Baptist Church News Canton, GA Articles by Deborah Davis Copyrights reserved Other articles acknowledged within the article. Baptist Church News Canton, GA Devotional September 1, 2000 The Scripture: Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth for her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. Proverbs 6:6-8 Servants, obey in all things your masters, according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God. And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons. Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven. Colossians 3:22-25; 4:1 The Thought: I have had all kinds of jobs. Jobs with what I consider big Christmas bonuses and benefits all the way down to being a housekeeper cleaning someone else's toilets. In addition to the housework I kept two small children and when I saw the need for someone to help out in the business, I started booking jobs for them. After all, if the business went under, so did my original job. I have worked fast food and even helped my husband drive a tractor trailer occasionally. Once I worked at a small produce market and found one morning that there was $10 more in the cash register than was rung up on the tape. I was younger then and really didn't know what to do, so after being sure, I rang the $10 up on the tape, noted it, and left the money in the cash register. The owner later told me he was testing me. I prefer to think the Lord was testing me and that I passed. Each of these jobs contained some insight or information that was beneficial when applied to another. The Bible is a working employee/employer handbook. Don't steal, don't lie, etc. In other words don't short time, give the expected day's work for what we expect to be paid. Don't take advantage of salary or sick days. Even if we can't do a job perfectly, even if we are behind, all we can do is one honest day's work at a time. That is all that is required by the ultimate Master, whether our earthly employer sees us or not. Employers are responsible for holding all employees to the same standards fairly. The scriptures place work into the life lived for God, preventing employment from becoming one's focus or identity or letting life get out of balance. When you endorse the back of that check or write out the checks from direct deposit, we need to be able to do so knowing that we served the Lord and the employer well for those dollars. Work--it's a necessity for living and an opportunity for serving Christ and man by our work patterns. Happy Labor Day! Lord, may we be examples of you by our service at work. Thank you for a way to meet our needs. Deborah Devotional August 31, 2000 The Scripture: For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. Proverbs 4:3 The Thought: Today is my husband, Frank's, birthday. Since his father passed away in July, this is his first birthday without a parent to share it with him. Frank's parents were married 10 years before he was their firstborn. They didn't think they would be able to have children. So when Frank got here, he was shall we say?-- a little spoiled. No, not a little. The newborn of whom it was said that he looked like a basketball with gourds stuck in it, soon took over. You can tell from his baby pictures that he knew it, too. Not only did he reign at his house, but at neighbors' homes and was pretty special with many relatives. I guess I don't have an eloquent devotional today just a heartfelt sense of loss for Frank and a word of encouragement for those of us who have a parent left to share birthdays with us to be remembered while we have the opportunity. Lord, show us how precious what we have is while we have it. Deborah -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Walk for Life October 21 benefits the Hope Center, a crisis pregnancy center. Walkers and sponsors needed. Call 770 924 0864 Devotional August 30, 2000 The Scripture: And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the Garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. Genesis 3:8 For God shall bring every work into judgement, with every secret thing whether it be good or whether it be evil. Ecclesiastes 12:14 The Thought: When our daughter Jenny was little she was lost for a time. We could not find her anywhere. We were so afraid. We would look and look. Still, no Jenny. Finally we found her. She had been watching us look for her and had been moving to places we already looked. She probably thought she was playing a game, but scared us beyond description. Almost everybody in the world knows the Bible story of Adam and Eve. We usually use them as the examples of the fallen. True they were fallen, but they were not forgotten. God was consistent with His habit of walking in the garden in the cool of the day. God who created the world certainly knew what had happened in it. Although Adam and Eve had made themselves aprons to cover themselves, they still felt the need to hide amongst the trees. It seems they just could not hide from God well enough. Maybe they thought God would think they were one of the trees and would quit looking for them. He would not have quit looking, but I