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Friday, April 23, 2010

God Winks

Praise the Lord! How wonderfully He showed his love for me... Psalms 31:21

Since it was getting close to Memorial Day I wanted to get the flowers planted at home, as well as at the cemetery. I knew I had bitten off more than I could chew, but I started out with enthusiasm. But my enthusiasm was in low gear by the time I had finished putting in the last of the flowers at the cemetery.

Hot and exhausted, I gathered up the sprinkling cans and started over to the water faucet. I was about half way there when I noticed a sign hanging on the handle. As I got closer I read, "Water available at the north end of the cemetery. Sorry for your inconvenience." I have no sense of direction, but it was clear; I wasn't at the "north end" of the cemetery.

With a super pail in one hand, and a sprinkling can in the other, I headed for my car. As I walked, I started to whine to the Lord about my situation. In jest I said, "Boy, it would sure be nice Lord, if someone would show up here with some water."

As I was about to put the pail and sprinkling can in the car, a van drove up. A man got out with two sprinkling cans and a big smile. He looked at me and said, "Here I am at your service!" I stood there speechless. Since I wasn't responding the man said cheerfully, "Well, where do you want me to put this water?" With tears in my eyes I choked out the words, "Up on my son Todd's grave would be wonderful. Thank you."

Today I was watching Joyce Meyer's "Enjoying Everyday Life" program. Joyce called these moments "Winks from God." I certainly felt that God had shown His love for me and had given me a wink and a smile that day.

Help us Father to recognize the "winks" you send our way each day. Amen

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Tuesday, March 16, 2010

I'm Just Looking

Pray that you will not fall into temptation. Luke 22:40

There was a lot of new home construction going on in our neighborhood. As you might well imagine, this construction was quite fascinating for little boys.

One day I was taking my daily walk when I heard a young mother yell, "Joey, what are you doing?" I looked around to see if I could locate the little guy. Lo and behold I did see him. Joey was standing on top of a mound of dirt looking down into a newly dug basement.Joey yelled back, "I'm just looking, Mom! I'm not looking for trouble!"Now seeing Joey standing on top of this mound of dirt, Joey's Mom ran out of the house to help him come down, before he fell in the hole.

I smiled at Joey's response. He didn't think he was "looking for trouble," but his mother could see that it was very possible that Joey may be in trouble with just a slip of his little foot.

How often do we think we are "just looking" when in reality we may be "looking for trouble?"

In the garden, Jesus said to the disciples twice to Pray that you will not fall into temptation. Luke 22:40 and again in Luke 22:45. Jesus knew that the disciples were about to be standing on top of a situation where they might fall. Jesus wanted them to pray that they would not fall into temptation. Why? Because Jesus wanted to save them from the hurt that the fall would cause.

I think we all know the story. Peter denied Jesus, and the others ran away when they were on top of the situation. They did not pray ahead of time, but fell asleep instead. The emotional hurt they felt was very real.

We may not think that trouble could be around the corner when we are on top of the hill. We may think we are "just looking," not knowing that there could be trouble if we fell.

I believe that if we are wise, we will remember the words of Jesus: "Pray that you will not fall into temptation," even though we may think that we are "just looking" and "not looking for trouble."

Prayer: Father, help me to remember to pray ahead of time so that I will avoid the hurt that a fall would cause. Amen


Kay Heitsch



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