Given April 28, 2006
I was reading my devotion this morning and it was about Moses and the burning bush. You know, Moses wasn’t too cooperative in this job interview with God. Our school system has been conducting interviews recently for various openings and I thought about that as I contemplated Moses’ responses.

When someone goes into a job interview, they, first, have chosen to be there then they will do and say anything they can to convince the interviewers that they’re the one for the job. But Moses was just the opposite. God sort of tricked him into coming to the interview to start with, (the burning bush), then He told him what He wanted him to do and that he already had the job. But instead of saying, “Thanks”, Moses told God how he wasn’t qualified and couldn’t do the job! But God’s response is the key.

“…God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” …So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” And God said, “I will be with you. Exodus 3:4, 10-12” “I will be with you.” God called Moses in, gave him a job, not caring whether he was qualified or not but said He’s go with him on the job. What a boss!

It would be awesome in the workplace if the boss picked you out, called you in, gave you the job, then said, “Now, let’s you and I go do it.” God HAS done this to us. He’s called us to do a job and He’s ready to go out with us. And that will insure the job will get done successfully! “Here I am, God, let’s go!”

Given April 25, 2006

“For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: Ephesians 5:8 ” This is what I’ve tried to do for many years, walk as a child of light. Because, being in education, I know that students, parents, and others are watching me all the time especially if I’m known as a Christian. Many times I’ve failed and people see that but they’re still watching to see how I respond in failure. You wonder if you’ve ever made any difference in anyone’s life.

Well, the other day I got an email from a young lady who ran track for me back in the 80’s. It was great hearing form her and learning about her life in Texas. But you know, she made a statement that warmed my heart. She said I was her FAVORITE, (and that’s how she wrote it), teacher and that she really looked up to me. Wow!

As we go through life and do the best we can, we need to be aware that we ARE affecting those around us; our light IS shining. I want it to be positive, don’t you? God bless you Pam.

Given April 22, 2006
Recently I attended a conference on Early Childhood Education at the local college and heard a wonderful speaker who brought up several good points. Although he was speaking about how we treat children in school and as parents, I found myself saying “Amen” to many of his comments.

One of them was the picture of us walking a tight rope pushing a wheel barrow and the question was, “Who wants to ride in my wheel barrow?” Well, to trust someone enough to let them push you across a tight rope in a wheelbarrow is true trust. You have to have laid the groundwork and portrayed yourself as someone who can be trusted before anyone will get in.

This reminds me of the scripture, ” Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16“. People are watching us and forming opinions about us; our light is shining. If we’re witnessing to someone, (asking them into our wheelbarrow), and they’ve seen our negative light, they won’t get in. This brother even asked, “Would your kids or spouse get in?”. It’s something to think about.

And, he also reminded us that we often will only invite the clean, good smelling, “acceptable” types into our wheelbarrow. Shame on us!

Given August 25, 2005
The other day, a delivery guy brought me a package and presented me with a receipt to sign. It didn’t have my name on it, (it was my wife’s), but I accepted it anyway and signed the receipt.

God showed me how similiar situations might play out in the spiritual realm. Satan is constantly trying to get you to give up on something you’re believing for; to create doubt and make you say,”Oh, what’s the use. This isn’t going to work.” If you say that, it’s like signing the receipt and accepting the package of defeat! Don’t do it! The Bible says, “You are snared with the words of your lips, you are caught by the speech of your mouth. Proverbs 6:2” Our words create the atmosphere in which we live. God created the universe by the words of His mouth. It says in Romans that God, “…speaks those things which are not as though they were.” Romans 4:17.

We are made in the image of God and I believe we should talk like Him as well. The devil listens to what we say so we should never say things that would encourage him. Guard your words and speak words of faith. Don’t give up and allow doubt to contaminate your faith.

Given February 4, 2006
My wife sent me to the store recently to get a certain grocery item. I had it in my mind that it came in a blue box and that’s what I was looking for, but couldn’t find it. As frustration began to mount, I thought, “Maybe it’s not in a blue box. Focus on the name.” Well, right there it was, in a red box! I had focused so much on blue that I missed what I was looking for, the real thing.

Could it be, in the same way, we’re looking for God in the bonfire but He’s in the candle? We’re listening for the shout and He’s speaking in a whistper? Or, we’re looking for God in the world and He’s in our hearts? It happened to Elijah too. “And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. 1 Kings 19:11-12“

I try to see God in many things; nature, music, the Word, people. He reveals himself in many ways but it’s not usually the way we’re expecting. Look in some different places and see what you find.

Have a blessed day!