Unless You Do It

Exodus 7:6-7 Moses and Aaron did just as the LORD commanded them. Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three when they spoke to Pharaoh.

    Being myself in my mid-sixties, I fully understand how the effects of aging can sneak up on oneself. Those creaky joints and aching bones; fingers that just don’t seem to cooperate with what your hands are trying to do; it’s the season of life where dates are determined by medical appointments. In this season of life it’s easy to say, “now it’s time for the young’uns to take over”.              

    Yet God calls us each into active service and it isn’t always when we are young and in our prime. Sometimes he calls the seniors and aging seniors into active service. Seniors are the ones who spend much time in prayer, the encouragers, the phone-callers, the card-writers, the meal-deliverers, the ones who sit with friends and take them to appointments. Those services are a vital component to God’s people. It doesn’t matter what age you are when God calls you to smile or speak a kind word or sit with a friend. You can’t pull out your kingdom retirement card just yet. None of us can.

    My challenge for you today is to put your faith in action—look nearby, for surely there is someone who needs a smile and word of encouragement from you today. Call the friend you’ve been intending to call, send the card you’ve been intending to send, follow through on what has been tugging at your heartstrings.

            I am reminded of what another devotional author, Joe Barnett, Pathways, writes:

There is something that needs to be done, that won’t be done, unless you do it.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            My heart prays for our seniors today. Give them the daily measure of strength to do what you have called them to do. Open their eyes to see their value and purpose in service to you. Thank you for your loving care and the blessings you send each day.

            In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Amen.

The devotional Unless You Do It appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

 

Your Next Whispered Prayer

Nehemiah 9:17, 19  But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them… Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them…

            Ever had one of those days—weeks—or even years? The simple truth is that no matter what we are facing in life, no matter what our circumstances might be; God is faithful. He is gracious and compassionate and he longs to forgive us when we come to him. Perhaps I write this too often, but God is never farther away than—or stated in the positive form, God is always as close as—your next whispered prayer.

            I am reminded of an old familiar chorus we used to sing in Sunday School:

                        Whisper a prayer in the morning, whisper a prayer at noon, whisper a prayer in the evening, to keep your heart in tune.

                        God answers prayer in the morning, God answers prayer at noon, God answers prayer in the evening, He’ll keep your heart in tune.

                        Jesus may come in the morning, Jesus may come at noon, Jesus may come in the evening, so keep your heart in tune.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            You know the concerns on our hearts today. You are fully aware of the ways in which we have fallen short of your leading and guiding in our lives. Please forgive our drifting and set us back on the right path. We thank you for your great compassion.

            In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Amen.

 

The devotional Your Next Whispered Prayer appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar

Job 2:11-13  When Job’s three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him. When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads. Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.

            Most of us are familiar with the story of Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil (Job 1:1). Which I find amazing in itself because most of us, although we fear God and give our hearts to him—when it comes to “shunning” evil, we often simply tolerate it instead. Job was truly an upright man. We know he suffered, not because of what he did, but simply as a testament of his faithfulness. As a result of his faithfulness, we know this: The LORD blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part (Job 42:12).

            Job had three friends (Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar) who figure prominently in this story, along with a fourth young man (Elihu) who shows up at the end of the story. Recently I have noticed some interesting details about Job’s three friends who were the first to enter this story. Although they did not live near Job, they kept in close contact with him (and apparently with each other) and when they heard about Job’s plight, they responded. Their intentions were noble, honorable, and from the heart—to sympathize and comfort. Most of all, they were willing to set aside their own schedules to spend time just being at the side of their friend, even on the ground at his level. They felt no need to fill the empty air with noise; simply being there was enough.

            It was Job who first broke the silence. The broken silence released a flood of words from his well-meaning friends. Scores of biblical studies and commentaries have analyzed the speeches of Job’s friends, and that is not my purpose in today’s devotional. That material is readily available to any who would look for it. Today, I simply want to acknowledge the positive aspects of Job’s friends. I want to point out their willingness to respond to a friend’s need; their willingness to go; their willingness to stay as long as needed; and their willingness to simply sit quietly nearby.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            Thank you for the examples of Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar—friends who were willing to respond to a need. Open our eyes to opportunities to serve you by encouraging others. Give us the willing heart to set aside our busy schedules when the greater need is being able to comfort someone else.

            In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Amen.

 

The devotional Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com