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When I’m Afraid

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Dear God: When I can’t sleep, the nights are long. Then the dark shadows heighten my fears. Evidently David experienced this. In Psalm 6:6, he says, “I am weary with my sighing; every night I make my bed swim, I dissolve my couch with my tears.” Instead of crying I worry. I worry about finances, my health, family members, the future–the list goes on. Most of my worries are irrational and unnecessary, but I do it anyway. Please deliver me from being a pessimistic doubter. Give me the the ability to view my life as a glass half-full, instead of half-empty.

Fear is a human experience that cannot be denied. It happens to everyone. When it creeps into my heart, I can’t flip a switch and make it go away. But with David I can say, “When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You” (Psalm 56:3). Thank you for making this possible!

In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Rich DuBose writes from Northern California.

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Sing a New Song

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If we wait until all of our problems are gone before we sing praises to God, we’ll never sing! We are constantly confronted with new challenges and heartaches. Yet each day provides us with opportunities to embrace joy, regardless of what we’re dealing with.

“He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord” (Psalm 40:3, NLT).

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Article excerpt posted on en.intercer.net from Answers for Me.

Sharing Joy

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He was beaming, and as I looked in the rear-view mirror I could see that he was enjoying himself…immensely. Our family recently purchased a “new to us” vehicle. After years of driving around in a variety of mini-vans, we were looking for something a little more “snappy,” preferably with four wheel drive because of our predictably harsh winters that often occur in our state.

My 16 year old son was very excited about our new acquisition. He passed his driving test with flying colors 6 months ago, and he is becoming a very careful and reliable driver. I could almost hear the thoughts that were swirling around in his head about the “coolness” of the new family SUV. I was excited about it too, but it was obvious that my boy was even more interested in moving into a sportier ride.

After making the purchase, getting the insurance lined up, and registering the vehicle, he and I made our way to the seller’s house where we would mount the license plates on our new Toyota and drive it away. En route to our destination he jokingly asked, “Well dad, do you want me to drive the new car home, or are you going to?” The look on his face told me that he already knew the answer, and had resigned himself to following me back in the older vehicle.

I had already thought about this particular trip that we were now taking, and my answer visibly shocked him. “I want you to drive the new car home,” I said with a smile. “Are you serious?” he excitedly asked. I smiled again and replied, “Yeah, I’m serious. I really want you to enjoy the experience of driving it home.” Because of my love for him, it wasn’t a sacrifice to throw him the keys.

I personally wanted to experience pulling into the driveway of our house, but the thought of my son’s enjoyment as he proudly commandeered our new “wheels” caused my desire to pale by comparison. I drove the older car and enjoyed every minute of watching him follow in my rear-view mirror. He was visibly smitten by the newness of it all, and when we finally arrived at home I was thrilled to hear him say, “Wow, that was awesome!”

“…it is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35, KJV).

I was reminded of this truism once again, that when we truly love people, giving of ourselves isn’t drudgery; it’s a natural extension of our relationship with them.

Michael Temple writes from North Dakota.

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Article excerpt posted on en.intercer.net from Answers for Me.

Beware the Vegan Nazis

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During a retreat time together, a group of my women friends started discussing nutrition. We had been dividing meal preparation for a few days and were aware of some of our group members’ food choices. One person was almost a vegetarian, one avoided sugar, one was a fan of a protein-rich diet, and I was somewhere in the “dabble in almond-meal recipes but still require dark chocolate and wild salmon” zone. Several people wandered into the sanctity of the “only calories count” discussion.

As the protein/paleo member recounted her research on saturated fat, she talked about problems in her progressive community. During the spring Earth Day activities, a nearby health fair became dominated by vegan advocates. The vegans wouldn’t allow representatives from any group that ate or used animal products. My grass-fed beef friend was disturbed that such people wielded so much power and still refused to listen to science data and hard facts. These were people who often considered tolerance in other areas of life. Will they publicly shun or ban commerce with anyone wearing leather, eating at steak restaurants or keeping chickens? Will they go so far as to soon demand that all domestic animals and pets be returned to the wild?

We all shared concerns about the anxiety and fear that seems to provide the basis for much of post-modern nutrition militia. I am aware that food is one area of personal control. Some people restrict food in an effort to exert the only control they seem to possess. Some people eat to fill emotional emptiness, boredom or soothe loss. People can channel their personal anxiety into vegetarianism or caveman diets with equal unbalance. When aspects of the internal or external world seems doomed to failure or threat, food can become a comforting addiction or a sustainable distraction. Perhaps even the symptom of a loss of faith.

