The Valley After Victory Wrong ways to deal with the lows: Right ways to deal with the lows:

Just One Came Back INTERRUPTED LIVES A BIT OF SELF REFLECTION A LIFE OF GRATITUDE

Then Jesus answered, "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" (Luke 17:17-18, ESV) Luke 17 tells the story of ten lepers and the encounter that changed their lives. To understand their plight, we need to understand the cruel effects of the disease. Leprosy was an infectious skin disease (or possibly a group of skin diseases). It was painful, disfiguring, and isolating. Those affected became outcasts of society because of their contagion. As Jesus traveled toward Jerusalem, He entered a certain village. The ten lepers stood at a distance from the crowd, but they raised their voices to call out to Jesus as He passed nearby. "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" The Lord did indeed show them mercy that day. The ten men received their healing from the terrible disease that had sidetracked their lives. "When he saw them he said to them, 'Go and show yourselves to the priests.' And as they went they were cleansed." (Luke 17:14, ESV) Their healing happened as the men began their journey to present themselves to the priests as was required by Old Testament Law. But one man turned back. He felt compelled to return to Jesus and thank Him for this amazing miracle. Luke tells us that he "turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks" (verses 15-16). No one observing this could doubt the depth of his gratitude. That is when Jesus questioned, "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" (The man who returned was a Samaritan, not a Jew.) Nine men did not turn back. The Lord had given them a wonderful gift, a healing that would take away the stigma of their disease. Now they could return to their families and once more enjoy the fellowship of others. But they left without any words of thanks to the One who made it possible. Before we become critical of the nine who did not return to thank the Lord, perhaps we should ask ourselves a simple question. Have we disappointed the Lord by forgetting to thank Him for His many blessings? Is it possible that in the busyness of daily life we have become as thoughtless as the nine lepers? Do we take God's blessings for granted or feel entitled to them? It is so easy for us to focus on what we do not have rather than showing our appreciation for the abundance we do enjoy. The words of II Timothy 3:1-5 serve as a caution and a reminder. Showing ingratitude is more than just a little oversight. It is sin. "But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy . . . having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people." (verses 1, 2, 5) How do we live a life of gratitude? We can begin by recognizing and valuing the blessings God sends our way. Each evening before bedtime, write down at least three things from your day that are causes for gratitude. What happened that made your day brighter? What prayers did God answer for you today? What words of encouragement or compliments did you receive today? Once you have written your list, if you have not already thanked the Lord for today's blessings, do so then. Do not end your day without showing your gratitude. "The more you recognize and express gratitude for the things you have, the more things you will have to express gratitude for." – Zig Ziglar "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (I Thessalonians 5:18, ESV) Devotion by Mary Loudermilk

