Father Strength

Posted on June 21, 2011 by Jody Neufeld

LORD, our Lord, how magnificent is Your name throughout the earth!

You have covered the heavens with Your majesty.

Because of Your adversaries, You have established a stronghold
from the mouths of children and nursing infants, to silence the enemy and the avenger.

When I observe Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which You set in place, what is man that You remember him,
the son of man that You look after him?

You made him little less than God and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him lord over the works of Your hands; You put everything under his feet: all the sheep and oxen, as well as animals in the wild, birds of the sky, and fish of the sea passing through the currents of the seas.

LORD, our Lord, how magnificent is Your name throughout the earth!           Psalm 8 (HCSB)

My father had big hands. He was a little over six feet tall but his hands were big. Wide and long. I can remember him changing a tire and how his hands looked so powerful turning that lug wrench. My mother’s hand was small. When they held hands, he could have held four of her hands. Her original wedding ring was bent (it was a very thin gold) and she said it was from Dad holding her hand.

I think of my father’s hands when I think of God holding an ocean or a galaxy in His hands. I think of God’s power compared to my dad’s power changing that tire. It is amazing!

And yet this passage speaks of the power of praise and worship as the place where enemies are defeated (v. 2). It is not a big sword that makes the enemy run. It is praise and worship of our LORD. The enemy can not stick around when my heart is raised in worship of my God.

Genesis 1:28 (did you read it yesterday?) tells us that it was God’s plan that we would rule over all the other creatures. And unlike the angels, God made us in His image in that we have free choice. We can choose to obey or not. Angels have no choice. The HCSB version says that God made us a little lower than Himself. Some versions say a little lower than angels. My linguist husband tells me the Hebrew is more accurately saying “God”. Are you uncomfortable thinking that God made us higher than the angels? I am because I surely do not see myself as higher than angels. That’s where God sees me and only He has the right to make that judgment.

It is in God’s strength that I live where He puts me. It is only with His immense strength that I can survive each day. He is so powerful that He doesn’t have to exert His strength because He is. Paul said it best when he said that in his human, every-day weakness, God is strong (1 Corinthians 1:24, 2 Corinthians 12:10). He is Father who wants to hold His toddling child’s hand as I attempt to walk out my life. A stumble means that I let go of His hand. When I stumble, He is there to hold out His hand and bring me to my feet once again.

 

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Father Gives

Posted on June 20, 2011 by Jody Neufeld

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.                Genesis 1:1-3 (HCSB)

Yesterday was Father’s Day. I no longer have a father to call on this day and so I try to encourage young fathers I know. I have learned much about parents and parenting as I have studied what God says about His relationship with His children.

Every Sunday afternoon my husband and I read what is called the “Lectionary Scriptures” for the week. They are an Old Testament passage, a Psalm, a passage from a letter, and a gospel passage. I love noticing the thread that runs through from Genesis to Revelation. Written by so many and yet inspired by One. This Sunday the group of passages was noted to be for Trinity Sunday. Father is part of the Trinity and so this week will be about the Father beginning with each one of the lectionary passages.

Christmas 1982: A young dad named John stayed up all night putting together a swing set for his, then, 3-year-old twins. The many hours, the skinned knuckles from trying to get bolts to tighten, the dirt under the nails digging holes to stabilize poles with concrete (how long does that take to set???) was all worth it when two children ran giggling out to play at 7 a.m. That is one of the ways that dads show how much they love.

Jesus said that fathers “give good gifts” to their children (Matthew 7:9-11). And there is a key point. What gifts are good? If we parents are Christians, then it is our faith, first and foremost. We could say that all other gifts we give “hang off” that first gift.

We give our children love. My love for my children is constructed by what I have learned about how my Heavenly Father gives me love. He has taught me so much about how to give love and what is truly love.

Paul warns that if we exasperate or provoke our children they may become discouraged (Colossians 3:21). We must give our children a place to grow that has the consequences of discipline and yet allows the child to learn to make good choices. We give our children wisdom and knowledge which encourages them in divine obedience.

What is the price of the gifts that we give our children? What price does God ask from us? Nothing. Let us learn from Him. Let us give our time, our love, our wisdom and knowledge to our children freely as it has been given freely to us by our Father.

