HSBC Coffeebreak

...Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word. Luke 1:38

I was raised in a Baptist home and really can't remember when I didn't believe Jesus was the Promised Messiah, but I never gave much thought to Mary. I knew she was very young and obviously much more dedicated to God than I was. Today my children are grown and I'm reminded over and over that my role as a mother holds much less importance in the lives of my family. Perhaps that’s why I've started to appreciate Mary and her role in the life of Jesus and His Church. What a woman! She had to be strong, sure of God and I believe full of fight to do right, ready to forgive and open to love.

I read Oswald Chambers profound statement: "What was true of the Virgin Mary in the historic introduction of God's Son into the earth is true in every saint. The Son of God is born into me by the direct act of God..." and it convicted me deeply. Crying out in repentance brings the miracle of the virgin birth in us; for the Holy Ghost enters into us just as He did into Mary! Every day is a new day where we are called upon to exercise self-control in order to obey.

Mary quickly grasped the Holy Spirit and took Him into her body and life. She nurtured the words of her God and responded, "Behold Your maidservant." She pondered the words spoken to her through others in the power of the Holy Spirit. She became highly favored and bore God's only begotten Son. She didn't stop there - she went forward in the face of criticism and name calling and raised Jesus according to God's instruction. How? She listened to His Word and believed it was truth. Do I?

Her act of obedience made my salvation possible! She had a heart for God and He did the rest. He drew her closer, she responded. What a dance of love they had!

Written by
JoAnn Shelton

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.
Psalm 103: 13-14 NIV

The trouble is my days are like my nights. Ideally, my night would start at a nice, solid, concise time. I would fall into bed tired, sleep a full eight hours, and wake up promptly in the morning refreshed and renewed, ready to tackle a new day.

Instead, I stay up a bit too late, pumped up on too much adrenaline and thinking about unfinished projects. I’m not sleepy enough because I slept in a bit too late. So I force myself to bed, sleep for a while, and get up to give my four year old some cough medicine. Then it’s back to sleep. Before long I find myself, half asleep, settling my two year old, who woke up wailing and neither of us know why. (Although if I start wailing soon, I’ll know why.) I manage to sleep through my husband’s alarm, only to have my four year old come in complaining of a wet bed, nightgown and panties. Rather than face the mess and probably disturb the baby, I have her strip and join me in bed. But it’s not long before our two month old wakes up and wants breakfast. I feed her in bed so that I can lay too long, unable to sleep anymore but somehow setting my internal clock to think I spent too much time in bed today to go to sleep early. Well, my six year old is ready for some attention. Come to think of it, so are the other three kids, though I can’t imagine why.

Another day has begun. The trouble is, the days are like my nights. I have always taken so much comfort in Psalm 103:14. God knows how I am made and how much I can handle. He’s definitely not shocked at my lack of accomplishments in life, or my inability to handle things at times. He made me, and He knows that I am nothing bust dust. How much can you expect from dust?

Written by
Melody Anderson

HSBC Coffeebreak

In as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Matthew 25:40

I sat on the bleachers at an out of town soccer game, watching my sons play in a closely contested game. I didn't know many folks in the stands and I was sitting in a section among only a couple of folks who knew me. The game was close, first we'd be ahead, then the opposing team. The outcome could go either way, and the crowd was well aware.

At one point, one of my sons was racing up the field along side of a player from the other team. Both went for the ball and my son slid to try to kick the ball in the direction of one of his team mates. In the process, the player from the opposing team was tripped and fell to the ground. "What a jerk!" I heard from an adult sitting near me. "Toss him out of the game!"

They had no idea that they were seated near his mom... Those comments were hurtful, and uncalled for. Both boys were going for the ball. The boys on the field weren't upset, they got right up and kept on playing. It was just a few fans that had felt it necessary to hurl slicing comments.

Is that how God feels when I decide to open my mouth to criticize one of His children? Do I leave a hurt in the heart of God Himself when I belittle someone for behavior I don't understand or that I deem unfair?

Lord, forgive me for times I've spoken things I shouldn't have. Remind me that these people that I live amongst here on earth are YOUR creation... YOUR children.. and that you love them more than I can understand. Help me, Lord, to not hurt you like that. People are precious to you, Lord Jesus, and you died for every one of them.

Written by
Melody Foster

HSBC Coffeebreak

It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statues.
Ps. 119:71

I may not know what the Psalmist was afflicted with, but I know that in my past, I have had a hearing problem. I'm reading the book of Deuteronomy written by Moses. As Moses recaps all of God's laws for His people I couldn't help but notice the many commands that are coupled with wonderful promise phrases like, "that it may go well with you." Obedience seems to be the key to blessings - something we slow learners struggle with.

I was about 6 years old and my daddy had just finished planting baby pine scrubs on either side of our front stoop. Now that stoop was my springboard to measure the distance of my mighty jumps. I was already eyeing the distance over those scrubs. When daddy finished his work he lovingly pulled me under his arm and said, "JoAnn you're not to jump off this stoop any longer; if you break one of these little trees, I will have to turn you over my knee." The next day I commenced my practice jumps and was very successful for a time. Then it happened! Daddy's warning proved true.

The secret in building character is in the follow-up. I quickly learned my earthly daddy meant business because of his love for me and who I would become. It took me much longer to realize that truth concerning my heavenly Daddy. Doing it my way seemed so important.

Oswald Chambers made a great statement, "God never threatens; the devil never warns." Parents often use those words interchangeably. However, there is a definite distinction; threats attempt to preserve our power, warnings serve to protect from danger. Our God's never-ending love resounds throughout time in His attempt to get us to listen.

The Israelites spent 40 years before they learned God meant business. He had to keep them moving in circles going over the same ground (one year for every day the spies looked over the Promised Land and refused to enter). I can identify with them. I, too, had to spend 40 years learning that the only way to hear the Lord's instruction is to keep your dial tuned on His wavelength, and even then static from the world can drown His voice. Finally I've learned the sound of My Redeemer Husband's sweet whisper. Where are you, murmuring (complaining) or trusting that, "Father Knows Best"?

Written by
JoAnn Shelton