Stop Drop and......PRAY!

~Tracy Frederick

There are just some days that are overwhelming aren’t there? There are days when the hurt and the pain is just too much to bear.  We often sing a familiar song- My Jesus Knows. In that song we encourage each other that our Savior understands our emotional pain and can empathize with our weaknesses and the sufferings we have here on this earth. What a comfort that is to know that “we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but in all points was tempted like we are, but was without sin” Hebrews 4:15. It is the first part that is comforting, but the last that causes me to pause and tremble.  I find that when I am at my most emotional, I am at my most vulnerable. When I am hurting, I am looking for a quick way out. When I am emotional I am less rational and more willing to act without thinking. So, how was our Savior was able to withstand the emotions of hurt when betrayed by a best friend (Mk 14:66-72), the rejection of the world (Mk 15:6-15)? Notice each and every time our Savior was in a difficult situation, an emotional situation, or knew He was about to be, He prayed; He stopped, dropped His head and prayed. We teach our children that to stop themselves from burning, physically, they should stop, drop and roll. We preach it over and over again. I think it is a good idea to teach our children the same to avoid eternal fire- stop, drop and pray. We know that if the Evil One has no qualms about tempting the Lord, (I mean seriously!) he looks upon us as easy prey. Our Savior knew the solution to the temptation- STOP what you are doing NOW! DROP your head and humble yourself, realizing you are the created and need help! PRAY for forgiveness and wisdom to discern what is needful. Such an easy answer to any problem. And the example was there all along.

My Fitness Plan

~Veronica Brown

·         Lose weight

o   “let us lay aside every weight that so easily ensnares us” (Heb. 12:1)

o   “lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness” (Jms. 1:21)

o   “laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy , and all evil speaking” (I Pet. 2:1)

·         Strengthen my muscles

o   “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might” (Eph. 6:10)

o   “strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power” (Col. 1:11)

·         Exercise

o   “…and exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things” (I Tim. 4:8)

o   “have [your] senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Heb. 5:14)

·         Eat better carbs

o   “I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever” (Jn. 6:51)

·         Drink more water

o   “but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst” (Jn. 4:14)

·         Get adequate rest

o   “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him” (Ps. 37:7)

·         Stay focused on the goal

o   “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:14)

o   “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:2)

·         Work hard

o   “not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord” (Rom. 12:11)

o   “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” (Gal. 6:9)

Veronica is blessed to be the wife of Clint Brown. Clint currently preaches for the Farmersville church of Christ in north Texas. She is also blessed to be a stay at home mom to two boys, Jeremy (13) and Joshua (12). She has been a preacher's wife, Bible class teacher, missionary, and a host of other things for the Lord for the past 14 years and she's thankful for every moment God uses to mold her into His image.

Having a Heart like Jael

~Erin Blair

     The Bible is filled with obscure people and places. In the Sunday school classes, teachers don’t often teach about Josiah, Abigail, Jael, and other such people. The book of Judges is a fascinating book that often isn’t taught or read. However, it is filled with battles and journeys of the Jewish people, and how God brought them through those battles. One of the obscure people of the book of Judges is an excellent example for us today.

     Judges chapter 4 begins with Deborah and Barak leading an army to fight Sisera’s army. We are then introduced to Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite. Sisera runs to Heber’s tent, for they were well acquainted. Jael meets him at the door and he tells her to give him water to drink after she covers him in a blanket. Disobeying him, she gave him a bottle of milk to drink. We all know what happens when you are really tired and you drink milk, you fall asleep. Such happened to Sisera. Before he fell asleep, he told her to look out and lie if anyone asked if he was there. When he was fast asleep, she took a tent peg in one hand and a hammer in another and drove the nail into his temple, killing him instantly. When Barak pursued Sisera, Jael went out and met him and showed him what happened. In celebration of the Israelites victory, Deborah mentioned Jael as “blessed among women” (Judges 5:24) and praised her for what she did (Judges 5:24-27).

