By Joe Widick
Back in the early 70’s, Elaine and I lived in an old farm house that we simply referred to as the “house on the hill.” It was cold in the winter and hot in the summer. I remember during the winter months one year that Elaine went to wash a load of baby diapers. After washing the diapers she placed them in the dryer and turned it on. There was an awful rattling sound and the forlorn cry for help. When I got to the room where the dryer was, I too realized it was a sound that dryers normally do not make. That is about as far as my mechanical skills took me. All I could think was another repair bill and how will we be able to afford it. What were we going to do? Fortunately for us, my father-in-law was able to come out and discover that the unusual rattling was dog food that the mice had been storing in the dryer.
I would imagine that all of us could swap stories about how difficult it was at one time in our lives to make ends meet. We wondered where we were going to get the money to pay this bill or that, and when something unexpected came up, we really struggled. Time changes things, we grow, we mature, we learn to save for rainy days, and we even make a little more money. Has that ever happened to you, and as it does, has it changed you. As you grow and become somewhat more successful, do you tend to assume that you deserve your possessions? Success goes to our head. We become somewhat proud and even begin to turn away from God. Has our attitude become look what I have done, what I have accomplished, what I now have in my possession.
In Deuteronomy 9, we read of God’s reminder to Israel about the reason they would be successful. God wanted His people to remember that He was leading them into the land to fulfill His purpose and promises. They would succeed because of Him, not because of their own righteousness. “The Lord your God is not giving you this land to possess because of your righteousness…” Deuteronomy 9:6. God in his infinite wisdom knew that the Israelites would be tempted to become ungrateful after they were prospering in the Promised Land. As we have grown somewhat more prosperous, have we forgotten the one from whom all blessings flow? Ungratefulness is a temptation for us today. If our endeavors are successful, let’s make sure we are thankful to God for His goodness, help and protection. We don’t need more to be thankful for, we just need to be more thankful.
Prayer Thought: Thank you Lord for good times as well as bad. Help me always to remember you are the giver of all good and perfect gifts.
By Joe Widick
I have gotten into the habit of re-reading all the old Peanuts cartoon strips in the paper. There is a simple humor about the characters that Charles Shultz developed. The first Peanuts strip ran in 1950. In February of 2000 after 17,897 comic strips, the series came to an end. Recently there was one in the Democrat that caught my attention. Snoopy is looking up into the sky and is communicating with his friend Woodstock. Snoopy says “You have? You’ve actually flown above the clouds?” In the next frame, Snoopy continues and says; “Wow! What was it like?” In the final frame Woodstock mumbles something to snoopy (I guess in animal talk). Snoopy responds, “Well you shouldn’t have closed your eyes.”
I believe there are a number of things that we are blind to in our life. We hurry from place to place and never take the time to open our eyes to see the beauty that is around us. Maybe it is a scarlet red maple tree that we drive by every day. It might be a beautiful sunset as the clouds disappear just at the right time to allow the sun to set in all of beautiful glory. There are times when you could slow down and watch the birds gather around your bird feeder and enjoy the meal that you have left for them. There are countless items that we seem to be blind to, or have seemingly have our eyes closed just like Woodstock.
As important as it is to keep our eyes open to the beauty and might of God’s wonderful creation, it is even more import to keep our eyes open to the word of God. To know and understand what God’s will is for each of us. Wouldn’t it be a shame to go through life with our eyes closed to the wonderful teaching of God’s word. It is in God’s word, the Bible that we can gain strength to face another day. II Thessalonians 3:3 tells us “But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.” When I know that I can face the day with renewed optimism, it gives me an entirely different outlook on life. If I closed my eyes to that simple truth, imagine what I would be missing. What would my life be if I closed it to the truths of Romans 15:4; “For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Isn’t it wonderful to be able to read the beloved stories of the Bible and receive encouragement so that I can have hope. As we go through life, let each of us resolve to keep our eyes open not only to the beauties around us, but also to the comfort that we can find in God’s word.
Prayer Thought: Thank you Lord for giving me the opportunity to open my eyes and see all you have done for me.
By Joe Widick
What a joy it is to be able to come on Sunday morning and worship at Maple Hill. I hope you can say an “amen” when you read that statement. This past Sunday Elaine and I had our granddaughter Faith sitting with us during worship. Being 7 years old, I know that she does not understand all that is going on during our worship service. She did something Sunday that caught my attention and made me begin to think. She proudly filled out the attendance card for her family in second grade print. At the bottom of the attendance card is a place to put “Notes to the Leaders.” Once again in second grade print, she wrote “I Love Church.” Being one of the church leaders, I know that the card did not make it back around to the elders which is OK. It was probably discarded as simply the writings of a little girl.
Do I love church? No let me change that; do we love church!?” We are old enough to understand what is taking place when we gather together on Sunday Morning. We are old enough to know what this is all about. Do we love what we are doing, or are we simply going through the motions of worship. Is our worship heartfelt or simply a ritual? Do we Love Church?
There is a lot to be said about the sweetness and innocence of a child. Our old world has a way of many times changing that sweetness and innocence. What was once an important part of our lives can change quickly. My prayer will always be that our Faith along with your child, grandchild, niece or nephew will always love church. That it will be something they look forward to. We want them to always enjoy going to Bible classes and participating in the activities of church. We want them to be able to grow old and have fond memories of growing up in church. We want them to have a family one day and instill the same values in their children. What a richer and better world we would live in if we can maintain this love for church in our children.
On one occasion Jesus was asked as question by a teacher of the law. The question simply was; “Of all the commandments, which is the most important? Christ responded by saying; “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” Once we get in our minds the importance of this great command, it will make a difference in our lives. Maybe just maybe, we will be able to fill out our attendance card and say with a childlike simplicity “I love church!”
Prayer Thought: How me to grow in my love for the body of Christ.
By Landon Roeder
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By Joe Widick
I am not a top level executive or a CPA at tax time. I do not run a huge successful business. What do these three professions have in common? They demand a lot of time! People in these positions find themselves in a hurry from daylight to dark. I may not have one of these position, but like you I feel that too many times I am in a hurry. Are you so rushed during the day that you find it hard to take even a few minutes with God? Many people set aside time in the early morning before they get caught up in the hectic pace of the day. I recently read of a man who did exactly this! He is as busy a man as you would want to meet, yet he finds time for giving the day a spiritual jump-start. His name is Dr. Ben Carson, chief of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center. This is a position he assumed in 1984 when he was only 33 years old.
Listen to what this doctor had to say about putting spiritual matters first in the morning. “I’ve found that having a morning ritual—meditation or some quiet reading time—can set the tone for the whole day. Every morning, I spend a half-hour reading the Bible, especially the book of Proverbs. There is so much wisdom there. During the day, if I encounter a frustrating situation, I think back to one of the verses that I read that morning.”
In January of 2007, I put out the first of what will eventually be 12 monthly Bible reading schedules. If successfully followed, one will be able to read through the Bible in 2007. I wish we could get comments from all those who have been successful in reading the Bible this year. I would guess that for many it has become the jump start for the day. For others it might be the peace and solitude at the end of day. Whenever you read, I know that you have been blessed, not because of the schedule, but because of what you read.
Jesus faced busy days filled with demanding crowds of people. Seemingly everywhere he turned there was another need and a demand on his time. In Mark’s gospel we read, “In the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.” Will you not join me and many others at Maple Hill and take time to read God’s Word and pray? Try it in the morning. It will transform your day. Let each of us strive to let Christ be first in our thoughts in the morning and last in our thoughts at night.
Prayer Thought. Encourage me to be more diligent in my reading of God’s word.
