“Sharing Cookies” - Sandra Fischer

“And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. . .” (Hebrews 13:16 NLT)

Years ago, the mother of a college dorm-mate of mine sent packages of special cookies to her, instructing her to share them. They were delicious treasures and, occasionally, she would share them, if we begged her. Most of the time, she hid them, saving them for herself.

I heard a sermon recently exhorting us to share Christ by proclaiming the gospel. I thought about those cookies our friend was reluctant to share and how much we wanted them. The connection? We are not to keep what we possess in Christ hidden away for ourselves, but we are to make known the heavenly riches with which we are blessed. God, like the “cookie maker”, commands us to share the message of salvation with lost beggars, unlike the “cookie hoarder”, who hid the treasures for herself.

Paul said it this way: “‘Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.’ But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?’” (Romans 10:13-14 NLT)

Our world is full of people hungering for truth, for grace, for nourishment to feed their souls. We need to reach out to them and share the glorious treasure we have. “. . . if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.” (1 Peter 3:15 NLT) Sharing cookies is good for temporary gratification, but sharing the gospel offers eternal fulfillment. 

“Father, fill us to overflowing with the treasure in Christ you have given us.” 

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

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.”