Ten Coins, One Lost, $150,000 Found!

I worked in a bank during my college days, and I transferred large sums of money each day. It was not unusual for me to handle entries with lots of zeros.

One time I wrote down a customer’s account number on the deposit slip, made the entry, and deposited the money . . . into the wrong account. The money increased another man’s checking account balance, and before the mistake could be resolved, he withdrew all the money. He deposited it into an account at a bank across town. I suppose he hoped no one would discover the mistake...

That was the biggest mistake of my life to that point, all twenty years of it. (Now, of course, I’ve lived long enough to realize that was not the last mistake I’d ever make.) I wanted to pass the blame on to the bookkeeper for not balancing her books sooner, but I knew it was my fault...

...Problems, mistakes, errors, and blunders happen to everyone. But we can find comfort in knowing that God, who owns the only spiritual “eraser,” has the power to wipe away every mistake if we’ll only ask.

...That reminds me of the story in Luke 15: 8 where it says, “Or suppose, a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me: I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

As for my loss at the bank, I rejoiced when the found was returned. Talk about a party. I could’ve danced like those we’ve watched on Dancing with the Stars; I was ecstatic with the lost money being found.

Think of how Jesus feels when one person turns from sin...

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Two Brothers, One Blanket, and a Crippled Woman

Brandon was only four and when I asked his older brother Marty 16 to babysit, I thought I was brilliant. I'd save money and the boys would bond. Life would be grand. Or not!

Hey, it sounded like a good idea, until the phone kept ringing at my office. Each time, I heard this tiny voice. "Mom, Marty's picking on me. He won't let me watch TV. Mom, Marty won't let me eat anymore cereal. Mom, he told me I couldn't go outside."

I wondered if the next call might send me over the edge, and I really considered auctioning off both the boys, but the going rate for teens and toddlers was way down.

Minutes later, I found myself instructing Brandon to put his brother on the phone. And I promptly gave my - you're the older brother, so act like it speech. I hung up and waited, and at first, I thought they'd settled their differences.

Then, I heard my name paged on the intercom.

"Hello, this Is Pam."

I heard sobs, big weeping gasps. The breathless sounds echoed in my ear. "Brandon. Brandon. Is that you? Calm down. Talk to me. Tell me what's wrong."

Finally, after waves of broken phrases, sobs and long pauses, Brandon whined, "Marty tied me up and left me on the floor between the bed and the wall. I was stuck, couldn't get up, and then he left the house."

"What do you mean? He tied you up?"

"Marty rolled me up in a blanket and tied his belt around me. And he tossed me next to the wall by the bed, and I couldn't get out. I was stuck there forever," he cried.

"Are you okay?”

"Yes."

"Then, go get your brother."

(For the rest of this devotionals, listen to the podcast "Daybreak Devotionals" or get the newsletter).

Phoebe, Walking Shoes of Faith

Most people don't ask for my help. I tend to get in the way. I guess it's because I create more work, so those who know me best, love it when I don't offer any assistance. Yes, my friends can attest to my chaotic and often clumsy approach to chores, tasks, and simple things. I drop. I spill. I make messes. I stumble. I fall. I bump into walls. I laugh. I cry. I over think certain aspects of life.

But the good news is -- God created me. He gave me all of my oddities, my fumble bumble personality, and He knows when I'll spill my next cup of coffee. And that gives me rest - rest in being who I am, rest in living a fruit of the Spirit life with love, joy, peace, patience (working on that one), goodness, gentleness (working on that one too), kindness, faithfulness, and self-control.

Yes, self-control is an obvious goal to conquer....but, I do run with all my might into the day. I know that today is all I have. So I don't want to miss out on God's surprises and unexpected miracles.

So if you see me coming -- don't ask for my help. Just get out of the way, and I'll soon pass by.

Honestly, I know there's plenty of tape, glue and staples to fix anything I might break. Besides God fixes the breaks in our heart, and He fixes the crooked places in our day. We can ask Him, He's the ultimate fixer and mender...I guess it's the carpenter in Him.

When I read about Phoebe in the Bible and how reverent she lived, I see that pale in comparison. She put on a new self, one created to be like God. She had a good reputation in her Christian community. And not only did she help Paul but she helped so many other people.

Paul described Phoebe as "worthy of the saints" and she was highly respected. She was one of Paul's assistants, a very unique role for a woman during that era.

I've met many women in my church, and at other churches; only to realize there are many modern day Phoebe's serving God and spreading the Good News of Jesus.

When I think of Phoebe, I think of Judy, a woman who teaches the teens, play the piano and never misses a beat. She arrives early, always prepares her lesson and knows every song by heart. What a servant!

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Drusilla Rejects the Message?

Drusilla was the prodigal poster child for girls, although her family tree is tainted with relatives who opposed God.

