Campus Crusade for Christ Needs Bibles for Soldiers!

Despite the troop reductions expected this year, there remains a tremendous demand for Bibles for our men and women in uniform. In fact, in response to numerous requests, 38,000 Rapid Deployment Kits were distributed to service members in December and January alone.

Each RDK contains a New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs, a daily devotional, and an evangelistic booklet all packaged in a waterproof bag. Requests for these Kits continue to pour into Campus Crusade for Christ's Military Ministry—still for an average of 15,000 to 20,000 RDKs each month.

Requests for these Kits continue to pour into Campus Crusade for Christ's Military Ministry-still for an average of 15,000 to 20,000 RDKs each month. Fulfilling all these requests is only possible with the help of people who care.

Including shipping and distribution costs, it still takes just $3.25 to get an RDK into the hands of a service member. Each RDK includes a camouflage New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs, a 90-day devotional, and a booklet, Would You Like to Know God Personally? that clearly and simply shares the Gospel. All the materials are packaged in a waterproof bag small enough to fit into a soldier's pocket.

Again, the demand for RDKs remains high. Young men and women are still being deployed into dangerous circumstances all the time—many of whom have never heard about Christ.

If you would like to give a gift via regular U.S. mail, please send your gift to:

Campus Crusade For Christ
Attention: Rapid Deployment Kits #HW2100
100 Lake Hart Drive, Dept. 2400
Orlando, FL 32832

If you wish to give a gift by telephone please call: (714) 568-1023

Or, visit Campus Crusade for Christ International

Submitted 2008 April Lorier | Related Posts

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Treat Your Family With Courtesy!

I ran into a stranger as he passed by,
"Oh excuse me please" was my reply.
He said, "Please excuse me too;
I wasn't watching for you."
We were very polite, this stranger and I.
We went on our way saying good-bye.

But at home a difference is told,
how we treat our loved ones, young and old.
Later that day, cooking the evening meal,
My son stood beside me very still.
As I turned, I nearly knocked him down.
"Move out of the way," I said with a frown.

He walked away, his little heart broken.
I didn't realize how harshly I'd spoken.
While I lay awake in bed,
God's still small voice came to me and said,
"While dealing with a stranger, common courtesy you use,
But the children you love, you seem to abuse.

Go and look on the kitchen floor,
You'll find some flowers there by the door.
Those are the flowers he brought for you.
He picked them himself: pink, yellow and blue.
He stood very quietly not to spoil the surprise,
and you never saw the tears that filled his eyes."

By this time, I felt very small,
and now my tears began to fall.
I quietly went and knelt by his bed;
"Wake up, little one, wake up," I said. "
Are these the flowers you picked for me?"
He smiled, "I found 'em, out by the tree.
I picked 'em because they're pretty like you.
I knew you'd like 'em, especially the blue."

I said, "Son, I'm very sorry for the way I acted today;
I shouldn't have yelled at you that way."
He said, "Oh, Mom, that's okay. I love you anyway."
I said, "Son, I love you too,
and I do like the flowers, especially the blue."

Author Unknown

Submitted 2008 April Lorier

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Marriage Takes Three, Not Two

I once thought marriage took
Just two to make a go,
But now I am convinced
It takes the Lord also.

And not one marriage fails
Where Christ is asked to enter,
As lovers come together
With Jesus at the center.

But marriage seldom thrives,
And homes are incomplete,
Till He is welcomed there
To help avoid defeat.

In homes where Christ is first,
It's obvious to see,
Those unions really work,
For marriage still takes three.

(c) 2008 April Lorier

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Am I a Leader or a Follower?

When leaders make a mistake, they say, "I was wrong."
When followers make mistakes, they say, "It wasn't my fault."

A leader works harder than a follower and has more time;
A follower is always "too busy" to do what is necessary.

A leader goes through a problem;
A follower goes around it and never gets past it.

A leader makes and keeps commitments;
A follower makes and forgets promises.

A leader says, "I'm good, but not as good as I ought to be;"
A follower says, "I'm not as bad as a lot of other people."

Leaders listen;
Followers just wait until it's their turn to talk.

