The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise” (Psalm 98:4).

Driving school bus was a big responsibility, but he loved his job. Bruce thought back on the verse he had read that morning in his devotions about joyful and loud noises as the children boarded his bus. The winds shifted unexpectedly over the Great Lake, producing heavy lake effect snow. Schools throughout the region were closing early. Soon he would pull onto the highway with sixty-two faces in his rearview mirror. The weightiness of driving a bus loaded with children through the blinding snow was very significant. However the joyful sounds of children who were celebrating brought a smile to his face. He had a new appreciation for the “loud noise and rejoicing” that he had read earlier.

For today: While your rejoicing may not center upon blinding snowstorms, it does indeed center upon the Lord. Choose to rejoice in Him today.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, let any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

He bragged to the pastor about his wood working shop, his tools, his cherry wood, his projects, his abilities, his skills, and even his little certificate of appreciation from the local school for helping with a project. After nearly two hours of bragging about himself, Ken asked his neighbor what he wanted to see him about. The pastor explained that the reason he came to see him today was to share the gospel with him. Ken was so bull-headed that he rejected the gospel and told the neighbor, “I am a good man. I’ll get there on my own.” How sad of Ken to think this way! How glorious it is, however, that those who accept the truth of the gospel don’t have to be good enough to go to Heaven! The Lord Jesus gets all the credit. There is no room for boasting.

For today: Rejoice in the glorious plan of salvation. There is no boasting of ourselves, only glorying in the Lord!

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).

They were not at all prepared for the blizzard that was heading their way. It was late in the evening when the snowfall started to pick up. “We’ll be fine,” Marty said to his family. “Let’s just go a little farther, and we’ll get a room for the night,” he said with confidence. Soon they were in a major snowstorm and visibility became nearly zero. Within the hour they knew they were in trouble. Nearly out of gas and not knowing where they were, Marty’s family started to panic. His children cried, and Marty’s wife turned to him and asked, “What are we going to do?” For the first time in his life, he felt hopeless and helpless. To his amazement, blue and red flashing lights flooded his car as the State Trooper came to his window. After a quick explanation of what happened the kind Trooper got them into his SUV patrol vehicle. Marty’s entire family felt a huge sense of relief, security, and joy in being rescued. Far greater is the Lord’s very present help in trouble.

For today: Don’t sit in your troubles pouting! The Lord is waiting to help you!

“My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto Thee” (Psalm 71:23).

He didn’t notice his daughter pull up beside him at the traffic light. She looked over and saw her dad’s lips moving. She couldn’t get his attention but noted that he looked mighty happy! Tapping her horn, her startled dad glanced over and rolled the window down. “What are you doing, Dad? Don’t tell me you are talking to yourself these days?” she asked with a little note of teasing. “I’m singing to the Lord, and I’m having a fine day, thank you very much! Love you!” and with that the light turned green and off they pulled, soon heading in different directions. Sue thought about her elderly dad. He hurt pretty much throughout his entire body. Yet he possessed such a joy. She smiled as she thought of him sitting at the red light singing to the Lord with such an expression of joy. “Thanks Lord, for my dad. What a great work you are doing in him,” she whispered.

For today: Do you ever sing to the Lord? I surely hope so!

“But you are washed; but you are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, by the Spirit of our God.”

John sat listening intently to the man who came with his friend. This man was kind and very gentle as he showed John from the Bible how he could personally come to know the Lord Jesus and be forgiven of his sins. He knew beyond any shadow of a doubt that he had sinned, and he prayed with sincerity asking the Lord Jesus to become His Savior. Everything changed for John that day. He was now washed from his sins, sanctified (set apart unto God) and justified (acquitted of the verdict of condemnation and declared righteous in Christ.) Amazed with the tremendous gift the Lord Jesus gave him, John declared, “What a day to remember. I got up today lost and apart from God. Then a few moments ago, I had a complete change of direction. Everything is new!”

For today: How about you? Do you know the Lord Jesus as your personal Savior?