Moving day was overwhelming. When our new neighbor Ginny came to the door with a plate of blueberry muffins and an offer to help, it was like cool breeze on a sweltering summer day. 

“I’m free this week on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. I can help unpack, clean—whatever you need, I’ll be ready to do.”

After many years of working and saving, friends of ours were finally enjoying a family vacation. As they pulled up to the tollbooth on the Chesapeake Bay-Bridge Tunnel in VA with the hefty $15 fee in hand, they got quite a surprise—from strangers!

The toll collector said, “the car in front of you paid your toll!” 

Who doesn’t appreciate the blessings of kindnesses such as these?

Have you ever considered why kindness matters?

God showed His kindness to us

“That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:7)

God wants us to be kind

“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Kindness shines your light and gives God the glory

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

Our demonstration of kindness shows God’s love and opens the door to lead others to Him

“Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4)

In a self-centered world, simple acts of kindness are refreshing, bringing joy to the receiver and the giver:

A warm smile.

Holding the door for someone.

Remembering a birthday.

A quick call or text to let someone know you care.

Unexpected flowers.

“What can I do to help?”

Kindness is a fruit of the Spirit, developed through intentional effort to think of others more than ourselves.

How can you brighten someone’s life today by showing them the love of God through kindness?

Copyright © 2018 Cheryl Elton

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I was visiting my elderly Dad in the nursing home when out of the blue he said, “You should have won that Spanish award in high school.”

I looked at him in stunned silence . . .

His words felt like someone trying to pick at the scar and re-open a wound from long ago.

“You remember that?” I finally said.

“Of course,” he replied. “We all knew you were the top Spanish student senior year, yet I never understood why the award went to someone else.”

I could only shake my head in disbelief and smile.

If only I’d heard those words 30 years ago!

How it would have tempered my disappointment and affirmed all my hard work. 

But the award ceremony came and went and nothing was ever spoken.

Failing to speak the good we are thinking can sometimes wound as deeply as words carelessly spoken.

Proverbs 18:21 tells us “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.”

Words are powerful.

They can convey negatives on the road to death—pain, offense, dejection, depression, annoyance, rage, etc. . . .

. . . or, our words can impart life—inspire, encourage, motivate, embolden, heal, restore, and so on.

As Christians, our words should reflect the message of Christ and add value to conversation, building up rather than tearing down.

“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” (Ephesians 4:29) 

Our words can dispense grace to the hearers!

“Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” (Colossians 4:6)

Salt has long been used to preserve and flavor food. It makes what we eat wholesome and palatable.

Likewise with our conversation . . .

Like putting salt on our food, our talk should be seasoned with good, gracious words, making conversation more appetizing and flavorful.

Without “salting” our words, they are subject to being unprofitable and injurious, like meat left untreated, spoils.

So don’t hold back!

Remember the words from Berton Braley’s poem “Do It Now”: 

“If you think some praise is due him now’s the time to slip it to him,
For he cannot read his tombstone when he’s dead.”

Is there someone you can bless today with kind and encouraging words?

Copyright © 2017 Cheryl Elton

The post Make a Difference in Someone’s Life Today appeared first on Cheryl Elton.

Last week, during our Midwest travels, my husband and I took a day to enjoy a bike ride along a quiet rail trail in western Michigan. Scenic and flat, it was my kind of trail, and despite the cold weather made for a pleasant outing.

We arrived in a small town called New Era, population 800. After lunch at the village diner where we were obviously “out-of-towners”, we wandered next door to check out a health food/coffee shop.

While waiting for the owner to make hubby’s afternoon espresso, we noticed a sign on her wall:

C.O.F.F.E.E.

Christ Offers Forgiveness For Everyone Everywhere

Within minutes we were chatting away with her about Christ, our shared faith, and the things of God—as if we’ve known each other for years!

Tracey shared with us how after seeking God’s guidance and prayer, He led her to find a new larger building she’ll be moving the business into this summer. How it all came together was clearly a “God thing.”

She desires to have her shop bring glory to God, and provide an oasis of calm to all who enter. She expressed her longing to embrace more of God’s peace in every aspect of her life.

While enjoying coffee, conversation, and finally prayer together standing at the register, “coincidentally” no other customer entered until we were saying “Amen.”

Tracey was one of many “divine appointments” we experienced during our 2 ½ week trip. What joy it is to discover on such a trip again and again life’s greater purpose than sightseeing, seeking relaxation, and enjoying restaurants. 