believe He needed Adam and Eve to answer for themselves. Although Adam and Eve eventually wanted to blame someone else, when God called they answered. They expressed their condition, their fears, and what they did. (Genesis 3:10) Of course God could no longer communicate with them in the garden in the cool of the day because they were no longer in the garden. But God communicated with them somehow and Eve still regarded the Lord as the Lord because of what she named Cain, which means "I have gotten a man from the Lord." God restored them to a relationship that they passed down to their children Cain and Abel. I believe when something comes into our lives to lead us away from our relationship with God there is something that calls us away from it immediately just like God called Adam and Eve. In some fashion, we have to respond to be restored. I love restoration of those who love God and have strayed. If God seeks the fallen, what right do we have to turn our back on them? We can't endorse inappropriate conduct, but we can still love the person. We can neither hide among the trees when it is us who has strayed, nor should we be the trees for others to attempt to hide from God among. Lord, give us all eyes to see those hidden among the trees as those whom you are seeking, and when we are attempting to hide in the forrest, help us to see the trees that would keep us hidden and separated from you. Don't let me be the tree standing between someone and you, but let me lead them from amongst the trees. Better I should lead them back than lead them away from you. Deborah August 29, 2000 Devotional The Scripture: For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep the in all thy ways. They shall bear the up in their hands lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Psalm 91:11 & 12. The Thought: I would like to introduce you to my guardian angel. I don't know their name, but they are very familiar with mine. Actually, if guardian angels were without heavenly attributes, I would require at least twins, but more likely I would have an angel crew sort of like the safety crew that goes out to wrecks at NASCAR races or the "crash" team when a hospital code blue alarm is sounded. Mine would be the angel with patches on his robe from the thorns of near misses and their robe would be in need of pressing if they had the time between escapades. They would look like the first football batter umpire in a helmet, chest protector and knee protectors. Mine would be the angel with blisters on their feet from the rocky road I've walked, and scrapes and scratches from many battles fought. They would wear a tool belt with tools for tweaking life and a first aid kit for taking care of "boo boos" on the fly. They would need something other than wings for transportation because wings would be too slow and big for rapid flights in and out of tight places. They might be a little bent from carrying me from danger too many times. They might even be a little anxious at the mere thought of the next call to my rescue. If angels had labor problems, mine would be the angel holding the sign "OVERWORKED ANGEL" or "WHERE DO I GO TO RESIGN?" They would like to laugh and yet be able to cry, as we have done alot of both-sometimes at the same time. One of the advantages of getting older is that I now can see many times when angels were with me in the dark times of life. Now I really know that angels' heavenly attributes would never render them looking like the above. But I know that so many times when I couldn't see it, couldn't appreciate it-- that they were there quietly performing their appointed duty. Sometimes they were protectors. Sometimes they were messengers. Sometimes they were uplifters. Sometimes they were ground clearers. Whatever the assignment, they were there right on time, in the needed place. I just lacked the ability to see them alot of times. Lord, help me to look for your messengers and especially in the dark times help me to know that I can rest easy because they are there whether I see them or not. Deborah Baptist Church News Canton, GA Devotional August 28, 2000 The Scripture: But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous,but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. Matthew 9:36-38 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. I Corinthians 3:7-9 The Thought: Soon there will be signs of fall harvest everywhere. My mother, Jewell, is a great cook. She plants, harvests, prepares, cooks, freezes and cans. She lives alone and grows and prepares much much more than she will ever eat, giving most of it away. At her table you can get the homegrown, homecooked taste of God's bounty. You can taste her hoeing, picking, and preparing during an ice storm long after harvest by opening a can of her home made vegetable soup. I, like most people, like to sit down to God's goodness a la Jewell. Once she had plenty of harvest in the garden, more than even she could use. She offered it to people to come and pick it. While everybody is willing to partake the prepared food from her table or "putting up," most don't like the taste of the garden, so