65 Sermon Illustrations on Help

A fable says, that a horse, being too weak to contend with a stag called a man to his aid, who, getting on the horse's back, quickly put the stag to flight; but the horse could never get the man off his back, nor the bit out of his mouth. So it is with obligations incurred by receiving aid from others.

Some people are overdependent. Should Christians support them? Sometimes assistance can do more harm than good. However, it is better to err on the side of mercy.

Indications of harmful overdependence:

1. How long in need?

2. Does God give an impression of their situation?

3. How bold are they?

4. How persistent are they?

5. Do they blame others or offer other excuses?

When giving is not loving.

1. If giving reinforces weakness.

Woman used suicide attempts to get attention. The church stopped

visiting her in the hospital, and she stopped doing it.

2. If giving indulges childishness.

Generosity can prompt immature people to become demanding, ungrateful,

and disrespectful, just as the Corinthians treated Paul because he

supported himself.

3. If giving enables sin.

Al-Anon counsels against being an "enabler" who covers up for an

alcoholic. One church had a young man who was unemployed and lived

with church families. They confronted him with 2 Thess 3 and he moved

to another family, then another church. Finally he came back to the

original church and got a job.

4. If giving allows others to burn out or be neglected.

Women helped an invalid who used them, then the volunteers burned out

and helped no one.

How to wean.

1. Be sure we have proved our concern.

Help people financially, but each time increase their responsibility.

2. Verbally affirm our concern when we must say no.

3. Point out that giving them a boost has not helped, and discuss why that

may be the case. Explain that love demands we do what's best, even when

it hurts.

4. Instead of knocking out all the props at once, decrease them

progressively.

5. Focus on answers rather than rehearsing the problem.

As long as people are consumed with their needs, their dependency will

remain.

6. Do not treat ongoing needs as emergencies.

7. Pray with them and teach them to pray for themselves.

Richard was homeless, church put him up. He did not look for work so

they rebuked him. He moved out, dated and milked a girl in the church.

They rebuked him again. He moved away. Pastor ran into him, he said

he had no relationship with God. Recently Richard phoned from Ohio to

say he was "living for Jesus." He is attending a strong church,

working, and is married.

The overdependent frequently flee when handled stoutly, but that same

firmness, and not softness, is what helps them most.

Ten typical actions of con artists given: too many details in story, name dropping, urgency, etc. Also, five ways to avoid being taken.

A West Virginian farmer died and left his 17 mules to three sons. (He was wealthy by West Virginian standards.) His will stated that his oldest son would get half of the mules, the middle one would get one-third and the youngest would get one-ninth.

They wracked their brains to figure out how to do it, but couldn't.

Soon after this their [area] minister came to help them in their grief and heard their predicament. He added his mule to the lot, making 18 mules.

The oldest got half, or 9.

The middle got one-third, or 6.

And the youngest got one-ninth, or 2.

Then the minister got on the remaining mule and rode home.

Leadership is about creatively adding an extra mule. Everyone is satisfied with the results and the leader still has something to ride home on.

The following story appeared in the newsletter "Our America":

Dodie Gadient, a schoolteacher for thirteen years, decided to travel across America and see the sights she had taught about. Traveling alone in a truck with camper in tow, she launched out. One afternoon rounding a curve on I-5 near Sacramento in rush-hour traffic, a water pump blew on her truck. She was tired, exasperated, scared, and alone. In spite of the traffic jam she caused, no one seemed interested in helping.

Leaning up against the trailer, she prayed, "Please God, send me an angel... preferably one with mechanical experience." Within four minutes, a huge Harley drove up, ridden by an enormous man sporting long black hair, a beard, and tattooed arms. With an incredible air of confidence, he jumped off and, without even glancing at Dodie, went to work on the truck. Within another few minutes, he flagged down a larger truck, attached a tow chain to the frame of the disabled Chevy, and whisked the whole 56-foot rig off the freeway onto a side street, where he calmly continued to work on the water pump.

The intimidated schoolteacher was too dumbfounded to talk. Especially when she read the paralyzing words on the back of his leather jacket: "Hell's Angels - California." As he finished the task, she finally got up the courage to say, "Thanks so much," and carry on a brief conversation. Noticing her surprise at the whole ordeal, he looked her straight in the eye and mumbled, "Don't judge a book by its cover. You may not know who you're talking to." With that, he smiled, closed the hood of the truck, and straddled his Harley. With a wave, he was gone as fast as he had appeared.

Given half a chance, people often crawl out of the boxes into which we've relegated them.

Example of Good Samaritan from 1992 Los Angeles riots.

Am I a neighbor to someone who needs me?

Jeff Kramer was sent by his newspaper to report on the reaction of people in Los Angeles to Rodney King trial. At the intersection of 53rd and Normandie, gang members surrounded his car and shattered the windshield. One ordered him to get out of the car. When he didn't, they beat him and shot him three times.

For several minutes he played dead, slumped over the steering wheel. Then he managed to put the car in gear and made a U-turn. A final gunshot from behind caught him in the back.

Kramer turned down a side street and asked some small children for help. Marie Edwards tried to call an ambulance while her son held a bandage on the wounds. After 40 minutes they were still there. No ambulance. No police. Gang members were slowly cruising down the street, staring at the smashed car.

Rather than running away, these neighbors cranked down Kramer's seat so he wouldn't be noticed and covered him with a blanket. Finally another neighbor brought her car over and they drove until they found help. In most of the cases where television cameras showed innocent people being victimized, a common person came to their aid. Often it was at great personal risk.

Would you have done the same?

A humorous tale on the subject of service:

Several years ago in Mississippi, a doctor taught a Red Cross course in emergency medical assistance to a group of ladies from First Church. One evening a serious accident occurred in front of the home of one of these ladies.

At the next Red Cross class, that lady described the accident. "It was horrible," she exclaimed. "There was blood on the street, bruised bodies, and broken bones. I was so glad to have had your course on emergency medical assistance."

"Were you able to use what I taught you?" the doctor asked.

"Yes," she replied. "I put my head between my legs and breathed deeply, and never once felt as though I would faint."

[see #3965 for originating article on preaching with stories.]