Take time today and read Genesis Chapter 1. And then take some time to notice some of those beautiful gifts that God created for His children – for you and me.

 

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Don’t Give Up!

Posted on June 17, 2011 by Jody Neufeld

Suddenly a strong earthquake struck, and the Lord’s angel came down from heaven. He rolled away the stone and sat on it. The angel looked as bright as lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards shook from fear and fell down, as though they were dead.

The angel said to the women, “Don’t be afraid! I know you are looking for Jesus, who was nailed to a cross. He isn’t here! God has raised him to life, just as Jesus said he would. Come, see the place where his body was lying. Now hurry! Tell his disciples that he has been raised to life and is on his way to Galilee. Go there, and you will see him. That is what I came to tell you.”

The women were frightened and yet very happy, as they hurried from the tomb and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and greeted them. They went near him, held on to his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid! Tell my followers to go to Galilee. They will see me there.”        Matthew 28:2-10 (CEV)

I am a very visual person. When I was in college and required to memorize all the bones in the body and veins and arteries, I had to write them all down. I could not just read and memorize. When I saw The Passion of the Christ a few years ago, the Scripture passages that related to the passion became real to me. I saw a more tangible glimpse into the depth of the love that God has for us. His love was manifested in vivid color of blood and sweat and I saw what my sin did to Him, and yet He still loved me.

I have read this passage many times and yet, today, I am struck by the work of the angel. Why did the angel roll away the stone? Did God need help exiting the tomb? No, Jesus was already gone out of the tomb. The angel rolled away the stone to let the women in.

And then there is the women. I have had some days of discouragement. These women are discouraged. They were the ones who stood near the cross, never leaving Jesus alone when so many had deserted Him. They were there to anoint His body for burial. Despite their grief, they got up and came to anoint His cold body. Tired, profoundly sad, and even frightened of the Romans and what they might do, these women went faithfully and obediently to do this task. Was it going to change the world? They had no hope. They were not being paid. They would receive nothing in return. They were going to the tomb to give not receive.

There are times that God asks the same of me. I am asked to give, faithfully complete a task without seeing or receiving any payment. Obedient service because I love Jesus. This is what discipleship means.

And like the women, there are times in my life, when God rolls away the huge stone that blocks my vision from seeing into His plan, and I get a look into the miracle that He has allowed me to be a part. Or He may suddenly appear in my life with a message –

DON’T GIVE UP!

That is what He has done again today. He has encouraged me and shown me again how very much He loves me. And so I will get up again today and be obedient to the task(s) that God gives me today. I will count on Him taking care of tomorrow, knowing that He commands angels and is alive.

 

 

 

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My Anchor

Posted on June 16, 2011 by Jody Neufeld

Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding so that I can learn Your commands. Those who fear You will see me and rejoice, for I put my hope in Your word. I know, LORD, that Your judgments are just and that You have afflicted me fairly. May Your faithful love comfort me, as You promised Your servant.            Psalm 119:73-76 (HCSB)

Psalm 119 with its 176 verses is a chapter in the Bible full of wonderful ‘nuggets’ that I can read, think about, and like the squirrels outside my window, store away for the long winters that come into my life. Those promises and truths of the Lord are a part of my daily life. It is in studying and meditating on them that they become a part of me, influencing my thoughts and actions. But they are also – spikes – that I drive down into the solid rock where I stand. When storms blow and my world is shaken, these ‘nuggets’ are what keep my eyes on Jesus and hold me steady.

Today the phrase ‘in faithfulness’ jumped out at me as I once again read that GOD is sovereign and nothing happens without His permission, even ‘affliction’. GOD remains faithful even in affliction. nothing catches Him by surprise. Nothing is allowed without knowledge of the consequences. There are no ‘oops!’ in God’s works.

God is faithful and to me that means that He is there before and after every fact! He knows the events that will occur and is ready to comfort me, pick me up, point me in HIS right direction for the next step, and always, always loving me along the way.

I long for Your salvation; I put my hope in Your word. My eyes grow weary [looking] for what You have promised; I ask, “When will You comfort me?”

Though I have become like a wineskin [dried] by smoke, I do not forget Your statutes.

How many days [must] Your servant [wait]? When will You execute judgment on my persecutors?

