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Last evening I received an email from another provider who had just seen a patient I’d seen once 9 years ago. She wrote this gentleman still remembered our visit and my kindness. She said he gives me a large part of the credit he is still clean and sober 9 years later.

I’m not telling you this story to toot my own horn, because, the truth is, most days I probably get things wrong more often than I get them right, when dealing with people. But somehow this one day, by God’s grace, I must have gotten it right.

No, I’m telling you this, because we each need to realize little things can count in big ways. I have no idea what I said to this man and, honestly, I don’t remember him at all, but something I said or did made an impression on him, enough so that it has helped him stay sober all these years.

My friend, Mike Temple, who writes a daily devotional, The Open Wordh, this morning told the story of a shipwreck caused by a clogged oil filter. It’s sometimes takes only a small thing to determine the course of large ship, for good or for bad.

The same is true with people. You may never know how something you say affects another person, how some small thing you do may alter their journey through life.

James 3:5-6 warns “the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.”

A tongue can wound or it can heal. Our words can sear or they can soothe. They can drive someone away from Christ or steer them into His arms. The choice is up to us.

It only takes a small rudder to turn a ship and sometimes it takes just a single word or a kind smile to point another in the right direction.

Little things matter. Little words count. Proverbs 15:23 says, “…it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time!” This morning may God give us the grace to say the right thing at the right time.

Today, let’s follow the advice of the old children’s song to “be careful little tongue what you say…” After all, you never know who may be listening.

Do you ever feel like God doesn’t see you, that somehow you’ve been overlooked within the seething mass of humanity clamoring for His attention. I know I do.

When problems mount, disappointment meets me at every turn, and prayers seem to go unanswered, I feel like “My way is hidden from the Lord, my cause is disregarded by my God”. (Isaiah 40:27 NIV).

When I’m feeling like this it would be easy to give up, to toss my Bible away in despair, but that would be foolish. Does a starving man turn away from a hand holding out bread? Does a thirsty man ignore a rushing brook? Then why would I, starving for God’s attention, thirsting for a word from His lips, turn my back on His Word, the one place I know I will find Him and hear His voice?

No, it is at times, when all seems dark, that I need to turn on the light! I need to open God’s Word, because His “word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” (Psalm 119:105). It will show me the way back to God.

It is in these moments I must search all the harder for God, immersing myself in His Word, for I am promised “You will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Deuteronomy 4:29.

When I do this I find reassurance, that God is still “…the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.” (Isaiah 40:28), that, though He may seem far away at times, He is not far from any one of us.” (Acts 17:27), but is in fact, still “the God who sees me…” (Genesis 16:13) and who “will be with [me] wherever [I} go.” (Joshua 1:9).

This morning, if you feel abandoned, alone in the dark, then turn on the light! Open God’s Word! He is right there waiting for you today. He still loves you “with an everlasting love”, still draws you “with unfailing kindness” (Jeremiah 31:3).

In pages of Scripture you will learn He still “heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3) and He promises “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”(Hebrews 13:5).

If you find yourself in a dark place this morning, know this, my friend. You’re not abandoned. You’re not alone. You just need turn on the light!

God bless and have a wonderful day!

When troubles come,
when love goes astray,
When sickness strikes,
dear ones pass away,

We have a choice
between doubt and belief,
To trust in God
or give into grief.

We can drown in doubts,
give into fears,
Believe Satan’s lie
God caused our tears.

Or we can chose,
in life’s darkest hour,
To trust in God,
believe in His power.

Knowing He loves us
and feels our pain.
Trusting Him both in
sunshine and rain.

The choice is ours,
trust or turn away.
Believe in God
or run from the fray.

Bitterness and anger
or calm and peace.
Hatred and despair
or sweet release.

The choice you make
in moments of strife
Determines your course
the rest of your life.

So, choose wisely my friend.
Trust in God’s love.
Let him fill you today
with peace from above.

I woke up way to early this morning, with an overwhelming feeling of anxiety. I’m not sure if it was a dream I’d had, the stress of a busy day at work yesterday, or the sandwich I’d eaten driving home at 9 PM, but something had me stressed and I couldn’t get back to sleep.