Leaders respect those who are superior to them and tries to learn something from them;
Followers resent those who are superior to them and try to find chinks in their armor.

Leaders feel responsible for more than their job;
Followers say, "I only work here."

A leader says, "There ought to be a better way to do this;"
Followers say, "That's the way it's always been done here."

Submitted 2008 April Lorier

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You Have To Let God

As Children Bring Their Broken Toys
With Tears For Us To Mend

I Brought My Broken Dreams To God,
Because He Is My Friend

But Then Instead Of Leaving Him
In Peace To Work Alone,

I Hung Around And Tried To Help,
With Ways That Were My Own

At Last, I Snatched Them Back Again
And Cried, "How Can You Be So Slow?"

"My Child" He Said, "What Could I Do?
You Never Did Let Go!"

Author Unknown

Submitted 2008 April Lorier

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I Refuse to be Discouraged! How About You?

I refuse to be discouraged,
To be sad, or to cry;
I refuse to be downhearted,
And here's the reason why . . .

I have a God who's mighty,
Who's sovereign and supreme;
I have a God who loves me,
And I am on His team.

He is all wise and powerful,
Jesus is His name;
Though everything is changeable,
My God remains the same.

My God knows all that's happening,
From beginning to the end.
His presence is my comfort,
He is my dearest friend.

When sickness comes to weaken me,
To bring my head down low,
I call upon my mighty God;
Into His arms I go.

When circumstances threaten
To rob me from my peace,
He draws me close unto His breast,
Where all my strivings cease.

And when my heart melts within me,
And weakness takes control,
He gathers me into His arms,
He soothes my heart and soul.

The great "I AM" is with me,
My life is in His hands,
The "Son of the Lord" is my hope,
It's in His strength I stand.

I refuse to be defeated,
My eyes are on my God;
He has promised to be with me,
As through this life I trod.

I'm looking past all my circumstances,
To Heaven's throne above;
My prayers have reached the heart of God,
I'm resting in His love.

I give God thanks in everything,
My eyes are on his face;
The battle's His, victory is mine;
He'll help me win the race.

Author Unknown

Submitted 2008 April Lorier

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Pro-Gay Booklet in Every School? Stop the Madness!

Personally, I can't believe what I'm hearing. What has happened to the people in our school systems? I pray parents will rise up and make their voices heard! And most of all, I pray Christians will fall to their knees and ask God to intervene in this madness.

Schools are being told that messages about leaving homosexuality are harmful!

All 16,000 public school superintendents in the U.S. will be receiving a copy of Just the Facts about Sexual Orientation and Youth, a 24-page booklet that concludes homosexuality is a "normal expression of human sexuality."

“What’s so scary and dogmatic about this report is that it communicates that religious-based viewpoints are harmful, and even dangerous," said Candi Cushman, education analyst for Focus on the Family Action.

The pamphlet is endorsed by more than a dozen professional mental health and counseling organizations, education associations and one liberal religious group. The theme: Schools are only allowed to provide one message about homosexuality — that it's normal and should be embraced.

Alan Chambers, president of Exodus International, said he knows that’s not true.

“Allowing people to choose what is best for their lives is respectful, it’s tolerant, it’s everything that the other side uses as their mantra, but really fails to respect and live up to," he said.

The publication ends with a warning: "Schools should be careful to avoid discussions of transformational ministry in their curriculum.”

Brian Raum, senior legal counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, called that a thinly veiled threat.

“What they’re trying to do is create a fear factor here," he said. “There’s nothing in the Constitution that would prohibit a teacher from presenting to a student all of the programs that are available, without endorsing or promoting any particular one.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Visit Exodus International and Love Won Out online.

Submitted 2008 April Lorier | Related Posts

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Words: A Poem

Words: A Poem (by David Reinstein)

Words to express and
Words to conceal.
To create a dream
Or describe the real.
Words to engage and
Words to reject.
To be in agreement
Or to curtly correct.

Words to make love and
Words to make war.
To hide what we know
Or share what we saw.
Words meant to sooth and
Words meant to fight.
To darken a day
Or lighten a night.

They've no life of their own
Or are worth e'en a cent,
But that which we give them
With certain intent.
To use them with care
With our own inner light
Whenever we use them
To speak or to write
Is a goal for all people,
But one hard to achieve-
When internal impulses
Appear on our sleeve.

