A Mother’s Prayer by Joyce Schafer

It is sometimes hard for younger brothers and sisters when they have a “perfect” older sibling. Can you imagine how hard it was for Jesus’ younger siblings to grow up with an older brother who was PERFECT. Not only was he PERFECT but he could walk on water and perform miracles. Were they resentful of Jesus? Did they feel that their mother loved their older brother more? Were they embarrassed by the way he hung out with sinners and did they consider him “odd” when he was doing these miracles? John 7:5 talks about how “even his own brothers did not believe in him”. Their family was spiritually divided. I can only imagine how Mary must have felt by having her beloved family torn apart by different religious beliefs. I am sure her heart was broken and I am also sure that she devoted much time praying that her family would be united.

We know that Mary was a very strong lady. Can you imagine watching your son die on the cross? She was there. I cannot imagine the pain she must have felt nor the Joy she felt when she saw Jesus when he arose. Her other children did come to believe but only after Jesus’ death and resurrection. Did they regret the time they had wasted while he was with them? They had the opportunity to ask and receive the answers to all of life’s questions and they did not take advantage of it.

We know that Jesus’ half-brother, James, did become a leader of the church in Jerusalem and even wrote a book in the New Testament. The book of James is one of the easiest books in the bible to understand and one of the hardest to apply in our lives. I think James wrote such practical advice because he had lived it first hand. He knew what it was like to go from a non-believer to a believer. He not only knew what to do but he also knew how to apply it to his life.

Acts 1:14 reads "They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers." Mary’s prayers were finally answered.

Are both your oars in the water? By Theresa Zuber

One of the first sermons that our son, Andy preached was on “Faith and Deeds.” He had an illustration that I have never forgotten. A man was trying to explain how faith and deeds work together. He got into a small boat and rowed out a ways from the shore. “Pretend that this oar is faith” he said as he used just one of the oars to paddle. The boat turned in a clockwise circle. “This is the progress a man makes when he lives on faith alone.” As he put down the first oar, he picked up the second. He began to row on the opposite side of the boat. “This is what it looks like when a man lives on deeds alone.” The boat began to turn in counter-clockwise circles on the water. “But” the man said, as he picked up both oars, “When you use the two together, they complement one another.” As the man rowed the boat back to shore he stated, “With both faith and deeds working together, you can accomplish something for God.”

James 2:¹⁴What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? ¹⁵Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. ¹⁶If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? ¹⁷In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. ¹⁸But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.”

The footnote for James 2:14 in my Life Application Bible says, “True faith transforms our conduct as well as our thoughts. If our lives remain unchanged, we don’t truly believe the truths we claim to believe.”

In Philippians 3:2,3 the early Christians were having a hard time getting past the old law and the mentality of earning a place with God. My footnote there says, “What believers do is a result of faith, not a prerequisite to faith… God values the attitude of our hearts above all else…God notices all you do for him and will reward you for it, but ONLY if it comes as a loving response to his free gift of salvation.”

Ephesians 2 ^{8 ”}For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- ⁹not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

God’s wants us to be so blown away by our salvation that we feel compelled to do good in His name. Our normal response should be an outpouring of gratitude to God that manifests itself in such works as serving others, showering love on others, sharing the gospel with those who don’t understand, encouraging fellow Christians & building his kingdom.

When my children were small, they argued with each other. Sometimes if it got loud enough, or rough enough, I would step in and calm things down. Usually I would demand that they apologize to each other. You’ve heard it before. “SORRY!”-- Said with feeling (except that the feeling is “I don’t want to be apologizing to you, YOU JERK!”) I repeatedly told them that an apology is not enough, there has to be actions to match the words. The apology was worthless unless it was meaningful. It is the same with our faith. Deeds give truth and fullness to our words of faith in God and Christ Jesus.

And like all great scriptures, it ties in with others and bleeds over into other areas. Paul instructs us that faith also works hand in hand with love; that even the greatest, mountain-moving faith is worthless without love. “1 Corinthians 13 ² If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.”

God, I am so blown away by you. Completely in awe that you would choose me. Me. Why – I don’t know, but I’m SO thankful that you did. And now, I can’t do enough for you. Not to try to pay you back, for there’s NO PRICE I could pay that would match the price your son paid for me. I do what I can because I love you. And just maybe, the “things” I do will draw others to you, also. And that would be a gift I would be honored to lay at your feet.

Learning to Trust God in All Things by Joyce Schafer

After spending the last few weeks cleaning, painting walls and finishing floors I have come to a few conclusions. First of all I am definitely not as young as I think I am. I used muscles that had been dormant for a long time.

Secondly, how great it is to have family and friends that will help you. Our kids were great helping to tear up carpet, sand floors and moving the heavy items. Our grandsons helped us tear out the old brush and our granddaughters helped us put in the new flowers and trees. Plus everyone made lots of trips back and forth carrying things from the old place to the our new home. My brothers who just live down the road from us now were in daily to check on us to see if we needed anything and our church friends prayed us through all of it-the closing of this house, the renovation and the selling of our place in town.

After the hard work was done it was time to celebrate with a party. It was so nice to see our former neighbors and our new neighbors, our relatives on both side of the family and our friends all coming together to share in our happiness at being back in the country. Once again our kids and grandkids pitched in with the cleaning and cooking. We are truly blessed.

The most important thing I learned through all of this is if you put everything in God's hands he will take care of you. This happens in his time not my time. I am an impatient, Type A personality that expects instant results to all my problems and goals. If I pray about it in the morning by nightfall I should see results. I am working on this and it has been one of my personal goals for the year. I need to keep reminding myself to pray and trust that God will answer my prayers in his way and in his time.

One of my favorite verses in the bible is James. I always feel like he is speaking directly to me. James 1:2-6 reads: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. but when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind."