Unexpected Blessings

Posted on April 23, 2025 by Arrow

We have had some unexpected problems lately. First, I realized many of my spreadsheets were missing data and “history versions” came up with nothing. Then, we noticed our 19-year-old refrigerator wasn’t running right. Freezer foods began to thaw!

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Thank the Lord we found help online for both problems. Soon, we were blessed to locate complete documents and after a good vacuuming of condenser coils, the fridge began to cool efficiently once again!

In the Old Testament story of Joseph, we find his father Jacob (AKA Israel) experiencing unexpected blessings. After decades of believing his son was dead, Jacob learns Joseph is a man of prominence in Egypt. Jacob moves his household to Egypt to escape a famine and reunite his family. At the end of his life, “Israel said to Joseph, ‘I never expected to see your face again, and now God has allowed me to see your children too” (Genesis 48:11).

Truly, God blesses us beyond what we can imagine. Read 2 Corinthians 9:8. “And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work” (CSB).

Digging into this verse, we find:

  • The word every appears four times, plus one always.
  • The verse begins with God. God is able.
  • Then we find grace overflows to us. Grace is a gift we receive that we don’t deserve.
  • God promises to provide everything we need.
  • Finally, we learn why we receive unexpected blessings or grace. So that, “[we] may excel in every good work.”

We receive blessings so that we can bless others. God has given us a work to do and He makes sure we have everything we need to do that work.

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His Hand for Mine

Posted on April 16, 2025 by Arrow

I awoke from my nap, lying still to inhale the peace and quiet. A little reading, a little contemplating. Then I noticed a hand. Whose hand was this . . . at the end of my arm? And when did it start looking so aged? Thinning skin, wrinkly-er than I remembered.

As I studied this hand, I thought, “Hands are amazing! Hands could never be the result of some chance formation in a random universe. No. Not this beautiful blend of bones, flesh, muscles, tendons, joints, four long fingers, and one stumpy thumb.

Think of what hands can do! Grasp, grab, stroke, squeeze, pet, point, pinch, punch, touch, give a ‘thumbs up’ or ‘thumbs down’, feel, make a fist, cross fingers, help a little one count, and so much more. Recalling my sign language skills, a single hand can communicate numbers, letters, fingerspell, and sign a great many words, including “I love you!”

If I turn my hand over, I see a palm. Palm and fingerprint markings unlike anyone else’s in the entire world. A God-created and God-drawn palm.

But the most amazing thing is that this palm, and the wrist it is attached to, has no hole or scar left by a seven-to-nine-inch-long heavy iron, square-edged spike. More than 2000 years ago, Jesus lovingly slid our hand aside and offered His on the crossbeam instead.

After His resurrection, Jesus showed the disciples His scars (John 20:20). And Jesus referred to us when He said, “[B]lessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed’” (John 20:29b).

This Easter, may we gaze gratefully at our hands, remembering the cost of our forgiveness and salvation, and praise God for sending His Son to die to reestablish His original plan, for all people to have a personal relationship with Him.

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Our Burden Bearer

Posted on April 9, 2025 by Arrow

Backpacking anyone . . . anyone? I can’t imagine the strain of carrying everything I need for days at a time on my back! I would totally fail! I would either be begging someone to carry my water (8.35 lbs. per gallon) or renting a pack mule to haul my “necessities”.

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So, you’ll understand my delight when I came across the following Bible verse: “Praise be to the LORD, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Selah” (Psalm 68:19). Oh, what a relief! The Lord who is always with me says that He will daily help me.

I close my eyes and imagine. Me and my pack. I watch as Jesus takes a peek at the busting-at-the-seams load I have bundled for the day. He encourages me to take off the pack so He can get a better look. He removes a hefty item asking, “Why is this in here? This is for someone else’s pack.” Unburying a couple of other odd objects, He adds, “And so is this . . . and this.” His eyebrows rise as He opens an over-sized container. I had crammed in enough of that item for multiple days instead of the amount needed for only today. Finally, Jesus gently prods His fingers through the remaining pockets and nods approvingly at the gear that I would need to complete my tasks for today.

He helps me lift the now roomier and lighter pack, the just-right-for-me pack. Then as Jesus walks beside me, He slides the straps over His shoulders. True, the pack contains all I need to successfully do my work for today, but Jesus is carrying the load beside me.

Praise God! He bears our burdens as we walk with Him.

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Imaginations Run Wild!

Posted on April 2, 2025 by Arrow

I love that God blessed people with imaginations! Authors create new worlds, artists compose stunning works, and grandmothers dream up tasty desserts.

