What If…?

Questions are always on my mind…

What if I preach the gospel and they don’t receive any of it?

What if nobody learns anything?

What if I pray and nothing seems to happen?

What if I lay hands on the sick and they don’t recover?

What if I make someone cry in pain because of what God says to tell them?

What if they already know and just think I’m stupid to tell them?

What if I fail You Lord, again?

OR…

What if I don’t preach, they don’t hear, they die and go to hell?

What if even one person learns something that changes their life?

What if what happened is ‘un-seeable’ or comes days later?

What if the sick person does recover or their faith is strengthened?

What if the person crying in pain from what was said is freed from bondage?

What if the words come to their remembrance many days later, and they are healed?

What if I fail You Lord, again, but there are more ‘successes’?

     (And whose successes are they anyway?)

If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. (John 14:14)  Jesus said He will do it.

The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD… he turneth it whithersoever he will. Pr. 21:1

It is Jesus who heals, delivers, causes recovery, frees. Luke 4:18,19

...neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 1Cor. 3:7 

We all have to learn (be willing and obedient Is. 1:19) to simply do what the Lord wants...

and leave the results to Him. 

Unnecessary

       As I stood looking at my son’s school schedule at parent teacher interviews last night I noticed his early 7:30 am class was missing, so I went into the office to see what was up.  After being assured he was not taking that early class, and me assuring that I woke up every day to drive him to the bus at 6:55 am, we walked to the guidance office to see what happened.  Apparently, my son dropped the class (without asking me) and pretended to go to it every day for over a month.

       Was I angry?  No.  Mostly, I felt disappointed that he had deceived me for so long and worse for the thought that he so lacked trust in me that he couldn’t talk to me about what was going on.  Did he not think I would understand?  It also saddened me to think about the bondage he must have been under and the fear (of being caught) he must have felt.  And all of that bondage and fear was totally unnecessary because I would have understood and been okay with his decision.

       This issue made me think of the various times in the past that I have not trusted the Lord to understand, thinking He’d be mad at me if I disclosed how I felt about Him, or others, and not trusting that He wanted what was best for me.  I’ve lived in fear and bondage too long, and am not willing to live that way anymore.  Of course, the biggest thing that helps is trusting in my Lord.  I just know- beyond knowing- that He wants the best for me.

       Our primary instinct should always be to go to God first, and then perhaps we would not find ourselves in bondage and fear to begin with: 

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; Mt. 6:33;

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Pr. 3:5,6 

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2Tm. 1:7 

(Jesus came)…to proclaim liberty to the captives… Is. 61:1

Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually. 1Ch. 16:11

My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. Ps. 121:2

       So, I must always remember to seek the Lord first, trust Him with everything I am going through, ask for His help especially in making decisions, and to trust Him with all my heart.  Yep, I’m gonna try to remember that!!!  Yes siree!  Because I’m sure the Lord is also saddened when I live in unnecessary bondage and fear due to lack of trust in Him.

Lord, help me trust You completely…

Man’s First Job

       Picture this… Adam created by God’s own hands forming him, and Eve being formed from a part of man.  God planted a garden (Gen. 2:8) full of abundant life and put Adam and Eve in it, then told them to make babies (woohoo!!!), dominate and rule the earth. (Gen. 1:28)  At this point, Adam must have said, ‘okay, I can live with that!’ but then God gave man his first job: And the LORD God took the man, and put (settled) him into the garden of Eden to dress (work, till) it and to keep (protect, preserve) it. (Gen. 2:15)

       The first job of any man was gardener or husbandman (after His Father, God).  He was to take care of the garden.  This is from Matthew Henry’s Commentary:

The husbandman's calling is an ancient and honourable calling; it was needful even in paradise. The garden of Eden, though it needed not to be weeded (for thorns and thistles were not yet a nuisance), yet must be dressed and kept. Nature, even in its primitive state, left room for the improvements of art and industry. It was a calling fit for a state of innocency, making provision for life, not for lust, and giving man an opportunity of admiring the Creator and acknowledging his providence: while his hands were about his trees, his heart might be with his God. (4.) There is a true pleasure in the business which God calls us to, and employs us in. Adam's work was so far from being an allay that it was an addition to the pleasures of paradise; he could not have been happy if he had been idle:

       I wonder what Adam would say about how we’ve been doing the job of protecting and preserving the earth today.  You see, at some part of the past, man began to use the ‘dominate and rule’ part to make unwise decisions concerning the earth (for self gain, of course L) and they tolerated damaging the planet, decimating animal populations, destroying plants, air quality and water quality.  Of course we should use the things God gave us (wisely), but He never told us to abuse them. 