=============================================

Another version from Preaching Now newsletter:

Adrian Rogers told the story of a lady who took a course in first aid: “They were having testimonials about first aid, and she stood up and said, ‘I want to give a testimony. The other day out in front of my house, there was an automobile accident. An old man driving his car lost control, went over the curb, and hit an oak tree head-on. He was thrown out into the street. His skull was fractured, he had compound fractures in his limbs, and he was pumping his life’s blood out on the asphalt.’ She said, ‘It was horrible, but I remembered my first aid. I remembered if I would put my head between my knees I wouldn’t faint.’

“That’s the kind of Christianity a lot of people desire. We just want to put our head between our knees and say, ‘Oh, I’m so glad I’m a Christian, so I can live in this horrible world.’ It is a horrible world, and our Lord has put us here as His representatives. Opportunities to serve Him are everywhere.”

________

Adrian Rogers, WHAT EVERY CHRISTIAN OUGHT TO KNOW: ESSENTIAL TRUTHS FOR GROWING YOUR FAITH; submitted by Steve Eutsler.

He was driving home one evening on a two-lane country road. Work in this small mid-western community was almost as slow as his beat-up Pontiac but, he never quit looking. Ever since the Levis factory closed he’d been unemployed and with winter raging on, the chill had finally hit home.

It was a lonely road. Not many people had a reason to be on it unless they were leaving. Most of his friends had already left. They had families to feed and dreams to fulfill. But he stayed on. After all, this was where he buried his mother and father. He was born here and knew the country.

He could go down this road blindfolded and tell you what was on either side. With his headlights not working, that came in handy. It was starting to get dark and light snow flurries were coming down he knew he’d better get a move on.

You know, he almost didn’t see the old lady stranded on the side of the road. But even in the dim light of day he could see she needed help. So, he pulled up in front of her Mercedes and got out. His Pontiac was still sputtering when he approached her.

Even with the smile on his face, she was worried. No one had stopped to help for the last hour or so. Was he going to hurt her? He didn’t look safe, he looked poor and hungry. He could see that she was frightened, standing out there in the cold. He knew how she felt. It was that chill that only fear can put in you. He said, “I’m here to help you ma’am. Why don’t you wait in the car where it’s warm. By the way, my name is Joe.”

All she had was a flat tire but, for an old lady, that was bad enough. Joe crawled under the car looking for a place to put the jack skinning his knuckles a time or two. Soon he was able to change the tire. But he had to get dirty and his hands hurt. As he was tightening up the lug nuts, she rolled down her window and began to talk to him. She told him that she was from St. Louis and was only just passing through. She couldn’t thank him enough for coming to her aid. Joe just smiled as he closed her trunk.

She asked him how much she owed him. Any amount would have been alright with her. She had already imagined all the awful things that could have happened had he not stopped. Joe never thought twice about the money. This was not a job to him. This was helping someone in need, and God knows there were plenty who had given him a hand in the past. He had lived his whole life that way, and it never occurred to him to act any other way. He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back the next time she saw someone who needed help she could give that person the assistance that they needed and Joe added, “… and think of me”.

He waited until she started her car and drove off. It had been a cold and depressing day but, he felt good as he headed for home disappearing into the twilight. A few miles down the road the lady saw a small cafe. She went in to grab a bite to eat and take the chill off before she made the last leg of her trip home. It was a dingy looking restaurant. Outside were two old gas pumps. The whole scene was unfamiliar to her. The cash register was like the telephone of an out-of-work actor, it didn’t ring much.

Her waitress came over and brought a clean towel to wipe her wet hair. She had a sweet smile, one that even being on her feet for the whole day couldn’t erase. The lady noticed that the waitress was nearly eight months pregnant but, she never let the strain and aches change her attitude. The old lady wondered how someone who had so little could be so giving to a stranger. Then she remembered Joe.

After the lady finished her meal and the waitress went to get her change from a hundred dollar bill the lady slipped right out the door. She was gone by the time the waitress came back. She wondered where the lady could be then she noticed something written on a napkin. There were tears in her eyes when she read what the lady wrote. It said, “You don’t owe me a thing. I’ve been there too. Someone once helped me out the way I’m helping you. If you really want to pay me back here’s what you do. DON’T LET THE CHAIN OF LOVE END WITH YOU.”

There were tables to clear, sugar bowls to fill, and people to serve but the waitress made it through another day. That night when she got home from work and climbed into bed she was thinking about the money and what the lady had written. How could she have known how much she and her husband needed it? With the baby due next month it was going to be hard. She knew how worried her husband was, and as he lay sleeping next to her she gave him a soft kiss and whispered soft and low, “Everything’s gonna be alright. I love you, Joe.”

=============

Another version:

LET THE LIGHT SHINE

Author Unknown

He was driving home one evening, on a two-lane country road. Work, in this small Midwestern community, was almost as slow as his beat-up Pontiac, but he never quit looking. Ever since the factory closed, he’d been unemployed, and with winter raging on, the chill had finally hit home. It was a lonely road. Not very many people had a reason to be on it, unless they were leaving. Most of his friends had already left. They had families to feed and dreams to fulfill, but he stayed on. After all, this was where he buried his mother and father. He was born here and knew the country. He could go down this road blind, and tell you what was on either side, and with his headlights not working, that came in handy. It was starting to get dark and light snow flurries were coming down. He’d better get a move on.

You know, he almost didn’t see the old lady stranded on the side of the road. But even in the dim light of day, he could see she needed help. So he pulled up in front of her Mercedes and got out. His Pontiac was still sputtering when he approached her. Even with the smile on his face, she was worried. No one had stopped to help her the last hour or so. Was he going to hurt her? He didn’t look safe, he looked poor and hungry. He could see that she was frightened, standing out there in the cold. He knew how she felt. It was that chill that only fear can put in you. He said, “I’m here to help you ma’am. Why don’t you wait in the car where it’s warm? By the way, my name is Joe.”

