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Emily Tenter

January 22, 2020 • Bonnie Haveman • 2 Timothy 2:24–26, James 1:19, 1 Peter 3:15–16

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Editor’s Note: Today’s reading mentions the subject of abortion.

Sarah and I had been best friends since third grade. She was an amazing ballerina and began ballet years before we met. I think the only time she went to church was when she went with me. We talked much about her need to have a relationship with Christ, but it never went past talking.

Then, one day, Sarah came to me and was talking in disjointed sentences. “Jim and I...Mom says she knows someone. Mom will fix it. I have my ballet to think about. Someday I am going to New York. It doesn’t matter... forget I said anything.” We were fourteen, and I did not listen or comprehend what she was trying to tell me. It wasn’t until two years later that I understood. She’d had an abortion.

While we still remain friends, our relationship has changed. We no longer enjoy the closeness we had before. I pray for Sarah every week; my heart yearns for her to know Jesus and His love for her. I often wonder, *How would the situation have been different if I had truly listened to Sarah? How could I have shown Jesus’ love and truth through my words and actions?*

We all need Jesus, and, as Christians, living a life of love and kindness gives us opportunities to share the hope of Jesus in the darkest of situations. When a friend is struggling, listen—truly listen—to what they have to say.

James 1:19 says to be “slow to speak.” He doesn’t say “don’t speak.” With words couched in God’s love, tell them of His grace and mercy. Because Jesus is the only One who can save us from the sin, brokenness, and death we all face. • Bonnie Haveman

• No matter what situation you are facing, in Christ, you are never alone (Matthew 28:20). If you or a friend is facing a tough situation, who is a trusted adult you can talk with about it?

• How can you listen to and speak with friends facing tough situations? How will the Holy Spirit help you speak the truth about Jesus into the situation (Luke 12:12)?

• Abortion leaves a deep wound that only Jesus can heal. Jesus is the Ultimate Healer. If you are seeking healing after an abortion, find a trusted Christian friend who will listen. If you need someone to talk to, you can set up an appointment for a one time complimentary phone consultation with a Christian counselor through the Focus on the Family Counseling Service:

In the United States, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) to set up an appointment.

In Canada, book your appointment by calling 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) and ask to speak with the care associate.

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. James 1:19 (NLT)

Flying Chariots

January 31, 2020 • Kevin Zeller • Psalm 20:7, Romans 8:22–28

The fleet of war machines hurtled through the air toward the city. . The leader smiled fiercely, hands on the controls of his ship. “This is the greatest military power in the history of humanity,” he said to his officers, not caring if it was true. . The leader’s ship went into a dive, and the fleet followed. The city darkened as the sun was blocked. Emergency sirens wailed, and fearful people ran from the streets. . “It is high time this city fell,” the leader shouted, “laid waste like all the others! We will build a great empire, and nothing can stop us now! Nothing can stop this fleet!” . The girl stood on the wall of the city, watching the approaching fleet. It filled the sky from east to west, and the noise of thundering rumbled her feet. . Then silence. Great, whooshing silence. . The girl gasped. The machines were plummeting from the sky, all at once in a great wave of wood and metal. . The first struck the ground not far from the city wall, scraping up great piles of earth as the ships disintegrated with bright explosions. . Soon the entire fleet lay in ruins, smoke rising up and up to the heavens. • Kevin Zeller . • What kinds of things do you put your hope in? . • What kinds of technology or other manmade things do people place their hope in? . • Reread Romans 8:22-28. As Christians, where is our hope? . Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. Psalm 20:7 (NIV)

Found

January 30, 2020 • Hope Bolinger • Luke 15:3–7

If you’d told me I’d get lost in New York City, I’d have begged you to wake me up from my nightmare. . But lo and behold, during my junior year on choir tour, with over one hundred students jam-packed into a few charter buses, I ended up lost in one of the biggest cities in the world. I and a handful of other friends followed a chaperone who, although they were invested in getting a picture with a person dressed up as Woody from Toy Story in Times Square, didn’t invest in a GPS. . But when we realized the time—thanks to the handy dandy screens in the Square—we scrambled toward the sidewalks to get back to the bus for our next tour stop. . None of us had a keen sense of direction, and the only ones with cell phones didn’t have our choir director’s number. It was a time before any of us had smart phones, so no luck in using a GPS. Swerving from street to street, I felt my chest contract as tears welled up in my eyes. . We’ll never get back to the bus. They’ll ditch us and pick up a couple of Broadway actors to take our place. I mean, there are more than one hundred students. Who needs a couple of spare altos and sopranos who can’t read a map? . At long last, our choir director called one of our phones (she must’ve gotten the number from another student) and discovered our location. She rushed over, directed us to the bus’s position, and made sure we climbed aboard before we took off to our next destination. . I had never related to Jesus’ story of the lost sheep until that day. Especially knowing that our choir teacher would not leave until she had all of us, even having to ditch the bus to locate where we’d gotten lost. And man, oh man, did it feel good to be found. • Hope Bolinger . • Have you ever been lost before? What did it feel like to be lost? What did it feel like to be found? . • Reread today’s Bible passage. Where do you see yourself in the story of the lost sheep? The one who is lost? One of the ninety-nine? . • To learn more about how we all need to be found by Jesus, check out our "Know Jesus" page. . What man among you, who has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open field and go after the lost one until he finds it? Luke 15:4 (CSB)

Waiting

January 29, 2020 • Melissa Yeagle • Lamentations 3:21–26, 2 Peter 3:2–9

Did you grow up playing “I Spy”? It’s a great game to play on long car rides. Because the hardest part of long car rides is the waiting till you get there. . Waiting is never fun. . As Christians, we have to wait for many things. We are waiting for Christ’s return, and, in the meantime, we often wait for answers to our prayers. A wise Christian once told me God always has one of three answers to prayer: yes, no, and wait. While we know God is good, waiting to see His answers and the unfolding of His promises is hard. . When we are in the midst of waiting, we can trust that God is good and we can stand on God’s promises in Christ. One of those promises? God is so good that He is working all things—the good and the bad—for good for all those who love Him (Romans 8:28). . And here’s some great news: God will never break His promises. We might have to wait for His timing, but He will always keep His promises. • Melissa Yeagle . • Can you think of a time when God answered your prayer with a wait? . • Why is it important to remember God’s promises when you are waiting for something? . It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. Lamentations 3:26 (NKJV)