Brainstorming can yield brilliant results with the right guidance, but without boundaries, our imaginations can run wild, landing us in a world of worry. This is what I found when reading the narrative of Joseph found in Genesis 37-50.

Joseph’s jealous brothers had sold him into slavery, so he was carted off to Egypt. He eventually rose to power when, with God’s help, he interpreted Pharaoh’s daunting dreams. Joseph was then assigned the task of overseeing the storage of grain during Egypt’s plentiful years so there would be food for the upcoming years of famine (which Pharoah had dreamt about).

Eventually, the famine hit Canaan where Joseph’s family lived, and his brothers traveled to Egypt for grain. (Though Joseph recognized his brothers, they didn’t recognize him.) Joseph tested his brothers to see if their attitudes had changed and arranged for the guys to be taken to his home. Their imaginations went wild. They thought, “He wants to attack us and overpower us and seize us as slaves and take our donkeys” (Genesis 43:18b). Count ’em. Four fears!

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In their panic, Joseph’s steward set them straight. “‘It’s all right,’ he said. ‘Don’t be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks; I received your silver’” (Genesis 43:23). Note that none of what the brothers imagined happened.

God replaced what they feared with treasure. I hope we can learn that lesson as well. Instead of imagining reasons to panic, let’s imagine peaceful blessings. Since God “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20), let’s imagine His best!

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Blessing for Blessing

Posted on March 26, 2025 by Arrow

I came across a notable verse this morning during my devotion time. The beginning sounded familiar but it ended with a slight twist. A nice twist. Like ending your breakfast with a cinnamon twist.

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The letter written by Peter in the early 60s AD includes encouragement and admonitions for believers who were enduring persecution and suffering for their faith. Contrary to how the readers may have felt, Peter wrote, “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing” (1 Peter 3:9).

Now I must admit, if I am being persecuted, badmouthed, or belittled, my natural instinct is not to bless the offender. My creative mind and quick, or slow, tongue would prefer to slash like a sword and cut the oppressor or harasser down to size . . . at least, in my thoughts.

But Peter here, like Jesus, calls us to take the high road. It reminds me of Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) not to take an eye for an eye.

Instead of taking on the role of avenger, we mentally place our pain in the hands of our heavenly Father and leave the offender’s punishment up to Him. Then we find a way to bless, either with words, actions, or both. Praying for our adversary can help both their heart and ours.

Previously I mentioned this verse ended with a twist. Here it is. When you bless others, you “inherit a blessing”. Think on that! Blessing for blessing! Instead of a painful twist, this verse promises a pleasurable one. God blesses us in many ways, on many levels, mighty and minute. For believers, blessings will definitely include an eternal home and, perhaps for now, a twist of cinnamon.

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Watch Where You’re Driving!

Posted on March 19, 2025 by Arrow

Are you familiar with those little toy cars that you set down, pull back, and then let go? If done correctly, they will immediately race forward.

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I thought, this is what some people think about God. That He set us here on earth, gave us breath, and then let go, having nothing more to do with us. Wrong!

God has a purpose and plan for us. Listen what Paul wrote: “This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:3-4).

As the “driver” in our “car”, we sit, usually focused on our immediate destination or plan. We forget to look up and see the One who is near enough to guide and help us, or listen to the One sitting right beside us.

At times, we lose our way and life seems out of control. Know that we can always turn to Him. When we crash and burn, He understands and remembers that we are “just dust” (or maybe rust). No alley is too dark nor any backroad too far off that He will not pick us up and tow our broken-down selves back to Him . . . if we just call. And U-turns are always allowed!

So, let’s watch where we’re driving. Stay within God’s guardrails. Avoid dangerous distractions. Hear Jesus teaching through our upgraded sound system, AKA the Holy Spirit. And hear Jesus’ words: “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).

Maneuver carefully, my friends.

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Rise, Run, Reach

Posted on March 12, 2025 by Arrow

“The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge” (Psalm 19:1-2).

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I love that God speaks to us through His creation! Who has not stood in awe of a sunset or at an ocean’s edge, been struck by the magnitude of a mountain range or touched by a snowflake’s uniqueness? Creation is a gift that speaks to our hearts. Today, let’s see what the sun will teach us.

Psalm 19 continues with a beautiful metaphor of the sun:
“which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is hidden from its heat” (Psalm 19:5-6).

