Dreams That Speak

by Patti Richter

There is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. Daniel 2:28 NIV

I woke up wanting to call my grandfather, after dreaming that he was sick, but my day grew busy. I needed to wait until evening, but by then, tired, I forgot all about calling.

My phone rang early the next morning: My mother was calling to say that Grandpa had died of a heart attack in his sleep. In anguish, I realized I’d lost my opportunity to speak with him one last time.

The Bible is sprinkled with accounts of God-given dreams that provided a warning, an encouragement, or a revelation of some future event.

Abraham’s grandson Jacob dreamed of angels ascending and descending on a ladder that reached to heaven. The promise he heard in his dream endures to this day: “The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring” (Genesis 28:18 ESV).  

Jacob’s son Joseph shared two dreams with his brothers that caused them to resent him. After hearing Joseph say, “the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me”(Gen. 37:9 ESV), his brothers sold him to slave traders traveling to Egypt. Years later, in an Egyptian prison, Joseph heard and interpreted the dreams of two former officers of Pharoah. All of these dreams played a part in his eventual rise to power in Egypt (Genesis Chapters 40 and 41).  

Generations later, another Joseph had four dreamsthat each included specific instructions: take Mary as your wife; take the child [Jesus] and his mother to Egypt; return to Israel; settle in the district of Galilee (Matthew 1:20; 2:13, 20, 22).

Besides the patriarchs and prophets, lesser-known figures such as those Egyptian prisoners clearly had God-given dreams. There was a Midianite soldier whose dream encouraged Gideon to attack the enemy camp (Judges 7:13). And the wise men who visited the Christ child were warned in a dream to avoid Herod by traveling back a different way (Matthew 2:12).

The wife of Pontius Pilate sent him a warning while he sat on his judgment seat in view of condemning Jesus to die. Her message said, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream,” (Matthew 27:19 ESV). Her dream likely influenced Pilate, who “took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves’” (v. 24 ESV).

While dreams are subjective experiences and, in general, untrustworthy, God can speak to us through them if he so desires.

Some years ago, I recounted a strange dream to my husband, Jim, over breakfast. He asked me to write down the details, adding, “I think it means something.”

In my dream, the two of us were trudging along a difficult wilderness trail when a snake sprang at us. Shaken but unharmed, we pressed on until we saw—with great relief—a smooth path ahead.

Two weeks later Jim came home with jolting news: he had lost his job. As the months of his challenging job search passed, we kept that dream in mind, believing the Lord had encouraged us that something good was ahead. And, indeed, Jim’s new job served to relocate us closer to our family and carried us all the way to retirement.

The eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, … he is our help and our shield. Psalm 33:18, 20 NIV

This article is brought to you by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA).

About the author: Patti Richter lives in north Georgia with her husband, Jim. She is a freelance journalist and long-time faith columnist at BlueRibbonNews.com with more than four hundred published articles.

Patti is the co-author of the award-winning Signs of His Presence—Experiencing God’s Comfort in Times of Suffering. It is the story of Luann Mire, whose godly husband was blindsided by an indictment due to a former employer’s tax fraud. The resulting prison sentence and restitution took the once joyful couple into a long season of suffering as they fought judicial tyranny. Helpless to change her situation, Luann endured a painful examination of her life and found God faithful to His promises.

Join the conversation: Have you ever had a dream of spiritual significance? Please share!

Panic, Peace, and Paradise Found

by Patti Richter

Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven. 2 Corinthians 5:1 NIV

My heart beats faster as Cinderella realizes her fairy-tale evening is over. I share her panic as she runs down the castle steps while the clock strikes midnight.

I recall two long-ago episodes of my own real panic, which both involved the same child. When my three-year-old son suddenly left my side in a large department store, I endured some dreadful minutes before finding that he had made his way back to the paint department and found his father. Then, at age five, he climbed a cliff that bordered a new friend’s backyard; the two of them became lost in Albuquerque’s high desert mesa. Along with the other boy’s mother, who had the local police searching, I was0 frantic until the boys found their way out to the main road two hours later.