to speak. It was of concern to Jesus while he was here that all the harvest be gathered. No doubt He was thinking to a time when we would all gather to eat from a table which we can only imagine. Jesus instructed his disciples to pray for labourers to go forth to harvest. Apostle Paul spoke of planting and watering and a reward tied to our labour. Do we earn salvation? Certainly not! that would minimize the sacrifice of Jesus. If Jesus saw the people as God's harvest, then we are obligated to be labourers to bring the harvest in. I believe that Jesus looked down through time and saw the total harvest and was instructing the disciples to pray for labourers to carry on until the harvest is over. A harvest, however, takes some work and not just praying for someone else to do it. Sometimes we have to put feet to our prayers and put our feet in gardening shoes! Lord, may I see the harvest that you see, and keep my gardening shoes handy. Don't let anyone missing from the table be due to my harvest row not getting hoed. Deborah Devotional August 21,2000 The Scripture: Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? John 8:31-33 The Thought: I got a big blessing last week when I received 2 letters from some of the inmates to whom I am trying to minister. They both bragged on me way too much since I have done little more than give a few words of encouragement. Such little acts have resulted in such a big display of God's power. One in prison had gotten in a fight and was once again in solitary saying he hoped I was not disappointed in him. I know and answered him back that this was an area he would need to work on. While trying to be honest with him, I continued to encourage him to work on this area. He has come so far I that I just can not be disappointed in him. When one is disappointed in themselves the last thing they need is to disappoint their source of encouragement. I tried to point out to him that he would have to change in this area and quit blaming trouble for following him around. These particular people readily admit their circumstances. They know their lives got out of control and now they struggle to find where they took wrong turns and put up some roadblocks for the future. They long to be told the truth. Are we not all in prison, however, --prison of some kind of our own making? Are we too busy? Do we have misplaced priorities? Do we continue in hurtful patterns because we are too unqualified on our own to discover our wrong turns and then turn from them or to seek help from someone who will tell us the truth? Do we use our time for on what we truly know is important? Yes, we all have a prison of our own making of some sort. Our past, unforgiveness, lack of honesty with ourselves, hurriedness, disregard for what God says is important, quest for finances, just plain habit, misdirected activities and more all hold us captive. Like the prisoners I try to encourage, we might also benefit from some time to ponder and reflect on where we are, how we got there, and making a better plan for the future in a new direction. The truth can turn the lock of our self-created prison. Lord, make me able to look into a mirror of truth for my life's direction and help me to be a mirror of truth for another seeking it so that we may both go free. Deborah. August 14, 2000 The Scripture: Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord. Jeremiah 23:23&24 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:19&20 The Thought: With school starting football games will soon follow. When I was in high school there was this one boy, Billy Gibbs, who could be counted on to go out for football only to be relegated to 2nd string without fail. Billy would dress out and would watch from the sidelines visibly itching to get into the game. On few occasions Billy got the call. It occurs to me how often we put Jesus on the sidelines. We become expert surgeons with the scalpel of our own sinful heart cutting Jesus from our first string. Sure, when we need a little refreshing we let Him be the waterboy, or maybe if we get our knee scuffed we let Him apply a bandaid, and maybe we will let Him be a blocker as we try to keep running after we called the wrong play. But how often are our total lives submitted to letting Him call the plays and in safety, security running the play. I can just see Jesus sitting dressed out in all His glory, on the sidelines of our lives desperately desiring to help us be victorious. Sometimes we will bend our ear to a little cheerleading, but when the cheer is over go back onto the field alone only to get walloped over and over because we won't accept ready and willing help. Perhaps we want to go on our merry way willing to accept a few bumps and bruises as tradeoff for supposed desires. Perhaps we think if we leave Jesus on the sidelines He can't see us in the game and won't know what we are doing. Even so, no matter how long He is left on the sidelines, He always comes, and in fact is always with us--even if separated the distance from the sidelines to where the ball is in play. There is not one aspect of our lives Jesus is not interested in not our money, not our health, not our relationships, not our jobs----not anything. He knows who one should date and marry. He knows what job we should do. He cares if we hurt and he delights when we rejoice. He is completely interested in us. And He sees all that we do. Lord, help me to show up for practice and be a willing team member who listens intentively for the calls of the one who knows best what will work. Deborah Devotional Friday August 11, 2000 The Scripture: And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock; And I went out after him and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. I Samuel 17:34 & 35. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7. The Thought: We used to have a bad driveway. Time was when it rained very much we had to park at the top of the driveway next to the road to be sure we could get out. Over time, however, the driveway was driven on and improved and I learned how to better control the car if it started to slide. Being the multi-faceted person that I am, one of my adventures was a powder puff race. Frank, my husband, arranged for me to drive someone's racecar. This was a far cry from the driving I was used to. There was no rearview mirror and the gas pedal was merely a nub with no actual pedal. This was beginning to not look like such a good idea. Well the race started and mirrorless that I was, I sort of stuck my head out the window to gain a perspective of the other multi-faceted women on the track with me. Zooooooom! As a more experienced powder puffer blew my head back in the car just glad to still have it on. A couple of laps later, I was just beginning to get the hang of it, so I sped up. As I entered the third turn the car began to slide, and to be honest I was pretty petrified. While everything else was a blur, I could see Frank clearly in the pits with his head hung down expecting me to wreck and trying to figure out how he was going to explain that to the owner of the racecar. Suddenly it occured to me that that track was essentially the same as our driveway when it rained. Applying the same technique, the car returned to normal and I went on to finish the race. And thus ended my racing career. _________ David was experienced at fighting enemies like I was at driving on that bad driveway. It didn't matter what the enemy, the technique was the same. When others had little confidence in him, he merely trusted what he knew. David he was willing to fight this enemy because he cursed David's God, and David fought him in the name of the Lord. David was well prepared. He took an inventory of what he would be facing, and he knew just what kind of stones to gather. David also compared Goliath with a bear and a lion which would probably put Goliath number three on David's "scary" list. He saw the situation in perspective. What we learn can usually be applied to something else successfully. Using what we know regularly, like David, will sharpen that skill. Proper knowledge begins with a healthy reverence for the Lord. After all, it is His world, and we will always be learners. You never know when what you know will come in handy. As schools reopen, I imagine children across America are dreading the alarm clock, chalkdust, and homework. Remember, learning has to start to be used and one never knows how they might want to use it later. It is alot easier to use knowledge and wisdom than foolish ignorance, so don't despise instruction whatever the source. (Parents, you may want to read the story of David to your children to encourage them toward the new school year.) Lord, may I always be a willing learner so that I may fight in battles yet unknown to me. Deborah Devotional August 9, 2000 Articles by Deborah Davis Copyrights reserved Other articles acknowledged within the article. The Scripture: To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-7 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, Philippians 3:13 The Thought: The Morris Hill Monday Evening Kids Club began rather on the spur of the moment. Neighborhood children and friends of my children were invited for a sort of living-room Bible school. One Monday I hadn't prepared for the club. As I drove to pick up those who were coming, I asked the Lord what would He have me present to the children. I was impressed that I might not have another opportunity with some of them. Philippians 3:13 came to mind. As the group began to discuss this verse, the children were amazed to think that the past could actually be left behind. Most of the children were from broken homes and lived in atmospheres of ill feelings and brokenness. The group agreed that it was good to leave a bad past behind. The children themselves pointed out that if it was indeed good to forsake a bad past, it was just as good to avoid standing on past accomplishments, since they are just as fleeting. The conclusion of the group was that dwelling in or depending on the past whether good or bad limits the future. This lesson later came to mind as I was crossing the Mississippi River Bridge with my husband in a tractor trailer. Looking back were miles already