by Terry Hess
 
“Our mouths were filled with laughter our tongues with songs of joy.” (Psalm 126:2 NIV)

In today’s world, there is not much to smile about, let alone laugh about. The Bible has over a hundred verses on humor and laughter. So I hope these few lines of humor bring a smile to your face and maybe even a chuckle.

Wound Up
The twelve-year-old boy stood patiently beside the counter while the druggist waited on the adult customers. Finally, he got around to helping the youngster, who made his purchase and hurried out to the curb, where his father was impatiently waiting in the car. “What took so long in there, son?” he asked. “The man waited on everybody in the store before me,” the boy replied, “but I got even.” “How?” asked the father. “I wound all the alarm clocks while I was waiting,” the youngster grinned happily. “It’s gonna be a mighty noisy place around eight o’clock!”

A tip is a small sum of money you give to somebody because you’re afraid they won’t like not being paid for something you haven’t asked him to do.

Bad habits are like a comfortable bed—easy to get into but hard to get out of.

Insurance Claims & Actual Responses
I started to slow down but the traffic was more stationary than I thought.

Q: Could either driver have done anything to avoid the accident?
A: Traveled by bus?

I didn’t think the speed limit applied after midnight.

I knew the dog was possessive about the car, but I would not have asked her to drive it if I had thought there was any risk.

A driver collided with a cow. The questions and answer on the claim form were as follows:
Q—What warning was given by you?
     A—A horn
Q—What warning was given by the other party?
     A—A moo

I hope just for a moment you smiled a little.

“The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with joy.” (Psalm 126:3 NIV)

Jesus the Way to the Father

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”

Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.  Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.”

“All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:5-26 NIV)

by Pat Bentzel

2021 was not an easy year for my husband and me because of Covid and health problems. When Covid caused our nation to shut down all stores and industries, I thought, “Lord, what is happening?” So many questions ran through my mind! I was concerned for our security and our lives.

God said, “Have faith.” And He reminded me to be content in all things. 

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:4-7 NIV)

As the days went on, we trusted God. Then the unthinkable happened later in the summer as my husband was diagnosed with esophagus cancer. I think we were both numb from the news. But through God’s Word, we were reminded again to trust God and be content. The only thing that carried us through the treatments was our faith in Jesus Christ our Savior.

We give God the glory for what He has done and what He will do for us in the future.

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty, I have learned the secret of being content in and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. (Philippians 4:12 NIV)

by Laura Enslen

“Holy Spirit you are welcome here. Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere. Your glory God is what our hearts long for. To be overcome by your presence Lord.”

This song, if I was honest, could make me feel uncomfortable in the past. I felt like, in some of the lyrics, we were expecting an experience to happen, or we wanted something for ourselves in this worship time. As I look more closely, I see the words “Your glory God is what our hearts long for.” In a study I recently did, the author states, “The Spirit always points you to Jesus, never to just have an experience, but always to Jesus.” This song is calling upon the power of heaven to work in and through us, for the glory of God!

The Spirit of God in Hebrew is Ruakh-meaning breath, wind, spirit. It is God’s personal presence. In Genesis 1:2 NIV “the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” The Spirit was ready to bring about creation. God’s spirit (The Holy Spirit), invisible like breath and wind, brings life, energy, and healing where there was once death, void, and destruction. This same Spirit caused the flood waters to recede in Genesis 8, parted the sea in Exodus 14, empowered Joseph to interpret Pharoah’s dreams, and gives the Prophets messages. In the New Testament, the Spirit comes on Jesus at His baptism, and when Jesus ascends to heaven, He states that He will send the Holy Spirit to come and fill each believer with “power from heaven.” Luke 24:49 NIV.

“And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.” Romans 8:11 NIV We get to be a part of new creation, and we can allow this same spirit that raised Jesus from the dead to empower us in our daily lives. To serve those around us, to share the gift of Jesus Christ and His mercy and salvation, and to live our lives on purpose for His kingdom. May the Holy Spirit work in each of us this Lenten season and help us take each step forward anticipating the return of our Lord and Savior!

Lord, I ask that you help me to acknowledge and listen to your Holy Spirit, whom you sent to dwell with me as a believer. Help me to listen to the still small voice, allow the Spirit to comfort me, and participate with the Spirit’s work here on earth. Thank you for loving me so much that you made a way for us to be together forever. May I know the breath of life you have breathed into me, and may I share that with those around me. Amen.

by Pastor Savenit Polo

 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.“ (James 1:2-4 NIV)

A few days ago, I had a conversation with the senior pastor of my church, whose assistant I am. In our conversation, he stopped for a moment and asked me a question. “Have you ever thought about leaving the pastoral ministry?” That question made our conversation very personal.

The Holy Spirit led him to tell me that trials need to come. Trials not only come in the lives of pastors and people who hold positions and have great ministries, but they also come in the lives of those who are making the effort to follow Christ as his disciples.

That is why James says in his chapter 1:2 “My brothers, count it all joy when you find yourselves in various trials”. The author uses the word “when”, which ensures that the trials will come. They will also be diverse but if we trust in the Lord, the result will always be favorable.

As long as we are in the world, we will face trials, but we can count on our God whose power can help us walk in victory.

Question to ponder: What trials are you facing today?

by Barb Schumacher

Sun Tzu, a famous Chinese general, military strategist and the author of The Art of War, has said, “Know thy self, know thy enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories.” And while Sun Tzu was not writing about spiritual battles, there is a measure of truth in his words to us as believers in our war against our adversary, Satan. If we know him and recognize his deceitful ways, we are able to resist him, watch him flee and win thousands of battles against him in our lives, with the power of the Holy Spirit living in us.

Recently, our AWANA lesson for the T&T clubbers (ages 3^rd through 6^th grade) was titled “Satan.” I had told the kids to be ready to discuss this topic at our next AWANA Wednesday, on February 9. As I left the building on February 2, I felt a little hesitant to discuss the topic next time.

What if the kids don’t understand enough about Satan?

What if they are afraid of him?

How can I best discuss this topic so that the kids understand that they can know their enemy, and be victorious in thousands of battles against him?

As always, the AWANA materials were “spot on” in providing good lesson plans and discussion questions. And from that lesson, I would like to share some truths that the kids and I took away from that evening.

1. Satan hates God and is His enemy and ours. He does all he can to stop God’s plan. He wants to get anyone he can to hate God also.

1 Peter 5:8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

2. Satan is a deceiver and a liar. He wants to deceive us and cause us to distrust God.

Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?”

3. Be aware, but don’t despair! God has given us armor to “put on” to defeat the devil’s schemes in our lives.

Ephesians 6: 10-12 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

4. In every war, there is a winner and a loser. When it comes to God and Satan, our all-powerful GOD is the clear winner every time. And at the proper time, Satan will be sent to eternal punishment in hell.

Revelation 20:10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

5. We are Victors with Jesus if we trust Him to be our Lord and Savior. We do not need to fear, but we need to put our hope and trust in God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
   

1 John 4:4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

After a “soda can crushing experiment”, great discussion, and memorization of powerful Scripture, our AWANA kids and grownups alike left our meeting feeling buoyed and ready for battle with our adversary. How good to know that believing adults and children can know (recognize) the enemy and also know that we are on the Winning Team with Jesus – in every battle of life – even thousands of them.

Heavenly Father, thank you that you have already defeated the enemy and that we are victors with you, as we put our faith and trust in you completely.  Help us each day to put on the armor of God, so that we are ready to take our stand against the devil’s schemes. We trust you to lead us and guide us each day of our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.