Well, all she had was a flat tire, but for an old lady, that was bad enough. Joe crawled under the car looking for a place to put the jack, skinning his knuckles a time or two. Soon he was able to change the tire, but he had to get dirty and his hands hurt. As he was tightening up the lug nuts, she rolled down her window and began to talk to him. She told him that she was from St. Louis and was only just passing through. She couldn’t thank him enough for coming to her aid. Joe just smiled as he closed her trunk. She asked him how much she owed him. Any amount would have been all right with her. She had already imagined all the awful things that could have happened had he not stopped. Joe never thought twice about the money. This was not a job to him. This was helping someone in need, and there were plenty who had given to him in the past. He had lived his whole life that way and it had never occurred to him to act any other way. He told here that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, she could give that person the assistance they needed. Joe added, “...And think of me.” He waited until she started her car and drove off. It had been a cold and depressing day, but he felt good as he headed for home, disappearing into the twilight.

A few miles down the road the lady saw a small cafe. She went in to grab a bite to eat and take the chill off her before she made the last leg of her trip home. It was a dinghy looking restaurant. Outside were two old gas pumps. The whole scene was unfamiliar to her. The cash register was like the telephone of an out of work actor -- it didn’t ring much. Her waitress came over and brought a clean towel to wipe her hair. She had a sweet smile, one that even being on her feet for the whole day couldn’t erase. The lady noticed that the waitress was very pregnant, but she never let the strain and aches change her attitude. The old lady wondered how someone who had so little could be so giving to a stranger. Then she remembered Joe. After the lady finished her meal, and the waitress went to get her change from a hundred dollar bill, the lady slipped right out the door.

She was gone by the time the waitress came back. She wondered where the lady could be, then she noticed something written on a napkin. There were tears in her eyes when she read what the lady had written. It said, “You don’t owe me a thing, I’ve been there too. Someone helped me out, the way I’m helping you.” Well, there were tables to clear, bowls to fill, and people to serve, but the waitress made it through another day.

That night when she got home from work and climbed into bed, she was thinking about the money and what the lady had written. How could she have known how much she and her husband needed the extra money? With the baby coming next month, it was going to be hard. She knew how worried her husband was and as he lay sleeping next to her, she gave him a sweet kiss and whispered soft and low, “Everything’s going to be all right. I love you...Joe.”

________

Avenue B church of Christ, Ballinger, Texas

EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS

When in sorrow, ...........................call John 14.

When men fail you, ........................call Psalm 27.

If you want to be fruitful, ...............call John 15.

When you have sinned, .....................call Psalm 51.

When you worry, ...........................call Matthew 6:19-34.

When you are in danger, ...................call Psalm 91.

When God seems far away, ..................call Psalm 139.

When your faith needs stirring, ...........call Hebrews 11.

When you are lonely and fearful, ..........call Psalm 23.

When you grow bitter and critical, ....... call 1 Corinthians 13.

Paul's secret to happiness, ...............call Colossians 3:12-17.

For understanding of Christianity,.........call 2 Corinthians 5:15-19.

When you feel down and out, ...............call Romans 8:31.

When you want peace and rest, .............call Matthew 11:25-30.

When the world seems bigger than God, .... call Psalm 90.

When you want Christian assurance, ........call Romans 8:1-30.

When you leave home for labor or travel, ..call Psalm 121.

When your prayers grow narrow or selfish,..call Psalm 67.

For a great invention/opportunity, ........call Isaiah 55.

When you want courage for a task, .........call Joshua 1.

For how to get along with fellow men, .....call Romans 12.

When you think of investments and returns,.call Mark 10.

If you are depressed, .....................call Psalm 27.

If your pocketbook is empty, ..............call Psalm 37.

If you are losing confidence in people, ...call 1 Corinthians 13.

If people seem unkind, ....................call John 15.

If discouraged about your work, ...........call Psalm 126.

If you find the world growing small and yourself great,..call Psalm19.

Alternate numbers:

For dealing with fear, ....................call Psalm 34:7.

For security, .............................call Psalm 121:3.

For assurance, ............................call Mark 8:35.

For reassurance, ..........................call Psalm 145:18.

Emergency numbers may be dialed direct. No operator assistance is

necessary.

*

"The New Testament records tell of forty people, each suffering from some disease, who had been healed by Jesus. Of this number, thirty-four were either brought to Jesus by friends or Jesus was taken to them. In only six cases out of forty did sufferers find their way to Christ without assistance."

-- the late Dr. J. Wilbur Chapman, quoted in SWORD

"I will pray the Father; and He will give you another Helper (Comforter)." {John 14:16}

In his book "Living Faithfully," J. Allen Blair tells of a man who was struggling down East 42nd Street in New York City. He was trying to make his way through a storm to Grand Central Station. The wind blew fiercely, and the driving rain beat down on him as he lugged his two heavy suitcases toward the terminal. Occasionally he would pause to rest and regain his strength before trudging on against the elements. At one point he was almost ready to collapse, when a man suddenly appeared by his side, took the suitcases, and said in a strangely familiar voice, "We're going the same way. You look as if you could use some help." When they had reached the shelter of the station, the weary traveler, the renowned educator Booker T. Washington, asked the man, "Please, sir, what is your name?" The man replied, "The name, my friend, is Roosevelt. Teddy Roosevelt."

What a thrill it would be to have the assistance of such a famous person! But how much greater is the Helper God has sent! Referring to Him, Jesus used the Greek word parakletos, which means "one called alongside to help" (John 14:26). He's the One Jesus promised to send from the Father after He left this earth.

*

Recovery is a spiritual journey. Unfortunately, we are often poorly prepared for the twists and turns this spiritual journey will take. We are rarely prepared for the possibility that we will experience spiritual distress as part of the recovery process.

The struggle to face past pain or to address issues of addiction and codependency leads to an honest examination of all of life. We ask difficult and searching questions about God and about our faith. The spiritual distress that comes from this struggle can be confusing and frightening.

For many of us, our first reaction to times of spiritual distress is to assume that we are spiritual failures. Our faith is defective, we think. Good Christians aren't supposed to get angry at God. We have many ways of shaming ourselves for our spiritual distress.

But spiritual distress is not an indication of spiritual failure. Spiritual distress is more likely to be a sign that God is growing in us a new capacity for relationship with him. Times of distress are often the first steps toward spiritual healing and growth. They are often times when we realize acutely our desire to know and be known by God. When we protest God's absence, we are expressing our deep longing for closeness with God. When God seems silent, we learn again how much we need to hear his voice. When God seems distant, we realize afresh our strong desire to experience his presence. As a result of spiritual distress, our hearts may become better prepared to hear and receive from God. It is often in the furnace of spiritual distress that purity of heart is formed.

