Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen

Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen

Facing Your Kidron Valley

By Judy Vandiver

© Judy Vandiver 2010

Have you ever found yourself in a difficult spot or situation? I’m sure you have. We all have. And when we find ourselves in something that is foreign to us, we think it is foreign to all mankind and perhaps even to God.

How easy is it to believe that no one before you has seen the kind of problems you are experiencing? There is an old spiritual that says, “Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen. Nobody knows my sorrows.”

People have made this kind of complaint for thousands of years. Look at a passage from the Old Testament. This is during the Israelites wandering in the desert:

That night all the people of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. ² All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert! ³ Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” ⁴ And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” (Numbers 14: 1-4 NIV).

When these same people had been slaves in Egypt, they thought that trouble was unbearable with no way out. Held as slaves, they worked hard, but Pharaoh was not satisfied. He ordered them to make bricks without straw. When the Israelites couldn’t meet their quota, they were beaten. “You have made us a stench to Egypt,” they said. Can you hear their voices, “Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen.” Can you hear them crying in the desert? “Nobody knows my sorrows.”

Let’s move forward a little in the Bible to 2 Samuel chapter 15 where King David is being pursued by his son, Absalom. As he flees, his kingdom followed him. At one point, he stepped aside and let them pass. Verse 15:23 tells us, “The whole countryside wept aloud as all the people passed by. The king also crossed the Kidron Valley, and all the people moved on toward the desert.” Again the Israelites are headed for the desert and again they are in distress, weeping aloud. 

The Kidron Valley the Israelites crossed lay beside Jerusalem separating the temple mount and the city of David on the west from the Mount of Olives on the east. The Kidron Valley was a gloomy place; cemeteries have been located in this area since the middle Bronze Age (before 1500 b.c). Some Bible references refer to a brook that ran through the Valley. This brook became more of a ditch where the waste of Jerusalem was carried away. Not only did King David cross the brook when he fled Jerusalem to escape from Absalom (2 Sam. 15:23), but later Solomon warned Shimei not to cross it or he would die (1 Kings 2:37). This is the place where certain kings of Judah destroyed idols and other pagan objects removed from the temple area (1 Kings 15:13; 2 Kings 23:4, 6, 12; 2 Chron. 29:16; 30:14).[i]

Do you often have your own Kidron Valley? Have you ever been in a place filled with gloom? A place where physical or spiritual death surrounded you? A place where you cry, “Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen. Nobody knows my sorrow.”

Let’s move further ahead in the Bible to the book of John. The Scripture says, “When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was an olive grove, and he and his disciples went into it.” (John 18:1 NIV). Jesus had to go through the Kidron Valley to get to the Mount of Olives. And he truly faced something no one had faced before or since. He was about to give His life in ransom for the entire world. The cross became his ultimate Kidron Valley and he went there willingly. Just as when Jesus physically crossed the Kidron Valley and came out in the olive grove, He also emerged victorious on the other side of the cross.

In a devotional by Charles Spurgeon, he asks, “What is our Kidron this morning? Is it a faithless friend, a sad bereavement, a slanderous reproach, a dark foreboding? The King has passed over all these. Is it bodily pain, poverty, persecution, or contempt? Over each of these Kidrons the King has gone before us.”[ii]

I can’t leave you with today’s devotional without telling you the rest of that old spiritual. The song goes on to say, “Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen. Nobody knows my sorrow. Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen. Nobody but Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!”

As you face whatever Kidron Valley lies before you, trust that even if no one else knows the trouble you are going through, Jesus knows. He cares. He’s been to your Kidron. He’ll carry you through to the olive grove.   

Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen-Facing Your Kidron Valley; © Judy Vandiver 2010

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[i] Brand, C., Draper, C., England, A., Bond, S., Clendenen, E. R., Butler, T. C., & Latta, B. (2003). Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (983). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

[ii] Spurgeon, C. H. (2006). Morning and evening : Daily readings (Complete and unabridged; New modern edition.). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers.

The Day Texas Exploded

The Day Texas Exploded

By Judy Vandiver

Tomorrow marks the 63rd anniversary of a tragic event. 

It was a picturesque morning with promises of a beautiful spring.  The sun rose above the horizon across the bay tickling the water with wavy shimmers.  The seaside community was beginning their work day in chemical plants, the docks and small business scattered throughout the growing boomtown, grateful for work.   Fathers had left home a few hours earlier carrying their lunch pails.   Mothers kissed their children goodbye and sent them off to school.   Children laughed as they skipped on their journey to their classes, stopping to enjoy the smell of the crisp salt air.   Everything was as it should be in Texas City, Texas.   Then Texas exploded.

It was April 16, 1947.  A ship was being loaded at the docks with ammonium nitrate.  There had been warning signs; signs that went unheeded.   The ammonium nitrate bags were hot to the touch, the bags were ripping and the ship’s hold they were being moved to sat close to ammunition that wasn’t unloaded when scheduled.  

Spontaneous combustion occurred in the ammonium nitrate bags and a fire broke out in the ship’s cargo area.  Attempts to douse the fire with drinking water were unsuccessful.  Within minutes the ship exploded, sending a mushroom shaped cloud skyward, blocking out the rays of the sun.  

Across the bay, Galveston residents watched as the sky grew increasingly darker.  The blast was heard as far away as 150 miles.  A seismologist in Colorado noted the vibrations on his instruments.  News of the explosion soon traveled around the world.  But the effects went much further.  The effects went deep into the souls that survived the raining hell.  

Over 500 died that morning on the Texas City shore.  Some were never identified.  For 63 years, family members have wondered what happened to their loved ones.  Remaining survivors are now in their 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s.  Some carry scars on their bodies.  All carry scars on their hearts. 

xxx

This story has meaning to me because warning signs were ignored.  I think sometimes in our lives we dismiss signals that something is not as it should be.  We continue merrily along only to discover that our world has been blown apart.   We traverse into danger zones; we disregard God’s forewarning that something is hot; and we try to handle the consequences with inadequate fighting power.  The catastrophe may end, but the results stay with us forever. 

Partnership with Readers

Partnership with Readers

By Judy Vandiver

© 2010 Judy Vandiver

Today’s blog continues from where we left off last week in Philippians.

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.3I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, (Philippians 1:2-5 NIV)

Paul considered his writing a partnership his readers. He didn’t consider himself better than his target audience. He didn’t write “down” to them. In effect, he was saying, “Hey, we’re all in this life together.” Then he shared what he had learned in order to help someone else.