Words are forever and
Words can be lost.
They seem to be free
But can carry a cost.
Knowing and caring
Are two different things-
As is being aware of
What words can bring.

Words can sing and
Words can cry-
To express our deep feelings
Or reject and deny.
How we use them
Defines our own way
To all those who read
Or hear what we say.

(c) 2008 David Reinstein, All Rights Reserved
(Used with David's permission)
For More Poems by David

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Amazing Grace:Only The Black Notes

Amazing Grace is the best-known hymn of all times. And now it is making a huge comeback in popularity on YouTube, thanks to Wintley Phipps who is one of my favorite gospel singers. I have owned his cassettes and CDs for more than twenty-five years. He is also the President of The U.S. Dream Academy, an organization for children of prisoners.

He makes a statement that most Negro Spirituals were written on the black keys of the piano, and then he proves it. He plays "Every time I feel the Spirit", "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot", and then "Amazing Grace", a so-called "white spiritual." The white spirituals were written by white composers who used only the black keys.

Because I am a music teacher, I know those five keys (notes) are called the pentatonic scale, but in early America were referred to as the "slave scale". They build the power and pathos of the Negro Spirituals with their unique West African Sorrow Chant sound.

The words to Amazing Grace were written by John Newton, a former Captain of a Slave Ship. After Newton came to salvation through Jesus Christ, he heard a melody coming from the belly of the ship, and it is believed it was to that sorrowful melody that he wrote the words and named it Amazing Grace. Go to the Copyright Office and you will see "Words, John Newton. Music, Unknown."

Wintley says he believes God planned it to be written that way to remind us that we are all humans in common, no matter what race, creed, or color we happen to be. We are all connected by God's Amazing Grace.

In his deep, passionate voice, Wintley then begins - without words - to sing Amazing Grace in the way he imagines John Newton first heard it coming up out of the belly of the ship. His pathos is overwhelming, and his natural singing talent puts it over the top. If you have not watched the video you are depriving yourself of an encouraging inspiration that transcends words.

Amazing Grace, Wintley Phipps

To date, 2.5 million people have watched the video, and most of them may never have realized how powerful this song, played only on the black keys of the piano truly is.

In case you want to sing along, or you have never heard all of the verses, here they are.

Amazing Grace
Words by John Newton 1779

Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found
Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas Grace that taught my heart to fear,
And Grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already come.
'Tis Grace hath brought me safe thus far
And Grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me.
His Word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.

When we've been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we'd first begun.

May God bless you as you listen to Wintley Phipps, a beautiful African-American singer, singing only the black notes.

(c)2008 April Lorier | Related Posts

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Scars and Supernatural Knowing

God has been whispering to me from so many sources this week - articles I have read, TV stories I have viewed, and circumstances. The main message I've been getting from so many different sources is, "Where will this ultimately lead?"

Children do not have the ability to know consequences of choices until they have been trained by loving parents. As so adeptly illustrated by "The Nanny" each week, these must be mature parents who are willing to mix 6 parts love with 1 part consequences and be consistent. Once children get the connection between their behavior and immediate consequences, they stop to ask "Is this worth what I already know will happen?"

I watched an inspiring story about an all-male school for black boys where they were required to wear suits and ties, and I was so encouraged to hear one of the boys say, "At first it bothered me a lot, but then I asked myself, 'Will girls get me where I want to go to be a success?'" Whoa! From a fifteen year old, this is a big revelation!

Then I got an email from a friend who was celebrating her one-year anniversary of being a non-smoker. She had realized the cigarettes would not get her to her destination: living long enough to enjoy her grandchildren. Her problem was an addiction to nicotine, but it could just as easily been an addiction to porn, television, the computer, food, or disastrous relationships.

I've had a life-altering week, much of it spent in hospital rooms. God's Spirit whispered to me as I was being shuttled into an ultra-ray tomb-like machine, "The results will be negative. This is just a test... this is just a test... this is just a test." I said to the man running the machine, "I already know the results will be negative." And when my doctor called to tell me he had good news, I immediately said, "I know, Doc. I knew in the hospital."

