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Praise the Lord O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the Lord O my soul, and forget not all His benefits-- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems you from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagles. Psalms103:1-5

God is: How do we picture God? As we were recording a radio program for Circle of Friends the subject of our personal perception of God as a child. It amazed me that we all had different ideas of what we thought of God, and why.

Our backgrounds had such a major effect of our views. One had the thoughts of God shaking His finger at her, one thought that God was expecting perfection, another had a drill sergeant view, yet I felt that I needed to hide in the corner, and keep quiet then I would not get into trouble.

What is your view of God? Do you see Him as someone to big to approach? Or someone that doesn't really care?

God is here, we are not waiting for Him, we are waiting for something, an answer, a leading, a direction.But God is always here! He never leaves or sleeps, or even turns his back. He is and we are a part of Him. We can be used by God, we can be His feet or his hands.

This is truth! Going from who we thought God was to who we think God is now!

So who do you think God is? What is in your heart? Are you struggling? Are you believing lies? You need to stand firm on His promises!

Lord, open the eyes of my heart so that I may see You and all that You are! Amen

Becki Reiser

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Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5

I turned 50 on Monday, and it got me to thinking about why I am not particularly thrilled with celebrating my birthdays. I have come to the conclusion that each time a birthday comes around I am not happy with the status of where I am in life. I know that sounds rather strange, until my friend and I began to talk about it.

For some reason I am never satisfied with my relationship with God, or other personal issues. My friend said that she thinks that God is able to use us right where we are, whether we are where God intends us to be or not. Sort of like when God speaks something to our heart, to go in a certain direction, and we may start out doing that thing, but for some reason, we take a detour and go in another direction.

That got me thinking about the Garman GPS that I bought for Jeff for Christmas. While using it, it tells you to "turn here or go there". If you by-pass what it tells you, it will actually say "RECALCULATING" Then it tells you the best way to get to the desired destination via another route. Our relationship with God is somewhat like that. We may have a certain "place" where we intend to go, but we take a different route to get there than originally charted. God does not get disgusted and give up on us. No, He will "recalculate" how to help us to get to our goal, by another turn, or exit.

I may not be satisfied with where I am, I may not be satisfied with my weight, or my current accomplishments, but that does not mean that I cannot achieve my original goal, it just means that I will get there by other means! This does not mean that it is OK to be disobedient, it just means that if we miss a turn, God doesn't give up on us, He just helps us get there another way.

Lord, thanks for helping me go in the direction that will lead me to You. Whether it is by the original path charted or not. You will be with me showing me the way to turn, and the best possible route. Amen

Becki Reiser

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For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14-15 NIV

I heard a statement on the television a little while ago. It said "The power of forgiveness defeats fear."

In my opinion the power of forgiveness defeats not only fear, but a multitude of other things. To name a few there is: bitterness, anger, hate, retaliation. I know this from personal experience. When our seventeen-year-old daughter was abducted, and murdered, we were quick to offer forgiveness to the man that committed the crime.

It began in the heart of my husband, Jeff. He spoke the words to the detectives, and when those words hit my ears I knew it was a life/death choice. I could choose to forgive and have a life that would include peace, and the knowledge that I too was forgiven for many things. Or I could choose to not forgive and be filled with anger, hatred, malice, un-forgiveness, bitterness, and myriad other things.

Neither choice would bring Liz back to us, but knowing that we were not harboring un-forgiveness gave us great freedom. It has remained true for nearly ten years. Never once has it wavered or changed. I know for a fact that never once has Jesus regretted dying on the cross for our sins, so that we could receive forgiveness. And I can honestly say that, never once have we regretted our choice of forgiveness to the man that took our daughter's life.

The power of forgiveness has defeated not only fear, but it has released me from being an angry, bitter, defeated woman. I am perhaps unusual, but I am better for my choice.

Dear Father, help me to always be willing to forgive, so that I may be forgiven and saved from so many things. Amen

Becki Reiser

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Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Matthew 10:29-31 NIV

Have you ever wondered about how much God cares about even the little things in our lives? A few years ago, I began to wonder about some of my 'old' friends from when I was in junior high, high school, and college. I had lost touch with so many because of all the moving I did as a child. I attended eleven schools and moved twenty one times before I was married. I had made some wonderful friends! Yet, when I moved away, I lost touch with them. It is not that I didn't care, my life just changed and I had to adapt to where I was at the time. I have often tried to find friends through a couple of internet sites. Lo and behold, I have found many! It is so exciting.

Three days ago, someone sent me a friend request and it turned out to be the friend that I had searched for, I looked for a long time but never found her. It turns out that she too had tried to find me, but was more successful. This woman has had so many difficult things happen in her life, and physically she is not well. I believe with all of my heart that God brought her back into my life for a reason. The biggest reason is to share my most precious possession, and that is Jesus.

