Looking in the Rearview Mirror

I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 3:14 nkjv

I needed to drive to a meeting. The drive takes about forty minutes, most of which is on the interstate. Since I don’t drive on the highway frequently, before backing out of the garage, I strapped my seatbelt, adjusted my mirrors, checked my directions, and prayed. In fact, I prayed for almost forty minutes!

As I whizzed down the road at sixty, okay seventy, miles per hour, I thought about how often I looked in the rear-view mirror. Many years ago in driver’s education, my instructor told me to check my mirrors frequently while driving.

Looking back is advantageous at times. On the way home, I passed through downtown at rush hour, and I could keep my eye on the semis, aggressive drivers who rushed past me like I stood still, or the drivers distracted by cellphones.

In life, looking back can be an education. We learn what not to do by examining our mistakes. But bad memories can hinder us from living in the present. We must not dwell on past mistakes, but learn from them and move on.

We can also reminisce with our positive memories thanking God for His blessings. We never want to forget the goodness of our Father. We sing a popular song at church that says, “Look what the Lord has done.” Even good memories can stifle our lives by causing us to wish things were ‘the way they used to be.’ God has done marvelous things in the past, and because He does not change, He does marvelous things today, too!

If I had spent the greater part of my time driving on the interstate looking in my rearview mirror, I’m sure I wouldn’t be here at all. To live life to its fullest, we cannot linger in the past. The apostle Paul put it this way. “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.” (Philippians 3:12-13 nkjv)

Maybe I wouldn’t check my mirrors so often if I drove the speed limit. Oh, me. Did I admit that?

Prayer: Lord, help me to trust You, to thank You for ‘this day,’ and to and to be present and ready to do Your will. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Steak or Green Beans?

Lori Anton of Women with Heart has published Steak or Green Beans? - an article dealing with Christians being judgmental of one another. Click here to read. I'd love some feedback. God bless you! - Donna

A Call to Praise

Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name. – Hebrews 13:15 amp



I received the nicest email from someone who stumbled across my devotionals. Dianne complimented me on the site, and encouraged me to keep working for the Lord. I appreciate the fact that Dianne took the time to cheer on a fellow Christian she has never met.



Her email caused me to wonder. Have I applauded someone who’s done a good job lately? Have I inspired someone to work harder in his or her ministry? And most importantly – have I been faithful to praise God?



Everyone can use a boost now and then. I have to admit that sometimes I notice the negative before the positive. I jump in to fix what I perceive as wrong before I stop to appreciate what is right. These days I make an intentional effort to focus on the positive.



Does God really need for us to compliment Him? In Psalm 22:3, David said, “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.” What does it mean to inhabit? To be present in; be inside of. God is present when we praise Him. God dwells inside those who praise Him.



Stop for a moment. Is there someone in your life you could call today to encourage? In our church, Lori Barker does a lot of the ‘behind the scenes’ kind of work. As the ‘pastor’s wife’, I’m so grateful for people like Lori who don’t hesitate to do the things for which there is no outward praise. We have several more like Lori, too. We are blessed.



Not everyone writes or sings or preaches, but tell me – who in your church buys the bread for Communion? Who cleans the church or types up the bulletins? Do you know? Why not tell them today how much you appreciate their ministry?



Take some time, too, to praise the Lord. Perhaps you might like to memorize this verse: While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being. - Psalm 146:2



Prayer: Lord, I praise You and give You glory for You are so worthy to be praised. Make me aware of those around me in need of a word of praise or thanks. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Mission Possible

Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them. – Psalm 139:16 esv



I can finally see some shoots of grass in my front yard. A big snowstorm hit our area a few weeks ago, and blanketed everything with twenty inches of snow with a few more added here and there since then. For a while, I felt like God had us inside a giant snow globe, and every so often, He’d give us a good shake.



As I stood at my back door watching the enormous flakes floating gently to the ground, I thought about how each one is unique. Just like people. Did you know there is no one else exactly like you? The arrangement of ridges in any fingerprint is thought to be unique and permanent with each person. No two persons having the same prints have ever been found.



Isn’t that amazing? Lenny LeBlane wrote a song entitled “There Is None Like You.” The lyrics refer to God, but the title could have been written about you.



David wrote in the 139th Psalm: “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.” (Psalm 139:14-15 esv)



As a musician, David, wrote a beautiful song extolling the wonder of the intricacy of our form. It’s just like a unique God to make each of His creatures unique as well.



You have a ministry and a commission given to you by Jesus Christ Himself to reach those around you in your ‘Jerusalem.’ You have an incomparable mission. We have a common goal to reach others for Christ, but your ministry is unique. Your circle of influence reaches people I will never touch. They’ll never read my writing or talk to me or hear me sing. They will have never heard of me. But they know you. They know your life. Who will cross your path today? Are you ready to be the witness God would have you be? Perhaps someone will need to hear words only you can speak, or you might be the only person who can empathize with someone’s plight. Pray. Be ready.



