Finding Comfort When God Draws Near - Martin Wiles

But the Lord came down to look at the city and the tower the people were building. Genesis 11:5 NLT

They popped over the treetops and whizzed along the nape of the field.

When I was a young lad, crop dusters were common in the flat farmland. Fields were planted with cotton, corn, and soybeans. Laws preventing certain chemicals, which we now know cause cancer and other diseases, had not been passed. So farmers and crop dusters spread cotton poison to protect their crops.

Visiting my grandfather’s farm and sitting on the front porch, watching planes crop dust the neighboring fields, was one of my favorite activities. From out of nowhere, the plane would appear at tree-top level, drop to just above the cotton, drop its load, and then pull up just before reaching power lines, homes, or trees. Enduring the stench of the cotton poison was almost more than I could bear, but it was worth it to see this acrobat’s antics.

There was a time long ago when God came low. When a group of people got together and decided to build the Tower of Babel. Seemingly an innocent task … until you read the rest of the story. Doing so was about selfishness and pagan worship. God dropped a load on them. Not poison, but the confusion of their languages and thus the end of their project.

A few thousand years later, God came low again. This time when he allowed his Son to take on human flesh and die for humanity’s sins. But he didn’t stop with that. After Jesus ascended back into heaven, God sent his Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, and the church was born. The psalmist was right when he said that God delights in every detail of their lives (Psalm 37:23).

As I delighted in watching the crop dusters fly low, so I enjoy knowing God flies low into my life’s experiences. And not only mine, but everyone’s who will call on him. He’s never too busy, nor is he ever unconcerned. What concerns us, no matter how insignificant, concerns our Creator. He can come down for our needs and everyone else’s at the same time. We don’t have to take a number or wait in line. God flies so low we can reach up and touch his grace, mercy, and assistance at any time we choose.

Let God fly low into every detail of your life.

Father, give me faith to reach out for you in every circumstance of my life, knowing you are as low as the stretch of my fingertips.

I invite you to try my book Grits, Grace, and God in eBook or paperback. If you want a daily dose of God's grace, 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.

A Woman of Faith - Melissa Henderson

Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 2 Timothy 4:2 NIV

After boarding the airplane, my husband and I searched for our seats. Passing the first class section and the people already waiting, we read the letters and numbers until we found our spots. There were three seats on our row. We had chosen the window and middle areas. As we settled and buckled our seatbelts, a woman arrived and sat next to me. We exchanged smiles. After a few minutes had passed, she spoke. “You must be a woman of faith.” Her words surprised me. How did she know?

I smiled and said, “Yes, but how did you know?” 

She pointed to my pink carry-on bag, which displayed the word FAITH in bold, embroidered letters. We both chuckled and began a wonderful conversation about God.

The woman and I shared our experiences of travel, family life, and prayer. As we waited for the flight attendant to provide instructions on the exit doors and other vital information, we continued to share about God's goodness.

Although our travel plans would take us to different states, for that brief time together on the plane, we found joy in discussing common interests and plans for the future. We never exchanged names or contact information. My husband gazed out the window and watched the clouds. I shared fellowship with a stranger who was also a woman of faith.

God knew his plan for that day. Perhaps someone across the aisle, or in front of us, or behind us, heard our conversation. Maybe that was the day someone became closer to God by hearing us share about our faith. We’ll never know why he placed two women of faith beside each other on that plane ride. But God knows.

Consider ways to share God's love so that others can have a relationship with Him. 

Melissa Henderson is an award-winning author who writes inspirational messages, sometimes humming with humor. She has authored Licky the Lizard and Grumpy the Gator. She is a contributor to many publications. Melissa is an elder, deacon, and Stephen Minister. Follow Melissa on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Goodreads, Bookbub, YouTube, LinkedIn, and at http://www.melissaghenderson.com.

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing. No one escapes life's hurts, but we can move beyond them to hope and healing. 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.

Life’s Unexpected Turn - Martin Wiles

How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. James 4:14 NLT

When they got out of bed that morning, none expected life’s unexpected turn.  

The Pentagon Memorial commemorates the 184 people who were killed on American Airlines Flight 77 and inside the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. Small illuminated concrete benches—representing each of the victims--are arranged so that reading a Pentagon victim’s name requires facing the Pentagon, while reading a plane victim’s name requires facing the direction the plane was traveling. 

Regardless of their ages or life circumstances, none of the victims expected terrorists to board their plane and direct it into the side of the Pentagon. Nor did those working in the Pentagon expect a plane to shatter their building.

Fog wasn't the issue that day. Terrorists were. Yet, fog can pose problems when flying. Thankfully, morning fogs generally only hang around until the sun burns them away. 

My wife and I once flew out of August, Georgia, on our way to see friends in Denver, Colorado. Our flight was delayed because of a thick layer of fog blanketing the area. Although it seemed as if we waited forever, we were only delayed one hour.

Life is like a fog. It doesn’t hang around long, and it often takes unexpected turns. Even if I’m fortunate to live into my nineties, my life is comparatively brief. What I need to do, I need to do now. 