That we can bless and be blessed by the people we meet!

“For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)

Every day God is showing us where He’s working, and inviting us to get involved. Are we willing to forfeit—even for a few minutes—our own agenda when He calls?

Maybe He’s putting someone in our path we need to speak to or can help. Perhaps He’s bringing a person to mind we can pray for.

When He does, don’t wait! He’s inviting us to act—now!

When we do, we’ll see Him working in ways we could never orchestrate on our own!

Copyright © 2017 Cheryl Elton

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Several years ago, a figure skating coach I know decided—after 20 years of teaching—he would start training to compete again. That winter, every time I was at the rink, I watched him practice. He pushed himself to train, every single day, for months on end.

Finally, the big day came. He travelled halfway across the country to compete against other highly accomplished adult skaters at Nationals.

But soon after arriving, he experienced a crushing blow.

His back gave out, and he spent the entire event in pain, watching from the stands as a spectator.

In hindsight, he realized he had over-trained, and unfortunately his body reached its breaking point at the wrong time.

Sadly, his story is not unusual.

In his zeal to excel, he had ignored an important principle sometimes overlooked by dedicated athletes: the body needs regular time to rest and rebuild after exercise.

God incorporated rest not only as an essential part of our physical life—but also our mental and spiritual life.

In any endeavor, routine times of rest are vital to avoid discouragement and burnout.

Jesus often had crowds thronging Him, yet never rushed when dealing with people. He understood the importance of a balanced life. When the demands became high, He often snuck away to a mountainside or a quiet place to pray. 

He encouraged His disciples to do the same:

“Then Jesus said, ‘Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.’ He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat.”  (Mark 6:31)

Today, rest remains a rare commodity for many people. They wear busyness as a badge of distinction, and day in and day out stay caught up in its frenzy.

And regrettably, the busier we get with all our “stuff”—work, kids, meetings, meals, exercise, chores, even ministry service—the less time we spend with the One who helps us most.

Jesus extends an ongoing invitation of refreshing to us all:

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.’”  (Matthew 11:18)

In our drive to be productive, let’s remember the thing most worth being concerned about: spending time with the Lord each day, resting and refreshing ourselves in His presence.

Taking time to cease from our own work, we allow Him to do His work in us—renewing our strength, restoring our peace. We learn to hear His voice.

In His presence, we’ll find ourselves doing less, but accomplishing much more.

Copyright  © 2017 Cheryl Elton

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In every decision, plan, and purpose of life, we choose between two distinct ways to function—with or without God’s help.

You see, God always wanted a family—we were created “in His image“. A family shares and communicates. How our Heavenly Father longs to speak with us!

While most people in the world function by vision, God’s people are called to operate in a radically different way—by revelation.

Let me explain . . .

People devise plans: businesses and organizations craft mission and vision statements, mapping out what they’re about and where they are going. Individuals often set goals. In all these things, people then orchestrate their lives to achieve those purposes.

As Christians, God desires for us to live differently: by arranging our lives according to His revelation, and trusting Him even when things don’t seem to make sense.

“Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law.” (Proverbs 29:18 NKJV)

Whenever people fail to base their lives on God’s revelation they live unrestrained—or do what is right in their own eyes. They may make goals, arrange their agendas, and even pray for God to bless their efforts—all without His guidance and direction.

Yet God is not hiding His will from us!

God’s revelation is revealed primarily in two ways: in His Word, and via the Holy Spirit.

His Word contains everything we need for life: 

“His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (2 Peter 1:3-4 NKJV)

God also reminds us of the daily dependence we’re to have on Him:

“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word [rhema = speaking] that proceeds from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4 NKJV)

God’s “speaking” or revelation is revealed through His spirit. Hebrews 12:25 tells us He is always speaking.

We need only quiet ourselves to listen . . .

God wants us to trust Him with all our needs. This doesn’t mean we fail to plan or prepare for the future. He knows what we need to do and what tomorrow will bring. He understands the problems we face and He will not withhold His help from us.

He simply asks that with trusting hearts we look to Him each day and carry out with obedience what He tells us.

How wonderful that God provides for us His words to live by—today! 

Will we hear and obey?

Copyright © 2016 Cheryl Elton

The post The Words To Live By appeared first on Cheryl Elton.

