“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV)

I’m writing this devotion on Tuesday, and I feel one thousand times better than I did yesterday. That’s because most preachers feel terrible on Monday. On Mondays I typically find myself fighting fatigue and a dark mood. Yesterday I told people the same thing that I always say on Monday: “I’ll feel better tomorrow, when Tuesday gets here, just by virtue of the fact that it won’t be Monday.”

I’ve asked a lot of pastors for their opinions, and the consensus is pretty much unanimous. Monday is a hard day for preachers. My brother-in-law, Dr. Ron M. Buck, told me when I entered the ministry that he thought a minister should take a different day besides Monday for his day off, because Monday is pretty much shot anyway. I asked Bro. C. E. Wall, one of my mentors who’s nearing the age of 80, what he thought of the situation. He told me that for many years he preached twice each Sunday and then went to work at the Highway Department bright and early Monday morning. He summed it up simply: “Oh, John, Mondays were rough. Tuesdays were always better, but Mondays were rough.”

I’m not sure why Mondays are so hard for preachers, but I have some theories. Most preachers work really hard on Sundays and are really happy on the Lord’s Day. As so often is the case, an emotional high is followed by an emotional low. Sometimes we get so wound up that it’s hard to get to sleep Sunday night. I like my friend Bro. Archie Taflinger’s idea the best. He believes that sometimes we probably don’t take care of ourselves the way we should on the other six days of the week. He says that when we preach on Sundays, the Holy Spirit works in us and through us. God is so much stronger than we are that our frail bodies are overworked by His presence! I think there’s more than a grain of truth in his explanation.

Everybody has a hard day now and again, and I think that’s especially true for mothers. God has placed mothers in a ministry that never ends and that never has a day off. Yet, one thing I have learned is absolutely true. When you’re tired and blue, it’s important not to focus on the way that you FEEL but on what you KNOW to be true. We walk by faith and not by sight. We are saved by our faith, not by our feelings. The promises that God told us in the light are still true in our darkness. And Jesus’ last promise to His children before He ascended into Heaven is this: “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

So, dear mother, take heart. The light of Jesus is always with you, even on the cloudiest Monday. And Tuesday always comes again, right in God’s perfect timing.

Dr. John L. Cash is the “Country Preacher Dad” * (Sing that to the tune of “Secret Agent Man.” ) He was raised in Stuttgart, Arkansas, and is beginning his third decade of being a country preacher in the piney woods five miles south of the little town of Hickory, Mississippi. He and his lovely wife, Susan, and his sons, Spencer (age 17) and Seth (age 14) live in the parsonage next door to the Antioch Christian Church (where Tuesday is always a better day.) You should drop him a line at extramailbox@juno.com.

“Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!” Psalm 107:8 (NKJV)

By Bro. John L. Cash, “Country Preacher Dad”

Have you noticed that the times devoted to God are getting shorter and shorter? Up until the 1960’s, country churches had two revivals a year, and there were two services each day, morning and evening. With more people going to the workplace, this gradually changed to one 14-day revival each year, with meetings only at night. When I was a child, revivals lasted 7-days, and by the time I was a grown man, most churches were having 3-day revivals.

Not too long ago I got a phone call from a church that wanted me to come and preach a “One-Day Revival.” I would speak for Sunday morning worship, we would have fellowship dinner, and then go home. We never used to call a situation like that a “One-Day Revival.” In the old days, that was called “Having a Guest Speaker”!

Is the same thing kind of abbreviation happening to Thanksgiving? When the Pilgrims celebrated Thanksgiving in 1621 at Plymouth colony, their celebration lasted three whole days. George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Franklin D. Roosevelt issued declarations that said Americans should celebrate one whole day of Thanksgiving in gratitude to God. Sometimes our thanksgiving is not a day, but only one prayer offered before the evening meal. Sadder yet, some have forgotten “Thanks-giving” altogether, choosing instead to call the holiday “Turkey Day”.

The more I read the Scriptures, the more I see that even though we are often in a hurry with our thanksgiving to God, our Lord is never in a hurry with His children. I think you will appreciate God’s unhurried ways of teaching His people if you take a minute today to look up Psalm 107. The lesson verse for today is repeated four times word-for-word in this chapter! “Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!”

So, let’s set aside a little time to give thanks to God for all He has done for us. We have so much to be thankful for, and He deserves our thanks and praise. And I have found that thanksgiving to God has an unexpected fringe benefit: Gratitude makes us happy. Look around this week and I think you’ll be surprised to see that the most thankful people are the happiest people.

Oh, that men (and mamas) would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness! Have a wonderful (and thankful) Thanksgiving!

Dr. John L. Cash is the “Country Preacher Dad” * (Sing that to the tune of “Secret Agent Man.” ) He was raised in Stuttgart, Arkansas, and is beginning his third decade of being a country preacher in the piney woods five miles south of the little town of Hickory, Mississippi. He and his lovely wife, Susan, and his sons, Spencer (age 17) and Seth (age 14) live in the parsonage next door to the Antioch Christian Church (where the Pin Oak trees are showing their colors in honor of the season). You should drop him a line at extramailbox@juno.com.

By guest writer and local dad Scott McClymonds, owner of Busy Bees Christian Preschool

Hello again Moms of Northwest Arkansas. A few months ago, I wrote here about the Old Testament book of Nehemiah.

In the third chapter of Nehemiah, the work of rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem is started with great enthusiasm. As you read it you will find a long list of names, mostly unpronounceable. If we take a deeper look at it we find many families pulling together to build various sections of the wall. Nehemiah takes great pains to tell us what sections of the wall each family built, who put up gates, what their occupations were, and even a mention of those did not participate in the work.

