The New Family - Lynne Phipps

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families. Psalm 68:5-6 NIV

After my horse Frank’s mother died, he was very lonely. They had spent ten years together and formed their own family unit. Now, she was gone. He moped about for weeks and seemed to lose all interest in life. When let out of the corral onto our fenced acreage to graze, he was fearful and stayed close to the corral. We had three goats as well, plus a pack of dogs, but he shunned their company. 

Not until our property was threatened by a grizzly bear did things change. The goats needed protection, and Frank realized that only he and the dogs could provide it. At that moment, he chose to join the canine pack and confront the grizzly, who, knowing he was outnumbered, fled into the forest. From that time forward, Frank moved out of his grief and into a strong relationship with the goats and the dogs as his new family. 

God cares when we grieve. He cares when we find ourselves alone in life, due to any number of circumstances. He knows the hole that has been left in our heart when loved ones are lost and the depression which can so easily overtake us amidst such loss. He knows, and he cares. He cares so much that he does something about it: He sets the lonely in families. This is a promise. Like Frank, however, we need to embrace the new family he sets before us.  

If grief has us in its grips, we don't have to despair. We can cling to God’s truth: He sets the lonely in families. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, saves those who are crushed in spirit, and binds up their wounds. Healing is happening even now, though it may not feel like it. One day at a time, the darkness will recede a little more. The light will begin to shine as we trust and cling to him who loves us and will never leave or forsake us.  

When our hearts are ready, a new family relationship that God is even now preparing will come our way. It will never take the place of what we have lost, for nothing ever can. It may even be far different than we could ever imagine, but it will be good and right and lovely. It will meet the need of our heart and grant us the joy, companionship, and love that God knows we each crave, long for, and need. 

Ask God now to prepare your heart to accept the good gift that, in his time, will come your way.

Thank you, Lord, that you heal the brokenhearted and save the crushed in spirit. Thank you for promising to set the lonely in families. Prepare the hearts of the grieving from the loss of family to accept the good gift of new family relationships you will bring their way. In Christ’s name, amen.

Lynne Phipps and her family live on a small hobby farm in the heart of Alberta, Canada’s farming country. She has been writing devotions for forty years and never tires of the spiritual correlation the Holy Spirit blesses her with. He uses normal everyday events and the behaviors of the multitude of glorious creatures He has brought across her path to point her to the truths of God. Lynne is a devotion writer for VineWords: Devotions and More, Christian Devotions, and Love Lines from God. 

If you seek hope and healing because of hurts you have faced, then Hurt, Hope, and Healing is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

The Pen - Lynne Phipps

So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. 1 Samuel 16:13 NIV

During the summer months, I keep my miniature horse, Frank, and his companion Minnie, the donkey, in a pen attached to the barn throughout the day. Once evening arrives, I release them into the corral where they can graze all night until the sun rises. Why, you might ask? 

Dr. Noman Tariq explains: 

Grass is most risky for horses at certain peak times. In the spring, new growth means high levels of sugar and starch. After a frost, stressed plants build up even more sugar. These changes can lead to laminitis, obesity, and other health issues. Horses at risk should have limited turnout during these periods. The weather has a significant impact on the amount of sugar in grass. Sunny days raise sugar levels, and cold nights stop plants from using it, so it builds up by morning. 

Miniature horses and donkeys are especially prone to laminitis and diabetes, so keeping them penned up when grass sugar levels are highest is important for maintaining their good health. Although Frank and Minnie are not pleased and don’t understand their situation, I know why keeping them penned is important, and that’s what really counts.

Sometimes, we feel penned in too, just as I’m sure David did after being anointed as King and then having to wait approximately twenty years to finally take the throne. God, however, knew that David needed not only to be anointed king but also to mature spiritually, emotionally, and mentally before he could be the kind of King who could rule wisely. The throne did not come to David until God knew that he was ready for the task at hand.

Likewise, because God’s timing is always perfect, He often makes us wait a time before the way opens, allowing us to move forward in a certain direction. Understanding that this is not a punishment but a time for the Holy Spirit to mature and grow as God deems fit allows us to wait more patiently and spend time praising Him for the good work He is doing within us. In the end, we will be well equipped for the good work He has prepared for us.

Enjoy the pens in which God places you, knowing they have a purpose. 

