~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NOTES  FROM  THE  VALLEY - July 21, 2000

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of
death, I will fear no evil for you are with me."  Psalm 23.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


TOPIC:  DEALING  WITH  TROUBLES

Troubles are never welcomed.  But they come none the less.  What can you
expect in a world where sin is considered the "reality" and godliness the
"exception."  The 23rd Psalm described life in this world the best.  We
travel through a valley filled with sin and overshadowed by the wages of
that sin - death.  Not exactly a vacation spot for Christians.  But
fortunately we are just passing through and don't have to call this place
our home.  And we don't have to face our journey alone.  God has prepared
the way.  The Holy Spirit illuminates the path.  And Christ is our
companion.   A companion who knows the road, having traveled every troubled
inch of it's length before.  A companion who is prepared to travel every
troubled inch of that road again - to be with us.

It seems like everyone we care about is going through some major trauma
right now in one form or another, including us.  Some of you in our prayer
chain have been praying for them:  Cathy's Mom in her battle against cancer;
our four children who are too far away for us to lend them anything but
moral support as they deal with their share of problems; our dear friend,
Bill Woodfill, who's been in misery with severe back problems for over a
year; another dear friend, Susan Wilson, is recovering from her third
surgery in a matter of a few weeks; and Little Nathan, who is doing better,
but still is fed through a tube in his stomach and has an uncertain future
with his heart and blood problems.  The litany goes on and on.  Last year,
in the midst a similar flood of troubles, God led us to the following
message of hope in Hebrews, Chapter 12 (the Message translation):

"Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in.
Study how he did it.  Because he never lost sight of where he was headed -
that exhilarating finish in and with God - he could put up with anything
along the way: cross, shame, whatever.  And now he's there, in the place of
honor, right alongside God.  When you find yourselves flagging in your
faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility
he plowed through.  That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!"

One thing there is plenty of in this world is trouble.  There's also plenty
of advise on how to deal with it.  But the best and simplest advise of all
comes straight from the words of our Heavenly Father,  "Keep your eyes on
Jesus."  No matter where you are or what the troubles confronting you, He's
been there before you.  He knows the way.  He'll show it to you.  Don't go
it alone.  Each day with Him is one day closer to home.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this
world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world."
John 16:33

We remain your brother and sister in Christ,
sheltered under His wing, and overwhelmed by His love.

Steve & Cathy Hall


A  MATTER  OF  FOCUS

[My friend Marge had an experience] aboard a plane bound for Cleveland,
waiting for takeoff.  As she settled into her seat, Marge noticed a strange
phenomenon.  On one side of the airplane a sunset suffused the entire sky
with glorious color.  But out of the window next to her seat, all Marge
could see was a dark and threatening sky, with no sign of the sunset.

As the plane's engines began to roar, a gentle Voice spoke within her.  "You
have noticed the windows," He murmured beneath the roar and thrust of the
takeoff.  "Your life, too, will contain some happy, beautiful times, but
also some dark shadows.  Here's a lesson I want to teach you to save you
much heartache and allow you to "abide in Me" with continual peace and joy.
You see, it doesn't matter which window you look through; this plane is
still going to Cleveland.  So it is in your life.  You have a choice.  You
can dwell on the gloomy picture.  Or you can focus on the bright things and
leave the dark, ominous situations to Me.  I alone can handle them anyway.
And the final destination is not influenced by what you see or feel along
the way.  Learn this, act on it and you will be released, able to experience
the "peace that passes understanding."

Catherine Marshall in "Touching the Heart of God"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Looking back, [my wife] Jan and I have learned that the wilderness is part
of the landscape of faith, and every bit as essential as the mountaintop.
On the mountaintop we are overwhelmed by God's presence.  In the wilderness
we are overwhelmed by his absence.  Both places should bring us to our
knees; the one, in utter awe; the other, in utter dependence."

Dave Dravecky in "When You Can't Come Back"



THE  ROAD  OF  LIFE
(Received from FATHERSTABLE - Author Unknown)

At first, I saw God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I
did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die.  He
was out there sort of like a president. I recognized His picture when I saw
it, but I really didn't know Him.  But later on when I met Christ, it seemed
as though life were rather like a bike ride, but it was a tandem bike and I
noticed that Christ was in the back helping me pedal.  I don't know just
when it was that He suggested we change places, but
life has not been the same since.

