Loops of Love

By Susanne Scheppmann 

Key Verse:

Psalm 139:13-14, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”  (NIV) 

Devotion:

Linda’s life was a mess.

Although she accepted Jesus Christ as a teenager, she did not nurture her relationship with Him.  She let her commitment to daily Bible study and prayer slide.  Linda crossed the threshold of the church doors only on special holidays.  She ignored Christian fellowship and accountability.  Linda’s life became a mess.

She married and divorced.

She raised two sons by herself.

She struggled financially.

She wasn’t appreciated at work.

One spring day, Linda had reached her limit of endurance.  Unfairly reprimanded by her boss, she despaired.  Emotionally spent, Linda contemplated suicide that night.

However, God had a different plan.  He sent Linda’s supervisor to intercede, completely unaware of the episode with the boss.  Linda’s supervisor invited her to a small group meeting.  They studied Rick Warren’s The Purpose Driven Life.  Linda discovered she did have purpose and meaning in life.

Over the next twelve months, Linda recommitted her life to Jesus Christ.  She began going to church. She studied the Bible. She had fellowship with other Believers.   Linda began to serve others who needed her help.  Yet, she still didn’t know what God’s plan was for her life.

Although arts and crafts topped Linda’s list of life passions, she didn’t believe God could use it for His Kingdom.  However, He proved her wrong.

Her church started a women’s group called “Loops of Love”.  Women met to fellowship together and knit or crochet hats, scarves and other garments for the various orphanages around the world that are tended to by their missionaries.  Wonderful friendships and beautiful woven items came forth from the group.  Linda loved it.  The more friends, hats and scarves she made, the more she wanted to do.

Consequently, she cleaned her apartment and found enough yarn to make many sets of hats and scarves.  More supplies rolled in.  Neighbors donated yarn.  A friend gave her a case of yarn.  Eventually hundreds of warm and wooly items were shipped to grateful missionaries around the world.  And she’s not done yet.  Her son recently asked Linda how much longer she was going to make hats and scarves.  She replied, “As long as God keeps supplying the yarn.”  As of this writing, there is no end in sight.

So, Linda discovered her current purpose in the Kingdom of God.  He knew exactly what she needed in her life.  God knows her inside and out, for He knit her together in her mother’s womb.  And He has a plan for her as promised in Jeremiah 29:13, “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (NIV)  He truly did give Linda a hope and future.  Her life is no longer a mess, but blessed. 

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, help me to find my own unique purpose in life.  Please keep me from discouragement when life becomes hard.  Remind me that you knit me together and that you have a perfect plan that includes my talents.

Application steps: 

Make a list of the things you like to do.  Consider how you could do something for the Kingdom of God with these talents and passions.  Ask a few friends where they see you using your God given gifts and then, get busy.  You will be blessed!

Refection points:

Do I know my purpose in life?

How can I encourage others to discover their purpose?

What can I do to bless others in the Kingdom of God with my unique gifts and talents?

Do I remember to give the glory to God for any compliments I receive?

Power verses: 

Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  (NIV) 

Hebrews 6:10, “God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them.” (NIV) 

Hebrews 13:20-21, “May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (NIV) 

© 2006 by Susanne Scheppmann. All rights reserved.

Holiday Hassles

By Susanne Scheppmann

Key Verse:

“My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.” (Isaiah 32:18 NIV) 

         

Devotion:

My husband, Mark, hauled in the mummy-wrapped tree from the garage. He propped it upright. Dust flew as he began to peel away the cellophane with his usual exuberant self-confidence. I watched with trepidation. I felt the familiar festivity stress begin to surface. The “holiday hassles” seem to begin when the Christmas tree goes up. However, as the clear protective wrap dropped from the branches, I saw the exact same Christmas tree from the year before. A quiet peace oozed into my spirit as I felt my dread of the evening’s work disappear as the adorable gingerbread tree emerged.

It began at a charity Christmas tree auction last year. We bid on a uniquely decorated artificial tree. Cookie cutters, dough-like men with painted clothes, and brightly embroidered felt ornaments hung on its boughs. Every piece promoted a gingerbread theme. Because of the tree’s popularity, we needed to keep bidding higher. But finally, we won the bid and took our treasured tree home. 

However, after the holidays a dilemma arose. How would we store the tree? I knew if we removed the decorations, we would never be able to recreate the perfection of the original. Mark decided to wrap the gingerbread-adorned decoration in plastic wrap and store it the garage. I thought he was cuckoo. We live in the desert where the temperature can rise to over 115 degrees in the summer. I pictured rodents snacking on the flour and salt mixture of the gingerbread men. I envisioned creepy bugs moving into the newly planned insect community. I argued against the scheme—to no avail. 

Although I had predicted dire results for the tree, it now stood in its perfect gingerbread attire. It dawned on me that we had “put up” our tree without any fuss. Only a bit of dust needed to be wiped away. We didn’t experience any tangled lights, burned out bulbs, or snarled metal ornament hooks. Instead of hours of exertion, we popped a bowl of buttery popcorn and watched our favorite Christmas movie.