Whether writing fiction or non-fiction, it is important to treat your readers with respect. Give them credit for understanding what you write. Don’t over-explain what should be obvious and don’t beat them up with the moral message or theme of your work. When I come across a passage in a book where the author explains to me what they mean, I feel insulted that they didn’t think I was smart enough to “get it.” As an author, if I feel the need to explain something I wrote, perhaps I need to rewrite it.

Another way that authors tend to write down to their readers is with finger pointing. When an author continually tells a reader what “the reader” should do, it can come across as preachy. Be careful of the word “you.” Try substituting “I” or “we” when possible. By pointing out our faults and relating with the reader, we enter into a partnership with them.

Below is an example of how Paul partnered himself with his readers. Notice how he describes his own desires, shortcomings, and thoughts. He then gives advice to the reader, but does so by including himself needy of the instructions he gives them.

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained. (Philippians 3:10:16 NIV)

In partnering with our readers, we can help them identify with us, take our message in a non-preachy fashion, and apply spiritual truths that God has laid on our hearts.

Partnership with Readers / © 2010 Judy Vandiver

Taking Aim with Your Words

Taking Aim with Your Words

By Judy Vandiver

©2010 Judy Vandiver 

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: (Philippians 1:1 NIV)

Today’s blog is centered around Paul’s opening words in his letter to the Philippians. Another tip on writing can be found when we study the writing style laid out in Philippians 1:1. Notice that Paul wrote to a specific audience. His target audience was saints in the city of Philippi. While it’s true that over the last twenty centuries many people not from Philippi have been blessed by Paul’s letter, he kept his target audience in his mind as he wrote. By constantly remembering those who would be recipients of his letter, he was able to address specific needs.

It is important as writers for us to identify our target audience, then address the needs of that audience. When we write to one person or group, our writing becomes more personal. It’s a matter of addressing a specific need rather than trying to write one manuscript that is the end-all for the world’s problems. If your target audience is too wide, your words are likely to hit no one at their point of need.

By writing to a target audience and focusing on a particular need, we are able, with God’s help, to craft our words and focus our aim on one specific point of attack by Satan. This is how Paul constructed his letter to the Philippians. He addressed one area of vulnerability at a time. He didn’t try to take Satan out with a world-class explosion. He steadied himself, took aim at one demon at a time, and picked them off like a well-trained sharp-shooter.

Because the saints at Philippi were humans, we identify with their needs. So Paul’s letter continues to reach people and speak to people today. Most of the needs of our target audience are probably universal. While we may write something that appeals to a wider circle than our target audience, it is the writing to individual needs, problems, and attacks that make the writing personal to our readers.

So, choose your audience. Focus on a specific need. Take aim. By narrowing the focus, our words can knock out the enemy on one attack level at a time.

©2010 Judy Vandiver

God Speaks to Writers Today

God Speaks to Writers Today

By Judy Vandiver

©2010 Judy Vandiver

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. (1 John 1:1 NIV)

The disciple John wrote the above verse approximately fifty years after Christ’s resurrection. Because many new believers had not witnessed Jesus’ miracles first hand, commitment had waned. John wrote this letter to be circulated among the churches, to encourage them in their walk and strengthen their belief.

What John wrote is still being read and serving its purpose 2,000 years later. As writers, it will serve us well to look at how he went about constructing this letter.

Two things pop out at me in verse one. The first is that John is writing from a firsthand experience. He’s telling the reader what he knows. As a Christian writer proclaiming God’s love and grace, I had better make sure I’ve experienced that myself. If I’m going to convince readers that faith in God is real, I had better be walking in faith. If I’m going to proclaim that prayer works, I need to be a praying Christian.

John wrote about what he knew, what he had experienced. Writers are told all the time to write what you know. It stands to reason that if you are going to write about Christ, you must know Christ. Not that you KNEW Christ—but that you KNOW him.

The second gem for writers that I discovered in this verse is John’s plan for his writing. He understood that he needed to have his readers experience what he had experienced. He would do this by telling what he had heard, what he had seen, and what he had touched.

Contemporary books on writing remind writers repeatedly to use the senses to convey their message to the reader. John knew this and relied on his senses to convey his experiences.

I can tell my reader that God speaks today or I can tell them the message I have heard through Bible reading, through a pastor, through the testimony of a reformed drug user. I may tell them how God whispered to me in my despair or how he is shouting to a declining nation.

And do I write to my readers that God heals or do I tell them about my dad’s cancer? How I watched as his body declined and wasted away; how he could no longer stand on his own. Do I inspire my reader to believe that God heals when I describe how my healthy, vivacious, optimistic dad now rises early each day and volunteers as a morning greeter for a local Christian school? How at age 80, he has a bounce in his steps that is envied by those less than half his age?

Will I tell my readers that God provides or will I describe how my hands, shaking from hunger, gripped the firm roundness of each can of vegetables as I pulled one after another from a sack of groceries left on our door?

Yes, I think John gives good advice and a model for writers. Tell your reader what you’ve heard, seen, and felt. Do this so that they, too, may believe.

God Speaks to Writers Today ©2010 Judy Vandiver
http:/www.judyvandiver.com

What a Wise Man

What a Wise Man

By Judy Vandiver

© copyright 2009 Judy Vandiver

As I’ve been studying scriptures surrounding the birth of Jesus, I have become intrigued by the man Jesus called Daddy. The scriptures don’t give us a lot of information about Joseph, but what is recorded says much about his faith.

Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us."

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. (Matthew 1:19-25 NIV)

Two things I admire the most about Joseph are his faith and his obedience. He was obviously a man quite like one of his ancestors, King David, as he appeared to be a man after God’s heart. While the above verses mention that Joseph did not want to expose Mary to public disgrace, he made himself, instead, a person to be ridiculed. I imagine he suffered his own type of disgrace.

Recently one of my great-nieces was visiting her “mimi” and stated that the nativity scene was set up wrong. “Joseph is with the wise men, and he was not a wise man,” she said. Such an innocent statement, but I wondered how many times Joseph was told that very thing. How many people told him he was unwise in taking Mary to be his wife, caring for her and her child, not knowing who the father was?

It’s easy to see from scripture that Joseph had his own doubts. But, as a man of belief, he accepted the words from an angel of the Lord. He had to be wiser than many people gave him credit for. He was wise enough to recognize that the angel was a heavenly messenger. He was wise enough to know that the only path for him was in being obedient to the Lord. He was wise enough to be counted as righteous through the ages.