Father God, thank You that Your timing is always perfect. Remind us through the power of Your Holy Spirit that waiting on You is not wasted time, but a time to grow, mature, and praise You for the good work You are doing in us, so that in turn, we might accomplish the good work You have prepared for us to do. In Christ’s name, amen.

Lynne Phipps and her family live on a small hobby farm in the heart of Alberta, Canada’s farming country. She has been writing devotions for forty years and never tires of the spiritual correlation the Holy Spirit blesses her with. He uses normal everyday events and the behaviors of the multitude of glorious creatures He has brought across her path to point her to the truths of God. Lynne is a devotion writer for VineWords: Devotions and More, Christian Devotions, and Love Lines from God. 

If you seek hope and healing because of hurts you have faced, then Hurt, Hope, and Healing is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

The Walk - Lynne Phipps

Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. . . . Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away. Genesis 5:22, 24 NIV

My dogs and I try to walk every day. Since our property is fenced, the dogs can run freely. Some of them like to be out in front of me. Some cast back and forth across the field, and if not for the fence, would soon be out of sight. Others, however, always walk closely by my side. The walk is the highlight of my day.

As I contemplated the way the dogs and I walk together, I thought of how I walk with God. Do I like to walk out ahead of him, seeking my own path, only running back to him when I find myself in trouble? And do I cast about in the field of life, checking out all the exciting things it offers. Looking at things that can pull me farther away from my walk with him, until I can no longer hear his voice on the horizon of my mind? Or do I choose to walk closely beside God daily? 

In the Old Testament, those who walked with God did so by faith. They looked forward to the coming of the prophesied Messiah, Jesus Christ. Today, we walk with God through the guidance of his Holy Spirit, who resides in all who have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior. He is the Messiah, whom God foretold at the beginning of time in the garden after Adam and Eve sinned.

Walking closely with God, by remembering and dwelling upon the truth of his Word and by the power of his Holy Spirit, keeps us on the right path for life. Additionally, it protects, comforts, and guides us in the best way forward. Doing so also opens our eyes more each day. God shares with us just who he is and how much he loves us.

How is your walk with God? Are you out front, doing your own thing? Casting about, looking for something you think will be a little more exciting? Or calmly and obediently, like Enoch, are you walking by his side, feeling his approval day by day, until he takes you away to dwell with him forever?

Think of ways you can walk with God daily. 

Father God, may I choose to walk with you closely each day. Help me enjoy the peace, joy, comfort, protection, and love that come from doing so. In Christ’s name, amen.

Lynne Phipps and her family live on a small hobby farm in the heart of Alberta, Canada’s farming country. She has been writing devotions for forty years and never tires of the spiritual correlation the Holy Spirit blesses her with. He uses normal everyday events and the behaviors of the multitude of glorious creatures He has brought across her path to point her to the truths of God. Lynne is a devotion writer for VineWords: Devotions and More, Christian Devotions, and Love Lines from God. 

If you seek hope and healing because of hurts you have faced, then Hurt, Hope, and Healing is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

The Spirit's Direction - Lynne Phipps

But when he the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. John 16:13 NIV 

As a school bus driver, I needed my own route rather than being a spare driver. I have no sense of direction, so when I was sent out to cover another driver’s route, I would always get lost unless I had driven it several times. 

Fortunately, when it comes to spiritual direction, life is much easier because of the Holy Spirit’s presence.  

The Holy Spirit resides in the hearts of all believers in Jesus Christ--those who have trusted in the work he did upon the cross. The Spirit can direct us daily as we are open to hearing, embracing, and following his lead.

The Spirit uses God’s Word and brings it to our minds when we need it, showing us the way to proceed. It is therefore important for us to know the Word. All Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that we are thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16).

The Spirit, through his still, quiet voice within us, can also impress on our hearts and minds to follow God’s direction.

Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been prevented by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them. 

It was the Spirit who led Jesus into the desert, where Satan tempted him for forty days (Luke 4:2).

The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it” (Acts 8:29). Philip obeyed and led a man to faith in Christ.

What a relief these truths concerning the Spirit are. This world has many twisty and dangerous paths, detours, and dead ends where one can easily get lost or confused. With the Holy Spirit within us, however, we always have God’s compass ready to urge us toward the correct path to follow. 

Father God, thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit. Encourage me daily to ask for his leading. In Christ’s name, amen.