     Many read this account and see it as nothing more than a woman doing a brave deed and helping the Israelites win the war against Jabin king of Canaan. But really there is more to it than that. It is an example of how far someone is willing to go for God. Deborah prophesied to Barak, “…the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman…” (Judges 4:9). The woman of which she prophesied was Jael. Sisera needed to be killed in order to fulfill prophesy and to give the Israelites a victory.

     How far is someone willing to go for the cause of God? That tent mallet and peg must have been heavy, and I am sure that her hands shook from the seriousness of what she was about to do to her husband’s friend. But she did it anyway. It was bloody and dirty work, but she went an incredible distance for God and for the Israelites who weren’t even her people.

     Sometimes God wants us to do things that aren’t always comfortable or fun, but we need to do them anyway. We need to go out and seek the lost (Matt. 28:19). We need to pick up our cross daily and follow Him (Luke 9:23). It is required that we “do good to all men, especially to those of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10). You may not want to invite that new couple over for dinner one night, or to offer to babysit for them, but is denying such things really going far for God? What about going into the “bad” parts of town to spread the gospel? How far are you willing to go for the cause of God? After all, James wrote in James 4:17 “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”

     True, we probably won’t ever be called do as Jael did and kill a man by nailing a tent stake through his temple, but we will have to reach out to others and get outside our comfort-zone to do what is needed.  The question remains, will you do what is necessary for God? (Matthew 25:35-40).

Erin Blair is the wife of Jordan Blair who preaches for the Gustine church of Christ in Gustine, TX. They will soon begin their work with the church in New Madrid, MO. Erin has always been busy in the work on the Lord's church helping coordinate Youth Rallies, Prom Alternatives, helping teachers with Bible class, and VBS. She is currently busy completing a Paralegal Program in the College of Business at the University of San Antonio where she will graduate in December.

Closer to Heaven....

~ Amanda K. Leonard

     If there is one thing I've learned from my health struggles, it is that this world is tough. So why wouldn't I want to be in heaven with God? If this life is so painful, then why would I want to spend an eternity in hell, where there is no relief or balm or pain medicine that can soothe even for one second?! Sometimes I am amazed at people's lack of fear and dread when it comes to hell. If you think the stomach flu is miserable, think about an eternity of endless misery! Okay, maybe that's not bad enough for you. If you think diseases like multiple schlerosis, or lupus, or cancer are horrible illnesses that give people so much pain and misery and are sometimes disabeling, then think about an ETERNITY with UNQUENCHIBLE FIRE! (Revelation 21:8, Matthew 18:8) The rich man in torments simply wanted Lazarus to "dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame." (Luke 16:19-31, emphasis added)


     There is no end to hell. But, there is also no end to heaven (John 3:16). Sometimes I feel I have something in common with Paul when he talks about the "thorn in his flesh" and asking God to remove it. We don't ever know of God taking that burden away from him. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10) But we do know that he was pressing "toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:14) On the one hand, in moments of weakness, I struggle with the "why me's?" and I often say the same prayers as Paul; simply requesting that God take away my pain and suffering. But, on the other hand, sometimes I think maybe God is allowing this because it will keep me focused on Heaven and it will keep me faithful and strong. (2 Corinthians 12:12:9-10) But this I can know for sure; that my Heavenly Father loves me and will give me the strength that I need to get through each difficult morning, to smile with my children, and to continue to teach them His Holy Word as long as I serve Him and only Him. "Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon (serve) the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:30-31) Teach me, Lord, to wait upon thee!

NOTE: The reader should know that this is especially poignant article since Amanda, although not yet 30, suffers from several serious illnesses, but is well known for her enouraging attitude and positive outlook on life.

Amanda K. Leonard is married to Josh Leonard and the mother of two, a homemaker, homeschool teacher, worships with the Chipman Road church of Christ in Lee's Summit, Mo and LOVES teaching her 0-2 year old Bible class.