The Same Things We Ask...
(From April 2004)
Yesterday's devotion "What's Inside", was about the anticipation and
surprise over what's inside of gifts. I had no idea I would experience it
later that afternoon. Our son Shawn dropped in to pick up his mail. He
handed me a package, saying: "Happy Retirement". His packages
always come neatly wrapped in the bag he carries them home in. The
element of surprise is still there. When I opened it, I discovered he had
commissioned a leather-worker to fashion a belt, hand tooled with the
words International Trucks and the old logo for International Harvester.
That was a great surprise. I'd spent 35 years of my life working for that
company, only recently to be saddened to see the oldest buildings fall
to the wrecking ball. I'm a history buff, so the loss of these historic old
buildings...where my grandfather, father and even I had left our sweat,
blood and handiwork...is an emotional loss to me and many others. To
have my son bring me a piece of leather with the old logo and to know
that he had it made specially for me, evokes a much happier emotion.
I have to lose some weight to wear it, so it brings a challenge I need as
well. I have a good incentive to work harder at losing that weight, now.
Often the gifts from God bring more than one thing to us. His gifts will
bring with them a challenge, often requiring that new talents be learned
and developed. And, His gifts always bring a reward. We find rewards in
the talent we develop and in seeing our talent used in furthering God's
work in His Kingdom. We may never see the fruits, but we get to hold
the seeds in our minds and often, in our hands.
Any gift God gives, brings the surprise that He chose you. That you
were chosen to share the gift with His children. I've learned to accept
the surprise that He thinks I'm capable of things I'm not so sure I am. I
accept it, because I know He will equip me. All I have to do, is be
obedient an compliant. The same things we ask, of our children. We tell
our children if they do as we say, things will go well. The same things
we ask, of our children, applies to us...when God asks. Let's respond to
Him, in the way we ask our children to. In obedience and compliance....
---------------------------------------
Father, we are surprised when You've asked us to do those things in
which we aren't confident in our abilities. Give us confidence in knowing
You will supply and develop in us, what we need. Assure us, that we
don't have to rely on our own understanding. Remind us, of the way
You gave Noah and Moses what they needed...every time they needed
Your help. May we be ever obedient and compliant. Forgive our sins, as
we forgive other sinners. We offer our prayer in Jesus' name....
Amen.
On that very day Noah and his sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth, together
with his wife and the wives of his three sons, entered the ark. They had
with them every wild animal according to its kind, all livestock according
to their kinds, every creature that moves along the ground according to
its kind and every bird according to its kind, everything with wings. Pairs
of all creatures that have the breath of life in them came to Noah and
entered the ark. The animals going in were male and female of every
living thing, as God had commanded Noah. Then the LORD shut him in.
[God sent the animals to the ark]
Genesis 7:13-16 NIV
The LORD said to him, "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him
deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the
LORD? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say."
[God gave Moses his words]
Exodus 4:11-12 NIV
Steve _________________
© 2004 Steve Green
Back to Favorites
Back to Home Page
www.pappawsthoughts.com
® 2004