Lynne Phipps and her family live on a small hobby farm in the heart of Alberta, Canada’s farming country. She has been writing devotions for forty years and never tires of the spiritual correlation the Holy Spirit blesses her with. He uses normal everyday events and the behaviors of the multitude of glorious creatures He has brought across her path to point her to the truths of God. Lynne is a devotion writer for VineWords: Devotions and More, Christian Devotions, and Love Lines from God. 

If you seek hope and healing because of hurts you have faced, then Hurt, Hope, and Healing is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

 

 

 

 

 

The Sun - Lynne Phipps

To bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. Isaiah 61:3 NIV

It was a cold winter’s day. So cold that I debated going for my daily walk with the dogs, worrying that it would be too frigid for their feet. Nevertheless, they were anxious to get outside, so off we went. 

As we trudged around the snowy path, I pulled my parka hood up over my hatted head to try to cut the searing north wind. What a bitter day, I thought. In spite of the cold, however, the beauty of the brilliant blue sky against the stark white landscape was a sight to behold. Best of all, however, was the heat of the winter sun beating down upon us, making our glacial experience that much more bearable.

That winter sun reminded me of the last part of today’s scripture verse: a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. Life, just like the weather, can at times become quite bitter, causing us to become discouraged or even to despair. God understands this and has given us a remedy to make our difficult situations bearable. 

Praise is the key to lifting our spirits and blessing us with the encouragement, hope, and strength to persevere amidst the winters of life.

Praise focuses our attention on the truth of who God is, what He has done in the past, and what He will do now and in the future. Praise opens the door of hope, as well as expectancy. God is ever-present.  He will never leave us. He goes before us and can lead us on the right path. He is the God of peace who will provide every good thing we need in order to do His will. God provides wonderful counsel and wisdom. He hears us when we cry and answers our pleas. He is also able to do exceedingly abundantly more than we could ever hope or dream, more even than our highest prayers.

Yes, when we don the garment of praise amidst our times of discouragement or despair, our spirits are lifted, our burdens become lighter, and hope for today as well as tomorrow begins to shine down upon us, just as that warmth of that winter sun shone down upon me on that cold and bitter winter’s day and gave me strength to keep going.

Father God, thank you for the garment of praise to banish the spirit of heaviness within my life when the storms of life assail me. Remind me to don it quickly and wrap it tightly around me. In your name I pray, amen. 

Lynne Phipps and her family live on a small hobby farm in the heart of Alberta, Canada’s farming country. She has been writing devotions for forty years and never tires of the spiritual correlation the Holy Spirit blesses her with. He uses normal everyday events and the behaviors of the multitude of glorious creatures He has brought across her path to point her to the truths of God. Lynne is a devotion writer for VineWords: Devotions and More, Christian Devotions, and Love Lines from God. 

If you seek hope and healing because of hurts you have faced, then Hurt, Hope, and Healing is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

The Hidden - Lynne Phipps

Now we see but a poor reflection; then we shall see face to face.  Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12 NIV

As spring approached and the days warmed, the deep snow in the dog’s yard disappeared flake by flake.  With its demise, the hidden became more apparent.  

Bright colors shone through, and shapes materialized. Dog toys galore, buried beneath the mantle of white, emerged one by one. The dogs were thrilled to find this treasure trove of delights. The toys, of course, had been there all along; they just couldn’t see them.

Likewise, many things about God remain hidden even to the most dedicated of Christians. Even Moses, who at God’s command led the Hebrews out of slavery in Egypt, could only view the glory of God from behind as God passed by. After all, no one could see God’s face and live. 

The apostle John was granted many visions and revelations concerning the things yet to come, the Kingdom, and the enemies of God. He sought to describe these visions as he penned the book of Revelation, a book which scholars still study and seek to understand.

Mary learned that she would bear the Son of God, yet it was an angel who made the announcement. She heard from God, but could only see Him in His fulfilled promise.

Each of these great heroes of faith knew God in part, but not in whole. They too had to continue to walk by faith, day by day, trusting that what they did know about the Almighty would not fail them, that His promises were true and faithful in every way, just as He is.