Times of spiritual distress are often an indication that healing is taking place deep within us. It should not surprise us that during recovery we uncover some major struggles in our relationship with God. We may be angry with God. We may doubt God. We may question God. We may long for God. All of this is emotionally painful, but it is the real stuff of real relationships. If we hide ourselves from these thoughts and feelings when they surface, we may be running away from some of the most important healing that we can experience - the healing of our relationship with God.

May God grant you courage in times of spiritual distress. May your spirit flourish as you heal in your relationship with God.

LEAVING GOD

A despairing man should have the devotion of his friends, even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty. Job 6:14

At some point during the recovery process we re-examine our most fundamental beliefs. A long process of sorting, examining and questioning takes place. And, in that process, our relationship with God is challenged. It is possible that our relationship with God will deepen and strengthen in the process. But it is also possible that we will find ourselves pulling away from God. We may find ourselves angry with God, or afraid of God, or unable to believe in God at all. This can be a frightening experience. It can feel like the very foundations of life are being shaken.

In times like this, we need many things. But at the top of the list is our need for friends who will accept us even if we turn away from God. We need friends who will not minimize our struggle or discount our feelings. We need people who will not be shocked when we are full of rage at God. We need friends who are able to hear the deep pain behind our words and who know that this, too, is part of our healing. We need people who can see beyond the immediate pain to the healing that can come.

Even when we forsake the fear of God, we need friends who understand, who are committed to us for the long haul, and who plead with God on our behalf.

Sometimes I feel agnostic, Lord,

I just don't know anymore.

Sometimes I want nothing to do with you.

Where were you when I needed you the most?

Sometimes I despair, Lord.

Sometimes I can't seem to hope.

I need friends who will not abandon me, Lord.

I need friends who will be patient and grace-full with

my anger and fear.

I need friends who will stay with me as we wait for you to

show yourself once again.

I need friends, Lord, who will give me courage to hope

again in you.

Send help, Lord.

Amen.

QUESTIONING OURSELVES

How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? Psalm 13:1-2

Sometimes our spiritual distress is centered on questions about God. Where is God? Why doesn't God help? At other times our spiritual distress is centered on questions about ourselves. What is wrong with me? How come I'm still struggling this much?

Doubts about ourselves can be profoundly troubling. We wonder if our faith will survive the struggle. We wonder if our faith is strong enough. Often we feel like spiritual failures. The kind of spirituality we have been taught does not envision 'good' Christians as people who wrestle with their thoughts and are sad everyday. We think of 'good' Christians as people who trust God and manage to smile in the midst of any circumstances. When we can't manage to do this, we question and criticize ourselves.

But wrestling with our thoughts and experiencing sorrow day after day is often a part of the recovery process. It is not a sign of failure to engage in this hard work. It is a sign of courage. And it is a sign that our faith is alive and struggling. People of real faith struggle in life. People of real faith are people who wrestle with thoughts and who feel sorrow in their heart.

Lord, I get so tired of thought-wrestling.

And I am so weary of heart-sorrow.

How long, Lord?

How long does this wrestling and sorrow go on?

Help me, Lord, not to experience this struggle as spiritual failure.

Help me to see this hard work as drawing me closer to you.

Remind me today that you are with me in all of this.

Remind me today that you understand.

Amen.

QUESTIONING GOD

How long, O Lord, must I call for help but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, "Violence!" but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. Habakkuk 1:2-3,13

Where were you God? Where were you when I needed you? Didn't you see the violence? The abuse? The injustice? Didn't you care? There are times in recovery when we are full of questions about God. The pain of past trauma can be intensified when we begin to struggle with these hard questions about God.

It is important to acknowledge that these questions about God are not academic questions. No theoretical explanation of the problem of pain will soothe our raging, confused hearts. These are urgent, personal questions about God and about his involvement in our lives. We want to know that he sees and cares and intervenes in our lives. We need him. We need his love. We need his help.

It is an important source of encouragement to know that we are not the first to ask these hard questions. There is clear biblical precedent for asking difficult questions about God. People of faith have always struggled with questions like these. We can take comfort and courage from knowing that the psalmist asked urgent questions similar to our own.

God, I am afraid.

I don't understand.

Violence and abuse happen and you do not stop it.

You seem absent.

You seem uncaring.

I need to know that you see and care.

I am calling to you for help, God.

Please hear me.

Please respond.

Amen.

LONGING FOR GOD

O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. Psalm 63:1

When a young child is separated from her parents, she will protest their absence. She will experience sadness, anxiety, anger and a longing for her parents to return. These intense emotions are not a sign of her failure as a child. Her protest is a clear sign of how important her parents are to her, of how much she misses them, of how much she loves them. At certain developmental stages, it is a sign of emotional health for a child to protest separation. At certain ages a healthy child will protest, will be angry, will be afraid, and will long for the parents return.

If one or both of our parents was in some way absent from our lives during our formative years, it will be easy for us to imagine that God will leave us as well. We may experience silence and distance. And we may find ourselves longing for him.

Just as it is good for a child to protest the absence of a parent, it is good for us to protest when we subjectively experience God's absence. It is good to give voice to our longing for God. It is good to write or pray or talk about our deep need for God's presence and love. We can call out to him. We can protest his absence.

O God, do not be silent.

Do not be distant.

I miss you when you seem so far away.

I long for you to be close.

I long to know that you care about me.

I long for you, God.

Nothing can replace you.

No one can be God but you.

Do not be silent.

Do not be distant.

Come. Speak.

I need you. Amen.

NEEDING REASSURANCE FROM GOD

Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has born? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands. Isaiah 40:15-16

We may experience abandonment from a spouse who turns away form us to their addiction of choice. We may experience feeling like we have been rejected by friends. We may struggle with memories of parents who were not compassionate with us. Or memories of parents who 'forgot' us in one way or another.

And so we say to God: "you will abandoned and reject and forget me like all the others!"

Sometimes these experiences are so familiar that we expect them from anyone we want to be close to, including God. It is a terrible fear to live with. It creates deep distress.

