As I tucked my daughter, Lauren, into bed the other night, she said in dismay, "Daddy, we can't go bike-riding tomorrow!" Tears welled up in my eyes. It's true—little girls really can melt their Daddy's hearts!

It was Sunday evening, and we were on the tail end of 10 days of vacation at home. The next day, the kids would head back to school and I back to the office. In the waning hours of that evening, Lauren had realized that our little vacation routine of just her and I taking bike rides around our neighborhood would not occur tomorrow, since it would be dark by the time I got home from work.

Likewise I realized that I, too, would miss our bike rides—showing her how to negotiate turns and cross the busy street, eating a snack together on a picnic bench and talking about everything from Barbie dolls to pine cones. These times with Lauren had meant a lot to me.

As I kissed her goodnight, flicked on her night light and shut her bedroom door, it occurred to me that Lauren had modeled for me a lesson in discipleship. She just liked to spend time with her Daddy; no rush, no agenda and no real time limit. And Daddy liked spending time with her too (I even left my pager at home—a big step for this recovering workaholic).

Later that evening as I called it a day and dragged myself into bed, I talked to my heavenly Father, just as Lauren had done with me. I told Him I'd miss the extended time we had spent together during my vacation. Early mornings had been especially nice, for I often sat on the back porch while chatting with Him, reading His Word and watching His sunrise.

As I thought of how I'd miss my time with Lauren, I thought of how God must miss me when I choose, whether by intent or by default, not to spend time with Him. By nature I am a "Type A," driven personality. "Be still and know that I am God" is not an easy order for me to live out. However, I am glad that with this vacation, I chose the right thing—to spend some extended time with my Father.

Tony Vidmar, a 17-year staff member with Campus Crusade, lives with his wife, Donna, and three children in Orlando, FL.

"And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also" (2 Timothy 2:2). When Paul wrote these words to Timothy, persecution threatened the church. Paul wanted young believers to know how to pass the gospel on to others, so he outlined the process of "spiritual multiplication."

Though slow initially, in the long run it proves the most effective way to help fulfill the Great Commission.

If someone led 1,000 people to Christ a day, each year she'd reach 365,000 people. On the other hand, if she led one person to Christ and discipled that new believer for a year, by year's end there would be two Christians ready to lead others to Christ. If both repeated the process, in another year there would be four. By doubling annually, the disciple who helps leads one person to Christ per year will overtake the evangelist somewhere in the 19th year.

Why not ask God to help you begin building disciples in your world today?

As my friend Kristin and I swam with her 4-year-old son, Jesse, we each held a side of his "floaty" until we reached the raft in the middle of the lake. Just as we arrived, the wind blew away the ball we had brought with us. Kristin went after it.

When she finally caught it, near shore, she was worn out. Yet I still needed her to swim back to the raft to help get Jesse back to shore. Grandma, who had been watching all of this from the lakeshore, suggested that she use a life jacket. I yelled for her to bring me one as well, and was amazed at the ease of the return trip.

While driving home, I thought how the life jacket seemed much like the Holy Spirit. I could swim to the raft in my own strength, just like I can minister to others and explain the gospel in my own strength. But oh, how much easier it would be if I were to let the Holy Spirit work through me. I still had to swim, of course, even with the life jacket on, but I didn't have to work as hard.

Spiritually speaking, I often struggle between trying to swim on my own and resting on God's power. But as I learn to rely more on the Holy Spirit and less on my own strength, I will be able to follow the Lord wherever He may lead—even into the deep waters of life. n

Jantina Fritts, a first-grade teacher, lives in Londonderry, NH.

Shortly after I received Christ, a friend invited me to a celebration hosted by a man who headed one of the largest oil companies in the world at the time. Afterward the Holy Spirit impressed upon me that I needed to talk to him about his soul. I obediently called his office, and to my surprise, he agreed to meet with me.

When I arrived for my appointment, I passed by all the people who screen his visitors and walked into his office. He sat behind a big, mahogany desk in a high-back chair, not a sheet of paper on his desk. "What can I do for you?" he asked.

"Well, sir," I said, "I asked you for 15 minutes of your time. I don't want to impose. I have come to talk to you about your relationship with Jesus Christ."

