In this space, I am sharing devotions written by our dear Barbara Meade.
Barbara grew up a Quaker and is a regular attendee at Spiceland Friends Church. Her faith and Quaker roots go deep as her uncle was a Quaker pastor, evangelist, and artist. Barb's writings about her many life experiences reveal her faith in Christ and highlight the memories of a great family, her years in the banking industry, and her time as a local small business owner. Barb's desire is to serve those around her through her encouraging devotionals and writings from her life. Barb has recognized that our relationship with Christ grows throughout our lives, both in good times and through life's challenges.
November 1, 2022
Read Corinthians 13:12
All I know now is partial & incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God knows me completely.
As an elderly lady counting her blessings, I recognize God's guidance doesn't show itself until the situation has passed. Like the footprints on the sand when we question the one set & realize later it was then he was caring us. Looking back we can see each step we took was God's direction. Those steps often change our lives. It is then we wonder "why." There is a reason.
God may have brought you back from death, and spared you from grave injury. You may have saved someone's life; this intervention could be for what is yet to come for that person saved.
All of God's happenings have a reason. My prayer is that I fulfill his wishes and that I will be used for his purpose. As in Corinthians, someday we will see all things & understand completely. My faith has been my strength & my blessings have been many.
God Bless,
Barbara Meade (Indiana, USA)
November 8, 2022
"That inner voice"
We all have heard it. We can associate it with a couple of things. Our conscience talking to us. Intuition, a feeling or voice warning us of danger, someone needs us. It can be many things. The one way to respond, ask the Lord and listen for his answer, and it will come. God knows how to reach you, he knows your heart.John 10:27.
Jesus says, "My sheep hear my voice, & I know them & they follow me". Every single believer knows the voice of God.
November 14, 2022
“Coincidence is it?”
How many times in life has the Lord stepped in and changed your direction for you only to discover “that was a God thing”? Well too many in my life to count.
A couple of examples, April 3rd, 1974, the day Donna stayed home from school only to save her Dad’s life.
On July 31st, 2019, That month I was diagnosed with stage 3 uterine & ovarian cancer. I was at St. Vincent Indy for surgery that day. When coming out of surgery I suffered a heart attack. The following morning I was taken to the heart cath lab for catheterization. I remember hearing the cardiologist say to his assistant, is a 95% blockage here, another 95% here & a 99% here. We’ll stent the two 95% ones & balloon the 99% one. That was the last thing I remember. My heart stopped, was a full code blue, I had just died. The girls heard the alarm come out over the intercom “code blue heart cath lab.” Rhonda said she knew it was Mom. After 6 min. of working on me & nothing, he said he was ready to call the time of death, something in him said try again. Well, we know who told him to try again. He told me 3 days later I had to hit you so hard. They called me their miracle girl. He told me if I had been anywhere else even in that hospital there would not have been time to save me.
Coincidence? I don’t think so. That miracle belongs to the Lord.
Matthew 19:26 With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. Albert Einstein said coincidence is god’s way of remaining anonymous.
Amen
Eric is our associate pastor, working with outreach and youth ministry as well as adult discipleship and growth. Eric retired from a 28-year career in public education as a high school band director in 2019 and is now living his lifelong dream as a pastor. Eric and his wife, Diana, continue to live in Henry County where they have been lifetime residents. They "raised" three children and are now making their best attempt at "raising" themselves.