LORD, Your word is forever; it is firmly fixed in heaven.

Your faithfulness is for all generations; You established the earth, and it stands firm. They stand today in accordance with Your judgments, for all things are Your servants. If Your instruction had not been my delight, I would have died in my affliction. I will never forget Your precepts, for You have given me life through them.                   Psalm 119:81-84, 89-93 (HCSB)

The psalmist did well in expressing my feelings. Too often I am impatient for God to rescue me from my trials and tribulations! I am worn down with the battle. I am so involved with the fight that I miss what I am to learn. And I forget that there is more than ‘me’ in any given situation. A ‘trial’ is an opportunity for me to learn or to endure discipline (Hebrews 12), but it may also have a connection to others. Maybe part of the trial is for me to ‘hang on’ and endure while my brothers and sisters receive what they are supposed to learn also. “How long must I wait?” As long as it takes. But God’s word stands firm and it is there for me to grab and hang on, knowing that it is a good anchor, a trustworthy anchor! They preserve my life! Amen.

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Family Cloud

Posted on June 15, 2011 by Jody Neufeld

All Israel was registered in the genealogies that are written about in the Book of the Kings of Israel.                 1 Chronicles 9:1 (HCSB)

1 Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah spend a fair amount of ink and papyrus giving me the genealogies. Why? Why are they important? Why should I care? The New Testament also has a couple of genealogies but they are short: Matthew 1 and Hebrews 11. I think the answer to my questions is in Psalms and Hebrews.

Therefore since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race that lies before us,…          Hebrews 12:1 (HCSB)

My friends, I beg you to listen as I teach. I will give instruction and explain the mystery of what happened long ago.

These are things we learned from our ancestors, and we will tell them to the next generation. We won’t keep secret the glorious deeds and the mighty miracles of the LORD.

God gave his Law to Jacob’s descendants, the people of Israel. And he told our ancestors to teach their children, so that each new generation would know his Law and tell it to the next. Then they would trust God and obey his teachings, without forgetting anything God had done. They would be different from their ancestors, who were stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful to God.        Psalm 78:1-8 (CEV)

It is unfortunate that the passages in 1 Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah are probably the least read in the entire Bible. I certainly see those lists of people with names I truly cannot pronounce and without even thinking – flip the pages! Moving on to something I can read and understand!

For better or for worse, knowing where I came from can give me insight into where I might go. When I look back in my family tree, I have many relatives who I know nothing about. I remember my parents talking about their grandparents but I don’t remember being told about anyone before my great-grandparents or any of their siblings. I would have to say that this would also be a characteristic of the way my family viewed faith. We went to church every Sunday. It was an important tradition in my family. My mother taught me to pray at meals and bedtime. I certainly learned more about how important her faith was to her by watching her pray every day.

I want to be a bit more ‘proactive’ with my grandchildren. I want to ask God to show me opportunities to inject personal stories of faith to my grandchildren. When my children are my age, I want them to be able to say that they knew with certainty about the faith of their mother. I want my grandchildren to say with certainty that they saw their grandmother walk out her faith in Jesus Christ every day and she wasn’t ashamed of the Good News of Jesus Christ. I do not want the next two generations in my family to say, “I don’t know what my family believed!” I want our family’s genealogy to be a cloud of witnesses.

 

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Time = Seasons

Posted on June 14, 2011 by Jody Neufeld

Everything on earth has its own time and its own season.

There is a time for birth and death,

planting and reaping, for killing and healing, destroying and building, for crying and laughing, weeping and dancing, for throwing stones and gathering stones, embracing and parting.

There is a time for finding and losing, keeping and giving, for tearing and sewing, listening and speaking. There is also a time for love and hate, for war and peace.               Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (CEV)

From Genesis 1:14 when God gave light to mark the seasons, Psalms, Jeremiah, and Paul, the concept of seasons has run like a thread through God’s Word. God created the seasons and I can see my life in seasons.

Solomon puts this thread as a gold nugget right here in this passage. He doesn’t explain time in minutes, hours, or days but in seasons. Do I think of my life in seasons?

I think the first time I thought about seasons and applying it to my life was when Leah Taylor spoke about the changes in her life after the birth of her first child. (Has it been 10 years?!) She said this was her time to sow seeds into the lives of her child and that this was the time (the season) in her life to focus on this call from God. I believe God was giving her a glimpse into how important it was for her to be faithful to this seasons as the long-term effects could be awesome – or not.