Last week I enjoyed an afternoon bike ride with my husband on a scenic rail trail in Pennsylvania. It was one of those October days in which the sun felt warm and the shade cool. Trees hinting yellow leaves lined both sides of the seemingly endless path, while the only sound was leaves crunching beneath bike tires.

Robert Frost’s well-known poem “The Road Not Taken” came to mind—“Two roads diverged in a yellow wood . . . .” The poet expresses coming to a juncture and pondering which path to take—knowing all too well that as he starts down one road, and way leads to way, it’s unlikely he will ever be back to travel the other.

He concludes:

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.”

I thought about a crossroads time in my own life, in which I chose a path to follow, leaving a different one behind, never to know what might have been.

I pondered with thankfulness the hand of God on my life, the things He has seen me through, and the blessings that have come. I contemplated the choices I’ve made—even the ones once tinged with uncertainty or regret.

Sometimes it’s hard to decide which road to take. How do we know what’s right? What’s best? Where it will lead us?

Like Frost’s poem, the words of Scripture in Proverbs 3:5-6 are simple and colloquial, yet dense with meaning and significance.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”

God simply asks us to trust Him, to seek Him, to stay in His presence.

As we journey through life, we will encounter pitfalls on the side of the road. A few steps off the path and we easily fall into ditches of self-pity, pride or despair.

But God asks that we keep our eyes on Him, seeking His will in all we do, and trusting Him in all things. He promises to always be with us. 

“ . . . let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.”  (Hebrews 12:1-2) 

Seeking and staying close to the Lord, He protects us, as His words guide our feet and light our path.  

He shows us the way to go. He leads us beside peaceful streams. He renews our strength. He guides us along right paths. We need only ask, trust, and stay in His presence.

Copyright © 2015 Cheryl Elton

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Psalm 1 describes the person who doesn’t follow worldly methods and means, but who takes their greatest delight in the Lord.

Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. (Psalm 1:1-3) 

Great joy, blessings, fruit, and prosperity follow this person. So how do I make the Lord my delight above all else?

Yes, I can quote Bible verses telling me to “praise the Lord,” to “be thankful,” and to “be joyful.” But there are times I just don’t feel like doing these things.

Yet I’m finding as I faithfully choose to spend time in His Word, praise Him despite how I feel, and seek His presence, He meets me right where I am and pulls me ever closer toward Him.

Delighting in God isn’t something I feel, it’s something I do.

Praising and delighting in God goes deeper than hearts swelling with emotion as hands rise upward during a stirring praise song. It dares us to step out of ourselves, and our souls’ emotions. It invites us to leave behind our own well-worn heart paths and reach for something beyond ourselves—the very heart of God. 

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. (Psalm 37:4) 

This command is also a promise. It confronts us when we’re weary, and calls our thinking to higher ground. As we decide to delight in the Lord, He not only gives us our heart’s desires (puts them there), He becomes our heart’s sweetest yearning and resting place.

Nothing matches the joy of His presence. With every effort we make to draw near to Him, He promises to be there. 

Come close to God, and God will come close to you. (James 4:8a)

He is only a thought, a heart-cry away. In His presence is fullness of joy. When discovered, it becomes our heart’s greatest desire to delight in God each day.

Copyright © 2015 Cheryl Elton

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In a recent interview on Christian radio, world-renowned vocal artist Wintley Phipps talked about his rise from humble beginnings to becoming one of the most celebrated gospel singers of our time.

Phipps is a two-time Grammy award nominee, has sung in Billy Graham crusades, and performed for six American presidents. His rendition of Amazing Grace has upward of 7 million views on YouTube.

His secret to success may surprise you.

“To be successful in anything, we must begin by preparing our hearts with stillness and prayer,” Phipps said.

He says the key to all the successes God has allowed him to have is that he learned “to go to the mountain before I went to the multitude—so when I came down off the mountain, my face was shining.”

“The secret of blessing is that people hear more than just a voice, but someone who is depending on God for his gift to shine,” Phipps said.

The world prompts us to be active at all times. We feel guilty when we’re not busy. If we’re not busy we’re not producing, and we must constantly be producing for achievement and worth.

Yet the reality is we accomplish more from a place of inner rest. God’s exhortation in the book of Hebrews speaks of His promised rest: 

So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall. (Hebrews 4:9-11) 

Never has there been greater need to slow down and give ourselves permission to be quiet. In those moments of solitude and reflection we’re able to draw near to God.

In the stillness of our time with Him, He fills us with His peace. He prepares our hearts for the task at hand. As we wait upon the Lord, He renews our strength. We hear His still small voice.