God responds to our distress with words of reassurance. We are not always able to take in reassurance that is offered to us. But there are times when it can feel like a drink of cool water to our parched throats.

God says "I am not like all the rest. I will not forget you. Even if your parents forgot you, or your spouse turns away, or your friends leave, I will not forget you. I have tattooed you on the palms of my hand".

I will not forget you.

It may not be easy for us to comprehend, but it is very clear. God says; "I will not forget you."

I need reassurance, Lord.

I want to believe

that you will remember.

But I have been forgotten before.

I know you are not like that.

I know it in my head.

But my heart forgets so easily.

Reassure me, today, Lord

of your unfailing love.

ACKNOWLEDGING GOD

Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth. Hosea 6:3

There are days when we feel God's presence. We sense his love. We see his power. But we do not always feel or sense or see. There are times of silence, distance and uncertainty. There are the difficult times of waiting for God to appear. In times like this we may find ourselves both longing for God and fearing that he will come.

The longing comes because in our heart of hearts we know that there is no recovery without his gracious presence. If God does not appear, we are stuck, bound, hopelessly entangled in dysfunction. If God does appear, it will be like the sun rising - we will be able to see the way. It will be like gentle rains which nurture us so that we can grow and thrive.

The fear comes because often we do not see God as one who comes as 'sun' and 'rain' to give life. We are afraid that when God does appear, it will be to punish us, to demand restitution from us, to shame us. Because we have served vengeful and vindictive gods, we fear that it will be the god-of-impossible-expectations who will finally appear.

We do well to follow the urging of this text to 'acknowledge God'. We need daily to examine whom we serve. When we acknowledge the god-of -impossible-expectations, then we will surely fear his appearing. But if we acknowledge the God of the Bible whose coming is to nurture and give life, then we will await his coming like the dawn of a new day.

I acknowledge you, Lord.

You are not the god of impossible-expectations.

You are not the god-who-is-eager-to-punish.

I know what it is like when these other gods come, Lord.

They bring shame, blame and fear.

I do not acknowledge them, Lord.

I acknowledge you.

Come as the dawn of a new day, Lord.

Bring light into my dark days.

Come as gentle rain, Lord,

Cleanse, renew and nurture.

Come, Lord, as the dawn.

Come as the rains.

Water the parched earth of my soul.

Amen.

Copyright 1991 Dale and Juanita Ryan

We were crossing a long bridge across the Arkansas River. Now, the bridge was long because the river was wide. My wife made an interesting comment about the river. She said, "Now, we've seen how it got that way" - wide, she meant. Actually, we've seen the Arkansas at its headwaters where it's, well, a very unimpressive little stream. And as we've driven across the western United States, we've seen many creeks and streams that feed into the Arkansas, taking her from being a dinky little stream into a wide and mighty river.

Well, I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "How Mighty Rivers Get Mighty."

Tributaries - that's what creates great rivers. From all directions, those tributaries contribute to a river, feeding it, enlarging it. That's not just the way rivers grow - it's the way people grow, too, if they're open to the contribution the people in their life can make. And to the contributions they can make, as well. In a sense, you are supposed to be a river, enlarged and improved by the people in your world - and you're suppose to be a tributary, building and enlarging the lives of the folks around you.

Paul models that in Romans 1:11 and 12, our word for today from the Word of God. He says to the believers in Rome, "I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong - that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith." Paul understands this tributary thing - his purpose in wanting to be with these people is so he can give them some help, some encouragement, something that will make them stronger. But he also looks forward to how they are going to feed his stream, too, enlarging his spiritual life.

Now, this is an exciting way to view the relationships and the people in your life - you are with those people both to give and to receive. I wonder if your coworkers, your family members, your friends, the folks at church feel richer because of the good things you're depositing into their life. You are one of God's designated tributaries to help them become the mighty river that He's designed them to be. You wouldn't be there with them if He hadn't decided that they need someone like you ... and that you need someone like them.

Because you're also a river. What you are today is because of some human tributaries who have marked your life - parents, teachers, spiritual leaders, friends, someone who listened, even those who've confronted you about things you didn't want to hear about. Maybe it's time to call or write or talk to some of the tributaries who've enlarged the river of your life, just to thank them. Don't wait for their funeral to say all those nice things. Say it to them while they can still hear them.

And then, about those tributaries God has put in your life right now. Would you listen to them, would you open yourself up to them, even to those who are critical. Sometimes those people are God's mirrors to help us see things that we haven't seen and that we might not see otherwise. A river with no tributaries is going to remain small, it's going to remain stagnant - and so will you.

Mighty rivers become mighty because they are fed and enlarged from many sources feeding into them. You and I are like that, too. So, would you be a tributary everyday for other people, and let them help you become a mighty river.

________________

Copyright © Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc., PO Box 400, Harrison, AR 72602. Used by permission. Written by Ron Hutchcraft. 'Practical Answers to Real Life Issues'

*

I was parked in front of the mall wiping off my car. I had just come from the car wash and was waiting for my wife. Coming my way from across the parking lot was what society would consider a bum. From the looks of him, he had no car, no home, no clean clothes, and no money.

There are times when you feel generous but there are other times that you just don't want to be bothered. This was one of those "I don't want to be bothered" times. "I hope he doesn't ask me for any money," I thought. He didn't.

He came and sat on the curb in front of the bus stop but he didn't look like he could have enough money to even ride the bus. After a few minutes he spoke.

"That's a very pretty car," he said.

He was ragged but he had an air of dignity around him. His scraggly blond beard kept more than his face warm. I said, "thanks," and continued wiping off my car.

He sat there quietly as I worked. The expected plea for money never came. As the silence between us widened something inside said, "ask him if he needs any help." I was sure that he would say "yes" but I held true to the inner voice.

"Do you need any help?" I asked.

He answered in three simple but profound words that I shall never forget. We often look for wisdom in great men and women. We expect it from those of higher learning and accomplishments. I expected nothing but an outstretched grimy hand. He spoke the three words that shook me.

"Don't we all?" he said.

I was feeling high and mighty, successful and important, above a bum in the street, until those three words hit me like a twelve-gauge shotgun.

Don't we all?

I needed help. Maybe not for bus fare or a place to sleep, but I needed help. I reached in my wallet and gave him not only enough for bus fare, but enough to get a warm meal and shelter for the day.

