The Fishing Pole

 

When I was a little girl, Rev. Bob Lindner held summer vacation Bible School at our little country church. The week before the event, he drove the dusty roads with a megaphone speaker atop his car, announcing the upcoming Bible school, inviting the children as they played in their yards, and creating excitement amongst the community! Bible School began on Monday. Each day, more children attended. Our contest encouraged us to invite others and to memorize Bible verses. The top prizes were a plaque and a fishing pole!
 

By the time the Friday night program took place, all the children knew who had the most points - who would win the plaque. Her name was Linda Crum, and she was a "whiz" with Bible verses. She had a "gift of gab" and could recite those verses better than anyone I'd ever heard! We also knew who came in second place--me! Although I didn't come close to Linda Crum's colossal number of points, I was a strong second. I'd worked throughout the week, inviting many children and learning many Bible verses, and I looked forward to the second choice of the prizes - the fishing pole. I knew Linda well enough to know that she had no interest in the fishing pole. She was sure to pick the plaque. And she did! The Friday evening program ended. Linda Crum had been announced as the winner; she had her plaque in hand, but nothing had been said about a second place. The fishing pole was still in place at the front of the church. Of course, I was heartbroken. I shared my disappointment with my mother who explained to me that Rev. Lindner had never announced there would be a second place. He had simply offered two choices for the top place winner. As we turned to leave the church, Rev. Lindner called me up front. He offered me the fishing pole as the second place prize. I was elated!

Evidently someone had  let Rev. Lindner know that I had been working all week for the fishing pole, and he was compassionate enough to care about a little girl's desires. Looking back on that summer Bible School, I find his compassion to be similar to the compassion the Lord has shown me: a compassion that offers me the "desires of my heart."

Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart."

 

Be Strong, Kathi, Be Strong

The Lord preserves the faithful . . . Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord. Psalm 31:23, 24 (NIV)

Nine months have passed since my husband and I received the phone call—our daughter and her husband arrested because of meth—our three grandchildren removed from their home in the middle of the night. Nine months since I watched the young couple walk down the hall of the courthouse to enter their arraignment, wearing stripes, shackled hand and foot. Nine months since my heart ached so much I thought I could not go on. And nine months since I began to experience the greatest outpouring of God’s tremendous grace I have ever known.

Four days later, our broken daughter and son-in-law opened their hardened hearts to the Lord Jesus and committed their lives to him. The long list of felonies and misdemeanors was temporarily set aside. The enormous bail amount was reduced. The couple was released from incarceration and entered a gospel mission recovery program.

Their ashen faces began to glow. Their once-hardened souls embraced the Lord. They grew; they flourished; they praised. Now, they have successfully completed their recovery program and have stepped out into the unknown, awaiting their bright and promising future, knowing that God will lead.

And now I wait. Circuit Court sentencing is days away. I begin to fear and must constantly step out into the open to let His grace rain on me. And I know that He will “preserve” me, for I am faithful. My hope is in the Lord.

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for your grace and mercy, and I ask for your continued grace and mercy upon me and my family. Let the judge extend the same mercy to Amber and Jesse that you have extended to him. Help me to continue to be faithful, to be strong, and to take heart, for my hope is in you. Amen.