Simple Truth

Some of my best times with God are when I read kids devotionals and books! Maybe I’m small-minded or because that’s just my stage of life, maybe God loves me enough to reach out to my heart through those simple words.


This morning, the book, A Life God Rewards for Little Ones (Bruce Wilkinson) was about serving…giving an old toy, planting flowers, helping when someone was hurt – simple things. But, the common thread in all of it was that the little boy was serving, loving, and giving because he loved Jesus.


· Not because he was giving more than he should.
· Not because he gave last year.
· Not serving out of a heart motivated by doing good things.
· Not sharing because others were watching
· Not just modeling love for others to learn to show love (like I do with my kids)


Basically, he was not serving out of obligation, but just because the boy wanted Jesus to know how much he loved Him.


In this Christmas season when we are constantly running, buying/making gifts for teachers, decorating, planning, cleaning…why are we doing it all? If we want to show Jesus how much we love Him, will all of it really be important enough to continue doing?


The final pages showed the boy running to Jesus in heaven someday and how excited both he and Jesus were to see each other. Our life on earth is really very short. With that in mind, I can’t think of any better way to spend my day than showing Him now how much I love Him in all that I do.


He really is the reason for the season…so let’s serve Him today – not because we should, not because we are able, but just because we love Him.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord you are serving.”
Colossians 3:23-24

Merry Christmas!
Sharon

Ordinarily Extraordinary - Thoughts from our Dad

After our dad had a really close call which required a quadruple bypass, I was able to take down some of the thoughts that were running through his head. Thanks to many of you who prayed him through this...He wants you to read what the Lord put on His heart through all of this.

"Through this whole ordeal, I saw how God used people. They began to pray, but they didn’t stop there. They listened, then they moved into action. When we pray, we’re not blowing into an empty sack. The Lord speaks back and we respond. These people would say they are ordinary, but to the Lord, they are – we are all - extraordinary.

Sometimes we feel like the events of our lives are mundane…we do usual things as ordinary people until we are in a rut. I want to look at the normal, Mundane as God-Ordained. I think David must have felt pretty ordinary until he woke up one morning and realized what his relationship with the Lord really looked like. He wrote about it in Ps. 139 (paraphrased): "You know when I sit down and when I get up. You know my thoughts, and every word that I’ll speak…It’s just too much for me to attain" (too much for me to get my mind around.)

That’s how much He thinks about us, too. He knows every detail of our lives.

If we could look at our days, not as boring, but as something God is orchestrating…big events, little events, good, bad, ugly, we would see that God “works all things together for good to those that love Him.” (Romans 8:28)

Here are a couple of word pictures that explain what I mean:

If you see a picture from outer space and the earth as it hangs in perfect balance, it’s not hard to think that God created the universe. He’s big enough and powerful enough to do that, but do we trust Him to take care of our own lives with such precision? And the main question, does He really care about the details of our lives? The answer to those questions, according to Ps. 139 is YES!! He is in the details. If He can control the universe and in contrast know how many hairs are on our heads (Matt. 10:30), He can use all the details of our life for a purpose. With His people, there are no ordinary; we are all extraordinary. We are partners with the creator of the universe. Amazing!

And another thought:
Our lives are a lot like an orchestra. The musicians come in one at a time; begin warming up, fiddling with their instruments. Then, the conductor asks for a tuning note, and one by one they all join in to play. Without the tuning, without each instrument, it wouldn’t be the best it could be. But when all the parts play together, the results are magnificent. The conductor doesn’t just start the orchestra, but he directs them through the whole piece.

That’s what God is doing with our lives. Every experience, good and bad, has a purpose, a part. When we look at our lives like that, we can be thankful rather than resentful. God has begun a good work in us, even though everything isn’t good, and he promises to carry it on to completion. (Phil. 1:6)

I’ve realized how important God’s people are in the “orchestra.” The Lord tells us: “You are the salt of the world…like a city on a hill. (Matt 5:13-14) We’ve been anointed with the oil of gladness (Ps. 45:7B). He will save His anointed (Ps. 20:6) (II Cor. 1:29) The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and He delights in his way. (Ps. 37:23) And, I know how God is the one keeping it all together for a grand purpose.

Through this time of surgery and recovery, I think I’m understanding that anything we do - making hamburgers, pumping gas, changing diapers, driving a truck, or performing surgery on an ailing heart - our hands are, as my Dr. said, “Just an extension of His.”

So go out today knowing that whatever you do, He is there. He knows exactly what’s going on. Talk to Him about everything, and then listen. He loves you. What might seem ordinary isn’t…So hop out of that rut, and rejoice that He rejoices in you.

“The Lord your God is in your midst The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17

Thanks Dad...I needed to get out of my self-incriminating rut and see myself the way God does. We love you and are so glad to be called your kids!