Those three little words still ring true. No matter how much you have, no matter how much you have accomplished, you need help too. No matter how little you have, no matter how loaded you are with problems, even without money or a place to sleep, you can give help. Even if it's just a compliment, you can give that. You never know when you may see someone that appears to have it all. They are waiting on you to give them what they don't have. A different perspective on life, a glimpse at something beautiful, a respite from daily chaos, that only you through a torn world can see.

Maybe the man was just a homeless stranger wandering the streets. Maybe he was more than that. Maybe he was sent by a power that is great and wise, to minister to a soul too comfortable in themselves.

Maybe God looked down, called an Angel, dressed him like a bum, then said, "go minister to that man cleaning the car, that man needs help."

Don't we all?

-- Author Unknown

When a farmer in Kansas discovered his large barn with horses and equipment was on fire, he quickly called the fire departments in surrounding townships to help put out the fire. Several fire departments arrived on the scene and were doing all they could to rescue the horses, equipment, and douse the fire - to no avail.

Then the farmer noticed an old, beat-up looking fire truck at the end of the lane with the words "Wildcat Fire Department" on the side. "Oh," he pleaded, "please help me. If you don't I'm afraid I will lose my barn and my horses."

The chief said they'd do their best to help. With that, the fire truck went sailing full speed, right into the middle of the barn where the fire was raging. The men jumped off the truck. Some grabbed hoses and began trying to douse the fire with water, and some took off their protective coats and beat the flames. Finally, they had the fire out. Then they straggled out of the barn with blackened faces and singed hair, coughing and gasping for air.

The grateful farmer ran up to them his face beaming. "Oh, I am so happy you saved my barn. I won't be in financial ruin now. Because you have saved my barn and horses and equipment, I want to give you $1,000. Tell me, will the money help?"

The chief responded, "Well, yes! Now we can get the brakes on that old rig fixed!"

Source/Attribution: Unknown author or source; SIEW

*

“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit [is], because He makes intercession for the saints according to [the will of] God.” (Romans 8:26-27 NKJV)

The Spirit Helps Our Infirmity

• likewise — not only does hope help us

• helpeth — 2 Cor 12:9, Matt 10:19-20, 20:22, Zec 12:10, Eph 2:18, Rom 8:15 — Gk., to bear together with another, as when persons assist in carrying a heavy load

• groaning…uttered — Ps 42:1-4, 77:4, 1 Sam 1:13 — inwardly felt by the spirit

• He…hearts — He the heart-searcher — 2 Chr 6:30, 1 Sam 16:7, 1 Chr 28:9, Jer 17:10, Ps 7:9, cf., Rev 2:23, Matt 9:4, 12:25, Luke 5:8, John 2:24-25, 16:19, Acts 1:24

• mind…Spirit, aim, desire of these inarticulate groanings

• maketh intercession — He complaineth — Same Greek word used by Festus (Acts 25:24) and of Elijah (Rom 11:2)

• according…God — Gk., according to God

The Spirit helping our infirmities — Rev. C. Bridges, M.A.

I. What is prayer? Look upon it as –

1. Grounded upon the office and work of Christ;

2. Connected with the work of the Spirit.

II. What praying soul is not conscious of deep and manifold infirmities?

1. The matter of our prayers. We know not what to pray for.

2. Their manner and spirit. These too are fraught with infirmities.

III. Our assistance in prayer. Christ intercedeth for us. Mark this help in –

1. Exciting intense desires within us;

2. Moulding these desires in subjection to the will of God.

IV. The acceptance of prayer.

Application –

1. Where prayer is a mere form, it is a dead matter;

2. Yet be not discouraged although you may not have known these earnest desires;

3. In infirmities we must not indolently wait for the promised help;

4. Are we overcoming our infirmities, or simply confessing them?

5. Learn to worship the Spirit;

6. Mark how well the Spirit’s work in prayer connects itself with that of Christ

The aid of the Holy Spirit in prayer — Dr Leifchild

The infirmities in prayer against which the Holy Spirit proves an adequate succour. The infirmity of –

I. Ignorance;

II. Doubt;

III. Dullness;

IV. Utterance.

Man’s spiritual infirmities and God’s agency — G. W. Humphreys, B.A.

I. The good man is subject to various spiritual infirmities:

1. Ignorance;

2. Doubts and fears;

3. Love for temporal things;

4. Reluctance to engage, and difficulty to continue in well-doing.

II. Among these infirmities there is ignorance of the nature and mode of prayer:

1. We know not what we should pray for;

2. We know not how to pray.

III. These infirmities the Spirit helps us to overcome:

1. Christ intercedes in heaven-the Spirit on earth in us;

2. Christ is the advocate with God; the Spirit, with men;

3. Christ is in heaven preparing a place for us; the Spirit is preparing us for heaven.

IV. The manner of the Spirit’s help is inexplicable and earnest.

The help of the Holy Spirit — Mr C__, a pious gentleman, was on a visit to a friend. Mr C__ having taken occasion to recommend family worship, his friend remarked that he was sensible of the importance of the duty; but having been a stranger to the practice of it, he felt a difficulty in commencing; that, however, if Mr C__ would make a beginning he would endeavour to continue it. To Mr C__ this proposal was embarrassing, for he was always accustomed to the help of a prayer-book. But his desire for usefulness prevailed; the family were convened, and their guest presided at family worship. At first he was agitated, and his voice began to falter; but he soon recovered confidence. The success of his first attempt encouraged him to lay his formulary aside, and experience soon taught him, that when the spirit of devotion prevails, there is rarely a difficulty in giving expression to the feelings it excites.

“We must thus think of the just man, that if he fall into poverty or disease, or any other of those seeming evils, all these things work together for good to him, either alive or dead. For the man is never neglected by the gods who exerts himself to the utmost to become just, and to practise virtue, so far as it is possible for a man to resemble god.” — Plato

“In prayer it is better to have a heart without words, than words without a heart.” — Bunyan

“The Light of The World knows no power failures.”

Angels:

Our car broke down in the middle of the West Texas desert, 50 miles from the nearest town. My kids and I tried to flag down some help, but no one stopped. Finally I sat down behind the wheel and prayed to the Lord to help us.