We know so little of Joseph, and we know so much about Joseph. He was a man of faith, an obedient follower of God, and a very wise man.

© copyright 2009 Judy Vandiver

The Christmas Clock

The Christmas Clock

A True Story

By Judy Vandiver

      Little “Dude,” as his family called him, watched his mother as she stood in front of the mercantile admiring the beautiful eight-day striking wooden clock. She stared at it for a few moments, shook her head at the five dollar price tag then turned and walked away. It was in the late 1930’s, Christmas was coming and Dude wanted to buy that clock for his mother.

      One thing, however, stood in his way. Money. It wasn’t that he didn’t have enough money to buy the clock. It was that he didn’t have any money.

      A few days later Clay, a neighboring country boy, asked Dude if he had ever thought of selling his gun. Dude thought of how precious his Benjamin pump rifle was to him. He’d finally been deemed old enough to have a gun. It was an old one that his dad had found for him. He’d put his own mark on it. It wasn’t anything fancy, but it was his.

      He used that gun to shoot a squirrel or rabbit and was always rewarded with a smile from his mother when he helped contribute to the dinner pot. But today, Dude could only think of the look in his mother’s eyes as she had wistfully looked in the store window.

      “I’ll take five dollars for it,” he said.

      “Five dollars? You must be crazy. I’ll give ya three bucks for it,” Clay said.

      “Five dollars.” That’s all Dude would say.

      Clay left, but returned a few days later. “I’ll give ya three fifty for that rifle,” he said.

      “Five dollars,” Dude answered.

      After several more days of trying to negotiate at four and four fifty, Clay returned with five dollars.

      Dude sold him the gun, then he went to town and bought the beautiful wooden clock in the store window.

      Christmas morning, when his mother opened her present, she cried. Together they hung the clock on the wall of her country kitchen.

      His older brothers always said they hated the clock.  “’cause Mama knew when we were coming in late.”

      So, when Mama died many years later, they all insisted that Dude have the clock. He carefully removed it from the wall of the old homestead and took it to his house. He hung it in his kitchen and thought of his Mama each time he passed it.

      Dude had demonstrated true love that Christmas. He was more concerned with what might make someone else happy than what he wanted for himself. He had acted upon a verse his mother had shared with him from John 13:35 when Jesus said, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

      As Dude grew up, his life was one that continually showed people the love he had for them, always putting others before himself. His home became a place where family, friends and sometimes strangers could find a place to rest their head at night. He sometimes worked two or three jobs to help put food on his table and still be able to give a little something to someone else.

      He once heard of a man traveling across the United States, hand pulling a wagon. He was told that the man would stop from time to time in an area to work odd jobs, earn a little money, tell people about Jesus and move on. And, neighbors said, he was camped just outside town.

      That night, as a chilly winter storm blew in, Dude got in his pickup truck, drove around until he found the man and his wagon and brought him to his home. He and his wife, made the man comfortable in a small guest room. They cared for, visited with and fed the man for several days. Once the storm passed through, the old man was on his way, with a few extra dollars from Dude and his wife.

      I know a lot of people say everyone is only after what they can get for themselves these days, but there are lots of “Dudes” in our world.

      I heard of a woman in our town who is encountering difficulties raising three grandsons alone. Several people came together and helped her with school supplies and clothing for the boys.

      In a home near us lives a woman caring for an elderly man and two mentally handicapped men. All four came down with infectious pneumonia. Two neighbors, at the risk of their own health, took food to them.      

      Yes, there are lots of “Dudes” in this world. We may never know how many. We may never know of all their good deeds. We may never know how their love has helped someone else. But, we can try to pass a little of that same spirit on. And not just at Christmas, but every day of the year.

      Maybe you are wondering about Dude and the rifle and the clock. The clock still hangs on his kitchen wall ticking away the minutes, the hours, the days. The gun? Well, an interesting thing happened with that gun. It ended up in an old junk shop in a town several miles from where Dude was raised and hundreds of miles from where he now lived.

      One day, his wife and his sister went for a ride and happened into that old junk shop. His sister recognized the Benjamin pump rifle. It was Dude’s old gun. It still had his mark on it. Dude’s wife bought the old relic, giving a few more than five dollars for it this time. On Christmas morning, Dude, now an old man, slowly unwrapped the gift in the long skinny box that had been hidden behind the tree.

      Imagine his surprise. His wife and God, had given him his old rifle back. It now graces the wall in the same house with the clock.

      “Just think,” he said, “I got my rifle, the clock and that old boy’s five dollars. Ain’t God good.” 

The Christmas Clock - copyright 2008 by Judy Vandiver

Happy Thanksgiving

Here are several thoughts of thanksgiving from blog responses. I pray that you and your family have a wonderful day.

"I'm thankful for my family and friends:) God Bless" (C. Brabham)

"I, too, am thankful for my family & friends! And I'm thankful that we're the ones who can give prayers for others, and not be the ones who need them. But I'm also thankful that my friends are there if I need them." (M. Harris)

I'm thankful for my husband. God has given me a wonderful help-mate who is a Christian. (J.Vandiver)

I am blessed with a wonderful home and surrounded by many friends. God has been so good to me. (G. G.)

I'm thankful to still have a job in today's economy. (unsigned)

My greatest thanks is to Jesus for His sacrificial love. (G. V.)

I'm thankful for a good job and a steady paycheck. (S. R.)

I'm thankful for my children and grandchildren. (S. Vandiver)



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I am also thankful for my readers and supporters of my blog. For the last few months, I have been posting a daily blog. Due to a hectic schedule during Christmas and a desire to concentrate on a Bible study that God has laid on my heart, I will begin posting my blog updates weekly, rather than daily. Look for my new postings on Monday of each week. I also ask that you pray for me as I delve into this study and that I learn what God wants to teach me.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

Judy

Thanksgiving

Tomorrow we’ll celebrate our American holiday of Thanksgiving. In the tradition of the pilgrims of 1621 at Plymouth Plantation, we’ll share our bounty with family and friends as we take time to appreciate our blessings.

One of my greatest blessings has been the readers of my blog that comment publicly and privately. I thank you for the encouragement to keep doing that which I feel God has called me. I appreciate each one of you and pray that your day of thanks becomes a lifetime of thankfulness.