When I had control, I knew the way.  It was rather boring, but predictable .
. . It was the shortest distance between two points.  But when He took the
lead, He knew delightful long cuts, up mountains, and through rocky places
at breakneck speeds, it was all I could do to hang on!  Even though it
looked like madness, He said, "Pedal!"  I worried and was anxious and asked,
"Where are you taking me?" He laughed and didn't answer, and I started to
trust.  I forgot my boring life and entered into the adventure.  And when
I'd say, "I'm scared, " He'd lean back and touch my hand.

He took me to people with gifts that I needed, gifts of healing, acceptance
and joy. They gave me gifts to take on my journey, my Lord's and mine.  And
we were off again. He said, "Give the gifts away; they're extra baggage, too
much weight."  So I did, to the people we met, and I found that in giving I
received, and still our burden was light.

I did not trust Him, at first, in control of my life. I thought He'd wreck
it; but He knows bike secrets, knows how to make it bend to take sharp
corners, knows how to jump to clear high rocks, knows how to fly to shorten
scary passages.  And I am learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest
places, and I'm beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face
with my delightful constant companion, Jesus Christ.

And when I'm sure that I just can't do any more, He just smiles and says . .
. "Pedal."



DON'T  GIVE  UP!
(Morris Chalfant from the Advocate)

There is a painting that shows the devil at a chessboard with a young man.
The devil has just made his move, and the young man's queen is checkmated.
On his face is written defeat and despair.

One day, the great chess genius, Paul Morphy, stood looking at that
painting.  He studied it carefully the position of the board.  Suddenly his
face lit up and he shouted to the young man in the painting, "you still have
a move - don't give up, you still have a move!"

We come to those moments when it seem we are checkmated.  We see no winning
move we can make.  Then the great Master of all life comes closer to us.  He
remembers one day when He prayed to be spared from the cross: "Let this cup
pass from me," he pleaded.  The cross seemed the end of His world.  But
there was yet another move.  Beyond the cross was an empty tomb - and
victory.  That same Christ can see beyond your cross to some triumph.
"Don't give up, you still have one move," He says.



A  PERFECT  MISTAKE
(Cheryl Walterman Stewart from Live)

Mothers father worked as a carpenter.  On this particular day, he was
building some crates for the clothes his church was sending to some
orphanage in China.  On his way home, he reached into his shirt pocket to
find his glasses, but they were gone.  When he mentally replayed his earlier
actions, he realized what happened; the glasses had slipped out of his
pocket unnoticed and fallen into one of the crates, which he had nailed
shut.  His brand new glasses were heading for China!

The Great Depression was at it's height and Grandpa had six children.  He
had spent $20 for those glasses that very morning.  He was upset by the
thought of having to buy another pair.  "It's not fair," he told God as he
drove home in frustration.  "I've been very faithful in giving of my time
and money to your work, and now this."

Several months later, the director of the orphanage was on furlough in the
United States.  He wanted to visit all the churches that supported him in
China, so he came to speak one Sunday at my grandfather's small church in
Chicago.  The missionary began by thanking the people for their faithfulness
in supporting the orphanage.  "But most of all," he said, "I must thank you
for the glasses you sent last year.  You see, the Communists had just swept
through the orphanage, destroying everything, including my glasses.  I was
desperate.  Even if I had the money, there was simply no way of replacing
those glasses.  Along with not being able to see well, I experienced
headaches every day, so my coworkers and I were much in prayer about this.
Then your crates arrived.  When my staff removed the covers, they found a
pair of glasses lying on top.

The missionary paused long enough to let his words sink in.  Then, still
gripped with the wonder of it all, he continued: "Folks, when I tried on the
glasses, it was as though they had been custom-made just for me!  I want to
thank you for being a part of that."

The people listened, happy for the miraculous glasses.  But the missionary
surely must have confused their church with another, they thought.  There
were no glasses on their list of items to be sent overseas.