We typically panic when the wheel of life spins out of control, especially when our plans for the future—or today, or the next hour—are endangered. Our personal world can be altered in a moment, like those victims whose lives are shattered by events that appear in the daily news. The distressing scenes we see confirm the world’s lack of control over… the world.

My husband and I once endured a turbulent flight in a small commuter plane. The storm-tossed aircraft jerked up, down, and sideways—like a vintage amusement park ride. All the passengers remained silent during the worst of it, but I couldn’t help turning to Jim with a question: “In case we only have a minute to live, is there anything you’d like to tell me?” With perhaps a two-second lapse, my calm husband replied, “See you in a few minutes.”

Faith in Christ results in such assurance to believers. Our natural fear at the possibility of impending death is alleviated by the hope of eternal life.

Dread surely overtook the two thieves who hung on a cross next to Jesus. Dying beside the man believed by many to be the Son of God did not immediately console either of them. One thief mocked Jesus, saying, “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” (Luke 23:39 NIV). But the other one, recognizing his only hope, admitted his sinful condition and said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom (v. 42). While the first man’s words yielded no response from the Lord, the repentant man received the Savior’s comforting promise, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise” (v. 43).

When the clock strikes midnight—as it will for each of us—the good news we’ve placed our hope in will overcome any distressing news. God’s promises through Christ will turn our panic to peace.

This article is brought to you by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA).

About the author: Patti Richter lives in north Georgia with her husband, Jim. She is a freelance journalist and long-time faith columnist at BlueRibbonNews.com with more than four hundred published articles.

Patti is the co-author of the award-winning Signs of His Presence—Experiencing God’s Comfort in Times of Suffering. It is the story of Luann Mire, whose godly husband was blindsided by an indictment due to a former employer’s tax fraud. The resulting prison sentence and restitution took the once joyful couple into a long season of suffering as they fought judicial tyranny. Helpless to change her situation, Luann endured a painful examination of her life and found God faithful to His promises.

Join the conversation: What has made you panic in the past?

A Diagnostic for the Heart

by Patti Richter

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  1 Corinthians 13:4 – 7 ESV

Valentine’s Day offers a mid-winter respite with its images of hearts and flowers. But the very day that suggests love and romance often fails to deliver the happiness we might expect.

For me, the day recalls a first-ever argument with my then husband-to-be, several months before we became engaged. Jim and I both fell short of loving one another on our first Valentine’s Day as a couple. I was rude to him; he responded with anger.

Whether it’s a holiday, a birthday, or a special date on the calendar, we may have unreasonable expectations of picture-perfect gatherings. We can easily set ourselves up for disappointment. But such times can also reveal our heart’s deficiencies.

When I have physical signs of sickness, I go to a reliable medical website, which offers a possible diagnosis based on a list of symptoms. Based on that list, the health issue I suspected often turns out to be something else. When it’s our relationships that are pale or feverish, we should look to God’s Word for a remedy. The Apostle Paul’s passage concerning love in 1 Corinthians 13 provides us with a diagnostic for the heart.

Paul begins with a warning that our gifts of the Spirit and great faith add up to nothing if we do not have love (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). The next verses, 4-7, are more poetic; we often hear them recited at weddings. Knowing that a bride and groom selected that passage assures us they’re off to a good start. But those love lines serve as a reminder for any of us whose relationships are off-kilter. Reading the verses for self-application can be like taking liquid medicine or rubbing ointment on a wound. Paul’s words may be hard to swallow, or smart for a while, but healing will come.

Love is patient and kind. Paul packed a double punch here. These virtues are related; if we don’t have one, we likely don’t have much of the other.

Love does not envy or boast. Pairing vices this time, Paul highlights these tacky responses that negatively affect the quality of a relationship.

Love is not arrogant or rude. These bad qualities have a clear connection. We should consider their antonyms as a cure: humble and considerate.

Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Paul continues to bust our bubbles of bad behavior in order to save our relationships—if we will only heed his words.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. This admonishes us not to give up on a spouse or loved one.

We may wonder where Paul gained such wisdom regarding love until we remember how personally he knew the Lord. He viewed Christ as our perfect example of the loving qualities we see in those verses. Our Savior, so patient and merciful, will never leave us (Hebrews 13:5). To follow in his footsteps is to live a life characterized by love.

This article is brought to you by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA).

About the author: Patti Richter lives in north Georgia with her husband, Jim. She is a freelance journalist and long-time faith columnist at BlueRibbonNews.com with more than four hundred published articles.

Patti is the co-author of the award-winning Signs of His Presence—Experiencing God’s Comfort in Times of Suffering. It is the story of Luann Mire, whose godly husband was blindsided by an indictment due to a former employer’s tax fraud. The resulting prison sentence and restitution took the once joyful couple into a long season of suffering as they fought judicial tyranny. Helpless to change her situation, Luann endured a painful examination of her life and found God faithful to His promises.

Join the conversation: Can you think of an instance when you were shown that kind of love? Please share!

A Time to Cast Away

by Patti Richter

Watching the Inauguration Day coverage of a U.S. President once inspired me to head for my bedroom closet. The new First Lady had worn a powder blue dress that looked familiar to me. I scanned the nether regions of my wardrobe where a few ghosts of my past resided. Soon enough, I found my beautiful blue wool dress peeking out from behind some holiday velvets.

Years earlier, after moving into a new home, I had reloaded an empty box with clothing I didn’t wear anymore. Maybe no one else would want the out-of-style items, but it was time to pass them on since my side of the closet could only hold so many decades’ worth of clothing. But that elegant dress was special, and I wasn’t ready to part with it.

The dress had been a gift from my mother-in-law when she worked in the couture department of a Saks Fifth Avenue store. I’d never had such a well-made dress. Now, after seeing the First Lady in a similar dress, I felt vindicated for saving it from an unfortunate fate (such as 80s night at the local high school). Even so, maybe the time had come to let it go.

The Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes examines the vanities of life. In a well-known passage, the writer says there’s a time for everything, including “a time to cast away” (Ecclesiastes 3:6ESV).

In a brief but compelling booklet titled My Heart—Christ’s Home, Robert Boyd Munger provides anallegory of the body as a house. He tells the story of Christ visiting every “room,” even the hidden places guests seldom see, especially the “closet,” with “things leftover from the old life.”

As that story continues, the homeowner realizes he has no strength to rid himself of things he should have parted with long ago. Instead, he implores Christ to help him, saying, “You’ll have to open the closet and clean it out.” And Jesus replies, “This is exactly what I came to do. You can’t live out the Christian life in your own strength…. Let me do it for you and through you.”

The Apostle Paul instructed believers that through Christ our bodies are temples where God dwells. He urged us to offer our bodies “as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God….” (1 Corinthians 6:19 ESV). This is much harder than giving away favorite old clothes—unless we rely on the One who helps us.

 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 ESV

This article is brought to you by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA).

About the author: Patti Richter lives in north Georgia with her husband, Jim. She is a freelance journalist and long-time faith columnist at BlueRibbonNews.com with more than four hundred published articles.

Patti is the co-author of the award-winning Signs of His Presence—Experiencing God’s Comfort in Times of Suffering. It is the story of Luann Mire, whose godly husband was blindsided by an indictment due to a former employer’s tax fraud. The resulting prison sentence and restitution took the once joyful couple into a long season of suffering as they fought judicial tyranny. Helpless to change her situation, Luann endured a painful examination of her life and found God faithful to His promises.

Join the conversation: What clutter do you need to clear out of your life?

Lost in the Shuffle: Grandma’s Christmas Birthday

by Patti Richter

The Christmas tree of my childhood held 1960’s ornaments—silver orbs with spikes and color-filled depressions. We added strips of foil “icicles” to the tree and pronounced it good. Maybe that’s why our December visits to the grandparents’ house felt like arriving at Disneyland.

