Steve Sikes Blog  

Over a century ago, Mr. and Mrs. Martin traveled to Elmira, New York to visit some good friends who had experienced their share of life’s difficulties. Mr. Doolittle was confined to a wheelchair and his wife had been bedridden for almost twenty years.

During their visit, Mr. Martin commented on the Doolittle’s inspiring attitude of bright hopefulness and asked for their secret. Mrs. Doolittle replied, “His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.” This simple statement of faith by Mrs. Doolittle inspired Mrs. Civilla Martin to write the following poem, put to music by Charles Gabriel:

1. Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come, why should my heart be lonely, and long for heav’n and home, when Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is He; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

2. “Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear, and resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears; though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

3. Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise, when songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies, I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Refrain: I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free, for His eye is on the spar-row, and I know He watches me.

EL ROI, THE GOD WHO SEES ME, YOU ARE GOOD! (Genesis 16:13) Mr. Steve

“Live in peace with one another.  We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.”  1 Thessalonians 5:13-14

Patience is not only a command; it can be a lifesaver!  While I was preparing for our upcoming Family Camp, May 28-31, I came across an old song I used to teach to children in Indiana, Nebraska and Texas – HAVE PATIENCE.  Here’s how the song played out last Tuesday:

I was traveling in the rain back toward Pitman, after visiting in a Woodbury nursing home, when I came to the traffic light at Lamb’s Road.  I remember my patience being stretched as I waited for car after car to pass – all spaced at perfect intervals - blocking me from turning left.

Less than one minute later, I was praying a prayer of thankfulness for my temporary delay!  As I started to round the curve by the lake, I watched helplessly as a car spun out of control in the other lane and skidded over into my path doing a 180 degree turn right in front of my truck.  No one was hit, no one was hurt!  Thank You, God, for my wait at Lamb’s Road Crossing!

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.  The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”  Psalm 46:10-11

Waiting on God is a discipline; waiting on others is a virtue; waiting on traffic may in fact be a lifesaver! 

Children’s Song: “There was a snail called Herbert, he was so very slow.  He caused a lot of traffic jams wherever he would go…Have patience!  Have patience!  Don’t be in such a hurry…”

GOD IS PATIENT!  GOD IS GOOD!  Mr. Steve

Have you ever prayed to be like a son of Issachar?  I have.

Issachar was one of the twelve sons of Jacob; his mother’s name was Leah.  In one of our Old Testament readings this week, Issachar’s sons are described in 1 Chronicles 12:32 –  “Of the sons of Issachar, men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their kinsmen were at their command.”

Wow!  Wouldn’t you like to be described as someone who understood the times and then knew what should be done?  I’ve prayed this prayer more than a few times, “Lord, help me to understand what is going on around me and give me the wisdom to do what You would have me do.”

UNDERSTANDING THE TIMES: As a church family we are embarking on a time of great transition!  We will be leaving our present building and “tabernacling” for the next six to eight months (who knows where) until our new building is completed.  Times of transition and uncertainty require intentional decisions of connectivity and oneness. 

KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT TO DO: Plans have already been made to extend our present Spring Quarter classes for most of the month of June.  We will begin combining our adult classes into one auditorium class on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings, beginning June 23 and June 27, respectively.  Our teens will be meeting in the fellowship hall beginning June 23, and our elementary classes will also undergo some classroom modifications.  No classes will be held in Wisteria house after Sunday, June 20.

Please continue to pray for our oneness and humility of spirit during this very important transition time.  I am excited about God’s plans to unify us, mold us, mature us, and develop us even more into His army BEFORE we reach 500 N. Pitman Road!  Be prepared for the testing and the blessings!!

GOD IS GOOD!  Mr. Steve

Three things I remember my mother telling me over and over again: Steve, I love you, I’m proud of you, and you can be anything you want to be.  Even when I gave my mother a hard time, she didn’t change any of THE BIG THREE: I love you; I’m proud of you; and you can be anything you want to be.

I never doubted THE BIG THREE – even when Mom spanked me.  I remember the last time she selected one of Dad’s belts, folded it in half and told me to bend over.  I did and she commenced to carry out her mission.  After she was finished, I remember her looking at me and saying, “My spankings aren’t affecting you anymore.  I’m just going to have to let your father spank you.”

Oh, I wished that I had cried!  I wished that I had acted like her spankings were working!  Alas, it was too late.  Why did I have to act so tough?  Mom never spanked me after that.  She would just quietly say, “We’ll just have to wait till your dad gets home.  But I want you to know, son, I love you, I’m proud of you and you can be anything you want to be.”

Oh, the power of godly discipline embedded in parental love!  Sound familiar? 
“My dear child, don’t shrug off God’s discipline, but don’t be crushed by it either.  It’s the child He loves that He disciplines; the child He embraces, He also corrects…. At the time, discipline isn’t much fun… Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it’s the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God.”  Hebrews 12:7, 11 (THE MESSAGE)

God loves; God disciplines; God matures His children.  Thanks, Mom, for helping me see God through you and Dad!  GIGATTAATTGIG!  Mr. Steve

My story begins (over 41 years ago) on a Sunday morning as our Sikes’ family and the children’s home chorus traveled 90 miles to Lawton, Oklahoma for a special morning service.  The chorus was just ahead of me in the home bus, while I skillfully followed behind, driving our family’s station wagon. 
It began to rain, but that was no problem.  I quickly turned on the wipers’ and felt a little smug about my 16 year-old abilities to handle any situation.  We then came to a hilly stretch of two-lane road, but that was no problem either – I was born to drive.  The bus passed a slower vehicle and after checking ahead for clearance, I began to follow suit.  However, while in the passing lane, I noticed two things instantaneously: 1) I was passing in a “NO PASSING ZONE” and 2) the vehicle I was passing was a police car!

The rest of the story is quite humbling: I received a ticket and we were all late for worship.  Why?  We had to wait a long time for the tow truck to show up.  What tow truck?  The one that had to pull us out of the bottom of the ravine because I had temporarily forgotten about the side of the road being so waterlogged!  My ego and lack of experience contributed to my overlooking every warning signal in the book! 

Last week I came across an article by Lindsey Curtis, M.D., entitled, “Seven Warning Signals of a Troubled Marriage.” 
1. When common courtesies are abandoned.
2. When couples begin to think in terms of “I” instead of “We”.
3. When they stop complimenting each other.
4. When stubborn silence replaces common-sense communication.
5. When they stop praying together.
6. When they fail to sense and meet the needs of each other.
7. When they fail to express love.

HOW’S YOUR DRIVING? 

God is good.  Mr. Steve