But sitting quietly in the back, with tears streaming down his face, an
ordinary carpenter realized the Master Carpenter had used him in an
extraordinary way.



OUR  THINKING  VS  GOD'S  WORDS
(Contributed by Linda Layton)

We think, "It's impossible."  God says, "All things are possible."
(Luke 18:27)

We think, "I'm too tired."  God says, "I will give you rest."
(Matthew 11:28-30)

We think, "Nobody really loves me."  God says, "I love you."
(John 3:16 &  John 13:34)

We think, "I can't go on."  God says, "My grace is sufficient."
(II Corinthians 12:9)

We think, "I can't figure things out."  God says, "I will direct your
steps."
(Proverbs 3:5-6)

We think, "I can't do it."  God says, "You can do all things."
(Philippians 4:13)

We think, "I'm not able."  God says, "I am able."
(II Corinthians 9:8)

We think, "It's not worth it."  God says, "It will be worth it."
(Romans 8:28)

We think, "I can't forgive myself."  God says, "I forgive you."
(I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

We think, "I can't manage."  God says, "I will supply all your needs."
(Philippians 4:19)

We think, "I'm afraid."  God says, "I have not given you a spirit of fear."
(II Timothy 1:7)

We think, "I'm so worried and frustrated."  God says, "Cast all your cares
on Me."
(I Peter 5:7)

We think, "I'm not smart enough."  God says, "I give you wisdom."
(I Corinthians 1:30)

We think, "I feel all alone."  God says, "I will never leave you or forsake
you."
(Hebrews 13:5)



CRACKED  POTS
(Contributed by Chaplain 777- Author Unknown)

A water bearer in India had two large pots.  They hung on each end of a pole
which he carried across his neck.  One of the pots had a crack in it, and
while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water
at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house, the
cracked pot arrived only half full.  For a full two years this went on
daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in
his master's house.

Of course, the perfect pot was proud of it's accomplishments, perfect to the
end for which it was made.  But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of it's own
imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what
it had been made to do.  After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter
failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream.  "I am ashamed
of myself and I want to apologize to you."

"Why?" asked the bearer.  "What are you ashamed of?"

"I have been able for these past two years to deliver only half my load
because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to
your master's house.  Because of my flaws, you have to do all this work and
you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion
he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the
beautiful flowers along the path."

Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun
warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path and this cheered
it some.  But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had
leaked out half it's load and so again it apologized to the bearer for it's
failure.

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on
your side of the path, but not on the other pots side?  That's because I
have always known about your flaw and I took advantage of it.  I planted
flower seeds on your side of the path and every day while we walk back from
the stream, you've watered them.  For two years I have been able to pick
these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table.  Without you being
just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."

Each of us has our own unique flaws.  We're all cracked pots.  But if we
will allow it, the Lord will use our flaws to grace His Father's table.  In
God's great economy, nothing goes to waste.  So as we seek ways to minister
together, and as God calls you to the tasks He has appointed for you, don't
be afraid of your flaws.  Acknowledge them and allow Him to take advantage
of them, and you too can be the cause of beauty in His pathway.  Go out
boldly, knowing that in your weakness we find His strength.

________________________________________________

Copyright © 1998-2000 by Stephen J. Hall  -   Weekly letters of
encouragement to Christians written by Stephen J. Hall unless otherwise
indicated.  Notes from the Valley and Humor from the Valley are never
intended to offend anyone.  They're meant only to brighten your day and
encourage you along the way.  Most of "notes" and "humor" are a collection
of items provided to me by subscribers and friends.  Credit is given to both
the contributor and to the true author, where known.  If you are blessed by
them, please feel free to make copies and pass them along to others.    If
you have something you'd like to contribute to a future edition or would
like to ask us a question or make a comment, please contact us at:

sossteve@...
________________________________________________

Your love, God, is my song, and I'll sing it!  I'm forever telling everyone
how faithful you are.  I'll never quit telling the story of your love - how
you built the cosmos and guaranteed everything in it.  Your love has always
been our lives foundation, your fidelity has been the roof over our world.
(Psalm 89:1-3 The Message)