We are responsible for our lives but there comes a time when we are overwhelmed by the responsibility that has been thrust upon us. We fear we are not doing enough in a given situation or we fear we are not doing the right thing. But God has an answer to our fears:
With faith, let us recognize God’s responsibility to handle what we can’t. Happy Sunday.
At our Session meeting last Monday, our Pastor mentioned the prayer of Jabez. It reminded me of one of the many trying times in my life when I cried out to God for help. One day The Prayer of Jabez, by Bruce Wilkinson, jumped out at me in a Christian book store where I worked part time. It helped me in many ways and the Jabez Prayer became a constant in my life for a long time…and my “territory” was definitely enlarged when I became an elder in 2008, and my family continues to grow in leaps and bounds. I also wrote about this book and prayer in 2017. Here, then, is the prayer of Jabez. Happy Sunday.
I hope you are not tired of hearing my God stories because He is one of my favourite topics. This came my way yesterday and is too good not to share:
We all know of the heartbreaking death of George Floyd on May 25th. Whatever his past deeds, this cruel and callous end to his life was not warranted. It has not been an easy road for George and his people and the road ahead will not be easy, but all of us can be a part of justice and world change by keeping the picture of Mr. Floyd’s brutal death alive in our hearts and minds. This atrocity should never again touch a black life, or any life for that matter. Peace be with you.
“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ Matthew 5:21.
When it’s hard to be happy while living with chronic pain or receiving sad news, God offers this:
“I will strengthen you, I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
Happy Sunday
There are those who ask for help and when it comes they turn it down. It really hurts to see this happen and makes the people offering help frustrated in their attempts. It reminds me of the story of the drowning man:
A fellow was stuck on his rooftop in a flood. He was praying to God for help.
Soon a man in a rowboat came by and the fellow shouted to the man on the roof, “Jump in, I can save you.”
The stranded fellow shouted back, “No, it’s OK, I’m praying to God and he is going to save me.”
So the rowboat went on.
Then a motorboat came by. “The fellow in the motorboat shouted, “Jump in, I can save you.”
To this the stranded man said, “No thanks, I’m praying to God and he is going to save me. I have faith.”
So the motorboat went on.
Then a helicopter came by and the pilot shouted down, “Grab this rope and I will lift you to safety.”
To this the stranded man again replied, “No thanks, I’m praying to God and he is going to save me. I have faith.”
So the helicopter reluctantly flew away.
Soon the water rose above the rooftop and the man drowned. He went to Heaven. He finally got his chance to discuss this whole situation with God, at which point he exclaimed, “I had faith in you but you didn’t save me, you let me drown. I don’t understand why!”
To this God replied, “I sent you a rowboat and a motorboat and a helicopter, what more did you expect?”
I might add here: “God helps those who help themselves“, or at least help the people who are trying to help them.
I needed (or so I thought) a handy dandy repairman to fix a few things gone awry in my humble little abode. A gate was falling apart, a tap was dripping and a doorbell had a hole in it which prevented it from ringing.
Help was elusive so as a last resort I reverted to “the me I used to be”. The old me in my young years could do it all; plastering, plumbing, electrical…you name it, I did it, because it had to be done and there was only me to do it. But I was young and strong back then and unafraid to try anything to save money.
So now, first came the gate…a few hammer whacks on new nails settled that problem. I described my faucet episode on Saturday’s blog.
Yesterday, I tackled the doorbell. Once I got the old one off it was evident that some miniature creature had been building a wee nest with the wire coating, leaving the wires bare. Once that was cleaned up it was a matter of patience working with tiny screws and needle-nose pliers to get the new bell rewired and working again.
And then there was the matter of a door that wouldn’t lock from without or within. I called a locksmith for that.
What next?
Here is one of my favorite quotes which just happened to pop up on Facebook this morning, posted by a friend on vacation. Happy Monday.
If you find yourself out on a limb this weekend, hang on because there is always a pair of hands, a praying heart, and a loving God who will say, “I’ve got this!” Happy Saturday.
Here is some encouragement for all those going through difficulties at this moment in time. It is very beautiful and worth sharing. Please enjoy, whatever your beliefs.
My Precious Life 