Therefore, amidst our own questions, concerns, and from time to time, our doubts, we too must walk by faith. We must trust in our hearts that, though much remains hidden concerning God and His Kingdom, one day God will make all things clear. God will lift the veil from our eyes, just as the snow melts away, revealing what lies beneath. When that day arrives, all our questions will be answered, and our doubts and concerns will vanish. We will fully see the glory of God, just as He fully knows us, even now.

What joy shall fill our souls as the hidden bursts forth upon our sight. God, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever, shall be our portion in all His splendor and glory forever and ever. 

Father God, thank You that one day, Your glory, which has always been but in its fullness has been hidden from our mortal sight, shall one day become clear and known to us for eternity. In Christ’s name, amen.

Lynne Phipps and her family live on a small hobby farm in the heart of Alberta, Canada’s farming country. She has been writing devotions for forty years and never tires of the spiritual correlation the Holy Spirit blesses her with. He uses normal everyday events and the behaviors of the multitude of glorious creatures He has brought across her path to point her to the truths of God. Lynne is a devotion writer for VineWords: Devotions and More, Christian Devotions, and Love Lines from God. 

If you seek hope and healing because of hurts you have faced, then Hurt, Hope, and Healing is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

 

The Misjudgment - Lynne Phipps

You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. Romans 14:10 NIV

As I filled my gas tank at the service station, a lady driving a pickup and pulling a long boat trailer pulled into the pumps closest to the convenience store door. Unfortunately, she misjudged the length of her vehicle and the angle she needed to pull alongside the pumps. The misjudgment caused her to end up with the front passenger side of her truck up on the walkway leading into the store, while the boat trailer on the driver’s side was wedged solidly against the side of the gas pump.  

I wondered how she would get out of this mess. Several men had already gathered around and were assessing the situation, trying to decide the best way to rectify the problem. The poor driver stood to the side, obviously embarrassed by the predicament she had created. My heart went out to her.

Misjudging situations and ascertaining the correct angle for tackling problems can be difficult. It can also be embarrassing, especially when others judge us harshly or unfairly. Something I admit I have been guilty of from time to time. 

As God’s children, however, judging others is not our job. Only God knows the heart, and it is up to him to make judgments. Through our prayers, the Holy Spirit can guide us daily, helping us discern the right angle for tackling any and all problems. He can also remind and nudge us when we are tempted to judge others’ misjudgments.  

The great preacher, John Wesley, wrote, “Do all the good we can, by all the means we can, in all the ways we can, in all the places we can, at all the times we can, to all the people we can, as long as ever we can.” 

Think of ways you can do good rather than judge. 

Father God, thank you for the grace, love, kindness, and mercy you always show when judging me. Please remind me that judging others is never my job. Instead, I am to express the love and goodness of Christ in all I do at all times and in all places. Empower me to do so, as I rely upon the power of your Holy Spirit within me. In Christ’s name, amen.

Lynne Phipps and her family live on a small hobby farm in the heart of Alberta, Canada’s farming country. She has been writing devotions for forty years and never tires of the spiritual correlation the Holy Spirit blesses her with. He uses normal everyday events and the behaviors of the multitude of glorious creatures He has brought across her path to point her to the truths of God. Lynne is a devotion writer for VineWords: Devotions and More, Christian Devotions, and Love Lines from God. 

If you seek hope and healing because of hurts you have faced, then Hurt, Hope, and Healing is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

The Blankets - Lynne Phipps

All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. Isaiah 64:6 NIV

While watching television, I often busy my hands with crocheting baby blankets.

Over the years, some have gone to individuals, while others have gone to groups and churches. The ones I remember best, however, went to an orphanage in Guatemala. Missionary friends had let me know that newborns, in the poorest sections of the country, were sent home from the hospital wrapped in newspapers to keep them warm. Having delivered newspapers for many years, I remember how black my clothes got from touching the newsprint. They truly did look like filthy rags. Surely the babies of Guatemala deserved something better. Eventually, with the help of our missionary friends, we delivered handmade blankets to those hospitals. Many newborns were no longer wrapped in the equivalent of filthy rags.

Scripture also talks about filthy rags. Isaiah says all our righteous acts are like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). How, though, can the right things, the good and lovely things which we do, be classified as filthy? In fact, they are not.

