WWWD?

                                                             

                                                      WWWD? By Sandra Fischer

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Mark 8:34 (NIV)

In the 1990’s a popular acronym was “WWJD”. Believers were to ask the question it represented—"What would Jesus do?”— whenever they came to a crisis of faith along their spiritual journey. Of course, this left the answer open to speculation on what believers “thought” Jesus would do. A better question to ask might be one represented by the acronym, “WDJD”, “What DID Jesus do?”

He demonstrated the love of the Father by coming to the world in the flesh, by dying on a cross as a full atonement for all our sins and He arose in victory over death, so we who accept His gift of grace might live forever, clothed in His righteousness. He calls us to follow His example. He said, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” John 15:12 (NIV) And, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Mark 8:34 (NIV)

That should lead us to consider another acronym, “WWWD”. The question here is “What WILL we do?” Each day we have choices to make through our response to relationships with difficult people or troubling circumstances. Will we choose to love, to forgive, to pray for our enemies, to be grateful for what we have rather than having what we want, to be faithful in obedience to God regardless of how the world treats us? Will we do what Jesus did?

LORD, by your Spirit, help us to follow in your steps that we might be conformed to your image.   
Sandra is a Faithwriters Platinum member, author of “Seasons in the Garden.” (New revised and updated) Contact

A Shelter in Life's Storms

Today's Devotional

A Shelter in the Storms of Life  by Sandra Fischer “…He has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’” – Hebrews 13:5b NKJV When I lived in Indiana tornadoes were a regular summer occurrence; here in North Carolina, where I live now, hurricanes visit us occasionally. I think about how other storms–emotional, physical, and spiritual—come into our lives. Some, like tornadoes, are sudden and unpredictable; others, like hurricanes, give us time to prepare. Regardless of the storms we experience, scripture tells us of their certainty. Jesus said, “In this world you will have tribulation. . .” (John 16:33a NKJV). He didn’t say “might” or “could”, the key word is “will.” He finishes with words asking us to have a paradoxical attitude: “. . .but be of good cheer. . .” If he stopped there, we might ask, “Say, what?” But then, he underscores why we can accept assured tribulation; he says, “I have overcome the world.”  When we consider the pain and destruction storms bring, we struggle with being “of good cheer” amidst them. It’s a matter of focus. We need to realize, as Peter did when he walked on stormy water, if we take our eyes off Jesus, our faith falters, and we slip into the roiling waters of doubt. Even so, Jesus is there to lift us up and keep us.    No matter the storm, we believers in Christ can rest assured that Jesus was with us before the storm, is with us in the storm and will be with us when it’s over. We have a strong shelter, the Rock of Ages on whom we stand. We can sing the old hymn that says it well, “Oh, Jesus is the Rock in a weary land, a Shelter in the time of storm.”  Sandra is a Faithwriters Platinum member, author of “Seasons in the Garden.” Contact

Fisch Lines: "Micro-Martyrdom"

Fisch Lines: "Micro-Martyrdom":                                                                  “Micro-martyrdom”                                                 ...

"Micro-Martyrdom"

 

 

                                                             “Micro-martyrdom”

                                                                by Sandi Fischer

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends” John 15:13 (NIV)
We’ve read about them—martyrs who died rather than deny Christ. As faithful followers, we like to believe, if the time or opportunity came, we would be “all in”, too. Realistically, it’s doubtful we will be put to that great test. But, to follow Christ’s example, we must consider what He says, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23, NIV)

Could laying down our lives not mean a “once-for-all” event? Could sacrificing ourselves be an ongoing process, a kind of “micro-martyrdom”—small, everyday surrenders of putting others’ interests before ours? Could losing our lives in bits and pieces show the sacrificial love of Christ?

How is dying daily shown? By making time—to listen to others, to send an encouragement note or call a friend; to get up earlier to have devotions and pray for those we promised to pray for; to visit a shut-in; to serve at church or wherever needed.

It’s shown by: Allowing someone else to have—the remote, the last piece of our favorite pie, the window seat, the closest parking space, the pew where we usually sit, the last word.

It means: Not responding to an offense in a like manner, whether in speech or action; forgiving slights and never recalling them to the slighter; withholding our opinions when unsolicited or unnecessary; not judging people on appearances; respecting the intrinsic value of each person God created.

“Micro-martyrdom” means laying down our lives daily in Christlike love.

“Lord, help us to remember—dying to self means living for You.”