Grandma loved to decorate at Christmastime. She adorned her Christmas tree with hand-made beaded ornaments in silver, gold, and pearl. Its branches hung low with the weight of thickly applied “snow.” A plugged-in color-wheel at the base of the tree made everything shimmer. Across the room, the fireplace mantle wore white flannel with red trim, while the hearth served as a barren desert for three Wise Men to traverse on their tall camels enroute to Bethlehem.

The Christmas season caused Grandma to break out of her otherwise practical, conservative self. For years it never occurred to me that her December 22^nd birthday gave her an added reason to celebrate.

Our Christmas get-together each year inadvertently overshadowed Grandma’s birthday, though she never seemed to mind. Perhaps as the youngest of ten children she grew up being lost in the shuffle. My family typically brought her a holiday poinsettia to say Happy Birthday.

After Grandpa died, Grandma gave up her Christmas decorating. Her vintage ornaments stayed in old hat boxes in the coat closet. For years afterward, she joined the Christmas Eve gathering at my family’s house.

Living in another state, I missed most of those holiday get-togethers. So, one year, as Grandma’s 90^th birthday approached, I could only hope my parents had plans to mark her big day. When they said she would be with them on Christmas Eve, as usual, I began stewing about it. Though I couldn’t be there in person, I wanted to show Grandma how much I cared.

For days I tried to think of the perfect gift but came up empty. Running out of time, I thought of asking the Lord for his suggestion.

That idea may seem silly to some people, even to some believers. However, don’t we, as parents, desire to fulfill the requests of our children just because we care about them, even though their specific needs may not be important to us? Our Father in Heaven feels this way about his children. First Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (NIV).

Right after making my request to God concerning a gift for Grandma, an idea came: order her a special cake. When I called my mother to inquire about a local bakery, she offered to make a birthday cake instead.

“No thanks, Mom. I want to order one with roses on it,” I said. “I know you’ll be having everyone on Christmas Eve, but could you also invite the family over for cake on Grandma’s birthday?”

Two days before their Christmas gathering, Mom picked up the beautifully decorated cake, and when Grandma arrived later that day, a small circle of family members waited to surprise her. Though she enjoyed having her very own little party, Grandma surprised everyone else when she exclaimed, “This is the first birthday cake I’ve ever had.”

And then I knew for sure that the Lord had directed me to the perfect gift.

This is the confidence that we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 1 John 5:14 NIV

This article is brought to you by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA).

About the author: Patti Richter lives in north Georgia with her husband, Jim. She is a freelance journalist and long-time faith columnist at BlueRibbonNews.com with more than four hundred published articles.

Patti is the co-author of the award-winning Signs of His Presence—Experiencing God’s Comfort in Times of Suffering. It is the story of Luann Mire, whose godly husband was blindsided by an indictment due to a former employer’s tax fraud. The resulting prison sentence and restitution took the once joyful couple into a long season of suffering as they fought judicial tyranny. Helpless to change her situation, Luann endured a painful examination of her life and found God faithful to His promises.

Join the conversation: Has God ever answered a specific request like that for you or a loved one?

One Expensive Christmas Gift

by Patti Richter

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights. James 1:17 NIV

It’s my favorite holiday, though I don’t observe it well. And since Christmas comes only once a year, maybe I could be excused for still trying to get it right. But maybe not, since I’ve had so many years to practice.

One challenge for me is in gift-giving, because I’ve never enjoyed shopping. I’d rather be writing Christmas cards or making my annual cherry-cream pie. But an even bigger problem for me is gift-receiving, which likely goes back to my childhood. The Santa who visited my first home typically delivered a new pair of basic sneakers and a stocking filled with tangerines and walnuts.

You would think that ho-ho-hum history should make me appreciate more extravagant gifts. Instead, the nicer the gift, the harder it is for me to receive. A recent Christmas casualty was the gift of a red coat from my husband, Jim, who selected the most expensive item on my wish list. But I decided to return it for several reasons: not the fabric I expected; not a perfect fit; too high-priced.