Wintley Phipps credits spending time with the Lord and preparing his heart with Him each day as the key to success in his singing career.

“I want God’s presence to be the badge of distinction in my singing,” he says.

Do you want God’s presence to be the badge of distinction in your life?

I do.

Let’s take time to be still and rest in His presence today. We will do less, but accomplish so much more.

Copyright © 2015 Cheryl Elton

The post The Lost Art of Stillness: Part 2 appeared first on Cheryl Elton.

One of the most exciting realities of the Christian life is that when we enter into relationship with God through Jesus Christ, we begin a process of transformation. We start thinking, feeling, and viewing things as God does. The Holy Spirit governs this process while teaching us the ways of Christ.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:2) 

From the word “transform” in the Greek (metamorphoo), comes the English word “metamorphosis” describing a complete change, like that of a caterpillar into a butterfly.

The biological miracle of metamorphosis continues to amaze scientists. It doesn’t happen instantly, but through various stages. In the case of the butterfly, first there’s the egg, then the caterpillar (or larva), the chrysalis, and finally the butterfly. The contrast between a caterpillar and a butterfly is astonishingly remarkable and beautiful.

This process of metamorphosis wonderfully illustrates the life of a Christian learning to walk in the steps of Christ. By submitting ourselves to Him, our old sinful nature gradually dies as our new nature in Christ is being developed. We literally move from a life of sin, defeat, and rebellion against God to living a Christlike life that glorifies God.

The progression of dying to self and becoming like Christ happens daily as we choose to spend time with Him—to meet Him in that secret place, to acknowledge His presence, to walk and talk with Him—to yield ourselves to the working of the Holy Spirit within us.

Gradually we are transformed into His likeness, becoming more and more like Him, until our transformation is finally complete and perfected at His appearing. On that glorious day we will know as we are known, and receive new bodies like His. Hallelujah!

The depth and closeness of our relationship with Jesus Christ greatly determines how much we will live like Him. In the quietness of His presence He fills our hearts with peace. Gracefully, gradually we gain a new perspective on life—His perspective. And in doing so, He responds to the longings of our hearts, transforming us into being more like Him.

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For more on this topic, see the chapter Daily Transformation in Pathway of Peace: Living in a Growing Relationship with Christ, available on this website.

Copyright © 2015 Cheryl Elton

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What brings God joy?

He wants us to know joy—not circumstantial happiness, but the deep and unshakable joy He gives, rooted in an awareness of His presence. Joy that keeps us going in good times or bad, because we know who is ultimately in control.

But what brings a smile to His face?

The simple answer is us, His people.

For the Lord delights in his people; he crowns the humble with victory. (Psalm 149:4) 

In Scripture, we’re often referred to as “sheep” (Psalm 100:3). Sheep require constant care to survive and thrive. If left alone they easily wander off and get in trouble.

In A Shepherd Looks At Psalm 23, W. Phillip Keller explains a common problem  sheep get themselves into when they roll onto their backs and cannot get themselves up again—the dilemma of a “cast” sheep.

Keller writes: 

A cast sheep is a very pathetic sight. Lying on its back, its feet in the air, it flays away frantically struggling to stand up without success. Sometimes it will bleat a little for help, but generally it lies there lashing about in frightened frustration. 

If the owner does not arrive on the scene within a reasonably short time, the sheep will die. This is but another reason why it is so essential for a careful sheepman to look over his flock every day, counting them to see that all are able to be up and on their feet. If one or two are missing, often the first thought to flash into his mind is, “One of my sheep is cast somewhere. I must go in search and set it on its feet again.” 

In what is commonly called the parable of “the lost sheep,” Jesus goes in search of what may have been a cast sheep. The outcome elaborates on God’s greatest joy.

If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? 

And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders.

When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’

In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away! (Luke 15:4-7)

The Good Shepherd will go to great lengths to find a lost or perhaps a cast sheep—one that has wandered off and gotten in trouble.

He will joyfully carry that sheep home on His shoulders, rejoicing that it was lost but now found.

God’s great pleasure is His people—those who endeavor to walk in His truth, may at times wander off, yet return to Him again and again.

 I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth. (3 John 4) 

Praise God for our Good Shepherd, whose watchful care brings us home to His presence. May we live in such a way that we bring a smile to God’s face and great joy to His heart.

Copyright © 2015 Cheryl Elton

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