Judy Vandiver

A Goal Reached

A Goal Reached

By Judy Vandiver

© copyright 2009 Judy Vandiver

Mom and I have talked for years about writing a cookbook. We started one a couple of years ago and set the project aside. A few months ago, I suggested we finish our goal. Today the idea of a cookbook became more than a goal. It became a reality.

Mom, Dad, and I were sipping on our coffee, thinking it would be hours before the Fedex truck arrived. Dad stepped outside then was back in a flash, with a grin across his face. “The Fedex truck is here!” he said.

The next few moments went by all too quickly. We flashed pictures, opened boxes, and celebrated. The cookbooks turned out great and we are very pleased with the result.

After Mom and Dad left and I stared at the boxes of books in the foyer, I thought about another goal I have. It is my goal to make Heaven my eternal home. I want to someday see Jesus face to face, thank Him for His sacrificial love, and worship Him forever.

Like the moments when the Fedex guy delivered the boxes, life on Earth will be over sooner than we realize. Take time today to think about your eternal goal. Take the steps needed to reach that goal. Persevere, don’t give up, and trust the Lord. He’ll lead you home.

© copyright 2009 Judy Vandiver

The Yellow Stripe down the Middle of the Road

The Yellow Stripe down the Middle of the Road

By Judy Vandiver

© copyright 2009 Judy Vandiver

It was a beautiful spring day as we traveled West on Texas Highway 7. The sign beside the road said, “Monk’s Lookout – 1 mile.”

“Let’s stop,” I told Steve. “I want to stretch my legs.”

Steve pulled onto the gravel drive and circled around to a lone picnic table. He, the kids, and I piled out of the car and walked to the edge of an embankment that stood above the valley below. What a breath-taking sight.

Sunlight bounced off and glowed from a blanket of wildflowers carpeting the fields of the hillside. The golden buttercups, brilliant Indian paintbrushes, and vibrant bluebonnets danced on a soft breeze. They seemed to wave at us as we towered above them.

Our eyes took in the rolling hills and dales. There were not only wildflowers, but patchworks of fields planted by local farmers. And green grasses of various hues stood as the backdrop for the amazing beauty.

All too soon, we had to get back into the car. No one said anything for a while and I assumed everyone was deep in thought about the beauty of nature, just as I was. Soon, our little David, asked, “Dad, how did God make all those flowers?”

Steve patiently told David how God had created the world and when He did, He had made seed-bearing plants.

“How did He make so many different colors?” David asked.

Steve explained that God had control of the entire world and had made it a place of beauty for us. He shared with our son the verse from Matthew 6 and used it as a lesson to teach David about God’s love.

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? (Matthew 6:28-30 NIV)

“Dad,” David asked next, “how did God make some of the land flat and some into hills?”

Steve carefully explained that God had created plates in the earth that at a specified time had shifted and moved to craft the Earth into what God wanted.

Throughout this father-son conversation, I listened, joyful that my son realized God had made the spectacular sight we had enjoyed.

Quietly, our little Melissa finally spoke up. “Well, I just want to know one thing,” she said. “Just how did God and Jesus get that yellow stripe down the middle of the road?”

All was quiet for a moment then Steve, David, and I burst into laughter.

Later, I thought about that drive along Highway 7. Melissa was very young at the time and her focus was not on the things that we saw that day. She had not been looking up. With downcast eyes, she had focused on something other than God.

I wondered how many things God had placed before me for my enjoyment, yet I had never seen them. Had I been too focused on the stripe down the middle of the road, rather than the beauty of God’s creations?

I think God’s greatest creation is not the world around us, but that we, humans, are His most remarkable handiwork. How easy it is for us to sometimes overlook the beauty in ourselves and others, while we concentrate on the yellow stripe. It’s all a matter of where our focus is. When our eyes are focused upward, we see Christ. If we focus on worldly things, all we’ll ever see is the yellow stripe down the middle of the road.

Colossians 3:1-2 says, “ Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (NIV)

© copyright 2009 Judy Vandiver

Someone Stole my Yellow Socks

Someone Stole my Yellow Socks

By Judy Vandiver

© Copyright 2009 by Judy Vandiver

“Someone stole my yellow socks,” my eight-year-old daughter screamed.

“Are these the same socks you have been wearing all week? The ones that could almost stand up on their own?”

“Yes, and now they are gone. Someone took them.”

“Maybe I should call the police department and report a break-in,” I told her. “Is anything else missing?”

“No, just my favorite yellow socks. Someone stole them.”

And so goes the blame game. Though this happened many years ago, it never occurred to my daughter that she might have misplaced her socks. If they were not to be found, it was someone else’s fault.

We all have a tendency to play “the blame game.” Defendants of social and hideous crimes sometimes use the defense of their upbringing. They had a bad home life, they were sexually assaulted as a child, their parents were alcoholics, or they were abandoned as a youth. It is almost always someone else’s fault.

Perhaps you have played the blame game at work. “I didn’t finish the report because I had too many interruptions. I was late this morning because a slowpoke was ahead of me on the freeway. I didn’t catch the proof-reading errors because the lighting in the office is incorrect.”

And yes, I admit I’ve played the game too. Honestly, that accident in the new van was not my fault. I rear-ended that guy because he stopped too fast in front of me, and besides, he should not have had such a long trailer hitch on his truck. In addition, the weather was bad that day.

And on and on it goes.

Adam and Eve played the blame game in the Garden of Eden. Eve blamed the serpent and Adam was quick to say, “It was that woman you gave me!” It’s so easy for us to tell God that we didn’t mean to sin, but. . . the other person started our argument. . . I didn’t know the consequences would be so hard. . . the peer pressure is too great. . .

Someday, however, each of us will stand before God and be accountable for our own sins. 1 Peter 4:5 states: “But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.” (NIV) and Romans 14:12 tells us, “So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.” (NIV)

As an eight year old, we may get by with blaming someone for our missing socks; but when we stand before God, what excuse could any of us possibly give for ignoring the Son of the Most High?

We are coming into a season designed to give honor to God coming to Earth to redeem us from our sins. I pray that each of us take the time to give Him the glory that is His due. Let us not be guilty of blaming our world, our customs, our society for allowing the hustle and bustle detract from the real meaning of Christmas.

I shall be praying that you, my readers, will feel the presence of God this Christmas season deeper than you have before, and I ask that you also pray for me. We all get busy. But what a shame if we get too busy for God.

