LIFE IN THE RIVER By Sally I. Kennedy

Enjoying a cup of coffee in the early morning quiet at our vacation condo, I was watching the activity of the river below. Due to a long drought, the water was way down. Rocks and boulders I'd never seen before were in full view. A small white piece of paper, or plastic, caught my eye. It was going 'round and 'round in a tiny area almost entirely closed off by small boulders. The whole time I watched, it never left the spot, just continued to spin around.

That night it rained cats and dogs. Next morning the river was noticeably higher. It sang a bit louder and ran a little faster. The white paper was no longer swirling in a circle. It was, instead, wedged up against a rock close to the river's edge. It was safely hugging the rock, just out of reach of the moving water. It seemed the
paper had no choice. It was stuck.

Sometimes I feel stuck in the river of life. Unlike the paper, however, I have a choice. A long time ago God made a choice that would bring people back to Him. Through Jesus we have a choice: accept His life sacrifice for us, get out of our own little whirlpool worlds and move downstream with Him, or stay stuck in our self centered world while we cling to some safe rock in the river.

I hope that daily I can remember to make the better choice, and keep moving with the current. Even if momentarily, or temporarily, I get caught in a holding pattern, I can choose to move out and onward with Him.

BRING THOSE BABIES TO CHURCH Author Unknown

My heart goes out to the parents of small children. I know first hand the kind of problems they face. Training up a toddler in the way he should go is a constant job, a continuous battle, seven-day-a- week task, not to mention an awesome responsibility. After six days of their whining chorus at home and three hours of embarrassment while shopping, the last thing some young mothers want to face is an hour of agony and humiliation at church.

Many young mothers have asked herself, "Why do I keep bringing them to church?" As she enters the auditorium she utters a silent prayer that the kids will be good and the sermon short. The service begins. While mother is picking up toys, drying eyes, wiping noses, swatting, scolding, trying to sing, listen, and pray, the toddler is pouring juice on her dress. To the toddler, church is an exciting adventure. Songbooks are a challenge to take, stuffed toys make great missiles to launch over four or five rows, and the collection plate would make a great hat. Young parents take heart!

Let me assure you of this:

1. Your children do not disturb others nearly as much as you think they do.

2. If people without children are determined to sit at the back of the church, then they deserve any distraction they get.

3. Most people really do understand your plight and remember back to the days when their children were infants and toddlers.

4. Remember that you are both wanted and needed in the worship service.

5. Have faith that the hand, which now hurls crayons, will one day spread the seeds of the Kingdom.

NO AGENDA By Sally I. Kennedy

I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers! Isaiah 65:24 NLT

Literally, I had no agenda. True, many things had been on my mind. Several situations I'd been mulling over. A few people that had been especially on my heart. Some unresolved relationships that were sort of stewing in the back corners of my brain.

You know, just things... Things that are on our minds, yet unspoken. Things that are on our hearts, and not shared. God knows them all. All.

So, I had no agenda when we went to this church for an evening service of refreshing and renewing. I just know that when there was a time to be quiet, to be still before the Lord, and this beautiful music was in the background, I began to zone out, let my mind wander.

As I sat there, just being thankful to be in the presence of the Lord, God began to speak softly to me. One by one, He spoke to the concerns of my heart. I began to be aware that He was sharing with me direction and answers to these unspoken concerns.

Later, I thought about how amazing God is. Amazing God! Amazing grace! How good to remember that God knows our deepest needs and desires before they are even fully formed in our minds, or on our lips. And, that in His time, the perfect time, He will answer. Even if we have `no agenda'.

Thank you, Holy Spirit, for sharing the Word, the wisdom, the love of our heavenly Father with us. In the name of Jesus! Amen.

BALANCING ACT By Marion Smith

When I was young we attended the circus every year. The high wire act always captured my undivided attention. I would marvel as the performers would walk on that thin wire, backwards and forwards, performing tricks such as jump rope and forward rolls , and all the time not fall off the wire. Their only aid was a long pole which would help them keep their balance, and perhaps the special ballet looking shoes they wore.

Last week I saw a squirrel nest that looked like a marvel of a balancing act. Usually the nests are in a crook of a tree, or in a V somewhere in the branches. This lends support to the structure as the squirrels build their nest. However, this particular nest seemed to be suspended in what looked to be thin air. The branches of the tree were so small, it was unbelievable that the nest could balance there. It
must have taken a very crafty squirrel family to perform that balancing act!

There are things which we must balance in life - our checkbook, the tires on our car, and most importantly the way we spend our time. God has given us 24 hours in a day, and freewill to do with them whatever we wish. We have physical, emotional and spiritual needs which we should keep in balance.

The truth is, however, many of us are way out of kilter in this balancing act of life. We may be caught up in the physical - job demands, health issues or just being overboard on physical fitness. We many be overindulgent in the pursuit of happiness, or unduly involved with activities that rob us of healthy emotional growth. Very seldom are we overboard in spiritual pursuits, allow the other two areas to dominate our lives.

God tells us we should have a healthy balance in our lives. We should give equal attention to physical, emotional and spiritual growth. We should not allow one area to be overbearing and tilt us off kilter, tumbling us to a fall. Balance in these 3 areas is healthy and right. It is God's plan, and He wouldn't have given it to us if it weren't beneficial.

God always has His best plan for our life!

GOD, I CANNOT DO THIS ALONE By Stan Stoler

Three years ago, my wife and I sat in her hospital room waiting for Dr. Michael Santi, her physician, to visit with us. She had been diagnosed with colon cancer and was scheduled for surgery the next day.

He entered Linda's room with his usual smile, sat down on the edge of her bed and proceeded to explain what would take place in the operating room the following morning. Frankly, we were scared to death! But when he finished explaining the surgery, recovery time, etc., he calmly took Linda by the hands and held them heavenward.

"Linda," he said, "tomorrow our hands will be in His hands." Then he prayed the most magnificent prayer for my wife. "God, I cannot do this alone. I need your help," he said.

This was our first indication that Dr. Santi was a believer. What a God! In the midst of our frightening experience, God gave us a Christian doctor!

As I write this, I am seated in a waiting room of the same hospital. Linda has just had her annual check-up. It has been exactly three years since she had colon cancer surgery. Dr. Santi smiles as he enters the room.

"I have good news for you. Your wife is doing great---no sign of cancer or polyps anywhere!"

Yes, through the hands of a skilled surgeon, the prayers of God's people and the encouragement of loved ones, my wife has been healed.

In retrospect, I can testify that we were "changed" through this event. While cancer is truly a cruel disease, God is greater than any health problem we may encounter. You can trust him with your troubles...

As a result of the "cancer crisis" in our home, I have reached the conclusion that all good things come from God's hands. Our home, children, food, flowers, music, sunsets, rain, snow, and most of all LIFE, reflect His unconditional love.

"During our times of deepest sorrow,
When in the depths we're sinking low,
If we look up to our faithful Father,
Love and compassion to us will flow."