God cares about everything that happens in our lives. He cares what we are doing all the time, and He cares about the things that concern us! He knew that my friend had tried to find me. She shared that she never had a friendship as we had after I moved away. She was lost without me!

That thought made me feel good in some ways, and sorrowful in others. We don't seem to know just how much of an impression we make on people. I actually spoke to her on the phone yesterday and she said some things that really made me think. I am so glad that I was memorable.

Have you ever 'lost touch' with God? In our busy lives, we have a tendency to overlook that part of our life. We think that we will catch up later, but later never seems to come. God is searching for us, or rather for our hearts. Are we searching too?

Lord, thanks for helping me in those areas of my life that seem so small, yet mean so much. Keep me in remembrance of relationships I have especially my relationship with You. Amen

Becki Reiser

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A man's wisdom gives him patience, it is to his glory to overlook an offense. Proverbs 19:11 NIV

Have you ever been in the situation where something happened and you felt totally left out? This is something that I am personally struggling with, and it is very painful. It seems I have struggled with this all of my life. Wanting to belong to or be a part of something. Somehow I thought that because I am an adult, that those feelings would just disappear as supposedly wisdom comes as I get older.

Not so. It has shown me just how childish I can still be. Nevertheless, I still feel hurt. I am not quite sure what the Lord is trying to show me. Perhaps it is the fact that people will always disappoint me because they are human. Sometimes I even feel disappointed in what God does. Yes, I admit it, God has disappointed me. Just because I prayed and really thought that God was leading a certain way, then things fell through. I was heart broken!

But, was God really disappointing me, or was I just wanting my own way? Oh my, that hurts to think about it like that. Is that what is going on? Do I really just want my own way? Is God protecting me from harm, or even the possibility of walking away from Him if I get what I want? I certainly don't want that to happen, yet that is a possibility. I want to serve God with my whole heart, but if that heart is too involved with "things" I very well may miss what God really wants to do.

I am really hoping that by bearing my heart, that I am making myself vulnerable to not only you, but also vulnerable to God, and what He is trying to do in my life. Do I still want to be a part of a certain group of friends? Do I really want to go to that Christmas party? I must be honest and say that yes, I do. Perhaps my invitation was accidentally missed, or lost in the mail. I don't know. I do not want to take things personally, but I truly want to learn to trust God. That He will help me to grow through my offenses.

Father, help me to forgive those that have offended me. Whether they have done it on purpose or accidentally. Teach me to accept things the way that they are, and to run to You with all of those hurts and misunderstandings. Thanks Lord! Amen

Becki Reiser

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Paul was declaring, "I still face problems, but the Lord has given me what I need for the battle. He has refreshed me through Titus." 2 Corinthians 7:4.

I just heard my husband, Jeff speak the phrase "I thought I would be eating at his table, but I never thought he would be eating at mine."

Last week my husband had an opportunity to do something he has wanted to do for many years. He went to another city and met with a man of God that he has admired for years. His hope of just meeting this man and shaking his hand was something that burned in his heart. Not that he (my husband) thought he was anyone special to be able to say anything to this man; he simply wanted to meet this very humble, Godly man. When the opportunity arose, he stepped out, and purchased his airline ticket and hotel and went.

Upon his arrival at the church, approximately two hours before the time of introduction, he went into the sanctuary, sat, read his Bible, and prayed for a time. When the appointed time arrived, he had the opportunity he had waited for, for over 35 years. It was something very different from what he expected. What do you say to someone like that? He prepared nothing ahead of time, but shared his testimony about how this man had been a very important part of his finding Jesus. After a short time, this man asked Jeff a question. You see, after our daughter died in May of 2000, Jeff wrote to this man and shared how God had used our tragic circumstance to help change many lives. They spoke of this letter and the circumstances. He asked Jeff "how were you able to continue to walk in joy despite the circumstances?" Jeff replied, "It was the Peace of God that served as my joy."

It is difficult for a man to do all that he does in serving God, and take care of an ailing wife, as well as everything else he must be responsible for many other things. He was a man in need of encouragement! Just as Paul says about Titus in the above scripture reference, apparently God used Jeff in the same way to encourage this pastor! Jeff went thinking this man could speak something into his life, and it ended up being the total opposite situation, Jeff was the encourager.

After Jeff left the church, he felt completely inadequate, and very humbled. We simply never know what God will do in us when we step out in faith to do something. Step out in faith as you serve God!

Father, teach me to trust that as I go forward in life You will guide my steps and give me the words I need just when I need them. Amen.

Becki Reiser

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For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 NIV

I detest mice. They are sneaky, small, and dirty. I really get mad when they think they are free to come into my house, un-invited. I have traps set in five places. That would mean nothing to a mouse that is outside, but to a mouse in the house it is sure death.