Finally, I got up and went out to the living room to read. As I read Romans 8, with its wonderful promise that nothing, not even “our fears for today or our worries about tomorrow…can separate us from God’s love”, my anxiety disappeared, replaced by “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding…” (Philippians 4:7)

I think this is how David must have felt when he wrote, “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” (Psalm 94:19 NIV). Truly, as the song says, “What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!”

We all deal with anxiety at one time or another, but we need never deal with it alone. In Jesus we have “a friend so faithful, who will all our sorrows share”. No matter the hour of the day (or night) He is right there when you need Him, ready to hear your worries and fears, calm your anxious thoughts, and carry your burdens and cares.

This morning, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6 NKJV). Don’t let anxiety handcuff your life a moment longer. Instead, “Cast all your anxiety upon him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7 NIV). Invite Jesus into your heart today and let Him break anxiety’s hold.

Have a great day, sleep well tonight, and “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him…” (Romans 15:13 NIV)

I hadn’t planned on being at work yesterday.

In fact, I was supposed to be the elder-in-charge at church, leading out in the worship service. However, God had a change of plans.

The PA who was supposed to be on duty was sick and needed me to fill in. Thankfully, one of the other elders kindly agreed to take over my duties, so, instead of sitting on the platform at church, I found myself rushing from room-to-room in the Walk-in Clinic on Sabbath morning. It wasn’t where I wanted to be, but I knew it was where God wanted me to be. I just didn’t know why.

I soon found out. Walking into one of the rooms, I was surprised when the patient’s face lit up with delight and she exclaimed, “It’s you!”

I was a little taken aback at first by her enthusiasm, because this is not how I’m usually greeted. Most people I see are so wrapped up in their misery, they barely mumble “hello.”

As I sat down, she said, “I prayed to God it would be you I’d see.”

Now, I’m not used to being an answer to someone’s prayer, so I laughed and replied, “Well, then God answered your prayer, because I’m not even supposed to be here today.” We went on to have a very pleasant visit and both left the room smiling at how God works.

Proverbs 16:9 says, “A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.” (NKJV).

You may not always understand why God leads the way He does, especially when your plans are going in an entirely different direction, but you can always trust His plans for you are “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV).

I know you’ve got big plans for this week, but if you find God directing your steps elsewhere, don’t be afraid to go where He leads. You just might be the answer to someone’s prayer today, but you’ll never know unless you go. Go in faith. He’ll be with you every step of the way.

A couple days ago, just when we thought we’d get out of work on time for once, two patients walked in just before closing. Frustrated, one of my co-workers started to complain about how inconsiderate people can be, inconveniencing everyone else.

Thankfully, another worker had the wisdom to get us all back on track. He said, “We can fret and complain all we want, but we’ve still got to see them.” Recognizing good advice when we heard it, we buckled down and got to work. Before we knew it, we were on our way home, having made our two patients feel a lot better.

We humans waste a lot of time and energy fretting about things. We fret about the weather, about the latest bone-headed thing some politician has done, about the state of the economy, and about the emptiness of our own wallets. We fret about imagined wrongs and unkind words. We even fret about our own mistakes and failures. In the end, however, all our fretting doesn’t solve a thing. It just makes us more miserable than we were before.

No wonder David warns us in Psalm 37:8 to “Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.” Fretting leads only to hard feelings, increased stress, and dissatisfaction. It can even affect us physically, causing our blood pressure to rise, increasing our risk of heart attack and stroke.

This coming week, let’s not waste our time fretting about things we cannot change (or even things we can). Instead, let’s follow David’s advice to “Trust in the Lord and do good,” to “Commit your way to the Lord”, and “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him…” (vs. 3, 6, 7).

Remember “The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him” and “a future awaits those who seek peace.” (vs. 23, 37). Today, put your hope in the Lord and don’t fret about things you can’t change. Instead, trust the One who never changes and let “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,…guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)

God bless and remember, don’t fret – just trust! It’s going to be a great day!

Happy Sabbath!

Yesterday was not the most romantic Valentine’s Day on record here in the Edison household. We both rushed out the door in the morning, leaving early for work, because we knew the roads would be bad. There was only time for a quick prayer and a rushed “I love you before we headed out the door.