In time a small blue Toyota truck pulled up and an older couple stepped out. Then, to my amazement, the woman said, “We were on another highway and we heard in our prayers that someone needed our help.” The man said he was a mechanic. He looked under the hood of my car and told me that because of a malfunctioning alternator my battery was dead. “We’ll take the battery to get it recharged,” he said. They left us some sandwiches to eat and a red toolbox full of valuable tools to reassure me of their return.

After two hours they came back with a new battery, which the man installed. Then his wife placed her hands gently on my cheeks and said, “You’ll be all right, Cheryl.” She turned to my young children and added, “Michael and Janet, be good to your Mommy. See that she gets home safely to Indiana.”

They got in their truck. Only after they had driven away did it occur to me; They knew my name. They knew my children’s names. They knew where we were going. But we had told them none of these things.

In 1346, during the Hundred Years’ War, the English army of King Edward III met a French battalion at Crecy, France. The King’s Son, Prince Edward, led one vital division of the British force while Edward III stood nearby with a strong band of soldiers, ready to send relief if he saw the need. Soon after the battle started the prince thought he was in danger, so he sent for help. But the king didn’t come. So young Edward sent another message, pleading for immediate assistance.

His father responded by telling the courier, “Go tell my son that I am not so inexperienced a commander as not to know when help is needed, nor so careless a father as not to send it.”

__________

Today in the Word, November, 1996, p. 27.

This fall Southern California witnessed the worst disaster in the history of our state. Wildfires burned more than 750,000 acres and destroyed more than 3,600 homes, and at least twenty people died. The overall damage is estimated at more than $2 billion, but you could never put a price on the lives lost and the families left with nothing but the clothes on their backs.

No doubt it will take years for our community to recover. You may not be in the midst of a community crisis right now, but sooner or later in ministry you're going to be called to minister in an area of unparalleled grief, and when that happens, here are five biblical principles you will want to teach those in your care.

First, teach them to release their grief.

Maybe they've lost a family member or a home or a business, or maybe they are witnesses to a tragedy of such magnitude, like 9-11, that they've wept while witnessing the losses of so many. People feel all sorts of emotions when they face crisis, such as fear, anger, worry, depression, resentment, helplessness and grief.

The most important thing to teach people when they are experiencing these emotions is that they must acknowledge them before God. It does no good to stuff emotions or deny they exist. God created us to feel emotions, and he doesn't expect us to act happy when we're grieving.

Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” That means it's OK to be honest about our grief. “Pour out your hearts to God, for he is our refuge.” God wants to comfort us in tragedy. He is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Second, teach them to receive help from others.

It's a huge mistake to isolate yourself when you're going through a crisis. We all need the support, encouragement and presence of other people, particularly in the aftermath of tragedy. The Bible tells us that when we carry one another's burdens, we obey the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2).

Third, teach them that they can choose not to be bitter.

Some people live and die with bitter hearts -- but it's a choice to live that way. In this one regard, we all have the power to decide how tragedy affects us. If we choose bitterness, then we'll only end up hurting ourselves -- and we'll also shut the door on our own happiness because we can't be happy and bitter at the same time.

As I watched television interviews related to the California wildfires, it was simple to see how people were responding in different ways to their losses. There were some fire victims who said, “We lost it all, and we're sad, but we're still together as a family, and we're going to pull ourselves together and rebuild.”

Yet, others said, “My life is over! I just don't see how I can go on from here; I don't think I can ever recover from this.”

One of the things I've learned through my three decades in ministry is that there's absolutely no correlation in life between your experiences and your happiness. None whatsoever! I've seen people go through shocking experiences who were able to maintain a happy, positive attitude, simply because they choose to do so. You are as happy as you choose to be.

One skill that will help people make the choice to be happy is learning to focus on what's left -- not what's lost. In a crisis, God wants us to still be thankful for what we have. As I counsel people in crisis, I encourage them to make a list of all the good things in their lives. I find it is impossible to be grateful and depressed at the same time.

Fourth, teach them to see what is of real value in their lives.

A crisis helps us clarify our values by showing us what really matters and what really doesn't matter. Jesus said, “Life is not measured by how much one owns....” (Luke 12:15, NCV).

What He's saying is this: Don't confuse your net worth with your self- worth. Don't confuse your possessions with your purpose in life. Don't confuse what you're living on with what you're living for. A man's life does not consist of what he possesses.

Kay and I live right next to the Cleveland National Forest. A few years ago when some wildfires were threatening our home, we decided to pack up a few things. We went through the house asking, “What should we take with us?”

When we got our van about one-third full, we agreed, “That's it -- that's all we're taking. The rest is just stuff.”

A tragedy teaches you that the greatest things in the world aren't things; what matters are relationships. And honestly, as I looked around my home then, wondering if the fire would come over the last ridge to destroy it, I thought of the Apostle Paul, who said, “All those things that I thought were valuable just aren't.” What matters most is the health and safety of your family.

Finally, teach them that this is the time to rely on Christ.

The Apostle Paul said, “I have learned the secret of being happy at any time in everything that happens; I can do all things through Christ, because he gives me strength” (Philippians 4:11,13, NCV).

If you want to be happy no matter what happens, do the following:

Lean on Christ for stability -- “Such a person will not be overthrown by evil circumstances. God's constant care of him will make a deep impression on all who see it. He does not fear bad news, nor live in dread of what may happen. For he is settled in his mind that God will take care of him” (Psalm 112:6-7, LB).

Listen to Christ for direction -- “I know what I am planning for you,” says the Lord. “I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future” (Jeremiah 29:11, NCV).

Look to Christ for salvation -- “God is our protection and our strength. He always helps in times of trouble. So we will not be afraid even if the earth shakes, or the mountains fall into the sea” (Psalm 46:2, NCV).

A crisis creates a moment in your life when you can shift your dependence to something that can never be taken from you. Through it, God can teach us that we may lose our homes, our careers, our marriages or our health, but we will never, ever lose our relationship with God. He promised to never leave us or forsake us -- and that's an eternal security we can build our lives on.

“We were really crushed and overwhelmed, and feared we would never live through it ... we saw how powerless we were to help ourselves; but that was good, for then we put everything into the hands of God, who alone could save us.... And he did help us and save us ... and we expect him to do it again and again” (2 Corinthians 1:9-10, TLB).