These thoughts made me think of other things that sneak into our homes and lives un-invited. The biggest one is sin. Often times sin creeps in, comes into little holes in our homes (hearts). Frequently, it can build a nest and we have not detected it. It has moved in and has become comfortable. We tend not to notice since it is so small. Then we begin to notice things. Like little 'droppings' left in its wake.

Now, the little critter didn't come in to destroy things completely. It only came in because it is getting cold out, and food is becoming less available. I would choose warmth and comfort over cold and hungry. I must say, I like to be comfortable and I am good at finding food when I am hungry. I doubt there is a single one of you out there that would disagree. So too does this little rodent.

How does this little ball of destruction get into the house? I live on a farm in an old farmhouse. We have no insulation in the walls. It is the old plaster and lathe walls with horsehair holding it together. There are holes in some of the corners, in the laundry room in particular. It is at the back of our house, and about 25 feet away from that room is a corn field and hay field. It isn't to hard for them to scoot around the nine farm cats we have and slip into the house.

The same is true with sin. It often comes in seemingly undetected. It is so small no one seems to notice. Matter of fact we sometimes do not notice for quite a while. Then, we begin to notice little things (droppings) left in its wake. We are not sure where it is hiding, or how it got in. All though occasionally we do leave a door open, and invite it in.

Now, with the five mousetraps I have set, I am determined to get every last one out! I wonder how that heart thing is going. Am I checking every corner for signs of droppings? Am I guarding my heart and not allowing any sin to sneak in? What about you? Is sin having a time of warmth and harvest right under your very nose? Are you allowing it to hide in corners and eat freely from your bounty?

Dear God, please help me to always be watching and guarding my heart against sin. Help me to recognize is for what it truly is, and help me to stop it in it's tracks with Your help. Amen.

Becki Reiser

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I will give you treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name. Isaiah 45:3 NIV

On October 24, I attended the Circle of Friends "A New Name" Seminar. It has already been mentioned by two people in the past week and a half,(on this websites blog and devotional) and I too will share what I felt God spoke to me.

While I was sitting there listening to Jocelyn share, I had a flashback to an old TV program I saw years ago. It was the old Dick Van Dyke show. He was a writer, and was married to Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) and had a son, Richie. The program was about the middle name his son had, and how it came about. Richie said he didn't want his friends to find out his middle name, because it was stupid. He asked why his middle name was "ROSEBUD".

His parents began to explain why he was given that middle name. The story went on to say that everyone in the family had suggestions, and they simply could not make up their minds. They didn't want to offend their families, so they came up with the idea of naming him all of the names suggested, but only using the first initial of each name. Hence, ROSEBUD. I thought about it and I came up with names that through God, we can be called. Here is what I came up with:

R- Reedemed : Colossians 1:14

O- Overcomer : 1 John 5:4

S- Saved : Matthew 16:16

E- Encouraged: Colossians 2:2

B- Blameless: 1 Corinthians 1:8

U- Upright: Psalm 33:1

D- Delivered : Psalm34:4

Lord, help me top believe that You know me, that You love me, and that I am a child of God! I am a ROSEBUD. Amen

Becki Reiser

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And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. Ephesians 3:17b-18 NIV

It amazes me just how much God loves us! I read the above scripture and I think about the Grand Canyon. Yet, even that is small in comparison to God's love.

I have had to deal with a lot of situations in my own life where I have felt unloved and unloving. At the same time I have also been in situations where I felt immersed in love, and felt free to return it. Recently I have been operating more so in the second type. God knew the struggle I was going through about missing a loved one, and it was beginning to get me down. So much so that I felt that feeling of depression knocking on the door to my heart.

Through a mistaken identity on a certain computer program (I will not mention what it was, I'll let you figure it out) Nevertheless, God knew my heart was aching. I tried to make contact with someone that I thought was one person, but turned out to be someone else. I felt foolish and embarrassed, but God knew what He was doing.

One thing led to another and we have become fast friends and I have even had the wonderful opportunity to meet this person (she is from another state). This has turned out to be a most amazing thing. I hear from her daily, sometimes multiple times during the course of the day. I never cease to be encouraged by her. She has such a heart for God! I can see God in everything she says! This has been a very encouraging thing for me. I feel as though God heard my hearts cry, and knew the things I was struggling with, and plopped this very special young woman of God into my life.

I must say that it was the very last thing I expected to happen. Through this relationship that began as an accident, I have felt the love of God in way that has been a missing part of my life for many years.

When Paul wrote the words in the above scripture, I feel sure that something special must have happened to make this a very real thing in his life and he wanted to let us know just how important it is for us. We really have no idea about how much God loves us. I do not think our small minds can absorb it, truly! God cares about everything that concerns us. He wants to show us just how much He cares by doing things that prove His love to us in different ways.