The Green Bean Issue IT'S AN OLD PROBLEM BEING HONEST WITH OURSELVES QUESTIONS FOR PERSONAL REFLECTION

"Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!" (Psalm 143:10, ESV). I was babysitting a friend's child when the usually charming toddler's attitude suddenly changed. The bright smiling face assumed a lockjaw position. The head whipped to one side with her teeth clenched tight. Coaxing did not work. Reasoning was futile. It became a battle of wills. That hated green bean was not going into her mouth! She was boss in this situation. We have all encountered a strong-willed child — and perhaps had been one. They have a mind of their own that is nearly impossible to change. Whether it's the green bean they don't want or the candy they do want, their will is opposed to ours. It's one of the challenges of parenting. "They just won't listen to a thing I say!" "I tried to help them, but they just ignored me." "When I try to give advice, they won't pay attention." Do any of these laments sound familiar? No, this is not your next-door neighbor complaining about her teenagers. This is God describing His own stubborn children. Our Heavenly Father knows firsthand what it is to have a strong-willed child. "But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears that they might not hear." (Zachariah 7:11, ESV) Throughout the pages of the Bible, men waged a battle of wills with God. The Old Testament describes Israel as proud, stubborn, disobedient, and rebellious. Because of their self-will, they experienced a tumultuous history. Their stubbornness brought affliction instead of the blessings God would have freely given had they followed His commandments. A Sunday school student once questioned, "What if God wants me to do something with my life that I won't enjoy doing?" Twelve-year-olds aren't the only ones who wonder whether God will give them the good stuff — candy, not green beans. Adults also struggle with questions about His will. How do we think we are wiser than the God of the universe and can plot a better course for our lives? Sitting in church, I sometimes find myself analyzing the words I am singing. Do I really mean what I say? I sing, "Have Thine own way, Lord" but am I living in total submission? I sing, "Jesus be the Lord of all the kingdoms of my heart," but there is that one little part I still want to control. It's the "green bean issue" adult style. Many people seem unable or unwilling to allow God to reign in their lives. Ephesians 6:6 speaks of "doing the will of God from the heart." Total surrender is a heart issue. If our heart is divided, one part mine and another part God's, then He really does not control any of it. Sometimes we disobey. At other times we just barge ahead without consulting God first. We surrender our will on Sunday as the Spirit moves us. Then on Monday we take it back as we go about our lives. Fortunately, our God is a loving parent Who does not abandon His strong-willed children. "But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them." (Nehemiah 9:17, ESV) 1. Have I prayed for clear direction? 2. Are any of my plans not in alignment with Scripture? 3. Have I sought godly counsel? 4. Am I willing to wait until God's answer is clear? 5. Am I willing to trust God regardless of His answer? Devotion by Mary Loudermilk

A Strong Shelter IDENTIFYING THE ESSENTIALS BUILDING FOR TRUE SUCCESS THE MOST SECURE FOUNDATION PERSONAL REFLECTION

"Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain." (Psalm 127:1, NKJV) When I began a search to purchase my first home, it was a new but exciting venture for me. I had several items that I desired on a mental check list. As I walked through each possibility, I checked the basic layout, the room sizes, and if the kitchen was up to date. There were other features I thought would be nice but those were not necessarily a deal breaker. Looking back on those earlier house-hunting days, I realize that the things on my wish list had been important to me, but they were not the most essential. A pretty house does not necessarily mean it is a well-built house. What I really needed to know was the integrity of the foundation, the safety of the wiring, the condition of the roof, and the age of the heating system. Because I lacked knowledge in those areas, I hired a professional to thoroughly inspect the house I eventually chose to buy. A strong foundation is essential in building a house that will stand firm through the years, even when storms rage outside. This is true whether we mean a physical house on a plot of ground or a spiritual house that will shelter and protect our family. We need to be certain that our spiritual house will not shift or collapse when heavy storms come at us. "He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock." "But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great." (Luke 6:48-49, NKJV) Not everyone builds their life on the most secure foundation. Some choose to build on careers, social standings, educational pursuits, or materialistic goals. They may project the image that they are successful and "have it all together" but they are building on sand. When we build our lives on what this world offers, we are relying upon our own strength. With time, these things can shift and change. Careers may end, success fades, and finances falter. A flawed foundation weakens almost imperceptibly over time. Eventually, however, the problem will reveal itself. The fractures grow larger and compromise the stability of the structure. The wise person will choose to build his life on an unshakable foundation that survives whatever storms come their way. That safe foundation is the solid rock of Jesus Christ. "For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ." (I Corinthians 3:11, NKJV) Is the Lord the center of my life or have I set other priorities? What are the dangers of building our lives on the wrong foundation? How can I help my family build their lives around the right priorities? Devotion by Mary Loudermilk