Suddenly, he began to cry. As he sobbed he told me he'd become a Christian as an 8-year-old but had turned away from God. "I haven't been to church in 30 years," he said. "I have made such a mess out of my life. Some think I am at the top of the ladder of success, but I feel like a great failure. I have lost my family and everything dear to me."

Before I met with him, I had no way of knowing where this man stood spiritually or what he was going through, but God did. As I responded to the Holy Spirit's leading, God opened the door so that this man's life could be turned around.

Only God knows us perfectly and intimately. He understands our desires, motives and thoughts. Nothing about us escapes His notice. Consider a few things that demonstrate how well God knows you.

GOD KNOWS YOUR PAST

He is aware of everything every person has ever done—both good and bad. God told Jeremiah, "The heart is the most deceitful thing there is, and desperately wicked. No one can really know how bad it is! Only the Lord knows! He searches all hearts and examines deepest motives" (Jeremiah 17:9,10, Living Bible).

Our all-knowing God accurately judges not only the actions of people but also the intent of their hearts, no matter what excuses they give, no matter how long they seem to get away with their sins.

God loves you in spite of your past sin. He will forgive you when you sincerely confess it to Him. We never have to fear that He will discover something in our past that will change His mind about loving us.

GOD KNOWS ALL YOU FACE TODAY

When we face challenges or difficulties, we can take courage from the fact that God knows all things. As pastor/author David Jeremiah has told his congregation:

"Our God knows what we are going through. He knows every minute of our pain and suffering. He not only knows what we feel; He also knows why we feel what we feel. He knows how it happened, and how long it's going to last and how intense it is."

Whatever your circumstances, whatever your need, God understands and will go through it with you. He knows about your hurt, rejection and pressures. Your feelings and struggles are not unknown to Him, but He also knows the purposes for your trials. He wants to help you accomplish those purposes and to experience His joy through them. In Him there is hope for a way out and a better tomorrow.

GOD KNOWS YOUR FUTURE

Amy Carmichael served God in India for 55 years. As a child growing up in Ireland, she desperately wanted blue eyes. One night she prayed fervently for blue eyes, then confidently went to bed. When she awoke the next morning, she ran to the mirror. Her same brown eyes stared back at her in the glass.

Years later in India, Amy learned of the tragic plight of many girls from poor families who were sold to Hindu temples as prostitutes. She began rescuing these young girls by staining her white skin with coffee grounds and dressing in Indian garb so she could sneak into the temples unnoticed. One day as she dressed, she realized that her disguise worked because she had brown eyes. Blue eyes would have been a dead giveaway! At that moment, she realized that one of the reasons God said no to her prayer as a child was because He had a plan for her future that involved the lives of hundreds of other precious little ones.

God knew what He had planned for our lives before we were even conceived. He understands our capabilities, opportunities and life mission. We can trust Him with every moment of our future.

My mom answered the ringing telephone. "Mrs. Segalini," said the desperate voice, "your son is getting beat up right now by a football player at the bus stop."

I am certain my mother wanted to jump in her car and rescue her small ninth-grader. Only 5 feet, 2 inches tall herself, she knew that an adult on the scene could at least break things up. Especially a hysterical mother.

But my mom didn't panic and she didn't get in her car. She prayed.

Meanwhile, half the bus had emptied out on South Main and Farmington to watch the slaughter. Thirty minutes earlier, I'd been waiting in line to board the bus home. From behind, Dennis started calling me names, accenting each one with a shove. Twice I told him to stop. The third time, I spun around and clocked him in the eye. An art teacher separated us, but Dennis vowed to follow me home and usher me into the afterlife.

Ironically, Dennis had called me a "momma's boy," and had my mom driven up that day, I might have been permanently branded.

When we Christians face trials—more significant than a junior-high brawl—we sometimes believe God decided to stay home. We wonder why He didn't show up and fight for us.

But God sees past what we think we need and, in exchange, provides us with exactly what we really need. "For God has said, 'I will never, never fail you nor forsake you.' That is why we can say without any doubt or fear, 'The Lord is my Helper and I am not afraid of anything that mere man can do to me'" (Hebrews 13:5,6; Living Bible).

True to his word, Dennis tackled me as I got off the bus. No one could pry him off until a couple of older kids came and yanked him away.

Rumpled and sore, I started for home. When I walked through the door, my mom gave me a great big hug. "I prayed for you," she said.

And from that day forward, neither Dennis nor anyone else bothered me again.