This is how God showed me His love, it is wide, long, deep and high. It is amazing! I am so thankful that He chose this way to show me how much He cares!

Father, even when my heart is aching and feels like it is breaking for the lack of something, I can trust You to show me just how much you do care, and how much you love me. Thank you Lord and I love You too!

Becki Reiser

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Do not be fooled: You cannot cheat God. People harvest only what they plant. Galatians 6:7 (NCV)

In my devotions yesterday morning, I got a bit of a nudge from God. Sunday morning, I got that same nudge. Perhaps God is trying to tell me something. As I read the beginning paragraph in my GRACE FOR THE MOMENT Daily Bible, the opening paragraph is an excerpt from Just Like Jesus, by Max Lucado. In it, Max Lucado states, "Think of your heart as a greenhouse. And your heart, like a greenhouse, has to be managed." Hmmmmm, perhaps I need to read what this says.

My thoughts are seeds, some flowers some weeds. Uh-oh now it has my attention. Do I sow seeds of hope or seeds of doubt? Do I reap optimism or insecurity? Apparently, I need to hear this because I have heard it two times in the past two days. I am a very insecure person. I need encouraged at nearly every turn. I do not want to disappoint anyone, especially God. Yet, I am not good at waiting. I have confessed this to God, and anyone else that will listen. I do not pray for patience, because I do not relish the thought of going through tribulations. (Tribulations worketh patience Romans 5:3 KJV) so I simply seek grace and hope that I can 'eek through' life on that.

Why do some people not get flustered or impatient? Perhaps it is because they have sown the right seeds. I see that, and I whine, "But God, I do not want to be this way" yet, I do nothing to change my heart. I do not go in and roto-till under all of the weeds or rotten fruit, I allow it to flourish. I truly understand this because I have a large garden and I "put up" vegetables, fruits, and other food. I can totally relate. Why then, do I expect to reap a harvest of things that I did not plant? If I plant green beans, do I expect to harvest strawberries? No, it would be nice, but then I would only have strawberries and not the actual green beans that I planted.

The same is true with those other seeds I mentioned at the beginning. I want to have a change in my garden (my heart) I want to have a beautiful, fruitful garden, full of good, positive things (fruits and vegetables). I want to learn how to 'weed out' all of those negative thoughts, and bad seeds and only plant the good stuff!

Lord, teach me how to manage my heart just as a greenhouse has to be managed. I want to learn to do the right and positive things to allow my heart to flourish. Amen

Becki Reiser

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So I am very happy to brag about my weaknesses. Then Christ's power can live in me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 NCV

I could write a book on my weaknesses alone! It is difficult to say that God will use them. It certainly is not fun to think about Paul being happy to say, "I am happy when I have weaknesses, insults, hard times, sufferings, and all kinds of troubles for Christ". (2 Cor.12:10) When I feel those things, I go running to God and whine about each one of them by name.

In the scripture above this, it says, "My grace is enough". Do I believe that? I try to. While in the midst of one of these sufferings, it is not something that brings much comfort when you are in severe pain, or facing a tough trial. Yet, God tells us that. Paul believed it, but I struggle with it.

When I hurt, I want sympathy. I do not want to hear about how someone else struggled and how he or she overcame his or her pain. I want to moan and groan and I want God to come and wait on me and do my work for me. I want help! Then I remember the rest of verse 10. It says, "When I am weak, then truly I am strong." HUH? How can that be?

When I cannot go on for all of the pain, whether physical, mental or spiritual, the only direction I look is for help. I look to God. Then I understand. He is the strong one and I will lean on Him!

Help Lord, I need to lean on You and Your strength not my own. Teach me to do that daily. Amen

Becki Reiser

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Find rest, oh my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him. Psalm 62:5 NIV

How often do we give up because we have lost hope? Some things can seem huge and insurmountable from our point of view, yet to God it is simple. When we lose hope and joy, our life seems bleak and at it's end. How many times I have come to that point. I can be so up and excited one moment and the very next breath I take I feel like a weight had planted itself on my shoulders and I am the only one to bear it.

How very wrong that is! Yes, we allow the weights of this world to overtake us, more often that not. Our day-to-day activities or duties can become an entrapment. I wrote a devotional about "Worry and just where it gets us." The answer to that in one word is nowhere! It only causes us pain and more worry and frustration. Then our problems tend to overflow onto everyone around us. Does our joy have the same effect? When we speak words of hope and love and joy how do others react? Oh, some 'pooh-pooh' what we say, but most often it is something that is contagious.

When we talk about our families are we happy, or are we full of unkind words and grumbling? I know that I can be a real wet blanket sometimes. Have you heard the saying "if momma ain't happy, ain't no one happy"? It is actually true. We, as women and mothers are the barometer of the home. When we allow things to get us down, or for Satan to rob us of our hope and joy, we may as well give up. We will not be able to make another move without great pain and sorrow.