I realized that I tend to make my own Christmas stress. I could have insisted on storing the tree in a hundred boxes and then taking hours to figure out how to reassemble it. But because of my husband’s ingenuity, we gazed at our prized tree without expending a lot of time or energy.

So from now on, if there are places to cut corners in the hustle-bustle of Christmas, I intend to do it. The key is finding out creative ways to keep Christmas simple, yet meaningful. I will keep certain traditions that I truly enjoy-- making fudge and Christmas cookies. But because I haven’t been able to bake a decent piecrust in twenty years, I am going to buy the pumpkin pies. Instead of wrapping presents, my gifts will go into those blessed gift bags. And I think, while I am out purchasing those bags, I am going to buy another industrial size roll of cellophane. I just might be able to plastic wrap the tree, the wreath and my who knows what else to avoid holiday hassles for next year.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, remind me this month not to let holiday hassles steal my peace and joy. Help me find ways to save time and energy, so I can rest in the true meaning of Christmas, which is You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Application steps: 

Examine your Christmas to-do list. Pray over the list, asking God to show you how to minimize your stress and maximize peace in your home. Then begin to implement the time and energy-saving methods that come to your mind.

Reflections: 

Does stress keep me from enjoying the holidays?

Why do I feel pressured to have a “perfect” Christmas every year?

What activities bring me joy and contentment during the month of December?

Power verses:

Ecclesiastes 8:15, “So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun.” (NIV) 

Jeremiah 31:25, “I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.” (NIV)

Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (NIV) 

© 2007 by Susanne Scheppmann. All rights reserved.

Jehovah-Jireh Part 2

By Susanne Scheppmann

Key Verse:

Psalm 126:6, “He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.” (NIV) 

Devotion:

In yesterday’s devotion, we learned about my friend, Monika, and the troubles she experienced within a short period of time—a move to a new state, the loss of her faithful dog, the death of her beloved husband.  Unbelievably, yet another crisis lurked around the corner.  Within a year, she was diagnosed with breast cancer.  The destructive cancer dictated aggressive treatments: surgery, chemo and radiation. 

She struggled with physical pain. However, in her heart she knew her God, Jehovah-Jireh, provided and cared for her.  The pain in her body could not dampen the comfort in her soul. She no longer questioned God’s trustworthiness in her life.  Her heart now cried out to Him, “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” (Job 23:10 NIV)

Even though she felt like Job in the Old Testament, who lost everything including her health, Monika also knew that in the end God blessed him.  For Scriptures states, “The Lord blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the first. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. (Job 42:12 NIV)

Now Monika didn’t receive fourteen thousand sheep.  (Of which she is very grateful!)  But the Jehovah-Jireh did pour out a few surprise blessings.

She fully recovered physically.  No trace of cancer lingers in her body after four years. She feels wonderful physically, mentally and spiritually.  Monika bubbles enthusiasm for life and boasts in the trustworthy hand of Jehovah-Jireh.

But wait there is more. Her youngest son, unbeknownst to her, entered her name in a national horse food contest.  Can you guess who won the grand prize of a two-week equestrian vacation to the countryside of France?  Monika!

Then she wrote an essay about cancer survivors, which won her a three-day trip to an ultra exclusive spa in Arizona. (Oprah visits there.)  The list goes on and on of God’s faithfulness in her life.  Sometimes with a grin across her face, she calls Him, Jehovah-Surpriso.  For her life truly reflects our key verse, Psalm 126:6, “He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him. (NIV) 

You see, despite the trouble and crisis that hit Monika’s life, God never left her.  He stood beside her in the darkest of moments. Then He changed her tears of sorrow, to the joy of laughter.

And now, she wants to share that joyful knowledge with other people whose lives are hit with a tidal wave of despair.  She is the living fulfillment of 2 Corinthians 1:3-5.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. (NIV)

Take heart my friend, Jehovah-Jireh, our God, is there to provide for you no matter how dark your days may be. Take heart joy will come again.  Take heart and share with other’s how God’ provides for you.

Prayer:

Lord, I thank you that You are always by my side to comfort me.  Allow me the privilege to share Your goodness with others.  Give me the correct words to comfort the hurting people that I meet.  Thank you for the joy that comes after the weeping.  I love You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Application steps: 

Journal your thoughts about the different sorrows and joys you have encountered in your life.  If you know someone who is going through a similar circumstance, give him or her a call to encourage or to rejoice with them.  Remind them that God will provide in their time of heartache and their times of joy.

Refection points:      

Can you think of different times God has surprised you with a blessing?

Did you recognize them from the hand of God?

Do you share with others the provision of Jehovah-Jireh in your life?

Power verses: 

John 14:18, “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” (KJV) 

Psalm 51:12, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” (NIV) 

Acts 2:28, “‘You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.'” (NIV) 

© 2006 by Susanne Scheppmann. All rights reserved.