When we seek to wrap ourselves in the blanket of them, however, with the belief that they will make us acceptable to God, they become as pitiful and useless as filthy rags. Our good deeds mean nothing to God when it comes to preparing us to stand before Him. They all fall short. No amount will cover our sins or make us righteous before Him. So what are we to do if our good deeds are not enough to gain us entrance into heaven and fellowship with God forever?

Righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.  We have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory, but we can be justified freely by God’s grace through Jesus Christ.

Blanketing ourselves in God’s grace—believing in Christ and the work He did when he shed his blood on the cross—is the only way we can stand in righteousness before a holy God. Our righteousness does not come through good deeds but through the righteousness of Christ. 

Examine yourself to see what you are blanketed in. 

Lynne Phipps and her family live on a small hobby farm in the heart of Alberta, Canada’s farming country. She has been writing devotions for forty years and never tires of the spiritual correlation the Holy Spirit blesses her with. He uses normal everyday events and the behaviors of the multitude of glorious creatures He has brought across her path to point her to the truths of God. Lynne is a devotion writer for VineWords: Devotions and More, Christian Devotions, and Love Lines from God. 

If you seek hope and healing because of hurts you have faced, then Hurt, Hope, and Healing is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

 

The Hunt for Truth - Lynne Phipps

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8 NIV

Easter morning is always an exciting and bustling time within our household as my granddaughters search for Easter eggs. These goodies have been cleverly hidden by their parents, and the girls must search diligently to find them. What happiness ensues when all have been discovered, and their Easter baskets are overflowing with yummy treats. But the hunt for truth should bring even more excitement. 

Searching for Easter eggs brought to mind the treats of truth and wisdom God has hidden for us within his Word. The Scriptures hold the secrets of life. They reveal who God is and how we may come into a relationship with him through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. They teach us how to deal with any situation life can throw at us. We learn how to praise God and the best way to treat our enemies. 

God’s Word has the power to correct our behavior and convict us of wrong thoughts and actions. It can restore us spiritually and emotionally. The Scripture makes the simple wise and promotes hope and joy. It prepares us for the future and relieves us of the burdens of our past. Indeed, within God’s Word are found treasures beyond compare.

Like hunting for hidden Easter eggs, however, we too must be prepared to hunt for these gems of truth within the Scriptures. We must be willing to ask God for a hunger in our hearts for his Word as well as guidance as we read it. We must be persistent in searching the Word for new truths that we may have missed. Some, we may not have been mature enough to see or understand at a previous time. We must also be tenacious in seeking enlightenment regarding how to apply these precious truths to our everyday lives.

When the girls hunt for their eggs, they are rewarded for finding them. They gather them and eventually pop them into their mouths to enjoy the tasty morsels. Likewise, when we seek, ask, and knock to discover the truths in God’s Word, we too are blessed as we discover, embrace, and taste their goodness by putting them into practice and seeing that they are good.

Make sure your hunt for truth takes you to God’s Word daily. 

Father God, thank you for your precious Word. Encourage and motivate me to hunger for its truths.  Strengthen me to be tenacious when asking, seeking, and knocking. Grant me enlightenment, wisdom, correction, and teaching through them, so that I might live a good and productive life. Help my life to be a witness of your lovingkindness and mercy to all those around me. In Christ’s name I pray, amen.

Lynne Phipps and her family live on a small hobby farm in the heart of Alberta, Canada’s farming country. She has been writing devotions for forty years and never tires of the spiritual correlation the Holy Spirit blesses her with. He uses normal everyday events and the behaviors of the multitude of glorious creatures He has brought across her path to point her to the truths of God. Lynne is a devotion writer for VineWords: Devotions and More, Christian Devotions, and Love Lines from God.

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

 

 

The Anchor - Lynne Phipps

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. Hebrews 6:19 NIV

The windstorm was fierce. I was thankful for the anchor.

The howling awoke me from a sound sleep. As I lay cozy under the blankets, I heard a loud roaring and flapping, like some huge carpet shaken in the heavens. I rose and ventured outside to see where the noise was coming from. Everything seemed fine. Since the noise had decreased, I returned to my bed.

In the morning, my daughter came over and told me to look at something. The wind from the night’s ferocious windstorm had lifted our ten-by-twenty-foot steel hay shed and moved it several inches. This was the noise I had heard in the darkness, but could not see because of the tree barrier between my house and the shed.