As I write this, God has seen fit to shake my world once again. Giant snowflakes fall in silence outside my window – so beautiful, but please, God – can we keep it down to just an inch or less?



Prayer: Lord, help me to be aware of my unique ministry. May I be led of the Holy Spirit to minister to those You bring across my path. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.



To read the Lyrics to “There Is None Like You,” click here.



To hear a recording: click here.

I'm Smitten with Molly

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds. – James 1:2 ESV



We added a member to our household – a seven-week-old Boston Terrier. Oh, the joy of having a puppy. Molly, her name since this morning, nuzzles into your neck and your heart. She hops instead of runs, plays hard and sleeps soundly, and when we leave the room, cries in such a pitiful way we run right back in to comfort her.



Already I’ve seen a bit of stubbornness in her. She wants to sleep on the sofa right next to me, snuggled into a leopard print throw. When I get up to do chores, she keeps whining for me to sit back down.




How can such a tiny being have such a strong will? So far, I’m being accommodating, but eventually I’ll have to get stern with her. There’s no telling what kind of mess a puppy can get into without proper supervision.



Isn’t that like we humans? We place our hands on our hips, and defy God. “Why can’t You do what I want to do?” We question why we go through trials, when the Lord may be trying to train us, teach us, and is only concerned about our best interest. We can get ourselves into some pretty big messes when we ignore His direction, can’t we?



God accommodates His children to an extent, but then spiritually, we need to grow up. We bow to His will. His supervision will always be for our good. James the Apostle said the testing of our faith produces steadfastness. When we trust God during a difficult time, our faith increases, and we learn patience. We grow up a little.



According to what I’ve read, Boston Terriers have a tendency to resist being told what to do – another trait shared by many humans. Life will be much more pleasant for all of us if Molly learns to follow commands. God has laid out in His Word many commandments for us to follow. How much better would our lives be if we lived according to God’s Word?



I’m looking forward to the many spiritual lessons this little puppy will teach me. And she’s so cute, too! Only one downside - Boston Terriers snort, snuffle, wheeze, grunt, and snore loudly. Just what I needed. Don’t we hear enough of that already out of humans?



Prayer: Lord, thank you for being so patient with your children. Help me to be accepting of Your will and Your instruction. Thank You for Your Word that teaches me. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

A story by Donna is included in:



Faithwriters - Learning for Life - Fall Edition



To order a copy, click here.

Competitive Spirit

I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me–the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace. – Acts 20:24 niv



Many (many, many!) years ago, I attended a cheerleading camp. All week long, we practiced our cheers and choreographed our steps. At the end of the competition, the best squad won a trophy. Another competition went on simultaneously. Whoever won that one received the coveted ‘Spirit Stick.” After all, what would any self-respecting cheerleader be without that school spirit? The competition escalated as we neared the final ceremony. Many of the girls thrived on the tension. Not me. I became a nervous wreck.



I’m the type of person who throws in her cards when the competition heats up, or backs off when confronted with an overzealous opponent. My stomach quivers at the thought of such rivalry.



The apostle Paul, obviously well acquainted with competition, referred to winning quite often. In 1 Corinthians 9:23-24 (niv), Paul said, “I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.”



Paul encouraged us to run to win. What do we win? He goes on to say in verse 25, “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”



When I feel overwhelmed by an opponent, I might mutter, “It’s only a game” or “I don’t care about winning that much.”



But when we’re talking about eternity, I do care, and I do want to win – souls for the Lord, and the battle against Satan. And one day a crown of life. In order to win, we must aggressively pursue a relationship with God, our Father, and be willing to stay in strict training as we pursue His will.



I’ve stepped out of my comfort zone in the past few months to promote my writing. I’m not adverse to hard work, researching the market, and writing till my fingers ache. I don’t want to come across as so humble that I don’t praise the Lord for what He’s done through me. For every article published, for every heart touched, for every person who is encouraged, I give God the glory. I’m thrilled He will use me. I’m thankful that, instead of a ‘Spirit Stick,” I have the real Spirit to help me, to prod me on, to encourage, and empower me. Praise the Lord!



If God wants me to do cartwheels (oh, I hurt at just the thought of it!) across a platform, I’d do it – even though at this point, it would mean enthusiastically promoting my latest project – my mid-life version of a cartwheel.



I feel like my no-compete clause has caused me to retreat. I'm defeating that tendency with God’s help. In the Christian race, we don’t compete against each other. When we work together in unity as a team to tell others of Jesus’ love, we all win.



My cheerleading squad may not have won the ‘Spirit Stick’ but I did end up getting a trophy one year for being the “Best All-Round Cheerleader.” Now I’m afraid I might just win one for being round.



Keep pressing on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly calling of God. Are you in the running? And just for old time’s sake: Go, Christian, go!



Prayer: God, I thank You for the promise of a crown of life. I ask for strength to persevere, and the wisdom to do Your will. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.