We have security systems for our homes, our cars and even on our cell phones, but do we have security on our heart or minds? Perhaps it is time for all of us to think about this. I am preaching to the choir here, so I am just as interested in hearing what is next. In the scripture above it tells us that our hope comes from God, it then goes on to say that He alone is my rock and my salvation; my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge. Psalm 62:6-8

There we have it, our very own security system. Satan should have no access to our hope or us! We should have a sign posted in our 'front yard' claiming who our security company is.

Lord, teach me to rest and trust. I will let you be my security and guard my hope and joy. AMEN

Becki Reiser

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• UGLY
• GROSS
• USELESS
• TURNS PEOPLE AWAY
• FUNGUS
• NO GOOD PURPOSE

• UGLY
• GROSS
• USELESS
• TURNS PEOPLE AND GOD AWAY
• FAST GROWING
• NO GOOD

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Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ JesusI Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV

As I scrambled to find something to write, I looked at my inbox and thought surely something will speak to me.I looked at my facebook and thought is there a message here.

I have sent out messages out all day long, and I have prayed for people all day long. I would pick something up and it would make me think of a specific person, so I would pray for them. Somewhere today, I read a comment about a pastor praying for people in his church while he was driving. His comment: "I have about 200 miles worth!" I read another blog about grocery lists and prayer lists. Where is my priority? Is my prayer list as important as my grocery list?

I have two children in college and one already making his own way in this world. So, within the next two years I should have three children graduated from college and making their mark on the world. I wonder what kind of mark they will leave? I hope that my children will make a lasting mark. One that will be able to be measured in the kingdom of God. In reference to my devotional posted yesterday, I hope that my children will be prepared to work the harvest.

I live on a farm, so in my world harvesting is a very important thing. While we are not the ones that do the actual farming, I do pray for the yield. I pray for the farmer and I pray for the man that owns this farm. I know God put me right here in the middle of this beautiful place for many reasons. The first being for our healing. Our family went through a terrible tragedy nine years ago, and God knew the exact time we needed to make the move to this wonderful place. I am a city girl, and moving here was a complete change for me. It was a wonderful healing place for us.

The second, it made a difference in my thinking. I had the time to sit and think. It made a difference in my prayer life. It brought about so many things, but mostly it has made a difference in how I think about and look at things. It has made me realize that there are many people in this world that are going through tough times. Can I make a difference? I will pray for people all day long, if God leads me to speak to someone, I will do it. If the circumstances that I have been through will make a difference in someone's life, I will share it and pray with them or for them.

Am I obvious in my attempts to make a difference? I am trying to be more intentional to pray, to speak and to help people if I am able. Can people tell that there is something special about me and my attitude? Can they see Jesus? There is a goal for each one of us. Will people see Jesus when they look at you?

Lord, let me see everyone through Your eyes, and as everyone looks at me let them see just how much I resemble my Father! Amen

Becki Reiser

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He told them, "The harvest fields are plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest fields." Matthew 10:2 NIV

Harvesting is heavy on my mind this time of year. I love to can, and I certainly have plenty to do. I put out the biggest garden that I have ever done. My tomatoes are ready and I imagine that as you are reading this I will be up to my arm pits in tomatoes. My corn is literally ready to pop, my beans are coming to a finale... All this said to set up the actual story. As I pondered what to write, the Lord brought to mind what I have been doing for the past few weeks. Then He brought to mind the scripture posted above.

Several years ago, nine to be exact the song "Days of Elijah" was very popular. Today it is back on the charts as Twila Paris sings it. The message in that song is true no matter who sings it or how it is sung. The second verse is below:

These are the days of Ezekiel,
The dry bones becoming as flesh;
And these are the days of Your servant David,
Rebuilding the temple of praise.
These are the days of the harvest,
The fields are as white in the world,
And we are the laborers in the vineyard,
Declaring the word of the Lord.
Words and Music by Robin Mark

Needless to say, each and every time I hear this song I feel convicted. I realize that I take my garden seriously, but I fail to take the world seriously. I fail to take the Word of God seriously. What I mean is, do I live my life as a testimony? Would I be ready to help in the 'harvest' if God tapped me on the shoulder and said "Becki I need for you to help with the harvest". Actually, I should not be waiting for God to tap me on the shoulder, I should always live as though I am ready to help with the harvest. Am I ready? Or am I to busy with the mundane things of this life to care about the spiritual harvest? Yes, what I have to do in this world is a good thing, to garden and harvest, but where is my heart? Where is your heart? Are you ready for the harvest? Is your heart ready to be harvested? Have you toiled in the 'spiritual garden' to help prepare the soil, or to water, or weed?