© Copyright 2009 by Judy Vandiver

Trash to Treasure

Trash to Treasure

By Judy Vandiver

©copyright 2009 Judy Vandiver

They call it dumpster diving. Have you ever done it? It’s my husband’s favorite sport. He loves going through people’s trash looking for some discarded object that can be repurposed and reused. Together, we have worked on quite a few projects refurbishing what someone else might have called trash.

Here are a few examples of some of our finds and the finished projects. This first one is an old table a neighbor threw away.


What you don’t see is that prior to taking the photo, we had removed layers of old linoleum flooring that had been nailed to the top of the table.

After filling in the nail holes, sanding, painting, and applying a faux finish with a gold leaf edge, we had a very cute bedside table.






Another project was the result of seeing a cabinet in a furniture catalog. Here’s the original inspiration.

Here’s a furniture piece we found in someone’s trash. Some of the drawer fronts were missing and others broken. We removed them all, sanded on the old dresser. . .

Our finished version included cute little baskets and decorative cloths. Much cheaper than the original.


One of grandest trash to treasures was when we bought an old farmhouse.

And turned it into a cute country home. (Don’t live there anymore. We like to redo and move on.)

But I thought about the greatest trash to treasure project in my life, and it wasn’t anything my husband or I redid. It was one of God’s original restoration projects. He took this:

And made this:

Isn’t our God awesome? Thank you, Lord, for all you do in my life.

Branches from the Family Tree

Branches from the Family Tree

by Judy Vandiver

© copyright 2009 Judy Vandiver

Last night I put up the Christmas tree in the living room. Today I put up a second one in my office. The one in the living room is pretty, but the one in my office holds special memories. No, it’s not a tree I’ve had in my home before and the ornaments are all borrowed. But what special ornaments they are.

You see, my mom let me use the photo ornaments this year. The clay ornaments, hand-made by my sister-in-law have pictures of family members from over the years. As I hung each ornament, I thought about the people in the photos and the special times we have shared. I call it “The Family Tree.”

What a delight to see old photos of my children when they were young. David and Melissa have grown up, but they’ll always be like the small children in the photos to me. I smiled at a picture of my “Uncle Boug,” and remembered how he always threatened to cut my ponytails off. Was that really over fifty years ago?

I prayed for each niece and nephew as I hung his or her ornament on the tall skinny tree. I thought of all the special Christmas celebrations with my siblings as I hung pictures of them and their spouses. I remembered the prayers of my grandparents as I tied their ornaments to the wobbly limbs. And I treasured the photos of Mom and Dad.

I’m glad I put this tree in my office and that I put it up early for “the season.” I’ll have longer to enjoy these smiling faces as I work each day in my office. As I type at my computer, it’s almost as if they are cheering me on. I know each one has prayed for me with my writing and will continue to do so. And isn’t that what families are about? Being there for each other, standing beside one another, praying for each one.

I thought about Jesus’ Family Tree. If there were picture ornaments on it, He might have hung a photo of Abraham, King David, Boaz, and even Rahab. Then a very dear friend and fellow writer, Barbara Oden, reminded me that He would have our pictures on there too, because we are His family. We share the same Heavenly Father. He’s my big brother. And each of you who have accepted Christ as your Savior are my brothers and sisters.

So, as I look at the ornaments on my tree and say a prayer for each one, I’ll ask God to bring my Christian family to my mind. As He does, I’ll also say a prayer for each of you.

“He replied, ‘My mother and brothers are those who hear God's word and put it into practice.’" (Luke 8:21 NIV)

© copyright 2009 Judy Vandiver

Thank You!

Thank You!

from Judy Vandiver

Thanksgiving is next week, but I'm thankful everyday for those who encourage me with my writing. My blog has been a great discipline for me and helps me stay in God's Word. To be able to do as the Lord has instructed and write devotionals and Bible studies, it is a must for me to search the Scriptures on a daily basis.

Very few people comment by pushing the comment button at the bottom of each blog. And only a handful make comments on facebook about what I write. But I hear from so many of you privately. The occassional word of encouragement or telling me how a particular devotional fit your day does much to confirm the Lord's leading in my life.

I write for several reasons. One is because I want to help spread the Gospel. When God said to "go ye into all the world," He meant each of us. This is my way of reaching those that I can. Another reason I write is because God has given me a gift that I can do nothing with unless I first give it back to Him.  I also write because I feel it is what God has called me to do with my life. And last, I write because it is so much a part of me, that for me to not write is almost like not breathing.

I don't write for any praise. I don't write for applause. And I don't write to please man. However, those who have written to tell me what my being faithful to God has meant to them, are always an encouragement and confirmation that I am doing what the Lord wants for my life.

So, this is my early "Thanksgiving" message. Thank you to all who have written me. Thank you to all who read my blogs, whether I ever know about it or not. Thank you to those who have shared in spreading the gospel when you tell others about my blog. And of course, thank you to the Lord for giving me a gift and talent that I enjoy to the fullest.

Between now and Thanksgiving, I'd love to hear from readers about the gifts and talents God has given you. I'd love to hear about the people or things that you are most thankful for. Please drop me a private email, share your thankful blessings, and I on Thanksgiving day, I will post a list of all our blessings. When you email me, let me know if you wish for your thankful blessing to be listed anonymously, with your first name only, full name, or how you would like to share it with others.

I look forward to reading all the things you are thankful for.

In love and gratitude,

Judy Vandiver
Email me at judy@judyvandiver.com

Don't Drink the Kool-Aid

Don't Drink the Kool-Aid

by Judy Vandiver

©copyright 2009 Judy Vandiver

One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels. Some of the Pharisees asked, "Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?"

Jesus answered the, "Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions." Then Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath." (Luke 6:1-5 NIV)

As I read the verses above, I thought how the Pharisees thought they had all the answers on how one was to live spiritually and please God. They believed they had it all figured out. And yet, because of their interpretation of God's commands, they didn't recognize the one who gave the commands when He was in their midst.

Many years ago, I taught a group of fourth and fifth grade students in Sunday School. One Sunday, I had them help me rearrange the room. I told them that we had to face a certain direction so God would hear our prayers. I told them that they had to pray a certain way. I kept adding rule after rule after rule. Finally, the students began to question me, which is exactly what I wanted them to do. Then together we sat on the floor and read what God said about prayer. I reminded them that regardless of who told them something was the way a Christian would act or something a Christian would or should do, that the only true authority was God himself. I told them that any instruction they received outside of God's word had to be confirmed in His word. Otherwise, it was no more than what the Pharisees did. It was simply making up rules.