God knows what is coming in my life. His Spirit speaks to my spirit and shines light on opportunities to step in the path that will lead me safely through seasons, even those I have never walked before and those that are cloudy and painful. Such was my life when God nudged me to pay attention to my son, James. He was 16 and seemed to be moving on with his life after four years of battles and disruption by a disease called cancer. He was in high school, in band. I felt impressed to just be available to James. When he came in the room, I made eye contact. I left my office door open. I was there whenever he wanted to connect. I do not remember any profound conversation. I didn’t know that he would leave and go to heaven a year later. God did. And I am blessed with peace about that too short season.

Seasons may be incredibly joyous; they may be incredibly sad. In both seasons, time seems either too fast or much too long. It may be a season of quiet teaching where my ears and spirit are uniquely in tune with the Teacher. Listen. As Solomon says, there is a time for all seasons. I can learn in each one.

May my eyes and spirit be open to each season that You bring me to, Jesus. May I learn what You would teach me, Lord. I thank You, Jesus that You walk with me and hold my hand in all Your paths, in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

 

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REAL Wisdom in Parenting – Got the Manual

Posted on June 13, 2011 by Jody Neufeld

One day two women came to King Solomon, 17and one of them said: Your Majesty, this woman and I live in the same house. Not long ago my baby was born at home, and three days later her baby was born. Nobody else was there with us.

One night while we were all asleep, she rolled over on her baby, and he died. Then while I was still asleep, she got up and took my son out of my bed. She put him in her bed, then she put her dead baby next to me. In the morning when I got up to feed my son, I saw that he was dead. But when I looked at him in the light, I knew he wasn’t my son.

“No!” the other woman shouted. “He was your son. My baby is alive!”

“The dead baby is yours,” the first woman yelled. “Mine is alive!”

They argued back and forth in front of Solomon, until finally he said, “Both of you say this live baby is yours. Someone bring me a sword.”

A sword was brought, and Solomon ordered, “Cut the baby in half! That way each of you can have part of him.”

“Please don’t kill my son,” the baby’s mother screamed. “Your Majesty, I love him very much, but give him to her. Just don’t kill him.”

The other woman shouted, “Go ahead and cut him in half. Then neither of us will have the baby.”

Solomon said, “Don’t kill the baby.” Then he pointed to the first woman, “She is his real mother. Give the baby to her.”

Everyone in Israel was amazed when they heard how Solomon had made his decision. They realized that God had given him wisdom to judge fairly.        1 Kings 3:16-28 (CEV)

With this story, the phrase “Wisdom of Solomon” was born. Yes, God did impart His wisdom into Solomon that day. But God had also done something else.

I was the youngest child in our family that had only two children. My brother was eight years older than me. I must say that he was very tolerant about letting me play around him and his friends. I would rather play basketball than with dolls. I had dolls but they did not keep my attention like basketball or ‘helping’ my dad under the hood of the car. I found babysitting to be a thankless, low-paying job that quickly got replaced with a job at the local A & W fast food establishment!

When I got married and my husband I began to talk about children, I admit that I did not think about the serious ramifications of that ‘job’. In my mind, I saw only an angelic child that smelled sweet and would gently wave his/her arm, reaching toward my face. Then God blessed us with twins. Suddenly, the reality of back-to-back feedings and baths and maneuvers that would rival the moving of the 7th Armored Battalion just to go to the mall became my daily world. The dreams ended and I looked frantically around for a ‘How to’ manual on my new life. All the skills that I needed were not something with which I was naturally born.

Here in this story of Solomon is also the story of two women, two mothers. We don’t know about the fathers. In our modern world, we would assume that two prostitutes may not know who the father might be. But the real story here for me today is how one mother kept her eyes on herself and tried to make sure she won and that she didn’t lose anything. Had she decided to sell her child and his/her death was seen by her as only a monetary loss? We don’t know. In my mind, I can see the other mother, her eyes never leaving her child as he/she is laid beside the dead child before the king. She is there before the king, praying for justice. The verdict is given. NO! There is no hesitation on her part because her child being alive with someone else is better than being dead. Her eyes never leave her child. She is not trying to make the situation a win for herself but a win for her child. And so the “Wisdom of Solomon” becomes a no-brainer, really.