We worked in the same building all day, but only saw each other long enough to say “Hi.” I ended up working late, because a couple patients came in at the last moment. As I said not the most romance filled day ever.

However, when I walked in the house around 9:30 PM, there on the table was a bag of dark chocolate Dove candy – my favorite. Next to it was a special note from my special lady. Suddenly, in spite of the stress of the day and being super tired, I felt on top of the world.

That’s what real love is like. It doesn’t take big gestures or grand speeches. It’s the little things that matter, the unexpected gift, the squeeze of the hand, the smile across a crowded room. These small things speak volumes. They reassure us we our never alone, that we are always loved.

When we think of God’s love, we usually think of the big things, of Jesus death on the Cross, of His promise to come again. But God speaks to us everyday in the small things too.

“‘God is love’ is written upon every opening bud, upon every spire of springing grass. The lovely birds making the air vocal with their happy songs, the delicately tinted flowers in their perfection perfuming the air, the lofty trees of the forest with their rich foliage of green – all testify to the tender, fatherly care of our God and to His desire to make His children happy.” (Steps to Christ, chapter 1).

Today, keep your eyes open for the small things, the little ways God says “I love you”. Know that every moment of every day His eye is on you, guiding your path. Know that know matter what, know matter how lousy your day, or how bad you mess up, one thing is certain – you are loved!

This Valentine’s Day I’m not giving Ana flowers, or candy or a card. She doesn’t like cut flowers, because they die. She doesn’t want candy, because she’s trying to eat healthy. And she thinks cards are silly, because what are you supposed to do with them after you read them?

For Ana the best way to say, “I love you” is not for me to give something to her, but to do something for her. So, instead of flowers, candies or cards, I’m giving her something far more valuable – my time. Starting next week, I’m going to be refinishing the walls in her sewing room and building her cabinets and shelves, customizing it just for her. She’s so excited! She can hardly wait to get in there and play!

I think Jesus would agree with Ana, that actions say “I love you” better than gifts or fancy words. In John 13:34 Jesus told His disciples, “A new command I give you: Love one another.” How? “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” And how did Jesus love them? He did things for them. Just moments before He had washed their feet, telling them they should do the same for each other.

And think of all the other things He did for them. He fed them and 5000 others. He spent time with them on a mountainside, calmed the storm around them, and settled their quarrels. Finally, in the end, He gave His life for them.

Jesus continues to do things for us to show His love, for “we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God…” (Hebrew 4:14). There continues to serve his followers, “…because he always lives to intercede for them.” (Hebrews 7:25).

This Valentine’s Day, let’s follow Jesus’ example, who “made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant…” (Philippians 2:7). Let’s love as He loved, by serving each other, by meeting each others needs. In other words, let’s not just tell someone they’re loved today, let’s show them!

Ana and I have been blessed with a wonderful marriage. After over the 34 years my heart still does a little jump of joy when she walks in the room. We’re each other’s best friend and are never happier than when we’re together. We not only love each other, we also like each other.

So what is the secret to our happy marriage? We put Jesus at the center and the other person first. The only times we have trouble is when one or the other of us forgets this and gets selfish, putting their own interests over the interests of the other. Then tempers flare, words fly, and, when it’s all over, a lot of damage repair has to be done.

Can you imagine how much happier this world would be if we all put each other first? No more divorce, angry voices, hurt feelings, or broken homes. Even famine, crime and war would disappear. A pipe dream? Maybe, but when Jesus comes again, that’s how it will be. I can’t wait!

Until then we can go a long way towards improving our marriages and other relationships by following Paul’s advice to “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” (Philippians 2:3-4 NIV)

To have successful relationships we need to “have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant…” (v. 5-7).

Jesus put us first and He wants us to do the same for each other. He longs for us to be “like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.” (v. 2). But this kind of transformation can only come about when we put Jesus first in our lives, accepting His sacrifice as payment for our sins, and letting His Spirit work in our hearts each day.

This Valentine’s Day, give yourself a gift, give Jesus your heart. Then, along with the candy kisses and pretty cards, give the one you love the greatest gift of all – put ’em first!