My doctor wondered what in the world I was talking about; but how do I explain supernatural "knowing" to another human being? Do I risk sounding like a kook by saying, "God told me"?

There comes a time for every person following Jesus Christ and relying on His Grace when that supernatural knowing comes. It is not something one can explain or analyze. It is The Holy Spirit, The Comforter, Who plants that knowledge in our spirit. I call it The Knowing, but it could also be called "The peace of God which passes all understanding." It is a grace gift from God The Spirit at a time which is critical. It is a gift of knowledge.

God has shown me that because of a childhood in which I was the recipient of so much violence, I am scarred. The scar is not visible to the naked eye. It can only be seen as a fruit of violence, and its name is STRESS. Abused children become nervous adults who are unable to handle stress, yet seek it because it is familiar. The consequences are spastic colons, ulcers, spasming esophagus, heart attacks, or pulmonary thrombosis. So what is one to do?

Fortunately, I have been developing a habit of singing to The Lord. At night, especially, I put myself to sleep with lullabies to God my Father. And I have been learning to "Be still and know that I AM GOD." There is nothing my Father cannot do! I have been growing into that knowledge by faith. Further, He has increased my ability to believe that He loves me as much as He loves His other children, and if I ask, He will usually give me what I am asking for. He doesn't love me less (or more) than his other children.

So yesterday when that knowing came to me, I was not surprised. I had been poked, prodded, and stuck like a prize pork roast. I had indulged in normal human fear of the worst. But, in the end, I had been in position to receive the knowing.

So where does this lead? Spiritual maturity! Having the ability to look down the road and figure out where each choice of mine will lead me. It is inexplicable to anyone who has not experienced it, but pure joy for those who know, from their own experience, what I am talking about. I have been encouraged and inspired this week to reach yet another level of spirituality and calmness in my walk with Jesus. It will benefit me with physical health, spiritual maturity, and emotional calmness. But, in the end, it will be to the Glory of God.

(c)2008 April Lorier

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Eulogy for Common Sense

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.

He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm, why life isn't always fair, and how, on occasion, maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you earn) and reliable parenting strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned, but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job they themselves failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer aspirin, sun lotion or a sticky plaster to a student; but could not inform the parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband; churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar can sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. He is survived by three stepbrothers; I Know my Rights, Someone Else is to Blame, and I am a Victim.

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.

(Please note: I received this from a friend and am passing it on. Author is unknown, but very much appreciated. Feel free to pass it on.)

Submitted by April Lorier Perspective

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Character Molding - Backwards Philosophy Insight

But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. Jeremiah 18:4 NIV

I had just brought my pottery class friend to a saving knowledge of Christ the week before and, to inspire me, she hand-weaved an elegant ceramic breadbasket for me. "Read the inscription," she said, beaming with obvious satisfaction.

What you ARE is God's gift to you; what you BECOME is your gift to God.

It was a popular quote at the time, and meant to be encouraging. I was familiar with it, but it bugged me to distraction. It seemed such a little thing; but later, as I stared at the message, it dawned on me that while the message was meant to inspire me to be all I could be, it was contrary to scripture: it was backwards!

What I was -- a self-centered traveler on the wrong road -- was my gift to God. When I came to Him all I could bring was my sinful nature and my past mistakes. Any efforts to be good enough were as filthy rags to my Holy God.

What I become by the grace of God is God's gift to me. It is all His doing! My journey to become the person God wants me to be is sometimes filled with disappointment, pain, loneliness, and more questions than answers. The kneading, molding, and spinning He puts me through is designed to get rid of the hidden defects so that I will not burst in the heat of the kiln.

My job, as the clay, is to yield to my Potter's touch. Daily, as I put on the mind of Christ, He molds the clay of my character into the exquisite sculpture He wants me to become. When I cooperate with His plan, people are attracted to my changed spirit because I'm infinitely more attractive. People see Jesus in me!

My purpose, here on earth, is to attract people to Jesus, and I cannot do that unless I submit to the refining touches of the Master Potter. Oh my! How easily I, and many others, had been duped by a backwards philosophy!