traveled. I can still remember the reflection I saw in the side mirror that day. Trying to back that truck up would only cause a traffic jam and problems. Moreso, trying to back up would only lead to what was left behind. Crossing that bridge was like "reaching forth unto those things which are before." Had I not crossed that bridge, I never could have experienced what lie on the other side.. So, should we constantly just abandon under the guise of moving on? No. There is a time for everything. If moving on requires violating God's will or God's word, then moving on should be done IN the circumstance. Marriage restoration, adjustment to a loss, bearing pain, disappointment.....sometimes just require that we take a new path in the situation to properly deal with it. The point is not to put our dependence on a good past, or be overcome by a bad past, but to move on in keeping with God's will and God's word. The past, good or bad, if it becomes our root, can only lessen the future. Best used, the past should be a springboard to a better future for the wise and timely person. Once again, timing is everything. Lord, help me to see the right bridges at the right time. Deborah _______________________________________________________________________ Devotional August 8, 2000 Submitted by Lee Peoples, Cumming, GA Your devotional submissions welcomed at cantongabaptistnews@visto.com or via fax 678 353 2300 x 1816. Please note if the devotional is original or give the source if forwarding from another source. Also please include your email or telephone number in case there are questions. http://www.vanguardmag.com ========= TODAY'S DEVOTIONAL ========= GOD USES PROBLEMS By Lynette C. Mendoza The problems you face will either defeat you or develop you, depending on how you respond to them. Unfortunately most people fail to see how God wants to use problems for good in their lives. They react foolishly and resent their problems rather than pausing to consider what benefit they might bring. Here are five ways God wants to use the problems in your life: 1. God uses problems to DIRECT you. Sometimes God must light a fire under you to get you moving. Problems often point us in a new direction and motivate us to change. Is God trying to get your attention? Sometimes it takes a painful situation to make us change our ways (Proverbs 20:30). 2. God uses problems to INSPECT you. People are like tea bags...if you want to know what's inside them, just drop them into hot water! Has God ever tested your faith with a problem? What do problems reveal about you? When you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy, because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you patience (James 1:2-3). 3. God uses problems to CORRECT you. Some lessons we learn only through pain and failure. It's likely that as a child your parents told you not to > touch a hot stove. But you probably learned by being burned. Sometimes we only learn the value of something... health, money, a relationship ... by losing it. The loss may have been the best thing that could have happened, for it teaches us to pay attention to God's laws (Psalm > 119:71-72). 4. God uses problems to PROTECT you. A problem can be a blessing in disguise if it prevents you from being harmed by something more serious. Last year a friend was fired for refusing to do something unethical that his boss had asked him to do. His unemployment was a problem -- but it saved him from being convicted and sent to prison a year later when management's actions were eventually discovered. You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good (Genesis 50:20). 5. God uses problems to PERFECT you. Problems, when responded to correctly, are character builders. God is far more interested in your character than your comfort. Your relationship to God and your character are the only two things you're going to take with you into eternity. We can rejoice when we run in to problems... they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady (Romans 5:3-4). HERE'S THE POINT: God is at work in your life - even when you do not recognize it or understand it. But it's much easier and profitable when you cooperate with Him! By Lynette C. Mendoza POSTSCRIPT: Faint not, you are neither neglected nor forgotten. You feel you have the same problems as the unbelievers around you do, but remember, in you it will produce the image of Christ unto eternal life. God said, and He can not lie: "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. " Phil1:6 The same rain that waters the garden waters the weeds too. You are a garden! His rain will produce the sweet fruits of > the Holy Spirit to grow in you. Don't struggle with your rain, just respond sweetly. Don't take > things into your own hands, wait on Him to bring a change. He is in charge, and He is a good God! ============ CREDITS ============== Please consider forwarding today's devotional to family members and friends and ask them to join our mailing list. They can do so by sending a blank e-mail to: VanguardMagazine-subscribe@listbot.com˙˙˙Vanguard Magazine - http://www.vanguardmag.mans 5:3-4).