Faith Over Fear A TERRIFYING DECREE TIMELY LESSONS

"The name of Amram's wife was Jochebed the daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt. And she bore to Amram Aaron and Moses and Miriam their sister." (Numbers 26:59, ESV) If you were asked to name as many women of the Bible as possible, how many could you name? Ruth and Esther are easy. After all, they have Old Testament books named after them. Then there's Eve, Sarah, Mary (the mother of Jesus), Martha of Bethany and her sister Mary. Would Jochebed have been on your list? Or did you just silently ask, "Who's Jochebed?" Jochebed is only mentioned by name twice, first in Exodus and then Numbers. This brave woman was the mother of Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. When we first meet Jochebed, the Israelites have been in Egypt for over 400 years. Any favored status they may have once enjoyed because of Joseph's position and power had long since disappeared. They were now slaves and badly treated by their taskmasters. Exodus 1:13 says they "served with rigor." Life was hard. Then conditions grew even worse. To control the expanding Israelite population, the king of Egypt commanded the midwives to kill all male children at birth. The midwives quietly disobeyed the order, but the situation was terrifying. Jochebed and her husband Amram possessed a strong faith and defied the king's command. They hid their newborn son as long as they could. When this became impossible, she placed her baby boy in a little ark she had made of bulrushes and hid him by the river. "By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king's edict." (Hebrews 11:23, ESV) Then, through a God-orchestrated turn of events, Jochebed became her own child's nurse. Pharaoh's daughter discovered the child in the bulrush basket (Exodus 2) and decided to keep the baby. She named him Moses. When Jochebed determined to hide her baby, did she realize he was destined to lead the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage? The Bible doesn't tell us, but probably not. However, I do believe she took advantage of every moment she had with her son to teach him who he was and who his God was. This was evident as he reached adulthood and chose his godly heritage over the benefits of life in the palace. "By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward." (Hebrews 11:24-26, ESV) The training during those early years with his mother gave Moses the foundation he needed to fulfill God's plan and purpose in his life. Perhaps Jochebed was not what some might call a prominent person in the Bible, but her faith-filled and godly influence helped shape Moses into one of the greatest leaders ever. She demonstrated faith over fear, and God rewarded her courage. We must never underestimate what God will do through one dedicated life. Devotion by Mary Loudermilk

Keeping the Foundation Strong OUR MORAL FOUNDATION BENEFITS OF INTEGRITY PERSONAL REFLECTION

"The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him." (Proverbs 20:7, NKJV). Home repairs are one of my least favorite tasks. I am seriously lacking in handyman skills. If the repair is even slightly complex, it means calling a repairman, setting an appointment, and then paying an unexpected bill. A few years ago, I noticed some water around a small foundation crack. It was small and I could have ignored it. Instead, I chose to be proactive and called a repair company. The fix was simple and the cost relatively small. End of story. Had I ignored the situation, however, the problem could have become a much bigger, and more costly, leak. The same principle applies to our daily lives. A small chip or broken spot may threaten to weaken our moral foundation. It may seem minor — just a little misrepresentation or a broken promise. Yet even something small may develop into a hidden danger. Little things over time can become bigger things. Proverbs 11:3 cautions that, "The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them" (NKJV). What is integrity? We can describe it as honesty, strong moral principles, uprightness, or good character. In everyday language, integrity means always doing the right thing even when no one is looking (or will ever find out). This is opposite the philosophy that boasts, "The end justifies the means." At some point in life, all of us will be tempted to compromise our integrity. The pressure may come from outside, such as a boss instructing us to lie about a business matter. Or the challenge may come from inside to escape the consequences of an action. We can soothe our conscience by saying, "It's not that big a deal. I'm not hurting anyone else." That argument doesn't hold up. Our lack of integrity will always affect others. Why is integrity so important? We can list many reasons, but let's just look at three. Integrity gives us peace. We don't have to live with the guilt of knowing we settled for the easy way instead of living by our principles. We will have a clear conscience. (Read Hebrews 13:18). Integrity brings trust. If we are a person of honesty and character, others will trust us. Even those who attempt to discredit us won't be able to find anything evil to say about us. (Read I Peter 3:16). A person of integrity becomes a role model. We exhibit honesty and uprightness to a world that often lacks these important characteristics. Little compromises, little omissions, little untruths soon erode character. By paying attention to these things, we affect those around us. (Read Titus 2:7-8 and I Corinthians 11:1.) It is vital that we keep the foundations strong. Repair any chips or small breaks now. Remember, we are preserving integrity for the next generation (Proverbs 20:7). "A person is not given integrity. It results from the relentless pursuit of honesty at all times." –Unknown Was there a time when something small tempted you to compromise your integrity? Have you lost trust in a person because of their lack of integrity? Were they able to regain your trust? Can one person make a difference by choosing integrity? Devotion by Mary Loudermilk