Jim is actually a great gift-giver. Left to himself—without my wish-list—he can select a gift I really need before I even realize that need. I believe this quality has everything to do with Christmas. God gave his most extravagant gift to the world by sending a Savior—before we even realized we needed saving. Yet many potential recipients of God’s Gift have missed out by their right of refusal.

With my analytical outlook, I might have been numbered among those circa A.D. 30 folks who found a reason to reject the Son of God. Plenty of sincere people of faith had doubts about a man who grew up in the obscure town of Nazareth. “’Can anything good come from there?’ Nathanael asked”(John 1:46 NIV).

Pharisees and other religious leaders might have had “enforcer of the Law” on their wish list. Instead, they got a preacher from Galilee, who disturbed their self-righteousness by reminding them of the greatest commandment: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind”(Matthew 22:37 – 38 NIV). Jesus was not cut from the cloth they expected.  

The zealots—political extremists of their day—wanted a new earthly king more than a heavenly one. They had hoped Jesus would stand on their platform, so they suffered disappointment over the humble man who entered Jerusalem on the foal of a donkey. He was the wrong fit for their agenda.

The rich and powerful scrutinized Jesus and grew uncomfortable with some of his words, like, “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? (Mark 8:36 NIV). Some of them decided that following Jesus would be too costly.

For believers, the challenge to get Christmas right can be a distraction from receiving the gift of Christ with greater appreciation. This better goal would include:

• Accepting his words as good and perfect, when we wish he had said something else.
• Fitting ourselves to his plans, instead of wanting him to approve ours.
• Following him when it cost us something to do so.

Don’t miss the reason for all the December celebrating. Receive it as God intended. He is the greatest gift giver.

This article brought to you by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA).

About the author: Patti Richter lives in north Georgia with her husband, Jim. She is a freelance journalist and long-time faith columnist at BlueRibbonNews.com with more than four hundred published articles.

Patti is the co-author of the award-winning Signs of His Presence—Experiencing God’s Comfort in Times of Suffering. It is the story of Luann Mire, whose godly husband was blindsided by an indictment due to a former employer’s tax fraud. The resulting prison sentence and restitution took the once joyful couple into a long season of suffering as they fought judicial tyranny. Helpless to change her situation, Luann endured a painful examination of her life and found God faithful to His promises.

Join the conversation. Have you received Christ., the greatest gift of all?

Straight Ahead in the Wrong Direction

by Patti Richter

Arise, go to Nineveh… But Jonah ran away… to flee from the Lord. Jonah 1:2 – 3 ESV

Our small church on the edge of the desert held a prayer meeting on Wednesday nights, and I coordinated the pre-school room. But when our daughter felt sick one Wednesday, I arranged for someone else to supervise—until the Lord provided a different plan.

After dinner that evening, while my husband, Jim, prepared to go to church alone, I went outside to tend the garden. As I knelt down with my spade, I heard the Lord speak in silent yet crystal-clear words:  Go to church tonight. I want you to tell someone about Me.

Amazed at hearing this message, I went to tell Jim what had happened. He agreed to stay home with our daughter while I went to church.

After checking on the children’s class, I took a seat in the back of the sanctuary, where I could see those arriving. But halfway through the service, I’d seen no one that I felt led to speak to.

I slipped out of the service to check on the kids’ room but found it empty; the teenage workers had taken them outside to the playground. As I crossed the courtyard to remind the group to come inside before dark, I asked the Lord about the message I’d heard.

That’s when I noticed some movement on another playground next to the church. I saw two children swinging and someone sitting on a bench. But I continued straight ahead, despite the clear direction that came to me immediately: That’s who I want you to talk to.

In my church pew again, I silently argued with God: I thought you would bring someone into the service, Lord. I don’t know what to say to someone who’s not here to seek you.

I knew well enough Jesus’ commission to his disciples, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation” (Mark 16:15 ESV). Yet, here I sat, not wanting to go 100 steps.