Not only did the Pharisees interpret God's word to fit their rules, they tried hard to make the Creator himself fit their rules. They insisted that Jesus do things their way. It reminds me of a parent setting boundaries and rules for a child and the child twisting and turning the words until it fits what they want. In addition, the child then tries to make the parents follow their interpretation of those rules. As a parent, I can almost laugh at this idea. But as a child of God, it becomes a different situation.

Do I ever try to interpret God's rules to allow me to do what I want? I'm sure I've been guilty of it. Does God call me down on it? Many times He has and I pray that He will continue to do so.

I read something recently that talked about the passage above. The writer spoke about how the Pharisees were looking for an excuse to accuse Jesus. The author warned that we should listen with an open heart and accept the messages in our churches, rather than be as critical as the Pharisees were. However, I also believe that we should do as I tried to instruct my Sunday School class years ago. Don't accept every word you hear, even if it's from an established teacher, preacher, or well-known Christian. Ask yourself if God's word confirms what you hear. Ask yourself if what the speaker or author says contradicts the word of God. Be diligent in studying God's words so you know the truth and you know the half-truths.


Here's a verse of scripture that I consider very wise instruction: "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." (Isaiah 8:20 KJV)

Many of you, no doubt, know the story of Jim Jones and the many people who blindly followed him, doing what they were told, even to the point of mass suicide. In 1978, more than 900 people drank poisoned kool-aid because they followed a man rather than God. The Bible warns us that many false prophets will preach empty words that sound good. Apparently, Jim Jones was one of them.

1 John 4:1 says, "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world." (NIV) My personal paraphrase of this is, "Don't drink the kool-aid." It is my desire that none of us be deceived and all of us follow what the Lord has commanded.

©copyright 2009 Judy Vandiver

Just Don't Let Go

I am please to share a devotional by a guest blogger today, Melissa Phelan. This is her first devotional and I am very proud of her. Melissa is my daughter and along with God, I won’t let go of her. I’m glad she has learned to see God in the everyday moments of life, letting Him speak to and encourage her. (Judy)

Just Don’t Let Go

By Melissa Phelan

©Copyright 2009 Melissa Phelan

I lay in my bed tonight pondering the wonderful day I had with my boys. I could not help but think that I wouldn’t have received a special joy of the day if I were not divorced. Sounds silly, I know!

As I pulled in my driveway from picking Dustin up at school, I told him, "Today’s the Day." He looked at me with confusion. I said, “Let’s get in that garage, take off those training wheels and learn to ride that bike without them.

"Sure" he said. We tried this about 5 months ago and he couldn't get the hang of it. But today, we went into the garage together and he sat next to me on the floor as I took off the training wheels. It was kind of neat doing it together. Dustin watched me and I felt an excitement for both of us as I managed to get the wheels off. He grabbed them and tossed them aside and I saw determination on his face. He was ready to do this.

He ran into the house and grabbed a pair of gloves, tugging them on as he came running back outside. He jumped on his bike, looked back at me and said, "Just don't let go, Mom."

“I won't let go until you’re ready,” I told him. I gave his bike a push, hanging on and running forward for a few car lengths. “I won't let go, but you’re doing it," I yelled.

“I know. I know. I can do it, it’s ok, Mom," Dustin said.

I let go but kept running next to him. "Look, I am not holding you. You’re doing it all by yourself," I said.

"I know. I know," Dustin continued to say as a smile beamed across his face.

I continued to run beside him. I started clapping for him. I was so happy inside. Finally, I told him I was going to stop running.

“That will be alright, Mom. I’ll be okay.”

I watched him continue for another two or three car lengths then yelled for him to just put his foot on the ground when he wanted to stop. I watched as he put his foot down and the bike fell to the ground - but Dustin didn’t. We were both so happy.

We spent the next few hours together. I taught him how to stop without the bike falling and without my help. Then I taught him how to start without holding on to me. The first time he did it, I watched as he came down the street with a grin as if he was so proud but was trying to contain it.

It was so AWESOME!!!! I was so PROUD!!!! Later I taught him to turn around without stopping the bike to get off. Then we sat on the curb and I taught him how to flip the bike over and fix his chain that had come off. We got greasy, but it was bonding and a mom’s moment. Then Dustin went and got his older brother’s bike, which is little bigger. He hopped on it and took off. I beamed inside and out!

Soon Tyler, who still refused to learn to ride a bike, came outside to see what Dustin had accomplished. He said he wanted his bike back.

"But you won't ride it," I told him.

He told me he wanted to learn now. He took his bike, got on, and it only took him about 2 minutes, but without my help was off and riding. I couldn't believe it. WOW! WOW! I was thrilled.

Tyler decided my bike was better suited for him and Dustin likes Tyler’s better. I don't mind. Hey, they are all riding as if they have been doing it for years. At 8:00 pm, I finally made them come inside for the night. It had become dark at 6pm. But I stayed outside with them the whole time. I didn't want to miss anything. They rode for 4 hours. I can't get over it.

So, as I lay in my bed pondering the day, I am utterly on a high! So happy and proud of my boys! Then I thought that if I was still married, my now-ex should have been the one to do all that. Taking off the training wheels, running with Dustin, showing him how to fix his chain. He would have received that joy, that precious bonding intimate time. I'm glad I got that all to myself. It was moving for me and something I will always remind the boys of.

So, I guess today showed me that divorce isn't all bad times. God has always been there holding on to me as I yell, "Just don't let go. Just don't let go," even though he knows I can do it. I won't let go of God and He won't let go of me, but there are some things I needed to let go and I haven't wanted to. I know it will be ok if I do. God will still be there running next to me. I may fall but I will get right back up.

©Copyright 2009 Melissa Phelan

What is a Devotional?

What is a Devotional?

By Judy Vandiver

© copyright 2009

We’ve been looking this week at devotional times with God and I suppose we should ask ourselves exactly what is meant by a devotional time. What does it encompass? What is it and what is it not?

The word devotion means to show our allegiance to something or someone. To devote yourself means to consecrate or make and declare something sacred. Therefore I take the word devotional to mean a time of declaring God as sacred and showing my allegiance to Him.

The length of a set-aside devotional time does not have to be long. In fact, the word devotional has come to also mean a short religious message. The key, however, is in the dedication. In Proverbs 23:16, God says, “My son, give me your heart and let your eyes observe and delight in my ways.” (Amplified Version) A paraphrase from The Message states that verse like this: “Dear child, I want your full attention; please do what I show you.”