It’s a natural desire to share a food plan or diet that has resulted in exhilarating weight loss or improved health. Others may welcome our knowledge and experience as enriching and healing. Or they may find their own answers for their bodies and families. We often want to find more of “our people,” that enjoy a similar worldview. However, when our choices result in a critical self-righteous attitude presented with great fervor–we lose friends and credibility. The underlying message seems to be that dietary noncompliance means you are “less than” or ignorant. Most of us over the age of 50 have lived long enough to remember the debunking of many diets, products, and medications during our lifetimes. Something may help you function at age 25 but not at age 60.

When nutrition and food is combined with religion or spirituality, the outcome for relationships seem to extend into eternity. So we get concerned or preachy. Those of us who believe that our bodies are a gift and not a mistake, get serious about stewardship. We also appreciate that the body and spirit are a holistic unit. Yet a good helping of humility seems wise in a time of burgeoning science regarding individual metabolism, genetics and culture. The Creator has blessed us with a great capacity for uniqueness and ways to respond to him.

Being “right” may be unsustainable–ultimately leading to a table for one.

Karen Spruill writes from Orlando, Florida.

Questions for personal journaling or group discussion:

1. Find the video of “Babette’s Feast” (1987), and watch with a friend or group for discussion.

2. Read Deuteronomy 14:1-21. What do you see as the principles of good health behind God’s nutrition instructions to the Israelites? How might culture have impacted God’s words to them?

Written by Karen Spruill

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Article excerpt posted on en.intercer.net from Answers for Me.

Expensive Gardens

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I believe that gardening was inserted into human DNA from the beginning.

It all started long ago in a beautiful garden that God created (Genesis1-3). The place was so amazing that God made people to enjoy being with him in the garden. Unfortunately, when the people stopped trusting God, the result was thorns and thistles and hard work to grow food. God wanted to restore his people to a land flowing with great abundance (Exodus 3:8), but they kept messing up and giving their allegiance to worthless gods. When Jesus appeared to show them God’s love in human skin, he often went into his favorite garden to connect with God in Heaven (Luke 21:37; 22:39). When those who love God are again dwelling with God in a new heaven and earth, a healing tree with 12 crops of fruit will stand in the midst of that city (Revevation 21:2). Sounds like we will be in the garden again.

Fast forward or reverse to my parents who always grew a garden, and I was involved. Each spring Dad plowed up a space of land, and we planted, then hoed and weeded, picked produce and froze or canned the extras. That was busy work for six months out of the year–before the raking leaves and shoveling snow set in. Yet I knew where most of our food originated, and I knew what it should taste like and how vulnerable we all were to weather and pests.

This year I have returned to gardening and I can’t believe how much money I am spending for the privilege. I ordered some raised corrugated metal planting beds. Then I needed help to create the new garden. So I hired someone to take out hedges to make more room in the backyard. Then I invited my brother, the experienced gardener, to fly down to put the metal beds together and create an irrigation system. We bought many bags of dirt to fill and packed my car full on several trips from the store. Later I purchased some plants, flowers, and seeds. I sprinkled soap chips around the beds to discourage rodents (Irish Spring was suggested). I have been watering in between our lawn irrigation days, thinning some of the veggies, and plucking nasty looking leaves.

Last week I bought some vegetable fertilizer since the peas, radishes and carrots look wimpy and pale. I need to continue spraying copper on the squash, pepper and tomatoes for mildew or some other crud. And I have some Seven or Tea Tree oil to sprinkle or spray on veggies if it appears that bugs are chewing. Why am I banging my head against the botanical wall?

I have grandchildren and I want them to know the gardening heritage along with recognizing food fresh from the earth. The oldest boy helped me pick strawberries and blueberries last year, and he enjoys plucking low fruit from the lemon tree. He got to taste a few grape tomatoes from one plant last spring and he wanted more.

So I thought I would expand what the backyard can offer. Important life lessons might even appear. Actually weather, bugs, diseases and squirrels are on my mind. It certainly is easier to go to the grocery store or farmer’s market. Yet watching plants peek up from the dirt, unfurl, blossom and turn into food is the magic I desire. And nothing tastes as good. Which leads me to think of Jesus–Creator and the original gardener. He is also the sustaining vine and we are the branches. “No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine,” (John 15:4, NIV).

Gardeners know the care and concern that goes into helping plants grow or mature. It’s a time-consuming, expensive and vulnerable occupation. Waiting for results and savoring the outcome are divine rewards.

Questions for personal journaling or group discussion:

1. What seed has God planted in you that is slowly maturing?

2. To what vine are you currently attached? Who or what is nurturing you?

Written by Karen Spruill

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Article excerpt posted on en.intercer.net from Answers for Me.

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