Years earlier, as a new believer reading through the Old Testament for the first time, I’d been disappointed in the prophet Jonah. I loved the miraculous part of the story, the man-gets-swallowed-by-fish part. But the prophet’s stubborn attitude bothered me; I couldn’t relate to his outright disobedience to God—until now, as I found myself in his sandals.

When God’s silence grew too loud for me to bear, I rose up with Jonah-like enthusiasm, went outside to the small playground, and sat down beside that young woman. Startled to see me, she asked if it was okay for them to use the playground.

“Sure,” I answered. But then, in the gap of silence, I realized she reminded me of my sixteen-year-old self. So, I plunged into an awkward testimony: “When I was your age, I prayed and read the Bible sometimes.”

The girl’s eyes grew round, but not with alarm; so, I continued.

“I knew that Jesus died on the cross, but I never took it personally—that he died for me. Some friends helped me to see that I needed to confess my sins and ask Jesus to be my Savior. This changed my life in an amazing way, and I think God wanted me to tell you this.”

I saw a single teardrop slide down the girl’s cheek, as she smiled and said thank you. Then, hearing the pre-school kids racing back to the church, I rose to follow them inside; and the final rays of light drained over the horizon.

Do not be anxious … for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Matthew 10:19 – 20 ESV

This article is brought to you by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA).

About the author: Patti Richter lives in north Georgia with her husband, Jim. She is a freelance journalist and long-time faith columnist at BlueRibbonNews.com with more than four hundred published articles.

Patti is the co-author of the award-winning Signs of His Presence—Experiencing God’s Comfort in Times of Suffering. It is the story of Luann Mire, whose godly husband was blindsided by an indictment due to a former employer’s tax fraud. The resulting prison sentence and restitution took the once joyful couple into a long season of suffering as they fought judicial tyranny. Helpless to change her situation, Luann endured a painful examination of her life and found God faithful to His promises.

Join the conversation: Has God shown you something to do in a very clear way? How did you respond?

Blue Plate Special Delivery

by Patti Richter

Give me a sign of your goodness, . . . for you, O Lord, have helped me and comforted me. Psalm 86:17 NIV

Why didn’t I begin sooner?

With an out-of-town move approaching, I needed to work fast. I jettisoned extra household possessions like the old green pressure cooker, and the s’mores maker—used exactly once.

Living in the same house for ten years caused a natural build-up. But at least the sorting tasks kept me from thinking about the harder aspect of moving: giving up friends.

I conquered the kitchen and den in good time and loaded give-away items into boxes and bags. But my progress stalled when I reached the dining room.

From the china cabinet, I took out an old Blue Willow plate I’d never used but always cherished—a wedding gift from an elderly widow. The vintage plate had been used at a downtown diner our late friend operated after World War II.  I’d never wanted to let go of it, even though we never had blue décor. But it was time to pass it on.

That’s when I said a brief prayer—aloud. “Lord, I’d really like to give this to someone who would appreciate it.” I didn’t believe God wanted to micro-manage my life, but this move had me feeling as fragile as the china. I needed the Lord’s help every step of the way. I laid the plate on the dining table to think about later.

At church the following Sunday, I stood at the children’s check-in counter before teaching my class. A girl in bouncy curls and a fancy dress stopped to scan her ID. As our coordinator, Terri, walked by, she told the girl, “I love your dress! It’s my very favorite shade of blue.”

Delft blue, I noticed—the color of Blue Willow. This made me recall a lunch meeting at Terri’s house years back. My memory suggested a blue kitchen, and maybe . . .  

At home later, I wrapped the old plate in tissue paper and put it in a gift bag. But I wondered if Terri would consider the plate a strange gift.

The next Sunday, after teaching my children’s class for the last time, I went to find Terri. When she descended the nearby stairway, I waved to get her attention.

“I need to say goodbye, Terri.”

“I’m so glad you’re still here. We’ll miss you!” She sat down beside me.

 “I’ll miss everyone, too, but I have something for you.”