The sun sets a good example for us. It rises each day to fulfill its God-given purpose. Portrayed as a bridegroom and champion, the sun eagerly and joyfully sets out. It runs or goes forth with love, confidence, and strength. It stays on course, not wandering off its assigned path. And along its way, it reaches out, touching and influencing for good.

Like the sun, may we rise to do the work God has called us to do. May we joyfully “run the race” God has set before us. Go through our day, strengthened by His Word and His Presence, reaching out and reflecting His love, blessing others along the way.

Remember Jesus’ words, “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14a). May we shine for Jesus as we rise, run, and reach!

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Locked Out

Posted on March 5, 2025 by Arrow

I did it! I locked myself outside of my car at church. Worse yet, my keys and phone were locked inside the car!

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I was stumped. The church office was closed. There was absolutely nothing I could do to help myself.

Then, out walked a friend. And that friend had a phone that contained my daughter-in- law’s number. Thank the Lord! My daughter-in-law answered, came to my rescue, and took me home.

Wow! If I think about it, we have all been in a similar situation.

We have all made mistakes called sin. That sin prevented us from having direct access to the Father. Essentially, we were locked out of heaven and denied a personal relationship with God. There was absolutely nothing we could do to fix or change our circumstances. No amount of money or apologies or good deeds could erase our sin.

Then came One who could help. God’s Son left heaven to come to earth to rescue us. He alone could bear the sins of the world and take our punishment, making us holy and righteous before our heavenly Father.

All we have to do is call on Him and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Then the way to a new relationship is opened. We have clear access to the Father.

“For it is through Him that we both [whether far off or near] now have an introduction (access) by one (Holy) Spirit to the Father—so that we are able to approach Him” (Ephesians 2:18 The Amplified Bible).

May we believers remember that once we were locked out, but because of Jesus’ broken body and shed blood, we are now welcomed into God’s Presence and will one day enter our eternal home. (Also, a good thought for communion meditation.)

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We Can’t Help It!

Posted on February 26, 2025 by Arrow

You find an incredible sale, come across a delectable recipe, or see a cool cleaning or gardening hack. What do you do? If you are like me, you tell someone!

The same thing happens when you hear good news. An engagement, a pregnancy, a promotion, a criminal caught, a mystery solved.

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This is just what the disciples experienced after the resurrection of Jesus. They had witnessed His crucifixion, grieved His death, and been overwhelmed and confused about what it all meant for their future. Then they heard the tomb was empty, that others had seen Jesus alive!

Soon they saw the resurrected Lord with their own eyes. They talked with Him, ate with Him, and soaked up His teachings. The message of salvation through Jesus’ death on the cross meant that the sins of the world had been erased for all who would believe Him to be the Son of God.

Then the disciples watched Jesus rise into the sky. He was physically gone from their presence but soon they were filled with the promised Holy Spirit. That Spirit prompted, guided, and most of all, empowered them.

Instead of hiding behind locked doors, the disciples interacted with those around them. They prayed for those in need, saw prayers answered, and gave God the glory. As they shared the good news about Jesus, those in authority commanded them to be silent. Their response, “For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20).

May we boldly do the same. Let’s reach out and pray for those in need and share what God has done in our lives.

May God empower us so that we can’t help but tell others about Jesus.

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The Furnace of Affliction

Posted on February 19, 2025 by Arrow

Sometimes you hear a theme so encouraging you want to share it. That’s what’s happening today. A note was sent to me on Messenger where the timing was impeccable. It was only later that I realized the post was sent in April. I received it in December! Apparently, God was holding it until just the right time.

The scripture verse was rather alarming. “See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction” (Isaiah 48:10). Because of Israel’s stubborn and unfaithful heart, Jerusalem had fallen and God was exiling the nation to Babylon. There, God would refine them.

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Being refined is not a pleasant experience. Having impurities removed typically includes trials or testing. In the heat of that furnace, we choose whether we will give up, become hard-hearted and bitter, or if we will surrender to God’s will. The process may include the difficult act of forgiving those who have hurt us or refusing to be easily offended. We may be challenged to work on uncomfortable relationships by reaching out and extending mercy and grace.

In order to move forward, we need to keep believing even though circumstances feel impossible. We strive to remain faithful even when situations are completely unfair. We hang on even when we don’t see the answer we desire.

Recall the three faithful men in the Old Testament who were placed in a fiery furnace by a wicked king. Remember, they were not alone. A fourth “man” was seen with them. The three then walked out of that furnace unscathed, not even smelling like smoke! (Daniel 3)

Know that God is also with us in our trials. With Him, our faith grows stronger and we become ready for God to use us for a higher purpose.

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