*

”I will help thee, saith the Lord.” Isaiah 41:14.

This morning let us hear the Lord Jesus speak to each one of us: “I will help thee.” “It is but a small thing for Me, your God, to help you. Consider what I have done already. What! not help you? Why, I bought you with My blood. What! not help you? I have died for you; and if I have done the greater, will I not do the less? Help you! It is the least thing I will ever do for you; I have done more, and will do more. Before the world began I chose you. I made the covenant for you. I laid aside My glory and became a man for you; I gave up My life for you; and if I did all this, I will surely help you now. In helping you, I am giving you what I have bought for you already. If you had need of a thousand times as much help, I would give it to you; you require little compared with what I am ready to give. It is much for you to need, but it is nothing for me to bestow. ‘Help you ?’ Fear not!

If there were an ant at the door of you granary asking for help, it would not ruin you to give him a handful of your wheat; and you are nothing but a tiny insect at the door of My all sufficiency. “I will help you up.” O my soul, is not this enough? Do you need more strength than the omnipotence of the United Trinity? Do you want more wisdom than exists in the Father, more love than displays itself in the Son, or more power than is manifest in the influences of the Spirit? Bring Me your empty pitcher! Surely this well will fill it. Hasten, gather up your wants, and bring them here — your emptiness, your woes, your needs. Behold, this river of God is full for your supply; what can you desire beside? Go forth, my soul, in this your might. The Eternal God is your Helper! “Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed, For I am thy God, I will still give thee aid!”

1. Is your burden heavy as you bear it all alone?

Does the road you travel harbour danger yet unknown?

Are you growing weary in the struggle of it all?

Jesus will help you when on His name you call.

Chorus:

He is always there hearing ev'ry prayer, faithful and true,

Walking by our side– in His love we hide all the day through;

When you get discouraged just remember what to do–

Reach out to Jesus, He's reaching out to you.

2. Is the life you're living filled with sorrow and despair?

Does the future press you with its worry and its care?

Are you tired and friendless, have you almost lost your way?

Jesus will help you– just come to Him today.

Psalm 46 — “Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott” — « Leader information shown in this fashion »

A. God our Refuge

1. verse 1: God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.

2. verse 7; also 11: The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

3. the Hebrew word “Selah” is mainly understood to be a musical instruction to change tone or pause, thus drawing attention to what has proceeded, as “Just think upon that!”

«4. The title I have used is that of Franz Delitzsch which you may recognize as Luther’s hymn “A Mighty Fortress is our God” »

5. Isaiah echoes the thought of this Psalm in 25:4 (NKJV): “For You have been a strength to the poor, A strength to the needy in his distress, A refuge from the storm, A shade from the heat; For the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.”

«6. background to this Psalm is possibly found in 2 Chronicles 20

a. 3-country invasion; a Levite named Jahaziel prophesied

b. “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel. You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.”

c. and they went out, the Levites singing on the way

d. when they came to the 3 armies they found that God had caused them to destroy each other »

7. the Psalm is based upon the blessed position of Jerusalem

a. verses 2, 3, 6; what were the external dangers to the Jews? … what similar external dangers do we face? «

(A) ravages of nature; catastrophes

(B) unsettled times, troubling events

(C) changes: natural, society, situation

(D) wars, nations against God, opposition of men »

b. verses 4, 5, 7; what internal strength did they possess? … what like strength do we possess? «

(A) “Warren’s Shaft” to Gihon Spring made by Jebusites(?) about 2000 B.C.

(B) springs of living water we have by Christ, Holy Spirit

(C) the place where God could be met for the people

(D) the dwelling of God in their (our) midst

(E) the Lord of Hosts (armies)

(F) God is a refuge, stronghold, “feste Burg” »

1. How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,

Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!

What more can He say that to you He hath said–

To you, who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

2. “Fear not, I am with thee — O be not dismayed,

For I am thy God, I will still give thee aid;

I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,

Upheld by my gracious, omnipotent hand.

3. “When through the deep waters I call thee to go,

The rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;

For I will be with thee they troubles to bless,

And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

4. “When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,

My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply;

The flame shall not hurt thee – I only design

Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.

5. “The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,

I will not, I will not desert to his foes;

That soul, though all hell should endeavour to shake,

I’ll never – no, never – no, never forsake!”

[Tune “Foundation”]

Let us therefore come boldly {unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. — Hebrews 4:16. — (”Grace for seasonable help” is considered a better translation)

What is the difference between “help in time of need” and “seasonable help”? Well, it is just this. If I saw you fall into a pit and I came and helped you out, that would be “help in time of need.” But supposing I saw you walking in your ignorance straight into a pit which I knew was there, and I stop you on the way and save you from the danger, that would be “seasonable help.” That is exactly what the Lord is doing for us who are His own. He sympathizes with us in our sorrows, succors us in temptations, and ministers suited grace to us in our infirmities to prevent us from sinning. He could say to Peter, “I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not.”

In the hour of trial,

Saviour plead for me,

lest by base denial,

I depart from Thee;

When Thou seest me waver,

with a look recall,

nor for fear or favor,

suffer me to fail. — James Montgomery.

Jean Nidetch, a 214-pound homemaker desperate to lose weight, went to the New York City Department of Health where she was given a diet devised by Dr. Norman Jolliffe. Two months later, discouraged about the 50-plus pounds still to go, she invited six overweight friends home to share the diet and talk about how to stay on it.

Today, 28 years later, one million members attend 250,000 Weight Watchers meetings in 24 countries every week. Why was Nidetch able to help people take control of their lives? To answer that, she tells a story. When she was a teenager, she used to cross a park where she saw mothers gossiping while the toddlers sat on their swings, with no one to push them.

“I’d give them a push,” says Nidetch.

“And you know what happens when you push a kid on a swing? Pretty soon he’s pumping, doing it himself. That’s what my role in life is — I’m there to give others a push.”

And isn’t that what Christianity and serving God is all about? We’re here to give others “a push” to help them get up when they have fallen down and to get on their own two feet. And who knows what might be the eventual affect?

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to be a “good pusher” to help those who need a helping hand when they are down or in need. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”