Father, help me to remember that I may live in this world, and have to do all the things required everyday. More importantly, let me see the fields as they are ready, and be willing to go out to be a laborer and help with the yield. Amen

Becki Reiser

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Yesterday we had the distinct pleasure of serving. Yes, it was a pleasure, yes we did it with joy (a little less at the times when it rained). We offered ourselves up to be the hands of God to others. We attend a church that decided to close the church (the building) for the day, and go out into our community to serve. It was labeled "go- 09 Community Impact Day" We took the church outside the walls of the building, and took it to the lives of those that "we served. We stepped out of the pattern of the world, and transformed our minds into service. It makes you feel absolutely amazing. We think of serving as a 'chore' or something not pleasurable. Yet, when we step out of our comfort zones (out of our normal Sunday go to church routine) and step into the rolls of 'being the church' it changes your mindset.

I do not typically put pictures in the devotionals, but I want to give you an idea of how many were involved.

Here is our group minus three. I am taking the picture, and two of our group went to love on another family member when we were finished. Here we are... hot , sweaty, and wet. After we washed cars, swept them, washed the windows and cleaned the seats for our parents that are Senior citizens, or other Senior citizens that we know.

The back of the shirts say:

"The Church Has Left The Building"

And that is just what we did. There were probably between 1500-2000 people

within this community serving. Some worked at schools, some did construction repairs, some did yard work and the list goes on...

Is this what it means to offer ourselves as living sacrifices? Well, yes in some ways I believe it is truly that. We worked diligently, we worked together for one purpose. To be servants of the Most High God. Were we tired? You bet? Did we worry when the skies were dark with rain?

ABSOLUTELY! See the puddles?

But, after we began and really got into what we were doing, the skies began to clear. We were able to complete six cars, and sweep and clean the inside on another. Everyone was working unto the Lord.

I believe that as we did our jobs, that it was something that pleased God. It transformed our thoughts, it renewed our hearts toward God and to people.

What a privilege it is to serve!

Lord, help us to look forward to serving You. No matter how we do it. Help us to offer ourselves as living sacrifices, and to represent You to others! Amen

Below: A job done as unto the Lord!

Becki Reiser

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Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34

OK, I admit it I worry. And the Bible is right when it says that who of you can add one day to your life if you worry? (John 6:25) On my way home from work today I started fretting about the fact that I was going to have to write another devotional for this site. It is such a blessing to be a part of this ministry, but when I have to keep posting my own stuff, it can become intimidating. I worry about the fact that people will get tired of reading my postings. But, nonetheless I am writing again.

Then, after worrying about that, I begin to worry about a million other things. Like our business. We are having issues with our business since the economy has taken a 'dive'. Then when we do get work, we have mistakes that can take hours to correct, and of course those hours are not free. I worry about having the funds to send our two boys to college. We have had one graduate and has a wonderful job, but we still have two that need to finish. I pray Lord, you know what we are facing. We have tuition for two boys, and not a lot put towards it. I know that You have everything under control, but Lord classes are going to begin soon.

Then I worry about finding the right publisher for my book, and I worry about it being good enough. So, I try my hand at bargaining with God. Lord help me to get this finished, help it to be blessing.. and so on.

Then when I get to the end of my day and I realize that God has most assuredly gotten me through that day, I am alive, I have a place to live and food to eat. We have work, even if it may not be a lot. Our two boys that are in school have had summer jobs and are making money to put towards school, and we are healthy for the most part. What has my worry accomplished? Not a thing except for making me tired. It has not increased my faith, it has not added one day to my life. The best thing that I can say that it has done is that it has driven me to my knees on many occasions!

What do you do when you worry? Where does it get you?

I know. Let's pray!

Jesus, help me to cast all of my cares upon You. I know that I do not have all of the answers but You do! Teach me to trust and to rest in You. Amen

Becki Reiser

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God is our refuge and our strength, and ever present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose stream make glad the city of God the holy place where the Most High dwells God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at the break of day. Psalm 46:1-5 NIV

Do you see it? Are you able to view things from under the fog you are in? I have been in that place far more often than I would like to admit. Things that discourage me and cause me to simply want to give up and walk away. I sometimes feel as though all I ever do is walk over that same mountain range. Day in and day out. It feels like I will never get to the end and walk on flat land again.

Have you ever been that discouraged? C'mon admit it! Be honest.