What does wall building with the impossible names have to do with modern day Christianity? Much more than meets the eye. In fact, I believe it is one of the most significant and encouraging passages in all of Scripture.

See, the wall building by the Jewish families represents the families of our modern day church doing the work of God’s Kingdom, one brick and gate at a time. Not all of us can be the grand visionaries like Nehemiah. We don’t necessarily have the connections, the drive, or the skills to lead. But does God care about that? No, He does not.

Think about how these hard working people who built this wall were honored by Him. Their names and service to God’s Kingdom were forever recorded in the Bible as an encouragement to the rest of us. This lets us know that God appreciates our work, and does not consider our efforts trivial even though we might not be in the limelight.

It is amazing that God’s Kingdom grows through the detailed, often painstaking work of ordinary people like you and I. Isn’t it comforting to know that we don’t have to be a Nehemiah, an Apostle Paul, or some famous figure in order to be appreciated by God? In fact, Jesus tells us in Matthew 25 that He says, “Well done good and faithful servant” to those who feed the hungry, visit the sick, and shelter strangers. Hardly glamorous work, but highly appreciated by God.

In Romans 12, I Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4 the Apostle Paul tells us that we all have certain spiritual gifts, meaning talents God has given us to benefit the church. In Ephesians 2:8-10 we are told that we are saved by grace through faith, and that we were created in Christ Jesus to do good works, just like the Jewish people did who built the wall around Jerusalem.

In conclusion, I encourage you to assess the talents and interests God has given you, and to find ways to lead your family in using those gifts to do Kingdom work. And don’t feel bad if your work seems obscure, behind the scenes, or unnoticed, because God Himself notices and appreciates your work. He created you in Christ Jesus to do the work He has given you, and He really does value it.

For those of you who were around in the late 70’s, early 80’s, the rock band Pink Floyd had a song with the lyrics, “all in all you’re just another brick in the wall”. Obviously they hadn’t read the third chapter of Nehemiah. What a shame to have such a negative attitude and felling of insignificance. As believers we know better. The Bible makes it plain as day. Don’t ever let yourself be fooled into thinking you are an insignificant part of God’s Kingdom. Keep doing the work, one brick at a time, one cup of cold water at a time, and let your kids see your example.

To see Scott’s previous devotion on Nehemiah, click HERE.

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Heb 13:5

By Bro. John L. Cash, “Country Preacher Dad”

When you look back on your life, it’s amazing which of your friends are friends-for-life. Some of the friends you had in high school that you were sure would be beside you forever you’ve never heard from again. And some people you barely knew back in the beginning of things are the ones who are still there after all the years pass by. My friend, Eric, falls into the latter category.

I first met Eric when he was about 14 years old. That was almost 20 years ago. He was in the Special Education class at the middle school where I was teaching. Eric was born with Down syndrome. For six years, Eric and I had the same conversation as he walked past my classroom to his classroom.

“G’morning, Eric.”

“Mornin’, Cash”

“How are you today, Eric?”

“Still fat. You fat, too, Cash.”

“Is everything going okay today, Eric?”

“Heck yeah. Bye, Cash”

“Well, have a good day today, Eric!”

“Heck yeah.”

When Eric turned 21, he had to “graduate” because he was too old to go to school. So now he usually accompanies his mother in whatever she’s doing. His mom is the lunchroom lady, and she also drives a school bus. Whatever Eric’s mom is doing around the school, Eric has to sit and wait for her to finish before he can go home. He does a lot of sitting and waiting.

A few weeks ago Eric and I were both at a high school football game. I was standing at the gate selling programs and Eric’s mom was selling tickets. Eric, as always, was sitting and patiently waiting. That particular Friday had been a long day for me. I had been busy since 5 a.m., and at 9 p.m. I was tired, cold, and very ready for the ball game to be over so I could go home and sit down.

I turned to Eric (who had been sitting in a lawn chair waiting for hours) and asked him if he was ready to go home. To my surprise, he answered, “No, Cash.” I said, “Eric, you mean you are sitting up here at nine o’clock at night and you’re not ready to go home yet? Why not?” His answer floored me. He simply said, “I’m happy.”

I have a feeling that most of you are more like me, and less like Eric. I mean, don’t you spend a lot of your life wishing you were somewhere else than the place you are? In reality, we are not SPENDING our lives, but WASTING our lives being discontented.

So, this week, let’s strive to be happy with what we have and where we are. Everything we have was given to us by our Heavenly Father, and whatever situation we are in, the Saviour is present with us! When we realize that fact, we can transform our circumstances by merely changing the thoughts of our minds and the attitudes of our hearts. As the old poem says, “Two look out from prison bars; one saw mud, the other stars.” May the Lord bless all of us with the peace and joy that comes from a spirit of contentment!

Heck yeah.

Dr. John L. Cash (pictured above with Eric) is the “Country Preacher Dad” (Sing that to the tune of “Secret Agent Man.” ) He was raised in Stuttgart, Arkansas, and is beginning his third decade of being a country preacher in the piney woods five miles south of the little town of Hickory, Mississippi. He and his lovely wife, Susan, and his sons, Spencer (age 17) and Seth (age 14) live in the parsonage next door to the Antioch Christian Church (where the Cash boys often discuss the details of the weekly pep-rally, which John and Eric always watch together). You should drop him a line at extramailbox@juno.com.