Christian Counseling & Educational Services

Here in the U.S. this weekend is set aside to honor the brave men and women who have served in the armed services and fought for our country. We remember the living and dead, those who served in years gone by, and those who currently wear the uniform of the United States military.

It was a sunny, crisp spring morning as she stepped out the back door with multiple tasks circling her thoughts - the items to be purchased at the store, the people to call, work waiting to be accomplished. And then, she stopped because just breaking through the ground . . . there they were.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

As we celebrate Mother’s Day here in the United States, we pause to remember, honor and thank God for mothers. They have an awesome job! A mother comforts, guides, instructs, encourages and comes along side to help. She’s a chauffeur, a cook, a coach, a disciplinarian, and a whole lot more. Being a mom requires wearing many different hats, but most women are good at that.

Without warning or prelude, Elijah the prophet appeared suddenly on the pages of scripture in I Kings 17. In obedience to God’s command, Elijah boldly declared God’s wrath before wicked King Ahab and announced that there would be no rain, nor dew for three years upon ungodly Israel. Then the prophet left following God’s warning to flee to the wilderness and hide by the brook Cherith.

I’ve been sitting here writing thank you notes. From the window I see a beautiful blue sky, my roses blooming, and squirrels running through the back yard. It’s a pleasant seen. Indeed, when it’s all said and done right now, life is good. It’s easy to be thankful.

The ride home from town was so wonderful! Everything looked sharp and colorful. People were smiling. Leaves floated in the wind. The world was so much more enjoyable once a pair of glasses corrected my vision. You see, I didn’t realize what I was missing until my eyes were opened to a new way of looking at the world.

In life, we often settle for what we are able to deal with rather than pursuing the best. We keep our eyes on the mundane details of life and forget to focus on the eternal destination. We often go about our lives ignoring the fact that Jesus came to give us abundant life–one overflowing with joy, peace, love, compassion, and hope that begins right here and now in this life.

As beautiful as yesterday was here in Pennsylvania, it was easy to see why people were out walking. I noticed one couple in particular moving briskly with bounce in their step. “What a great way to spend time together,” I thought. Then I noticed she was talking on her cell phone, and I wondered how he felt about that. She was with him, right by his side, but her focus was elsewhere. Was it a random thing that interrupted their time together? That can happen easily enough. Or was it something she did often? Was she frequently with him physically, but listening to someone else’s voice?

Every year as spring arrives, I remember the time when we lived in France and went high into the Alps to a rustic retreat center. The sky was blue, the air was crisp and patches of snow spotted the mountainside. Here and there delicate little wild flowers showed their faces, some even pushing up through the crusty snow patches. At that elevation it seemed we could see forever. Being in the high place gave a different perspective to the whole world. It was a moment I wished would never end.

Last September one more counselor joined our staff to complete our team. Her name is Cindi Wilmot and she is a delightful addition to our work and ministry. Cindi is a wife, and a mother to six children. You can read more about her at our staff page. Here’s a devotional she wrote just for you, our weekly readers.

My daughter’s friend, Christian, sat in the back of the van with our kids, laughing delightedly and making everyone around him smile and chuckle with his nine-year-old humor and energy. “This is what it would be like if the Lord had spared our son”, I thought wistfully.

What a thrill to KNOW that my Redeemer lives! Jesus Christ is just as alive today as He was right after the resurrection. In fact, He is just as much alive today as He was before the crucifixion, and even before He came to earth and was laid in the manger.

What difference does it make whether we serve a living God or one made of stone? Isn’t it just a practice we believe in? Is it a crutch to help us along our way? No! Absolutely not!