Help me remember, God, it is You, The Potter, who shapes and reshapes me. Thank you for what I am becoming because of Your work. May I glorify You and attract others to You as You rid me of my defects. You know, Lord (just between You and I), I can hardly wait to see the finished product of Your gift to me!

Copyright 1997-2008 April Lorier

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Touched by Encouragement: Martha Williamson is BACK!

She was one of the few bright spots of my week for more than ten years. As executive producer of Touched by an Angel for nine years, Martha Williamson brought a consistent message of God exists, God loves you, God is only as far away as your heart keeps him away.

Already a veteran a television through such shows as The Facts of Life, Under One Roof, Jack’s Place and Promised Land (the spin off series from Touched by an Angel), Martha Williamson brought more than 25 million viewers to their television sets each Sunday night on CBS. From 1994 through 2003 she was what I looked forward to on television. For three of those years (2000 through 2003) she also produced Promised Land, another highly successful show for CBS. I loved that show, as well. Both shows were blatantly Gospel, encouraging and inspiring to millions of viewers.

Her life was going at 110 miles per hour for those nine years, and then with the cancellation of both shows, her life came to an abrupt stand still. But she and her husband adopted two little girls from China and then her life was filled with all that instant motherhood entails: diapers, feedings, sleepless nights (and now brownies, PTA, and Sunday School). They also spent months traveling across the U.S. in an RV, rediscovering and getting back in touch with the heartland, much like her characters on Promised Land.

Back in Los Angeles, by the time her girls entered preschool, Martha’s next milestone was turning 50. She got serious about doing things she had always wanted to do by that age. She wrote a one woman show and performed it several times at the Pasadena Playhouse and in Williamstown, MA. She did some teaching and wrote some TV pilots. While autopsies and murders have recently ruled prime time, Martha felt the pendulum needed to swing back towards uplifting television programming. Another goal Martha Williamson had was getting healthy and under the care of her physician. She has recently lost 120 pounds. (She is gorgeous, too!)

Then "just by chance" Martha had a business breakfast with a friend who is a Christian businessman in New York City. Their conversation stretched through the morning. As Martha was getting ready to depart, her friend’s lunch appointment arrived. It was Steve Waldman, co-founder of the Web site, BeliefNet.com. Martha was surprised when Steve said that BeliefNet would not exist if it had not been for Touched by an Angel. He credited the series with helping the public talk about faith and values.

Because it is a multi-faith Web Site (Christian, Jewish, Muslim, pagan, etc.), Martha’s first reaction, when Steve mentioned that he would love to have her as a part of BeliefNet, was to dismiss it. Until she heard the inner voice of the Lord say, “Keep your mind open.” She realized this would allow her to go where many Christians are not. Martha wants to light a candle instead of cursing the darkness.

So the good news is that Martha Williamson is back! She now has two inspirational video posts each week called “A Touch of Encouragement”, as well as a regular blog the rest of the week on BeliefNet. Instead of one or two line responses to her postings, Martha is getting long responses, as folks pour out their hearts to her. People are allowed to bare their souls anonymously, so she has plenty to answer.

Martha has always seen herself as part of a bridge between groups. She encourages folks to log on to her website, where they can reach out to each other from all parts of the world, post comments, share scriptures, and become a community that encourages each other.

I have been on her site and I am a regular reader of her blog and I can tell you that Martha Williamson is truly a woman of encouragement and inspiration! One post, in particular, talks about the woman voted as The Most Annoying Woman in America, Rosie O’Donnell. It is not what you’re expecting, I can tell you! Martha exudes the Spirit of Christ with every word she writes or speaks.

I’m just so tickled that Martha Williamson is back in the public eye, contributing as a wise, loving, inspirational Christian that I had to share it with everyone! I encourage all to visit her site, her blog, and be encouraged! Everyone needs encouragement, and Martha Williamson is just the girl who can deliver.

©2008 April Lorier | Related Posts

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Joseph and The Gift of The Fear of God

Today I am thinking about Joseph, one of my favorite characters in the Bible. Just like Jesus, Joseph was so much like his father, Jacob. And the similarities between Joseph and Jesus are amazing to me. In fact, most scholars believe Joseph is an archetype of Jesus.