Terri looked surprised when I lifted the bag, and then startled as she pulled away the tissue paper. Tears slid down her face as she struggled to speak.

“Did you know I collect Blue Willow?”

With relief, I explained: “I heard what you said to the girl in the blue dress and remembered your kitchen; but I wasn’t sure.” Then I told her about the plate and my prayer.

“You don’t understand how this makes me feel,” she said. “I’ve been so overwhelmed lately and feeling like no one ever thinks of doing anything for me. I asked the Lord to encourage me.”

God is not too distant or too busy to answer our smallest plea. First Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (NIV). Terri and I had each sought the Lord in our weakness, and he showed us how much he cares.

Weeks later, as I sat in our new dining room unpacking a box, I gazed out the window at houses across the street and wondered about making new friends. Then, pulling a china plate from its packing paper, I smiled. Our move had gone so well. God had helped us—down to the very last plate.

This article brought to you by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA).

About the author: Patti Richter lives in north Georgia with her husband, Jim. She is a freelance journalist and long-time faith columnist at BlueRibbonNews.com with more than four hundred published articles.

Patti is the co-author of the award-winning Signs of His Presence—Experiencing God’s Comfort in Times of Suffering. It is the story of Luann Mire, whose godly husband was blindsided by an indictment due to a former employer’s tax fraud. The resulting prison sentence and restitution took the once joyful couple into a long season of suffering as they fought judicial tyranny. Helpless to change her situation, Luann endured a painful examination of her life and found God faithful to His promises.

Join the conversation: Do you have an encouragement story? Please share!

Snakes, Pumpkins, Porches, and Fig Trees

by Patti Richter

Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear. Isaiah 65:24 NIV

Porches want pumpkins in autumn, no matter the temperatures. In the South, without much color in the trees in early fall, we depend on pumpkins and chrysanthemums to announce the season.

I’m a fair-weather gardener, so it takes a fine October day to bring out the ounce of Martha Stewart in me. It was just that kind of balmy weather when I grabbed my old metal bucket and filled it with essentials: garden shears, watering pitcher, and fertilizer. But a strange notion stopped me short of the front door:  There’s a snake on the porch.

My well-worn garden clogs stood waiting for my feet to move.

I don’t like snakes, even the harmless, beneficial ones. But I hadn’t seen one for a long time, and I’d never seen one on my front porch, so why would I think there was a snake there now?

I pushed aside the gauzy window curtain next to the front door. All clear. Even so, I felt uneasy. I parked the bucket right there and resumed household chores instead.

Later, I peeked out the curtain again—nothing but pumpkins. As I reached for my bucket, the compelling thought returned: There’s a snake on the porch.

Perplexed, I went to sit down on the left end of the den sofa—my regular place of prayer. “Lord, this is so strange,” I said. “Are you warning me about a snake?”

An unexpected “answer” came as I suddenly recalled my last snake sighting—many months before. I’d been standing on the back patio with our terrier, Rufus, when he practically flew down the steps and into some Nandina bushes. Then, a long snake darted out of the bushes and into the yard, with Rufus searching frantically along its path. As I watched—knees knocking—I realized that old “snake in the grass” saying was true. The serpent remained perfectly still and hidden before suddenly racing toward the fence and slithering beneath it to the neighbor’s yard.

For days after that encounter, I’d been afraid to cross the yard to tend my flower garden. Finally, I sat on a patio step and prayed: “Lord, I want to work in my garden. Could you please keep me from coming upon a snake?”

Now, sitting on the sofa, I realized I’d forgotten all about that snake prayer. I lingered there a while, amazed at a God who not only hears us but answers our smallest prayers—even the ones we forget about!

The apostle John shared the story of Nathanael, a would-be disciple of Jesus, who wondered how Jesus knew all about him. “’How do you know me?’ Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.’ Nathanael declared, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel’” (John 1:48, 49 NIV).

Like Nathanael, we may underestimate the Lord’s knowledge of our every move and our every word. We may be surprised or shocked to realize he answers our prayers—especially those little ones that seem too small for him to care about.