This morning when I woke up after yet another trip across that mountain range, I received this scripture from one of my sons. He sent it to me in a very simple e-mail. Then he said "I love you" . Isn't it amazing how those three little words can speak volumes? I received them from my son, but as I write this I realize that they were from God! The above scripture is the reference my son sent. He knows me well. He knows that when my heart is fearful, when I am feeling overwhelmed that I need to be reminded that God is with me, and that I will not fall. That He will help me at the break of the day! Yes my friends, God is! And more than that, He loves you! (and me)

Lord, once again I realize that Your word is ever true. That You do care and You do carry me through the rough times, across those mountains. Help me to see You in those mountains. Amen

Becki Reiser

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Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. 1 John 3:2 (NIV)

When I was in fifth and sixth grade I was in a math class where the teacher seated the students in order of their intelligence. Really, it's true! Having taught my cousins in years past, she recognized the last name. Because of that, she had already decided my fate. I would be seated in the dreaded "dumb row". She would look over the top of her glasses and peer down the row with disgust on her face. I was so thankful I wasn't in the very front seat; I was about the fourth seat back.

In my mind that experience labeled me for life. I always felt inept and dumb. I could not get beyond the dumb row mentality. How can that affect you? When seeds are planted, they grow. Maybe not well, but they try. According to the type of soil in which they are planted is how they will grow. My seeds grew spindly and weak, no light and no water except for the sweat being whisked from the brows of the smart people. I never received nourishment.

Have you been labeled by someone? Have you yourself been guilty of labeling? To what have you been associated? I know that the most important association I will ever have is my "Heavenly Father". That is one name I desire to be associated with. My seating in His classroom has me at the front of the smart row where air, light and water are abundant.

Father, I am so thankful that my name is in your book, that I am included in your family, and that you have provided everything I need to live, grow and be nourished, and to make smart choices.

Becki Reiser

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"Becki, what are you doing?" My mother asked as I stood at the back screen door with my eyes crossed. "I'm thinking" I replied. Wondering what a six-year-old could possibly be thinking about with that kind of an expression on her face was puzzling. I can't remember if she asked me what I was thinking about or not, but I do remember thinking about the screen of all things. I was looking at the tiny little squares in the screen and I was studying them so intensely that my eyes were crossed because I was standing only inches away.

Have you ever been thinking about something so intently that your eyes were crossed as though trying to look inward? Maybe that is something we should do, or do more often. Have we looked inward lately? What is God drawing our attention to?

I have a critical spirit when looking at myself. I can find so many things wrong, and criticize every detail of my life. Who needs a critic when I am so good at it? I have a low self esteem, as do so many other people.

How does God look at us? Does He see all of the flaws that we see? Do we 'measure' ourselves by the same rule of measure that God does? How do I measure up? What am I using to govern my life? What am I thinking about? Do I make sure that I have a pure heart and clean hands?

Lord, help me to remember that you look at my heart and I am measured by that, not by what I look like, or how others look at me.

Becki Reiser

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As I stood in the shower pouring out my heart to God asking Him "God where were You when Liz needed You, You could have stopped this from happening!" In the quietness of the moment, I heard with more my heart than with my ears, "I was the same place I was when My Son died".

I felt so humbled, embarrassed even. How could I possibly forget that God lost a child just like I did? Then, last night as I sat through one of the GriefShare groups that I facilitate I once again heard those words come from the mouth of someone else. It wrenched my heart. As Easter is almost here it reminded me of the sacrifice God made in sending His Son to earth to die for our sins.

I am still in awe of just what Jesus did for us, for you, and for me. I know me and in my opinion I'm not at all worth dying for. I am so glad that God did not leave that particular decision to me. However; the decision that He did leave for me is whether I choose to accept the forgiveness offered because of Jesus death and resurrection! Salvation is very real, and very necessary. In Acts 4:12 it says And there is salvation in and through no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by and in which we must be saved. (Amp.)

How could a God that is so loving, so wise, freely give a Son to die for us? I personally cannot imagine having to give up another child for someone's salvation. Matter of fact I have told God as much. When Liz died I saw so many lives change. There were people at Liz's funeral that heard a salvation message given and responded to it. People were seeing their need for a savior, and making decisions for Christ. That is all except for some people in my family. It did nothing for them. They are not one step closer to heaven now, than they were before Liz died. How is it even possible? I truly do not want to give up another child before they see their need for salvation. Yet, God in His infinite wisdom sent His only son to earth for that exact purpose!

So where was God when my daughter needed Him most? God was in heaven, preparing a place for us to live when our life ends here on this earth. Yet He was also at her side comforting her as no one else could.

Lord, help me to trust that You are right where I need for You to be, and always there for me. Thank You for sending Your Son to this world to die for our sins. Amen

Becki Reiser

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I am not a fan of winter. Matter of fact, it almost feels as though as winter approaches I want to curl up and crawl into my cocoon. I love the holidays, but other than that I have no use for winter. I get depressed and feel like doing nothing. I don't like the bland landscape, bare trees and most assuredly I do not like the snow. It represents death, nothingness in my mind, just bleak skies and dull colors along with cold temperatures. It leaves me with chills and the thought to hide.