       Many years ago when recycling first began in our area, I remember being at a friend’s house while she tidied up her kitchen.  Breaking down a cereal box she proceeded to throw it in the trash.  I was shocked, because she threw out something that could be recycled into another product.  To me, that was not following man’s first job.  Her reason: the earth will last until Jesus returns so (basically) who cares?  What a poor attitude.

       We are Adam’s descendents, and we should be preserving the earth the best we can.  Ps. 24:1 says, “…The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof…” (fulness meaning everything in it) Every bit we do helps- recycle everywhere, reuse when able, plant trees, make more green space, push for better pollution controls, pick up litter (and don’t litter to start with), and help in other ways you are able.  How much is enough?  I figure, you should ask the Creator this question…

How well do You think I am doing at preserving this world You created?

Coffee’s Ready!

(possible conversation from the Father to you)

       Good morning child.  Come sit down with me to enjoy some coffee while we chat.  How have you been lately?  Here, let me take that load off your shoulders so you can relax a bit.  I know you are struggling, I know times are tough, and I know you don’t understand it all…  but come.  Tell me all about your life because I sure want to hear from you.  Yes, I already know what’s going on, but I like to hear it from your perspective anyway.  Here, take a sip of your coffee.

        Tell me, what are you facing today?  I’d like to talk to you about it.  Perhaps there is some advice I can give you and I’d like to help you start your day right.  You know, I’ve been around a lot of years and I’ve seen more than I wanted to, so I think my counsel will be wise.  I know you sometimes think I let you down…  can we talk about it?  I’d sure like to work it out.  You know I love you and I only want what’s best for you even when it doesn’t look that way.

       I know…  you’ve got to go now, so just remember child, I’m here waiting whenever you have time to come sit down with me so we can chat some more.  I just love spending time with you.  You are so valuable to me and I do so enjoy and cherish every moment we get in each other’s company. Come on back soon… like I say, I’ll be here and  I’ll have a fresh cup waiting…

I sure do want to talk with you some more!



Tools in the Father’s Hands

       What kind of instrument would you say you were in the Father’s hands if someone asked you?  Would you be a container to hold oil or flour, a pitcher to pour out water, a vase for flowers, a hammer for driving points home, a screwdriver for turning things around, a wrench for tightening or loosening, a fork for eating or one of many other tools we consider most useful?  But, let’s not forget (for they are just as needed and useful)… perhaps we are a waste basket, or a composter, a grease container, or a chamber pot.

       We want to ‘see’ ourselves as a great instrument, beautiful ones used for glorious purposes, but it is in our willingness to be used as the vessel God chooses us to be that brings us the greatest peace and Him the greatest glory.  Our true beauty shines best when in His will.  Who are we to tell God we want to be a fork when He made us a waste basket?  Does creation tell the Creator what to do?  I think not!

But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand. Is. 64:8

Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?  Rom. 9:20 

But in a great house there are not only vessels* of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. 2Tim. 2:20,21

*Strong’s- skeous- vessel (basically a container), implement (tools, utensils)

       All those who are in God’s will, who follow His ways are more valuable to Him and therefore become gold or silver vessels.  They will last through the ‘fire’ of end times.  Vessels of wood and earth (those marked by dishonour) will be destroyed and not survive judgment.  Therefore, purge yourself from the dishonour- purify yourself by repenting and allowing God to utilize you the way He desires instead of the way you want.  The Lord made a promise to the Jews and I’m sure it goes for us too: “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:” (Is. 1:19)

Are you willing to be the vessel God wants you to be?