Her great uncle decapitated John the Baptist and Drusilla’s father was consumed by worms for persecuting Christians. Her great grandfather tried to kill all Jewish toddler boys under the age of two during the time when Jesus was a baby.

Her family had a history of hostility toward the Lord, but God brought Paul into her life and during a two-year span, she had plenty of opportunities to receive Christ.

We pick up, on this story in Acts 24 when some priests hope to manipulate the law so they can have Paul killed. They do have him arrested, but God has bigger plans and Paul becomes a mouthpiece for God in jail.

Paul told Felix, which by the way is Drusilla’s husband, “I admit that I worship the God of our fathers, as a follower of the Way. I have the same hope in God, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. You are judging me today because I believe in this resurrection.”

As he addressed Felix, no doubt, Drusilla heard Paul’s words too.

Listen to the podcast...to see what happens to Drusilla, Felix and our preacher Paul....

Sapphira - Lies and Deception

Real estate signs are everywhere today. Especially for sale signs. The market is inundated with people who need to sell their homes. What if you sold your property and made a huge profit, would you give all of your money away? A portion? Any at all?

In this story of Ananias and Sapphira, we have a husband and wife team who are believers. At the end of Acts 4, we read how all the believers in the church were one in heart and mind. Keep in mind, the Christian church was very young and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own; they shared everything.

With great power, the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them, because from time to time, those who owned land or houses sold them, and they brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostle’s feet. Then, it was distributed to anyone who was in need.

Barnabas even sold a field that he owned, and brought the money and placed it at the apostle’s feet. Imagine a church that functioned with such unity, one that took care of the needs of everyone.

What an awesome concept? Well, Ananias and Sapphira were the loving type – that is, they loved each other enough to support each other in deceptive practices.

This tale is of a husband and wife who deceived their church family and mostly God. It is one we should take to heart because the outcome of such dishonesty brought death.

Ananias and Sapphira sold a piece of property, and Sapphira knew her husband kept back part of the money he’d made from selling the land. I don’t know if they secretly conspired to hide some of the money, but scripture says she knew, she knew the plan.

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Mother's Day Sayings Span Time

Moms have a way of using our middle names when we’re in trouble.

As a kid, whenever I heard a certain pitch in my mother’s voice and the words "Pamela Anne," I knew Mom was not happy with me. Actually I heard my twin’s name more often than mine, "Melody Lynne," Mom would call.

See, Melody pretty much tested Mom’s patience, which sometimes resulted in punishment and this gave me insight as to how far I wanted to push things. I often referred to myself as the good twin, although that’s not entirely the truth. Just ask my sister.

I’d say moms have favorite sayings or pet phrases for their children and even Bible moms probably had their own. Maybe some would have gone like this.

"Samson! Get your hand out of that lion. You don't know where it's been!”

Remember, Samson is the guy who was set apart for God's service. He did not cut his hair or drink alcohol, and he tore a lion apart with his bare hands.

Then there’s David’s mom. "David! I told you not to play in the house with that sling! Go practice your harp. We pay good money for those lessons."

We all know David; he took three stones and killed the giant Goliath. David also played the harp for his best friend Jonathan’s dad, among other things, and eventually became a king.

What about this one. "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. I’ve told you never to play with fire."

When King Nebuchadnezzar built an idol, the three men refused to bow down to it. The king tossed them into a fiery furnace. They loved God and were not about to worship an idol, but the good news is God showed up in the fire, and no one was harmed.

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Rhoda Sees Peter, after His Prison Escape!

Has anyone ever called you crazy? Or off your rocker?
Rhoda worked for New Testament Christians; we meet her in the book of Acts, chapter 12, and the praying Christians accuse her of being off her rocker. Here they are praying for Peter's release from prison, asking God for a miracle and Peter is standing at their front door, literally.

He knocks on the door. He kicks the dirt from his sandals, and anxiously waits to tell everyone about the latest miracle.

Herod has imprisoned Peter to up his approval ratings when he saw how they reacted when he killed James. So in other words Herod was driven to lock up Peter by political motives. He seized Peter and delivered him to four squads of soldiers, kept him guarded, and Herod planned to bring Peter before the people after Passover.

Don't forget that Peter and the apostles had already escaped from prison back in chapter 5 of Acts, when the angel of the Lord came at night, opened the prison doors and brought Peter, and the others out, and told them, "Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people telling them about Jesus."

Peter saw God working in his life, and Herod knew God was working on Peter’s behalf, so he had additional security to keep Peter inside those prison walls.

But now, Peter’s out again, and knocking on the door of the very house where the Christians have prayed for his release.

He cannot wait to tell them, only Rhoda is so excited at seeing him, she leaves him standing outside, shuts the door, and runs to the others. They are secretly holding their prayer meeting at the house of Mary, mother of James and John, to pray for Peter's safety while he was in prison.

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