Fortunately, our shed was anchored to the ground. Although it moved slightly, it did not flip over or move from its foundation. Within hours, my son-in-law had it pushed back squarely onto the foundation. He then proceeded to drive in even deeper anchors for protection against the next severe storm that might come our way.

Likewise, today’s scripture ensures that we also have an anchor for our souls, one that holds us firm and secure against life’s storms. Our belief in Jesus Christ is our hope now and for eternity. Our trust in Christ ties us to him as our Savior, who even now abides in heaven with God our Father and is busy preparing a place for us. This anchor of hope is secure because through God’s written word, God has said so, and he cannot lie. His word is true and firm now and forever.

Life will seek to beat against us with its often-ferocious winds of suffering, turmoil, confusion, and discouragement. It may even, at times, cause us to doubt God’s eternal love and care, threatening to shift us from our foundation of faith. Amidst it all, however, Christ, the anchor of our souls, will never leave nor forsake us. Through Scripture and his still small voice, the Holy Spirit will comfort, encourage, and remind us that we belong to him. He will gently move us back to our firm foundation of faith.

Pray that these truths might be more deeply anchored in your heart and mind. Then, no matter what may blow your way, your faith will not shake.

Father God, grant me a hunger and thirst to know the truth of both Your written and living Word. Remind me that Jesus Christ is the hope that anchors my soul. Keep my faith from shaking or moving. In Christ’s name, amen.

Lynne Phipps and her family live on a small hobby farm in the heart of Alberta, Canada’s farming country. She has been writing devotions for forty years and never tires of the spiritual correlation the Holy Spirit blesses her with. He uses normal everyday events and the behaviors of the multitude of glorious creatures He has brought across her path to point her to the truths of God. Lynne is a devotion writer for VineWords: Devotions and More, Christian Devotions, and Love Lines from God.

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

The Pancakes - Lynne Phipps

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2 NIV

My granddaughters love pancakes and request them for breakfast whenever they stay overnight, which is frequently. Since I make the batter from scratch, the girls are always anxious to help by fetching ingredients and stirring the mixture for the pancakes. 

One day, seven-year-old Ade asked if she could try making the batter. Ade is a bit like a hummingbird: never still and always moving quickly rather than cautiously. I was tempted to say no, sure a mess would ensue if I granted her request, and I do so hate a mess. Still, I mused, she did need to learn sometime and maybe today was the right time. Thus, I reluctantly agreed.

First, I had her read the recipe through, and we discussed the meaning of the measurement symbols. Then she retrieved the ingredients from the pantry. Next, we measured the wet ingredients, along with cracking the egg. Dry ingredients followed, and then we added the wet to the dry, then mixed everything. She had accomplished her task. 

Yes, flour was on the counter and the floor. Milk had slopped over, and I had to pick eggshells from the batter. Ingredient containers littered the countertop. Yet, Ade’s beaming face and confidence in her success far outshone the cluttered, messy countertop. Today, she not only makes the batter with little mess but also is adept at pouring the batter onto the griddle. She also knows when the pancakes are ready to turn and flips them with ease. She also cleans up.

In the book of Acts, Paul had a sharp disagreement with Barnabas over taking along a young disciple, John Mark. For some reason, Paul had dismissed him earlier. Barnabas disagreed and felt the young man should be given another chance. He was not willing to give up on him. 

Later, in the book of Timothy, Paul realized that John Mark was a good and helpful worker. Thankfully, Barnabas had persevered with patience and gentleness, aiding this young follower of Christ to grow into a mature and valued Christian man.

Likewise, each of us has many opportunities in our daily lives to be patient and gentle with those who are still growing and learning. After all, who among us can ever say that we have nothing more to learn? 

Let us therefore pray for open eyes and hearts to see those whom God places in our pathway. Additionally, we can teach them in whatever ways God may reveal to us. In this way, we can encourage their confidence and maturity. After all, isn’t this what God does for us?

Father God, help me today to be willing to help others grow and mature as the need and opportunity arise. In Christ’s name, amen.

Lynne Phipps and her family live on a small hobby farm in the heart of Alberta, Canada’s farming country. She has been writing devotions for forty years and never tires of the spiritual correlation the Holy Spirit blesses her with. He uses normal everyday events and the behaviors of the multitude of glorious creatures He has brought across her path to point her to the truths of God. Lynne is a devotion writer for VineWords: Devotions and More.

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