Being a mother or a father begins and ends with putting the ‘best for my child’ before my need for gratification. That means getting out of bed when my body is screaming for rest at 3 a.m. It means repeating myself ad nauseum that the stove is hot and the street is dangerous. It means stepping back on occasion to allow small consequences to teach my child that one day there will be big consequences. Being a parent is all about my child first.

God teaches me about parenting by showing me how He is a parent. He left paradise to live and walk through what I would have to walk through. He showed me the extravagant love that a parent has for a child. He showed me how discipline is part of that love. He showed me.

 

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Heart Worship

Posted on June 10, 2011 by Jody Neufeld

I will thank the LORD with all my heart; I will declare all Your wonderful works. I will rejoice and boast about You; I will sing about Your name, Most High.      Psalm 9:1-2 (HCSB)

For thousands of years we have worshiped God. Since Abel and Cain made their first sacrifices we have been ‘trying to get it right’. Maybe we should get our first ‘clue’ from them.

Later she had another son and named him Abel. Abel became a sheep farmer, but Cain farmed the land. One day, Cain gave part of his harvest to the LORD, and Abel also gave an offering to the LORD. He killed the first-born lamb from one of his sheep and gave the LORD the best parts of it. The LORD was pleased with Abel and his offering, but not with Cain and his offering. This made Cain so angry that he could not hide his feelings.

The LORD said to Cain:

What’s wrong with you? Why do you have such an angry look on your face? If you had done the right thing, you would be smiling. But you did the wrong thing, and now sin is waiting to attack you like a lion. Sin wants to destroy you, but don’t let it!      Genesis 4:2-7 (CEV)

Worship is personal. Worship is about my heart desiring to connect with God. Now, that in itself is pretty…daunting…scary. It brings a whole boatload of unworthy thoughts to my mind. And they are actually correct! I am not worthy to enter in to a close relationship to God. Jesus took care of the problem so that I can.

And so my worship is covered by Jesus’ blood and I can open myself and come close to God with the honesty of who I am and what I feel for Him. I can ‘dither’ over reading the correct Scripture and watch the clock to make sure I don’t go too long or too short, and fuss about the right music and how much music and do I sing on key but in the end it will not be any of those things that put me in the Abel List or the Cain List with God. It will be my heart. Is that the beginning and ending focus of my worship? Is my heart hungry for God? The music, the Scripture, the testimonies, the lessons, a sacrament of communion are all connected to give my heart the words to say as I worship Him. The variety of elements should give me the clue that worship is personal. There is no secret formula. What brings my heart closer in the connection with God is different than what touches the person next to me. The point is – we worship.

Worship God with energy not ambivalence. Worship God with honesty not with mindless ritual. Worship is not polished, perfect, or only done by those who have passed some Advanced Christianity course. It is just honestly real.

I am weary from my groaning; with my tears I dampen my pillow and drench my bed every night. Depart from me, all evildoers, for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping.

The LORD has heard my plea for help; the LORD accepts my prayer.      Psalm 6:6, 8-9 (HCSB)

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Posted on June 9, 2011 by Jody Neufeld

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.”      John 14:1 (NIV)

Jesus said to his disciples, “Don’t be worried! Have faith in God and have faith in me.”     John 14:1 (CEV)

“Don’t let this throw you. You trust God, don’t you? Trust me.”     John 14:1 (The Message)

“Trust me” Period. Jesus had just washed the disciples’ feet and had released Judas to leave and do what he was going to do. The revelation that there was a betrayer among them must have been a jaw-dropper and a heart-sinker. And then Jesus says more:

After Judas had gone, Jesus said: Now the Son of Man will be given glory, and he will bring glory to God. Then, after God is given glory because of him, God will bring glory to him, and God will do it very soon.

My children, I will be with you for a little while longer. Then you will look for me, but you won’t find me. I tell you just as I told the people, “You cannot go where I am going.” But I am giving you a new command. You must love each other, just as I have loved you. If you love each other, everyone will know that you are my disciples.”

Simon Peter asked, “Lord, where are you going?”

