer.

“That kid in prison doesn’t know about God,” she thought. Eventually, she sent him a Bible along with a letter, explaining how she felt. She told him that God, the Author of forgiveness, would also forgive him.

“Don’t do this,” the warden of the prison urged. “You’re just wasting your time.” But she persisted, and when she did, the hatred and anger lifted from her own self.

Forgiveness is much more than giving up my right to hurt you because you hurt me. It involved allowing God to take control of the situation and turn everything that is wrong into something that is right. It is totally trusting that God will handle the situation. Nothing less will do!

God of Justice, when I feel wronged, please remind me to move on with my life and allow You the space to fix the situation properly!

For with God nothing shall be impossible. (Luke 1:37)

Many years ago a huge oil refinery caught fire. Flames shot hundreds of feet into the air and the sky was filled with grimy smoke. The heat was so intense that firefighters parked a block away, hoping for the heat to die down. Instead, the fire raged ever closer to a nearby row of tanks.

Suddenly a fire truck came careening down the street. With its brakes screeching, it hit the curb directly in front of the blaze. The firefighters jumped out and began to battle the blaze. Inspired by this act, the other firefighters drove closer and joined in the fight. As a result of their cooperative effort, the fire was brought under control in the nick of time.

Those who witnessed these events decided to honor the man who had driven the lead fire truck to the brink of the blaze. In preparing for the awards ceremony, the mayor said, “Captain, we want to honor you for your fantastic act. You prevented the loss of property, perhaps even the loss of life. Is there something we can give you as a token of our appreciation?”
Without hesitation, the Captain replied, “A new set of brakes on that truck would be great!”

Acts of heroism all have a common theme: one person is willing to try when all others are not.

Holy Creator, give us the wisdom to act when action is needed, knowing that You are there with us to protect us!