SPRING! Aaaaahhhh, now you're beginning to speak in a manner that I enjoy. I love spring. I love all that spring brings with it and the fact that it is a forerunner to summer. I don't much care for the spring rains which leave the landscape muddy, and still somewhat brown, but the wonderful smells that come with those spring rains are something I almost crave. I know that under all that mud there are green shoots anxious to pop through the dirt. Simply knowing what will happen makes me happy.

I like summer the best of all. I appreciate the times when I can throw open the windows and feel the warm almost tropical breezes coming through the windows, but with summer comes those horrible summer storms, tornadoes and so on, but I am willing to put up with those just to have those wonderful warm summer days. Full bloom beautiful flower... life!

Then there is fall. I love the colors of fall and the harvest. I have decorations out for every season but the fall decorations are by far the most vivid and colorful. But, with the fall comes the end of the growing season, and the leaves coming off the trees, and no more flowers. I think you get the picture.

Winter is soon here.

I have heard our spiritual lives compared to the seasons. For me, I must go through more seasons than we actually have. I have a 'spring', where I have a spring in my spiritual step, I am happy as the Lord speaks small things that are planted into my heart, and they begin to take root. I love watching them grow. Then I have summer. My summer consists of the time when I see my heart in full bloom. Living in the truths of what God has spoken into my life, bearing fruit. I feel so alive and like I am contributing to everything around me. Then fall. I enjoy the harvest, watching the things or people that God has been able to change, grow, and now come to fruition. Watching how people respond to the seasons in their lives. Winter. I still do not like winter. I feel as though I am doing nothing. I am not experiencing God; I am not budding, blooming or even ready for harvest. I am simply there. Perhaps God is speaking to me loud and clear that now is the time I need to rest. Rest in Him and trust that in that time of nothingness, He is preparing the soil of my spirit. It needs to be replenished, revitalized. But to receive that rest, and time to absorb I must sit and wait.

I feel as though I am emerging from a long winter. Do you? Have you gone through a time of nothingness? Where you do not feel particularly useful in the body of Christ? Seeing the buds on the trees outside my window right now gives me great hope. Seeing the buds of something wonderful in my heart, and knowing that soon those buds will bloom just as my spirit will, gives me assurance!

Lord, I thank you that even when it seems that there is nothing to see, when it feels like no life it visible, that You can take those times and prepare the soil of my soul for spring! Help me to trust You that spring will come again.

Becki Reiser

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As I matured into a college student attending a Christian college, I just knew that while I was there, God was going to do something in me. I did not realize that I needed to be an active participant. I would sit back and watch other classmates and wonder where their faith was, or how their faith was so different than mine. I was so determined that I was going to find the desires of my heart at that place. As I watched others around me I could see so many people that were serving the Lord with vigor, and in the very same room or office I would see people that were only there because it was necessary. What kind of a person was I? Again I was one of those people that had started out so excited to be at a place where people really wanted to be, where they were serving God. I soon realized that most of those people were much the same as I was. A lot of them were 'acting' out the part, while another group was trying desperately to make a name for them selves. My whole world was rocked to see that. I realized that there were a lot of people including myself that did not see their faith as something real but, just as something to say they believed.

Then there was a group of people that were rarely seen you only heard about them. They were the people that were in the background, they were the people that were the prayer warriors the people not seeking anything other than God Himself. Quietly serving God, and serving everyone that was there within that ministry through prayer. People that were making a difference, they had a peace because they were called to be there to serve the Lord with all their heart. They had FAITH.

As I look at my life now, I see all of the stages that I have gone through and just wonder what God is going to be able to do with me? Do I really want to serve God, and what is my motive? Do I want to be seen by those around me, just acting a certain way or do I want to be one of those that are hidden in the background, one that is called and SERVING, with a faith that is real. Am I being a person that is trying to live faith, or am I a person that is trying to shake and test someone elses' faith?

When my faith needs stimulated or shaken, God tends to do that several ways. It is typically through trials for me. I have been shaken down to my core at times, and my faith has gone from something the size of a mustard seed, to the size of the rock of Gibraltar. As I see God moving in me, and changing me, my faith grows. No, I do not like the trials. I do not like being forced do anything, but sometimes God has to force me to look at what I have become. I am lazy, lethargic, and sedentary. My faith is not shaking, it does not exist. I want my faith to move. I want it to shake me as it grows. I want it to be real, to know it is alive.

Where is your faith? How would you describe it? Is it something that is real? Is it moving and growing, or has it turned into sand, simply blowing away each time the wind blows? Think about it? Do you have unshakable faith, where it stands as a rock not to be blown away, or is your faith like the sand dunes always being blown around, never fully formed?

Lord, show me the way to walk in faith, to yield to Your leading and to trust You as I do the things You have shown me to do. Amen

Becki Reiser

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