Jesus answered, “You can’t go with me now, but later on you will.”

Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I go with you now? I would die for you!”

“Would you really die for me?” Jesus asked. “I tell you for certain that before a rooster crows, you will say three times that you don’t even know me.”    John 13:31-38 (CEV)

Notice that there is no comment about the ‘new command’. The disciples are immediately filled with grief and worry. And the ‘big guy’, Peter, the one who is looked on as a leader, is told that he will deny Jesus. I can only imagine how the disciples were reeling! I bet they were hoping that Jesus would just Shut up! because they couldn’t take any more! But He does tell them more. He tells them not to worry – trust Him.

I have a ‘worry’ today. I admit that there is scarcely a day goes by that I don’t have something come across my mind that I would define as a ‘worry’. Jesus is very specific here about my ‘worry’. Trust Him. That’s it. No prayer strategy. No series of study and meditations. No discussion. Don’t worry – trust Jesus.

Jesus said to his disciples: If you love me, you will do as I command. Then I will ask the Father to send you the Holy Spirit who will help you and always be with you. The Spirit will show you what is true. The people of this world cannot accept the Spirit, because they don’t see or know him. But you know the Spirit, who is with you and will keep on living in you. I won’t leave you like orphans. I will come back to you. In a little while the people of this world won’t be able to see me, but you will see me. And because I live, you will live. Then you will know that I am one with the Father. You will know that you are one with me, and I am one with you. If you love me, you will do what I have said, and my Father will love you. I will also love you and show you what I am like.”     John 14:15-21 (CEV)

And so Jesus tells me that He knows that trust will be a difficult thing for me but He desires so much that I be obedient to His commands that He sends me a Helper who will speak to me; speak His truth to me. Right now is the time for me to listen to Him. Shhh. Be still and know He is God.

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Can You Hear Him Now?

Posted on June 8, 2011 by Jody Neufeld

When I was first put on trial, no one helped me. In fact, everyone deserted me. I hope it won’t be held against them. But the Lord stood beside me. He gave me the strength to tell his full message, so that all Gentiles would hear it. And I was kept safe from hungry lions. The Lord will always keep me from being harmed by evil, and he will bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. Praise him forever and ever! Amen.              2 Timothy 4:16-18 (CEV)

Everyone of us has a ‘call’. It is God’s plan for my life and if I am willing, He wants to use me to build His kingdom. For most of us, God is not calling us to be a part of the ‘offices’ in the Church. (apostles, prophets, evangelists, teachers, pastors, see Ephesians 4) A wonderful woman that I know is called to be an ‘encourager’. She speaks wonderful words and gives great hugs. She is instrumental in building the Kingdom because she is fulfilling a vital role and is obedient to that ‘call’ from her Lord. My ‘accountability sister’ has many gifts and has a ‘call’ for several roles but her willingness to be obedient to God’s request to speak His wisdom and truth to me is a precious gift that I do not take for granted.

No matter what is our ‘call’, I suspect that Paul’s words to Timothy strike a personal chord in each of our lives. There are times that I feel very much alone. Each of us have a choice when God taps us on the shoulder and tells us to ‘go’ or ‘speak’ or ‘pray’ and my obedience to that order or my distraction away from the order or even my refusal has a ripple-effect. I know there have been times that I felt alone and later someone said, “I thought about calling you and then got busy.” Paul is so correct when he said, “But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength”. God never lets us down. In those times of alone-ness, God is there. It is in those times when I hear His ‘call’ and take another step of faith, with or without anyone’s apparent support, and find God there with all that I need.

I can do everything through him who gives me strength…
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.             Philippians 4:13, 19 (NIV)

Between these two verses, Paul lists many people who helped him in various ways. But I noticed that he began and ended the list with His Lord.

More and more in my life, I find myself desiring to be obedient to God’s will and plan for me. I pray for ears to hear and a heart to receive whatever He asks me to do. Some of those ‘calls’ I am humbled that He would ask me. Some seem overwhelming. Some seem of little consequence in the big picture scheme of things. It is not for me to figure it out, is it? I cannot possibly grasp what the ‘big picture’ is anyway! Obedience to an opportunity for God to be glorified is all that matters. And with every ‘call’ whether I see it as great or small, God gives me all that I need to finish the job.

 

 

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