The most important thing for anyone is to trust Christ as their Savior. But there are other things we also need to do. Deciding to trust Christ will assure us of heaven, but we may be on earth for quite some time, so other decisions affect our futures here.

When Jesus said he came to give abundant life, he wasn’t talking about life in heaven but rather life on earth. Obeying God’s commands and making serving Christ the centerpiece of our lives will usher in a type of existence that everyone searches for—but typically in the wrong places.

Spending time on endeavors that will outlast our lives makes sense. We can leave writings or spiritual journals. We can teach honorable trades or a Sunday school class. We can also leave an example that will affect our children, grandchildren, and others. But we only have a brief time to do it. Soon our lives will lift like the fog.

Decide to do something that will outlive your brief life.

Father, help me to live each day with purpose, so that when my brief life ends, I can die knowing I have served You and others well. 

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing. No one escapes life's hurts, but we can move beyond them to hope and healing. 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.

All There Monday - Cathy Joy Hill

Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32 NLT

Sometimes, we invite folks into our lives and really can’t remember how they got there.

I saw her headed to the bathroom and thought she didn’t look well. By the time she reappeared, everyone who wasn’t going on to Chicago had deplaned.

Inadvertently I had blocked the aisle as I stood and stretched. It had been a long day, and I faced another three hours on the plane.

“Are you waiting for the bathroom?” she spoke-shouted.

“No, just stretching. How are you?”

“Absolutely terrible.”

Because we were close together, I felt I couldn’t let her pass without at least a question, a word, or a hug. Something.

“What can I do for you?” I asked.

She told me she was air sick. I moved to a safer distance. Then she explained she was traveling to a funeral. She didn’t want to be on three flights to get there, but she was doing it for her friend.

This woman whom I had momentarily cast as loud and perhaps nauseous was a brave and compassionate soul. I applauded her.

Jim Elliot said, “Wherever you are, be all there.”

I was not excited about chatting with my elderly friend for the entire plane trip. But missing her story would have been a mistake. She encouraged me in ways she never knew.

I was tired, but my destination was home, family, love, and rest. Her destination was beside a friend and a casket.

Life is a bottle to pour out. We always have the choice to taste sweet in the bitter . . . to find joy amid the pain if we choose to see, hear, and be present.

I told my new friend to be brave. I told her how much I admired her and offered her my peppermint stick to soothe her motion sickness.

All there is the act of being aware of God—being brave in the face of whatever we face. It is knowing the joy, the true heaven-sent joy, of realizing He is there, even if we don’t want to be.

Tweetable: In what ways are you being all there? 

Cathy is a writer, teacher, and entrepreneur. She met her husband Brian while studying in Paris, France. They make their home in Geneva, IL, with their four children and their daughter-in-love. She loves writing about the wonder and whimsy of life and her love for Jesus. Her first book is Destination: Fierce, Moving from Fear to Fierce. Learn more about Cathy at www.cathyjoyhill.com.

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Flying Low - Martin Wiles

But the LORD came down to look at the city and the tower the people were building. Genesis 11:5 NLT

They popped over the tree tops and whizzed along the nape of the field. 

When I was a young lad, crop dusters were common where flat farmland was. Fields were planted with cotton, corn, and soybeans. Laws preventing certain chemicals—that we now know cause cancer and other diseases, had not been passed. So farmers and crop dusters spread cotton poison to protect their crops.
Visiting my grandfather’s farm and sitting on the front porch—watching planes crop dust the neighboring fields, was one of my favorite activities.

From out of nowhere, the plane would appear at tree top level, drop to just above the cotton, drop its load, and then pull up just before reaching power lines, homes, or trees. Enduring the stench of the cotton poison was almost more than I could bear, but it was worth it to see this acrobat’s antics. 

There was a time long ago when God came low. When a number of people got together and decided they would build the Tower of Babel. Seemingly an innocent task…until you read the rest of the story. Doing so was about selfishness and pagan worship. God dropped a load on them. Not poison but the confusion of their languages and thus the end of their project. 

A few thousand years later, God came low again. This time when He allowed His Son to take on human flesh and die for humanity’s sins. But He didn’t stop with that. After Jesus ascended back into heaven, God sent His Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, and the church was born. The psalmist had it right when he said God delights in every detail of their lives (Psalm 37:23).

As I delighted in watching the crop dusters fly low, so I enjoy knowing God flies low into my life’s experiences. And not only mine, but everyone’s who will call on Him. He’s never too busy, nor is He ever unconcerned. 

What concerns me—no matter how insignificant, concerns my Creator. 

He has the ability to come down for my needs and everyone else’s at the same time. I don’t have to take a number or wait in line. My God flies so low I can reach up and touch His grace, mercy, and assistance at any time I choose.

Let God fly low into every detail of your life. 

Prayer: Father, give us faith to reach out for You in every circumstance of our life, knowing You are as low as the stretch of our fingertips. 

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