May 18, 2012
“What
does this bunch of
poor, feeble Jews think they’re doing? Do they think they can build the
wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices? Do they actually
think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap—and charred
ones at that?” Nehemiah 4:2
Our
home has served as a nature observatory for the past several months. First we watched ants build a
tremendous network of tunnels inside an escape-proof shell. Then we
witnessed five squirmy caterpillars transform into beautiful
butterflies. Our latest specimen? Lima beans. We wrapped a few beans in a wet paper-towel and placed them in a plastic bag. Within a few days the beans began to sprout.
While
I enjoyed watching the butterflies and the ants (did I mention they were in an escape-proof
container?), the Lima beans seemed to outscore their competition. The ants and caterpillars began (and thankfully, continued on) as living
creatures. However, the Lima beans once seemed as good as dead to me. Yet out
of a pile of plain, crusty, dried beans grew a healthy creature teeming with life.
God specializes in making somethings from nothings.
Take Creation, for example. "By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God's command, that
what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen." Hebrews 11:3
Think about the Israelites rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem after they returned from captivity. What to the casual observer seemed like nothing more than stones from a heap
of rubbish God used to enable the Israelites to fortify the Holy City in just 52 days (Nehemiah 4, 6).
And remember
the five loaves of bread and two smelly fish? Jesus used that which most
considered enough to feed only a small boy to instead feed 5,000 men
plus women and children (Matthew 14).
God specializes in making somethings from nothings.
Consider
again my Lima beans. After sitting on my pantry shelf for at least a year--left over from last year's science project--the chance of the beans growing seemed slim. However, once I began to give the beans that which they so desperately needed--sunlight, water and food--they began to flourish. Beans which were once ignored. discarded. rejected. forgotten.
From something that seemed as good as dead
Grew this plant, teeming with life.
We even knocked our plant sideways to observe how it would respond.
But once life emerged from our bean, nothing could stop it from stretching toward the sky.
If God can do this with a Lima bean, what can He do with you?
Do you feel as if you've been placed on a shelf? Ignored? Discarded?
Rejected? Forgotten? Ever felt like a heap of rubbish? Its never too late.
God
specializes in making somethings from nothings.
Come out of the
darkness and place yourself before the Son. Wrap yourself in humility
professing your inequities before God. Soak in the Living Water. Absorb
your daily bread. And what others once considered as good as dead will
soon be teeming with life.
May 8, 2012
"For My yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light." Matthew 11:30
A never-ending list of things "to do" drives me to the point of exhaustion by the end of each day. In addition to our normal, homeschooling routine I am preparing for a three-week trip out of the country. There are shots to get (and lots of 'em, I might add . . . ouch!), lessons to prepare, miscellaneous travel documents and items and clothes to acquire, trinkets to purchase for the kiddos while I'm away, letters to write, a spiritual life to maintain . . . the list extends on into eternity.
I want to do all these things. Colossians 3:23 says to work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. I make a list of all the things I can do to work toward a particular objective so that I can give the Lord my best. But somehow I never find enough time or energy to complete the tasks I want to do. All I end up giving the Lord is an earful of complaints. When I fail to finish each task on my list I end each day feeling inadequate and discouraged.
Earlier this week I read in a magazine published by Proverbs 31 ministries an article titled, Are You Driven or Led?, written by Holly Gerth. That's easy, I thought to myself, I'm driven! I esteemed myself over my natural state of staying busy. But as I delved deeper into the article, I realized the error of my ways.
"If you're driven, you can't be led," wrote the author. I realized she had a point. The author listed three indicators of a driven lifestyle: exhaustion (check!), a lack of joy (check!), and a desire to control . . . everything (check, check!).
Jesus says, "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to Me. Get away
with Me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real
rest. Walk with Me and work with Me—watch how I do it. Learn the
unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on
you. Keep company with Me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly" (Matthew 11:30, The Message).
How do I know if I'm driven or led? I simply examine the fruit of my labor. Lately my work has failed to produce anything worthy of consuming. The only thing that's ripe is my attitude.
So yesterday I made a change.
As soon as I awoke I said to the Lord, "Father, I have nothing to do today. Not a thing. Only that which You desire to put on my plate. Please show me what You would have me do." I placed both feet on the ground and smiled. For the first time in weeks I did not have an impossible-to-finish "to do" list staring me in the face. I simply had to wait upon the Lord. I knew the day would prove enjoyable because His yoke is easy, His burden--light.
The Lord placed before me a joy-full and peace-filled day. We accomplished more schooling than normal, cleaned house (some of it, anyway), washed, folded and put away laundry (any of you mamas KNOW what an accomplishment that is), and I even had time for one more shot (polio, that is . . . not the other kind!).
What's on your list of things to do today? I haven't a thing on mine . . .
May 3, 2012
"But Jesus said, 'Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the
Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.'" Matthew 19:14
Last night while helping teach four-year-old choir, the teacher became the student as the children taught me a great lesson in curiosity and compassion. In what typically proves to be an hour of organized chaos (20 four year olds in a class with 3 adults, need I say more?), nearly half of the class paused at some point to inquire about a Band-Aid on one of my fingers. Granted, I was wearing a Strawberry Shortcake Band-Aid to go along with my ensemble, but the care and concern of the children blew me away.
Children aren't afraid to show compassion for other people. To be fair I'll admit that sometimes children so no concern for others, but generally speaking, when kids see someone hurt they want to know what's wrong.
When was the last time you noticed someone wearing a Band-Aid? I'm not talking about an adhesive bandage that you pull from a box. I'm referring to the things we sometimes use to cover wounds which lie beneath the skin.
There are those who choose to wear neon-colored Band-Aids, crying out for attention.
There are those who select camouflage-printed Band-Aids in attempt to hide their wounds.
There are those who prefer Band-Aids adorned with the face of a cartoon character, covering the hurt by pretending to be someone they are not.
There are those who wear jumbo-sized Band-Aids because their injury is simply too large to conceal.
There are those who can get by with Band-Aids the size of a small circle, almost as if the penetration of their soul never occurred.
And then there are those who wear Plain Jane Band-Aids to avoid calling any attention to their needs.
Let us all be like the little children. The next time we notice someone wearing a Band-Aid let us be sure to stop and ask if we can help right the wrong.