With such a loving God, why should we fear snakes or anything else?   

On that October day, I finally went to retrieve my bucket, peered through the curtain again, and opened the front door cautiously—only a few inches. But I was just in time to see a rather cute little snake glide out from behind a pumpkin and harmlessly away.

This article brought to you by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA).

About the author: Patti Richter lives in north Georgia with her husband, Jim. She is a freelance journalist and long-time faith columnist at BlueRibbonNews.com with more than four hundred published articles.

Patti is the co-author of the award-winning Signs of His Presence—Experiencing God’s Comfort in Times of Suffering. It is the story of Luann Mire, whose godly husband was blindsided by an indictment due to a former employer’s tax fraud. The resulting prison sentence and restitution took the once joyful couple into a long season of suffering as they fought judicial tyranny. Helpless to change her situation, Luann endured a painful examination of her life and found God faithful to His promises.

Join the conversation: With what fears do you struggle?

Keeping in Step with God’s Purposes

by Patti Richter

Our instructor could leap and spin. And the rest of us would try to keep up with her.

I was somewhat petrified as I signed up for an new exercise class. Not scared stiff—just stiff. A young woman named Raina taught cardio-dance-exercise at a local gym, and her routines incorporated styles from Jazz to Jackson (Michael, that is).

My faithful attendance in Raina’s class for more than a decade made me stronger and more flexible. But then I moved out-of-town, and she was no longer in front of me. I hoped to find someone else who would encourage me to keep moving since I was at risk of gradually becoming stiff again.

But there’s another kind of stiffness to be on guard against. We can see a troubling pattern recorded in the history of several kings of Judah who were pleasing to God only while they had a certain temple priest to instruct them. However, when the priest died, each of these kings started to make unwise and sometimes evil choices. It appears they ruled without accountability, as if they believed themselves either too strong or too wise to fail.

Joash was one of those kings. He “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the years of Jehoiada the priest” (2 Chronicles 24:2 NIV). But after Joash began listening to those who were not God-fearing, he abandoned both the temple and the worship of God. The Lord sent someone to warn him of the consequences, but the king was too stiff-necked to repent. After a long, 40-year reign, Joash was murdered by his own officials, and he was not even buried in the tombs of the kings (24:17-25).

Spiritual stiffness may not set in overnight, but it can set in.

Regarding the waywardness of God’s people, the apostle Paul explained, “These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us…. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (1 Corinthians 10:11-12 NIV).

Speaking of the body of Christ, Paul said, “each one of you is a part of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27 NIV), and God supplies members with a variety of gifts and abilities (v. 28).  Concerning those who lead, Paul wrote, “An overseer is entrusted with God’s work…. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it” (Titus 1:7, 9 NIV).

While we may view church involvement as a dutiful habit, like going to the gym, maybe this isn’t a bad thing. A healthy “body” requires active members who show up. And we benefit from the example of those leaders who, like Paul, show us how to fight the good fight, finish the race, and keep the faith (2 Timothy 4:7).

Few of us can stay spiritually fit on our own. The apostle John wrote, “if we walk in the light, as [God] is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin” (1 John 1:7 NIV).

Christian fellowship necessitates commitment to both serving and submitting ourselves to others. And our participation simultaneously strengthens our soul.

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV

This article brought to you by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA).

About the author: Patti Richter lives in north Georgia with her husband, Jim. She is a freelance journalist and long-time faith columnist at BlueRibbonNews.com with more than four hundred published articles.

Patti is the co-author of the award-winning Signs of His Presence—Experiencing God’s Comfort in Times of Suffering. It is the story of Luann Mire, whose godly husband was blindsided by an indictment due to a former employer’s tax fraud. The resulting prison sentence and restitution took the once joyful couple into a long season of suffering as they fought judicial tyranny. Helpless to change her situation, Luann endured a painful examination of her life and found God faithful to His promises.

Join the conversation: How have you been strengthened by your involvement with other Christians?