Joseph occupies a very important place in Rabbinical literature, and no patriarch was the subject of so many Midrashic narratives. Rachel, his mother was visited by the Lord on Rosh ha-Shanah (Talmud).

Joseph is represented as a perfectly righteous man (tzadik gamur) and as the counterpart of his father; not only did Joseph resemble his father in appearance and in having been born circumcised, but the main incidents of their lives were parallel. Both were born after their mothers had been barren for a long time; and both were hated by their brothers; both were met by angels at various times. Joseph is extolled by the Rabbis for being well versed in the Torah, for being a prophet, and for supporting his brothers.

According to Phinehas (the grandson of Aaron, and son of Eleazar the high priest), the Holy Spirit dwelt in Joseph from his childhood until his death. So Joseph and his father, Jacob, shared much in common, with the exception of the deceitful nature of Jacob.

Remember: Joseph, being pursued by Potiphar's wife was not deceitful and suffered for years because of it. What intrigues me most about Joseph is the scene relating to his brothers coming to Egypt to appear before The King, or his viceroy, to beg for food in the middle of a devastating drought. When last he saw them, he was being thrown into a pit to die. Then they changed their minds and decided to sell him as a slave.

Joseph suffered through years of empty promises, undeserved slavery, and testing by God, only to become the absolute last word in Egypt as Ruler over Potiphar's house. His power was absolute. One could die or live with just one word from Joseph the judge.

What has always intrigued me was how he behaved towards his brothers. He was very tough -- almost mean, I think -- to them. Then he left the room to weep in private. Then back to his brothers, who still did not recognize him, with the same vengeance as the judge. He was only Zaphenathpaneah the Egyptian viceroy of The King to them, for their eyes had not been opened. Then back to weeping in private so his brothers could neither hear nor see.

He demanded they make two long journeys back to his father's house, even setting them up to be unjustly known as thieves. He demanded them to offer up what was most precious to them (and to his father) before he gave them badly needed food. Finally, the time came when he revealed himself to them, and they were petrified. With their eyes wide open, they wondered what would their brother do to them? They deserved worse than death, and they knew it!

Their fear of Joseph was real, deserved, and got their undivided attention. But what pours out of Joseph? Only grace, embraces, provision, tears of joy, and gratitude for the supernatural reunion with his brothers and then his father. Joseph then intercedes for them, winning them VIP status in Egypt. This whole scene is so inspiring to me because it bears such a resemblance to Jesus The Savior, Jesus The Resurrected, Jesus The Judge, and Jesus The Advocate.

It encourages me beyond comprehension to believe in the ultimate grace of God -- the same God Who tried Joseph in order to build up a healthy respect (fear) of God. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

I believe God has often put me through my paces to bring me to that same place: running back to Him. I think it is part of His love, this ordering of events. There are times I would not have dropped to my knees, nor hovered under my covers crying out to God in desperation had it not been for those trying times. Those times of utter pain that have put me in a position to open up to Him, willing to submit to His sovereignty no matter what happens.

It has only been my own insufficiency that has made me realize just how badly I need His Absolute Sufficiency. Years ago, I prayed, "God please do not let me be as the donkey in the Bible who had to be hit over the head before he would obey." I still pray that prayer.

I do not wish to be as my earthly parents were, but as Jesus was and is. He humbly walked to the cross after a night of wailing and begging for another way if there was one. He broke out with actual bleeding through his skin because of His anguish. But in the end, He said Nevertheless, not my will, but Your will be done. He was talking to His Father. He was like His Father in every way. He distinctly said, If you have seen Me, you have seen The Father.

I have to admit, though I want to be like Jesus, I am not asking for the same suffering. I am a coward and I know it. But what's more important is that God knows me. He knows what I can and cannot survive, and He has promised He will not give me more than I am equipped to bear.

So once again, I ask to be more like Jesus, just as He was like The Father: sort of like Father, like daughter. I'm grateful today for the gift of a healthy fear of God. It is His gift to me so that He can further gift me with wonderful grace and joy, unspeakable and full of glory.

(c) 2008 by April Lorier

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_(Hebrew_Bible)
Psalm 111:10
Mark 14:36
John 14:9

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