No Separation Anxiety - Sandra Fischer I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 (NIV) Ordinarily, we think young children are those most likely to have separation anxiety when parents leave them with a sitter or at school for the first time. But, as a mother, I was the one who suffered this malady at special times in our children’s lives—when we dropped them off at college and when they walked down the wedding aisle. How hard those partings were, although I knew it wasn’t a total farewell.  The most grievous separation anxiety of all is when death comes to those we love, and we are parted from them. The short-term separations we have in our lives cannot compare with that of death. Unless we die in a common event with loved ones, we will all feel the deep anguish of separation in every relationship. But, for Christians, there is one relationship we have that is the exception.    The single relationship whereby believers will never experience separation is the one we have with Christ. We, who’ve trusted in His saving grace, have the assurance of His presence with us here, now and forever. And another blessing is knowing that, although we may be separated from family and friends by death, we will be reunited someday with those who know Christ, too. What comforting peace! Simply put—no Jesus, know separation anxiety; know Jesus, no separation anxiety. Know Jesus, know peace. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 (NIV) Sandra is a Faithwriters Platinum member, author of the book, “Seasons in the Garden.” Contact

Our Living Hope by Sandra Fischer

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead – 1 Peter 1:3 (NIV)

I am in an online support group of people who have a family member with a terminal disease. Some of the posts I read are filled with feelings ranging from anger to grief to despair. I find myself identifying with them, crying out to God at the thought of losing someone so dear.

I think about how another support group may have experienced those same feelings on the day we call “Good Friday.” What seemed to be the end of all hope occurred at a place called Calvary, by the death of Jesus, on a cross between two thieves.

Then, I read other posts from the support group—expressions filled with gratitude, faith, and hope. And I think of another day long ago when such feelings were demonstrated on that first Easter. Christ had risen victorious over death, fulfilling the promise that through Him, we can have eternal life as well! I take heart in the promise.

I ponder the fact that all of us are on the same journey toward leaving this life; death is the reality. But, for us who follow Christ, it is not the end—it’s not Friday anymore—it’s the Easter of our lives, our Resurrection Day. As we await, we hang between two thieves, regrets of the past and fears of tomorrow. We have no control over either. Today—this moment—we can choose to be thankful for what we have—the constant love and presence of God, our living hope, to help, guide and strengthen us in our journey.

Oh, LORD, how desperately we need to embrace the assurance You’ve given us that death is not the end—by Your gift of grace in Christ, we have a living hope!

Sandra is a Faithwriters Platinum member and author of the book, “Seasons in the Garden.” Contact

Image from https://akiane.com/.

Dressed in Easter Best by Sandra Fischer But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. Matthew 22:11 ESV Where I grew up, everyone donned their Sunday best attire for Easter. Men sported new suits. Women boasted the latest spring fashions, crowned with hats adorned in flowers and ribbons. Young girls wore white bonnets, lacy socks and patent leather shoes.  I recalled this when reading the parable of the wedding feast given by the king (God) for his son (Jesus) in Matthew 22. The guests needed to be clothed in proper wedding garments, or they were unacceptable. When one of them appeared improperly dressed, he was thrown out by the king.  True Easter apparel is not found in fashionable suits, dresses and bonnets. Real Easter attire was provided on a cross draped with Jesus, whose death and resurrection offered the means for all to come to the future wedding feast in heaven. The parable in Matthew is a warning to those not clothed for that future event in the proper attire—the righteousness of Christ. What have you chosen to wear for Easter? Will you be dressed properly, able to sing the words of the hymn, “And Can It Be?” No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in Him, is mine! Alive in Him, my living Head, And clothed in righteousness Divine, Bold I approach the eternal throne, And claim the crown, through Christ my own. Bold I approach the eternal throne, And claim the crown, through Christ my own. “Lord, I thank you for providing the best of Easter clothing—Christ’s righteousness. I pray for all to accept your gift of grace through faith in him.”

 

“Valentine Love for Everyone” By Sandra Fischer Valentine’s Day gives us an opportunity to send cards to those we love. I recall during my days in elementary school, every class member was expected to make or buy Valentine's cards to give to everyone in the class—regardless of how we felt about them. So, I gave one to the boy who sat behind me and pulled my pigtails, to the girl who told the teacher I chewed gum at recess, and to the one who threw paper wads at me when the teacher wasn’t looking. Today I am still called to show love to everyone, not because it’s the Valentine thing to do, but as a follower of Christ, I am commanded to. He said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, love your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27 (NIV) He defined “neighbor” in the parable of the good Samaritan as being anyone needing mercy. Doesn’t everyone? In Matthew 5:43:44 (NIV), he carried the commandment even further. “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” How can he ask us to do such a thing? Because he demonstrated what true love is—yes, Jesus showed the greatest expression of love by stretching out his arms on a cross that encompassed the world. Through his death, burial and resurrection, his act of love allows anyone who receives his “Valentine” to be forgiven of their sins, reconciled to God, the Father, and inherit eternal life. For me, it means I’m still expected to give that kind of “Valentine” to everyone. Lord, help me to show the love Christ has shown to me. Sandra is a Faithwriters Platinum member and author of the book, “Seasons in the Garden.” Contact