To me, a devotional time can be reflecting on a Bible verse, singing a song of praise to God, or reflecting on the beauty of His world. It may include prayer. It may include reading from a book of short writings meant to be used for devotional time. It is a time of giving God our full attention.

We’ve already discussed this week how life demands so much of us and our time. While I remain devoted to God 24/7, my devotional time is a short period of my day that I set aside for Him and Him alone. That’s the reason it’s important for us to carefully choose the time and place of our devotions.

One thing I try to remind myself of, however, is what a devotional time is not. A devotional time is not Bible study. During devotional times, I try to absorb the presence of God. During times of Bible study, I try to absorb the knowledge of God. Paul wrote to Timothy, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” Bible study, therefore, is the diligent application of learning the meaning behind the words of God.

I find that times of devotions and times of Bible study are very different. They both encompass God, who He is, what He says, but they serve two different purposes—learning about Him and knowing Him.

Some people like to read a short verse for a devotional time and contemplate on it. Some like to use a book of short writings by other Christians that give them spiritual insight into experiencing God. Some choose to read several verses of the Bible. Some use their devotional time to try to read through the Bible in a year. I’ve said it before on my blog and will repeat that God is not as interested in how fast you read your Bible as in how well you apply it. Whether it takes you a year or a lifetime to read your Bible, the important thing is to read it, ask God to help you understand it, and apply what it says.

Tomorrow we’ll take a quick look at a short devotional written by a guest blogger. This is the first devotional this person has written, and it’s a good example of how someone takes a moment where they find themselves and declares God as sacred. It shows how God sends us messages through everyday examples. It shows someone giving God the attention He deserves as He gives us His undivided attention. And that, my friends, is what devotions are about.

Personal Bible Study

1. Other than spiritual things, name something you feel devoted to or have ever felt devoted to?
2. What did being devoted to that thing or person entail? What did it really mean to you and why?
3. How did you demonstrate your devotion to that person or thing?
4. How does that compare with showing our devotion to God?
5. Memorize Proverbs 23:16 from The Message: “Dear child, I want your full attention; please do what I show you.”
© copyright 2009

A Daily Devotional Time - Part Three

A Daily Devotional Time – Part Three

By Judy Vandiver

©copyright 2009

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” (Mark 1:35 NIV)

The last two days, we’ve looked at the verse above as an example regarding a daily quiet time with God. Like Jesus, we are encouraged to find a time and place where we can be alone with our Heavenly Father. Christ chose a time that probably wasn’t convenient and He left the crowded house to find a spot as free from distractions as possible.

But even for Him, interruptions were inevitable. The next two verses state: “Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!’” (Mark 1:36-37 NIV) The scene reminds me of the one I told you about two days ago when Dad locked himself in his pick-up truck just so he could eat in peace and quiet. Sometimes there is just no getting away from the crowds.

Your crowd may be a crowd of ten or a crowd of one. Your crowd may be the telephone, the doorbell, or the ticking of the clock. Nevertheless, our “crowds” push and shove their way into our devotional times. They look for us, find us, and abduct us.

I’d like us to look at the words used in that verse. The NIV translates two forms of the word look and one of the verb find. The first time the word look is used, they “went to look for him,” the verb is used much like our common use of the word today. The Greek word used here was katadioko which means to hunt down or search for. And when John Mark reports that they “found” him, the word he used was heurisko which means to find or to see something.

But of interest to me was the second use of the word look in the NIV translation. The Greek word John Mark used was eukairōs which translates into our English today for opportunity or when the opportunity occurs. Therefore a more precise translation of the latter part of verse 37 would be, “All want an opportunity with you.”

I searched to find other places where eukairōs occurs in the scripture. John Mark uses it again a few chapters later in Mark 14:11. Judas Iscariot had just gone to the chief priests to betray Jesus. The chief priests promised to give Judas money so “he watched for an opportunity,” to hand Jesus over. The word used for opportunity here is eukairōs. One translation used the word convenient for opportunity. We’ll discuss that in a moment.

Another place where this word was used was in 2 Timothy 4:2. Paul writes, “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.” The word eukairōs has been translated here as “in season,” meaning at every opportunity.

Therefore we can easily see that when someone seeks an opportunity they could be seeking it to gratify self or for their own convenience. Or they may be looking for an opportunity to promote the gospel. So which was it with those who sought Jesus that early morning when He tried to have solitude with His Father?

I believe they were seeking an opportunity for self. They didn’t yet know of the Gospel. They didn’t know Christ had come to save them from their sins. They only wanted the immediate benefits they could receive from Jesus.

Many of our interrupters will not have our best interest at heart. Many of them will be seeking what is convenient for them. But interruptions are a part of life. What did Christ do when the crowd sought and found Him? He got up and moved on with the job the Father had given Him. “This is why I have come,” He said.

Seek your solitary and quiet time with the Lord, but when the world seeks and interrupts you, remember to go about doing the task the Father has for you. You may have to tell the world to wait, or you may have to do as Jesus did this particular morning—move on to the task at hand.

Tomorrow, we’ll look at what a devotional time is and is not. See you then.

Judy
©copyright 2009 Judy Vandiver

Personal Bible Study:

1. What are some usual interruptions into my quiet time with the Lord?
2. Are these legitimate interruptions or are there things I can do to eliminate them?
3. What can I do to make my devotional time as distraction-free as possible?
4. Jesus knew what His purpose was for being on Earth and made that His priority. Do I know what my purpose on Earth is?
5. Memorize Mark 1:38: “Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages —so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” (NIV)

A Daily Devotional Time - Part Two

A Daily Devotional Time – Part Two

By Judy Vandiver

©copyright 2009

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” (Mark 1:35 NIV)

Jesus was a busy man. The verse quoted above shows us the actions of Jesus on a particular morning. Let me give you a glimpse of what had transpired the day before and what the upcoming day held for him.

Jesus and some men that He had asked to follow Him had traveled to the city of Capernaum earlier in the week. Their method of transportation was their own two feet. They had walked the dusty, uneven terrain, no doubt their feet hurt, and their legs ached. They may have even had a blister or two worn on the soles of their feet by the rough, primitive (at least to us) leather sandals.

