Fall Creek Christian Church

“I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live." Psalm 116:1-2 So many people are struggling to be heard these days. There seems to be no limit to the extremes people will go to try to get others to look their way. I'm so grateful for the people in my life who are great listeners. When speaking with them, I don't have to struggle to get a word into the conversation. As a matter of fact, my words are actually invited. And, if the words don't come out no good, it's okay.  Being heard is a big deal ... a really big deal. The writer of today's verses expressed it beautifully. To be heard is to be loved. People are drawn to those who are simply willing to listen. There is no better listener than God himself. He's never too busy, too tired, or disinterested. His ears are turned towards you. Today, there is someone around you hoping you'll listen. You have been gifted by

“...Saul realized his troops were rapidly slipping away. So he demanded, "Bring me the burnt offerings and the peace offerings!" And Saul sacrificed the burnt offering himself. Just as Saul was finishing with the burnt offering, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet him and welcomed him, but Samuel said, "What is this you have done?"..."  I Samuel 13:8-11 1-2-3, spin the ball, shoot. Turn the cap inside out. One practice swing then hit. We see it all the time in sports. Rituals. Attempts by players to get in the zone or by fans to send some magical positive energy to their team through the flatscreen. In the context of sports, it's harmless fun. However, this ritual for outcomes isn't always a harmless proposition. In our verses for today, we see King Saul in trouble. He had been told to wait for Samuel the prophet and priest, but he was overwhelmed with fear. In his panic, he made the decision to make the offerings Samuel was supposed to make. His logi

“But Ruth replied,'Don't ask me to leave you and turn back. I will go wherever you go and live wherever you live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.'"  Ruth  1:16 "One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Proverbs  18:24    As I heard the person tell me what my friend had said, something inside of me shattered. I was crushed. For the first time in my young life, I felt the inimitable sting of betrayal. It was awful. That day, my innocent naivete' regarding the trustworthiness of friends dropped off a cliff. From then on, loyalty became a non-negotiable prerequisite for true friendships in my life. Naomi knew loyalty. Ruth refused to abandon her to face her fate alone. She stuck close, unwilling to yield her resolve even in the face of Naomi's order to leave. As a result, both women were blessed. A family tree of character and honor was established that soon led

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13 Kids and chores are frequently unhappy companions. I remember trying to avoid them as a kid and when I couldn't, I would stumble and grumble my way through them. Unfortunately, my children have inherited this proclivity to avoid chores as well. To describe their effort when they are not able to avoid them as "halfhearted" would be overstating the reality. Reflecting on the verse for today, it would appear that halfheartedness is not confined to my personal experience. God led the prophet Jeremiah to include the word "all" in this well known and oft repeated verse. The promise of divine discovery is reserved for the passionate pursuer. The one who must, the one won't be distracted, the one who perseveres, the one who is undivided in focus ... This one will find. God made you. He loves you and he is for you. Your best is the desire of his heart. He has not, is not and will