We don’t know when they arrived in Capernaum, but when the Sabbath came, Jesus went to the synagogue. As was the custom, the visiting rabbi was asked to read the scripture and teach. He preached in such a manner that the people were amazed, because, they said, “he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law” (Mark 1:22 NIV.) Can you picture the group of men gathered there, leaning towards one another, whispering, amazement etched into their expressions? As I read these words, I can almost hear the murmur as it travels over and through the crowd, until everyone sits up and takes notice.

I would love to know what his sermon topic was that morning. Whatever it was, Satan didn’t like it and he didn’t like that people were recognizing the authority of this person named Jesus.

Suddenly a man possessed by an evil spirit cried out, demanding to know what Jesus wanted to do with him and if Jesus was going to destroy him. He proclaimed the true identity of Christ as the Holy One of God. The man must have been shouting because Jesus told him to be quiet. I’m thinking that this evil spirit was scared that he had come face-to-face with Jesus. He probably wished he had not gone to the synagogue with the man that morning. He not only knew who Jesus was, but exactly what kind of authority Jesus has. And when Jesus commanded the evil spirit to leave the man, the evil spirit did the only thing he could. He obeyed. He could not resist the power of Jesus. Mind you, he shrieked and cried, but he obeyed.

The people who were still in the synagogue witnessed this event. People were abuzz with what this Jesus could do. Can’t you see them on their way home from the synagogue, stopping, talking, asking, “Did you see? I was up front, you know. I got a good look at what happened. Who is this man?” The Bible tells us that news soon spread to the surrounding area. Even with limited travel on the Sabbath, the word quickly spread through the region. (A little more on this later.)

Amid the chattering and amazed crowd, Jesus and his disciples leave “church.” They are probably hungry and it’s time for “Sunday afternoon lunch.” Simon and Andrew, who apparently shared one home with their combined families, said, “Hey, let’s go to our house to eat,” and off they trod.

But when they arrived at the home of the two brothers, it was discovered that Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a fever. Jesus bent over her with concern, touched her, and healed her instantly. As the fever left her, she began to help get the “roast and potatoes” on the table, jumping right in with a grateful spirit.

Again, can you see the reaction of those in the house? The disciples, the women preparing the food, the combined households, any servants they might have had must have all talked about what had just happened. And now they hurry to serve this one who seems to have so much authority.

What I want you to see here is the activity around Jesus. Stop for a moment and think about a large gathering where one person has done something that has the whole group talking – good or bad – it doesn’t matter. With this large a crowd, Jesus could not help but be aware of the commotion within the house. And somehow, word leaked from that house to the surrounding community. I picture the news traveling from house to house to house, until it reached a distance beyond what the people were allowed to travel. The law may have banned the people from traveling a certain distance, but the law could not stop the word and the news about Jesus.

Let’s move forward a few hours. It’s now nearing sunset and perhaps the household is quieting down. Maybe Jesus will have time to catch his breath from all the day’s activities and the hustle and bustle that has brewed around Him since arriving at the Synagogue that morning. But no. Just as the sun dipped below the horizon, people began bringing the sick and demon-possessed to Jesus.

Remember earlier when we discovered the people were talking as they left “church” that morning? They had talked about the authority that came with the words spoken about Jesus and about the casting out of an evil spirit. Word had spread farther than the people were able to travel on the Sabbath. But as soon as the law would allow, they hurried to see this man who could heal the sick and cast out demons. Notice that they knew both of these things had happened earlier that day. This is how we know that the group from the synagogue as well as the households of Simon and Andrew had been spreading the word.

Scripture tells us that the whole town gathered at the door. While scholars are unsure of the population of Capernaum at that time, it was a small fishing village, and estimates are that there were anywhere from 600 to 1700 people living there at the time. Let’s go with a conservative number somewhere in the middle. I’ll choose 1,000. Suppose you did something at church this morning and word got around that you had spoke some amazing words. It’s later in the day, you are tired, and maybe you are thinking of retiring for the day. There’s a knock at the door. Someone else answers it and yells to you, “Hey, you better come here. Something’s going on outside.” You look out the door and there are 1,000 people lined up. A thousand….

This is no small number. I can only imagine this kind of scene in front of my house, the line extending down the street, wrapping around the corner, the head of the homeowner’s association wanting to know what is going on. But then I remember he would have known. Everyone knew what was going on. The entire village had come to see Jesus.

John Mark continues in the scripture telling us that Jesus healed many who had various diseases and drove out many demons. I wonder what time He eventually got to bed that evening. Maybe not at all.

And that brings me to the point of today’s blog. We (and I include myself in that) so often use the excuse that we are too busy or too tired for a daily time with the Father. I know that I’ve never been as busy as Jesus was that particular night. I’ve never had 600 to 1,000 or more people standing at my door waiting to be healed. I’ve never had a whole town turn out to see what I was doing, press in around me to see what was happening, or perhaps just want to touch me.

Do you realize that if Jesus had only spent 30 seconds with each of the more than 1,000 people it would have taken Him over 8 hours to see each one? Therefore I doubt He slept at all that night. The last one was finally healed. The last demon had been cast out. The disciples, no doubt, had nodded off hours ago. The last villager hobbled down the dusty road. The sun would be up soon and Jesus knew that another busy day stretched before Him.

He didn’t lie down and try to grab a quick nap. He didn’t complain about how tired He was. He slipped off into the darkness, found a solitary place—away from distractions—and talked with His Father.

Christ’s example shows us the importance of prayer and devotions over everything else, including bodily rest. I believe the next time I whine to the Lord that I am too tired for devotions and will catch up later, I’ll try to remember just how busy Jesus was this particular morning.

I have been so tired before that I have fallen asleep in the middle of my devotional time. I believe God understands. Our Lord certainly knows what it feels like to be “bone-tired.” However, He honors our efforts and comforts us in our humanness. And He doesn’t say how long our time of devotion to Him should be. The important thing is that we choose some moments from our day that are just for Him.

Tomorrow we’ll look at what happened as the tired and exhausted Jesus tried to catch a few moments of solitude.

Personal Bible Study:

1. How important to you is a daily devotional time? Is it important enough to make it a priority?
2. What excuses do you find yourself giving the Lord for not setting aside moments from your day just for Him?
3. Think of a time when you have been very tired or others demanded a good deal of your time. How might that compare to what Jesus felt on this particular morning?
4. Why do you think Jesus didn’t tell some of the people to come back at another time?
5. Memorize Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

© Copyright 2009 by Judy Vandiver